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.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. February 6, 2006: Dan Rodriguez, a member of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company Board of Directors confirmed to the media in the Rockland County edition of The Journal News (a story not carried in the Gannett Westchester edition) that the Helen Hayes Theatre Company  building on Main Street in Nyack was about to be sold to Milbrook Properties, Ltd. of Manhasset, N.Y. Reporter Laura Incalcaterra writes Rodriguez reporting the sale price to be $3.7 Million and the theatre having paid off most of its debt before the sale.

WPCNR reviewing the Helen Hayes Form 990 for the year 2003-2004 (posted October 29, 2005), that the reported price (of $3.7 Million)  is about double the amount of liabilities accrued by the Theatre’s operations through June 2004, which the 2003-2004  Form 990 lists as $1,351,986. (2003-2004 is the last year for which Helen Hayes posted a Form 990 for the 501(c) non-profit corporation). The Theatre, the Form reports, lost $274,725 in operations for the fiscal year 2003-2004.

If that rate of loss continued in 04-05, (an additional $300,000 added to the liabilities)  the theatre company’s liabilities may have approached $2 Million before this possible sale, but Rodriguez is also reported as saying most of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company  debt had been paid off recently, which could be taken to mean the theatre now has been staked to as much as a $3.7 million windfall from Milbrook Properties.

Milbrook Properties, Ltd., the reported purchaser, is a company owned by Rubin Pikus, is a company of 40 persons which manages 80 properties, mostly apartment buildings, and seeks acquisitions of additional property, and undertakes “new ventures in residential, commercial and development properties.”

In an effort to ascertain the current status of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company  finances, which was reported in the process of reorganizing in October by its Executive Director in October, WPCNR contacted the Executive Director. WPCNR efforts to speak with the Helen Hayes Theatre’s Executive Director, Tony Stimac who also serves as Producing Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center,  have not been returned to ascertain how much windfall if any from the impending sale may generate to the Helen Hayes Theatre Company for its resurgence; whether the Helen Hayes Theatre Company will continue to perform at the Helen Hayes Theatre in Nyack, and when it will return,  or perhaps consider sharing and aiding its sister theatre, the White Plains Performing Arts Center,

The White Plains Performing Arts Center is currently in reorganization, having reprogrammed its spring schedule with lower budget productions than originally planned to conserve operating cash, severely depleted by reported large contibutions to Helen Hayes operating expenses in their 2-1/2 year relationship.

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WPCNR RINGSIDE. From Ring Promotions. February 5, 2006:  On Friday February 10, for the first time ever, a professional boxing card comes to the Hynes Athletic Center at Iona College in New Rochelle.  Promoter Bob Duffy of Ring Promotions, along with Tony Mazzarella have put together an exciting card, filled with local young talent featured in competitive bouts — including undefeated Iona grad Maureen Shea (Hillary Swank’s sparring partner who trained her for Million Dollar Baby), and the colorful hard-hitting Ann Marie Saccurato, who trains out of White Plains.

The main event features junior middleweight prospects Maximo Cuevas (6-2-1, 2 KOs) of West Palm Beach, Florida taking on Bronx native Allen Conyers (8-1, 6 KOs) in what should be a very competitive 10-round fight. In the co-feature, junior welterweight Ann Marie Saccurato (10-1-2 5 KOs) steps it up to her first 10-round bout against Victoria Cisneros (3-2-2).  This Saccurato-Cisneros matchup is a rematch from one year ago, when Saccurato won a unanimous six-round decision from Cisneros at the County Center.

Also featured in a lightweight 4-round special attraction Iona College’s own Maureen Shea, a currently undefeated pro and former amateur standout. Shea is best known for her role as Hillary Swank’s sparring partner during the actress’ preparation for her starring role in “Million Dollar Baby”.

Million Dollar Baby “Partner” Shows Her Stuff.

Undefeated Maureen Shea is especially looking forward to her fight on February 10; this because she will be fighting on the Iona College campus where she is currently attending classes. “I’m really excited about fighting her at my alma mater,” said the 25-year-old Bronx native.  “Everyone has been extremely supportive and it’s an honor for me to be fighting here in front of all my friends and family.”  Shea who is 3-0 with 2 knockouts looks to stay unbeaten as she takes on the debuting Salena Hayden.

Promoter Bob Duffy of Ring Promotions is a 20-year veteran in the world of boxing, and he absolutely loves what he does. “People ask me all the time why I keep doing this. The answer is simple: you can’t put a price on doing what you love.  I love boxing and I love promoting fights,” Duffy adds. “I don’t care if I’m ever the next Don King or Bob Arum.”

It’s that attitude that has made Ring promotions boxing events a success, his last three boxing events have all sold out and the fan response has been overwhelmingly positive.  Duffy, an ex-NYC homicide detective and the previous Director of Boxing for the New York State Athletic Commission, has been involved in boxing since 1984 and founded Ring Promotions in December of 2000. This being his 15^th boxing card Duffy has worked with several name fighters such as former welterweight champ Jose Antonio Rivera, and middleweight prospect Daniel Edouard.

Also featured on the card super featherweight Pasquel Rouse of Westchester; middleweight Richard Pearson of Patterson New Jersey; and heavyweight Victor James out of Brooklyn, NY.

Iona College is located at 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle. Tickets are priced at $100 Reserved Ringside, $50 Ringside (floor), and $30 General Admission. Iona students can purchase tickets at a special school rate of only $20 (with student ID). Tickets can be purchased by calling (914) 235-2325, (516) 313-2305. Tickets can also be purchased at Souler Gym located at 170 East Post Road in White Plains (914) 946-3500. Doors open at 6 p.m. First bout starts at 7:30 p.m. Please feel free to call any of the above numbers for addition information.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. February 4, 2006: The Assistant Superintendent for Business for the White Plains City School District has announced his retirement effective in September. Terrance Schruers, who replaced Richard Lasselle in September of 2003, will leave the district after three years almost to the day he came to White Plains.

Terrance Schruers, Assistant Superintendent for Business, left, with City Assessor Eyde McCarthy talk about PILOTS, April 2006. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Mr. Schruers plans to leave the School District almost three years to the day when he came to White Plains to replace Richard Lasselle, the previous Assistant Superintendent for Business for eight years. Schruers is known for his candor and willingness to answer any question on finances with patience, and for outlining a financial situation realistically. 

Mr. Schruers has also nimbly kept the budget from requiring double digit property tax increases by using the school district ability to bond for short terms for certiorari repayments, and has scheduled them to be paid off within the next two years.

He leaves White Plains as the city school district faces a school budget ($167.5 Million projected for 2006-07), that by existing contracts and inflation alone will top $200 Million by 2008-2009. It is not known whether Jacqueline Mackin, who has assisted Mr. Schruers these last three years and Mr. Lasselle, before that, will be promoted to Mr. Schruers position or whether a search will be conducted for a successor.

Schruers in his management of the city budgets has faced a dwindling assessment roll that declined $12 Million between 2003 and 2005, lead by the city’s most successful businesses filing certioraris that they won. Among those businesses contributing to the certiorari drain were AT & T, Westchester One, Nordstroms, Gateway I and Bloomingdale’s. In 2005 and 2006 the School District bonded for $16 Million in certiorari refunds.

The district will lose Mr. Schruers at the time when it may be floating its largest bond in its history, $67 Million for building improvements in the district.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. From Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. February 4, 2006:

Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) announced that the Assembly passed legislation he authored to protect the environment.  The legislation, entitled the “Environmental Access to Justice Act” would give individuals the ability to challenge the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) determinations (A.114).

The legislation aims to correct current law where individuals can be effectively barred from bringing legal action against those who violate environmental law.  Individuals or entities that may suffer from such violations should not be denied the right to have their cases heard.  Bradley’s legislation would ensure that individuals adversely impacted would have standing in court if they could establish that they were environmentally harmed.

Bradley noted that this legislation is supported by top environmental groups including The Environmental Advocates of New York, The Adirondack Council, The Sierra Club as well as The New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). The legislation passed the Assembly in 2005 and 2004, but died on both instances in the Senate. 

“I remain committed in my fight to protect the environment and I will continue to push for measures that will protect citizens who have suffered an environmental harm,” said Bradley.  “I urge the Senate to pass this common sense legislation that gives New Yorkers an important opportunity to preserve and protect the environment from irreparable harm.”

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. February 3, 2006: It is being reported that White Plains Police have charged a city parent with a misdemeanor, Unlawful Dealing with a Child, after investigation of an alleged teen drinking party in the parent’s residence January 21, while the parent was present. WPCNR is attempting to confirm the details.