THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

ABC Committee Told: No Wiggle Room. City Assessment Info Eagerly Awaited.

Posted on February 23, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 23, 2004: The Annual Budget Committee learned that the wiggle room in the $145 Million projected school budget was slim to none, and were advised that any decrease (or increase) depended on the new city assessments data for 2004 that is due from the City Assessor next week. At that time, (March 1) Assistant Superintendent for Business Terrance Schruers and Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors said the City School District would be able to finalize its Premiliminary Budget which they hoped to present to the Annual Budget Committee March 3.

Mr. Schruers said that the school district has trimmed $200,000 off the $145M rough budget, by dedicating $200,000 of grants towards the All-Day Kindergarten transition. He told WPCNR he was expecting the commercial assessments and homeowners’ assessments to be “a wash,” when Eydie McCarthy the City Assessor delivers the information next week.

Schruers reported he was expecting the city to give him the numbers on the PILOT payments for 2004-05 for the following projects: City Center, Bank Street, The Jefferson, Clayton Park and South Kensico. In effect, if assessments are a “wash,” as Mr. Schreurs expects, the budget at this time is sitting at $145,340,666, a 7.95% increase from the 2003-04 budget of $134,632,632.

Mr. Schruers and Mr. Connors also proposed allotting a $3 Million surplus expected from 2003-2004 in part to pay for sharply increased teacher retirement contributions to the state, and $1.5 Million of that surplus placed into the general fund for 2004-05. They are asking the Board of Education to approve bonding in small amounts for court ordered tax certriori payments.

Introducing New York New Jersey Juggernaut: All Star Pro Fast Pitch IN NEW YORK!

Posted on February 23, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. February 23, 2004, Little Falls, New Jersey: The New York New Jersey Juggernauts the new National Professional Fast Pitch franchise that begins play in the metropolitan area June 1 introduced themselves to the media Monday afternoon at the Yogi Berra Museum. Their Principal Owner Paul Plemenos introduced nationally known fastpitch stars to the media who will begin play in the Juggernaut pinstrips: Erika Hanson, Senior member of the Arizona 2001 National Champions; Lisa Iancin, second sacker for the Natonal Pro Fastpitch All-Star Team that toured the country las summer, and Sarah Hershman of San Diego State University. Plemenos introduced the three players who would be joining national pitching sensations, Michelle Smith and Kaci Clark on the debut team.

FAST PITCH PIONEERS: Paul Plemenos, Principal Owner with his brain trust and three of his blue chip fast-pitch stars at the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair today. Standing is Mr. Plemenos, followed by Richard Perrotty, President and General Manager, Linda Derk Manager, V.P., Softball Operations; Erika Hanson, 1st Base; Lisa Iancin, 2nd Base; and Sarah Hershman, Outfield. Plemenos announced the team is making its players available for clinics throughout the metropolitan area. He said the team will be playing singleton 7 inning games (with no international tiebreaker, sports fans), beginning in the easy-to-get-to brand-new Montclair State University softball stadium.

Linda Derk, Manager said the games are designed to be worked with events involving local organizations and to promote the growth of local and professional fastpitch softball. Plemenos reported ticket prices will be low and affordable and provide a wholesome, fast-moving entertaining night out for the entire family. The Juggernauts will be playing teams of equal all-star calibre: the New England Riptide, Akron Racers, Colorado Altitude , Houston Thunder, Sacramento Sunbirds, Arizona Heat and San Antonio Armadillos in a 56-game season. He said it is the National Pro Fastpitch plan to expand to 12 teams in 2005, and 16 teams by 2006. To contact the Juggernauts and find out about their clinic programs go to their website at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. Photo by WPCNR Sports

The 281 Apts at 300 Mamaroneck and City Center Share Main Street Sewer

Posted on February 23, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR Main Street Journal. By John F. Bailey. February 23, 2004: WPCNR has discovered an underground reality that puts Daniel Seidel’s eyewitness observation of the Main Street sewer capacity running 2/3 to ¾ full in the pipe Friday into a new perspective. When The Jefferson, JPI’s 281-unit townhouse and apartment complex was approved for 300 Mamaroneck Avenue in June, 2001, Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, insisted upon JPI lining the Mamaroneck Avenue sewer line as part of the condition of approval.

WPCNR has learned from a professional engineer not employed with the city, but with firsthand knowledge of the city infrastructure that the Mamaroneck Avenue sewer line feeds its payload directly to the Main Street Sewer at the head intersection of Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue.

It appears the effluent from The Jefferson’s 281 apartment and townhouse units now being built at 300 Mamaroneck Avenue, will begin to commingle simultaneously with the effluent of the City Center’s 500-plus units from its North and South apartment and condominium units, as The Jefferson units begin to come on line within a year. That makes an approximate total of 800 dwelling units coming together in the 16-inch sewer line, now running at what appears to be 2/3 to 3/4 capacity.

This condition of joint sewer tenancy of the City Center residential complex and the Jefferson did not concern the public and the Common Council at the time of the Jefferson approval which occurred in June, 2001. At that time, Commissioner Nicoletti had written into the resolution that JPI had to line the 8-inch Mamaroneck sewer pipe flow tested and a plastic liner to Maple Avenue.

Approximately fourteen weeks later, Commissioner Nicoletti, wrote his sensitive “Catastrophic Memo,” to George Gretsas, City Executive Officer, stating he felt that the City Center complex would cause “catastrophic backups,” and that the Main Street sewer line had to be replaced if the City Center were to be built.

Friday afternoon, Dan Seidel personally confirmed with his own eyes that Nicoletti’s professional observation was correct, despite being criticized by the Mayor as being based on “obsolete technology,” in a statement released January 24, 2004.

Seidel, personally viewing the Main Street sewer pipe from overhead at a distance of 20 feet, Friday at 1:30 P.M. told WPCNR, “it looked like it was running 2/3 to ¾ full.” He reported Department of Public Works personnel also observing said the present flow level within the pipe was 2/3 to 3/4. Seidel in casual conversation with the DPW crew was shocked to learn that the 300 Mamaroneck Avenue Jefferson was also on the Main Street sewer line.

WPCNR spoke with an engineer familiar with the sewer line, our source said the Mamaroneck Avenue sewer runs down Mamaroneck Avenue North, flowing downhill and connecting with the 16-inch Main Street sewer at Mamaroneck Avenue. The combined payload then flows down under the Bronx River to Yonkers.

WPCNR Introduces THE FEINER REPORT — Greenburgh News from Paul Feiner

Posted on February 23, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. February 23, 2004: WPCNR is pleased to introduce Paul Feiner as a regular contributor to The White Plains CitizeNetReporter. Mr. Feiner has undertaken to prepare The Feiner Report, a weekly roundup of news matters and government happenings in the Town of Greenburgh. And now, Mr. Feiner:

This is the first in a series of weekly reports to White Plains CitizeNetReporter. I’d like to thank John Bailey for inviting me to write this report — so Greenburgh people can be better informed of what’s happening in our town.

This Wednesday night, the Greenburgh Town Board will hold our next Town
Board meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:15 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall, 177
Hillside Ave, Greenburgh. You’re invited to attend and to participate. In the
event that you’re unable to attend you can watch our meeting on our local cable
TV access channel and call in live. Phone us from your home during the
meeting (993-1540) and participate. Calls are not pre-screened. Phone calls are
accepted any time during the meeting. That’s open government at its best.

In the coming months we hope to initiate a new feature: residents will be
able to view our Town Board meetings live on our internet site:
www.greenburghny.com and will be able to archive meetings. I hope that this innovation can
be started within 2 months.

Another way for people to learn about town government is to subscribe to
our automatic e mail alert listing. I post Supervisor Reports on our web site
a few times a week and mail those reports to anyone who is interested in
learning more about what’s happening. Want to be on our e mail list? Email me at
pfeiner@greenburgh.com.

On Thursday I’ll be assigned to the Town Attorney’s office, adjudicating
traffic tickets in Town Court. Once a month I work in a different department
in town government. It’s a great experience, interacting with town employees.
And, I always learn from our employees.

Feel free to call me anytime. My office is 993 l540. My home is 478 l2l9.
And, you can always e mail me at pfeiner@greenburgh.com
PAUL FEINER

The White Plains Photograph of the Day

Posted on February 22, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. February 22, 2004: Saturday the White Plains Firefighters dedicated a somber and touching memorial to the four White Plains firemen who have died in the line of duty serving White Plains. The four heroes of the past are: Sal Galasso, Bernard Callahan, Lt. Christopher Harmon, and Warren Ogburn. The monument speaks for itself.

“No Greater Honor”

Photo by The White Plains Roving Photographer

Adam In Albany: Assemblyman Introduces Neighbor Right of Review Legislation

Posted on February 22, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, February 21, 2004: Westchester County is a beautiful place to live. Keeping our environment healthy will ensure that our future generations enjoy all this area has to offer. Since I took office, I have made it a mission to sponsor legislation that protects our environment.

One of the pieces of legislation I authored would give municipalities a direct role in reviewing proposed private developments in other communities if they can establish that the development would have a substantial impact on the water or air quality in their locality (A.8672). This would ensure that communities have a say in protecting their environment when their environment is clearly placed at risk by decisions made across their border.

Another piece of legislation would ensure legal standing for those individuals seeking to challenge development which may be harmful to the environment (A.8673).

I also sponsored legislation to help reduce and eliminate the exposure of school children to hazardous substances that may be found in school facilities (A3935). The legislation calls for sampling of school indoor air, water and paint to identify potential problems. This legislation also calls for parental notification in the event an environmental health hazard is detected.

An environmental danger in our own backyard is the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. I don’t have faith in the plant’s assurances that all of us living near it are safe. Serious questions still remain about Indian Point’s evacuation plan should an emergency occur there. Simply, we do not have the roads or infrastructure to have a successful evacuation in an emergency. It is an outrage that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed off on it. I will continue to be an outspoken critic on this critically important matter.

Preservation of our environment and protecting our quality of life is of utmost importance. I will continue to fight for the future of Westchester County so that our children can continue enjoying a healthy, beautiful and natural environment.

Back By Popular Demand: Westco Runs New Theater Workshop in April

Posted on February 21, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Westco Productions Media Relations. February 20, 2004: An extra theater workshop session is being added by Westco Productions, Westchester’s resident professional theater company for young and family audiences. “All of our previously-announced workshops filled up, so we decided to add a fourth session,” said Susan Katz, Executive Director. The additional session will begin on April 10th.
Westco’s theater workshops introduce children ages 5-12 to the excitement of the performing arts through singing, dancing and acting. The children will be rehearsing an original musical show during the Saturday workshop sessions, and putting on a performance at the Rochambeau Theater in White Plains on May 22nd.

There are two age groups: 5-7 years and 8-12 years, limited to no more than 20 children in each age group. The fee for the eight week session is $250. To register or for further details, call Westco at 914-761-7463 or visit www.westcoprods.com.

Eyewitness: Main Street Sewer Line flowing at 2/3 to ¾ Capacity in Midafternoon.

Posted on February 20, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey with Dan Seidel. February 20, 2004: It was a routine lunch hour for Daniel Seidel, the attorney with offices based at 2 William Street. On his way back from lunch, he spotted three White Plains Department of Public Works personnel setting up a work barrier around the Main Street Sewer manhole opposite the delivery entrance to Macy’s on Main Street downline from City Center.

SITE OF SEWER FLOW CHECK FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Macy’s delivery entrance is on the right. Manhole in question is near the sign below the red light. File Photo of Main Street Sewer route From WPCNR News Archives

Mr. Seidel reports that he engaged the DPW workers in friendly conversation, who allowed him to peer some 20 feet down into the manhole at the top of the open 16” Main Street sanitary sewer. Seidel says he saw the water running fast and close to the top of the pipe.

Eyewitness to Sewer Flow: First Respondent, Dan Seidel, White Plains attorney, shown at the Common Council work session Wednesday evening. Seidel observed the Main Street sewer flow for himself Friday afternoon. Photo by WPCNR News

Mr. Seidel told WPCNR in a comment: “It’s 1:40 p.m. on Friday, Feb 20, 2004, and the DPW guys are doing sewer flow review on Main Street, in front of Macy’s delivery entrance. Guess what? The sewer is flowing (nicely) at about 60-75% of its diameter capacity. You can see this by looking down and seeing how close to the top of the pipe the stuff is flowing”

Seidel said the DPW crew was checking the sewer flow with a Wier meter, that Seidel described as a black box that is placed in the pipe. He said the DPW workers told him the stream in the pipe was flowing at about 75% of capacity.

This is the third eyewitness account and the first for attribution confirming what midday flow in the Main Street sewer looks like since Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti reported the results of his stick test reporting 75% capacity in September, 2001 and since another eyewitness worker attempting to connect the City Center sanitary sewer connection on August 29, 2003, also said the sewer was running 75% full.

Seidel described the flow of the sewer as fast, and what was obvious to the naked eye, filling two-third to ¾ of the pipe before the Wier meter was placed in the pipe. The D.P.W. workers were doing the flow review on a day when White Plains had seen no precipitation for one week, although the city has been experiencing slow snow melt Thursday and Friday.

Mr. Seidel told WPCNR he did not know what the purpose of the flow check was and why the workers were conducting it.

Work Stops on City Center South Tower. Configuring New Interior Design.

Posted on February 20, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR Main Street Journal. February 20, 2004: The Super Developer, Louis Cappelli, explained the interim lull in the construction of the City Center’s South Citadel condominium building for the last two weeks, Wednesday evening. Cappelli said the suspension of activity was his decision because the condominum design configuration was being reengineered and redesigned by a new architect and a new engineering firm he has assigned to the project, now that the south residential building has changed its character from rentals to condominium-ownership.

SOUTH TOWER IDLED. TO RESUME IN 2 WEEKS. Cappelli said he was in the process of applying to the Attorney General for the approval of his prospectus, and felt it made sense to get in the new design paper work for engineering and ownerunit design with the prospectus rather than send in the application incomplete. He attributed the decision to suspending construction in part to the cold weather in late January and the need to get the new interior designs together. He said work would begin again in two weeks, and that the condominium was expected to be ready for occupancy in June 2005. Photo by WPCNR News

Historical Society Opens Washington’s Headquarters Sunday

Posted on February 20, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMON SENSE. From White Plains Historical Society. February 20, 2004: The Historical Society opens historic Jacob Purdy House Sunday from 1 to 3 P.M. on 60 Park Avenue to celebrate the 272nd Anniversary of President George Washington’s Birthday.

21-GUN SALUTE: Typical of traditional Washington’s Birthday celebrations at Purdy House, such as this cloud of gunsmoke from “Redcoats” in October, 2001, there will be a Flag Raising, a Re-Enactment, and tours of the Purdy House. The public can view Washington’s Letters written at the Purdy House when the first Commander-In-Chief stayed at the home in 1776 and 1778. There will be music and refreshments. Admission is Free. For Information and directions call 328-2152. Photo from WPCNR News Archives.