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. | WHITE PLAINS WESTCHESTER DAILY NEWS SERVICE VISITS SINCE 2000 A.D. 25TH YEARl REPORTING THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW News Service Since 2000 A.D. 2026 WILL BE OUR 26TH YEAR OF COVERING WHITE PLAINS NEW YORK USA . John F. Bailey, Editor (914) 997-1607 wpcnr@aol.com Cell: 914-673-4054. News Politics Personalities Neighborhoods Schools Finance Real Estate Commentary Reviews Policy Correspondence Poetry Philosophy Photojournalism Arts. The WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER. TELEVISION: "White Plains Week" News Roundup, 7:30 EDT FRI, 7 EDT MON & the incisive "People to Be Heard" Interview Program 8PM EDT THURS, 7 PM EDT SAT on FIOS CH 45 THROUGHOUT WESTCHESTER AND, ALTICE OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH 1300 Fighting for Truth, Justice and the American Way. TOP 10 VISITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD :1. USA. 2.BRAZIL3.VIET NAM 4. CHINA 5. JAPAN 6.UK. 7.CANADA. 8.INDIA. 9.AUSTRALIA 10.IRELAND 11.GERMANY 12..ARGENTINA 13.BANGLADESH 14.RUSSIA. 15.NEWZEALAND. 16. FRANCE. 17.MEXICO. 18.UKRAINE. 19.SOUTH AFVRICA. 20. IRAQ.

Write This Down So You Don’t Forget: Memory Loss Seminar September 23

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. AUGUST 24, 2009: “Is It Memory Loss or Alzheimer’s?” will be the subject of a seminar for family caregivers on Sept. 23 from noon to 2 p.m. at the White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave.

The program will include a panel presentation featuring local geriatrician Dr. Roger Madris and other experts in the Alzheimer’s and caregiver fields.

Co-sponsors of the program are the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS),; the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley/Rockland/Westchester, NY Chapter; the White Plains Public Library and the Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley.

The event is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the New York State Office for the Aging and DSPS.

The program is free, but reservations are required and can be made by calling (914) 253-6860.

New Post Road School Wired, Ready. Teachers to Come Aug 31.

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS.PHOTOS OF THE DAY . August 24,2009: The new Post Road School was scheduled to be plugged-in to the internet today with Verizon scheduled to wire up the about-to-debut $39 Million school after interior computer network wiring was installed the last week. Landscaping was scheduled to start this week. The tentative schedule for the schools teacher-force to get into their classrooms is for the teachers to come in August 31, giving 10 days to ready classrooms for the start of the 2009-10 school year. Sources tell WPCNR the project is wrapping up on schedule.

Looking Like A School Sunday. The new $39 Million Post Road School from the Sterling Avenue Entrance Looking Very Nice Sunday.

The administrative staff has already been into the offices on the Sterling Avenue entrance side. WPCNR has been informed all electricity is in; school furniture is in; school supplies are stacked in classrooms awaiting the teachers. The playground adjacent the main school entrance is to be completed in time for school to start September 9, however playground equipment WPCNR has been told will not be in place. Demoltion of the former Post Road School will begin with interior asbestos removal and structural dismantling, with the building itself tentatively coming down in November

The New School viewed from Soundview Avenue Sunday

School Supplies Stacked in Classrooms, Awaiting the Teachers’ Touches.

Work to ready the Playground isn in progress. Old Gymnasium being incorporated into the new Post Road School is behing the yellow steamshovel.

Rockford Thunder Come Back to Win Pro Fastpitch Championship, 2-0

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. From National Pro Fastpitch. August 24, 2009: The Rockford Thunder captured their first Cowles Cup at Firestone Stadium in Akron, Ohio, on Sunday afternoon crowning them the 2009 NPF champions as they defeated the USSSA Pride 2-0 in the final game of the season. Rockford climbed back from a 1-0 deficit and near elimination to win both of their series on the weekend and become champions.

Cat Osterman led the way with her second complete game shut out of the day only allowing the Pride to have one single and a walk on the day. Between the two games on Sunday, Osterman struck out an amazing 26 batters and only gave up four hits. For the tournament, Osterman struck out 50 batters in 31 innings in five starts, pitching 31 of her team’s 41 innings. Photo, Rockland Thunder

The only player to get on for the Pride in game three was Oli Keohohou who drew a walk and hit an infield single that bounced off of Osterman’s glove in the fifth inning.

The Thunder picked up enough offense for Osterman against tough pitching by Sarah Pauly and Monica Abbott. Leadoff hitter Shanel Scott got Rockford going right away with a hit to left field jsut past a diving Kristin Schnake. Scott would eventually score on a sacrfice bunt by Lyndsey Angus to give Rockford a 1-0 lead. For good measure, Chelsea Spencer added another run when she blasted a towering shot that soared over the center field fence for a solo home run.

The home run would be the last pitch Pauly threw as the Pride turned to Abbott, who shut down Rockford’s offense the rest of the way. Abbott gave up a signle to the first hitter she faced, but then retired 12 of the next 13 hitters to close out the game. Even though Abbott kept the Pride close, Osterman wouldn’t allow the Pride offense an opportunity to get back in the game.

Following the game Osterman was announced as the MVP of the NPF Championship weekend after picking up all of her team’s victories. The Thunder ace allowed only gave up an astonishing two runs, one earned, in her five starts of the tournament.

Feiner: Offer $$$ to Burbs to Invite Affordable Housing In

Posted on August 24, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By Paul Feiner, Greenburgh Town Supervisor. August 24, 2009:

Westchester County officials should consider providing financial incentives to neighborhoods that agree to implement the desegregation agreement–which will require 750 affordable homes or apartments, 630 which must be provided in towns and villages where black and hispanic residents make up a small portion of the community. I suggest that Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano and the members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators schedule a meeting with all the mayors & Town Supervisors to discuss the implementation of any affordable housing plan.

, comptroller’s office should be asked to sign off on the plan.

As a former member of the Housing Committee of the Westchester County Board of Legislators and as Town Supervisor of Greenburgh – I have been very interested in affordable housing initiatives. In recent decades almost every elected official has supported affordable housing until it’s proposed in their community. Voters usually support the election of candidates who stand for affordable housing until the proposed units are recommended in their back yards. The aggressive NIMBY reactions from residents in most communities in Westchester against any affordable housing has resulted in few affordable housing units being built in the county in recent decades.

Recently the Greenburgh Town Board approved a zoning change to allow for workforce housing in the Fulton Park neighborhood. Although the housing is going to be situated across the street from a deli, a Verizon office building & Staples store – many residents came out against the proposal. They also motivated other civic associations within the town to oppose the project. The location of this complex is ideal for affordable housing – within walking distance from downtown White plains, the White Plains train station, Central Ave. The site was previously used for homeless housing and before that was a sleezy hotel. If an affordable housing proposal for working people at this location is controversial – it is not unreasonable to assume that there will be significant opposition to all the units of housing that are proposed by the county–no matter where it is located.

If the county enters into a stipulation with the federal government and promises to build affordable housing within the county – it is important that a plan be implemented to reduce neighborhood opposition. If neighborhoods receive benefits if housing is placed in their community – members of the community might reluctantly support the housing instead of fighting it.

The county should consider offering to acquire and pay for additional open space in the immediate neighborhoods impacted by the housing units. Another financial incentive that should be considered: the county should pay for the costs of educating the additional children who will be attending the public schools. Perhaps, additional grants could be made by the county to the affected school district to provide enhancements for other students (such as free SAT preparation courses). Other financial incentives to neighborhoods that are impacted by any stipulation should be considered.

Some people might suggest that it’s unfair for the county to reward neighborhoods that accept affordable housing. I disagree. Neighborhoods are accepting a social responsibility that others neighborhoods don’t want. The bottom line: The county should make affordable housing so appealable to neighborhoods that residents feel that their property values will go up because they will receive amenities not available to others if the housing is placed near them. Maybe we can make affordable housing so appealable that communities will compete for the privilege of having affordable housing within their boundaries.

Obviously, if this kind of agreement is implemented – a legal agreement will have to be approved. The State Attorney General’s office

Assisted Living Facilities Not Required to Have Emergency Power On Site: State

Posted on August 20, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. By John F. Bailey. UPDATED 3:30 P.M. E.D.T., August 20, 2009: According to the New York State Department of Health, New York state “assisted living facilities” like the Esplanade Senior Residence in White Plains are not required to have on premises an emergency source of power in case of a power outage.

The question of a backup power source came up after the 130 tenants of The Esplanade were without power for about five hours Thursday evening as result of a burned out feeder cable beneath Mamaroneck Avenue.

According to Jeffrey Hammond, spokesperson for the New York State Department of Health, “Assisted living facilities are required to have in place and to follow an established protocol to insure the comfort and safety of the residents.” Asked if this stopped short of requiring a source of emergency power, Hammond said that was correct.

Last night, White Plains Department of Public Safety opted not to attempt to evacuate the 130 tenants of the Esplanade, because of the difficulty and health risks involved.

Currently there are two assisted living facilities planned for construction in White Plains, the Kensington assisted living facility on Maple Avenue and Longview Avenue and the North Street Community senior condominiums and assisted living facility.

Frank Pagani of Thompson & Bender, speaking for the North Street Community reports this afternoon that the North Street Community assisted living facility planned for the former St. Agnes Hospital site will have total emergency backup: “Regarding your inquiry, the assisted living facility planned for North Street will have 100% back up for life safety operations (sprinklers, emergency lighting, automatic doors) and the Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning system. And, in about 3-4 months, building 311 (doctors’ offices facility) will be 100% backed up in case of a power failure.”

Damon Amadio, White Plains Commissioner of Building, advised WPCNR Thursday afternoon that the Kensington whose plans have not been finalized was required to have emergency back up for its fire pump, elevators, and lighting, and said he’d be very surprised if the building was not planning on installing a full power backup facility. Amadio said the Kensington was required to by code because of its height and number of proposed residents.

Amadio reported that nursing homes in the city were required by national and state law to have full emergency power backup systems. He said that facilities without backup systems have been known to contract with outside generator-supply companies to rent generators to keep the facilities operating during an extended power outage period. He said according to the city code, buildings were not allowed to keep buildings occupied when the temperature in them dropped below 50 degrees, but there was no city ordinance saying a building could not be occupied when it reached a maximum temperature. Amadio was checking into whether or not the Senior Armory Residence had an emergency generator.

Mr. Hammond of the Public Affairs Office of the Department of Health said that persons as a Hotline persons can call to report concerns they have about assisted living facilities which keeps identity anonymous. That HOTLINE is 1-866-893-6772.

The Department of Communications of Westchester County told WPCNR that the Esplanade and all other assisted living facilities in the county are strictly under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Health, which regulates how those facilities are constructed and managed.

Con Edison Restores Power to Esplanade

Posted on August 19, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. UPDATED 1:35 P.M. E.D.T. August 20, 2009 UPDATED from 11 P.M. E.D.T. Thursday evening.: White Plains Department of Public Safety reports this morning that power was restored to 95 South Broadway, the Esplanade Senior Residence as of 11:30 P.M. Thursday night after police, fire and EMS personnel spent the evening checking on individual residents to see that they had water and were not suffering ill effects from the heat.

Bob McGee, spokesperson for Con Edison said this afternoon, exact cause of what circumstances created the feeder cable outage are still under investigation: John, we ran the shunt to expedite repairs on the feeder in an effort to normalize the system as quickly as possible. We won’t know what caused the cable to fail till we do an autopsy at the Cable Center.

McGee confirmed at 10:50 A.M. Thursday morning that “the generator was brought in (by Con Ed) but not used. We managed to get a feeder repaired in the meantime. The generator remains on standby at the site, though. We did run a shunt. I am trying to confirm whether or not it was used. Ongoing work to repair the burnouts will last about a week.”

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Daniel Jackson gave WPCNR this update as of 8:30 this morning on traffic:

All lights functioning properly / power was restored to 95 S Broadway at approx 2330hrs (Con-Ed generator brought to location)

Mamk Av open for rush hour. Work scheduled for later in the day may close a lane in each direction betwen Post and Maple. Hamilton Av (from Cottage to MLK) – One lane closed on west side

60 So. Broadway – Work scheduled for daytime / currently road is open.

Lyon Pl (Con – Ed working in front of 95 S. Broadway) / Road open

Con Ed pays the O.T.

Later Thursday morning, Commissioner Jackson advised WPCNR that “about 10 police and 15 fire personnel were on scene at the busiest point. Con Edison will be paying the cost of any overtime incurred, including the officers on traffic control needed during the continuing repairs.” He confirmed only one person transported to the hospital for difficulty breathing.

Bob McGee, spokesman for Consolidated Edison told WPCNR Thursday morning that a feeder cable broke at 7:37 P.M. Wednesday night and Con Ed received calls from 55-75 South Broadway and the Esplanade shortly thereafter. He is checking at this time to confirm whether power has been restored by running wire to the Esplanade or whether a generator is being used.McGee said that the cause of such feeder cable outages is a build up of heat underground during a heat wave and they usually take place about three days into a heatwave. He said it makes no difference whether it is new feeder cable or old that the buildup of heat will result in cable fires the longer a heat wave continues. This was the first Consolidated Edison power outage of the summer in White Plains this summer.

Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety John Cullen reported that police and fire personnel and EMS medical personnel were checking room to room at the Esplanade assisted living facility at 95 South Broadway, checking to see that residents are all right, and supplying water to them as needed. Cullen said fire personnel were attempting to ventilate the building while power was waiting to be restored. There were no plans to evacuate the residence where 130 senior residents live. One person having trouble breathing was removed to a hospital, he said.

Commissioner Cullen said Con Edison was on the scene at 11 P.M. attempting to hook up a temporary generator to restore power to the residence.

At the time the outage was being repaired, Elizabeth Clark, spokesperson for Con Ed said the company had crews on the scene and will either install a replacement generator or run in “shunts,” that she describes as temporary wires running power to the building. Ms. Clark said she did not know whether the Esplanade had an emergency generator on the premises. She had no estimate when power would be restored or the cause of the power failure at this time.

Cullen reported the city started having power problems at 5 P.M., as a result of a manhole fire at 164 Mamaroneck Avenue, which he said knocked out power to 75 South Broadway, 95 South Broadway (The Esplanade assisted living building), and 2 to 4 Lyons Place. He said power was restored to 75 Broadway, and Con Ed was working on the Esplanade at this time.

Glen Hockley Files with Board of Elections To Run as Independent for Mayor

Posted on August 18, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2009 By John F. Bailey. August 18, 2009: City Councilman Glen Hockley submitted petitions to the Westchester County Board of Elections today, totaling by Mr. Hockley’s estimate, 1,800 to 2,000 signatures, to run for Mayor of the City of White Plains, Hockley told WPCNR this evening. He told WPCNR he had a plan to control the rise of property taxes in the city, saying details would be spelled out in his coming campaign.

Glen Hockley at Common Council work session, July.

Hockley said he gathered “a bunch of the signatures” himself, going house to house in 90 degree heat, under threatening skies, and with the help of loyal supporters. Hockley will the lone opposition in the November Mayoral race facing Adam Bradley, the nominee who has the Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Independence and Working Families Party lines.Hockley’s sigantures of course, are subject to verification and legality by the Board of Elections.

Hockley said when he serves as Mayor he will be serving with the people of the city of White Plains and would have their best interests in mind. He told WPCNR he would begin campaigning after Labor Day, and one of the cornerstones of his campaign will be a plan to bring property taxes under control.

He said he would be concentrating on pocketbook issues that would help the citizens of White Plains get along financially. He said he would not be beholden to any particular party philosophy, and that his knowledge of the city finances gathered from his six and ½ years on the Common Council made him qualified to fix the city problems.

He thanked his supporters who helped him acquire the signatures placing him on the ballot.

Hockley had sought the Republican nomination for Mayor, but was denied consideration, though Mr. Hockley has loyally supported many of the Mayor Joseph Delfino’s initiatives: the City Center, the 221 Main hotel complex, the 1/2% increase in the sales tax, among the most significant. It is also not known whether Mayor Delfino will bankroll the Hockley run from the Mayor’s $106,000-plus Friends of Joseph Delfino political war chest that now has no war to fight.

Mr. Hockley according to the New York State Board of Elections, as of July 31, 2009, had $1,453.56 in his Citizens for Glen Hockley Campaign Fund, while Mr. Bradley had $239,643.67, (and Mr. Bradley continues to raise money).

Should the Board of Elections find Mr. Hockley’s petitions in order, the campaign will pit Mr. Hockley against Adam Bradley,

Glen Hockley, left, and Adam Bradley, right in March, 2002 when Mr. Bradley successfully fought for Mr. Hockley to be seated on the Common Council all the way to the state’s highest court.

Hockley being sworn in, March 15, 2002, after victory in New York’s highest court.

Mr. Bradley’s legal efforts on Mr. Hockley’s behalf resulted in Mr. Hockley’s ascending to the Common Council in 2002 after a legal battle up to the New York State Court of Appeals stemming from a jammed voting machine in White Plains District 18. The Court of Appeals ruled that the courts did not have the authority to call new elections to recontest District 18, allowing Mr. Hockley to assume his post on the Common Council in March 2002.

Hockley was subsequently removed from the Common Council by order of New York State Attorney General at the time, Eliot Spitzer, as a result of a quo warranto action initiated by lawyer Jeffrey Binder on behalf of former Councilman Larry Delgado, who was seated on the Council in 2003. Hockley was re-elected to the Common Council in 2005. Binder oddly enough is now organizing a fundraiser for Mr. Bradley.

White Plains Has Soft July Down 12.5% in Sales Tax Rev: Projects to $6M Deficit

Posted on August 18, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. August 18, 2009: White Plains retail sales subject to state sales tax collections continued their decline, down 12.5% year to year in the first month of the city fiscal year in July, the second straight month sales tax had declined from the previous year. This latest number continues the trend first reported by WPCNR six months ago indicating White Plains retail is running 12% behind 2007-2008 collections.

Though there are 11 months to in the fiscal year, unless the city economy picks up and vacant big retail properties are filled (former Fortunoff, Circuit City, Filene’s Basement, just three), the city now faces the prospect of being $6 Million off in projected sales tax revenues they are counting on for 2009-2010. Official figures for July 2009 were provided WPCNR by The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

If sales tax does not recover significantly (and holds at the present level), to make up that shortfall, the city would have to enact an 18% property tax increase.

The County of Westchester sales tax receipts are down 12.9% over the first six months of the county 2009 fiscal year.

Common Council President Benjamin Boykin told WPCNR in July, when the final quarter of 2008-09 fiscal year failed to meet projections of the City Finance Commissioner by $1 Million , that he is going to call for a budget review in September.

Westchester County sales tax collections in the first six months of 2009 have declined too. The county “handle” on sales tax receipts is down 13%. The county collected $33.8 Million less in fiscal 2009 at the halfway point than the county did in 2008, according to statistics from the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Office of Tax Policy Analysis.

The pace of retail sales projected by White Plains Week and WPCNR in the spring of this year continues to indicate key sales tax collection in the city are consistently 12 to 13% off.

On the county level the county as of midway is running $3.8 Million behind in sales tax receipts, 12.5% below the collection pace of last year after half of the 2009 fiscal year. If the retail trend continues, the county would face a $3.8 Million deficit in sales tax receipts for the year. The county budgeted to collect $478,235,000 in sales tax for the year.

In the first six months of 2008, Westchester County collected $271,096,156.95 in sales tax. In the first six months of 2009, they collected only $237,221,726.61, a decline in receipts of 12.5%.

This combined with obvious deficits in mortgage and hotel tax collections is not a positive trend.

In White Plains if the 12.9% fall-off in retail sales tax collections continues it means the city faces a $6 Million budget shortfall. It already has a $1 Million deficit left over from 2008-09. The city budget calls for collecting $47,250,000 in sales tax in 2009-2010. If the 12.9% decline continues, the city will only raise $41 Million in sales tax.

However, August is the second most lucrative retail sales month of the year next to the holiday season in the second quarter, so there is hope this is just a sluggish start. To correct the nearly 13% decline in July, the city would need to generate a half million dollars more in August sales tax receipts to get back on track with sales tax pace. In August, 2008, the city collected $3.9 Million in sales tax (however that was inflated by the additional ¼% sales tax added last year. The cumulative effect of a soft retail market is not easily erased.

DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION & FINANCE

OFFICE OF TAX POLICY ANALYSIS

SALES TAX MONTHLY CASH/COLLECTIONS REPORT

MONTH OF JULY 2009

CASH JULY 09 CASH JULY 08 CUMULATIVE CUMULATIVE

CASH 09 CASH 08

White Plains City $3,431,350.08 $3,938,113.71 $25,379,226.67 $26,641,410.77

Westchester Cty $31,249,530.49 $35,646,779.50 $237,221,726.61 $271,096,156.95

Pro Fastpitch Opens Championships Tomorrow–NPF Gains Prominence as Olympics Ban

Posted on August 18, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR FASTPITCH NATION. From National Pro Fastpitch, Denver, Colorado. August 18, 2009 (EDITED): On the heels of last week’s announcement from the IOC regarding their recommendation to not include softball on the 2016 slate, the National Pro Fastpitch League suddenly becomes a more important focus for the fastpitch softball community. Fans, players, manufacturers, and media outlets are all asking the question “What will become of softball at the highest level?” and wondering if the National Pro Fastpitch League has the wherewithal to step into the void that will inevitably be left by no further Olympic competition.

Cowles Cup Opening Ceremonies, August, 2004 Featuring the New York Juggernaut and The New England Riptide.

A WPCNR query to the United States Olympic Committee as well as USA Softball on whether the Committee would continue to fund the USA Softball International team efforts nationally in view of the International Olympic Competition Committee rejecting softball for the 2016 Olympics as well as the 2012 Olympics has not been responded to yet by the USOC.

“We are obviously all disappointed by the decision of the IOC to omit softball as a medal sport in Olympic competition. Knowing the enthusiasm that has been generated for this sport in the past 13 years on the coat-tails of Olympic softball, the disappointment is surely felt worldwide by athletes, fans, coaches, and organizations,” commented Cheri Kempf, NPF Commissioner and President.

Women’s fastpitch softball was first added as a full medal sport on the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta, GA. Softball remained on the slate of summer sports through the next three Games set in Sydney Australia, Athens Greece, and Beijing China. The United States captured the Gold Medal in 1996, 2000 and 2004, but fell to Japan in 2008, taking silver instead of gold for the first time in history.

“We have seen the entire sport of fastpitch softball explode in this country especially once softball became an Olympic sport. There has been overwhelming support from colleges and Universities in not only adding the sport (for some) to their competition agendas, but also in the allocation of funding to support the programs, teams, and athletes. The Women’s College World Series is second in NCAA Championships only the Women’s Final Four in popularity,” stated Kempf. “That speaks volumes for our sport.”

Women’s Professional Fastpitch has existed in the United States on and off since the early 70’s. Professional competition has remained consistently for the last 12 years in some form and the NPF is currently on its 6^th year of existence. The League currently has five teams that compete over a 40 game- 3 month regular season. The NPF Regular Season championship was just captured for the second year in a row by the Chicago Bandits. League play concludes in the coming week with the top 4 teams competing for the Championship Series Cowles Cup, which this year will be held in Akron Ohio at Firestone Stadium.

“I would like to see the support that was focused on the Olympic reinstatement be re-focused now that we know Olympic competition is no longer possible. There is absolutely no reason why women’s pro softball should not be an overwhelming success in the United States,” commented Kempf. “NPF proudly boasts the top athletes in the world. We have former Olympians that include Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman, and Crystl Bustos alongside NCAA superstars that include the likes of Angela Tincher, Megan Gibson and Caitlin Cochran. There’s no better fastpitch softball competition in the world than right here in the NPF.”

Former Gold and Silver Medalist, Crystl Bustos, retired from international competition following the 2008 Olympic Games to return to Akron Ohio to play for her former professional team. “Professional Fastpitch gave me my opportunity to be an Olympian. I was a pro before I was on the Olympic roster and it was important for me to return to Akron before retiring.” Bustos led the regular season in the top three offensive statistical categories of batting average, home runs, and RBI’s in 2009. “The competition in this League is much better than you will see with international teams and in international competition. The League has come a long way on that front,” said Bustos. “International play does not compete with what you are about to see in the NPF’s Championship Series.”

Two-time Olympic Gold Medalist and Silver Medalist in the most recent games, Cat Osterman, is a member of the Rockford Thunder. Osterman boasts a 11-1 record on the season helping to qualify her squad for the Series in Akron. “Obviously it’s sad for our sport that we are no longer included in what’s deemed the biggest sporting event internationally, but at the same time it gives us an opportunity to showcase other avenues to play post- college,” said Osterman. “The NPF allows all of the top athletes an opportunity to continue to compete at the highest level, so hopefully now we can turn the focus to our pro league in order to help the sport continue to rise.”

“The biggest sporting events in the nation are the NFL Super Bowl and the MLB World Series. There is absolutely no reason why professional fastpitch softball should not be the platform for the highest level of competition in our sport. I am confident that the NPF has the structure in place to accomplish this and I urge softball supporters to put their enthusiasm behind the efforts of the NPF and professional fastpitch.” said Kempf.

County Biz Icon, Reader’s Digest to File Bankruptcy, Restructure $1.6B Debt

Posted on August 18, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR DOLLAR DAILY. From Reader’s Digest News Release. (EDITED) August 18, 2009: The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc. (RDA), a global multi-brand media and marketing company, based in Chappaqua, New York, announced Monday it has reached an agreement in principle with a majority of its senior secured lenders on the terms of a restructuring plan to significantly reduce its debt burden and strengthen the company financially for the future. The restructuring agreement provides that the company’s senior secured lenders will exchange a substantial portion of the company’s $1.6 billion in senior secured debt for equity and provides for a transfer of ownership of the company to the lender group.

Mary Berner, RDA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said the company will continue to operate normally throughout the restructuring process. “This agreement in principle with our lenders follows months of intensive strategic review of our balance-sheet issues to financially strengthen the company,” she said. “We are gratified to have this support from our secured lender group. The company has strong brands and products, a leadership position in many markets around the world and a solid plan for the future. Restructuring our debt will enable us to have the financial flexibility to move ahead with our growth and transformational initiatives.”

The company has elected not to make a $27 million interest payment due today on its 9 percent Senior Subordinated Notes due 2017. Instead, the company is using the 30-day grace period available on the interest payment to continue discussions with its lender group and other stakeholders regarding the terms of final documentation and to gain additional support for the consensual de-leveraging transaction. Use of the 30-day grace period does not constitute a default that permits acceleration of the Senior Subordinated Notes or any other indebtedness. In addition, RDA continues to be in compliance with its financial covenants. The company’s business operations remain strong, with anticipated Fiscal 2009 revenue declines (not yet reported) in the low single digits, currency neutral, despite the global recession.

As part of the agreement in principle, RDA anticipates implementing the restructuring under court supervision through a voluntary pre-arranged filing under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which it expects to complete on an expedited basis while operating business as usual. During the 30-day grace period, the company will seek further consensus among its lenders and other stakeholders in advance of such a filing to facilitate the completion of RDA’s restructuring objectives.

The agreement in principle includes a commitment from certain members of the senior lender group to provide $150 million in new money Debtor-in-Possession (DIP) financing, convertible into exit financing upon emergence, which the company expects will ensure sufficient liquidity during the reorganization process and beyond. In addition to providing RDA with the necessary capital to emerge from Chapter 11, the arrangement also establishes the substantive terms of the $550 million in debt that will remain on RDA’s balance sheet upon emergence, a 75 percent reduction from the current $2.2 billion in debt.

As a result of the agreement reached with a majority of the senior lenders, the company expects that, subject to court approval, the vast majority of its suppliers and vendors will recover in full under a Chapter 11 plan. The Chapter 11 filing will apply only to the company’s U.S. businesses — its operations in Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia-New Zealand will not be affected. RDA’s International operations are expected to have adequate funding based on continuing operations and access to proceeds from the DIP financing.

“We thank our sponsor Ripplewood Holdings, who has provided inspired vision and stewardship over the last two and a half years, including during this process,” added Chairperson Berner. In March 2007, Ripplewood led a consortium of investors in a transaction that resulted in the company’s acquisition. All of the members of the company’s Board of Directors who have served since the March 2007 acquisition, with the exception of Berner, have resigned from the company’s Board. The two recently appointed directors also continue to serve on the Board.