WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. June 27, 2005: A supervisor working with the homeless women residents of Samaritan House at Grace Church told WPCNR today that they are anticipating the residents who number at least a dozen women and less than twenty ( the person would not give an exact number), will be moved out of the facility in the very near future,  (early July) reportedly to Pleasantville.

Samaritan House Is Currently Housed in the Grace Church Annex. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

The women, according to the supervisor we spoke said the women have not been told where they are going.

WPNCR called Joe Rubin of Open Arms the other homeless shelter run by Grace Church Community Center to get details of the move, and is awaiting his return call.

Bruce Berg, of Cappelli Enterprises, said that the Cappelli organization is finishing their drawings of the renovations of the Grace Church annex, (where the Samaritan House residents are presently housed), and finalizing their construction agreement with Grace Church. Berg said he expected work to begin on the Grace Church annex by the end of this year. He described the work as replacing windows, replacing air conditioning, new bathroom construction, new “lifts,”  and described it as “layered”. The construction originally proposed by Cappelli Enterprises in the interest of being a good neighbor, is the reason the Samaritan House residents need to be moved.

Two weeks ago, County Legislator Bill Ryan (who fought hard to keep Samaritan House open and serving the homeless) told WPCNR there were no plans to move the residents out of the shelter two weeks ago, when WPCNR brought up this issue. Ryan said that any funding the Department of Social Services budgeted for operation of Samaritan House would stop, unless Grace Church continued to use the monies to house the women who were residents of Samaritan House elsewhere for the same expense. Whether or not Grace Church would be required to return any difference in what they would pay another facility to house them (if less), is unclear, pending determination of where the Samaritan House residents are going, and what the arrangements are. Ryan said two weeks ago that another scenario would be he thought the residents would come under the care of the Department of Social Services, and funding would stop for Samaritan House.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Shannon Logan, New York Juggernaut. June 25, 2005: The New York Juggernaut came from behind to take game three of the series from the Chinese National Team, 6-3 at Hofstra University Softball Stadium.  Natasha Watley just missed the cycle going 3-for-4 with a single, double and a triple on the day.  Jodie Cox and Heather Scaglione each recorded a single and double with two RBIs and Kaleo Eldredge added two hits on the day for the Juggernaut.  Peaches James pitched a complete game and earned the victory in the circle. 

Peaches James Continues to Impress. Photo, Courtesy, NY Juggernaut.

China jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  With two outs, Zhang Lifang was hit by a James pitch.  A single by Sun Li followed by a stolen base put runners on second and third for the Chinese.  Miao Ruiying hit a two RBI single to left field to put China on the board.  China scored again in the third due to costly errors by the Juggernaut defense. 

New York began its comeback in the bottom of the third as it plated two runs to cut the deficit.  Watley led off the inning with a double down the left field line.  With two outs, Cox picked up her first RBI of the day with a double of her own to right center field.  Scaglione followed with a two-out RBI single to center to score Cox from second. 

The Juggernaut scored again in the fifth to take the lead from the Chinese National Team.  Watley, again, led off the inning with a single to center field.  A sacrifice bunt by Carri Leto moved Watley into scoring position for the Nauts.  Once more, Cox and Sacglione hit a single and double, respectively, to push the Juggernaut ahead 4-3. 

New York added some insurance runs in the sixth.  Kaleo Eldredge led off with a double to left field, her second hit of the day.  A sacrifice bunt by Kim Ogee and two crucial Chinese errors allowed Eldredge to score, making the score 5-3.  Ryan Realmuto added a pinch hit, sacrifice fly to score Ogee from third.  Watley followed with a triple to left field, but was stranded on third as the Juggernaut got all the run support they needed to defeat the Chinese. 

Peaches James got the complete game win, striking out six more batters as she continues to lead the NPF with 69 strikeouts.  The NY Juggernaut finish up their four game series against China on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  For tickets or more information on the NY Juggernaut, please call 516-485-0141 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. 

FINAL SCORE

Score by Innings                                     R  H   E

—————————————–

Chinese National Team….. 021 000 0 – 3   3    2

NY Juggernaut………….….002 022 X -6  11  4

—————————————–

WP-Peaches James

LP-Yu Huili

China jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  With two outs, Zhang Lifang was hit by a James pitch.  A single by Sun Li followed by a stolen base put runners on second and third for the Chinese.  Miao Ruiying hit a two RBI single to left field to put China on the board.  China scored again in the third due to costly errors by the Juggernaut defense. 

New York began its comeback in the bottom of the third as it plated two runs to cut the deficit.  Watley led off the inning with a double down the left field line.  With two outs, Cox picked up her first RBI of the day with a double of her own to right center field.  Scaglione followed with a two-out RBI single to center to score Cox from second. 

The Juggernaut scored again in the fifth to take the lead from the Chinese National Team.  Watley, again, led off the inning with a single to center field.  A sacrifice bunt by Carri Leto moved Watley into scoring position for the Nauts.  Once more, Cox and Sacglione hit a single and double, respectively, to push the Juggernaut ahead 4-3. 

New York added some insurance runs in the sixth.  Kaleo Eldredge led off with a double to left field, her second hit of the day.  A sacrifice bunt by Kim Ogee and two crucial Chinese errors allowed Eldredge to score, making the score 5-3.  Ryan Realmuto added a pinch hit, sacrifice fly to score Ogee from third.  Watley followed with a triple to left field, but was stranded on third as the Juggernaut got all the run support they needed to defeat the Chinese. 

Peaches James got the complete game win, striking out six more batters as she continues to lead the NPF with 69 strikeouts.  The NY Juggernaut finish up their four game series against China on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.  For tickets or more information on the NY Juggernaut, please call 516-485-0141 or visit the Juggernaut online at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. 

FINAL SCORE

Score by Innings                                     R  H   E

—————————————–

Chinese National Team….. 021 000 0 – 3   3    2

NY Juggernaut………….….002 022 X -6  11  4

—————————————–

WP-Peaches James

LP-Yu Huili

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey, June 24, 2005: White Plains $1.6 Million synthetic turf soccer field build by Westchester County adjacent the Hutchinson River Parkway was officially opened this morning with county and city officials celebrating. Mayor Joseph Delfino accepted the keys to the regulation size field, and local soccer coaches whose persistence helped galvanize the county to build the field enjoyed the feel and the springiness of the lifelike, yielding synthetic surface. County Executive Andy Spano showed he could play soccer. White Plains County Legislator Bill Ryan announced he would be working with Mayor Delfino to see if he could bring similar synthetic turf fields to Eastview School.

Getting a Kick Out of You. The Saxon Woods Soccer Field with lights. Youngsters try it out while county and city officials get the feel of the field. The field is very yielding, feels like grass and is designed to take the constant pounding, while being easier on player’s knees because of its resiliency. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Uncle Joe and the Gang. Mayor Joseph Delfino with soccer experts “testing the turf” Friday morning. Mayor Delfino accepted the keys to the field from County Executive Andy Spano and County Legislator Bill Ryan. The field will be managed by White Plains Department of Recreation and Parks under Commissioner Arne Abramowitz. Abramowitz told WPCNR the fees for use of the field are still being worked out, but should range between $15 and $85.  White Plains organizations will receive priority, but the field is expected to be used by Scarsdale, Yonkers and other towns across the county.  Photo by WPCNR Sports.

County Legislator Bill Ryan introduced White Plains own Gladys Buitron of the White Plains Scorpions, and Carlos Mejia of White Plains Youth Soccer. He said Ms. Buitron brought the idea of a county soccer field to Mr. Ryan about five years ago, and it was her persistence that helped the field become a reality. Photo by WPCNR Sports

Tom Roach, Bill Ryan and Rita Malmud with professional soccer great. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Robert Fischer, Jr., left representing Scarsdale Soccer, and Peter Pinori who is involved with teams from Yonkers, pose with Bill Ryan right. Fischer and Pinori’s teams will be scheduling games at the field. Photo by WPCNR Sports

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Oscar Sales, Jr. WPPAC. June 23, 2005: ROBERT KLEIN  Takes the stage of the White Plains Performing Arts Center on Saturday, June 25 at 8pm.

For almost 50 years, Robert Klein has been taking the ordinary and making it extraordinarily funny. With a hilarious new book, “An Amorous Busboy of Decatur Avenue,” Robert Klein will have regale you with a look back at the fabulous fifties and other bits of wisdom. Don’t miss this great entertainer and spend a delightful evening laughing ‘til your sides ache. AND, stay after the show, buy his book and have Robert personally sign it for you!

Tickets for Robert’s show are $40 & $45. Subscribers save 15% off ticket prices. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 888-977-2250. You can also purchase tickets to Robert’s show online. Visit our web site at http://www.wppac.com  and click on the link to www.eJewish.com.


Coming This Summer:

The White Plains Youth Theatre presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC and OKLAHOMA!

These one-hour musical presentations are performed by actors ages 8-17. Tickets are only $10. Call the Box Office at 888-977-2250 for more information.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. June 22, 2005, UPDATED 7:55 A.M. E.D.T.: C.J. Follini of  North Street Community, LLC, $21 Million purchasers of the St. Agnes Hospital property last January presented their plans for a “Senior Development” Community for the property to the Common Council Wednesday evening, calling for a 390 unit Independent Living Unit for seniors over 55  in a series of 5 new structures, a7-story building to be constructed on the southwest portion of the property, a clubhouse adjacent to it of 5 stories featuring a spa, dining facility and small theatre, and two other buildings. They also propose outfitting the now vacant former St. Agnes Hospital facility into a health care facility for the residents that would include 60 Skilled Nursing Units, and 20 Assisted Living Units, and in addition provide health care on an outpatient basis to the general public. 

C.J. Follini, one of three principals of North Street Community presenting his Senior Living facility in the Mayor’s Conference Room Wednesday evening. Mr. Follini’s partners are Alfred and Benjamin Caiola and Andrew Green. Photo by WPCNR News

Model of North Street Community.  The four new buildings proposed are in the Southwest portion of the property (upper left quadrant of picture with red roofs). The Carvel Rehabilitation Center, which Follini said would be retained in operation,  is in center of picture. The St. Agnes Hospital building (305) is at top center which the group proposes to reopen as an onsite health care facility open to community residents and the general public. Parking would be provided at underground facilities and open air lots for 1,040 cars. A two-level  underground garage would be located under the Senior Living facility upper left long building. Other parking would be provided in open-air lots. North Street is the road curving through the center of the photograph. The former General Foods facility is to the right in the photo. Photo by WPCNR News

Benjamin Caiola told WPCNR the group is examining options as to whether to build the facility and present a private organization with a turnkey facility, or to retain ownership and have a private nonprofit run the operation. He said the group has not made up its mind on that issue. Mr. Follini said the group would be seeking a Special Permit from the Common Council to allow them to transfrom the zoning from one family residential to a Special Permitted use (senior living facility).  Monthly charges for the facility (an average of $5,000 a month for such a famility, according to WPCNR estimates) have not been worked out yet, Mr. Caiola said. Mr. Follini committed that they would explore the option of making certain units affordable for seniors.

The proposal will be presented to the public in a community meeting at 7:30 P.M. next Tuesday evening in room B-1 at White Plains High School.