THE FEINER REPORT: Greenburgh Supervisor Notes Highlights of The Greenburgh Year

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WPCNR’S THE FEINER REPORT. By Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. December 22, 2006: HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON AND A GREAT 2007!




 2006 is almost history.  In reviewing the year in review – I’m pleasantly surprised at the activity and accomplishments. The following are highlights of the year.




 NO TAX HIKE–For the 2nd year in a row the Greenburgh Town Board adopted a budget that does not raise taxes. Actually, the budget for 2007 reduces taxes slightly. I proposed a written fund balance policy to the Town Board that regulates how much fund balance should be maintained in each fund each year.




 CABLE TV COMPETITION– The Greenburgh Town Board became the first locality in Westchester to approve a cable TV contract with Verizon. We are the first to have cable TV competition. Cablevision has been offering price reductions to  some customers who cancel their service.






CON ED POWER OUTAGES–Many residents experienced numerous Con Ed power outages this year. Some homeowners were out of power 5 or 6 times. I organized a lobbying initiative to persuade Con Ed to study the feasibility of placing power lines underground. The Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution I had introduced calling for a study. Con Ed agreed to conduct the study.





GENERATOR TO BE PLACED AT TOWN HALL — Most municipalities do not have emergency generators in municipal buildings to provide power in the event of a power outage. The Greenburgh Town Board approved a budget request I made to appropriate funds for an emergency generator at Town Hall. The Town Hall could also be used to provide emergency shelter for seniors and disabled residents in event of a power outage.





LIBRARY- The Town Board approved bids for the 20 million library construction. The construction of the library will start in January, 2007 (about 8 months after the construction was originally supposed to begin). The old Town Hall, which was originally going to be used for a temporary library during construction, will not be used for that purpose. Instead, the temporary library will be located at satellite locations. Demita Gerber, Greenburgh’s Library Director, resigns her position – takes a new job in Wisconsin.





LIBRARY CONTRACT– Bad news for unincorporated Greenburgh, good news for Ardsley: Elmsford decided not to renew their contract with Greenburgh for library services. Instead, Elmsford signed a contract for library services for 4 years with Ardsley. Greenburgh will lose about a million dollars during the 4 year contract. Elmsford residents, who will be given an Ardsley library card, will have library privileges throughout Westchester -including Greenburgh – because Ardsley is a member of the Westchester Library system.





2 HOMELESS SHELTERS CLOSE–WESTHAB closed two homeless shelters in Greenburgh: One in Elmsford and another in the Fulton Park section of Greenburgh.





DOG PARK APPROVED–A bark for the park rally at Town Hall this summer led to the Town Board approving a resolution designating East Rumbrook Park as the location for a dog park. The dog park will be built in 2007.





SHELL HYDROGEN PROPOSES HYDROGEN FUEL STATION IN EDGEMONT–Shell Hydrogen proposed a hydrogen fuel station in Edgemont, just south of Ardsley Road. If approved, the station would be the 3rd station in the United States. The Planning Board will be reviewing the application in 2007.





EDGEMONT WINS $1.4 MILLION CERTIORARI CASE- Usually, when property owners file certiorari actions in court they win or there is a court settlement. Midway lost a lawsuit–saving the Edgemont school district $817,000. THe town worked with the Edgemont school district on fighting the lawsuit.





COMMUNITY HOSPITAL AT DOBBS FERRY – A state panel recommended the closure of the Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry. The Greenburgh Town Board joined other municipal boards in approving a resolution calling on the state not to close the hospital. This hospital actually is making money.





CITIZENS INSURANCE COMMITTEE ISSUES REPORT – A Citizens Insurance Committee, chaired by Edgemont resident RIchard Liskov, issued a comprehensive report address town insurance issues.





NEW POET LAUREATE– The Greenburgh Town Board appointed Westchester‘s first municipal Poet Laureate, Brenda Connor-Bey.





CABLEVISION WITHDRAWS REQUEST FOR HELIPAD: Cablevision withdrew its request to place a helipad at their Madison Square Garden training facility located in Greenburgh – which serves the NY Knicks, Liberty and Rangers team.





MORE LEAF COLLECTION FUNDS– The Town Board increased the leaf collection overtime budget by $20,000. Hopefully, leaf collection will improve in 2007.





HARTSDALE PARKING –The Hartsdale Parking Garage was renovated in 2006. A committee is being formed to address residential parking needs on E Hartsdale Ave. There is a shortage of residential parking on the avenue.





NEW BLOG: Residents can participate in the dialogue by visiting my new blog: www.pfeinerblogspot.com





DECADE OLD HOUSING PROPOSAL MOVES FORWARD: THE Greenburgh Town Board approved findings for Avalon Green – a housing complex in E Irvington (on Elmsford’s border) that will include 444 units of housing, 10% affordable housing. The housing was first proposed over 11 years ago. Originally, the developer wanted to build about 800 units of housing. After many years of negotiations with the neighboring communities an agreement was reached.





SOLAR PANELS DEDICATED AT TOWN HALL– Solar panels were placed on the roof of Town Hall, partially powering our Town Hall.Our energy conservation coordinator proposed energy efficient standards for new commercial construction, energy efficient standards in the town purchasing/procurement policy and a plan for energy audits and efficiency improvements on additional town facilities. A green energy fair was held.





CHECK OUT BUILDING DEPT ENFORCEMENT–The Building Department has an online listing of each complaint they receive by offense and disposition. One can now file complaints online. 



STUDENT RUN CABLE TV SHOWS–Students now host cable TV shows shown on our public access station. 



INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMS- A toddler/senior intergeneration program was started at the Theodore Young Community Center. Seniors and toddlers from Union Child Day Care Center participate in these get togethers.





LEASE AGREEMENT WITH CREDIT UNION: The Town Board approved a lease agreement with a credit union to rent space on the 2nd floor of Town Hall. The credit union opened it’s offices in 2006.





HISTORY: The Town Historian, Frank Jazzo, organized a re-enactment of the 225th anniversary of  AMerica‘s March to Yorktown. Marchers camped at the Odell House. The use of the Odell House on Ridge Road in Hartsdale as General Rochambeau’s HQ in 1787 as well as the Washington Rochambeau Route Passing through Greenburgh was highlighted.





VILLAGES/UNINCORPORATED: THe dispute between unincorporated Greenburgh and the villages was not resolved. The Town Board voted to appeal a lawsuit concerning Taxter Ridge. A mediation committee was appointed consisting of representatives of the villages and unincorporated Greenburgh. No legislative recommendations have been made.





E Rumbrook Park– The Town Board approved funds for implementing phase 1 of the East Rumbrook Park Improvement Master PLan. $200,000 was included in the 2006 capital budget.





IMPROVEMENTS IN OUR PARKS: A loop trail was constructed at Glenville Woods -a hikers guide is being prepared. Cabanasas Section E & H have been renovated at FV Park pool complex. New restrooms at Secor Park. Washington Ave park community garden renovated. Pocantico Park redesigned and landscaped. Exterior of E Rumbrook Park Utility Fitness Center building renovated. A new 55 and older adult softball league formed. 



HOLIDAY DECORATIONS: New holiday decorations on E Hartsdale Ave. Funding donated by Westachester Greenhouses.





HISTORIC PRESERVATION STUDY COMPLETED –by department of planning. 



COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF ZONING ORDINANCE–We hired BFJ Planning to commence a comprehensive review of our zoning ordinance.





COMMUNITY POLICING: THe Town Board voted to increase our police department by 3. We restored community policing at Fairview to its previous levels. We expanded community policing to serve Mayfair Knollwood. Serious crime continues to be at a historic low. The police expanded basic life support to enable EMTs to administer Epinesphrine and Albuterol (shock/respiratory).





9A Bypass: state officials agreed to  go out to bid for 9A bypass which will reduce traffic congestion in Greenburgh/Elmsford/Ardsley.





RIDGE HILL: We have been meeting with Yonkers officials and the developers of the Ridge Hill development to address traffic congestion/safety issues. The Yonkers City Council approved plans for the Ridge Hill development–3 million square feet of residential, commercial development on the Yonkers/Greenburgh border.





WEBB FIELD: The Town Board received a $97,000 federal grant to landscape Webb field. We finalized a contract with Ward Associates. Concrete walkway/landscaping around wall to take place in 2007. 



SIDEWALK POLICY: The Town Board approved a resolution directing me to propose a sidewalk policy. I complied with the request. The Town Board has not yet approved or acted on teh proposal. 



CYCLED FROM HARTSDALE TO DC TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH–I cycled to Washington from Hartsdale to raise awareness for stem cell research. Our group of over a dozen cyclists also raised funds for volunteer firefighter Lorraine Valentini who is paralyzed from the neck down due to a bicycle accident. Our group of cyclists met with Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer in the capitol. Senator Schumer promised to wear a Team Lorraine wristband daily until stem cell research funding is approved by the Congress and signed into law.





AFFORDABLE HOUSING MAINTAINED: Manhattan Ave– The Town Board approved the sale of 3 affordable housing apartment complexes on Manhattan Ave and Oak Street. A one million dollar tax break request was withdrawn after our energy conservation coordinator, Nikki Coddington, was able to find energy conservation grants.  The Greenburgh Town Board approved a resolution creating an affordable housing committee, with Councilwoman Eddie Mae Barnes appointed as chair.





FUNDING FOR TZ BRIDGE STUDY: The Greenburgh Town Board voted to fund a $30,000 study of the impacts a new TZ bridge will have on the 287 Greenburgh corridor.





NEW STATE SENATOR–Greenburgh will be represented by a new State Senator. Andrea Stewart Cousins will replace Nick Spano as our representative in Albany.



 

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Skyliners, Spitfires Intro NYC to Synchro at The Pond Spreading Holiday Cheer.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. December 21, 2006: The Skyliners  Junior Synchronized Skating Team of  The Skating Club of New York  and the Spitfires of the Springdale Skating Club in Stamford presented their synchronized skating programs at The Pond in Bryant Park last night at the spiffy rink before about 1,000 skater-spectactors, many seeing the sport for the first time. The girls from the Connecticut, Westchester and New Jersey and New York City took the train in with their parents to spread holiday cheer and the synchro “word,” by showcasing  the fastest growing phenomena in skating — synchronized skating.



Skating in The City: The Skyliners Junior Team  perform “Proud Mary” at The “fabulous” Pond in Bryant Park, Thursday night against the backdrop of, appropriately the New York Skyline and Empire State Building. Photo, WPCNR Sports


Both teams skated flawlessly, drawing ooh’s and applause for their intricate, barrier-challenging formations against the New York skyline —  despite the short rink–  showcasing and introducing their passion to many seeing it for the first time, the world’s only true team sport.  The Skyliners have been honored by being invited to skate at Governor-Elect Eliot Spitzer’s Inauguration in Albany, January 1 on the Albany Mall.



The Spitfires from Stamford Twin Rinks in Synchro-Motion! Photo, WPCNR Sports


 

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BID Proposes Tripling Budget (to $1.6M)–Seeks Partnership Expansion to Malls

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WPCNR DOWNTOWN NEWS. By John F. Bailey. December 21, 2006: The White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District, (“The BID”) proposed a tripling of its assessment budget Wednesday evening from its present budget of $575,000 to $1.65 Million Tuesday, to be accomplished by expanding the BID southward to Maple Avenue, West along Post Road to White Plains Hospital Center and West along Main Street to include The Galleria and and Eastward down Maple Avenue to include The Westchester, The White Plains Pavilion, Fortunoff and Bloomingdale’s.



NEW BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS PROPOSED. Slide demonstrating expansion of the Downtown Business Improvement District to the West, South and East, extending South to the Bloomingdale Road, Mamaroneck Avenue intersection. The Districts would include malls not currently in the BID. Photo, WPCNR News



 



Rick Ammirato, the Executive Director of the BID made a presentation to the Common Council proposing their blessing of the BID expansion. The new $1.65 Million in assessments that would be generated by the expansion of the BID to 57,345 square feet that would be generated by the BID formula applied to the property owners in the West, South and East sides of the city where they are eying expansion. Slide above shows “assessment” impact on different-sized properties.  “GFA” stands for Gross Footage Area and “LSF” stands for Linear Square Frontage (on street).


 


Hearing in February Perhaps.


Ammirato said that if the Council is amiable to the plan presented last night, that he hoped a public hearing on the proposed expansion would be held in February. At which time all property owners and interested parties could speak on their feelings about expanding the district. After the hearing, all property owners in the newly proposed BID Districts would be given the opportunity to vote on the plans or opt-out.


Ammirato noted that there are two ways the expansion of the districts would be defeated — if more than 50% of all property owners in the affected areas vote against it or if 50% of the largest Gross Footage Area owners voted against it. If that test is met, Ammiratto said the expansion plan goes to the New York State Comptroller for approval. Mr.Ammirato told WPCNR today that if any newly proposed districts defeated the proposal, the BID may redraw its plan to reconfigure to property owners who do wish to be in a BID District.


The new district would expand West along the South side of Main Street to the Train Station (including the Galleria), according to Ammirato, and West along East Post Road past White Plains Hospital Center, and South on Mamaroneck Road to the Bloomingdale Road intersection.


Would Enable BID to Expand Services


Ammirato aggressively outlined a new role for the BID which has limited its $675,000 budget to staging and managing city events to attract customers to the Central Business District such as parades, the New Year’s Eve celebration, a Taste of White Plains, and occasional events at Renaissance Plaza. as well as providing a 4-man sidewalk sweeping team to keep the downtown clean during daylight hours.


 



 


Ammirato said the expansion of the BID zone would enable the BID to hire 8 more street sweepers (a total of 12) to apply the BID clean streets campaign to the new areas the BID hopes to expand. Ammirato also said the new budget would enable the BID to buy diesel-powered “Green Machine” sidewalk sweeping machines that would triple the efficiency of the BID sidewalk sweeping team.


Jeffrey Sluman, of the BID said that Mr. Ammirato and members of the BID board would be approaching large property owners and small property owners in the new BID expansion areas if the Council approves, in January to convince the property owners of the advantages of extending the BID District for themselves as well as for the city.


Visions of the BID


According to Mr. Ammirato, the BID has great visions of what to do with the additional Million Dollars in budget generated by expanding the BID District.


He said the BID wants to program 14 weeks of events at Renaissance Plaza, plan a summer concert on Mamaroneck Avenue, hold a second Child Safety Day on East Post Road/ Lexington Avenue; generate a Holiday Shopping Promotion the day after Thanksgiving similar to that staged by Stamford. He also plans to continue the Small Business Seminar Series, recently initiated at the White Plains Performing Arts Center.


Paid Professional Ambassadors


Another initiative would be the creation of fulltime on-the-street, paid “Professional Ambassadors” for “High Pedestrian Traffic” areas in the city including the City Center, Renaissance Plaza, White Plains Hospital and the White Plains Metro Station, which he described as a very neglected area in terms of informing visitors to the city of what is going on in the city and where shopping, restaurants, and places to see.


Ammirato proposed the BID could also play a role marketing the city by “helping businesses move to White Plains, and serving as a “clearing house” for information on the city. He also wanted the BID to play a role in “Retail Recruitment” and to be “more aggressive recruiting quality retailers not yet represented in White Plains,” roles presumably traditionally centered in the Mayor’s Office.


Electric Signage


The BID also proposed electronic signage in the downtown area to promote daily events in the city, BID events, White Plains Performing Arts Center Events, even traffic flow information and public meetings.


Rita Malmud was the only councilmember to say this was a “good idea,” while the Mayor Joseph Delfino, dryly commented at one point, that the BID should ask him (the Mayor) for Free Parking, not Al Moroni the Director of Parking. The presentation was striking for the lack of questions asked by the council.



At the beginning of the administration, Mr. Ammirato explained that the assessment a property owner pays is determined by their gross square footage and their Linier frontage on the street added together.


He pointed out that by far the larger share is paid by the larger property owners siting the example below.



In seeking to expand the BID District, Ammirato said the goal was to bring the city’s major malls, The Westchester, Fortunoff, The Westchester Pavilion, and The Galleria into the BID assessment, as well as expand BID services to West Post Road, and southern Mamaroneck Avenue.


The plan apparently will be thought about by the Common Council, which is being asked to endorse the plan.


The involvement of the BID in marketing the city as proposed last night is a new role that would have to reconcile policies and responsibilities with the relatively low profile City Economic Development Department. The City Economic Development Department under the operation of Melissa Lopez operates on an interactive basis with commercial entities contacting the city, pursues strategies and creates events, and distributes brochures extolling the advantages of the city, and promotes the city in occasional one-shot campaigns. There is no overall city marketing campaign or direction such as “I love NY” for example.


 


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Bookkeeping: Proton Beam off agenda. Bank St. Hearing Set. Bond Refinancing

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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. December 21, 2006: Rita Malmud questioned Mayor Joseph Delfino why the renewal of the New York Presbyterian Hospital special permit to build a proton accelerator/biotech lab complex was not on the agenda for January 2. . The Mayor testily said he was not going to put extension of the permit on agenda  because he felt the New York Presbyterian Hospital needed some time to regroup after the council rebuffed the 6.5 acre park/subdivision Memorandum of Understanding by a 4-3 vote at the beginning of this month.


 


The Mayor challenged Ms. Malmud that she could put it on if she wanted to, but he was not going to do so. Ms. Malmud turned beetred, but did not challenge the Mayor and demand the renewal be put on the agenda, at least not last night.


 


****  The Common Council agreed to authorize the Commissioner of Finance to refinance the 2002 $16.7 Million remaining on the City Center garage loan last night. The move, should it be successful on the market in January would save the city, Commissioner Gina Cuneo-Harwood said $700,000.


 


**** The Council voted to set a public hearing on January 2 on the mysterious Bank Street Commons apartments project that would present a $16 Million windfall to the city in new funds for purchase of the commuter municipal parking lot on Bank Street in return for LCOR’s right to build two 23 story buildings and about 400 apartments. This story was leaked by City Hall to the Journal News by the Mayor’s Office last week, for which no details or designs have been publicly presented to this reporter’s knowledge. The sale of the municipal commuter parking lot privately, without putting it out for bid was not questioned by the council which considered the matter in the Mayor’s Conference Room before the press.


 


**** The Commissioner of Planning, Susan Habel briefed the Common Council on a zoning change that would bring a section along Old Mamaroneck Road into zoning conformity to the R1-7.5 zone, (7,500 square feet building) to avoid the future possibility of a string of properties being acquired to build a cluster of homes under 7,500 square feet that would be out of character with the neighborhood. Ms. Habel said the Planning Department is looking for anomalies in various zones to bring them into conformity.

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Council Appoints Lloyd Tasch Acting Assessor. North Street Community Cuts Back

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 20, 2006: As reported by WPCNR this morning, in Executive Session this evening, the Common Council did indeed consider the appointment of Deputy City Assessor Lloyd Tasch to the position of Acting Assessor and approved it in resolutions offered at the conclusion of the Executive Session. Councilmembers would not comment on other matters discussed, or whether a search for an Assessor was continuing while Mr. Tasch filled in. Last week, the city choice for Assessor, a high profile candidate who had been offered the job, turned it down citing commuting issues.


 



North Street Community OLD Parameters in Red outline, New configuration of North Street Community in Dark, as outlined by Alfred Caiola of North Street Community Wednesday evening.


In other action this evening, the council heard a new proposal from North Street Community which trims the  number of luxury condominium units from 390 down to 353, raising the minimum age of possible residents to 60, and eliminating 38,000 square feet of office rental in exchange for more “assisted living” units in the former St. Agnes Hospital building. The maximum heights of the four residential buildings have been trimmed from seven stories to a maximum of five stories and the four main residential buildings have been redesigned to be more “cornered” with multiple courtyards, and moved 75 feet farther away from the Wyndham Close property, substantially reducing the visibility of the project from the Bryant Avenue residential sites. All parking would be underground.



  Alfred Caiola, one of the four principals in the North Street Community property, said his costs had escalated substantially, and that they were fast approaching the point where more scaling down of the senior luxury condominium project would make it not feasible. Mr. Caiola told WPCNR the luxury condominium senior living units would still be offered from $450,000 to $900,000.


Manelaos Rizoulis, the President of the Wyndham Close Association remained resolute in his opposition to the project, which though the new design was better, he told WPCNR “it’s still too big. Too dense.”


Rizoulis has maintained since September  that Wyndham Close would be supportive of the project if it were scaled back by about half. “Half” to Mr. Rizoulis, he said, was defined as one half of the 390 independent condominium units proposed plus the 40 asssisted living units and 80 long-term care units proposed for the former St. Agnes Hospital building.  Rizoulis told the CitizeNetReporter his idea of “half” of this figure would make for 230 units.  Rizoulis said this would be acceptable to Wyndham Close.

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Amodio’s Bid for Protection as a County Agricultural resource is REJECTED.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Board of Legislators. December 19, 2006: Amodio’s the nursery the Saxon Woods neighborhood and the City of White Plains have been feuding with for years over soil reclamation projects on Amodio’s property and hours of work was denied inclusion in the County Agricultural District Monday. Chairman of the Board of Legislators Bill Ryan announced the rejection to WPCNR today, by a vote of 13-0.

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School Board Reports.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education. December 19, 2006:  Eighty-eight students from six Fall Varsity Teams which averaged grades of 90 or better were recognized as Scholar-Athletes.  Members of the Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Field Hockey, Women’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming & Diving and Women’s Tennis teams were introduced by coaches.  In addition, three members of the Cheerleading Squad were recognized, along with six students with 90+ averages from teams which did not qualify.

 


     UPCOMING MEETINGS:   


 


January 8: Regular Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.  Overview of Strategic Planning


 


January 17        Special Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.


                                                                                    Executive Session — Collective Bargaining


 


January 24:      World Café, White Plains High School, 7:30 P.M.


                                                                                    Strategic Planning


 


January 29:       Special Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.


                                                                                    2007-08 Budget Planning


 


                               February 12:    Regular Meeting, Education House, 7:30 P.M.


 


Other noteworthy events:   


As reported first in White Plains last week by The CitizeNetReporter, Dual Language instruction in Spanish and English is coming to White Plains next year at George Washington School. It is an opt-in program on a pilot basis.


NEW PROGRAM:  The Board approved a Dual Language pilot program at George Washington School.  This is a kindergarten program in which two teachers work collaboratively, with half the day’s instruction in English and half in Spanish.  K-5 ESOL Coordinator and Newcomer Center Director Suzanne Lasser gave a presentation on this research-based program, explaining its benefits for all students and noting its success in other districts.  Board Curriculum Committee member Peter Bassano added that the committee supports the program because it is a data-driven plan to address the issue of achievement, a top priority of the Board’s.


 



SUZANNE LASSER of The Newcomers Center. Photos, WPCNR News


 


     DONATIONS:The Board accepted the following donations: $10,000 from the White Plains High School Alumni Association for band uniforms;  chairs and desks from Congregation Kol Ami for George Washington School; a Mexican poncho from the Westchester Audubon Society for the Spanish Program at Eastview Middle School; computer equipment, books, artifacts and file cabinets from Barbara Schwarz for George Washington School; and musical equipment from Mort Silver for the Middle School bands.  Mr. Connors thanked these donors for their generosity.


 



                                                                                                                                               


                                 




     SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:  Superintendent Timothy Connors introduced several reports to the Board and community:


 


            Vicki Hertlein provided an overview of the Margaret’s Place program in which she serves as Counselor.  Funded by the Joe Torre Safe at Home Foundation, it provides students with a nonthreatening setting in which to discuss issues concerning violence in the home and community. Megan Flynn represented Westchester Jewish Community Services, which partners with the Foundation to implement the program.



             Ms. Hertlein (shown in her office at the high school, she is always open to see students who want to discuss relationship issues) related the story of one student who was referred to her whom Ms. Hertlein said turned out to have been beaten by her boyfriend, and is currently working with her through that issue. She also has determined through a survey of Hispanic children of certain controlling attitudes of boys towards young women  that she is attempting to work through with the Hispanic population.


 


Regents Scores at High School averaging 80% Passing.


 


         High School Principal Ivan Toper presented a report he gave before the Rotary Club recently, on initiatives for instructional improvement and results over the past three years.  Trends are positive, in terms of both test scores and in closing the achievement gap.


 


 



         Toper reported about 85%of students were passing on the ELA and Math Regents in 2004, 2005 and 2006, with 90% on the sciences  social studies while African-American and Hispanic students lagged about 20% behind performance of white students in scores, though that margin is narrowing. ( On chart above–grade range colors are indicated in small box.)


 



 


Math Regents results: Math improving slightly with 84% Passing the 2006 Math Regents.


 



Blacks and Hispanics Continue to Lag Behind whites by 22% in Passing Scores, But have shown improvement.


 



Hispanics are Outperforming Blacks on the English Language Regents on passing grades, averaging 84% to Blacks’ 70% BUT still lag 10% Behind Whites. However the Hispanic passing students are outperforming Blacks by 14 points.


 



Where the Seniors Went.


 


China visits


 


         Teacher Susan Altman updated the Board on visitors from the Suzhou High School in China. She and Mrs. Kass had been welcomed there and will now reciprocate with five Chinese educators who are expected here on February 4th.  They will discuss a sister relationship with the school and introduce them to the White Plains community in an effort to further cultural understanding.


 


Strategic Planning Starts


         Finally, on Strategic Planning, Mr. Connors said the Board will meet on January 8th with Stephen Barone, who is facilitating this process, and there will be a public forum on January 24th, called a “World Café,” to discuss future directions for the school district. 


 



 


Coordinator of Foreign Languages Joan Kass introduced scholarship winners in the Community Ambassador Program, through the Experiment in International Living.  Four students spoke about their meaningful experiences in different countries:  Molly Kellogg (shown speaking)  and Warne Goodman in China, Julia Rose in Ecuador (next to Mr. Goodman) and Naomi Shakerdge in Australia. 


 


Other scholarship winners were Marcus Brown, Catherine Eichberg, Seth Kreielsheimer, Rose Liu, Ben Pasternack, Alyce Regan, Hannah Reiss, Abigail Rudow and Elsy Santizo-deLeon.  Mrs. Kass thanked Stephen and Nita Lowey who sponsor this program privately.


 



   


  TENURE:  Two teachers were awarded tenure:  Patricia Wahl, (Above– with Principal Joseph Cloherty of Eastview School — Joan Kass is at the podium) Foreign Language Teacher at the Eastview Middle School, was described by Mrs. Kass as a dedicated, energetic, creative teacher who is bilingual and bicultural. 


 



Tara Walsh, an Elementary Education Teacher at the Highlands Middle School, was presented by Social Studies Coordinator Lois Gordon, who said Ms. Walsh has a genuine love of children and her classroom is filled with eager and committed students. Diana Hyland, Principal of Highlands is at right.


     


 


 


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What Role Models? Knick-Knack Thugs Get Virtually Nothing in NBA Fight Rulings.

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WPCNR VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bull Allen, “The Voice of  Old All-American Sports”. December 19, 2006:  The millionaire playground runners and gunners and “Ole’” defenders who pull down millions to play go-through-the-motions dirty basketball in The World’s Most Infamous Arena — home of the worst basketball team ever assembled, got a ringing endorsement for their brand of thug ball from NBA Commissioner David Stern Monday.


 



New NBA Sign to Come?


 





The insane inequity of the worst decision by a sports commissioner since the 1994 baseball strike, sent a message to every young hockey, basketball, softball, baseball, and football player that if you’re getting your feelings hurt, it’s OK to throw an opponent to the floor, throw a pitch at their head or stomach, spike them, kick them or cross-check them from behind just because you’re getting your little egos beat because you aren’t as good as they are.


 


It was time to send a message. Stern said, “boys, boys!”


 


Stern suspended league-leading scorer Denver Nugget Carmelo Anthony for 15 games primarily for a sucker punch. In a decision that leaves this sportscaster aghast, the head of the NBA Player Union questions the severity.


 


Meanwhile, Stern lets the instigator, Mardy Collins and the alleged mastermind, the Knick Coach off lightly. Stern suspends the instigator in the Saturday night garden gang fight – the Knickerbockers’ Mardy Collins for 6 Games. Collins threw the Nugs’ J.R. Smith to the floor to prevent a layup in the closing minutes.


 


Where’s the logic here, Mr. Stern? Are you endorsing a flagrant foul that could have torn  J.R. Smith’s A.C.L. and ruined his career?


 


Third Man In Rule?


 


Oh – Carmelo threw a sucker punch, Stern says – is this a hockey ruling, Mr. Stern? I say 15 games each for all of those millionaires with third grade boy mentalities. We used to see fights like this in the halls of White Plains elementary schools for the same reasons – they was dissed.


 


Then how about this for David Stern wisdom?  Denver’s Nate Robinson and J.R. Smith got 10 game suspensions. Jared Jeffries of the Knicks got 4 Games and  Jerome James and  Nene of the Nuggets got 1 lousy game. They were all fighting – suspend them all for 15 games. But of course nobody would come to Knick games at all…big problem.


 


But not many are coming now either the basketball is so bad. The White Plains Tigers and the Mount Vernon Knights could show the Knicks and the Nuggets a thing or two about poise under pressure and probably reacting to adversity, too.


 


Interesting, the Associated Press account does not ask Commissioner Stern why no fine for the Knickerbocker coach who – (unlike Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy who each left benches to prevent their players from fighting – remember Van Gundy holding onto Alonzo Mourning’s  leg?) – the Knick “coach” simply watched and rationalized that the Knicks were justified in the flagrant foul because they were being shown up. Poor babies!


 


Well, perhaps Mr. Stern does not want Madison Square Garden to be completely empty the rest of the season.


 


However why are Knick fans going anyway? Any Knick fan who goes to see another game should boo the coach roundly and demand his departure.


 


No Knickerbocker fan should show up at the garden for any more Knick games until their coach and these immature, untalented, no effort “ballplayers” are shipped out of town. The G-M, now coach who put together these gang of no talents, all bluster-no heart babies into town can leave with them. Who coached these guys before they were brought into town by this slick clown in the ill-fitting Pat Riley-wanna-be suits?


 


College coaching has sure gone downhill to turn out players with this little heart, effort and game savvy that play on the Knicks today.


 


The Knick Coach  has not inspired them to the effort needed to win – like playing defense for 48 minutes – not the last two when they are down by 20 points. More to the point he blames other teams for playing hard and not taking it easy on his team. Poor babies.


 


 How this man was ever considered a leader on the Detroit Piston Champs of the 90s is puzzling. It’s becoming more clear that Joe Dumars was the real man in the Motor City. Maybe our babyfaced coach was then – but he is not now. Leaders take responsibility. They don’t make excuses and they manage a game. He is in over his head. And no one calls him on it.


 


Take My Tickets Please!


 


Knickerbocker season ticket fans cannot give their tickets away this Knick team is so bad. Why they are bad is obvious.


 


I loved the not-so-good-Knick teams of the 50s with Harry Gallatin, Kennie Sears, Willie Nauls and Carl Braun and Dick McGuire with Nat Sweetwater Clifton. They could never beat the Celtics, but they’d never throw Bob Cousy or Bill Sharmon or Tommie Heinsohn  to the floor because they were being outplayed. That’s just dirty play. We loved them because they tried for us.


 


The present Knicks have not been taught how to play the game by their coaches of the past, let alone try.  They shame their coaches of the past by the way they play. From the “twin gunners” at guard who play defense when they feel like it, and cannot breakdown a defense in the half-court. To the failure to get back. Ahh, the Knicks are drek.


 


Now the Knick Coach and G.M. has to be given full credit for proving once and for all: He does not know talent. He can’t coach. He can’t lead. He can’t make players better. He has no class. He does not know how to act in a crisis.


 


The Knickerbockers used to have class. They do not even have that after Saturday night. They have nothing any more. Why? Because they lost their humility and poise and were instigated into it by their own coach.


 


 Saturday night was the sports equivalent of a gang member not liking the way someone was acting towards them and pulling out a knife/gun and shooting them or stabbing them. It was gang behavior.


 


Madison Square Garden should have fired their coach Sunday morning for his remarks remotely condoning the fight. It is the opening Cablevision needed to get rid of this guy. Releases should be dealt out to Mardy Collins,  Jared Jeffries and Jerome James.


 


Apologies don’t cut it.


 


Stern has got to get real. 15 Games Each for Everybody.


 


These children cannot play this game.


 


He is running a league that is out of control. The players play playground ball that shames playground ball – where there is respect for one another.


 


Stern is fining the franchises — the Nugs and the Knick-Knacks $500,000 each. That is chicken feed. That is only ¼ of the average Garden basketball crowd for  one night. How about a $10 Million fine, that’s what they pay some of their players?


 


Stern should have handed out even suspensions all around 15 games for everybody. And he should have suspended the Knick Coach for the rest of the season. No commissioner can condone a leader of a team for condoning a player to take down another player.


 


The younger players will think this behavior is O.K.


 


The Knick-Knack fiasco Saturday night is more the troubling because there have been two fights in high school hockey games in the last month, one of which I have seen, the other I read about between John Jay and Mahopac in which this macho mentality of respect has brought on big fights.


 


Coaches at the high school levels have to go back to teaching respect for opponents and playing hard – not dirty – not retaliating – retaining your poise – while protecting yourself at all times. And not playing players who think hurting the opponent is o.k.


 


I believe if players fight in high school sports or break the team rules they should be thrown off the team. Of course, the parents will never condone that. Maybe if that happened once or twice to the hapless youngsters Saturday night in the past – they would not have snapped.


 


Fighting solves nothing. It forever diminishes the fightees.


 


I am always reminded of Lou Fontinato, the old New York Ranger – the first “policeman” of hockey. In 1957-1958, Bad Boy Louie Fontinato created a sensation in the Old Garden by piling up penalty minutes and picking fights with other teams’ leading scorers, intimidating them. One night in the garden in 1958, Louie picked on the Great Gordie Howe, the legend of the Detroit Red Wings, once too often.  Gordie put Louie in the hospital and Louie was never the same player again. The Rangers weren’t either.


 


False toughness and bravado are no substitute for skill, effort, and hard work. Something that the Knickerbockers and their “smooth” coach for all their money and contracts, muscles and bruised egos, and jive talk know nothing about.


 


Neither do the Media


 


Perhaps the worst thing about this fight is that the media has decided to nostalgize about old fights in sports! This is incredulous to me. It is not part of the entertainment. Fighting is what it is: it has nothing to do with skills or playing the game — it is all about me-myself-and I — excused by the “I need to defend my teammate philosophy.”


 


Well, here’s what you do. I as manager or coach of that team pull my team off the ice or the court after a dirty play. That might get some attention on TNT or NBC — I mean who watches the NBA or the NHL anyway?


 


Or how about the NFL owner or coach, next time one of their “heroes” is arrested for felony involvement — why not suspend that player without pay for the rest of the season? Gee — that might send a message.


 


But running pix and video of famous fights of the past in sports — the media love them.


 


Well glorifying fights is not good for the youth growing up playing sports today — and the media should not do that.


 


Neither do the owners.


 


But it is the owners’ league. Stern has to eliminate the drafting out of high school and leaving early for the NBA draft – even if his league is sued.Just as the NFL has to do the same. Children are coming into the NBA who do not know how to behave, channel emotion and dedicate themselves to improving. They have way too much money. Surround themselves with unsavory influences. It is way sad.


 


At least the NBA does not have illegal guns and knives on the bench — yet.

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Caution: Read Those Parking Meter Bags To Make Sure On Street Space is Free

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS CONFIDENTIAL. Special From a White Plains CitizeNetReporter. December 18, 2006: In an earlier story today, WPCNR broke the glorious news that the Scrooges of the White Plains Department of Parking have declared a Holiday Truce in their never-ending vigilance that White Plains “parkers” do not exceed their time limits at on street parking meters. The city had declared “Free Parking through Christmas” on certain on-street parking meters along Mamaroneck Avenue and East Post Road, using red bags saying “Happy Holidays from the City of White Plains.”


The Free Spaces are denoted by Red meter bags, however, a WPCNR “street reporter” says there are other “bagged meters” which say “No Parking” — such as on Martine Avenue adjacent the City Center.


The sudden jump in traffic in downtown today after 2 P.M. was very noticeable thanks to the CitizeNetReporter’s breaking of the “Free Parking Story” . WPCNR advises our worldwide and tri-state readers to be careful to read the “Bagged” meter space they park at to make sure it is indeed “Free Parking!”

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White Plains Says Happy Holidays With Free Parking at the Meters in Red!

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WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. From The Mayor’s Office. December 18, 2006: The City of White Plains is saying “Happy Holidays” this week, beginning today to motorists by offering Free 2 Hour Parking in the downtown at onstreet parking meters with the cheery red bags on them. The “Free Parking” is for up to two hours between the hours of 9 AM and 9 PM, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday all this week. Only on-street,  metered spaces dressed up in the red holiday “Free Parking” bags are “included in this initiative.”


 



Happy Holidays! All Week Long From The White Plains Department of Parking! Photo, WPCNR StreetCam

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