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

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. Special to WPCNR. February 3, 2005: WPCNR news has learned that selection of members of the Mayor’s Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, Co-Chaired by former Councilman John Martin and Planning Board Chair, Mary Cavalero, has been completed and members were told to expect their first meeting at 7 PM,  Wednesday,  February 9 at City Hall. The Mayor’s office did not return WPCNR calls for confirmation of who the balance of the committee members are, other than the seven comfirmed previously.

It is expected, according to WPCNR’s source that the February 9 meeting, beginning at 7 PM, and open to the public, will set the procedures and processes for the review of the Planning Department-generated city comprehensive plan review, hastily finished over the last month according to persons familiar with how the document was prepared.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 3, 2005: In the first meeting of the Annual Budget Committee, twenty-six members of the citizens committee that serves as the community “sounding board” for the City School District planning its budget, learned that looming certiorari,(tax givebacks to businesses who have challenged and won lowered assessments in the courts), are forcing the city school district to consider bonding for expected crippling givebacks within two years.

The Money Men, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Terrance Schruers, left and Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors, presented the budget pressures to the White Plains Annual Budget Committee last night. Photo by WPCNR News.

The information on the certiorari drain was relayed to the Board of Education by their attorney, Mark Scharff, (who sits in on negotiations on challenged assessments, with the City Assessor and other city officials), during an Executive Session with the Board, Monday evening. An exact figure of possible future certiorari was not given by either Assistant Superintendent Terrance Schreurs, Donna McLaughlin, President of the Board of Education, or Mr. Connors. They were awaiting the City Assessor’s public report to the Board of Education later this month. No figures were provided as to the total certioraris paid back this year, though at least $632,000 was paid back to Nordstrom’s.

Assistant Superintendent for Business  Schruers, said the district had exhausted $5 Million budgeted for certiorari: (in bonding, $3 million and its remaining cash reserve for certriorari, $2.2 million),  in givebacks this year.

He said the district expected to have to allocate $5 million more next year, with the potential for floating bond issues for future paybacks on successful certiorari challenges in 2006-07. The real picture is expected to be made clear when City Assessor, Eyde McCarthy addresses the Board of Education February 28 on the matter of PILOTS and future assessments.

Timothy Connors, Superintendent of Schools, told the ABC Committee that unless the city and the school district found a way to stop the downward spiral of commercial assessments, the School District might be forced to pay for certioraris out of  operating expenses, impacting the education budget. But, he said he chose to remain optimistic that Ms. McCarthy would have good news on the meeting of the 28th on PILOTS.

More detailed information on the budget picture (pegged last night at $158 Million, up 9.72% from 2004-05), emerged during the course of Wednesday evening’s meeting, but what had most citizens talking was the spectre of dwindling commercial assessments, their potentially catastrophic impact on the school budget and the reasons behind the drain. WPCNR will be providing more details on the budget as they came out last night.  

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WPCNR PRESS ROW. By Johnny Cannon. February 2, 2005, UPDATED Feb 3, 2005, 11:45 A.M. with Card:

DONG! DONG! DONG!

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Westchester County Center, the East Coast’s Premier Palace of Pugilism, The Canvas Cathedral of the Fistic Arts, Northeast Promotions and Irish Ropes Boxing present “The Night of Future Champions,” Friday night at 7:30 P.M. (NOT 8)  featuring in the Main Event, the up-and-coming undefeated Irish Icon, with 7 knockouts in 7 fights, John Duddy of County Derry, Ireland in an 8 Round match against 8-1-1 Middeweight, Larry Vaughn, of Houston, Texas.

THE YOUNG, THE LEAN, THE HUNGRY: Left to Right: Max The Damager Daguzian, Irish John Duddy, White Plains’ Ann Marie Saccurato, and The Bronx’s Jose Rios with Chip Matthews of Westchester County Recreation and Parks at Fight Night News Conference. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Friday night’s card  features Women’s Boxing matching White Plains’ own Ann Marie Saccurato, the National Women’s Golden Gloves Champion of 2001, undefeated in 9 fights with 3 KOs. Plus The Bronx’s own Joey Rios, and Russell Jordan, and “The Damager,” Queen’s own Max Daguzian.

 

COUNTY CENTER, WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK, converts to a boxing ring Friday night with seven big fights. The first fights in the Center in 10 years. The fighters look it over.  Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

 

“Good Evening everyone, this is Howard Rosell, ringside at the County Center, where we have for you 7 thrilla’s featuring the lean, the muscled, the hungry, the hard-hitting, serious mean fighters on the way up trying to get a piece of the brass ring of life, fighting their way up out of the mean streets, training in gyms pungent with the reek of linament, sweat and testosterone under the watchful eye of dedicated trainers teaching them the art of defense, the combinations and the discipline to fight through to the top of the world’s toughest profession.

 

Tougher than professional football with no faceguards, no pads to save you from punishment. Where you’re only as good as your cutman and as tough as your heart, these young bulls and million dollar babies live to compete, ladies and gentlemen, and it is my pleasure to be handling the color tonight, along with my ring partner, the man whose voice sounds like a fist, the legendary, Deadend Dunphy, Donderoo?”

 

(Legendary Fightcaster, Deadend Dunphy appears on camera)

 

“Thank you Howard, and welcome to the ancient art deco arena, the Westchester County Center home to boxing since the 1930s, the first Center fight in 10 years.  It’s filling up to the balcony in an anticipation of our first bout. Tonight we’ll be seeing flashing middleweight, lightweights, welterweight and a classic women’s event. We’ll be scoring on the 10-point must system.

 

But, I don’t think we’re going to see these fights go far. These are kids trying to get a piece of the boxing action. Big wins here in the eye of the big apple mean a lot to these fighters. They’re young, hard and mean, superbly trained, fearless. I don’t expect long fights, many of these fighters have not tasted losses and will be facing their stiffest tests to date. The typewriters are clattering on press row. The cigar smoke is floating over the ring. The first fighters are in their corners. Let’s go to the referee for his instructions to the fighters.”

 

DONG! DONG! DONG!

 

Remember how it was decades ago? When Gillette’s Cavalcade of Sports with its jaunty “To Look Sharp” theme (parodied in our headline), presented the Friday Night Fights on NBC?

 

 

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano remembers. He’s from the Bronx, and on Friday nights he said his dad used to take him to the old fights at the County Center. Spano, said at the news conference announcing this Friday’s  fights, it was his dream to bring back that tradition. Promoter Ron Katz, right, former matchmaker for Top Rank Boxing, said they were looking to draw at least 1,500 to 2,000 fans to the fights to make the concept viable. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

Well this Friday night, Westchester County’s Department of Recreation and Parks is bringing the “Friday Night Fights” back to the County Center in attempt to revive with Northeast Promotions, the boxing tradition at the County Center with seven fights beginning at 7:30 P.M. (Not 8 as reported previously.) 

 

Tickets are priced from $75 ringside to $40 Reserved and $25 general admission. For tickets call the County Center or Ticketmaster.

 

Now, Howard Rosell.

 

Now back to Howard at ringside with one of the fighters on tonight’s card, born-and-raised White Plains baby, Ann Marie Saccurato before the events get under way. Down to you, Howard.

 

Thank you, Ed Herlihy, this is your repawta, Howard Rosell, reporting for WPCNR, “Bringing the Sports Back Live” with me at ringside (DONG! DONG! DONG!) is White Plains’ Ann Marie Saccurato, she’s a former kickboxer, and the toughest resident on White Plains North End. She works as personal trainer by day, and trains at New York Boxing Gym in Yonkers. Ann Marie, what got you started in boxing?”

 

Ann Marie Saccurato, toughest woman in White Plains North End. Ann at 7-0-2 will be fighting Victoria Cisneros of Albaquerque NY. Vickie is 3-1. Friday Night. Photo by WPCNR SPORTS.

 

“I’ve been a competitor all my life. I’ve been an athlete, and I’ve always been looking for more, to push myself harder, and I  found more of that edge in boxing. I actually started in martial arts, and TKD (Tae Kwan Do) for about a year or so. A friend sent me a flyer for the New York Golden Gloves, and I ignorantly, and very naively entered. I did a crash course on boxing and ended up getting a bye into the finals. Lost in the finals, but that ended up propelling my boxing career. I fell in love with the sport. It’s pushed me harder more than anything I’ve done in my life.”

 

“I’ve had three knockouts, a couple of close fights, two draws.”

 

How did you turn pro?

 

“After I won the Golden Gloves, the gentleman I was with at the time brought up the idea of me turning pro. I thought about it awhile and decided it was something I was interested in doing, because women’s boxing was not in the Olympics at that time. If it was, I would have stayed amateur. They are trying to bring it in to the 2008 Olympics, which I would like to be a part of. I ended up hooking up with  (Trainer) Luigi Olcese. Luigi helps me out a lot. He’s been my rock through all of this. He’s helped me out financially a great deal. Unfortunately, in women’s boxing you don’t get paid the same, as much as a lot of the guys do.  We’re working on that, trying to make strides. Hopefully this will be another stride closer to crossing the equality line between women and the guys.

 

Where is Women’s Boxing Today?

 

        “Right now the only people who make money in the sport for women are Christi Martin, Lucy Riker. Hopefully, we’re trying to bring women’s boxing more to the forefront, get more support, more respect and make strides that way.”

 

       What’s next for women’s boxing, Annie?

 

      “Right now they’re running a card out of Vegas, I believe, and I’m trying to do one in Florida, representing all of the top female fighters, an all female card. So that’s  just starting. Hopefully they’re all steps in the right direction really propelling the sport, along with the movie that’s out right now Million Dollar Baby.”

 

        What kind of fight are you going to give us tonight, Ann Marie Saccurato?

 

        “You’re going to see a lot of excitement. You’re going to see all the boxing. You’re going to see the footwork. You’re going to see the dancing. Especially if you’re going to come and see me fight. I can dance with the best in my heels, but I’m a fighter. A fighter’s a fighter, a boxer’s a boxer.”

 

         Now, let’s go to Deadend Dunphy, who’s with Super Lightweight Jose Rios of The Bronx who’ll be fighting Chad Lawshe of Mobile on Friday night’s card:

 

         Thank you Howard,  Jose you were born and raised in the Throgs Neck section of The Bronx, was it tough?

 

 

JOSE RIOS. Photo, Courtesy, Northeast Promotions.

         “Everywhere you go, it’s tough. It’s what you make of it.”

 

          How did you get into the fights?

 

          “When I was young, I thought I was a little tough guy in school. And in school, when you fight, you get in trouble. In the ring, you get bumps and bruises and you bleed and when you hit somebody back and you hurt them. It was O.K. It was actually what the coaches like I was drawn to that. Not only that. I saw how it was a family environment in the gym. It was fun to be there. It taught me just so much. How to be a man. Self-respect. Discipline.”

 

         Who first noticed you?

 

          “My trainer, Angel Alejandro. Before we started boxing together, he was a neighbor in my building, we lived together. He asked me to come down to the basement where they used to open up a little room, have kids box. Teach them and train them. He put me to fight. He saw my talent. He said, this kid has something. He brought me to the gym and then, forget it ever since then it’s history.”

 

           What’s your training discipline?

 

           “Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays we do heavy sparring sessions. No running. On days I have off we do a tremendous workout. We do roadwork early in the morning for an hour and a half. We do 2 to 3 hours in the gym off heavy bag, rope, calisthenics everything you could possibly think of. And on Saturdays, I go up into the mountains and I run. Boxing is my fulltime job now.”

 

           How do you get paid?

 

           “I have a sponsor Rusty Ansell who’s helping me out, so I am getting through the weeks, anything I need he provides. He’s in Ocala, Florida. He saw me at the Golden Gloves.”

 

           Now to Howard and  The Damager, Max Daguzian of Queens, who will be in his second professional fight Friday night after a draw in his first outing. He’ll be fighting Chad Lawshe, Super Lightweight out of Mobile, at 8-3 with 3 KOs.  Howard?

 

           Max, you’re new to the fight game, how did you like your first fight in Middletown, New York, three months ago?

 

           “The first one was fantastic. The crowd reacted awesome. I just loved it. It was a beautiful experience. Something new. Hopefully I’ll fight at least eight fights a year.”

 

           Isn’t that a lot of wear and tear on the body?

 

            “No, not really. As long as I train right, eat right, think right. I train about five days a week. Give my body some rest.”

 

           Do you have a sponsor?

 

           “I’m gonna make a name for myself.”

 

           How did you get into the fight game?

 

           “Basically, my brother used to box. He was boxing out of Beststyle Boxing Center, he brought me into the gym and I took it on from there. I won the Gloves, won the (New York State) Empires (Games), went on to the regionals, fell short in the nationals in the U.S. championships. I was so close to making the Olympics, but I fell short (in 2000). I took a four year layoff. It’s a motivator. You got to do better.You can’t quit. Always, always, it’s always like that. Someone’s always trying to drag you down. Someone is always trying to take away your confidence But you know what, only you can build up that confidence. Only you can do it, because you feel what you feel.”

 

            What’s your best punch?

 

            “My left hook. Everybody’s going to recognize Max Daguzian. The Damager. I’m mentally ready. I’m focused. I’ve got my eyes on the prize. I’m a very gentleperson outside the ring.”

 

            We’ll be looking for that left hook, Max, now sending it back up to Deadend Dunphy with Middleweight from Ireland, fighting for the first time in the U.S.,  IRISH John Duddy.

 

Irish John Duddy. Photo, Courtesy Northeast Promotions.

 

 

 

             Thank you Howard. Johnny what brought you to America?

 

             “Looking at professionals back home (in County Derry) in England and Ireland. In America, over the centuries you have the best boxers, the best coaches, and I think the best way to get to the top is to get on and mix it with the best, learn with the best and that’s why I’ve come to America for.”

 

               How do you like America so far? And, as you can tell by the accent, he’s really Irish, folks:

 

             “I think it’s fantastic. I currently train at Irish Ropes Boxing Club in Far Rockaway (Queens), Eddie McLoughlin. He’s the one who brought me over here and opened the door for me. Since I’ve come here, I feel like I have to pinch myself every once in a while because it feels like a dream come true. I’m loving the life of a professional fighter. I’ve had seven KO’s, 5 in the first round.

             I’m getting a great (box) office. They’re getting great numbers for every event that I house. My coach Harry Keith. He’s working with me every day. I’m training at Gleason’s Gym. Rubbing shoulders with the greats. If I don’t get there, I think this is the best opportunity that I have to get closer.”

 

               What do you like about boxing?

 

               “I love the attention. When I’m in that ring,  people are there to see me. Whenever my hand gets lifted up at the end of the fight, that crowd is cheering for me.That is the greatest experience I have so far. The love of the game. I’m trying to prove to myself how good I am. This is what I’m going to find out.”

 

                What’s your routine during the week?

 

                 “Jogging at 6 o’clock in the morning, about 6 miles. At 10 o’clock, I jump a train and go to Irish Ropes or Gleason’s to do me training sessions. After that I’m becoming a great house mom, I clean the house and do the dishes and laundry for my girl friend because she be away working. It’s not that exciting a life. But it’s my dream come true. I’ve been given the opportunity to eat sleep and talk boxing and I’m just thankful for having the opportunity to be here.”

 

                 Do you scout your opponents?

 

                 “We do get films of our opponents.  My people are going to be looking at it. They’ll work on it. We’ll leave it to them to ask the questions and I’ll answer them in the ring. I just looking forward to the experience.”

 

                 What’s your best punch?

 

                  “My left hook. I throw a lot of combinations. I’m very busy. Very forward, a very aggressive fighter so I don’t concentrate on landing any one single punch. I just try and get off as many as possible, a lot of combinations. I’m a good both-handed fighter so right hand or left hand, whatever. Hopefully I’ll put on a good show.”

                 Well, there you have it Howard, and we’re just about ready for the first round and the fighter introductions.

          

Yesteryear Lives Once More Friday night.

 

Well, Howard and Don Dunphy are gone, but that was the flavor of the Friday night fights. This Friday, White Plains and all of the tri-state  get to see boxing come back to the arena that recalls the feel of St. Nicholas Arena, Sunnyside Gardens, the 69^th Regimental Armory, and of course, the old 8^th Avenue Madison Square garden, where balconies hung over the ring bringing you close enough to hear the punishing slap of glove on jaw, heavy pounding bodywork and  be close enough to see the spit fly out of a fighter’s mouth from a right cross landing, and see the gleam of blood over a cut eye.

 

The County Center, St. Nick’s, Sunnyside. Those were places to fight. Not those glamour palaces in Vegas or the Boardwalk. The ticketsellers were ugly and mean. The aficionados of the cruel sport were mean. It was a man’s world, that women loved to go to and show off. 

 

Because there’s always something about a good fight. The shine of sweat on a naked torso. The baring of a mouthpiece of the fighter before he danced to the center of the ring. The deft work of trainers in the corner, working on cuts. Pouring water over a drenched sweaty fighter’s face.

 

There was the fight announcements ritual, that I parodied at the top of this column.

 

The fighters making their way to the ring in satin robes with their names on the backs, like “Lewis,” “Sugar Ray,” “Dempsey,” “Marciano.” There were the women of the fights, beautiful showpieces brought by rich powerful men who paid $100s of dollars for their ringside seats for the privilege of having spit blood and the smells of sweating desperate men trying to hurt each other in their nostrils.

 

Friday, the County Center brings it all back.

 

You won’t see the pall of  the legendary cigar smoke  hanging in rafters. You won’t see the fast-talking wiseguy sportswriters with panatellas hanging from their pecking fingers of flash-typing on their portables. There won’t be a lot of white-shirted, bow-tied reporters in cheap suits with straw and felt fedoras perched back on their heads who used to crowd press row ringside. There will be no sounds of hot lead copy clattering out on rows of Smith Corona typewriters, with all the staccato rat-tat-tat of a Sugar Ray combination. All the while they were writing, the “scribes” would be  chain-gulping coffee with press cards stuck in their hat bands, with Lucky’s hanging out of their mouths. (The County Center is smoke-free. We’ll miss that.)

 

I loved the blow-by-blow by the great Don Dumphy, who delivered “the punch-by-punch” in front of a microphone that looked like a microphone, none of this headset crap, whose raspy turse delivery sounded like a flurry of punches and had the grit that sounded like a fight – just as Mel Allen sounded like baseball was.

 

But the gong will be there. The bow-tied referee, and please, can the ring announcer wear a tuxedo? Can please, can the mike be lowered from the ceiling? There will be beautiful Ring Girls, too to announce the rounds.

 

Now back to Deadend Dunphy for the first round.

 

“The fighters are leaving their corners. Saccurato circling her opponent, light on her feet, lean meanlooking tough, she moves in, very aggressively going after her opponent on the ropes now delivering a left to the body, a right. Her opponent ties her up. Right away Saccurato is coming out, just as she said she would.

 

Circling each other now. Here comes Saccurato again with a flurry to the head. Oh a solid right, counter punch caught her unawares, staggering her. She parries ties up. Dances back and lands a devasting upper cut to the jaw, a right cross, and misses a haymaker with a left…

 

Boxing. It’s back!

 

For latest information go to www.nepboxing.com. Or Call the County Center for ticket information at 914-995-4050, or order through Ticketmaster.

 

The Sweet Science Returns to the Cathedral of the Fistic Arts. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

845-454-3388.

	Night of Future Champions Bout Card (ORDER OF BOUTS TO BE ANNOUNCED)
Bout #1					8 Rounds
John Duddy Name Larry Vaughn Middleweight (160) Weight Middleweight 7-0     7KO’s Record 8-1-1     4KO’s County Derry , Ireland Hometown Houston , TX
Bout #2				8 Rounds
Joey Rios Name Chad Lawshe Super Lightweight (140) Weight Super Lightweight 9-0     5KO’s Record 8-3     3KO’s Bronx , NY Hometown Mobile , AL
Bout #3				6 Rounds
Russell Jordan Name Darian Ford Welterweight (147) Weight Welterweight 8-2     5KO’s Record 10-7     4KO Rochester , NY Hometown New Orleans , LA
Bout #4				4 Rounds
Max Daguzian Name Hassan Wassawa Super Bantamweight (122) Weight Super Bantamweight 0-0-1     Record 2-2-1 Queens Posted in Uncategorized CVS Dominates lower Mamaroneck Avenue Posted on February 2, 2005 by John Bailey Hits: 0 WPCNR MAMARONECK AVENUE AMBLER. February 2, 2005: The former space occupied by The Food Emporium is back in business, as a new CVS outlet opened for business there Monday. The 24-hour-a-day operation offers perscriptions, convenience foods and the essentials opposite The Jefferson complex. CVS LANDS AT OLD FOOD EMPORIUM SITE. Photo by WPCNR News. Squeeze Play at Eastern Gateway. Posted on February 2, 2005 by John Bailey Hits: 0 WPCNR PUBLIC AWARENESS ALERT ADVISORY No. 3. February 2, 2005: In the public interest, WPCNR continues its observations of obvious threats to the public well-being on the roads, in the skys, on the streets, all around the little big town. Today’s  “P-Triple A Alert”  scopes in on the bottleneck Eastbound out of the city at the intersection of South Kensico Avenue and Westchester Avenue. The merge-down of three lanes into one at that intersection as motorists vie for space in the one lane narrowage is aggravated by the brain-dead placement of a bus stop that creates a squeezeout when a Bee-Line  stops to pick up passengers. A bus behemoth nearly resulted in my fender being sheared off by an aggressive SUV leaping across my mergepath the other day. At rush hours in the evenings, this is a lovely experience.   The lack of on-surface X-Outs and a sharp thick arrow indicating to motorists that a merge is necessary creates a dangerous contention for lane room, as three lanes narrow to two on the far side of the intersection.  Either the county or the city should seriously think about moving this bus stop, painting arrows or creating a third light for the right hand lane, orchestrating the merge. The WPCNR Mobile Unit was nearly sandwiched by a bus squatly blocking the right lane the other day. If it can happen to me, a person familiar with this travesty of an intersection, it can happen to strangers more easily. Watch your fenders folks. Photo by WPCNR News. County Readies $11.9 Million Emergency Communications System for end of 05. Posted on February 1, 2005 by John Bailey Hits: 0   WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) February 2, 2005: A new $11.9 million communications system will vastly improve the way emergency personnel talk to each other during major incidents in Westchester County and better protect the public, while doubling as a radio dispatch system for county buses. The system will begin to be activated in the spring, and is planned to be functional by the end of 2005, Westchester County reports. “Having more controlled and widespread communication will make it infinitely easier to handle any kind of major emergency event,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “If the different agencies such as police, fire and ambulance are better able to connect with each other at any given moment, it would mean a much more coordinated and effective response. We need to be a leader in implementing this type of technology.”   Line to the Bee Line.   Not only will the system be used for dispatch and coordination during major mutual aid incidents, but it will also handle routine communications on a daily basis for the county’s Bee-Line bus system. The buses play a big role in assisting in evacuations. Currently the buses operate with no radios and very limited alternative communications.   Multi-Way Communication.    Westchester County recently signed a contract with Motorola to design, construct and implement a voice and wireless data communications system. The comprehensive system will allow the county’s Emergency Communications Center (ECC-60 control) to dispatch local fire departments and EMS agencies, as well as giving those departments the ability to talk to each other as they head to the scene of an incident.  Spano noted that the potential uses for the system are almost unlimited. Emergency responders coming upon scenes involving a medical condition or crime situation would be able to communicate quickly with police departments and other responders. In the case of a widespread evacuation involving bus transportation, officials will be able to communicate with the drivers doing the pickups. In the case of a bus accident or emergency on the vehicle, a bus driver could call for assistance.   Communication Interactivity   “We rely on first responders to provide emergency services in thousands of communities throughout the United States,” said Ken Denslow, Motorola corporate vice president and general manager.  “The new communications network will enhance the ability of these responders to serve and protect the public during major emergencies by connecting local units to county dispatch and to other working units at the scene of a major emergency.  Interoperability among first responders is essential for public safety.  We are proud to be part of Westchester County‘s innovative vision to provide interoperability for all those agencies who handle emergencies.”   The Timetable.   Installation of the system components will be started this spring, with activation anticipated for the end of the year. County Chief Information Officer Norman Jacknis noted that the process will take time as the set-up is complicated and users will have to learn new technology. Radio equipment and systems must also be installed at existing radio tower sites and connections made to the county’s fiber-optic network. The county will also provide and install radios in more than 600 front line emergency fire and EMS vehicles, all of the Bee-Line fleet, as well as local police department headquarters and hospital emergency rooms around the county.   The system is being developed because of the present inability to share radio channels. In a major emergency or in the case of two simultaneous situations, responders would no longer have to share a single radio channel – listening to everyone else’s conversations, filtering out what they need to know, and trying to get a word in edgewise. With the system being developed, agencies would be able to set up as many as a dozen separate conversations at once and pull whatever agencies were needed into the discussion. Councilman Bernstein Addresses CNA Tuesday. Posted on February 1, 2005 by John Bailey Hits: 0 WPCNR CNA NEWS. From Marc Pollitzer. February 1, 2005: The Council of Neighborhood Associations of White Plains meets Tuesday and features Councilman Arnold Bernstein of the Common Council discussing White Plains future, a timely topic. The meeting is at 7:45 P.M., Tuesday, February 8 at Education House. “Scaffolding” of School Budget Begins. Posted on February 1, 2005 by John Bailey Hits: 0 WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. February 1, 2005, UPDATED with Clarification, February 2, 2005, 6:30 P.M. E.S.T., UPDATED with further Clarification February 3, 2005, 1:45 P.M. E.S.T.:  Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors described the 9.72% increase in the City School Budget for 2005-06,  as “preliminary,” saying the formulation of the City School Budget is one of “scaffolding” which he said formulation of a preliminary budget is one part of the process.   WHITE PLAINS BOARD OF EDUCATION DOING THE NUMBERS MONDAY EVENING. Photo by WPCNR News.   He said the Board wanted to “be clear upfront with the city Annual Budget Committee” about what budget priorities are, which include maintaining class sizes, conforming to the New York State Education curriculum, supporting technological progress, involving parents through outreach public relations, and planning for capital improvements over the next five years.   Connors said of the baseline budget of $157,797,830, that “I don’t see it going higher.” The Board heard explanations of the increases that were contributing, in part to the presently projected $13,988,646 increase. Terry Schruers, the Assistant Superintendent for Business, noted that new positions created $4,920,696 in salaries (3.4% of the increase), Health Insurance, $1,159,075 (.8% of the increase) and Teachers Retirements, an additional $2,397,566, (1.67% of the increase), accounting for $8.5 Million of the $14 Million.   Aside from the fixed increases in contracts, health costs, Schruers noted there was $706,000 in debt, $605,000 budgeted increase for Utilities, $240,000 in structural contrtacts, $228,258 in outside agency contracts, and $470,293 in Transportation increases, in addition to  $80,000 for a buildings survey, and $80,000 to replace a grant for afterschool programs, $1,044,623 for BOCES services (.7% of the increase), and assorted increases for Social Security .   The 2005/06 Preliminary Budget Expenditures                                       Additions        % of Budget Increase Salaries                            $4,920,696         3.4% Health Insurance           $1,159,075            .8% Teachers Retirement    $2,397,566         1.6% Employee Retirement   $105,000               .07% Social Security               $289,000                .2% Worker Compensation $45,000                .03% Unemployment Ins.       $12,000                  .008% Debt                                   $706,000                .49% BOCES                              $1,044,623            .72% Utilities                               $   605,000            .42% Plant Contractural                     $  240,000             .17% Building Struc. Survey  $   80,000               .06% Outside Agencies /Contracts                          $228,258               .16% Transportation                  $470,293             .33% Tuitions                               $109,000               .08% Afterschool Programs     $  80,000               .06% Legal                                    $  30,000               .02% Summer Handicapped Contrib.                                $ 75,000                .05%   TOTAL                         $12,596,511            8.759%   Scheurs and Connors went over the new requests that were included in the Preliminary Budget, noting they were asking the staff heads throughout the district to justify their requests.   Of the $4,920,696 in new salaried positions that the Board may cut as the budget moves forward there were 5 new high school teaching positions, 5 new middle school teachers (3 for Eastview Middle School, if that school is expanded to 160 students; and he equivalent of 2 teachers at Highlands), coaching personnel for four new sports teams, (Field Hockey Freshman or Modified Team, Girls Field Hockey Coach, Girls Basketball Coach, and a Modified football coach for 7th grade), an athletic trainer, three support staff, 3 teachers for Post Road School, 2 for the Newcomer Center, 2.5 personnel for Church Street School, 4 literacy coaches to cover all elementaries,   Middle School Students Out of Rochambeau.   The District is also considering a joint Middle School Alternative Program to be started in cooperation with the New Rochelle School District, where at least 8 Middle School students now enrolled at the Community School (Rochambeau) would be served by a staff hired by White Plains and New Rochelle, in New Rochelle saving the expense of paying BOCES to teach the children. Connors said the advantage would be to move the Middle School students away from the high school students who make up the majority of students at the Community School at Rochambeau.   Dr. Joseph Casbarro, Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Services, explained the cost of adding the teachers and to set up such a school was estimated at $185,754 to the City School District. He advised that the district was strictly in exploratory talks with New Rochelle at this time, and how the school would work was undetermined at this time.   School System Considering Verizon Phone Upgrade   Mr. Schruers, Assistant Superintendent for Business reported that the school district is working in cooperation with the City of White Plains technical personnel to upgrade the communications wiring in the school district to convert the wiring to Voice I.P. technology. Schruers said it was expected that Verizon would donate some of the costs of the conversion.   Asked what it would cost for the district to install Schruers put the figure at less than $500,000, but more than $200,000, and hesitated when asked if it was $400,000. An advantage to the Voice I.P. system, Schruers said was to install “Voice Mail” in the school phone system. Asked if Voice Mail would lead to a preponderance of unreturned phone calls, Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors said voicemail would be a “bookmark,” and not a substitute for responding.   School Aid and Revenues.   Schruers mentioned that the school district might lose $500,000 in state aid based on information the district had at this time. Connors said that any possible school tax increase necessitated by the preliminary budget was being held in abeyance pending revenue information expected to be delivered by City Assessor, Eyde McCarthy. Ms. McCarthy will appear at Education House February 28 to brief the board on the expected revenue from Payments In Lieu of Taxes, which Connors said was expected to be up in 2005-06, and the prospects of city certiorari settlements.   Last month, the school district learned it would lose $632,000 in revenues from a successful certiorari filed by Nordstrom’s. Last year, the district set aside a borrowing contingency they can draw on to offset unexpected certiorari losses.   After the meeting, the Board called an executive session to hear from their attorney handling certioraris (reduced assessments). That meeting was not open to the public.   Grants Being Gone Over with Fine Tooth Comb. Program Pileup Needs to be looked at.   Superintendent Connors said that the grant monies the district are being looked at to supplement programs where the use is appropriate. He noted that the White Plains Summer School program is funded by grants.   Donna McLaughlin, President of the Board of Education, was troubled by what she described as installing new programs and keeping programs that do not work. Her last words of the evening were “We need to get rid of the old way. We can’t afford to do both. You can’t  let it (layers of programs) pileup.”   Public Relations Firm will Handle Spring Publicity. Planning Firm Selection Too.   Early in the meeting, Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors said that the public relations discussion planned for the evening would be moved up to the next meeting. WPCNR erred in writing the firm has not been hired. The firm, Syntax/Education, according to Michelle Schoenfeld, who contacted CNR to report the error, has been hired (on November 8):   Ms. Schoenfeld, in a statement writes: “It was pointed out to me that your website states that the district has not yet contracted for public relations.  The Board did so at the November 8th meeting, with Syntax Communications, which has been working for us since. The subject cancelled from Monday night’s meeting was an update on their progress.It will be rescheduled at a future date. It was announced at a Board meeting  in December that  the firm is not going to do the extensive $50,000 full program considered at that time. WPCNR misinterpreted that to mean that the firm had not been hired yet. The firm will be handling the spring Board of Education budget communication process. Ms. Schoenfeld further clarified the public relations situation with this letter to WPCNR Thursday afternoon: The contract, approved on 11/8/04, is for $21,112, to extend from December 2004 to June 30, 2005.  That is a straight free for services and does not include the costs of printing or postage.  At the moment they are working on a newsletter and have also  been surveying members of the Board and community, to develop a plan for further work.   A  public relations budget of about $50,000 is being considered for Syntax in the 2005-06 budget. (BOCES would reimburse the school district for 43% of that cost, lowering the actual cost to  $28,500.)   The selection of a planning firm to prepare a five year capital plan for the School District is also in process, covering upgrades to the district buildings and athletic fields. ↑