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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WPCNR MILESTONES. Special to WPCNR by Peter Katz  June 2,2009– Robert “Bob” Ruger, known for decades as “Mr. White Plains” because of his dedication to public service, was honored today by the White Plains Rotary Club in a special luncheon at the Crowne Plaza.  He has been a long-time member of Rotary, and the tribute also served as a belated celebration of his 96^th birthday last December 24^th, and preview celebration of his 97^th birthday.

County Executive Andy Spano and Chairman of the County Board of Legislators Bill Ryan present a proclamation to Robert Ruger.All photos by Peter Katz

A parade of speakers was led by County Executive Andy Spano, who announced that today has been proclaimed Robert Ruger Day in Westchester. The gathering was reminded that Bob was born and raised in White Plains, graduating from the White Plains public schools before going on to attend college at Rutgers. 

Susan Katz, Executive Director of Westco Productions, congratulates Bob Ruger, who served as President of Westco’s Board of Directors

His love of acting was reviewed, along with his early efforts in summer stock, and his career in the financial world with Dun & Bradstreet. In recent years, Bob returned to his theatrical roots as President of the White Plains-based theater company, Westco Productions.

Bob received high praise for his volunteer efforts raising millions of dollars in U.S. War Bond sales during World War II, and his dedication to serving in The Salvation Army. It was noted that Bob still lives in the White Plains house in which he was born.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains congratulates honoree Robert Ruger at the Rotary luncheon.

Mayor Joe Delfino recalled serving on the Common Council alongside Bob in the 1980’s. He lauded Bob’s dedication as a Councilman, remembering that even on weekends Bob would walk the streets of the city picking up trash and removing unsightly and illegal advertising signs from telephone poles and roadway medians. Even today, Bob still serves the city as Chairman of the White Plains Traffic Commission.

Honors from the Governor, State Assembly, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate and others were presented to Bob. After a prolonged standing ovation, Bob thanked his fellow Rotarians and the guests who attended for staging a memorable event.

Left to right, White Plains Senior Traffic Planner Ed Oliva, White Plains Traffic Commissioner Tom Soyk, Robert Ruger, Common Council member Milagros Lecouna.

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WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. Statement From the Westchester County Association. June 2, 2009: The Westchester County Association (WCA)-the area’s preeminent business membership advocacy group- today said that the New York State Senate will hold consideration of the Commercial Assessment Ratio Bill (A.4588A-Bradley/S.1706-AOppenheimer) until it receives input from  a special private meeting  that the WCA will have with representatives from the county’s commercial real estate industry on Wednesday.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. WPCNR Interview with John Ioris Chair of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation. June 2, 2009: One Enchanted Evening, the first White Plains Performing Arts Center fund-raiser in two years gave the beleagured White Plains city theatre a fresh start last night, raising according to its Foundation Chair, over $50,000 towards next year’s season.

HONOREES AT WPPAC ONE ENCHANTED EVENING GALA : (L to R, Event Co-Chair Ann Bernstein, Honoree Isabel Villar, Honoree Marsha Gordon, Event Co-Chair, Susan Egginton, Honorees Barbara and Richard Dannenberg, and WPPAC Chairman John J. Ioris. Photo, Courtesy, White Plains Performing Arts Center

 John Ioris, right, and Jack Batman,left. WPCNR News Archive

John Ioris, the Chair, indicated that the WPPAC’s Executive Producer, Jack Batman would continue to be the driving creative force as the theatre moves forward, and that the number and scope of the fall season productions depended on further fundraising efforts. Ioris tentatively held out hope the current season ending would produce the theatre’s first surplus.

The $125 a ticket benefit held at the WPPAC opposite the White Plains Common Council meeting, filled the theatre close to capacity with a last minute walk-up sale according to John Ioris interviewed by WPCNR today. Ioris called the show produced by Executive Producer Jack Batman and featuring a luminescent lineup of Broadway stars and WPPAC performers a fabulous production.

He said receipts were still being counted from the last minute sales, the silent auction receipts, and raffle as of this morning. Irosis and estimated the benefit’s handle to be $50,000 plus. The 2009 Mercedes Benz C300 Sport Sedan was not given away, Ioris said,  because the 1,300 Raffle Ticket threshold (at $50 each) needed to present the motor car  was not reached.

Yes, there will be a 09-10 Season

Ioris said the Executive Committee for the Foundation would meet next week to strategize on what kind of productions will be produced in the 2009-10 season for the theatre. Ioris said the theatre was wrapping up its books on the current year and thanks to the Gala, and the savings achieved by postponing the last production of the current season, Hello, Dolly!, the theatre may show a surplus for the current year – which would be the theatre’s first “profit.”

Ioris, commenting on the upcoming Executive Committee meeting said of the fall season, “ We have to make sure it fits our business model (financially), in the number of shows produced and the size of shows.” and the schedule will be announced “a few months out.”

Batman Returns

Asked if Jack Batman, the architect of any success the theatre has had in its six years, would return in a producing role, Ioris said , “he’s still here. He’s never really been out of the picture, and he’ll be directly involved in planning the new fall season.”

Ioris did not indicate what Batman’s official title would be moving forward or elaborate on his role.

Foundation Presses On Running the Theatre. City Contract Runs 4 More Years

WPCNR asked if the city had any plans to relieve the current foundation as operators of the theatre. The White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation as a contract with the city to operate the WPPAC for four more years (having a ten year contract awarded in 2003).

Ioris said, “We’re  going to be around a long time. We’re not going anywhere.”

Cue Dolly

 Ioris said “we’re currently figuring how and when we are going to produce Hello, Dolly!  Refunds for season subscribers and ticket purchasers had been offered on the show when it was postponed officially two weeks before its opening scheduled for April 30. The theatre had asked subscribers to not ask for refunds to support the theatre and at assured them the show would be eventually produced at a future date.  

Ioris praised the work of Ann Bernstein and Susan Egginton as Co-Chairs for their work in making the gala a fiduciary hit for the theatre. “They did a terrific job,” Ioris told The CitizeNetReporter. “Subscribers came out and supported us. They were throwing checks to us at the door. They supported us.”

Ioris promised more fundraising efforts in the near future, saying the WPPAC is looking to raise a $500,000 budget.

Monday evening’s soiree honored Barbara and Richard Danneberg, Dr. Marsha Gordon, President and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester and Isabel Villar, Founding Executive Director of El Centro Hispano, Inc.

The entertainment was followed by an After Party at the 42 Restaurant, hosted by Chef Anthony Goncalves.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey June 2,2009: The residents of Winbrook got a first public look at preliminary reconstruction plans for the Winbrook complex. The design shown below was followed by Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority, explaining the project and where it stood, and closed with WPHA counsel,  William Null, explaining to the council that the WPHA needed the council to pass the zoning paperwork to pave the way for more detailed design of the project. The council voted to adjourn the public hearing and resume it on July 6.

Overhead View of Winbrook Makeover Preliminary Design Shown at Monday Evening Common Council meeting. Street to left of picture is South Lexington Avenue, targeted for affordable, moderate, middle income housing and retail according to the requested zoning “cosmetics.”

Six new buildings each about 11 stories are proposed with underground parking. The recently completely White Plains Housing Authority Headquarters would likely be raised and moved to one of the new structures. The new buildings are to be built one at a time. The attorney for the Housing Authority said Council approval of the zoning cosmetics needed to pave the way for the mixed use project rebuild was necessary before a developer could be selected from among 30 applications received thus far.

Commuter Parking Lot on Bank Street to Close: Boykin.

Property Taxes, Loan Interest Cost City $362,659 in State Urban Renewal Capital Grant Money.

In another intriguing development quietly passed on the consent agenda, and not explained in any depth on last night’s telecast, Council President Benjamin Boykin advised White Plains commuters the Bank Street lot will closed by July 31, requiring commuters now using that open air lot by ther Metro North tracks to make other parking or station arrangements.  

55 Bank Street Commuter Lot shown adjacent to MetroNorth tracks, one year ago. (Presently it provides about 300 parking places for daily commuters. The lot was sold to LCOR for $16.5 Million, to build the 55 Bank Street 500-unit plus 20% affordable housing project, with the city responsible for property taxes on the commuter lot until the building project began. Project has been stalled due to credit market freeze up and city is left holding the bag on property taxes, necessitating burning $116, 560 in property tax payments

On the consent agenda, the city agreed to fund property tax payments for the use of the Bank Street open air commuter parking lot (due to a shortfall in revenues from the commuter lot, according to accompanying Urban Renewal Agency work), The council authorized  transfer of Urban Renewal  Capital Grant Funds would have to pay $116,560 in property tax payments on the LCOR  commuter parking lot property, due to LCOR’s inability to get the project financed in a timely fashion, and revenues not meeting property tax obligations on the property, which the city had agreed to pay.

Longview Garage Burns Interest

 In a related development involving similar dashed expectations of a much ballyhooed city project,  the Common Council  approved using the New York State Capital Grant fund to pay $246,099 in interest on the Cromwell place property bonds used to purchase the property for $4,000,000 to arrange to build the Longview Avenue Garage (at a bond cost of $19 Million). The city has been unable to sell the Cromwell Place properties acquired to build the Longview Avenue Parking garage for White Plains Hospital Medical Center so the city has been unable to pay off the $4 Million loan on the property through a sale the city thought would take place by now, covering the bond expenditure — according to council meeting documents supplied with the agenda to the press. 

The economic crisis of the last 11 months, have resulted in a Washington D.C. and Albany delay in acquiring  HUD approval of the project to be built by Kensington Properties. A public hearing for July 6 was scheduled for yet another site plan extension on the troubled Kensington project.

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WPCNR ARMCHAIR PRESSBOX.  June 1, 2009 UPDATED WITH ROB CREWS INSIDE INTERVIEW: The sport the national press never reports on, covers or respects —  fastpitch softball – showcased two classics yesterday afternoon on ESPN2. First came the donnybrook of the ages – the 4 hour and 45 minute Georgia-Washington game  that went 10 innings, won by the Bulldogs on a sacks-full 3-2 walk on a classic full-count battle on top of 4 innings of courageous relief by Freshperson Erin Arevalo, who had not pitched in two months – but was ready!

This nail-biter was followed by the Florida-Alabama Semi-final that was won when Westchester’s own Ali Gardner of Waccabuc  connected with an opposite field 2 out Bags-Jammed Jackout over the left field fence.

Ms. Gardner and  Alabama’s Cassie Reilly-Boccia, of Yorktown are both proteges of the hitting guru, Rob Crews, the local “batologist” who has developed their swings to the extent that the two play with the elite of the nation’s fastpitch teams. Rob also developed the swing of the other local legend, Maddy Coon who played for Horace Greeley, and now plays for Stamford. 

Mr. Crews told WPCNR he was there in Oklahoma City to see the electrifying Gardner clout, he tells WPCNR, “I was there to see it. Spoke to (Florida) Coach Tim Walton and he informed me of his decision to make some stride and timing adjustments. She looked good in the ab’s leading up to the grand slam. What I appreciate most is that even through the struggle Ali kept a great attitude. That is why I nicknamed her Showtime. She is one heck of a performer.” The Batologist can be reached at www.complete-game.net.

The Longest Fastpitch World Series Game Ever Played — First of an Unforgettable Double Dip yesterday in Oklahoma City at the media-challenged Womens World Series.

Ms. Gardner in her senior year at Florida is one of three of  local Batologist Rob Crews’ groomed hitting stars playing in the elite of the nation’s fastpitch teams. (Crews is the hitting guru who groomed Ali’s portside  swing over the years, and the swings of Maddy Coon of Horace Greeley (late of Stamford)  and  Cassie Reilly Boccia, of Yorktown, now frosh firstbaser for Alabama, whose club was one out away from extending Florida another game last night, until Gardner took Bama out for the game-winning 4-run homer, the Gator form John Jay, snapping victory from the jaws of defeat.

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Both Ms. Garnder’s game and the Washington game were fraught with the tension, drama, and precision strategy that makes the fastpitch game compelling.   

Gardner began her rise to fastpitch prominence playing travel softball with one of the first travel teams in the 1990s, the Hudson River Bandits started by Chappaqua’s Rudy Nettick, whose daughter Margaret pitched for Horace Greeley.  The organization, along with the legendary Diamond Dolls, were the swashbucklerettes of fastpitch, with the best uniforms, the best logos, and professional atitude far beyond their years. The young players were taught the game right and played up and down the eastern seaboard. The Bandits disbanded in 2001, but the memories of the red and gray came alive this last week when Maddy (Coon), and Ali starred in the NCAAs.

The games over the last four days televised on ESPN2 were marvelous – from the electrifying homers, to the incredible defensive play (check out the throw-out Arizona State’s second-baser  on a relay made to gun down the winning run at the plate last Thursday against Washington—the ASU catcher made an incredible leap and tag).

However, you knew nothing about those games if you read the local press. What did the Times cover yesterday?  The French Open. The NBA Finals. The NHL Stanley Cup Finals.  Soccer. Bicycle races. Golf.  and the Mets and Yankees of course, who could use some starting pitchers who go more than 6 innings and throw more than 60 pitchers. 

The Yanks and Mets  should sign up Washington Huskies’  Danielle Lawrie — 150 pitches yesterday in 100 degree heat in Oklahoma City – and then she pitched the second game Washington had to play three hours later and won it, 9-3, throwing another 135 pitches. And she went again Monday night. 

 I don’t want to hear the  flackwriters write  how tough the Met starter was in “gutting” through 6 innings with a stomach virus. Give me a break, and the best bullpen in baseball. Give me that Huskie pitcher Erin Arevalo in a tough spot any day. That was heart!

The Times did not even have a correspondent in Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series. Pathetic. You would think that the College Women’s World Series warranted some coverage with local New Yorkers making their mark.

Is there a conspiracy to prevent fastpitch softball from growing and a deliberate intent by the networks, the sports press to prevent the National Pro Fastpitch league from becoming successful by not covering it?

Obviously.

Can the NCAA and American Softball Association work with National Pro Fastpitch and promote it so this wonderful sport can grow?

It could, but they do not.

What do you think?

Tomorrow the Fastpitch Sectionals continue around the county with White Plains playing New Rochelle over on O’Donnell’s Bluff at WPHS. Come on out and see some real ball up close and personal — without paying $50 a seat and $5 for a soda.