WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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PETER KATZ, JOHN BAILEY AND JIM BENEROFE THE NEWS POSSE

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John Bailey Interviews the New NY Bridge After 9 Months of Construction
How it Feels, Up Close and Personal–Exclusive video.

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Crowd at the meeting on “White Plains at the Crossroads” Wednesday evening at White Plains High School. Crowd was estimated as more than half full at the beginning and more drifted in as the evening went on. Photos by Peter Katz

WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. By John  F. Bailey.  June 5, 2014:

A throng like this has not been seen  since 2011 on an issue in White Plains,

A total crowd  through the evening, counted as 391 by an organizer, heard a panel of speakers providing  statements and personal opinions on the effects of the proposed FASNY campus that will move on to the crucial stage of approval: the first Public Hearing on the proposal for Special Permit and closing of Hathaway Lane (within the proposed FASNY complex) on the Monday after the last day of the July 4 weekend.

The meeting was advertised as “A Call to Action! White Plains at the Crossroads: Can Our Neighborhoods be Saved?” and was “sponsored” by Gedney (longtime  opponent of the FASNY project for Ridgeway), North Street, Havilands Manor, Rosedale, Wyndham Close, Club Pointe, Glenbrooke and Maplemoor Pond.

The flyer said other proposed developments in addition to FASNY plans would be discussed, (the Sholz development planned by Grid Properties, the Urstadt-Biddle “City Within a City” they plan for the White Plains Pavilion Mall; expansion of the White Plains Transit Station.

Several observers of the meeting told me, the meeting was dominated by FASNY talk, and one observer said when the Sunrise Detox Center aimed at DeKalb was brought up, it did not resonate and the commentary returned to FASNY issues.

A representative from the French American School of New York, coming out of the meeting criticized some of the speakers for having their facts wrong, such as the number of students FASNY would have there (950), the speaker had told the audience 1250, for example.

I asked several  observers after the meeting what action going forward was decided upon if any. They said there was no specific plan of action. Speaking to two organizers and an interested party who owns property in the vicinity of the proposed school complex, they said the aim was to bring more citizens into the issue of FASNY and what it would mean for the White Plains High School, Gedney, North Street, Bryant Avenue area in decline of safety for pedestrians (high school students walking to school) and motorists dealing with increased  traffic on North Street and Bryant Avenue.

John Sheehan,  one of the organizers told me he was very encouraged about the turnout, and said the groups would be focusing on galvanizing more residents outside of the areas affected to lobby the Common Council to deny the Special Permit.  It was pointed out that 5 votes  of the 7-members of the Common Council are needed to pass the FASNY Special Permit.

WPCNR, which could not attend until 9:30 P.M. was told that three White Plains Councilpersons attended the meeting: Milagros Lecuona, Dennis Krolian and Nadine Hunt-Robinson. Krolian and Lecouna have expressed concerns about the project, as has Council President, John Martin. Hunt-Robinson, new to the council has been non-committal so far, but has an extensive background in environmental law, in supervising toxic clean-ups for her insurance company employer.  A negative vote by those  or any three councilpersons could deny the project going forward.

Sheehan, introducing a man in his late 30s who had a young family  pointed out that many younger families are unable to attend meetings due to the need to  care for their younger children, and that the organizations would be aiming to educate this segment of the population. Sheehan pointed out many long residents no longer have children living at home and thus are able to participate in community affairs. He felt  galvanizing this busy population involved with raising younger children to exert their opinions on the Common Council could be a factor in turning the Council around.

The meeting was video-taped, and the tape is in the process of being edited.

It should be noted that should the council turn down the project, the city will most likely be challenged in court by FASNY. Consideration of the project in public hearing is predicted by Mayor Thomas Roach to take at least through September. The project has been considered by the city for four years, and been opposed by the Gedney neighborhood relentlessly since  being first proposed in 2011

Not since the first citizen-organized meetings when the French American School of New York purchased the Ridgeway Country Club and announced plans to build a centralized campus there, has so much interest been generated against the issue at a privately organized meeting. This was more people than appeared at the Findings meeting held in December when the Council voted the environmental impacts of the project were mitigatable.

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Competitors round Mamaroneck Avenue into Quaroppas at the first Criterion Bicycle Races held in White Plains last June. The Cyclists are coming back to race for the New York State Championship this Sunday, June 8.

WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. JUNE 3, 2014:

The City of White Plains will host the New York State Bicycle Racing Championship this Sunday June 8 in downtown White Plains.

Thousands viewing the White Plains Independence Day Fireworks at White Plains High School in July 2013. This year’s July 4 celebration will be held Wednesday July 2, raindate, July 3

The city has also announced on its July Calendar the 2014 July 4 Independence Day Fireworks will be held Wednesday July 2, beginning at 6 P.M. at White Plains High School.

Both events are free.

The White Plains Downtown Criterium will host the 2014 New York State Criterium Championships on Sunday, June 8th, 2014 in the City of White Plains. The selection was made by the New York State Bicycle Racing Association, www.nysbra.com.

“We’re very excited to host this year’s New York State championships and the fact that the race continues to gain popularity and recognition among residents and cyclist,” said Joe Markey the race promoter. “It’s an honor for the City of White Plains as well as for Westchester County. This year’s race will include a Life Style and Leisure Expo sponsored by the White Plains Business Improvement District.”

The White Plains Criterium is a classic criterium course comprised of a .5 mile loop with four corners and sloping streets through downtown White Plains. A Criterium, also known as a “crit”, is a high speed, action-packed bike race held on a race course closed to traffic.

Individuals and teams race around the course in a pack returning to the starting point every two to three minutes, making the race a terrific spectator sport. Colorful, non-stop action is the rule as riders negotiate tight turns at high speed jockeying for position for the final sprint to the finish.

This year’s major sponsors include KeyBank, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Bicycle World
of Mt Kisco, NY, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, and Prospero Wines. All excess proceeds
from the race are given to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug
Dependence/Westchester, Inc. based in downtown White Plains (www.ncadd/westhcester.org).

“Proceeds from the Criterium will enable us to grow our new Elementary School Program,” said Joan Bonsignore, Executive Director of NCADD/Westchester. “Every family is affected by substance abuse and addictions. Life skills teaching programs such as ours, have received the highest rating from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. By supporting the Council you are partnering with us and helping to improve the quality of life for thousands of Westchester families.

For additional details including race times please visit the race website at
www.whiteplainscrit.com

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Photo (left to right): Franco Cabral, senior vice president, AdCorp Media Group; Shaun Asbury, vice president, TD Bank; Elias Mendoza, vice president, Siris Capital; Kim Jacobs, executive director, Community Capital New York; Stella Vida, CPA, principal, Hart Vida Raffo; Jim Coleman, Minority and Women Business Enterprise liaison officer; and County Executive Robert P. Astorino.

County Executive Robert P. Astorino in partnership with Latin Business Today, a national online publication dedicated to enabling the success and growth of Latino small businesses, hosted a Hispanic small business forum today titled “Crossroads to Customers, Capital and Contracts” at Westchester Community College’s Gateway Center last week..

The county executive kicked off the event by discussing how important small business is to our economy – both nationally and locally.

“You are the forefront of job creation and economic development for Westchester County,” said Astorino. “Thank you for your ideas, energy and hard work. Please know Westchester is here to help you in whatever way we can.”

The forum focused on Hispanic small business entrepreneurs since nearly 10 percent of all Westchester businesses are Hispanic-owned, and that number continues to grow each year.

“This is great news,” said Astorino. “It shows that the American dream is still possible, and small business is most definitely a gateway to prosperity.”

At the forum, which was free and open to the public, local business owners had the opportunity to listen and learn from a panel of experts that discussed topics based on three essentials for businesses:

• Customers: How to reach your customers and increase your business through targeted marketing and innovative solutions.
• Capital: How to gain access to capital through loans and financing programs.
• Contracts: How to secure government and private sector contracts and grow your business.

In addition, guests had the opportunity to ask questions and network with both public and private sector professionals that could help start or grow their business.

Barry Mittelman, publisher of Latin Business Today, chose to partner with the county on this forum because it was an opportunity to personally engage Latino small business owners with its mentor contributors in its home county.

“We were pleased to partner with Westchester County to help personally engage and enable the success and growth of Latino small business owners in this challenging economy,” said Barry Mittelman, publisher of Latin Business Today. “Having Senen Garcia, a member of our advisory board, leading the panel as well as other mentor contributors on the floor served our cause to support small businesses.”

The panel discussion was moderated by Garcia, an attorney, SCORE mentor, entrepreneur and Latin Business Today advisory board member.

Panelists included: Franco Cabral, senior vice president, AdCorp Media Group; Shaun Asbury, vice president, commercial lending with TD Bank in Purchase; Kim Jacobs, executive director, Community Capital New York; Elias Mendoza, vice president, Siris Capital; Jim Coleman, Minority and Women Business Enterprise liaison officer, Westchester County; and Stella Vida, CPA, principal Hart Vida Raffo.

Event sponsors included: TD Bank, platinum sponsor; PepsiCo, gold sponsor; Hart Vida Raffo, silver sponsor; Score, SBDC and Westchester Community College, contributing sponsors.

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16 Acres for sale: The Good Counsel property at 52 North Broadway in White Plains (within white border). North Broadway is the North-South road in left corner of picture. Road in upper right is the Cross Westchester Expressway

WPCNR NORTH END NEWS. Special to WPCNR from Our Sisters of Divine Compassion. (EDITED) May 30, 2014:

Following a ten-year, in-depth strategic planning process and a two-year review of the future of its 16-acre Good Counsel campus in White Plains, the Sisters of the Divine Compassion said today that they are exploring the sale of all or a portion of the property.

They have retained CBRE Group Inc., to determine interest in the property and to market it.

The campus at 52 North Broadway is adjacent to the White Plains commercial center and includes 12 buildings comprising 162,180 square feet.

Among the buildings are the Roman Catholic order’s Motherhouse, which today also serves as a convent, administrative offices, and a spirituality and conference center. The site also includes the Good Counsel Academy Elementary and High Schools, the RDC Counseling Center, and the Chapel of the Divine Compassion.

“We have been blessed to be the stewards of this wonderful property for 124 years,” said Sister Carol Wagner, RDC, President of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, “and our mission and ministries throughout the region emanate from here. At the same time, to assure that we continue our mission and that we are able to provide for the Sisters particularly in their later years, upon careful reflection and thorough analysis we are actively researching and exploring the possible sale of the property.”

She said that the future of the Good Counsel Schools is a particular concern.  The schools have a long history of academic excellence, graduating young women and children who later in their careers serve in their professions locally and globally as leaders and agents of compassion and change in the world.

Both schools have outgrown the existing facilities on the campus. The Board of Trustees and administration of the schools, who report to the Sisters, are exploring various options and potential locations for the schools.  While the Sisters of the Divine Compassion serve within the Archdiocese of New York, the Good Counsel Schools are independent and are owned and operated by the Sisters.

Currently, there are 400 students attending Good Counsel High School, and 160 students enrolled at Good Counsel Elementary.

The Chapel

CBRE is serving as the exclusive real estate agent for the property. The CBRE team is headed by William Cuddy, Executive Vice President.  A resident of White Plains, he is fully familiar with the unique nature of the campus.

“This is a significant and iconic property,” Cuddy said.  “Because of its strategic location and its in-place infrastructure, it provides the perfect investment opportunity for a real estate investor or an academic institution.  Our initial marketing outreach will gauge the level and type of interest there is in the property, an essential step for the Sisters to be able to explore options and strategically plan for the future.”

Sister Carol said:  “We recognize that for us to continue to serve the needs of so many and to preserve our mission, we must explore paths that while difficult are necessary.” She said the Congregation has been working with a group of local planning, real estate and business professionals.  “We are very fortunate to have a team of expert professionals who understand our mission and are committed to our future, as we formulate strategies and plans to move forward.”