The Real Deal – Sell, Donate, Preserve or Re-Use the Dress

Posted on September 29, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR’S THE REAL DEAL. By The Wedding Genie. September 29, 2007: It’s hard to imagine that spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on a dress can actually end up helping not only someone else but you as well after the wedding is over. It can if you decide to donate it to a good cause! This is one of the many options available to brides after the wedding is over and the dress just takes up space in the closet along with a host of memories and good pictures of course.

Jeannie Uyanik, Planner to the World

The Wedding Jeannie

Our favorite charity, to which a gown can be donated, bridal, bridesmaid or mother of the bride, is the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation (www.makingmemories.org). The organization has an arm called Brides Against Breast Cancer (BABC) which accepts donated gowns from brides, retailers and designers and then resells the dresses in order to raise money to grant wishes to terminal breast cancer patients. Breast cancer is the number one killer of women under 48. In many cases, the men and women suffering from this illness have young children and their wishes more often than not are to make a happy memory during such a difficult time.

Past wishes granted include family vacations to Disney World or Hawaii; video cameras for recorded messages; the opportunity for a child of a parent suffering with breast cancer to meet someone famous; tickets to major sporting events and many others. These wishes literally provide families with wonderful memories that they can hold on to and hopefully enjoy during a time of such sadness and exhaustion. The first wish ever granted was to a woman who just wanted to have a family reunion, and although she was not given much time by ALL the doctors, she remains healthy today (this was 7 years ago) – she swears it was the renewed joy she felt by having an opportunity to celebrate her life for a day, rather than focus on her disease, that helped her beat the diagnosis.

Brides Against Cancer

Brides Against Breast Cancer gives women an opportunity to really help others while getting a tax write off and doing something good with something that brought them so much joy. Additionally, BABC does “Gown Tours” all over the country – so if you are a bride looking for a dress – there is a gown tour coming to New York city next week (October 4-7). And, if you have a dress that you want to donate you can either go to www.makingmemories.org for details or bring your dress to the gown tour next week. For more information on the event please see http://www.brides.com/promo/somethingpink/.

But, if donating your gown is not the preference, there are two other options. You can preserve it for yourself or someone else – we recommend doing this right after the wedding – it makes cleaning the dress easier and allows the preservation process to start immediately. The most cost effective option is online through a company called WedClean http://www.wedclean.net/ and it costs about $129 for the preservation of your dress. Its simple, time efficient and very reasonably priced. Two other options where you don’t have to send your dress away to an internet company are J. Scheer & Co. http://www.jscheer.com/, which can be expensive, but you definitely get what you pay for and Hallak Cleaners http://www.hallakcleaners.com/. Both are extremely reputable and reliable.

Bridal Dress Exchange.

And of course, the last and often most lucrative third possibility is to sell your dress to another bride. A new option that just came on the market and which we love so far is Save the Dress http://www.savethedress.com/, a website that allows you to market your dress directly to prospective buyers. The costs for listing a gown are very reasonable and the process straightforward. More traditional means for selling a gown include Ebay http://www.ebay.com/, a popular source for brides over the past few years and Craig’s List www.craigslist.org, which is a free site to list on but does not garner as much success as Ebay, even though there are selling and listing fees involved (based on the sale price of the dress).

Reuse

While not a common option, we have also had a few brides re-use their gown by cutting it down to a wearable cocktail dress. Frankly, this is not one of our favorite options – and if you really wanted to see the dress re-used in your presence, we would highly recommend offering it to a friend or relative, for whom there would be great sentimental value in accepting your wedding gown!

Whatever you decide to do with your dress we hope your decision brings you as much fulfillment as the dress did on your wedding day! And to make sure that this is the case, next week’s column will discuss attire for weddings and events– and of course, cover the gown!

Note: Got a question or a comment for the Wedding Genie? Ms. Uyanik will answer your questions. Simply e-mail her at weddinggenie@candgweddings.com

Wild Card Yawns. Inflating the Price: Yankees’ Last Hurrah: Apres Moi, le Deluge

Posted on September 29, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen. September 29, 2007: As the agony and the ecstasy of the race for second place in the major leagues unfolds this week, I cannot help be reminded of 1964, the year before the Yankees sunk into oblivion until George Steinbrenner took over the ball club in 1975. The year of the great Philadelphia Phillie collapse – up 6 games with 12 to play and they lost em all – with a very similar manager to Willie Randolph: the implacable unemotional cold and cerebral Gene Mauch.

Ebbets Field, Brooklyn USA. 1955.

Memorial Day Doubleheader, Brooks and the Pirates. The Brooks won both ends.

Photo (c) by John C. Wagner, Jr., www.pportals.com/jcw. Used with permission.

Connie Mack Stadium (formerly Shibe Park) in the 1960s. Scene of the Philadelphia Phillie El Foldo in 1964. Photo from the WPCNR Collection.

Watching the pictures of the Yankees celebrating second place Tuesday night shows just how oriented toward mediocrity major league baseball has become. However, you see the Yankees had to win this year — why to inflate the selling price of this ball club when the Principal Owner, George Steinbrenner departs.

Here is a ball club that thanks to the major league baseball balanced schedule fattened up on second division clubs – with the exception of Tampa Bay – and had the incredible luck to have the Detroit Tigers main man pitcher come up injured in August. They also had the Boston Red Sox to thank for giving them four games in which Boston had the lead. Nevertheless, New York did go 71 and 39 over this stretch to get the Wild Card. However this was an elbow-nudging , wink-wink pennant race. Boston, whenever they had a shot at putting New York away managed to let the game slip away, and allow New York to stay close. Almost like a caucus.

So now we are treated to the ugly celebrating of second place. New York did not have the horses to take out Tampa Bay firmly last week, losing a pair to the Rays – and two to the Blue Jays. And what happened to the overrated Roger Clemens? He won 6 games for the Yankees that is $3 Million for each win. But, hey at least they picked him up. Though I still have to laugh at the comments by his team about what a team player he is. If you’re a team player you stay with the team. Period.

The Metropolitan Nightmare.

Picking up Roger by the Boss is is more than Omar Minaya did for the Mets who are now struggling to make the Wild Card with 3 games to play, tied with the Phillies, because they have pitching that has been overused. And as I pen this, the Mets have lost again. The Phils have won. This is not good.

If the Phils win tomorrow and the Mets lose it is over. And the San Diegos have won, too, meaning the Metropolitans are facing doom—2 games behind the Diegos for the Wild Card, 1 behind the Phils for first. The Phils win two. They win and the Mets go home.

What excitement! For second place.

Had Minaya acquired a pitcher, perhaps two, for the stretch run, he would not be in this position. When teams fought for pennants when I was a kid, they went for pitching not hitting to shore up for a stretch run. Should the Metropolitans lose this one, it can be placed squarely on the front office. And over bullpen usage.

Why are the wild cards so exciting? Well, because the ball clubs are flawed. It’s like watching ants struggle haplessly. No team in the wild card hunts is complete. They have ragtag rotations, unreliable bullpens, inconsistent offenses. Might we dare say, they have inept motivational management.

I suspect because of the failsafe nature of the Wild Card – a lack of the feeling of the necessity to win.

Well now the Metropolitans have to win, twice — to have a shot at making the playoffs and they have the pesky last place Marlins. The Phils have to take out the Nationals twice more…then what do you do?

Do they play off, if San Diego or Arizona are tied for first? Ha! Let the geniuses on Fifth Avenue (Major League Baseball Headquarters), figure that one out. It is a dog’s breakfast.

You have to be intense every game.

You saw this lack of desire to win to win at all costs that has cost the Metropolitans. You saw it in the Red Sox attitude of a couple of weeks ago, maintaining that first place did not matter as long as they got in. How else do you explain sitting Many Rodriguez in two games against New York, and keeping Ortiz out in that Friday night Fenway fracas?

Now you have the ludicrousness of the Yanks spraying champagne over themselves for finishing second. It was a disgrace. If Francona had to win those games you bet your bippy he’d play Manny and Pappy.

There was a time when the Yankees finished in the Wild Card in 1995, when they did not champagne it. Apparently that attitude has changed. The cheerleaders of the New York Press Corps have dutifully reported this a great Yankee resurgence, failing to note the injuries that killed the Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners.

A save by the farm system

The Yankees actually found some arms and put players in the outfield who can catch and have strong arms, and pitchers in their farm system to take up the slack.

But now Joe Torre is once again faced with a five game short series. Will St. Joseph stop the kneejerk refusal to use Mariano Rivera in tie games? He has lost two World Series because of this syndrome. Will he stop putting in untried pitchers in tied games that are tied?

You have to hand it to the Yankee farm system which supplied them with young arms Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Kei Igawa, and of course the mysterious ace of the orient, Chien-Ming Wang. Very reminiscent of the 1964 young arms that saved that season before The Yankees said goodbye to the big time for 10 years – the awful CBS years.

Another plus has been Ron Guidry as Pitching Coach – someone who knew how to get someone out in big spot.

I have seen the Wild Card race take front and center all season long to the detriment of the pennant races. Now we are focusing on the Wild Card finish. It is disgraceful that the clubs “in contention” cannot dispose of these cellar ballclubs when they have to. But that’s exactly why you can’t have the wild card in baseball (and fastpitch softball) – it is too even a game.

Contrived Series Schedule

The other absurdity – one of the two latest sins upon baseball perpetrated by the Bud Selig era — is that the first place teams get to decide the playoff schedule. The Red Sox sometime on Monday will get to choose whether there are 5 straight games played or there is a day off in between for travel.

By the way the darlings of New England have officially first, having disposed of Minnesota Friday night, while the Yankees gave up 4runs late and lost to Baltimore. But, it did not matter. The Yankees were already “in,” remember?

Here’s the playoff take..

A day off favors a team with a weak third starter, allowing them to pitch their first and second starters twice. No days off mean you lose your second start with your second starter, maybe and no days off also means bullpen flameout. Any first team that selects a day off inbetween games 2 and 3 is doing the Wild Card team a favor. The Yankees and Mets are great examples of that. When the Yankees have days off they do better, so do the Mets. The Mets bullpen has been blownup the last seven games which have been played back to back.

But, Major League baseball cannot give teams a choice of the schedule. Really, that is soooo bush league.

Inflating the Price

This is an unpleasant subject. But George Steinbrenner is not well. A member of his family, Harold Steinbrenner has been made Chairman of the Yankee Global Enterpises LLC. If Mr. Steinbrenner passes away, we have been vaguely assured the Yankees will stay in the Steinbrenner family.

But will they? Will the younger Steinbrenner have The Boss’s will to win at all costs?

Or is this the last hurrah to produce a winning ball club once more when the infrastructure is about to implode as it did in 1964 when Mickey and company limped into to the World Series just like this year’s Yankees did. That was the year when the New York Press Corps was howling for Yogi Berra to be fired when the Yankees fell apart by midseason.

But they developed Mel Stottlemyre out of the minors that year, and Al Downing to supplement Whitey Ford and Jim Bouton with Pete Ramos, Rollie Sheldon and Hal Reniff in the pen and Tony Kubek, Mickey, Roger, Tom Tresh and Bobby Richardson and Joe Pepitone and Elston Howard had one last good year together to win by 1 game over the Pale Hose and the Baby Birds.

The next year they went down the tubes, finishing last—10^th in a 10-team league.

The Yankee youth pitchers this season will be well scouted next season and will most likely not be that effective. The Yankee starters Mussina and Pettitte are suspect. The rooks, Mr. Hughes and the main man, Mr. Wang are not going to be enough. The young players being relied on will again be heavily scouted next spring and will not be as effective. Cabrera, Cano, Duncan have had great years the scouts will descend on them like vultures next year and pick them apart. Meanwhile Matsui is 33, Jeter is 33, Damon, 34, Posada,36. The big time players are getting older. That’s a lot of age.

My thinking is – if the Yankees lose their will-to-win, their leader for the last 32 years, George M. Steinbrenner, the Bronx faces a bleak future. The farm system has produced this year. Will they continue to do so?

I see the Yankees winning one more year or at least being close for one more year, setting them up for the opening of a new ballpark in 2009. But the nucleus is getting old: Jeter shows no signs of slowing down, yet. Posada is in his mid-thirties having his best year. A-Rod, he is at best a streaky player who was in his walk year this year. Everybody has a great year in their walk year. Matsui, Abreu, getting long in the tooth. The Yankees are a team in transition mode …going down…not up.

Forbes magazine valued the Yankees at $832 Million early this year. That is up from $250 Million in 1998. When they build Yankee Stadium the Yankees will own that $1 Billion ballpark. That should make the Yankees command – for starters $1 Billion on the market – if not more. A handsome acquisition for any conglomerate or sports collector like God forbid, the owners of some hockey and basketball teams in town.

The commitment of the Steinbrenner Family to the Yankee winning tradition when they can command enough money so no Steinbrenner will ever have to work again, well I think they are going to sell that team, take the big time money and run.

Should a conglomerate buy the team, you’re not going to have the win at all costs mentality that to his everlasting credit George Steinbrenner brought to the Yankees for the last 32 years.

As a Yankee fan, I salute Mr. Steinbrenner as perhaps the greatest owner New York baseball has ever had. Thirteen trips to the postseason—better than the Atlanta Braves – better than the Yankees of Jacob Ruppert and the Yankees of Dan Topping and Del Webb.

Thank you George on behalf of Yankee fans everywhere.

Blaming the Umpire

Another thing that happened this week that sends a really bad message is Major League Baseball suspending an umpire for saying a profanity to a player allegedly because the profanity caused the player to hurt himself by charging the umpire.

Come on. The player tossed his bat at the home plate umpire objecting to a strike call. The first base umpire confirmed it. The player gets mad, charges the first base umpire, who rebukes the player.

Pardon me (full disclosure here, I umpire ballgames), but did the first base umpire tell the player to charge at him? No, the player lost his cool. His temper and perhaps his career.

When his manager through him to the ground to prevent further suspension, the player injured his ACL. He’s out for the season for San Diego.

And the umpire gets suspended?

Major league players are told that arguing third strikes are automatic ejections. You cannot do that.

These players should know better.

Terrible things are said to umpires. Players and managers show them no respect, and neither do broadcasters.

But without the integrity of umpires – baseball is lost.

I totally disagree with suspending the umpire for a hotheaded, immature ballplayer’s fit of temper which caused the player to injure himself basically.

Umpires are held to a much higher standard than players, coaches, managers, reporters. When they show a little humanity, they suffer. We generally take the crap as part of the game and let it roll off.

A player, a coach, a parent, a fan, a manger has no right to charge an official anywhere, nor challenge a call.

An official’s reaction should not be penalized. It sends a bad message.

Hail to the Assessor.

Posted on September 28, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. September 29, 2007: The Common Council will consider appointing Lloyd Tasch, Acting Assessor since December 2006, to the position of Assessor through September, 2013 Monday evening. Mr. Tasch, formerly Deputy Assessor ascended to the Acting Assessor Role when Eyde McCarthy left the position to take the Town of Greenburgh Assessor job.

New Mr. Assessment. Lloyd Tasch is expected to be appointed Assessor at the Common Council meeting Monday night.

Tasch has brought personality and a dry sense of wit to his lucid policy presentations to the Common Council, treading gingerly through the landmines of the certiorari/assessment/sales tax issues in recent months. Assuming the full time position, he moves into the true hot seat at city hall as the city attempts to stop the certiorari bleeding that has shrunk the tax rolls from $337 Million in Total Assessed Valuation in 1998 to $290 Million today, a decline in total assessed value of 14% in ten years. Among the pressures Tasch faces will be assigning assessments to new properties as they come on the market, the timing and the amounts of increased assessments due, if any.

Other items on the agenda of interest are whether or not to grant Cappelli Enterprises a 4-month extension past August , 2008 to have the affordable housing completed that the firm owes before it opens the second tower at 221 Main; whether or not the council will continue to table the 1/2% sales tax increase requested by the Mayor, plus these items of interest:

A stipend to pay for staffing after midnight parking enforcement violations;

Continuation of the Public Hearing on the hotel proposed for 1133 Westchester Avenue;

Naming the new Court Street Extension Renaissance Square;

Bonding for $2.2 Million in new street construction; $100,000 for work on the North White Plains Parking lot; and bonding for $225,000 for Library restrooms, and last but not least a $250,000 grant to Community Housing Innovations which is the developer of the Minerva Place affordable housing project, (the community development funds are to replace the money the federal government has denied Community Housing Innovations)

The agenda:

COMMON COUNCIL
AGENDA REGULAR STATED MEETING
OCTOBER 1, 2007
7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE TO THE FLAG: Hon. Thomas Roach

INVOCATION: Rev. Gawain de Leeuw
St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church

ROLL CALL: City Clerk

RECOGNITION: Service Awards

APPOINTMENT:

1. Communication from the Mayor in relation to the appointment of Lloyd Tasch as Assessor of the City of White Plains to a term expiring September 30, 2013.

ADJOURNED
PUBLIC HEARING:

2. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of 1133-399 Westchester Avenue LLC and 1133-300 Westchester Avenue LLC, the owners of the property known as 1133 Westchester Avenue (Section 131.20, Block 1, Lot 1.1), located in the C-O (Campus Office) Zoning District, for Special Permit/Site Plan Approval to construct a 142 room extended stay hotel, with accessory parking, and Special Permit/Site Plan Approvals to allow placement of a day care center, restaurant, bank and health club in the existing office building, in accordance with Sections 2.5.1, 5.2, 6.2, 6.7.7, 6.7.29, 7.2, and 8.3 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains.

3. Communication from Commissioner of Planning

4. Planning Board

5. Conservation Board

6. Westchester County Planning Board

7. Public Hearing in relation to establishing the extension of Court Street from Main Street through to Hamilton Avenue as a new City street and naming the new street “Renaissance Square” to be added to the Official Map of the City of White Plains in accordance with Section 29 of the General City Law.

8. Communications from Commissioner of Building

9. Design Review Board

10. Commissioner of Planning

11. Planning Board

12. Commissioner of Public Safety

13. Commissioner of Public Works

14. Commissioner of Traffic

15. Traffic Commission

16. Westchester County Planning Board

17. Environmental Officer

18. Second Reading Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains establishing the extension of Court Street from Main Street through to Hamilton Avenue as a City street and naming the street as “Renaissance Square” to be added to the Official Map of the City of White Plains in accordance with Section 29 of General City law.

19. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted on behalf of RL & MC Industries, Inc., operator of Aura, for a Special Permit for Cabaret Use at Aura located at 107 Mamaroneck Avenue.

20. Communications from Corporation Counsel

21. Commissioner of Building

22. Design Review Board

23. Commissioner of Planning

24. Planning Board

25. Commissioner of Public Safety

26. Commissioner of Public Works

27. Commissioner of Traffic

28. Traffic Commission

29. Commissioner of Parking

30. Westchester County Planning Board

31. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains denying the instant application submitted on behalf of RL & MC Industries, Inc., operators of Aura, for a Special Permit to operate a Cabaret known as Aura at 107 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 125.76, Block 5, Lot 18).

PUBLIC HEARINGS:

32. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted by L&M Caterers on behalf of BOE@324 Restaurant and Bar, for a Special Permit for Outdoor Dining located at 324 Central Park Avenue on the privately owned, front sidewalk premises.

33. Public Hearing in relation to the application submitted by the Lazy Boy Saloon & Ale House and Lazy Lounge for a one (1) year Special Permit to operate a Cabaret at 152-154 Mamaroneck Avenue.

34. Communications from Corporation Counsel

35. Commissioner of Building

36. Design Review Board

37. Commissioner of Planning

38. Planning Board

39. Commissioner of Public Safety

40. Commissioner of Public Works

41. Commissioner of Traffic

42. Traffic Commission

43. Westchester County Planning Board

44. Environmental Officer

45. Environmental Findings Resolution

46. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of J.N.J. Enterprises, Inc., d/b/a The Lazy Boy Saloon for a Special Permit to operate a Cabaret at 152 Mamaroneck Avenue (Section 125.84, Block 7, Lot 4) subject to certain conditions contained herein.

FIRST READING
ORDINANCES:

47. Communication from Special Counsel in relation to the settlement of tax review proceedings.

48. Ordinance authorizing the settlement of certain tax review proceedings.

49. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5299, North White Plains Parking Lot Rehabilitation.

50. Communication from Environmental Officer

51. Environmental Findings Resolution

52. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5299 entitled, North White Plains Parking Lot Rehabilitation.

53. Bond Resolution authorizing the issuance of $100,000 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $100,500 estimated maximum cost of rehabilitation and improvement work at the North White Plains Parking Lot, in and for said City.

54. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5298, Miscellaneous Street Reconstruction FY 2008.

55. Communication from Environmental Officer

56. Environmental Findings Resolution

57. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5298, entitled Miscellaneous Street Reconstruction FY 2008.

58. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $1,757,800 bonds of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $2,259,125 estimated maximum cost of the reconstruction of various City streets or street segments and related improvements, in and for said City.

59. Communication from Chairman, Capital Projects Board, in relation to Capital Project No. C5300, Library Interior Renovations – 1^st Floor Public Restrooms.

60. Communication from Environmental Officer

61. Environmental Findings Resolution

62. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains amending the Capital Projects Fund by establishing Capital Project No. C5300 entitled, Library Interior Renovations – 1^st Floor Public Restrooms.

63. Bond Ordinance authorizing the issuance of $225,000 of the City of White Plains, Westchester County, New York, to pay part of the $226,125 estimated maximum cost of the renovation and rehabilitation of public restrooms on the ground floor of the White Plains Public Library, in and for said City.

64. Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 21, 2007, for the Annual White Plains Hispanic Day Parade and Festival.

65. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 21, 2007, for the Annual White Plains Hispanic Day Parade and Festival.

66. Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 7, 2007, for the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival.

67. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of certain public streets and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 7, 2007, for the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Festival.

68. Communication from Commissioner of Public Works in relation to the closure of a certain public street and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 28, 2007, for the second Downtown White Plains Walk for Diabetes.

69. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing the closure of a portion of a certain City street and appropriate parking restrictions on Sunday, October 28, 2007, for the second Downtown White Plains Walk for Diabetes sponsored by the American Diabetes Association.

70. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to an application submitted by Community Housing Innovations, Inc., for a grant of $250,000 from the Affordable Housing Assistance Fund for twelve units of low and moderate income ownership housing and two units of middle income ownership housing at 5 Minerva Place.

71. Ordinance of the Common Council of the City of White Plains granting the application submitted by Community Housing Innovations, Inc., under Section IV of the City’s Affordable Home Ownership Program for a grant of $250,000 from the City’s Affordable Housing Assistance Fund for an affordable housing project to include twelve (12) units of low and moderate income ownership housing and two (2) units of middle income ownership housing at 5 Minerva Place.

72. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the appropriation of Fund Balance in the Community Development Rehabilitation Program Revolving Fund.

73. Ordinance amending the Community Development Fund Budget by appropriating Fund Balance and allocating such increase to the Rehabilitation Revolving Fund Program.

74. Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Drug Free Communities Support Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration Center for Abuse Prevention to receive funds for the continuation of the program.

75. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Drug Free Communities Support Program of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, Center of Abuse Prevention in order to receive an award in the amount of $100,000 for the continuation of the Drug Free Communities Program.

76. Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Regional Partnership of Schools and Colleges Great Potential Program to receive funding.

77. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Regional Partnership of Schools and Colleges Great Potential Program to receive an $8,000 Award to operate the Great Potential Program.

78. Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the County of Westchester Office of Workforce Investment to receiving funding for an Out-of-School Youth Employment Program.

79. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the County of Westchester Office of Workforce Investment to receive up to $247,352 in funding for an Out-of-School Youth Program under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).”

80. Communication from Deputy Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Westchester/Putnam Workforce Investment Board to receive a two year grant for an In-School Youth Employment Program.

81. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Westchester/Putnam Workforce Investment Board in order to receive a two year grant.”

82. Communication from Director, Youth Bureau, in relation to a contract with the Westchester Clubmen to receive funding to operate The Clubmen Higher Aims Program.

83. Ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with the Westchester Clubmen to receive funding in the amount of $35,500 to operate The Clubmen Higher Aims Program for the period of October 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

84. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to leasing space at Ebersole Ice Rink for a skate shop.

85. Ordinance providing for the leasing of space for the purpose of maintaining and operating a skate shop at the Carl J. Delfino Park Building – Ebersole Ice Rink in the City of White Plains.

86. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to leasing space at Ebersole Ice Rink for a food concession.

87. Ordinance providing for the leasing of space for the purpose of maintaining and operating a food concession at the Carl J. Delfino Park Building – Ebersole Ice Rink in the City of White Plains.

88. Communication from Commissioner of Recreation and Parks in relation to an agreement with the County of Westchester for the operation of nutrition programs under the Older Americans Act.

89. Ordinance amending an ordinance entitled, “An ordinance authorizing the Mayor to enter into agreements with the County of Westchester for the continuing operation by the City of White Plains for programs for years 2007 and 2008 under Titles III-B and III-C-1 of the Older Americans Act.”

90. Communication from Personnel Officer in relation to a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code by establishing and abolishing certain positions and amending the Table of Organization.

91. Ordinance amending Section 2-5-81 of the White Plains Municipal Code by establishing a certain position title, and amending the 2007-2008 Table of Organization by adding and abolishing certain positions.

92. Communication from the Mayor in relation to a proposed agreement between the Department of Parking and the Civil Service Employees Association with regard to a stipend for a parking enforcement midnight tour of duty.

93. Ordinance approving a tentative agreement between representatives of the Parking Department and the Civil Service Employees Association with regard to a stipend for a parking enforcement midnight tour of duty.

94. Communication from Chairman, Traffic Commission, in relation to proposed amendments to the Traffic Ordinance at various locations around the City.

95. Ordinance amending the Traffic Ordinance of the City of White Plains in relation to Designated Handicapped Parking Spaces – Streets.

RESOLUTIONS:

96. Communication from Commissioner of Planning in relation to the discontinuance of a portion on the easterly side of the right-of-way of Longview Avenue, and scheduling a public hearing for November 5, 2007.

97. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains scheduling a public hearing for November 5, 2007 in relation to the proposed discontinuance of the portions of street right-of-ways on the easterly side of Longview Avenue, between Maple Avenue and East Post Road pursuant to Section 152 of the White Plains Charter and Section 29 of the General City Law.

98. Communication from the City Clerk transmitting a request from LC White Plains LLC, requesting a proposed amendment to a previously approved site plan to permit development of 23 affordable rental units in the Air Rights Building above the City Center Municipal Garage.

99. Environmental Findings Resolution issued under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, Environmental Conservation Law Section 8-0101 et. seq. (SEQR), regarding an amendment to the previously amended site plan approved by the Common Council on September 20, 2001 and August 4, 2003, for the project known as the City Center to permit development of 23 affordable rental units in the Air Rights Building above the City Center Municipal Garage.

100. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains approving the application submitted on behalf of LC White Plains, LLC (“Applicant”) for an amendment to the previously amended site plan originally approved by the Common Council on September 20, 2001, and subsequently amended thereto, for the project known as the City Center, including an amendment adopted August 4, 2003, relating to the initial approval for the portion of the City Center “Development Site” known as the “Air Rights Building” which had permitted the construction of approximately 60,000 square feet of retail space in two (2) levels on the northerly portion of the top of the City Center Municipal Garage and the construction of a deck over the remainder of the top parking level to be improved with, inter alia, a swimming pool and outdoor recreational amenities, to now permit construction of twenty-three (23) “affordable” residential apartments on residential two (2) levels in the first retail roof level of the “Air Rights Building”, totaling approximately 26,400 square feet within the existing envelopment of the “Air Rights Building.”

101. Resolution of the Common Council of the City of White Plains authorizing a Certification of a Home Rule Request seeking enactment of State legislation to amend the Tax Law in relation to authorizing the City of White Plains to impose an additional increase of one-half (½) of one percent (1%) Sales and Compensating Use Tax.

ITEMS FOR
REFERRAL:

102. Communication from Commissioner of Building in relation to a request submitted by LC Main LLC to extend the obligation to complete the affordable housing units in relation to 221 Main Street for 120 days.

Ritz Carlton Residences and Renaissance Square to Open October 10

Posted on September 27, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. September 28, 2007: Louis Cappelli, the architect and driving force behind the White Plains renaissance, after a long 14-hour day announced to WPCNR this evening that the Renaissance Square (extension of Court Street) would open in two weeks, ( the new boulevard is shown taking shape Thursday afternoon. Mr. Cappelli also announced that the Ritz-Carlton Residences would open October 10. The grand entrance to the hotel is shown taking shape, while the breathtaking vision of the two Ritz Carlton spires present their cutting edge profile to the skies.

Renaissance Square with Via Quadrono Cafe Building to the left, leading to the grand entrance of The Ritz-Carlton Westchester Thursday afternoon. Opening of The Residences at The Ritz-Carlton will take place in two weeks according to their builder, Louis Cappelli.

The Real Ritz-Carlton Westchester today waiting her debut October 10 with the opening of the Residences.

Can We Save The Zombie Castle and Flying Witch? Horror Houses of the Past.

Posted on September 27, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE DAILY BAILEY. By John F. Bailey. September 27, 2007: It was a drizzly day at Playland last Saturday, with showers closing some of the outdoor rides. So I took my companion on two rides that are on Playland’s “endangered rides list:” The Zombie Castle and The Flying Witch.

I rate the Flying Witch as the scarier of the two rides, and both it and its companion, The Zombie Castle are living history—actual odes to the past when the concept of horror and gore was new brought on by the motion pictures of the thirties which introduced America to the chills of being threatened by the supernatural. Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Dracula, from the crypts of Universal Studios created this need on the part of the public to be scared.

The Flying Witch Ride: You ride in a cart into the dark encountering horrors at every lurch and turn.

The two rides are the direct result of that era – and also were great romantic aids at the time. It was not easy to find places to hold your girl tight in the 1930s except in balconies of movie theatres and backseats of Packards. The Flying Witch and Zombie Castle were a means to that end. As you and your main squeeze rounded a corner in the dark and a scene of absolute bloody gore of goblin, vampire, torture master raised their menacing swords or held out severed heads with a hideous roar this would have the desired effect on the female.

The scenes encountered on these cart rides in the dark are classic creations of crypts, graves, graveyards, torture chambers, electric chairs at work, creatures of lovingly chilling detail with green skin, red eyes, dripping blood. They rear up at you out of the dark. They are masters of marionette artistry in the days before digital. The tableaus are especially giddy to small children, creating many a nightmare.

These two “houses of horror” are apparently classified as anachronisms now by the Playland Management and are on Playland’s Endangered Rides List because they are not listed as historical landmark rides, according to Playland Director Peter Tartagila.

Tartaglia told WPCNR that no decision has been made as to whether the Flying Witch and the Zombie Castle were going to be shut down. He declined to name the rides under consideration for replacement. He said they were “in the process of discussion, and negotiations (with manufacturers of other rides).”

When asked if the facades of the rides could be preserved and interior scenes saved, Tartaglia said no decision had been reached as to whether the rides would “go.”

The Fabulous Ice Casino and Collonades at Playland.

There are only 7 rides that are designated Historical Landmarks at Playland: The Dragon Coaster, The Derby, The Carousel, The Old Mill, The Whip, the Kiddie Carousel and Kiddie Coaster, Tartaglia said. Tartaglia explained Playland received its Landmark status based on its art deco era architure that consists of the Tower, the Ice Casino, the Collonades.

The Dragon Coaster, Playland, Circa 1928. Photo, WPCNR News

That raises a question in this reporter’s mind: Part of the joy of Playland is that it takes you back in time and treats its patrons of all races, ages, creeds, and income levels to activities of pure fun in an atmosphere of architectural design and old time honky tonk midway ambience that puts every one who goes in a good mood.

When a child stumbles and falls, people come up to you and ask if you’re o.k. Everybody is smiling. Part of that is the outlandish art and murals that dazzle the senses.

The Murals of the Flying Witch and the Zombie Castle are part of that history. Replacing old rides just to bring in supposedly more profitable rides, I think defeats the purpose of the County running Playland.

One could make the case that the only essential good thing that County Government does that is successful is Playland. The County consistently complains about the deficit Playland runs, which I believe was $3 Million at last look. Well that is $3 Million well spent for the happiness Playland provides every year and has since 1929.

If the Witch, and the Castle must go, their art and interior displays should be saved at the very least. But should they? Should the County even be looking at changing the Playland ride mix at the expense of this living historical amusement park, the only one of its kind left in the country?

Playland is a museum of the past and closing old rides just because they are old does not preserve that legacy. It takes away from the je ne sais quoi, the Playland mystique.The Custard’s Last Stand, the refreshment stands, Funnel Cakes, cotton candy stands are part of the experience. I can go to Burger King (at Playland) any time, but a funnel cake – that’s eating.

And another thing, the Witch and Castle, along with the wonderful KiddieLand Train are inexpensive rides. (2 tickets each). Bringing in more expensive thrill rides, if this is the plan does not appear constructive to me, and makes the park that much more expensive. Is the the county plan to gouge more money from the public with more expensive rides?

And another thing: Playland is one of the safest places you can go. I am tired of Playland being hammered for accidents that are essentially due to the misjudgments of individuals, not necessarily the safety of the rides. Major for-profit amusement parks have serious accidents every summer and they open the next day. No media write hand-wringing editorials asking for the big commercial parks to close. When did the Orlando papers call for shutting down Disney World?

The County has a gem in Playland. One thing that makes Westchester County unique. It does little to advertise it. Does not promote it like they should. Remember the old time ads for Palisades Park (“Palisades has the rides, Palisades has the Fun, so Come on over…”). Where are those spots on New York radio?

(A reader reminds of the rest of the Palisades Park jingle…

Ride the coaster get cool in the waves in the pool!

You’ll have fun! so come on over! Doo doo doo doo doo!

Palisades Amusment park—swings all day and after dark!

And another thing. The county charges too much to park at Playland. $7 is too much, when you also have to buy your ride tickets.

The County should stop considering Playland a liability – and consider it a treasure to be preserved, not dismantled piece by piece because they can.

Should City Crack Down on Secret Caucuses?

Posted on September 27, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. September 27, 2007: As city hall and the citizenry have learned this week, the Common Council meets secretly to formulate policy. Though Councilperson Dennis Power did not exactly remember how he and Councilpersons Boykin, Malmud and Roach hammered out the anti-RFQ “opinion” they published one week before the Democratic Primary in the White Plains Times, the four councilpersons, constituting a quorum (majority of the council) obviously had to meet in some fashion to come to this detailed opinion.

WPCNR and City Hall also learned from the New York Department of State Committee on Open Government that this secret meeting was perfectly allowed, because they were formulating “an opinion,” not a “decision,” according to Assistant Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government, Camille Jobin-Davis. The key word is that the Democratic Councilpersons were referring to their deliberations, wherever and however they were conducted, as a “caucus” which is permitted as long as all meeting are of the same party, otherwise the meeting would have to be announced and the public permitted to attend.

Since this obviously is not the first time the council Democrats have said one thing in public, or not said it in public, and done another in public to derail administration policy, this raises this week’s question:

Should the City Charter be amended to require caucuses of Councilmembers of the same party to be announced in the press and open to the public? Vote in the poll at the right.

Blazing Autumn

Posted on September 26, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR AUTUMN IN WESTCHER. September 26, 2007: The Hudson Valley will soon be awash in majestic colors as the 10-county region takes on the brilliant palette of fall.

Along this 150-mile stretch of the Hudson River, just stepping outside on a crisp autumn day can be a breathtaking experience. And while countless places exist to view the ever-changing show, Hudson Valley Tourism is recommending ten top leaf-peeping destinations that are sure to heighten the exhilaration.

The scenic Hudson Valley offers several weeks full of color from late September, when the foliage begins changing in the Albany area, through Columbus Day Weekend, when the leaves peak in the southerly reaches of the region — and the relaxing nostalgia of Fall Ball in daylight as shown by the White Plains Explosion in 2004.

To experience the full extent, start your tour in Voorhesville, a few miles south of Albany at the John Boyd Thacher State Park. Here, trails cut through the rock-faced escarpment and overlook the surrounding farms, historic villages and skyline of downtown Albany. Then cross the Hudson River and visit the historic Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, where 100 miles of the valley stretch out before you in sensational color. By the way, this rural resting place is where such notables as the fellow who modeled for James Montgomery Flagg’s World War I “Uncle Sam” poster are buried.

Travel a bit farther south for expansive views of the valley in Greenport at Olana, the home of Hudson River School artist Frederic Church. Looking much like it did in the 1800s, the view makes you feel like you’ve stepped out of one of Church’s paintings. Back on the road, traverse the Rip Van Winkle Bridge to Five State Lookout between Cairo and Windham. The panorama here stretches for 180 miles, taking in five states and four different mountain ranges.

Another multi-state vista can be found outside of New Paltz from the appropriately named stone tower at Mohonk Mountain House known as Sky Top. An easy walking trail leads to this popular lookout where efforts are rewarded with glorious views of the Shawangunk Ridge. On the east bank of the river, stroll the grounds of the Vanderbilt Mansion in Hyde Park and gaze across at the Catskill Mountains. Some of the original 1700s plantings still flourish here, like the gingko tree with leaves shimmering like gold coins in autumn. The grounds of another imposing estate, Boscobel in Garrison, offer an astounding panorama memorialized by the painters of the 19^th century Hudson River School. Pack a picnic on a warm day and allow the scenery to transport you.

Sometimes it’s more fun watching the fall foliage from the car, and the perfect route for this is the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway outside of Port Jervis. The road parallels the Delaware River along the curvy Hawks Nest portion, offering fabulous scenes of the lushly bordered river below. Or drive the River Road that parallels the Hudson between the charming villages of Piermont and Nyack. The southernmost stop to behold the last leaves of autumn is Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate in Sleepy Hollow. From the balcony of this magnificent mansion, the view across the grounds toward the Hudson is an unforgettable experience.

For more ideas on how to explore the Hudson River Valley, please visit Hudson Valley Tourism’s Web site at www.travelhudsonvalley.com.

Hudson Valley Tourism, Inc. is the 10-county region designated by I LOVE NEW YORK to promote tourism for the area. Counties include Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Greene, Albany, Rensselaer, Columbia, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester. Regional information can be obtained from any of the county tourism offices, or by calling 845-291-2136.

TOP TEN HUDSON VALLEY LEAF PEEPING HOT SPOTS

John Boyd Thacher State Park. Route 85, Voorhesville. 518-872-1237

Oakwood Cemetery. 186 Oakwood Avenue (Route 40), Troy.

518-272-7520, www.oakwoodcemetery.org

Olana State Historic Site. 5720 Route 9G, Greenport

518-828-0135, www.olana.org

Five State Lookout. Route 23 between Cairo and Windham.

Sky Top. Mohonk Mt. House, New Paltz.

845-255-1000 or 800-772-6646, www.mohonk.com

Vanderbilt Mansion. Route 9, Hyde Park.

845-229-9115, www.nps.gov/vama

Boscobel. 1601 Route 9D, Garrison.

845-265-3638. www.boscobel.org

Upper Delaware Scenic Byway. Route 97 from Port Jervis.

866-511-8372, www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org

River Road. Piermont through Nyack.

Kykuit. Sleepy Hollow. 914-631-9491, www.hudsonvalley.org

White Plains High Students Compete for Ms. Teen USA

Posted on September 26, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. September 26, 2007: White Plains High School students Abby Fried and Aurelia Gross, 17, are representing the City of White Plains in the Miss New York Teen USA Pageant. Miss Gross is high honor roll student, cheerleader, and active member of the community. She is currently working to raise money for the White Plains High School Cheerleading Squad to go to Nationals in February. Mayor Delfino will be presenting Miss Gross with a certificate of achievement at Nicky’s Restaurant 91 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601 on Wednesday, October 3^rd at 3:00 pm.

SL GREEN readies Qualifications. Unsure It Will Submit. Seek Hub Presence

Posted on September 25, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR The Developer News By John F. Bailey. September 25, 2007 UPDATED 9:30 P.M.: Rick Matthews, a spokesperson for Reckson/SL Green confirmed today that the company was “preparing for a possible submission under the White Plains RFQ (Request For Qualifications), but they are not prepared to say they are going ahead and submit.”

This week, Matthews also confirmed what John McCarthy, of McCarthy & Associates in White Plains had confirmed to WPCNR last week that SLGreen had placed some key Westchester holdings on the commercial market.

Matthews said SL Green was offering for sale 100, 120 and 520 White Plains Road in Tarrytown, there major office complexes. He said they were shopping The Summit (100, 200, and 500 Summit Lake Drive) in Valhalla, and the Mount Pleasant Corporate Center, 115 and 117 Stevens Avenue.

Asked the significance of putting these properties on the market, Matthews said, ”This is further refinement of the portfolio following the Acquisition of Reckson earlier this year….these properties don’t fit the market as much as the other properties in the portfolio in terms of SL GREEN wanting to be in the more urban parts of the county where there are transit hubs like White Plains.”

Four members of the Common Council in an “opinion” expressed September 7 in the press said they were unwilling to entertain any provisions of the RFQ as it was sent out to potential developers approximately August 23.

No connection, but 115 Stevens Avenue is the headquarters of Cappelli Enterprises. Cappelli Enterprises is scheduled to move into the second tower at the Ritz Carlton Westchester when it is completed in August 2008.

Open Government Clears Boykin, Malmud Roach and Power of Violating Open Meetings

Posted on September 24, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. September 24, 2007 UPDATED 5:05 PM EDT: Camille Jobin-Davis, Assistant Director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, told the CitizeNetReporter today that the White Plains Common Council members, Benjamin Boykin, Rita Malmud, Dennis Power and Thomas Roach did not violate the Open Meetings Law Section 108 when they formulated an opinion on the Request for Qualifications, and published it in the White Plains Times September 7, 2007.

“These 4 councilmembers are opposed to this RFQ. They got together in their political caucus, in what they’re calling a political caucus, ” Ms. Jobin-Davis said today, “and drafted this document setting forth their opinions in opposition to whatever happened here. I don’t see they are making policy here. I’m still of the opinion that the Open Meetings law wouldn’t, that there isn’t a problem here with respect to the open meetings law because of that caucus exemption to the law.”

City Hall had complained that the Council was making policy in secret when they published the “opinion” without telling the Mayor’s Office, or two other Democratic Council persons.

“There’s no problem with respect to the open meetings law, ” Camille-St. John said, “I’m saying that this meeting where this letter (the RFQ Opposition Letter published by the four Councilpersons), was discussed and signed and decided upon, because this meeting has been characterized as a political caucus because they’re all members of the same party, because the action of them meeting together to agree on this letter would be again, exempt from the open meetings law as far as I can tell.”

WPCNR asked would the fact the 4 would be a majority make a difference?

“I don’t believe it does because they are meetings pursuant to the exemption of the Open Meetings law, the Open Meetings Law would not apply at all, because the exemption is broad, ” Ms. Jobin-Davis said.

She said the exemption was created after the original law was passed in 1985.

For the record, this is the exemption, supplied to WPCNR, by Ms. Jobin-Davis:

§108. Exemptions. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed as extending the provisions hereof to:

1. judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings, except proceedings of the public service commission and zoning boards of appeals;

2. a. deliberations of political committees, conferences and caucuses. b. for purposes of this section, the deliberations of political committees, conferences and caucuses means a private meeting of members of the senate or assembly of the state of New York, or of the legislative body of a county, city, town or village, who are members or adherents of the same political party, without regard to (i) the subject matter under discussion, including discussions of public business, (ii) the majority or minority status of such political committees, conferences and caucuses or (iii) whether such political committees, conferences and caucuses invite staff or guests to participate in their deliberations;

and 3. any matter made confidential by federal or state law.