WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,826,065 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—73,578 VISITS A WEEK BY 1,111,506 VISITORS

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WPCNR Pressbox. July 5, 2003. From Wire Services.: Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox died today at age 83. Baseball’s last 400 hitter in 1941, the man who made hitting a science and served his country twice as a fighter ace in World War II and Korea is the last of the greats from baseball’s golden age. The 1950s.
Williams was a star from the start because he refused to swing at a bad ball, leading the league in walks, forcing pitchers to throw him strikes which he would hit consistently.

Williams loved to hit and worked hard at it, breaking down the strike zone, to where he knew what pitches that were strikes were the best for him to swing at. He considered the low outside pitch the toughest pitch to hit.

Just one indication of why the man they called “The Thumper,” “Teddy Ballgame,” “The Splendid Splinter,” or simply “The Kid,” was so consistently great at hitting.

Spud Chandler, the Yankee Reliefer in 1939, Ted’s rookie year, recalled a clubhouse meeting on how to pitch to Williams. Chandler said, “I’ll tell you what I learned about him. High and tight is ball one. Low and away is ball two.”

Little Bobby Shantz, the Philadelphia A’s lefthander in the early 1950s, also testified to Ted’s legendary batting eye, “Did they tell me how to pitch to Williams? Sure they did. It was great advice, very encouraging. They said he had no weakness, won’t swing at a bad ball, has the best eyes in the business, and can kill you with one swing; he won’t hit at anything bad, but don’t give him anything good.”

When Williams came to the plate to hit, he was all business. No rituals. No touching the cap. No flexing the muscles. No prima donna he.

He would stand in, bat cocked high, and explode with a “fluid swing,” that featured “a massive weight shift through the hips.” He would practice this swing for hours daily before a hotel mirror or in hitter’s cage.

Williams was hitting .39955 going into the final doubleheader of the 1941 season. Manager Joe Cronin offered to give him the day off to preserve the .400 batting average. Ted refused.

Instead, “The Splinter” went 6 for 8 in the doubleheader to finish with .406. The last time a major league hitter hit .400 in a season.

Williams was also the oldest man to win a batting crown, hitting .328 in 1958, the second year in a row he led the league in hitting at age 39 and 40, respectively. At age 39, in 1957, he hit .388, to eclipse Mickey Mantle in his prime by 23 points.

Williams is 7th in lifetime batting averge in major league history with a career .344 average. He is second in walks with 2,019 free passes issued to him in 9,725 trips to the plate in his 19 year career, second only to Babe Ruth, but actually Ted was walked more frequently than the Babe. Ted is 10th on the homerun list, and had he not lost five years serving as a fighter pilot, he probably would have hit close to 700 homeruns.

Williams was driven to be the best at everything he took up. He taught himself to be a worldclass fisherman, an expert hunter. He was shot down in aerial combat and survived.

I saw Ted Williams play in the 1950s, and there was always a stir in the stands when Ted came to the plate. He was a bigger man towards the end of his career then when he first came to the bigs, but still had that tremendous swing — the famous corkscrew one, where he delivered the complete hip turn, something you simply do not see today in today’s hitters. He hit with a long, thin black bat. His concentration was fierce. His stare intense at the pitcher. He owned White Ford, the Yankees best in the 50s.

In his last at-bat, Ted Williams, on a cloud day in Fenway Park homered into the right-centerfield bleachers in the Fens, circled the bases with his head down, never acknowledging the wildly cheering crowd. As he crossed home plate running hard, flat-out, (no home run slow trots for “The Kid”), he ran straight into the dugout and disappeared. No curtain calls. Just a last goodbye clout to remember him by.

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WPCNR Stars and Stripes. July 4, 2002. 9 A.M. E.D.T.: They came from all over town and all over the county, making their way to the vast open lawn behind White Plains High School to enjoy the White Plains Pops Band and the traditional Fourth of July Eve Independence Day Celebration Wednesday evening.

LADIES, GENTLEMEN, AND CHILDREN OF ALL AGES came from near and far to White Plains High for the traditional White Plains America’s Birthday party. Cars and families lined the streets leading to the high school field with spectators. Others in their neighborhoods gazed from their lawns at the eastern sky in the sweltering tropical heat of the lazy summer evening awaiting the annual celebration.
All Photos by WPCNR

GRAND FINALE of the 30-minute fireworks display arched magnificently into the velvet night to the cadence of military marches.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY HONOR COLOR GUARD, awaited the cue to march in to present the colors prior to the start of the show. Jewish Veterans of Foreign Wars raised the colors, followed by a robust playing of the National Anthem.

MR. WHITE PLAINS, former Councilman Robert Ruger, gave an invocation, praying, “God of our Fathers – whose almighty hand has made and preserved our nation – grant as we gather together as free people, that we may understand what it is we celebrate this evening. Our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, our freedom. May we remember how bitterly our freedom was won – the down payment that was made for it, the installments that have been made since this Republic was born, and the price that yet must be paid for our liberty. May it be understood our liberty is under God and can be found nowhere else. May our faith be something that is not merely stamped upon our coins but expressed in our lives. You led us to this land, oh God, and out of conflict created in us a love of peace and liberty. Let us as a nation not be afraid of standing alone for the rights of people everywhere. Raise in us a right patriotism that seeks the nation’s good. To the extent America honors You – will You bless America. Keep her true as You have kept her free and make her good as You have made her great.”

MASTER OF CEREMONIES, Arne Abromowitz, Commissioner of Recreation & Parks, introduced the program by retelling an inspiring account of the Battle of White Plains and how 1600 White Plains patriots held off a superior British force, keynoting the evening.

MAYOR JOSEPH DELFINO WELCOMED THE MULTITUDES, saying the fate of the World Trade Center Towers, a symbol of our nation’s prosperity, made celebration of America’s Birthday take on even more significance. He was quietly sincere and meaningful in tone, saying America and White Plains would remain great if “we all work together.” To that end, he is shown introducing Common Councilpersons, L to R, Glen Hockley, Tom Roach in shadow, Robert Greer and Benjamin Boykin, Jr., Common Council President. The Mayor also presented plaques of recognition to the three corporate sponsors of the display, Heineken USA, Hudson United Bank, and the New York Power Authority.

WHITE PLAINS POPS BAND entertained the throng, performing a rousing 1812 Overture prelude to the display.

1812 OVERTURE CONCLUDES AND ROCKETS FLARE to start the show.

ROCKETS RED GLARE BURST IN AIR, casting a sense of awe in the audience. No matter how old you are fireworks are always a thrill on the Fourth of July.

PERSONALITIES WORKED THE CROWD. Amy Paulin “fans,” Adam Bradley flyers, and the occasional politician could be seen. Here, Councilman Glen Hockley is seen passing out Adam Bradley campaign literature.

PALS AND NEIGHBORS MET AT WHITE PLAINS BIG PARTY, greeted each other on the hillside, while children ran about playing, throwing balls, spinning glowing hoops before the show. Juliana, left, and “J” right had a front row seat.

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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By Shivaun Dipshan.
Wednesday, July 03, 2002. 1:00 P.M. E.D.T.: Concerned citizens and hospital employees piled in to the Common Council meeting, not to see the appointment of Commissioner of Public Safety, but to voice their concerns about the New York Presbyterian Hospital proposal.

HOSPITAL SHOWCASES DESIGN OF PROTON ACCELERATOR/BIOTECH CENTER: John Annunzio, the landscape architect of the building, as he appeared on Channel 72 Monday evening, presenting the first rendering of a combined accelerator/research lab on the Site Eight. Geoffrey Thompson spokesman for the hospital told WPCNR today, the hospital is agreeable to building the facility on Site Eight or a combination of two buildings, the research facility on Site Eight, the Accelerator on Site Five.
Photo by WPCNR

The Hearing on the hospital Special Permit was held open, and documents were referred out to City Departments for comment with a possible Council vote on the proton accelerator/biotech research facility on August 5.

Traffic, Pollution Concerns

The main concern of citizens who spoke, was the location of the biomedical center not as much the purpose, but safety issues such as traffic and pollution, and the effect it would have on White Plains. However, while the citizens are afraid of change, members of the hospital as well as residents posed the question what is the outcome if one fears change? They asked the council not to impede progress because it could lead to saving people’s lives. In the end it boils down to a question of stopping progress or allegedly, pollution.

A prophetic invocation

The Common Council meeting began with Father Donald O’Brien asking the Lord, to “grant us the courage to be open to each other and not to be fearful of new ideas and different approaches than our own to matters that are put before us.” His prayer was echoed throughout the meeting as representatives and employees from the hospital as well as residents asked that the council not fear the proposal of the biomedical research laboratories New York Presbyterian Hospital is planning for their White Plains campus.

”Watch” Ad Sets Tone.

The long list of residents and hospital employees to voice their opinions about the project started off with members of the Concerned Citizens for Open Space displaying their ad in the newest issue of the White Plains Watch.The ad demonstrated the signatures of 348 White Plains citizens who are opposed to the New York Presbyterian Hospital Project.

TRUMP CARD: The Concerned Citizens for Open Space advertisement as it appeared in the White Plains Watch this week was a star player Monday night.
Photo by WPCNR

“The citizens urgently request you vote no…we are deeply concerned about the future of White Plains,” said Barbara Benjamin, a representative of the association, reading the copy in the advertisement.

A preliminary WPCNR analysis of the first 100 names in the advertisement indicates that virtually all but 4 signees live in the residential neighborhoods immediately up to a mile and a half South of the project, and East of Post Road.

In our analysis of the first 100 signees of the ad, only 4 persons live West and North of Post Road, in the northern end of White Plains, and 58 households live in the area West of Post Road and South of the Hospital, the “Southend” of town. Of those, 39 of those 58 households reside directly South of the Hospital Property in the Gedney Farms, North Street, Haviland Manor area. We counted obvious husband/wife/family combinations as one household, accounting for the difference.

On-going concerns

Residents of the Gedney neighborhood, the North Street Civic Association, and Rosedale neighborhoods and Bryant Gardens (immediately across Bryant Avenue from the hospital property) have voiced concerns in the ongoing public hearing over the last six months because it violates residential zoning, causes health problems as well as traffic problems, and creates a negative impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

Monday evening saw the same speakers from the five previous months of hearings repeating their concerns:

Carry Kyzivat, a resident of Maple Moor Lane, about 1 mile South of the proposed location, and concerned citizen of White Plains, asked the councilpersons “why can’t White Plains be known for preserving unique grounds for the benefit of its residents? I emplore you to show you really care for this city.”

Carl Barrera, a resident, said the issue is not whether open space will be preserved, but rather about a project that a landowner wants to build on his property. His point was the council should not confuse the two issues.

Unanswered Questions Still Lurking

Marc Pollitzer, a resident of North Street, approximately 1 mile South of the proposed project, discussed how this project “seems like a commercial endeavor.” He then went on to ask the council how they could “blindly approve” this project without understanding what the research would be.

Ruth Marie Hicks, a resident who works as a researcher, voiced her concern about the location of the planned project. “I do not see that a residential area is an appropriate place for conducting this research.”

She also discussed how she thinks there are going to be more researchers than the hospital proposed because the amount of space and the number of researchers don’t add up.

Do We Really Need it?

Hicks also stated that Westchester didn’t need this (proton accelerator)facility because “we are very over serviced medically…we don’t need more facilities in this city…we already have two hospitals.”

In previous articles, WPCNR has reported that the proton accelerator, would be the only proton therapy cancer treatment facility of its kind in the New York Metropolitan area. WPCNR has found the accelerator treatment has long been ignored or not considered by oncologists in this area as a cancer treatment for prostate, children’s brain tumors and breast cancers. The reason may be that the accelerator renders obsolete the more invasive surgical procedures and radiation treatments in vogue to treat those cancers and practiced extensively by surgeons and radiologists in the New York metropolitan area.

WPCNR queries of surgeons and cancer specialists who treat such tumors expressed very little knowledge to us of the proton accelerator treatment. It is a treatment that has shown to be more effective and less invasive in treating prostate cancer, yet is tacitly ignored by cancer specialists in our area, so not too many patients are recommended for it.

Hicks, who is an asthmatic, warned the councilpersons not to underestimate the seriousness of pollution. Her mother, who was a singer and never smoked a day in her life, died of lung disease. “Pollution is a serious medical problem,” she said.

Esthetics Seem More Important

Mr. Wilcocks, a resident of Westchester, voiced his concern with people caring more about “a view” than saving people’s lives.

“If such risks were not taken before we would not be having this discussion because most of you would be dead. Progress always comes with a price tag,” he said. He then went on to call citizens who opposed the project arrogant and selfish and said that many of their complaints were not valid. For example, he called the traffic issue “minor traffic problems.”

The Role of Research-Possible Projects

The employees of the Hospital spoke of the benefits of research. Gale Rider, who is the Director of Psychiatric Health, voiced her concern about the need of hospitals to stay current.

The job of an academic medical center is to stay current: “health care is moving very rapidly and we find ourselves behind…what we are being challenged with now is the cure…what people want is the cure. It’s hard for families to hear we don’t have it now but it’s coming…the time is now,” she said.

Another researcher who works for the hospital tried to explain the kind of projects that the hospital is trying to set up. One of the projects is geared towards improving the quality of life of anxious elderly people in the community.

First Look at Facility Design

After a break in the Common Council proceedings, there was a surprise presentation by the New York Presbyterian Hospital. Most of the persons speaking at the hearing left, and missed some very interesting information, including a rendering of the new facility.

PAUL BERGINS ARTICULATES HOSPITAL COMPROMISE: Attorney Paul Bergins explaining the two compromise positions of the proton accelerator/biomedical research building Monday night, as he appeared on Channel 71.
Photo by WPCNR

One of the New York Presbyterian Hospital attorneys, Paul Bergins, presented the most recent developments in the project. Bergins offered an olive branch proposal, saying the hospital was open to placing a 6-story proton accelerator and research building on Site 8, with an accompanying parking structure behind it. Only five stories of which would be above ground, with the proton accelerator below ground.

When queried about tree destruction, a concern of Councilperson Rita Malmud, Bergins said the hospital was still working up a site configuration to limit the amount of tree destruction by relocating the retension pond.

For the first time in the one-year on-going consideration of this project, the hospital presented a color rendering of what the building would look like on the Site 8 interior site.

It is a red-brick, low-rise building, that is designed to a height that would not be seen from either Bryant Avenue or Mamaroneck Avenue, not rising above the tree line, according to Geoffrey Thompson, a spokesman for the hospital. Entry would be from the Bloomingdale Road access road where the hospital enjoys easement rights.

Documents Referred Out to Departments

At the conclusion of the hospital presentation, the Common Council voted unanimously to refer the documents out to city departments to comment. Next in the process, is creation of a Findings Statement. The Hearing on the Special Permit was kept open, and will resume or be closed at the August 5 meeting of the Common Council.

Rick Ammirato, a spokesman for the Mayor’s office, said a vote could be taken at that time, but not necessarily, it depends on the Common Council. Ammirato said the public can send in written comments to the Planning Department up until July 28 on the project.

Straub Approved. Mayor’s Wishes, Not King’s, Come True on Commissioner.

MAYOR DELFINO AND NOW NEW PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSIONER DR. FRANK STRAUB: The Mayor is shown congratulating Dr. Straub in June when he introduced the NYPD Anti-Terrorism expert to White Plains. Dr. Straub was approved by the Common Council Monday evening.
Photo by WPCNR

Before taking a final vote on the new Public Safety Commissioner nominee, Mayor Joseph Delfino read from Dr. Frank Straub’s resume to reiterate why he would be a good candidate for Commissioner of Public Safety. He mentioned that he had “excellent credentials and experience.”

Some of the things he listed were that Straub is the Co-Chair for the Metropolitan Area Terrorism Committee, working with the New York City Fire Department to develop joint training programs for emergency responders to chemical, biological, and radioactive terrorist events.

He also mentioned that when Straub was Chief Administrator of the NYPD’s office of Training he managed a $25 Million Budget and supervised 750 persons. Straub has a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the City University of New York, a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from St. John’s University. He also teaches graduate courses at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

“His unique background will bring a new vision…he will play a vital role in bringing fire and police to a new level of excellence,” the Mayor said.

Strengthen Bond Between Fire and Police

The vote was 6-1; Councilman William King was the only one who voted against Straub being appointed.

After the voting, the Mayor swore him in and presented him with the White Plains Public Safety Commissioner badge.

“It’s an honor to be appointed and a privilege to serve White Plains…Thank you for this opportunity to serve White Plains as a Commissioner of Public Safety,” Straub said.

He then went on to discuss how after September 11th the need for police and fire departments to work more closely together is called for and how he is going to help “strengthen the bond between fire and police.”

Not Enough Summer Jobs for Youth

The Youth Bureau is helping children to get summer jobs but the problem that many kids face is that there aren’t enough jobs. Councilman William King asked citizens of White Plains to “help employ our kids during the summer…if you have any odd jobs around the house you can think of or know any people who could use some help… please do not hesitate to call the Youth Bureau at 422-1378.”

Hudson United Bank

Hudson United Bank is donating $10,000 for the Independence Day Celebration and other Special Events.

“They said what can I do to be a part of this community? That is the first time any corporation has said that to me,” Mayor Delfino said.

Councilperson Rita Malmud also expressed her gratefulness for their 4th of July celebration.

The Mayor also mentioned that they are planning to have an outdoor film at the White Plains High School. The film that is going to be shown is Harry Potter; a date is yet to be set for the event.

Councilpersons Express Their Enthusiasm for the New Field

SAXON WOODS SOCCER FIELD SITE: Shown is the location of the new soccer field to be built for White Plains by the County of Westchester. It is located adjacent to the southbound Hutchinson River Parkway Entrance at Mamaroneck Avenue at far end of the Saxon Woods Pool Lot.
Photo by WPCNR

An artificial turf soccer field is going to be built at the southern end of the parking lot at Saxon Woods Park, which is adjacent to the Hudson River Parkway entrance ramp. The Council accepted the Inter Municipality Agreement necessary to initiate the project.

“I am so pleased we are starting what needs to be done to bring more soccer to White Plains,” said Malmud. She, along with other councilmembers, were pleased at its location because it wouldn’t bother people living near the field.

The City will pay for the maintenance of the field and be responsible for establishing regulations.

Benjamin Boykin, Jr., Common Council President shared Malmud’s enthusiasm for the project and added that the field will stay open till 10 p.m. and will be provided with lighting. The lighting will not impact the surrounding neighborhood. Boykin also said that they are planning to get the neighborhood’s reaction to the field.

“It’s an excellent opportunity for our city…it’s a field of dreams that has come true for our city,” councilman Tom Roach said.

“A few years from now Brazil should watch out,” said councilman Bob Greer.

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WPCNR Evening City Star Reporter. July 2, 2002. 1:15 A.M. E.D.T. Richard Bernstein, a two-term member of the Board of Education, announced by letter, his immediate resignation from the School Board Monday evening.

THEN THERE WERE SIX: Michelle Schoenfeld set out only six Board of Education member nameplates Monday evening. Richard Bernstein had announced his resignation.
Photo by WPCNR

At the regular Board of Education Monday evening, Michelle Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board said that,” in a letter to the District Clerk, Mr. Bernstein said his decision was based on time contraints in connection with his job as well as family responsibilities. The resignation takes effect immediately.”

Dorothy Schere, newly elected President of the Board of Education, said there were three avenues for dealing the vacant position. She said the Board could leave the position vacant until the next School Board election, they could hold a new election, or appoint some one to serve until May 20, 2003, when the 2003 School Board election would be held.

Schere said it was the Board’s unanimous decision to appoint a member of the community to complete the term.

Public invited to apply for appointment to seat by July 15

Ms. Schere invited anyone who wishes to be appointed to Mr. Bernstein’s seat to send a letter to Michelle Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education, stating their qualifications or resume by July 15. Schere said the Board would review applications and “begin interviews in late July.

Schere thanked Mr. Bernstein for his time taken to serve on the Board.

The departure of Bernstein leaves a vacant position on the 7-member Board, paving the way for a possible return to the School Board of recently deposed 18-year Board member, Larry Geiger, should he so desire and the Board of Education appoint him, or Stephen Sules, the other Board member defeated in the May 2002 School Board elections. Even Dr. Saul Yanofsky could apply.

Mr. Geiger, Mr. Sules, Dr. Yanofsky, or any other resident of White Plains, wishing to serve should send their letter/resume to Ms. Schoenfeld, Clerk of the Board, 5 Homeside Lane, White Plains, New York 10605 by July 15.

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WPCNR City Evening Star Reporter. From Westchester County Department of Communications. July 1, 2002. 6:00 PM E.D.T.: A broken water pipe at the Westchester County office building at 112 East Post Road downtown, caused the building to be closed to the public, affecting about 950 employees. County officials said they expect to have the six-floor building reopened Tuesday.
Departments and offices affected were: Social Services, Probation, Mental Health, Consumer, Women, and Youth, Veterans, Section 8 of Planning and the Civil Service Employees Association. Depending on their job responsibilities, some employees were relocated to 150 Grand Street.

Others remained at their regular duties “in the field” or were sent home.

The water pipe into the boiler in the basement of the building apparently burst some time over the weekend, causing about 20 feet of flooding in the basement.

The White Plains Fire Department and the county Department of Public Works responded when the water was discovered Monday morning. Damage is being assessed.