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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. From White Plains Public Access Television. April 21, 2009: Due to system rewiring and design this week, there will be no programming on the public (Verizon 45, Cablevision 76) and government channels (Verizon 47, Cablevision 75) until the evening of Friday, April 23.
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WPCNR BACK ROOM BULLETIN. By John F. Bailey. April 21, 2009: The White Plains Democratic City Committee, as has been reported previously by WPCNR, nominated New York State Assemblyman Adam Bradley to run for Mayor of White Plains in the fall, and agreed with the Party Nominating Committee choices of David Buchwald, a tax attorney, Beth Smayda, a financial marketing executive and analyst for MBIA, the insurance company, and Tom Roach, local lawyer and incumbent councilperson to run for a third four-year term.
Bradley as yet has no opposition for Mayor, and neither do the three candidates nominated for Common Council. To date no Republican standard-bearer has stepped forward saying “I’m running for Mayor,” or for Council.
Don Hughes said he was going to floor-challenge for a council slot at the Democrat City Committee Convention last night, but his candidacy was rejected.
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey April 20, 2009 UPDATED 3:45 P.M. E.D.T: Four days after announcing Hello, Dolly would be postponed exclusively to The New York Times, the news appearing in Saturday’s Times Westchester Section, and in the paper’s website, after telling WPCNR nothing had changed with the show or the theatre to WPCNR Friday afternoon, the White Plains Performing Arts Center issued a news release Monday announcing all performances of Hello, Dolly (April 29 to May 17)are cancelled due to financial reasons, without explaining what those financial reasons are, and announced a gala fundraiser for the theatre to be held June 1.
Persons who hold tickets to Hello, Dolly may receive full refund of their tickets or put their purchase of tickets as credit to the fall season, according to the news release, which the former Executive Producer, apparently without a contract will be putting together. No resigning of Jack W. Batman, the Executive Producer has been announced. The release does not explain how a refund may be obtained.
Calling the theater at 914-328-1600 and pressing Extension10, gets you the general manager of the Theater, Kathy Davison, who is heard in a taped message, telling the caller that “all ticketholders” will be receiving a letter “perhaps as soon as today (Monday) explaining the reasons for the postponement, where the White Plains Performing Arts Center goes from here, and what to do with your Hello, Dolly tickets. ” You are not told on the tape what to do with them.
Calling the box office, the caller receives a message making no reference to the Dolly situation.
WPCNR had learned through sources over a month ago that the show had been cancelled (musicians who had been released from the show), yet the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation would not confirm the show was in trouble and was supposedly still going on as of last Friday. Ticketholders were not notified, so imagine their surprise reading about the postponement in The Times Westchester Section Saturday.
The Chairman of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation which still has four years to run on a contract to run the theatre with the City of White Plains, had not responded to WPCNR e-mail requests Saturday morning as to whether Jack Batman, the theatre’s Executive Producer through March 31 when his contract expired, was still being paid or acting pro buono by the foundation. His status continues unclear.
The Foundation also did not respond to WPCNR’s questions asked Saturday, and repeated today, whether Mr. Batman and Mr. Ioris, the Foundation chair were seeking to purchase the theatre from the city; whether, as Louis Cappelli spokesperson Geoffrey Thompson told WPCNR, Mr. Cappelli, the theatre’s number one financial “angel,” has informed the Foundation he will not support the theatre if the city withdrew its support; or whether Mr.Cappelli was seeking to purchase the theatre back from the city.
The city is currently attempting to close a reported $12.4 Million budget gap, and sale of the theatre would certain close some of that gap, observers on Cablevision and Verizon’s White Plains Week, the city news roundup show have noted.
In the news release issued today, Jack W. Batman, apparently is still running things from a production standpoint in some capacity, saying he would announce a fall season in late May or June and sell subscriptions then.
According to the news release, and WPCNR quotes:
In making the announcement, Mr. Batman said, “With the economy faltering and in my effort to be fiscally prudent, it is necessary to step back and re-evaluate our plans so that we may continue to produce the high-quality shows that our audiences have told me they want. We’ve built a lot of momentum over the last two seasons – a very short time by anyone’s reasoning. In order to keep on an upward course, while all around us the ground is shaking, we think it best to re-schedule our production of Hello, Dolly! I don’t want to cut corners and give our audiences a production that is less than it deserves to be or what they’ve come to expect. New playing dates for Hello, Dolly! will be announced at a later time.”
The not-for-profit White Plains Performing Arts Center will announce its 2009-2010 season in late May, or early June. Subscriptions go on sale at that time.
Refunds Offered — Plea to Apply to New Season
“Hello, Dolly! ticket holders will receive full value and may request a refund or apply the unused amount to a new or renewal subscription,” said Mr. Batman, “but it will certainly help our cash flow more if ticket holders apply the amount owed them to a subscription for the new season of Broadway Classics, which we intend to make more affordable than ever as part of our own economic stimulus package.”
Mr. Batman continued, “Over the past two seasons the White Plains Performing Arts Center has enjoyed extraordinary critical acclaim and audience support, with subscriptions growing with every show and our seven major musical productions on budget and selling well. But the wobbly economy has recently stepped into a leading role here and we find that our contributed income is not where it should be. As I tell our audiences before nearly every performance, ticket sales only cover 30-35% of our annual operating expenses. Every other dollar needs to be contributed.
To help us over this little bump in the road, we will be hosting a fundraising event, One Enchanted Evening, on Monday, June 1, 2009 as a benefit for the theatre. Part of the evening’s activities, which also features cocktails, dinner and a silent auction, will be an entertainment featuring some of the stars of the musicals that we’ve produced over the last two years, plus other celebrity appearances. Benefit tickets are on sale now at the box office.”
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WPCNR BEYOND THE GAME NEWS. April 20,2009: Johnny Vorperian, White Plains own Voice of Sportson the public access program, BEYOND THE GAME, interviews two NFL prospects about what they have done to prepare themselves to “make” the NFL Draft list Friday night at 10 P.M. on Cablevision Channel 76 and Verizon FIOS Channel 45. The NFL Draft is coming up Saturday, April 25.
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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Michael Sereda. April 19, 2009: I just came back from two games at CitiField. I was so furious about the prices and the locations of my seats, I went online to look for criticism of the park. I came across your archived story about the park’s dimensions and seating.
Too late for me, though.
CitiField Catbird Seat. Night Owl’s Eyeview.
(WPCNR wrote:) However, if you’re in the decks, you are set way back starting well back of the field box level. Not good. This is done to accommodate sky boxes on the mezzaniene levels. If you compare the new ballparks ROK has built, the aim is to create more field level boxes (expensive seats) while stacking the upper decks high, slanted and back away from the foul lines.
When I bought my tickets (Caesar’s Club Gold) and (Promenade Club Gold) I truly believed I would be on top of the action. How wrong I was!! Unfortunately, I did not see your story until the day after my trip, but now am much wiser. I was quite angry when I arrived at the park.
Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field from the Upper Deck.
Just thought I’d pass along a good word. I was the victim of the baseball equivalent of three-card monte.
John, I believe at Shea (Stadium), I was closer at a steeper angle. At Shea, I would sit in the loge reserve. I usually only purchased a single seat. (I go to the games buy myself – from Massachussetts , keep score in a real scorebook. (The programs are expensive and they don’t have enough room to write down all the necessary game data.) At Shea, because I was sitting by myself I usually got great seats. There is always a single seat in most sections.
Anyway, I was reading all the stories about how “intimate” CitiField was. I truly believe this characterization is nonsense. Maybe the price I paid for the tickets got me furious. You’re right. I am paying more for less. At Shea, for $38, I would sit in the loge reserved right near the plate. The CitiField equivalent is no longer affordable at any level.
At CitiField for Wednesday’s game I sat in Level 300 (Caesar’s Club) Section 311, Row 10 and Seat 20. Perhaps not a “bad” seat in an absolute sense, but I paid $150, including “fees” buying directly from Mets online. Photo By Mike Sereda
For $150 I should be next to the dugout. My view of the scoreboard that has the lineups was cut off. To view the scoreboard completely, I had to leave my seat and walk down the rows. Based on my assumption, those fans, those fans seating farther down the line in the SAME level wouldn’t be able to see it at all. Photo by Mike Sereda
Thursday’s game, I had a seat in the first row of the Upper Deck. Level 400 Section 418, Row 1, Seat 8. $100, including “fees.” I was close to the plate, but high up. Again, the price did not seem fair. Photo by Mike Sereda
View out to Right, Section 418 Upper Deck. Photo by Mike Sereda
I bought two regular hot dogs, a knish and a small soda, $16.00. Ouch. No one had any salt packets for the knish. There is no way on God’s Green Earth that I’m going to buy any of the designer food. I can’t even imagine those prices.
Parking: I am not cheap, just frugal. I don’t park at Shea/Citi. I drive from my Queens motel and park in the 12-hour municipal lot in
The ballpark itself was OK. Good circulation, rest rooms large, enough toilets, clean.
The ads on ballpark sufaces were overwhelming. They are senses’ battering. The owners in the 50s and 60s and 70smade a conscious decision to get rid of ads because they were tacky. Fenway’s green monster had no ads. Now it’s plastered with them. The curren owners, forced by the economies caused by free agency, have put everything up for sale.
From my view on Wednesday and Thursday, there were a fair number of empty seats in those super expensive seats behind the plate on the field. Maybe rich folks don’t want to endure the cold of an April night.
In summary, I feel that I am already paying a premium to see my favorite team (live and in person) because I have to travel down from Massachusetts: four hours of driving one way, gas, tolls, motel room, food not at the ballpark like breakfast and lunch.
As I said to a friend, I’m changing the fan’s chant of “Let’s Go Mets” to the more appropriate “Stick ‘em Up.”
Furiously yours,
Michael Sereda
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. April 18, 2009. UPDATED 1:30 P.M. E.DT.: The last scheduled big show of the 2009 season of the White Plains Performing Arts Center scheduled to open April 30 is no longer selling tickets on the White Plains Performing Arts Center website.
Geoffrey Thompson, spokesperson for Cappelli Enterprises, told WPCNR today that Cappelli Enterprises, the major sponsor, supporter and angel of the White Plains Performing Arts will not fund the theater if the City of White Plains withdraws its financial support, now budgeted for $142,000 in the new 2009-2010 city budget released last week.
WPCNR has asked whether Cappelli Enterprises would purchase back the theatre space, and have asked Mr. Thompson if Cappelli Enterprises would match whatever funds the city eventually decides to use to support the theater.
John Ioris, the head of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation has not responded to a query on how theatregoers could obtain refunds or will be accommodated now that Hello, Dolly production appears off the WPPAC Schedule.
Ticket sales for Hello Dolly have stopped online, just one day after the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation head advised WPCNR Friday afternoon by e-mail whether any decisions had been reached on the future of the Performing Arts Center, saying,”Nothing has changed since our last communication. We’ll let you know if anything new occurs. Many thanks.”
WPCNR learned a month ago the show had been cancelled but for the last month, the WPPAC management has insisted the show would go on in some form, perhaps with a substitute show, and has continued to sell tickets. The website Saturday morning has no mention of any upcoming Hello Dolly show, and there is no mention of how subscribers and ticketholders compensating options.
WPCNR has contacted the White Plains Performing Arts Center Foundation Chair, John Ioris, to confirm the official “cancellation” of Hello, Dolly, and for clarification of the refund policy. Previous WPCNR inquiries asking if the Foundation was attempting to purchase the theatre from the city have not been answered, and the status of Executive Producer Jack Batman (whose contract expired at the end of March, have not been clarified.
The New York Times Westchester Section reports this morning that Entergy funding for the theater may be reduced and that Cappelli Enterprises — the major supporter of the theater since its inception six years ago– will not support the theater unless the City of White Plains does. The Times reports in error that the city had cut all funding for the theater ($142,000 still remains in the2009-10 proposed budget at this time).
The Times reports Mr. Batman as confident he (Batman)would be able to mount a fall season.
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From New York State Department of Labor. April 16, 2009: Private sector employment in the Hudson Valley decreased 13,500, or 1.8 percent, to 730,700 for the 12-month period ending March 2009. Employment gains were limited to educational and health services (+4,900). The largest declines occurred in trade, transportation and utilities (-6,500), manufacturing (-3,000), professional and business services (-2,700), natural resources, mining and construction (-2,600), financial activities (-1,200), information (-1,200), and leisure and hospitality (-900). The government sector added 500 jobs over the year.
Labor market analyst observations:
The Hudson Valley has long enjoyed lower unemployment rates than other parts of the state. However, the region’s unemployment rate has skyrocketed to record-high levels in recent months. With companies anticipating deeper and longer deterioration of market conditions, more layoff announcements are on the horizon. This will put upward pressure on the unemployment rate.
The recession has affected every local industry sector, with the exception of educational and health services. The latter, an industry that is less sensitive to economic conditions but more to demographic trends, has performed remarkably well. For the 12-month period ending in March 2009, the sector recorded a gain of 4,900 jobs, which is the largest March over the year increase since 1999.
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WPCNR ON THE HIGH SEAS. A Personal Account of the Maersk Alabama Attack in the Indian
The crewman who was aboard the Maersk Alabama advises other crews to have
1. A well-fortified location with food and water supply on board.
2. Kill all the ship’s lights (on attack);
3. Leave alarms going, to cover your evasive movements.
4. Have flashlights and radios available and sound powered phones.
Herewith, the eye-witness you-are-there account as the pirate attack unfolds:
We are on the way to
I wanted to let you know some of the lessons we learned so you guys can better prepare yourselves for something similar (a pirate attack).
The only guys captured by the pirates were on the bridge: the Captain, Third Mate, and 2 Able-Bodied Seamen.
I don’t know why they stayed on the bridge until the pirates got up there. Then they (the pirates) had keys to everything and were able to unlock everyone’s rooms. The pirates got up to the bridge very quickly once they were onboard. We had a locked cage door over the ladder well from main deck, but it only took a second for them to shoot it off.
They then got to the bridge up the outside ladders. By that time, we had taken control of the engine and steering down below. One crewman stayed in the Engine Control Room and the Chief Mate was out on deck tracking the pirates’ movement.
We kept swinging the rudder side-to-side (from the Engine Control room). The pirates’ boat capsized, though I’m not sure exactly when or what caused it.
After about 20 minutes the engine was killed, I don’t know by whom. At that point I shut off the air bottles and the Chief Mate killed power. The Chief Mate was also able to get outside and trip the fuel shutoff for the EDG.
The pirates were very reluctant to go into the dark.
We will be looking at a way to shut off the EDG from the Engine Control Room in the future.
All the crew had been mustered and secured in the steering gear (section of the ship).
The previous day we had welded a padeye on the inside of the hatch to the fantail so it was secured from the inside. The only problem with the steering gear was the heat and shortage of water. In the future we will store food and water in various spots for emergency usage. I think we will also run a fresh water line into the steering gear.
We were able to make a run from the steering gear to the Engine Room water fountain and fill up some empty oil sample bottles we had back there. The Chief Mate was able to get some fruit and sodas from the galley and drop them down the line standpipe.
The pirates sent the Third Mate unescorted to go look for crewmembers, so he was able to get away.
One of the pirates then went with an Seaman (hostage) down to the Engine Room to look for people. The Chief Mate jumped him in the dark and we took him prisoner in the steering gear. No one else (pirates) came down into the Engine Room.
As the day went on, the pirates became desperate to get out of there. Their boat was sunk, and they couldn’t get our ship moving.
The Captain talked them into taking the MOB boat. The three remaining pirates went in the MOB boat with Phillips. We were then able to negotiate with them over the radio. We dropped some food, water and diesel to them.
We started getting the plant back on line. Unfortunately, the MOB boat wouldn’t start.
A couple of guys got in the lifeboat and dropped it. They motored over and traded the lifeboat for the MOBboat. We were supposed to exchange their guy for the Captain (Phillips), but they ended up keeping him. They motored off in the lifeboat. They had no way of getting back on board, so we followed them.
The Navy showed up a few hours later. We stayed close by for some time, but then the Navy asked us to head out.
I heard that several other pirate vessels were heading our way and the Navy wanted us out of the way.
That’s about it.
It was a pretty stressful situation. I have to say I am impressed with how the entire crew responded.
We didn’t have anybody who wanted to give up
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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS By John F. Bailey. April 16,2009: At the same time New York State legislative leaders and property tax reform advocates were declaring the legislature would provide property tax reform in this session of the legislature, the New York State Office of Real Property Services posted its new, lowered STAR BASIC and ENHANCED EXEMPTION tables on its website Tuesday, raising White Plainsians property taxes.
The ORPS-posting made it official that the state government has quietly increased property taxes in yet another creative way, across the state, raising another $1.2 Billion or so. The exact figure was not available.
The new Exemptions, as first reported by WPCNR and
The STAR BASIC EXEMPTION for under-65 homeowners, (which you deduct from your home assessed value for 2009) is now $2,960 for the City of
Geoffrey Gloak of the Department of Real Property Services told WPCNR the exemptions would decline an additional 11% next year, pending action to speed up or slow down the rate at which the exemption is being lowered.
As a public service to the rest of Westchester County, WPCNR offers the following new Exemptions for the cities and towns in the rest of Westchester:
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WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. From the White Plains BID. April 15, 2009: The White Plains Business Improvement District (BID) today officially launched its new website, www.WPBID.com, dedicated to the promotion of business, cultural arts, and retailers in downtown
The BID Card is introduced on the new website, providing discounts at local businesses
“Our new website provides important services for downtown business and residents,” said Rick Ammirato, Executive Director of the White Plains BID. “It is a great new resource by which all of our constituents can find and share information about downtown White Plains, as we continue together to strengthen and deepen our commitment to businesses and our economy.”
Services include marketing and promotion of our member businesses and sponsored events, streetscape improvements and enhancements; sidewalk cleaning and beautification; special events and advocacy on behalf of member businesses
The White Plains Downtown BID encompasses 145 properties with approximately 5.5 million square feet of office and retail space. Membership includes small business owners, national retailers, Fortune 500 Companies, and industry leading commercial property owners.
The BID’s Board of Directors represents the diversity of business interests in the Central Business District and is committed to creating an environment conducive to economic development and business growth.
For more information, visit www.WPBID.com.