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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Medcal Examiner van leaving YMCA at 12:15 P.M.

Approximate area where 3 rooms were engulfed in flame early Saturday morning.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE.  AUGUST 31, 2013 UPDATED 8:45 A.M. E.DT UPDATED  1:30 PM EDT.:UPDATED 6 P.M. E.D.T.

UPDATED 9:30 A.M. E.D.T., SEPTEMBER 1.

UPDATED 10:30 A.M. E.D.T., SEPTEMBER 1

A fire “of suspicious origin” broke out at the YMCA on Mamaroneck Avenue early Saturday morning has been determined by White Plains Police to be the result of a murder suicide involving  a resident who stabbed  the night front desk guard to death, then went to his room on the third floor and set himself on fire. How the suspect set himself on fire has not been explained, though media have reported the method was “incendiary devices.”

Police are expected to turn over the building to the YMCA Sunday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Y in an e-mail, said the Y is expected to reopen September 3, but had not been able to analyze the damage yet (see statement later in this report.)

The YMCA has issued a statement (SEE BELOW) on the incident and will update status of the Y reopening on their Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/WhitePlainsYMCA

The self-immolation by the suspected resident started the  blaze that resulted in an explosion that observers said blew out an interior wall of the resident’s room. Some 60 persons fled the building at approximately 4 in the morning. Six firefighters were injured and treated at White Plains Medical Center and released.

Comissioner of Public Safety David Chong announced to media that Micharel Solomon, 68 of Elmsford was stabbed to death by the as yet, unidentified resident of the YMCA, who has not yet been conclusively identified. Dental records are being used for positive identification. Solomon had been a longtime, well-liked employee at the YMCA.

Chong said the as-yet-unidentified resident whom two residents identified to WPCNR as a man named Eddie, was found dead in his fire-damaged room after setting himself on fire.

Solomon, Chong said yesterday was found dead of multiple stab wounds behind the YMCA front-desk.

A spokesperson for the Y contacted WPCNR this morning and gave this statement by e-mail on when the Y will resume operations:

Hi John, initial thoughts are potentially by Tuesday morning, but we won’t know for sure until we can examine the extent of damage to the facility when the police turn over the building to us this afternoon.   A mass email blast will go out to members informing you, and I’ve been updating our Facebook Page which will announce it as soon as I know.

Late Saturday, a Red Cross spokesperson said they expected to house at least 20 persons in some way.

At a news conference Saturday, Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong said names of the deceased would be released by the department via press release. No more details on the cause of the fire and what caused the deaths of the two and the sequence of events that started the fire on the third floor (characterized as an explosion according to a second resident interviewed by WPCNR), were provided at the news conference.

Commissioner Chong was reported by News 12  AS OF 4 P.M., as saying one body was found behind the reception desk on the first floor, and the other body was found in one of the burned rooms,

This is consistent with what a resident of the Y interviewed by WPCNR earlier this morning, who said the incident began around 4 A.M. Saturday morning. The resident told me that another resident of the Y entered the building shot the clerk at the front desk in the reception area of the Y, then the shooter went up to his room and “blew himself up.”

The resident told WPCNR, “I heard a loud bang, smelled smoke then heard the alarms, and got out.”

Asked by WPCNR if they had seen the front desk clerk deceased behind the reception desk, the resident said they had not, but they were concentrating on leaving the building because of the fire. (The resident assumed Solomon was shot.)

The fire occurred in the older part of the YMCA, third floor.

A police and fire crime scene investigation unfolded all day Saturday, with City Corporation Counsel John Callahan and Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong on the scene. Mayor Thomas Roach was not on the scene the times WPCNR was covering, though the Mayor made an appearance late in the afternoon on television. Former Mayor Joseph Delfino was at the scene early around 9 A.M. checking to see if firefighters were ok, he said.

Commissioner Chong confirmed to WPCNR Saturday morning that the Department of Public Safety responded at 4 A.M. to an alarm at the YMCA. The fire involved 2 rooms on the third floor. He said two people are dead, but could not release their names at this time pending notification of  kin, and he could not say the cause of death at that time. He did not say Saturday morning one of the dead was the clerk at the front desk. “It is a fire of suspicious origin investigation at this time.”

Saturday morning, Chong told WPCNR the fire was contained within 20 to 30 minutes  and six firefighters were treated, but not injured seriously. The investigation was continuing he said.

Approximately 60 residents of the YMCA were on the sidewalk across Mamaroneck Avenue from the Y, They were evacuated. At this time the Y is closed. The resident WPCNR spoke to said they had no idea when they were going to be allowed to go back into the building.

As of noon, a Red Cross spokesperson told WPCNR she expected about 20 persons would have to be housed elsewhere. That was her expectation at the time

At mid-morning Saturday, Deputy Chief Anne FitzSimmons was telling persons evacuated to give the American Red Cross, which was on the scene, requests for medicine, and the Red Cross would inform the police, who would go into the building and retrieve the medications for those requesting them.

Carolyn Sherwin of the American Red Cross said St. Matthews Church had opened their  community room to give a temporary place for the evacuated residents. Sherwin told WPCNR they were in “a holding pattern”  as of 9:30 A.M. “We’re working closely with the WPPD. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation.”

She said health specialists, psychiatric and crisis team counselors were on the scene and food was being provided.

Further details as they are made available.

The YMCA has issued this statement Sunday morning on the crime:

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2013. AUGUST 29, 2013

CLARIFICATION of MR. ALBANESE POSITIONS UPDATE. AUGUST 30, 2013:

Carl Albanese, announced candidate for White Plains Common Council on the Republican Ticket, told WPCNR Thursday he is attempting to remove his name from the ballot, when the County Board of Elections informs him of the procedures for him  to do so.

Albanese would not state why he was seeking not to run at this time.

He said he agreed to run after being asked to on July 4 by the Chair of the White Plains Republican Party, Brian Maloney. Albanese said at that time Maloney said Mr. Albanese could withdraw his name at any time  from the ballot.

Albanese clarified his political status to  WPCNR Friday, telling me, WPCNR should not have characterized him as “a Republican candidate.”

He said:  “1. I am not a Republican Candidate. I was invited by GOP Republican Chair Brian Maloney to run on the Republican and Conservative Ticket as a bipartisan Democrat . There is a major difference. I am not a Republican candidate.”

Albanese further clarified to WPCNR Friday that had sent Mr. Maloney an e-mail letter requesting his name be withdrawn from the ballot August 16, not a Registered Letter. He explained,

“I never sent Brian Maloney a registered letter. I sent a registered letter  with a followup (to the Board of Elections) after I sent  Brian an e-mail letter requesting to withdraw and the follow-up registered letters were sent to the Board of Elections (to inform the WPBOE I’m withdrawing as a Candidate on the Ballot and to remove my name from the GOP and Conservative lines.)”

Anne Marie Encarnacao and Claudia Murphy remain as candidates for Common Council on the Republican slate, with Cass Cibelli running for Mayor.

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WPCNR COAST TO COAST. August 28, 2013:

A Trio of Drifters, one a regular WPCNR Correspondent  are currently wrapping up a journey by car (not covered wagon)  across the Great Plains, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

One traveler has kept a daily logbook on the wonders they have seen moving West and their wonder recalls the feelings Lewis and Clark probably felt when they discovered the sights our trio of drifters encountered the last two weeks.

To read about the wonders of the American West that still inspire today,  click on the following link:

http://www.Julianadee.blogspot.com

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Starting with the towheaded 7 year old huggable, wonderstruck Oliver, 7 year old Brandon Singel, the audience just loves him to pieces, as he wanders about rough and tumble, desperate and humble Victorian London. That’s John Anthony Lopez as Fagin, the pickpocket boss, on the left, and Todd Ritch on the right as The Artful Dodger.

WPCNR BALCONY OBSERVER. Theatre Review By John F. Bailey August 25:

Standing Ovation Studios, Westchester’s leading incubator and training stage for  talented young aspiring thespians, is  staging  its fourth collaboration with the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, OLIVER! For two more weeks.

It is a faithful, win-you-over company of energetic young charmers who deliver an emotional musical memory of schmaltz, hope and entertainment for all ages.

The old favorites wind into life in this Tony Award-winning relic, from the company of orphans at Mr. Bumble’s orphanage singing of Food,Glorious Food  (when master Singel asks for ‘More” to  the little charmer, asking and singing the musical question, Where Is Love when he is turned out into the street by his funeral parlor employer to the pickpocket recruiter, Fagin.

The Artful Dodger (Todd Ritch above)) welcoming Oliver into Fagin’s pickpocket gang with a rambunctious tempo Consider Yourself (One of the Family) Oliver settles you in your seat like an old friend you’re feel comfortable with whom you have not seen in a long time. He’s changed but you love him anyway.

 Lucy Braid (at top of picture) leading Oom Pah Pah! above, in her Westchester Broadway Theatre debut as the doomed Nancy, who with Oliver, is the focus of the show and really sparkles.

She loves Bill Sykes, a ruthless criminal whom she loves inexplicably. Braid and Cali LaSpina performing a rollicking It’s a Fine Life  get the production rolling,  explaining the glamor side of pickpocketing and a ladys’ rolls in the underworld, doing dirty laundry.

Braid’s Nancy starts the second act with smashing version of Oom-Pah-Pah. She further endears herself to the audience by making As Long as He Needs Me an anthem, a lament, a definition of the mystery and affliction of  unrequited love any woman who has ever loved a difficult man will identify with. Braid’s stalwart proud heartbreak tears you up the way she wrangles this signature song.  You will be reading Ms. Braid’s name in many a playbill in the years to come. Braid shines on her other big song, the tear-jerking song of pathos rendering the definitive song of those without hope that society has cast aside,  Who Will Buy?

Act II finds Oliver messing up his first attempt at pickpocketing, being caught by the London Bobbies and remanded to a long lost relative and it looks like our resourceful scamp who appears to let things happen to him with just the right amount of innocent pluck is going to be all right. But the malevolent Bill Sykes is looking for him because Oliver can identify him to the police. Sykes  is played over-the-top ugly by  Brian Kinsky, with a truly evil sense, scary and gives young audiences an insight into what people who behave badly are really like. Sykes kidnaps Oliver in an attempt to silence him

Nancy intercedes to protect Oliver at her peril and is an appealing heroine.

John Anthony Lopez is a rascally Fagin (the leader of the pickpocket gang) with his big number You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two,  a crowd pleaser. Young persons seeing Mr. Lopez’s unseemly worship of  money and the way he exploits his pickpockets get a valuable insight into what bad people are really like: they use you under the premise of helping you. Fagin is totally unsympathetic and this is the strength of Mr. Lopez’s performance. Fagin may be cute but even a young mind can see the selfishness in Mr. Lopez’s Fagin.

Mr. Bumble and  Widow Corney are a great comedy pair (John Treacy Egan and Regina Singel, above–Oliver’s real life mom) as the very nasty orphanage overseers.  Their I Shall Scream is a hoot.

Oliver! Plays through September 8 and is a diversion, deftly brought back by Standing Ovation Studios. Standing Ovation Studios following its game production of In The Heights for WBT has mounted a production that should be a delight and in its winsome company in  full stride in its final two weeks.

For information, go to www.BroadwayTheatre.com OR CONTACT  914-592-2268. And you get dinner, too!

Parents Note Content: Threatening physical conflict between the Sykes and Nancy characters. There is some light playful innuendo.There is gunplay

All Photos by John Vecchiola, Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre

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WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. By John F. Bailey. August 23, 2013:

The Gedney Association is calling for the city to schedule new hearings  to examine in depth 2 new alternative entrances to the proposed new French American School of New York campus (under review for 2-1/2 years) outlined in the Draft Final Environmental Impact Statement now being considered by the Common Council.

Residents up and down the North Street corridor (that we know of)this afternoon received a letter and copies of the proposed new entrances and were urged to write the Mayor and Common Council demanding scheduling of new hearings, encougaging them to send a letter saying:

“Because of substantive changes to FASNY’S FEIS, I think additional public comment and hearings are warranted.”

Geof Thompson, spokesperson for the French Amercan School of New York, asked if the new proposals were developed with the city planners and departments, told WPCNR  FASNY has spent the last five months working with city officials on answering some of the questions raised from the previous Draft Environmental Impact Statement hearings. Asked if FASNY was under the impression that the proposed new entrance routes were city professionally acceptable solutions developed by the FASNY consultants and planners as a result of this deliberation process, Thompson said he would have to check with the French American School of New York.

Thompson contacted WPCNR moments ago to clarify that the DEIS hearing testimony and comments called for studying alternative entrances at either North Street or on Bryant Avenue as issues to be addressed.

John Callahan,  city Corporation Counsel,   speaking to WPNCR this afternoon confirmed that the two new entrances were developed with city officials and planners working with FASNY consultants. Asked if the city professionals on staff had indicated to FASNY these were acceptable alternative solutions to the traffic problems alleged to be created by the previously proposed Ridgeway Avenue entrance, Callahan said he had not participated in the meetings. Asked if the city recommended these solutions, Callahan said it was up to the Common Council to decide that.by either approving or denying the project.

Callahan said as Corporation Counsel he was not in a position to judge whether a council denial of such solutions would be defensible legally, until any such suit should arise. Again, he pointed out he was not at the meetings where the city and the FASNY consultants worked out the proposed alternative entrances

The letter from the Gedney Association received by residents in the North Street area today, read, in part, “Instead of an entrance to the development from Ridgeway, the DFEIS calls for options for the entrance to be from either North Street or Bryant Avenue.”

The proposed entrance on North Street would at the entrance to the White Plains High School, and be in a roundabout, traffic circle design, allowing flow without a traffic light.

THE NORTH STREET ROUNDABOUT TRAFFIC CIRCLE PROPOSED SOLUTION TO ENTRY TO THE NEW FASNY RIDGEWAY CAMPUS. IT PROPOSES REDESIGNING THE WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL ENTRANCE

The suggested entrance on Bryant Avenue would have a traffic signal allowing turns into an entrance road cutting south from the golf course to the campus.

THE ENTRANCE TO THE PROPOSED NEW FASNY RIDGEWAY CAMPUS THAT WOULD HAVE TRAFFIC ENTERING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL ON BRYANT AVENUE AT TOP OF PICTURE.

The Gedney Association opposes each solution.

The complete DFEIS in on the city website at http://www.johnmeyerconsulting.com/fasny/feis/