WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

Hits: 0

WPCNR PRESS BOX. From Westchester County Recreation & Parks. September 18, 2006:  Registration is now open for the second annual Westchester Marathon on the Bronx River Parkway Sunday, October 8, beginning at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.  

Presented by Westchester County Parks and Genesis Adventures, the event includes both a full marathon (26.2 miles), a half-marathon (13.1 miles), and, new this year, a quarter-marathon (6.5 miles).

 There will also be a special Fit Kids Run for children.  

The course starts at the Westchester County Center and heads south on the Bronx River Parkway to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers, where runners will move to the northbound side of the parkway. Those running the half-marathon will end at the County Center, while those running the full marathon will continue for a second loop; those running the quarter-marathon run the course halfway in both directions. The course is certified by the USA Track & Field; USA T & F Rules of Competition will be in force during the race. Walkers are welcome to join the half-marathon portion of the race.

Future marathon competitors ages 12 and under can compete in a special ½-mile Fit Kids Run, beginning at 11 a.m. that day, at the County Center. Registration for this race is free, but you must pre-register by logging on to www.westchestermarathon.com. The race is sponsored by the Simon Kidgits Club and Westchester Track Club and is part of the County Health Department’s Fit Kids program.

The marathon begins at 8 a.m.; half-marathon at 8:30 a.m.; quarter marathon at 9 a.m.; and the Fit Kids Run at 11 a.m. Awards will be presented at 2:30 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.

Registration fee is $85 for the marathon, $55 for the half-marathon and $50 for the quarter-marathon; Fee includes a medal for all who complete the race, along with a tee shirt and “goodie bag.” Participants must be 14 years of age or older.

Hits: 0

WPCNR THE POWER NEWS.From the Office of  Assemblywoman Amy Paulin.  September 18, 2006: Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and Senator Jeff Klein  are calling on Con Edison officials to revamp its aging infrastructure and outmoded crisis management procedures in the wake of its fourth major power outage this year.  As many as 45,000 people in Westchester County have been without electricity for five days when the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto downed trees and power lines throughout the county.  Especially hard hit were the southern parts of the county, including Eastchester, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Pelham, Scarsdale and Yonkers.

 

Adding to the frustration is the knowledge that all of the 100,000 affected customers of the Long Island Power Authority have already had their power restored.  Further down the coast, about 90 percent of the nearly 200,000 customers of the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company who lost power in the storm had service restored within 48 hours, with the final 1,000 restored on Monday.

 

They called for a sweeping investigation by the state to determine whether recovery and repair can be hastened and whether future damage from such storms can be lessened with better routine maintenance of power lines and tree branches. 

 

 

“This is the third time this year that my constituents have suffered through multiple days without the electric service they paid for and they need,” said Paulin.  “They are up in arms and rightly so.  We are asking whether Con Ed really plans for storms, whether they’re making the right decisions about increased staffing when a storm is on the way.”  Paulin indicated that there are also questions about the failure of Con Ed to install an outage alert system as well as about how the Public Service Commission oversees Con Ed’s distribution system.  “I’ve written to them, I’ve attended public hearings.  At this point I’m deeply frustrated at the lack of response.”

 

“Sunday’s storm produced driving rain and wind gusts of up to 50 MPH,” said Klein.  “But the extent of damage was still surprising given that the system was no longer even a tropical storm by the time it reached our area.”  While clearing hundreds of downed trees and power lines is dangerous and time-consuming work, Klein faults a continuing lack of diligence and overall poor communication from electricity provider Con Edison.  He said, “Many customers have complained to his office that they are not receiving accurate and useful information about when they can expect their power restored.”

 

 

Eastchester  Town Supervisor Tony Colavita pointed out that utilities with monopolies have special responsibilities.  He said, “If you want to be the only game in town, you can’t drop the ball.”  Eastchester resident John Finegan said, “To get a bi-partisan effort of all the political powers in this whole county TOGETHER to have a press conference to try to do something about how Con Edison treats us is wonderful and it may work. It may work.”

 

Klein is proposing new legislation that will better protect utility customers in the event of an extended power outage.  State regulations already require require service providers to make every effort during a major service outage to inform the general public of the details of the outage, including the areas affected and a schedule for expected service renewal.  However, there is no penalty for non-compliance.  Klein said, “My legislation will allow the state to sanction providers who fail to make diligent efforts towards restoration of service or reasonable efforts to communicate with their customers during and emergency.  We’ll be able to require the provider to provide rebates of up to $250 per customer to compensate for food spoilage and other outage-related expenses.”

 

Paulin said that the State Assembly is committed to forcing Con Ed to come up with the best possible practices for preparing for storms and operating their distribution system.  She noted that utility customers rely on the state’s Public Service Commission to regulate Con Ed.  “Everyone gets upset with the company, but we should not forget to focus on the people who are supposed to be watching them,” she said.  Paulin said that the Assembly’s Energy Committee and the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions are conducting an aggressive investigation.

 

After the January 2006 windstorm that left parts of Westchester County without power for up to five days, Con Edison promised to provide more accurate estimated restoration times, more frequent briefings for public officials and closer coordination with municipal officials, highway departments and emergency response units.  The New York State Department of Public Service also recommended much more frequent communication with both government officials and members of the public.

 

 

Hits: 0

WPCNR ON THE AISLE. By John F. Bailey. September 17, 2006:  Amazing Judy Collins delivered the concert of a lifetime Saturday evening in salute of Jim Benerofe, the reporter who has been covering city hall for thirty years, who’s been contributing his money and time and ideas to White Plains and Westchester County organizations for a lifetime.

 

 

Ms. Judy Collins appeared in Jim Benerofe’s honor in Westchester for the first time in years thanks to Westco Productions – Westchester’s most successful children’s theatre company – to premier Westco’s 27^th Anniversary season at Irvington Town Hall Theater Saturday night. Photo, WPCNR News

 

Jim and Robin Benerofe greeting friends as they make they way to their seats.

Photo,WPCNR News

 

Ms Collins looking elegantly beautiful, graceful, wise, wonderful and all-knowing and singing with emotion, range and clarity of imagery in voice, enthralled a packed house of 450 persons, including Paul Schaefer and Jane Alexander, putting us all at ease like an old friend should. 

 

From her joyous opener “Old friend, I hope I’m as good to you as you are to me” to her uplifting, powerful  9-11 tribute, 343, “no breaking hearts on a sunny day” her enchanting voice played the audience like a fourth instrument in addition to “The Voice,” piano and keyboard. Thunderous applause greeted each number in a two-hour concert so comfortably paced and modulated by Ms. Collins that it hardly seemed as if two hours had gone by. You could have kept on listening into the night.

 

Earthy  contraltos,  serene soprano,  soft articulations of phrase played our emotions, our hearts, our memories, brightened our futures and had us enjoying every bejeweled aspect of the silver diamond, the one and only Judy Collins.

 

 This reporter saw Ms. Collins perform in the early 70s, and has to say she was great then, but  she is even better now – a master of her craft and her voice. The depths and heights of emotions Ms. Collins effortlessly styles into each selection creates music that through her voice paints pictures you feel. You’re hunching at the steering wheel in the cold wind of a Colorado blizzard,  you feel the brightness of the sun on a Chelsea Morning (her encore), you feel the edge and the irony of  life over the edge “a thousand kisses deep.”

 

Judy Collins Performing Saturday night.

Photo, WPCNR News

 

 

Before singing Jim Benerofe’s special song, Ms. Collins reminisced of music her father liked.  It is a good thing Ms. Collins isn’t considering a nightclub cabaret act otherwise those frowsy songtresses would be out of gigs, because Ms. Collins’ voice can torch. Her up the scale, down the scale version of My Funny Valentine  a capella, awakened my heart to that old feeling.  Snapping her fingers,  she Gershwined  They Can’t Take That Away From Me, before seguing into Send In the Clowns for the honoree, Jim Benerofe sitting in the front row.  Her tour de force of styles was most entertaining. A Streisand or a Krall cannot do Judy Collins, but Judy Collins does them better than they do themselves.

 

On through the evening the favorites came, songs we knew and songs we did not know and we got  to know and want to hear again.  Ms. Collins’ stories about her life and why she sings what she sings made her an instant old friend, from stories of her days in Greenwich Village to stories of her childhood.

 

Considering the thousands of times Ms. Collins has sung Someday Soon, she voice styles it so it is fresh with many depths and heights, enhanced by her years — lingering low on some notes, keening high on other lines embellishint the perennial favorite with everything out of her talent and her rich life. Someday Soon and Both Sides Now – she sings stronger today with only her guitar and brilliant accompanist on piano laying down a multi-layered lifetime of experiences in the instrumentations of her signature songs.

 

 

Her keyboard work that she switched to start the second act, was enthralling particularly haunting on her meaningful Before Dark. This song speaks to the temporary nature of relationships and Ms. Collins voice evokes the unforgettable feelings departure leaves and how all relationships end. Photo, WPCNR News

 

 

Ms. Collins ended her concert with Amazing Grace, which she invited the audience to sing together with her. The gem of Irvington Town Hall Theater with the ceiling fans overhead turning soundlessly turned into an old southern revival hall, filling us with a peace that church services create. Photo, WPCNR News

 

Roared back to the stage, Ms. Collins rewarded the charmed audience with an encore —  Chelsea Morning – just the right song to send us out into the night to face a new day. Just like an evening with an old friend should be like.

 

 

In the After Party at the posh cherry-paneled Carriage House at Lyndhurst Castle, the former tycoon Jay Gould’s estate on the banks of the Hudson River, a select group of over 90 close friends and Ms. Collins saluted the Guest of Honor Jim Benerofe, enjoying wine, cocktails and elegant apple cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake and carrot cake in the high-ceilinged relic of America’s Gilded Age. L to Right, State Senator State Senator  Suzi Oppenheimer, “The Dean of White Plains Journalism,” Jim Benerofe, Judy Collins, and Susan Katz, “The First Lady of Westchester Children’s Theatre.” Photo, WPCNR News

 

 

Susan Katz, founder and Executive Director of Westco Productions said she had known Jim for years and remembered the days when they had talked about bringing theater for kids to the county. She said Jim always listened a lot, spoke softly, but always had a knack for analyzing a situation and when he spoke sized up situations incisively was often funny in the process. Ms. Katz praised him for being such a longtime supporter of the Tickets for Tots program. Steven Slednik, left, Chair of the Westco Board of Directors presented Mr. Benerofe with a crystal Westco “Star” honoring him for his years of encouragement and support. Photo, WPCNR News

 

 

 

State Senator for White Plains, Suzi Oppenheimer, right,  though she left the New York State Proclamation honoring him home on her kitchen table, she said Jim when he visited her in Albany always spoke very quietly, but was always persistent. She noted that he has been very valuable to the City of White Plains, mentioning his work with Westco, the White Plains Public Library and other organizations, and has been such an asset to the community.

 Photo, WPCNR News

 

 

Congresswoman Nita Lowey said she had a proclamation but was not going to read it, but instead said that for many of us we work and come home to spend time with our families, but that we need to involve ourselves in our communities as Jim Benerofe has done because that is what makes the country strong. Photo, WPCNR News

 

Mr. Benerofe, emotionally moved, said, this was the first time anything like this has been done for him since his Bar Mitzvah. He thanked all for coming out to see him, and thanked the opening act, (Ms. Collins). He said he and the Shirley G. Benerofe Foundation named in honor of his mother, have been supporting Westco for some twenty years and is currently supporting their Tickets for Tots Program which enables 4,500 children a year from Head Start programs to attend Westco Theater for Young Audiences performances at no charge, and encouraged the audience to read about the other programs on Westco’s website at www.westcoproductions.com.

 

Thank you, Jim Benerofe, it would not be White Plains without you.

 

Thank you Westco for bringing back two old friends on one great stage.

 

We hear through the Broadway grapevine that Westco is in negotiations to bring Ms. Collins back to Westchester and the Irvington Town Hall Theatre again in the near future, and Ms. Collins loved the audience and wants to come back too. Ms. Collins said to the audience it was so nice to see such a theatre still exists — and she loved the acoustics.

 

Welcome back old friend, it’s so good to see you again!

 

 

Hits: 0

WPCNR IN THE BALCONY. Review by John F. Bailey. September 16, 2006: “Better than the original Broadway production,” was the comment of a seasoned theatregoer after having just seen Westchester Broadway Theatre’s revival of The Full Monty at the Elmsford Bistro/showcase Thursday evening.

 

The not so desperate housewives of The Full Monty:  Dorina Dilullo as Estelle, Amy Barker as Vicki, Melodie Wolford  as Joanie (Mr. Nichols’ wife), Caroline B. Younger as Georgie the hostess of Rombo’s Jerry’s wife, Nicole Mangi as Susan and Laurie-Beth Mraz as Pam, Dave’s wife, critique the “real men” of  The Full Monty singing “The Goods” in the WBT revival of the show of the same name in Elmsford.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 

This “distinguished member of the press,” (Thank you, emcee Steve Calleran),  never having seen the original show, has to agree with  the show’s stopper song that The Full Monty, energetically staged by a lampooning, mugging, naughty, cohesive, brassy,  meaty hunky, hulking male collection and angelic, stylish,  busty and attractive leggy female team is “The Goods!”

Caroline Younger as Georgie Bukatinsky in kinky curls, tight pants and high boots struts on stage at Rombo’s – the “women only male review club”  with her Bronxy-Joisey wisecracks that spill big laughs early.  Georgie introduces Buddy “Keno” Walsh, from the “Big Apple” who launches into a Chippendale-inspired male divestment that touches off a rollicking first act. Freddy Tyson Kimmel creates “Keno” – one of the show’s two signature bits — has the Chippendale thing down – and great abs, girls. The women in the audience were most appreciative! That’s just the start of this marathon 3-hour Monty – with a 30 minute intermission.

 

Meanwhile out in Rombo’s alley, Peter James Zielinski as Jerry Lukowski and Tad Wilson as Dave Bukatinsky laid off from their steel factory in Buffalo, linger outside of the strip club where their wives are watching the male strippers. They’re joined by other laid off factory workers who team in on a group number that laments that they’re now considered Scrap – a number that sets Jerry and Dave’s condition as the We want to thank you Herbert Hoover number does in Annie. Every dance choreographed by Director Richard Stafford and Jonathon Stahl in this show entertains, delights, and delivers “The Goods” –  big laughs with the dancing moves – no pathos about them.

 

 

Sneaking into Rombo’s, Jerry and Dave hide in the men’s room and to their horror their wives and sexy friends come in and rouse the audience to laughter with their rendition of It’s a Woman’s World with great choreography and style. Meanwhile Jerry and Dave listen to all their shortcomings as the not-so-desperate housewife eye candy disses them just beyond the cubicle. It’s a funny scene that is the first house-bring-downer of the evening.

 

When Keno from The Big Apple leaves the club Jerry criticizes Keno’s  sexual orientation, and Keno decks Dave. Dave and Jerry duet on the ode to the every man, Man, filled with humorous characterizations of what they feel is a real man – “We hate Tom Cruise but like Lee Marvin.” Out of this song Jerry hatches the scheme that he and Dave could make big money stripping for women, too.  Jerry needs the bread because his wife Pam played by the cool blonde Laurie-Beth Mraz is threatening to remarry and take custody of their son away. (But, trust me – it’s funny.)

 

I’ve got Friends: Nick Gaswirth as Malcolm on the hood of his car, is turned around by Tad Wilson as Dave Bukatinsky, left and Peter James Zielinski as Jerry Lukowski in the number, Big Ass Rock.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre

 

This segues into a marvelous bit where Jerry and Dave meet a fellow worker, Malcolm played by Nick Gaswirth, a guard at the factory, whom Dave happens to save from committing suicide – how? You’ll have to see the show. Jerry and Dave try and prove to Malcolm he has friends and prove it to him by singing the hideously funny, well-timed song Big Ass Rock — to prove what friends they are.

 

They decide to take dancing lessons from Harold Nichols (Joel Briel) who laid Jerry and Dave off at the factory. At the dance studio, we meet the statuesque Amy Barker playing Nichols’ wife who executes another crowd-pleasing number spoofing women’s tastes. Strutting and posing with grace and style she sings “Life With Harold”  with the cajoling refrain “Love That Man.” It is a highlight that the men in audience just love. Nichols agrees to help the men learn Chippendale moves because he does not want his wife to know he is laid off, too.

 

The balance of the first act shows Jerry putting together his review of ordinary real men highlighted by the debut of the acid tongued comicstress, Patti Mariano who dominates the rehearsals, playing piano, as each would-be “real man” attempts to impress Jerry, Dave and Malcolm with their stripping moves.

 

Everyone in the World Loves a Big Black Man. David White gets show into high gear with his “audition” to be one of Jerry’s “Real Men.” Patti Mariano (Jeannette) is on the piano;  Nick Gaswirth as Malcolm (in Police uniform), Tad Wilson as Dave, Michael Herwitz as Nathan and Peter James Zielinski as Jerry and  Joel Briel as Harold Nickels are blown away.

Photo by John Vecchiolla, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 

The sight gags and lampooning get the audience laughing one sight gag after another – but when Horse comes on created  by David White – Mr. White knocks them out – and the WBT crowd with them in the second best tune of the show: Big Black Man. Mr. White singing and moving to the tune of ZZtop’s Sharp-Dressed Man (“everyone in the world loves a Big Black Man”) introduces the audience to a segue of black moves from the James Brown glide to the Mashed Potato. The show is worth seeing just for this number because Mr. White in the divine micry approaching Eddie Murphy just brings the show into high gear with this number. He is so good in this you wait for him to come back just to see him do his stuff again.

 

In Act II, the boys are preparing for their first gig – at a senior citizen’s home which ends them up in a pickle. Jerry borrows from his son, played by  Noah Ruff  of Katonah, to stage the show. Young Mr. Ruff did a fine job of encouraging his father to put on the show. (Michael Herwitz  from Irvington, plays the son on alternate nights.)

 

Patti  Mariano delivers a character tour de force as Amy Barker does in Act One, when she reminisces about her days in Vegas in her song, Jeannette’s Show Biz Number. Georgie (Caroline Younger)  and Vicki (Amy Barker) duet on You Rule My World.

 

 

“It Ain’t The Goods:” The girls critique the Real Men. Photo by John Vecchiolla, Courtesy, Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 In attempting to rehearse at the Nichols’ residence the “real men” become self-concious of their bodies. In an imaginary number, their wives and the wives’ girl friends perform “The Goods,” where the women in caustic fashion critique the “real men’s” bodies for pimples on their posteriors, big stomachs, and the shortcomings that we real men have.

 

 At the end of each outrageous put-down which every woman and man can identify, which cannot be written in a family website, the women all cross their great legs and pout to the audience “This ain’t the goods.”  It’s scandalously funny. Women laughed louder than the men in the audience on this one.

 

Will the boys, through working as a team, bring their “Review of Real Men” together? Will they recover their self respect? As their big night approaches…well all is answered on stage at the WBT.

 

The Real Men of The Full Monty Performing LET IT GO– the big finale: CENTER, Clockwise: Peter James Zielinski (Jerry)  David White (Horse), Brian Gligor (Ethan),Tad Wilson (Dave), Joel Briel (Harold) and Nick Gaswirth as Malcolm, on knee).

Photo by John Vecchiolla, Courtesy,Westchester Broadway Theatre.

 

 

The conclusion to The Full Monty wraps up with the big question, “Will they take it all off?” Only the CitizeNetReporter knows for sure and to find out – you’ll have to see the show to see what you see when they take it all off. The applause lasted three minutes.

 

 WPCNR Gold Lame G-strings to the entire company for coming together in what is a team show — they seem to enjoy themselves.  There is no one megastar who carries the show. The dance numbers play for laughs, the takeoffs of the ecdysiasts-wanna-be’s mimicking the hip thrusts, booty bumps and crouch and crotch contorsions of Chippendale legend are over the top– that both men and women will enjoy – perhaps for different reasons.

 

The set, making minimal use of backdrops is not a factor, because in this show it’s all about the performers who, like the real men of The Full Monty come together as a team.

 

WPCNR Silver Thongs have to go to the WBT live orchestra lead by John Daniels that sets the mood from the 50s lounge music overture to the rimshots and riffs ranging from rock, soul to thrusts and jerks. (Lady ecdysiasts bump and grind, male ecdysiasts thrust and jerk) One quibble: the sound system distorts the songs at times and needs to be addressed.

 

This Full Monty  (which ran for 2 years on Broadway when it premiered in 2000) is Americanized, is not British in any way and delivers off-color language and situations within it. The “Real Men” and spectacular ladies of The Monty play the WBT boards for laughs through November 22, break for the WBT Christmas Show, Christmas Inn, and return to warm up winter nights again beginning December 28 and running through January 20. For information on this dinner and show, call 592-2222 or visit the WBT website, www.broadwaytheatre.com.

Hits: 0

WPCNR’S CITY HALL NEWS CONFERENCE. By John F. Bailey. September 15, 2006: WPCNR with the cooperation of  The Mayor’s Office is introducing a new feature this week in order that our readers know that WPCNR is attempting to get the answers on  questions raised by news events. Thursday afternoon, Paul Wood, the City’s Executive Officer and David Maloney, Strategic Area Development Officer/Grants Coordinator responded to a number of questions WPCNR left on their voicemails and conducted a telenewsconference:

 

 WPCNR: Does the Mayor have a statement as to what Commissioner of Building, Mike Gismondi has meant to the city, as he departs October 2?

 

Mr. Wood: We wish him luck in his future endeavors.

 

WPCNR:  Does the Mayor have a statement on the county approval of the $1.6 Million lease to HANAC and Bluestone Corp. to build and manage the senior housing project?

 

Mr. Wood: We’re evaluating it. Have you looked at the lease agreement (with HANAC and Bluestone Corporation)? They’re given the right to flip it (sell the lease).

 

WPCNR: Are you planning legal action to stop it?

 

Mr. Wood: We’re evaluating it.

 

Return of the Green Scum

 

 

SILVER LAKE on Liberty Park, viewed from the Harrison (East Side) of Lake looking south to White Plains and Lake Street on August 31, 2006. Photo, WPCNR News

 

WPCNR:  What is causing the new green scum coating Silver Lake for the last three weeks now that temperatures are in the 60s?  Related Question: did the Town of Harrison ever repair their sanitary sewer line as the city was told it would do?

 

Mr. Wood: The cause is biological. It is not sewage from Harrison. Buddy (Commissioner of Public Works sent me a memo explaining the situation).

 

Mr. Maloney: We’ve initiated dialogue with upper level federal elected officials for help in cleaning it (Silver Lake) up. (Mr. Maloney declined to say who the elected officials were the city has contacted.) . The park closes in 7 weeks – we have time to work on a solution for next year.  

 

Silver Lake Scum in the Sunset. August 31. Looking West. Liberty Park dock is at left. Photo, WPCNR News.

 

WPCNR: Is the city requesting federal aid from elected officials to clean up Silver Lake?

 

Mr. Maloney: . Buddy (Nicoletti) is seeking aid from the state, we are holding discussions at the federal level. We’re in the early stages of discussion, it’s too soon to tell what the officials can do. We’re actively pursuing it.

 

Joseph “Bud” Nicoletti Supervising in the field, relining the Main Street Sewer

Commissioner of Public Works.

 

 

A short time later, Mr. Wood shared with  WPCNR this Memorandum he had received from Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti on the causes and efforts to alleviate the return of the Silver Lake scum:

 

It’s not quite like last year when the sewage from Harrison was getting into the lake, but due to natural causes, there are many rooted algae plants that grow there. Arne (Abramowitz, Commissioner of Recreation and Parks) and I noticed this several months ago, and it does hamper the use of our paddle boats.

 

The removal of these “weeds” requires an exhaustive engineering study with much chemical analysis. The removal plan would then have to be submitted to the State DEC (Department of Environmental Conservation) and, after approval, we’d go out for bids to retain the specialized underwater contractors that do this work.

 

That’s why, last December, we jointly applied with Harrison to the State for a $220,000.00 grant to retain an environmental engineering firm to begin the study and come up with a DEC-approved plan. We’ve yet to hear back (from the state) as to the status of this grant.

 

The actual construction work, consisting of dredging of certain parts of the lake (especially near the outfall basin near Lake St.; removal of the lake bottom muck and rooted algae, and the easier to discard, floating algae; treating the water with chemicals which will retard the regrowth of algae, but not enganger one’s ability to potentially drink the water, etc., has an estimated price tag of $500,000.00 to $1,000,000. Presumably, if we got the initial State grant for the design, the State would come up with more money for the actual work.

 

I’ll check with the State next week as to the grant status.

 

  The Dump, The DEC and The City

 

WPCNR: Will the city have to remediate the existing TCE’s from the city dump before executing repairs and reconfiguration of the City Dump Composting site to comply with DEC regulations? Is the DEC allowing the city to leave the TCE contamination in the dump?

 

Mr. Wood said he would be arranging a discussion of the project between WPCNR and Mr. Nicoletti, and the schedule submitted to the DEC

 

(Editor’s Note: Wendy Rosenbach, Spokesperson for the Department of Environmental Conservation told WPCNR Tuesday of this week that the DEC has received a schedule from the Department of Public Works for the construction requirements the DEC seeks to allow the city to keep composting in the City Dump.  Rosenbach advised WPCNR that it has not been decided whether the city will be asked to remediate the TCE (TriChloralEthanes) that remain in the City Dump, or whether the city will be allowed to cap the landfill in a manner that seals off the TCEs and prevents them from leaking into the ground and the Mamaroneck River, which the TCEs have been polluting for thirty years. Rosenbach confirmed to WPCNR that the landfill has to be closed and that the city has begun removing the storm debris and other items they were not supposed to dump in the landfull such as concrete, barrels and general effuse. )

 

CON EDISON

 

WPCNR: Does the Mayor have a statement on how Con Edison cooperated during the Labor Day “Ernesto” electrical outages – were they better, worse, acceptable?

 

Wood declined to answer this question.

 

CITY CENTER SECURITY

 

Does the Mayor have a Statement on Downtown Security Concerns and how the police and the City Center are responding – as did Louis Cappelli?

 

Mr. Wood: There has not been one incident of violence thank god in the downtown…in spite of that, we have been asked to increase patrols on weekend nights to give the appearance of order and safety.

 

WPCNR: How much has security been increased?

 

Mr. Wood: Not much…an additional two officers walking. Several years ago we used to have the paddy wagon there but we were told it looked dangerous so we stopped doing that. I don’t know what enough presence is.  There hasn’t been an incident. We deploy city police based on where incidents are reported. Would you have us move police from areas where there are incidents to where there are less?  It (the downtown atmosphere) is all based on some peoples’ perceptions.  When you have mixed groups you’re going to have that. We’re extremely pleased it has become a vibrant bustling center. It’s safe – what do you do — send a police escort for everybody?

 

Mr. Maloney: Some people just don’t like kids

 

WPCNR: Thank you, Mr. Wood, Thank you Mr. Maloney.