Hudson Health Plan Honored this Evening

Posted on November 2, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SOUTH END TIMES. November 2, 2006: The Westchester Hispanic Coalition salutes Hudson Health Plan as its corporate honoree at the Dia De Los Muertos Gala tonight at the C.V. Rich Mansion in White Plains from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Hudson Health Plan is a not-for-profit managed care organization that provides free and low-cost health insurance to low-income residents in Westchester County and elsewhere in the Hudson Valley.

Hudson Health Plan is committed to enrolling everyone who is eligible for Medicaid Managed Care, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus programs, and has demonstrated expertise in reaching out to the Latino community throughout its coverage area. “Honoring Hudson Health Plan is a way of recognizing its commitment to providing quality health care in a culturally appropriate manner and treating the Latino community with dignity and respect,” says Graciela Heymann, Executive Director of the Westchester Hispanic Coalition, a private not-for-profit human services agency dedicated to the economic and social development of the Latino community.

Hudson Health Plan and the Westchester Hispanic Coalition share a similar objective in their efforts to provide access to quality health care for all members of the community. “I deeply respect Hudson Health Plan’s efforts in advocating for universal health care,” says Ms. Heymann.

Georganne Chapin, President and CEO of Hudson Health Plan, expressed her delight in receiving this year’s corporate award. “I am thrilled to receive this award on behalf of Hudson Health Plan. Both the Westchester Hispanic Coalition and Hudson Health Plan encompass a strong belief that everybody should have health coverage and access to excellent health care. The Westchester Hispanic Coalition works with great dedication and advocates for resources that are sorely needed by many Latinos in this county.”

About Hudson Health Plan

Founded in the mid-1980s by a coalition of community health centers, Hudson Health Plan’s Mission Statement is “to promote and provide access to excellent health services for all people.” The Tarrytown-based not-for-profit organization provides services to more than 60,000 members in New York’s Hudson Valley. Hudson Health Plan has been driving health care innovation by developing technology to support clinical quality initiatives and streamline the enrollment process for Medicaid Managed Care, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus.

Hudson Health Plan is the winner of the 2006 Poughkeepsie Journal Diversity in the Workplace Award; the 2005 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Corporate Award for Diversity from the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester; the 2005 Advancements in Health Care Award from Hudson Valley Life and Hudson Valley Parent; and the 2003 Community Leadership Award from the New York Health Plan Association.

To Accept the MOI or Not to Accept the MOI. That is the Question.

Posted on November 2, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. November 2, 2006: The Common Council has before it, a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of White Plains and the New York Presbyterian Hospital. The council is being asked by the Mayor to accept the Memorandum, which is a mechanism for subdividing the New York Presbyterian Hospital Property into a 125unit subdivision adjacent to Bryant Avenue, while leasing over to the city 5.5 acres of parkland for ballfields or open space. Should the Common Council enter in to the Memorandum of Understanding or should they throw it out? You make the call in the Poll at the right.

Court Street Extension Road Bed Connected to Hamilton

Posted on November 2, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE NIGHT. By a WPCNR Roving Photographer. November 2, 2006: Crews worked late into the evening Wednesday night pouring over 900,000 yards of concrete to complete the roof of the Ritz-Carlton parking garage under the Court Street extension. The thick slab (appearing to be about three feet in depth), will eventually support the new extension of Court Street right of way to the Ritz-Carlton hotel and condominiums. The slab needed to be poured all at one time, and crews were prepared to work until it was done — regardless of weather or nightfall. Thanks to some rented portable lights, none of that came to pass and it was completed around 8:00 P.M.

Court Street Extension One Step Closer for White Plains Kind. Crews smoothing rooftop to the below surface Ritz-Carlton Parking Garage catacombs at 221 Main Street between Hamilton Avenue and Main Wednesday evening. Photo by Don Hughes, a WPCNR Roving Photographer

They Serve who Pour Concrete By Night: Smoothing out the new Court Street extension roadbed-to-be. Bar Building is in the background. Photo by Don Hughes, a WPCNR Roving Photographer.

City Got $1.6M in MortTax in June.$3.1 M Coming.Law for Monthly Pay Intro’d

Posted on November 1, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR County-Clarion Ledger. By John F. Bailey. November 1, 2006, UPDATED 1:13 P.M. EST: Westchester County Commissioner of Finance Peter Pucillo reported to WPCNR this morning the County wired the City of White Plains $1,622,879.57 in city mortgage tax payments on June 15 of this year, and on December 15, Pucillo said the city will receive a mortgage tax payment of $3,071,880.29, for a grand total of $4,694,759.86 in mortgage taxes for the year 2006, confirming previous WPCNR reports.

WPCNR also has learned the city and all cities and towns in Westchester may soon be getting their mortgage tax payments monthly. George Oros of the County Board of Legislators has submitted a draft resolution to committee that if enacted, would pay cities and towns their mortgage tax payments monthly, according to a legislative aid to Chairman of the Board of Legislators, Bill Ryan. The resolution is now in committee for discussion. The measure would sharply increase city cash flows, which currently with the exception of Yonkers receive mortgage tax payments every six months.

Westchester County Clerk Timothy Idoni yesterday assured the City of White Plains they have only to contact his office to obtain figures on how much they are owed in mortgage taxes by the county. Idoni told WPCNR that his County Clerk office is only one day behind in recording mortgage taxes owed the city. Idoni said, contrary to what the city reported last summer, that the county pays White Plains mortgage tax it is owed twice a year. Photo Capture from Westchester County Website.

Idoni was responding to complaints made this summer by Mayor Joseph Delfino and City Commissioner of Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood at a meeting of the City Budget and Management Committee that the county was unable to give the city figures on how much the county owes White Plains in mortgage taxes, handicapping the city ability to budget and plan, and that the county was holding the money to earn interest on the float.

Everything Up to Date at 148 Martine.

Thanks to Idoni Initiative.

Idoni, who took over the County Clerk position from Leonard Spano announced the Clerk’s Office under his leadership has caught up with the backlog of transactions that was a year behind in processing mortgages and taxes last year at this time.

“When I got here they were 4-1/2 months behind (in processing mortgages and mortgage tax payments). As of today we are 1 day behind,” Idoni said. He said he put together “a good management program in March, studied the problem, and whittled it down over a period of six months. The backlog had been in place for three years. We got rid of it in six months. The original cause of the backlog was the massive number of refinancings done in the early part of the decade, which brought the number of papers in from an average of 500 papers a day to be processed to close to a thousand a day. Right now it’s around 520 a day in deeds, mortgages. Every paper has to be processed. We have 25 people doing that work there’s a lot of computer entry. It’s hard.”

Idoni was asked if the county was going to continue paying the city its mortgage taxes only once a year as was reported at the meeting of the Budget and Management Committee where the Mayor and Commissioner Cuneo-Howard lodged the complaint against the county.

Up to the Board of Legislators to send Cities Tax Checks More Often.

“Actually, they get paid twice a year,” Idoni reported. “That is a decision that has to be made by the Board of Legislators. The state recently changed this in the spring that allows the counties to distribute the money on a more frequent basis, either quarterly or monthly.”

Idoni explains — “Everyone with the exception of Yonkers because they had the state law changed a couple of years ago, receives their mortgage tax recording taxes, White Plains, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, twice a year, and all the towns as well. Yonkers gets it quarterly. Until this spring the county was prohibited from doing it more frequently. They now have the option at the discretion of the County Board of Legislators of course with the signoff of the County Executive to do it more often, once a month if they wish to do that. It would have to be done by the Board of Legislators, not by this office.”

Idoni said his office could process White Plains (and other city and town payments) as often as the County Board tells them to do process it: “The issue is cash flow for the county, and things of that sort.”

Iodoni said the city gets payments in June and December, the next payment to White Plains is due in December.

City mortgage tax payments owed the City of White Plains, obtained from the County Clerk’s Office by Don Hughes (as a favor to the city), two weeks ago total $4.6 Million. Hughes said he suggested to Executive Officer Paul Wood that he could attempt to get the figures from the Clerk’s Office for the city, and Hughes said Wood agreed that would be helpful to the city, so Hughes went ahead and worked with the County Clerk’s Office to obtain the estimate. County Commissioner of Finance Pucillo’s confirmation of the payment of $4.7 Million for the year shows Mr. Hughes figure was “on the money.”

Idoni said all White Plains has to do is call his office for a monthly estimate, which he said many finance commissioners (around the county) do.

Mortgage Taxes expected to decline.

Idoni said “The number (in 2006) has gone up slightly because of our expediting the process. It will go down significantly next year (2007), I predict, based on two things. 1.) Because we’ve cleaned up the backlog of old mortgages and 2.) the market is slowing, so we’re projecting 2/3 of what they received this year for next year. This is just a function of the market conditions and a cleanup of our backlog.”

At the Budget & Management Committee meeting where the Mayor and his Commissioner of Finance revealed the backlog, they said the city had no idea of actually how much mortgage taxes were owed the city and they could not get the figures from the Clerk’s office.

Idoni said White Plains was much harder to predict mortgage tax receipts for the year due to the large amount of commercial real estate.

Draft Resolution to Increase Payments to Monthly In the Maw.

WPCNR contacted the Chairman of the Board of Legislators, Bill Ryan, Legislator to ascertain whether the county is moving to increase the frequency of the mortgage tax payments. Susan Kirkpatrick, an aide to Legislator Ryan reported that a draft resolution has been put in committee that would pay the mortgage tax monthly.

“No More Excuses.” BOE Sees BOCES Data Increase Ridgeway ELA Pass Rate to 76%

Posted on October 31, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 31, 2006 UPDATED NOVEMBER 1, 2006. 1:30 PM EST: For ten years the White Plains City School District has said their data processing department does not have the ability to track students by grade longitudinally or provide test results profiles. Within two weeks that handicap to progress will be swept away.

The processes using the BOCES Data Warehouse piloted by Ridgeway School last year were credited Wednesday by Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors for increasing Ridgeway performance on the 4th Grade ELA tests in 2006 from 63% passing in 2005 to 76% passing in 2006.

WPCNR asked the Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors Wednesday morning if going to the BOCES Data Warehouse program, was his decision. He shared the credit, saying “It was really a group of us, looking at the best way to make good use of data that we came to a consensus that we should be working with BOCES using their Data Warehouse with ours. So it wasn’t any one person, but all of us working together to do the right thing.” Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The 63% to 76% passing upgrade in one year in Ridgeway ELA 4th Grade scores is unofficially the most startling year-to-year increase in ELA Test efficiency since the city school district has been administering the state assessments. On November 7 the rest of the district schools will be given the keys to the Data Warehouse magic in meetings with the elementary schools to show principals, department heads and individual teachers how they can access BOCES tool can be used to elevate individual and group performances on the State Assessments.

Maureen McCarthy of BOCES Lower Hudson Regional Information Center, right, presents the BOCES Data Warehouse perfomance evaluation system to the Board of Education Monday evening. Photo, WPCNR News

The BOCES Lower Hudson Regional Information Center will be introducing elementary and middle school principals and teachers to how their faculty may access BOCES Data Warehouse. The Warehouse enables teachers to pull up test analyses of their students compared to statewide test scores. The same program enables them to isolate what questions the majority of their students are missing on assessment tests and pinpoint the skills needing improvement. The Data Warehouse system has the facility of enabling teachers to retrieve lesson plans on line and tools to develop the skill sets students need to answer the questions they consistently have missed on state assessments

The Board of Education received an online preview Monday evening of this new tool that White Plains teachers will have at their command from Maureen McCarthy and Mark Samis of LHRIC, the informational arm of BOCES.

The Warehouse Data system was piloted last year at Ridgeway School in an effort to improve that school scores on the 4^th Grade ELA Tests. (In the 2004-2005 school year 65% of Ridgeway ELA students passed the ELA Statement Assessment Test, 35% failed.) Principal Yvette Avila explained to WPCNR that she and her staff met regularly with their elementary teachers, analyzed results of the tests, identifying the questions and the skills the questions were testing to identify skill areas the Ridgeway faculty needed to improve to upgrade test scores. Pretests were administered. Results analyzed and lessons and test questions retrieved from the BOCES database to attack identified skill shortfalls and sharpen students’ abilities on specific kinds of questions they were missing.

Avila told WPCNR that the school administration approved teacher selections of skills to concentrate on and students were taught emphasizing their areas where the most consistent shortcomings were found. Avila said they saw improvement in 2005-2006 ELA scores, but did not reveal at the meeting how much the Ridgeway ELA score had improved from the 64% passing ELA in 2005. When asked if the system would replace curriculum coordinators, and she said, of course not, they would always need curriculum coordinators.

63% TO 76% IN ONE YEAR.

On Wednesday morning, Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors reported to WPCNR that the Ridgeway pilot program using the BOCES Data Warehouse to isolate skills needing improvement had increased Ridgeway 4th Grade ELA scores from 63% Passing the 2005 test, to 76% Passing on the 2006 Test.

McCarthy introduced Avila who presented an overview of how Ridgeway worked with the BOCES program “to identify targeted areas of instruction” based on the nature of questions Ridgeway students were answering incorrectly. She said the teachers put together tests based on the questions answered incorrectly as identified by the BOCES data, and taught the targeted skills needing improvement using lesson materials provided by the BOCES site. She said the school was able to improve scores on the 2006 test.

The “School Report Card” for 2005-2006 ELA tests is not released to the public yet, but has been released to the School Districts. The School Report Cards according to a State Education Department press release will not be available to the public until November 22.

103,720 vs. White Plains.

McCarthy said the BOCES LHRIC Data Warehouse compares the performances of 103,720 students from the Westchester, Putnam and Rockland County areas on the State Assessment Tests question-by-question. The program enables curriculum heads, principals and individual teachers to look up their school on the www.LHRIC.org website, using password to isolate their total students’ scores average in relation to the passing levels of all the other students in the three counties taking the tests, as well as the percentage of all students passing the questions.

Ridgeway Performance on 2005 ELA Assessment Analyzed: The online service enables teachers to see students performance by question compared to peers in this region. The Red scores indicate where the number of students passing did not match the passing rates posted by all students of the region. The skills the questions are testing for are listed in the blocks at the left. Photo , WPCNR News

Mr. Samis then took the small gathering through the reports on the Ridgeway School, by total students, and student-by-student (with names of students blanked out, of course). Observers could see, how based on 2004-2005 results (in red) how Ridgeway’s students did in relation to all other students answering each question. Questions are classified according to skill being tested. Samis observed that the individual teacher can note the skill sets they need to sharpen up to improve an individual student’s performance on the next assessment by seeing the questions that student failed.

2006 Results on One Portion of the 2006 Tests. Data may be compared year to year over time. Photo, WPCNR News.

Samis demonstrated that the program also provides through an auxiliary service called DataMentor, lessons to drill the underachieving students on the skill levels consistently showing needing improvement based on the number of students failing to reach the Level 3 passing level. Teachers can download the lessons and exercises to give to students collectively or on an individual basis, rapidly addressing ailing skill-sets in an academic “triage” treatment.

DataMentor a section where a principal, curriculum head or teacher can identify a skill set and download exercises to address those skill sets to create tests, drills and programs to upgrade performance in a short period of time. Photo, WPCNR News

McCarthy reported the data could be reported out from grades 3 to 8, enabling the White Plains School District to view the progress of students by grade, and individually at the flick of a keyboard. This is a service the School District data processing experts have been unable to develop though asked repeatedly for it over the last decade. The explanation previously give as to why they have not been able to do it is the district inability to convert data into existing district programs. Now, by the school turning over its data and programming it into the DATA Warehouse, it can be done.

High School Regents scores in Math and ELA are also being tracked in the same manner, McCarthy said.

Superintendent of Schools Connors noted the program would be introduced to teachers throughout the district November 7, during a staff conference day, and that it would be put into use immediately.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Peter Bassano, a member of the Board of Education observed that this program with its ability to pinpoint where curriculum instruction was failing, meant the district had “No more excuses,” for future test shortcomings.

Tompkins Resigns from Board of Education

Posted on October 31, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. October 31, 2006 UPDATED NOV 1, 2006: Rick Tompkins, a member of the White Plains Board of Education announced his resignation from the Board via a letter sent to the Board. Mr. Tompkins reported growing professional and personal responsibilities as the reason for his resignation.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors told WPCNR Wednesday morning that the Board of Education has decided to leave Mr. Tompkins’ seat open until the May elections.

The next School Board Elections will be held in May 2007. Mr. Tompkins former seat and the position held by Michelle Trataros, Board President will be contested. Persons interested in running for the Board of Education should contact Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education for information about when petitions will be available to file to run for the seats, and eligibility requirements.

Tompkins was elected to the Board of Education in May, 2004, and has served 27 months. Remaining members of the Board of Education are William Pollak, Peter Bassano, Michelle Trataros, Donna McLaughlin, Rosmarie Eller, and Terry McGuire.

Soggy Earth Under Pipe Apparent Cause of Water Main Break at The Westchester

Posted on October 30, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR UNDERGROUND NEWS. By John F. Bailey. October 30, 2006: Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti said today that the water main break at Paulding Street adjacent The Westchester that occurred Saturday morning at 8:30 was repaired by 6:30 P.M. Saturday night by replacing a 10 foot length of pipe where a longitudinal crack was discovered. Another leak father down in the pipe discovered when the hole was being backfilled will be repaired with no interruption in service.

Nicoletti said the cracked main (which supplies all water to Crowne Plaza and The Westchester) was an 8 inch cast iron main that Nicoletti said apparent ruptured due to the wet ground underneath the pipe losing its ability to support the pipe causing a 3-foot long crack.

Nicoletti said the DPW had to shut off water for a short period of time to the Crowne Plaza Hotel while they rigged a by pass to continue to supply water to the hotel, opting to shut off flow to The Westchester. The Westchester was without water meaning no restrooms were available for public use and restaurant service had to be shut downfor the entire Saturday business hours. The Westchester has not returned WPCNR calls for comment.

The remain crack in the Paulding Street pipe Nicoletti said is circumferential and that is being repaired without having to shut down water pressure. The Commissioner said the Paulding Street line will be replaced when it can be worked into the infrastructure maintenance schedule.

The Commissioner said the water main will be replaced with a pipe material called Ductiliron that Nicoletti said was more flexible and not subject to cracking. Asked how much of the old cast iron mains the city has beneath its streets, Nicoletti said “miles and miles,” and that it was subject to cracking because some of it is 100 years old or more.

City Expecting $4.6 Million Dollar Windfall from Mortgage Tax.

Posted on October 30, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. October 30. 2006: WPCNR has learned from the Mayor’s Office and an independent audit effort, that the city stands to collect $4.6 Million in mortgage taxes from Westchester County, adding to the city coffers, perhaps as early as December. An independent inquiry by a private citizen at the request of the City of White Plains has revealed that over the last 9-1/2 months the county has collected $4.6 Million in mortgage taxes on closings of real estate sales in the cities.

The audit came about as a result of a city finance and budget committee in which Mayor Joseph Delfino and Commissioner of Finance, Gina Cuneo-Harwood reported to the members of the committee that previously the County Clerk Office which collects and records the mortgage tax has lagged behind in recording the taxes, and sat onthe money, enjoying the “float” of interest the money belonging to the city has earned. Harwood said the county pays the city once a year, apparently earing a year of interest on what Harwood called was city money. Harwood at the time revealed she did not have an exact idea of how much mortgage tax the city was owed.

An independent audit conducted by Don Hughes with the County Clerk’s office, at city request, has revealed that over the last nine months, the county clerk’s office calculates $4.6 Million is owed the city as follows:

2006 Mortgage Taxes Due City

Source: County Clerk Office, as Reported to Don Hughes

January: $202,000

February: $347,000

March: $282,000

April: $284,000

May: $593,000

June: $429,000

July: $938,000

August: $411,000

September: $424,000

October (through the 19th): $684,000

TOTAL MORTGAGE TAXES OWED CITY OF WHITE PLAINS, 2006: $4,594,000

Ms. Harwood said at the last Budget and Finance Committee meeting that the city had asked the County to pay the mortgage taxes twice a year, not once, so the city could get its money sooner. However, Harwood was informed that the county preferred to keep it to once a year, because, according to Harwood, they wanted to keep the interest they earn from the “float.”

Harwood said that legislation from the state signed by Governor Pataki recently freed up the counties to pay back mortgage taxes more than once a year, but the decision to speed up payments was left to the individual county.

The County Clerk office, according to Don Hughes, who compiled this data on the mortgage tax, has “caught up” with the White Plains mortgage tax pace, but it is unclear when the $4.6 Million plus in funds will be delivered to the city.

The County Clerk office was contacted by WPCNR to confirm these figures Monday morning and the latest additonal monies in White Plains mortgage taxes owed, and WPCNR awaits their response, and County Clerk Idoni’s policy in regard to whether future mortgage tax payments to White Plains (and the rest of Westchester County cities) will be issued on a more frequent basis.

Leslie Alpert, the media spokesperson for County Clerk Timothy Idoni said the Clerk was out of the office today but would comment on the matter Tuesday.

Paul Wood, City Hall Executive Officer, categorically denied the city had requested Don Hughes to find out the information for the city, and said he did not believe the figures were accurate. Hughes said he had suggested he could go to the County Clerk’s office and find out for the city and Hughes said Wood agreed that would be a good idea.

The windfall in mortgage taxes should help the city’s 2006-07 budget pattern.

Gunsmoke of the Past: White Plainsians Remember the Battle of White Plains

Posted on October 30, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR North End Patriot. By John F. Bailey. October 30, 2006: Sunday, 230 years and a day after it unfolded on Purdy Hill, White Plainsians and members of the White Plains Historical Society gathered to commemorate the stand of the Colonial Army in the Battle of White Plains in 1776. About 100 citizens wended their way to Park Circle to the old Purdy House – General George Washington’s headquarters where he strategized that battle – to remember on the crisp autumn afternoon.

Gunsmoke from White Plains Past: Reenacters Remember with a volley for the fallen. Color Guard members, Pauling’s Independent Corps of Levies, 23^rd Regiment of Foot, Royal Welsh Fusiliers fire as the names of White Plains citizens who fought in the Battle of White Plains and died that day 230 years ago were remembered Sunday: Photo, Courtesy, Carl Albanese, for WPCNR News

The first Patriots of White Plains were: James Carpenter, Jacob Cypher, John Drake, John Faulkner, William Field, Elizah Fisher, John Fisher, Moses Fowler, Robert Graham, Daniel Hatfield, Joshua Hatfield, Daniel Horton, John Hosier, Benjamin Lyon, John Martin, Caleb Merritt, Anthony Miller, Cornelius Oakley, Joseph Prior, Jacob Purdy and John Travis.

The White Plains High School Marching Band, led by Leslie Tomplins remembered with selections and the playing of the Start Spangled Banner. Photo, Courtesy Carl Albanese, for WPCNR News.

A makeshift Colonials encampment recreating typical camp on Purdy Hill was erected for youngsters to get the feel of that day long ago when the citizens of White Plains, Connecticut, and Maryland fought for freedom against overwhelming odds. Photo, WCPNR News

Jack Harrington, past President, defends Purdy House from a “Redcoat.” PHOTO, WPCNR NEWS.

Continentals on watch at Purdy Hill. Photo, WPCNR News

The Battle of White Plains skirmish grounds involved the Battle Hill neighborhood (then known as Chatterton Hill) across the Bronx River and Purdy Hill (where the Purdy House is located). British and Hessian (German Forces) opened cannon fire on Chatterton Hill and charged up Battle Hill into a small colonial force under Colonel Charles Webb and forces from Connecticut. The force outnumbered 2 to 1 defended Chatteron fiercely against waves of red-coated British troops, until overwhelmed by British cavalry and forced to retreat to Purdy Hill. A total of 500 men from both sides were killed or wounded in the Chatterton Hill assault. General William Howe delayed attacking the remnants of Washington’s force encamped on Purdy Hill, allowing Washington to retreat and escape with the bulk of his army intact. The “hold” on Chatterton Hill is considered the first turning point of the American Revolution.

Scarsdale Stand Stops Tigers, 19-14. Robles Rumbles Set Up 2 6’s

Posted on October 29, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 29, 2006 UPDATED WITH MORE PIX 10:05 AM — & BACKGROUND: It was first down White Plains on the Scarsdale 12 with 6 minutes to go in the game, after Paris Young had recovered a fumble at the Scarsdale 12. Matt ran into the line for 2. Ray Mitchell ran for 3 both into-the-line. Then Paul LaBarbera the quarterback pitched back to Mitchell for a sweep, but the Scarsdale line pushed aside the right side blockers to halt Ray for no gain.

Paris Young (66) stripping and covering the pigskin to recover a fumble on the Scarsdale 12 to give the Tigers a last chance to win. Photo, WPCNR Sports

On 4^th and 6 from the 8, Paul dropped back to pass. The protection broke down and he was sacked before he could get off a throw to the goal line. Scarsdale had held and there was 3:30 to go in the game.

Matt Robles finishing off his 38 yard rumble to the Scarsdale 8 at the end of the First Quarter to set up the Tigers’ first touchdown. Two plays earlier Matt had picked off a Scarsdale pass to start the drive. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Colin Reno, who scored all three Raider touchdowns, ripped off a run to the 29 for a first down. After three more plays, running down the clock, Henry Ross the Scarsdale quarterback pushed ahead for a first down at the 40 and the Raiders ran out the clock to hang on to a 19-14 win at blustery Parker Stadium Sunday afternoon.

The Blustery Day: The diehard Football Faithful braved Sunday’s winds at the classic Parker Stadium Bowl Sunday. Photo, WPCNR Sports.

Going into the 4^th quarter the Tigers looked beaten, having been unable to stop the Raider’s Reno all day, who ripped off touchdown runs of 62 yards to tie the score 7-7 in the second quarter, and then after White Plains went 4 and out with a very short punt, on the second play, Reno ran around right end for 50 yards to put Scarsdale ahead 13-7 at the half.

The Tiger touchdown was set up in the first quarter when Matt Robles burst off left tackle for 38 yards to the Scarsdale 8. Ray Mitchell carried for 3, then 2 and Robles finished it off with a 1 yard plunge and a 1 yard TD run to give the Tigers a 7-0 advantage. Then Mr. Reno took over the game with his two long TD runs from midfield for the 13-7 halftime lead.

Third Quarter Stall.

The Tigers drove to the Scarsdale 30 to start the second half, but were stopped on 4^th and 3 when a pass from Paul LaBarbera to Alex Trataros was broken up on a great tip away from Alex by the defender at the Scarsdale 15. Scarsdale then took over and got moving at 5:18 of the third quarter.

The Tigers gave a running play of 9 yards to the Scarsdale 39 when a Tiger pushed the Raider runner Sam Freihofner after the play. 15 yards penalty! A most unfortunate loss of composure which put Scarsdale into Tiger country at the 44 yard line.

Then bingo! A run by Freihofner moved the ball to the Tiger 25. Mr. Reno burst to the 12. The Tigers almost stopped the Raiders, but on 3^rd and 12 from the 15 Henry Ross hit Freihofner for a first down on the White Plains 5. On 3^rd and 6 from the 5, Reno took it in on a sweep for the touchdown just inside the right pilon to make it 19-7 going to the 4^th period.

Strong First and Fourth Quarters

This game was played with a 20 knot wind blowing North North West across the classic Parker Stadium Bowl. The blustery day played havoc with the passing game with Scarsdale dominating the second and third quarters and White Plains taking over in the first and fourth quarters.

White Plains took the kickoff at their 35 and marched to the Scarsdale 25 before a fumble on a snap, a false start, a five yard loss and a holding penalty nullifed a first down on the 15 on a pass to Matt Robles. a sack pushed the ball back to the White Plains 46 and a fumbled snap to the punter resulted in a 2 yard punt. White Plains stopped the Raiders when Shawn Edwards recovered a Sam Freihofner fumble at the Tiger 38. After three and out. Scarsdale took over on their own 32 follwed by a Matt Robles pickoff on a first down play which Matt returned to the Scarsdale 48. Matt’s 38 yard run to the Raider eight set up the Tigers first touchdown by Robles on a 4th down and 1 at the goal line on the first play of the second quarter.

This was a controversial touchdown. Scarsdale, which shredded the Tiger line most of the day appeared to have stopped Matt inches before the goal. The linesman ruled the nose of the football had broken the plane of the goal for a touchdown. The Raiders threw up their hands in disgust at the call. (Remember the Tiger touchdown that was taken away in the Gorton game when the Tiger QB crossed over the goal line and the ball came out and was ruled a fumble?)

One Play Turns around the game. 4 Plays, 13 points.

Scarsdale took the following kickoff, starting at their 30. After two plays they were at 3rd and 2 on their own 38. The hand off went to the 5-10 Colin Reno. He appeared stopped at the 40 as the Tigers converged from the sides then he was through and rolling down the middle of the field. And there he went 62 yards right down the middle of the field for the equalizing touchdown just like that. The kick was converted and it was 7-7. The Tigers went from the mindset of confidence against the Raider line to a state of uneasiness in one play, and it affected their play for the next 24 minutes.

After three and out, the Raiders got the ball back again at their 48. The quarterback ran for 2. He called Colin Reno’s number again and again Reno burst out of the middle of the line, around right tackle crossed the secondary and raced down the far side line for the go-ahead touchdown. It was a 50 yard overland ramble for a 13-7 lead with 7:33 to go in the half. The Tigers were in shock and awed.

Third quarter sluggishness

White Plains came back at the beginning of the second half, forcing Scarsdale into a punt and taking the ball at their 48 Ray Mitchell running on a fourth down got a first down on the Raider 37. Paul LaBarbera’s 4th down pass was on target to Alex Trataros for a first down at the 18, but a great play by the Raider defensive back broke up the first down pass and Scarsdale took over. They proceeded, helped by the Tiger push after a whistle to march down 70 yards in 9 plays for their third touchdown at the close of the third quarter. The big play on this drive was a 3rd and 8 from the 18 pass to Freihofner from Henry Ross giving Scarsdale a first down on the Tiger 5. After Shawn Edwards, George Don Pierre and Maurice Thomas had stopped a run on second and goal from the 5, Reno took it outside and dove inside the pilon for the score that made it 19-7 as time expired in the third stanza.

4th Quarter Penalty, Robles 53 yard Ramble Turns momentum back to the Tigers

The Tigers did not have a monoply on unfortunate penalties. Scarsdale had the Tigers stopped on 3rd down on the Tiger 22, needing 8. However a facemask penalty gave the Tigers a second chance. They used it. Labarbera hit Savaungh Greene for a first down on the Tiger 30. On third and 1 on the Tiger 39, Matt Robles exploded up the middle deked two would be tacklers and took off to the far sideline rumbling 53 yards to the Scarsdale 7.

Shifty Greene seconds after his great touchdown catch to make the score 19-13 midway in the 4th quarter. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Mitchell ran it for 3. Robles for two. On third and goal from the 1, Paul Lababera found Savaungh “Shifty” Greene in the back of the endzone, double-teamed. Shifty leaped high snared it and touched down in bounds for the 6 points. The Tigers were back in business with 7 minutes to go in the football game. Mike Howard added the point and the score was 19-14.

Paris Young Takeaway.

Scarsdale started from their own 15 after a terrific kickoff and coverage by the Tigers, and on second down, Paris Young gave the Tigers the break. The Tigers got into the Raider backfield and Paris stripped the ball for a fumble recovery giving the Tigers a first down on the Raider 12. But two tries into the line by Robles and a foiled pitch to Mitchell only got the Tigers to the 8 as the Raiders refused to be rattled. Labarbera went back to pass on 4th down from the 8 looking for Greene.

Robles to the 8 on First Down on the tying bid. Photo, WPCNR Sports

Turned Aside at the 8. Robles again turned aside on second down. Photo, WPCNR Sports

The Raiers were coming with everything they had. The protection collapsed and they sacked Labarbera for a loss stopping the bid. Unofficially it was the fourth sack of the day by the Raider line.

Scarsdale took over on downs at the eight, and who else, Colin Reno ran them out of trouble. With the Tigers out of timeouts they could not stop the clock.

Scarsdale moved to 3-5 on the year. White Plains showing the heart to come back, fell to 2-6. The Tigers will play Mahopack next Friday night at 7 in Mahopac.