Hits: 0
WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. February 3, 2006: It is being reported that White Plains Police have charged a city parent with a misdemeanor, Unlawful Dealing with a Child, after investigation of an alleged teen drinking party in the parent’s residence January 21, while the parent was present. WPCNR is attempting to confirm the details.
Hits: 0
WPCNR In the Corner Box. Review by John F. Bailey.
Delivering the Passion That Lovers Are Made of: Rozz Morehead-Santos as AIDA and Eric Sciotto as Radames in Thursday Evening’s production AIDA at the Westchester Broadway Theatre. Photo, Courtesy, WBT, by John Vecchiolla.
Ms. Youell’s haunting, Every Story Is a Love Story, opens WBT’s most ambitious and compelling offering of the season enthralls the audience in the eternal fascination of ancient Egypt and the rare stage pairing of a romantic duo who deliver the passion lovers are made of.
You are swept through the magic of George Puello’s ingenious set design and Andrew Gmoser’s lighting (the most creative we’ve seen on WBT), into the bloodlust of conquest aboard an Egyptian galleon captained by dashing lead Eric Sciotto as conquerer of
The audience is next seduced by the earthy, regal panther, Rozz Morehead-Santos as the Nubian Princess Aida captured by Radames’ men. In chains, she laments The Past is Another Land, with a regret and a longing that chills and warms simultaneously. These are the first of many emotions in store as Morehead-Santos simply takes your suppressed emotions and reconnects you with the way you used to feel.
For the first time in a long time, Mr. Sciotto and Ms. Morehead-Santos are a leading man and lady who show electricity and attraction between them. Their instant sparks send vibrations to every heart in audience.
They make their hate-love relationship believable despite the wretched dialogue of the notoriously weak book by Linda Woolverton,
The pyramidal passion they lavish on Elton John’s keyboard based score and Tim Rice’s sensitively articulate and evocative lyrics pours out in every song. Elaborate Lives lays out the audience, bringing bravos (before intermission) with its intensity at the close of Act I.
Stephanie Youell is Amneris, (the Egyptian beauty Sciotto no longer finds attractive), though he is betrothed to her. He is smitten by the pride and independence of Aida. He gives Aida to Amneris as a slave and his fascination with the proud Nubian beauty begins.
Youell holds her own telling the absurd modern jokes that she is given to deliver that provide cute comic relief from the magnetic man-woman electricity between Sciotto and Morehead-Santos on the stage. When we first meet her she emerges from what appears to be a passage in a tomb (as the audience goes back in time).
LAS VEGAS ON THE NILE: Stephanie Youell (in white) as Princess Amneris with Women of the Palace, grabs the attention of every male in the audience with her Mamie Van Doren figure, walking like an Egyptian with her hand-maidens in the plush Egyptian court, singing My Strongest Suit. Photo, Courtesy, WBT, By John Vecchiolla
Having to play a blonde Amneris, (perhaps the only Egyptian Blonde of all time), as first a Marilyn Monroe type, she makes the tortuous character contortion from Egyptian ditz to Cleopatra-like stateswoman (writing reminescent of the looney character switch of the flower shop owner and her lover in Flower Drum Song) to delivering her laments at discovering Sciotto’s Radames’ infatuation with Aida. Ms. Youell’s I Know the Truth rendered in her robust contralto creates an honest and sensitive rapport with the audience.
Trios and Quartets
Youell, Morehead-Santos, and Sciotto shine together in the startling starry opening of Act II, singing A Step Too Far together, displaying the anxiety of a love forbidden. This is spectacular.
Sciotto, Youell and Morehead Santos form a quarter with Eric Jackson as Mereb singing Not Me, another number exploring the conflicting of hearts.
The only drawback to the score of AIDA is, though they say a lot through the Rice lyrics, you are not going to leave humming them. There are no “Nothing Like A Dames” in this musical. The songs say a lot, and you have to listen hard. The singers are almost too good in this show because they overmodulate on the solo microphones, sometimes distorting. There are no numbers in this show where you fall asleep either, and it goes by fast.
Best Supporting Actors
Radames father, Zoser has plans to take over the Pharoah’s throne, with Radames marrying Amneris and becoming Pharoah when Pharoah dies. Radames love for Aida changes the plan and creates a conflict. Radames after much indecision with love for Aida and Aida’s need to free her Nubian countrymen conflicting her love for him, well it’s an Egyptian Days of Our Lives, let’s put it that way.
John Schiappa as Zoser, the plotting Prime Minister to the Pharoah is reminiscent of Ming the Merciless, Flash Gordon’s old enemy, evil and believable. He and Sciotto, as Radames, his son, stage a great argument in song in Like Father, Like Son – an emotion charged duel, as Radames fights to get out of his marriage. Schiappa as Zoser also delivers an amusing little plot song, Another Pyramid.
The fate of the lovers hangs in the balance until the end. The climax plays with your emotions ending with Sciotto and Morehead-Santos’ plaintive, but uplifting reprise of Elaborate Lives as we return to the present.
AIDA features the best voices and musical actors seen on this stage in months. They deliver a musical where every number commands your attention and involves your emotions. They create the conflict between love and duty and sacrifice.
The 10-musician, live orchestra lead by David Andrews Rogers delivers big Broadway Sound in the little theater. John Daniels, Janice Aubrey and John Bowen delivered the driving keyboard sounds Elton John is known for, while the inventive use of reeds, delivered the signature sound of the nee, the provocative Egyptian flute lending much mystery and spiritual atmosphere.
This is by far the most creative use of the venerable dock stage of Westchester Broadway Theatre I have seen. From braziers hanging from the ceiling, from costumes elaborate and rich with unique hair styles and spectacular creation of a galleon sailing off into the fog, and the magnificent Egyptian temple set, the eternality of Egypt is recreated in Elmsford, reminding us that the violent era it portrays is much like our own of today.
Even though you know it is only a set, the show gives you the feel of Egypt and the never-changing forces that drive human nature.
I messed up a line.
I am remiss, ladies and gentleman. This show was so solid, I completely overlooked the person who pulled this Pyramid of a production together, Director/Choreographer, Patricia Wilcox.
Director/Choreographer Patricia Wilcox has, as a reader of the first edition of this review pointed out, done an “outstanding job:” Her direction hewned a show from ponderous blocks of schmaltz that is flawless with transitions that flow, dances that do not fill time, and intrigue the eye (but without too many floor routines) and has crafted actor relationships with stormy and tender edges that carve into the heart. Here is a musical that is beyond the routine musical that consists of saying a few lines and singing a clever song.
It is a credit to Wilcox’s skills that the show creates a De Mille spectacle on a stage shorter and narrower than tennis court that makes the show look as big as a broadway house. She has drawn from the entire crew a team effort that takes over the audience and will not let it go.
And isn’t that the goal of a director to get a show to the point where it is dead on perfect, down the middle and in the hole, no lip-outs, no throw away scenes, that harpies like me do not say “See, see…that should have been smoother?” (Excuse me, Ms. Wilcox, Mr. Webber is calling, Mr. Simon is on line two, and the Schubert Organization is on your cellphone.)
AIDA plays the WBT through April 29, and you get a superb dinner or luncheon with the show for about half the cost of a Broadway ticket. For information call (914) 592-2222, or go to the WBT website, www.broadwaytheatre.com.
Hits: 0
WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. February 2, 2006: Conor Gilmartin-Donohue, the quarterback for the White Plains High School Tigers signed an Official Letter of Intent accepting a 4-year Football Scholarship to attend Northeastern University in Boston a Division I school in the Atlantic 10 Conference Wednesday in a warm ceremony of personal triumph and pride for the White Plains High School academic Athletic Program.
Mr. Gilmartin-Donohue signed his letter of intent at about 11:00 A.M. Wednesday with proud parents, grandparents and his teammates looking on. It is the third straight year a WPHS football player and the schools’ football program has earned a football scholarship at a Division I School. Ike Nduka received a scholarship last year from the University of Buffalo, and in 2004, Spencer Ridenhour received one from Penn State. (Mr. Ridenhour is now a strong contributor to the Penn State Big Ten Champions.)
Great Moment in Sports: Conor Gilmartin-Donohue makes it official, as his mom, White Plians Swimming Coach, Patti Gilmartin-Donohue and Dad look on. Gary Matthews, a Northeastern Alumnus checks the official time. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Conor’s Dad signs the Northeastern Letter of Intent, as “The Weapon” (his nickname on the WPHS Tigers), holds his new team’s workout shirt. Conor’s Mom, Patti Gilmartin-Donahue looks as four years of hard work by her son has paid off. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Conor and His White Plains Coaches: Mr. Gilmartin-Donohue has played 12 consecutive seasons of varsity sports, playing football, basketball, and lacrosse. He credited his coaches for developing him, and for teaching him the meaning of being a team player. Left to right are WPHS Junior Varsity Coach, Rahsaan Potillo, Pasquale Palumbo, Football Special Teams, Skip Stevens, Varsity Football Coach, Conor, Steve Armogida, Howard Rubenstein, Lacrosse Coach, and Spencer Mayfield, Varsity Basketball. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Coach Stevens said Conor would fit in well at Northeastern where their new football coach is penciling Conor in to play tight end. Stevens said the program is turning around dramatically, 3-6 last year, but with four of their losses coming by only 4 points.
Conor told WPCNR he really liked Boston, he liked the coach who recruited him very much, saying “he was almost like a friend.” He also said he selected Northeastern over other schools because he thought he would get to play sooner. He said he would be attending the business school, and especially liked the “Co-op” placement program the business program has that helps place its graduates in jobs after graduation. He hoped for a career in business or sports marketing.
Conor said his coaches worked with him to find a college where he could possibly receive a scholarship and that fit his academic needs as well. He said they narrowed their search to the Atlantic 10 for its academic reputation and its level of play where his talents would fit in. He visited Northeastern and liked the campus liked the coaches and the city. When he and his coaches learned Northeastern was looking for receivers, they cut video tape highlights from WPHS games of the past where Conor was a running back, not a quarterback, to showcase his potential to Northeastern as a catch-and-run threat. It worked.
Conor told WPCNR that when he came to play football at WPHS four years ago, he expected a lot of individual effort where everyone was playing for themselves. He found the program far different, and said that instead, the team is like a family, that they win as a team and lose as a team, that everybody picks each other up and works for each other’s success. He made special mention of Coach Marc Santo-Donato his coach for two of his four years of high school football for developing him into a football player.
His teammates gathered round to congratulate him. His father said that what he admired most about Conor’s march to this day was his “perseverence.” His mother thanked all his coaches by name for how they worked and developed Conor over the years.
Nick Panero, Athletic Director for WPHS, Henry Cafaro, Guidance Director, and Gary Matthews all pointed out how rare an achievement a 4 year Division I Scholarship is, considering only about 115 colleges and universities are in Division I of the NCAA.
Conor, with his sister K.K., left, a star Cross Country Runner as a Junior, his youngest sister, and his Dad. Photo, WPCNR Sports.
Hits: 0
WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By Geoffrey Ruff. Special to the White Plains CitizeNetReporter. February 1, 2006: A topic that I must share is how DSS drops the ball as far as single Homeless men that have been diagnosed with Mental Illness and are on psycotropic medicine, especially when they do not follow DSS program guidelines and rules.
Once the Mentally Challenged client has been sanctioned ( all benefits stopped ), he is released from the shelter (kicked-out). He is not monitored, he does not take his medication, he does not shower,he becomes more and more detatched from reality, He becomes more and more depressed.
(More)
From my experiences in the Drop-in (85 Court Street & the Airport Shelter, I’ve come to the conclusion it’s a shame on DSS, and the Mental Health Dept. and that the Departments as a whole, really don’t care.The only time the Mentally challenged PERSON is payed the respect, is when the Ward ( person or organization) is receiving immediate funds. If this person who is Mentally challenged makes an IRRATIONAL decision ( because he has no medication) he is “kicked off” of welfare with no place to go, no follow-up is made
Only within the past 2weeks since I’ve made a “stink” has anything really been done.
In all my years, there have not been a single thing done to focus on them, to help them.
They need assisted living, they need intense monitoring.
I’ve heard ” We can’t make them do anything.”
IF STAFF stresses these areas considerately, and cordially, the person will take heed. You must remember they are of the mindset of an adolescent, and not dumb or stupid. I’m not saying MAKE THEM, I’m saying SWAY THEM, and do that within the legal boundries.
There might be some band-aids for the wounds, when infact they need complete”stitches”
When do we as Government,and Human beings start, as rational people help those who can’t help themselves????? (someone please answer that for me)
DSS PleaseGET ON THE BALL, you are getting more ( and I mean MORE) than enough tax payer money to give them the proper treatment, and still make your big profit.
The Sex Offenders
One fact about us at 85 Court St. The Sexual offenders are not regulars at the drop-in. Once released on parole, YOU MUST go to a district office of Social Services. Parole mandates this!! If you don’t arrive within the business hours,then you must go to the Drop-in. You can rest assured the next morning, they do go to DSS and are placed in the Shelter System.
I understand the feelings, and fears of the public, but your community focus should not be on us, it should be on VOA,(Volunteers of America) and DSS. The Violators are at the Valhalla Shelter, NOT AT THE DROP-IN—PLUS if they were at the Drop-in, WE at the DROP-IN would CONFRONT them ourselves.
The public Fears, stereotypes SLANDERS and pure predjudices are very hurtful. I don’t blame anyone for putting me in this situation, My actions, and My stupidity as a young man placed me in this situation, NOW it’s time for me to come out of this, but unless I have the community’s help, I can only go so far. I don’t want your money, I don’t want to be cottled, I don’t want the world placed at my feet.
All I want is a job, and a chance, along with the benefit of the doubt—-OLD WISE SAYING— One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch——– I actually wonder how many of you have the strength and COURAGE to live like this.
We might be weak in some areas, but we are much stronger under pressure. If you doubt this I personally invite you to live like us for 2 weeks then we’ll separate the men from the boys——- OH by the way, did you know I am a veteran, recently finished a Westchester Community College computer course, don’t do drugs, Love singing Karaoke, Love to laugh, and also cry at the sad parts of a good movie—-Oh you too.
SEE we aren’t too much different, except you sleep at home—PLEASE put the focus of your anger where it belongs– not on us WE didn’t commit that horrible act, (The Galleria murder) he did, so why must I (we) pay for his mistake with this Public Lashing?
Hits: 0
WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the City School District. February 1, 2006: The City School District has released the following schedule for its consideration of the 2006-2007 School Budget, projected at $167.4 Million at this time, and the consideration of the District $67.5 Million Capital Improvements Plan
February 6: Regular Meeting, Education House,
Agenda at
– Recognition of National Certification of 2 Teachers
– Capital Projects
February 8: Special Meeting, Education House,
First Meeting of Annual Budget Committee
February 15: Special Meeting, Educaiton House,
Second Meeting of Annual Budget Committee
February 27: Special Meeting, Education House,
Board Work Session on Budget
Hits: 0
WPCNR School Days. By John F. Bailey. January 31, 2006: Assisstant Superintendent for Business for the White Plains City School District, Terrence Schruers presented the proposed 2006-2007 School Budget of $167,417,488 Monday evening an increase year to year of 8.18%. Schreurs, in the course of the 40 minute presentation, noted the precise tax increase could not be determined until the City Assessor’s Office gave the School District the district wide assessment figure and Payment In Lieu of Taxes figures, which he said was not expected until March 1 from the City.
Schruers said the budget contained no new additonal positions and no funding of new programs. Board of Education member, Bill Pollak, noted that should assessments not keep pace with the 8.1% budget increase that it would require a rise in the school tax rate. WPCNR predicts that assessments will be down due to the $16 million in certiorari refunds the School District has bonded for in the last 12 months. Those lowered assessments will whittle the tax roll the district has to work with in 2006-2007.
Schruers pointed out that on the revenue side, state aid was only increasing 1.5%, or $146,258, and $111,000 of that was made up of state reimbursement for transportation costs. He noted that BOCES aid was held to $83,000 due to Governor George Pataki’s caps on BOCES/special education spending.
He reported that salaries increased 4% ($4,385,652), Health Insurance rose 8% (1,250,660), and Teacher’s Retirement Pension Funding 45% ($1,854,093), and BOCES $717,599 (8%). Utilities will rise 30% (947,684), and debt service, up $1,556,870 (34%), and Tuition to outside district facilities, $403,000 (21%). The total increase in the budget year to year, from the 2005-06 figure of $154.7 Million, at this time is $12,658,290.
Hits: 0
WPCNR THE POWER NEWS. January 31, 2006: The Mayor’s Office today stated that Mayor Joseph Delfino had no comments or statements either in defense or in support of Con Edison repair services during the windstorm of January 18 and aftermath.
The Mayor did not send a representative to the County Legislator Hearing (held two city blocks from City Hall), and conducted by Legislators Thomas Abinanti and Michael Kaplowitz on Con Edision performance during the windstorm of January 18 and subsequent repair period. White Plains was fully restored to power by Sunday afternoon, after 1,000 households had lost power.
Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, White Plains neighbor to the West, could not attend the hearing, but released the following statement to WPCNR which was read into the record at the hearing:
Honorable Legislators:
I am unable to attend the hearing being held by the members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators re: the power outage today. I thank the Legislature for holding the hearing and want you to know that about 2000 Greenburgh residents were out of power the first day of the outage. My family was out of power from Wednesday morning to Friday. It was cold, uncomfortable. Families with babies and the frail elderly could have suffered major health problems if the weather had been colder. Schools were closed for a few days in Dobbs Ferry and elsewhere- causing additional inconveniences to residents and students.
Lessons could be learned from this power outage. First, Con Ed should make sure that independent living centers for the elderly and senior housing complexes get their power turned on sooner—rather than later. Some of the elderly are frail—a long power outage could create major health problems for the elderly. Second, Schools should be given priority attention. Some local schools were closed for 3 days –creating problems for teachers and parents.
Finally, government has a responsibility to learn from this experience. Currently, the American Red Cross has agreements with every school in the county to house people in the event of an emergency. Woodlands, for example, is a reception center to receive people evacuated from within the 10 mile area surrounding Indian Point. The Greenburgh Police Department has worked with the Red Cross,
I have urged the Town of
This wind storm created inconveniences for many. If the weather had been colder there would have been a greater need for shelter. If municipal buildings had been out of power our ability to provide services to the community would have been impacted. And, we could not have provided emergency shelter to those who need it.
The county might wish to assist localities and school districts by providing financial assistance in paying for the generators. The town received a $75,000 grant from the state to purchase a generator for our multipurpose building. However, after we went out to bid we found that the generator would cost $150,000. I am trying to persuade the Town Board to support funding for one or more generators that can be used to help shelter the elderly and disabled.
(Statement for the Record by Town of Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner)
Hits: 0
WPCNR SENIOR CIRCUIT. By John F. Bailey. January 30, 2006: Reports last week that the 78 Westchester seniors participating in training jobs in Westchester County, funded by SER of Westchester would lose their jobs are false.
Ruth Espinoza, interim Manager of SER of Westchester. Espinoza said her staff at 171 East Post Road has been contacting the 78 seniors participating in the jobs training program assuring them they still have their training jobs, the SER organization still has funding for the program, and the program will continue.
False reports had circulated among seniors holding the training positions last week that their jobs would be ending abruptly.
Ms. Espinoza of SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc., in Dallas, Texas, is in White Plains managing the SER of Westchester program, taking over for Eugene Rodriguez as Executive Director who abruptly reseigned the position ten days ago.
Espinoza told WPCNR that the Department of Labor is still funding the SER program and will continue to do so. She said SER of Westchester is now being taken over by SER-Jobs for Progress National, Inc. She reports that she is conducting a series of meetings this week to reorganize and inform participants on SER’s future. Espinosa reports to WPCNR that persons in the program will be helped to find permanent jobs using the training they are now receiving, and will be placed. SER is also accepting new senior applicants for training positions. For more information, seniors may call SER at 914-681-0996.
Espinoza noted to WPCNR that SER is designed to be a training program to equip persons over 55 to work in the modern office, with the goal of helping the seniors get a permanent job. Espinoza said it is SER’s goal to place persons in training in permanent jobs, not have them stay in training positions perpetually.
Hits: 0
WPCNR Albany’s Amy. By Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. 88th Assembly District. January 30, 2006: As we begin this year and legislative session I would like to share with you some some of the accomplishments of 2005. As you may have read, 2005 was one of the most productive sessions in legislative history and truly was a “Year of Reform.” For the first time in 21 years, the budget was passed on time. Most importantly, it is a good budget, giving more money to our schools and municipalities. The Assembly is again committed to the adoption of a fair and on-time budget by April 1 of this year.
(More)
“Year of Reform”
Reforming the way the two houses of the Legislature conduct business was a major step forward for the Legislature. Now, lawmakers must be present to have their votes counted and, as of January 4, we are proud to be on cable television with unedited gavel-to-gavel coverage – channel 116. The Legislature also agreed to require lobbyists seeking state contracts to disclose their fees and clients, closed a loophole that allowed state workers to evade ethics fines by quitting their jobs, and moved to increase oversight of the state’s many public authorities. These important reforms make our government more open and more responsible.
Appointed Chair of Task Force on People with Disabilities
I am honored to have been appointed Chair of the Task Force on People with Disabilities. As chair, I launched a strong campaign to extend both the Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage program (EPIC) and the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption program (SCRIE) to people with disabilities, the latter of which was successfully signed into law.
Because the protections of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are in danger due to the frequent scrutiny by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Assembly also passed three bills that reinforce the ADA on the state level.
Emergency Contraception – “Morning After Pill”
After much hard work, my Emergency Contraception Bill passed both houses of the Legislature. This legislation would make emergency contraception more accessible by allowing licensed pharmacists to dispense it. Women would be able to obtain emergency contraception from pharmacies on weekends and holidays when many doctors’ offices are closed. Though Governor Pataki vetoed the bill, I will continue to fight to make it law this year.
Domestic Violence
As former Executive Director of My Sisters’ Place, I remain committed to eradicating domestic violence. This year I organized “Walk With Me,” the first ever march in Westchester County to raise awareness of domestic violence. Students, community leaders, concerned citizens and victims all participated in this march at Concordia College.
I have also been working in the Assembly to extend the length of Orders of Protection for battered women. Next year I hope to obtain the support of my colleagues and pass meaningful legislation.
Child Fatalities
As a member of the Standing Committee on Children and Families, I was instrumental in holding a public hearing in Westchester County to determine what changes, if any, should the Legislature consider that would improve the fatality review process in New York State and what resources would be required to ensure effective change.
Important Legislation
In terms of legislation, 2005 was a banner year; nine of my bills became law. Highlights include:
My bill, which unfortunately came upon the heels of two deaths of New York City police officers, increases the penalties for both the sale and possession of illegal firearms and closes a loophole by aggregating the number of illegal firearms sold over the course of one year so that gun traffickers face stiffer penalties.
Arising from a Westchester criminal case involving a child witness, this new law allows the Crime Victims Board to grant compensation to victims whose pre-existing condition was made worse by their unintentional involvement with a crime.
Prior to my legislation, post graduate podiatry residency programs were out of compliance with New York State law. The law had to be changed if these podiatry residency programs were to remain open. It was estimated that without this new law, forty-two podiatry residency programs in New York State would have been forced to close.
It is well documented that cruelty to animals is often a precursor to subsequent crimes against humans. My law requires those convicted of cruelty to animals to be fingerprinted and photographed. This new law addresses a gap that previously allowed such abusers to go unnoticed, but now provides law enforcement and the courts with more complete information, placing perpetrators more concretely within the justice system.
As the new year begins, I have been pleased to reflect on last year’s victories and lessons learned with an eye toward the challenges that lie ahead. There is still much to do and I look forward to serving the 88th Assembly district. As always, feel free to contact me any time I can be of assistance.
Hits: 0
WPCNR BORDER-TO-BORDER. Special to WPCNR. January 30, 2006: The City of White Plains has been invited by the Town of Harrison to apply jointly for a grant from the New York State Quality Communities Program Environmental Protection Fund to restore and preserve Silver Lake, to avoid a repeat of the sewage emmission that resulted in the closing of the Lake for six weeks last summer.
Silver Lake, September 5, 2006: Raw Sewage escaping into Silver Lake from the Harrison sewers from a July 19 rain created an algae bloom that lasted for six weeks in Silver Lake. Now Harrison and White Plains are teaming for a grant to preserve the lake in the future. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.
The two municipalities will hire a consulting engineering firm for the purpose of restoring and preserving Silver Lake. This will include an interpretive nature walk and a boat launch on the Harrison side, and functional improvements to the existing boat pier on the WP side.
There are plans to examine the water quality regularly and conduct mechanical weed harvesting from the lake’s bottom to remove “invasive species.” Sediment removal is also planned.
Storm Water Management
The engineering firm will examine management of storm water that comes into the lake (the primary source of which is from Harrison). This initial phase has an estimated total cost of $201,643.00, of which $161,314.00 will come from the State, and the City and Harrison will split the remaining $40,328.00.
Commissioner of Public Works for the City of White Plains, Joseph Nicoletti, is requesting the White Plains Common Council to authorize application for the grant. The Harrison Town Board passed a similar resolution December 15.
Once the grant is in hand, Commissioner Nicoletti reports the city will meet with Harrison and the consultant and work out the details.