Juneteenth Committee Formed to Celebrate Freeing of the Slaves in 1865

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WPCNR CITY HALL LIMITS. By John F. Bailey. June 17, 2004: Mayor Joseph Delfino announced the formation of the White Plains Juneteenth Heritage Committee of  some 30 community leaders representing all ethnicities to plan the first ever White Plains African American Heritage Festival. The first event will be a picnic in Liberty Park on Silver Lake to be held this Saturday from 12 to 2 P.M. to galvanize the committee. In the fall fund-raising events will be held to generate funds and sponsors to stage a parade on our about June 19 in 2005.



COMMITEE LAUNCH:  Mayor Joseph Delfino, at the podium, Thursday morning, announcing the beginning of a year long effort to stage a White Plains Juneteenth Festival. Councilman Glen Hockley was given credit for spearheading the committee’s formation. Councilman Benjamin Boykin told WPNCR that funding efforts would begin this fall and winter and would include a gospel music concert and a film festival, culminating in a parade and series of educational activities next June that would recognize the anniversary of the freeing of the slaves in Galveston, Texas,  June 19, 1865.  White Plains residents and others interested in  getting involved with the parade and festival can contact the White Plains Department of Recreation and Parks at 422-1336. Photo by WPCNR News

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Bradley’s Bill Providing 10% tax cut for Volunteer Emergency Workers Passes

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. From the Office of 89th District Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. June 16, 2004: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) announced the Assembly has passed a bill he sponsored putting into effect a property tax exemption for certain volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers in Westchester County (A.9657).


 


      “Volunteers are essential to our fire companies and ambulance corps,” Bradley said. “This legislation goes a long way to assisting those important emergency service workers by providing them with a property tax exemption.”


 


 



      Bradley’s bill enables local governments to provide a 10 percent property tax reduction for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. This bill simplifies the process, enabling local governments to put the exemptions into effect.


 


      Earlier this month, Bradley helped pass legislation authorizing municipalities to increase volunteer service award benefits, including pension-type benefits (A.11198), and a bill helping expand coverage for the legal defense of firefighters involved in lawsuits related to the performance of their duties (A.11197).


 


      Bradley also helped pass a resolution calling on the Federal Communications Commission to provide first responders with emergency priority to the wireless communications network (K.2368) and a bill giving fire trucks and ambulances special permits that would allow them to drive through toll booths without paying (A.11202).


 


      “Our families’ safety is their first priority,” Bradley said. “And I’m working to ensure that our first responders’ efforts do not go unnoticed. Every time we provide tax relief to our volunteers, we are helping grow the pool of those willing to volunteer in our communities.”

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4-Run Rally in the Lates Sends Racers Into A Spin. Nauts win 4-3.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR by Kristen Zimmerman. June 16, 2004: After only getting two infield singles off of Akron starter Brandee McArthur through five innings, the NY/NJ Juggernaut scored four runs with two outs in the sixth inning to pull out the 4-3, late-inning victory against the Akron Racers, their third place pursuers before a sparse crowd of 120 fans. The win gave the Nauts a 2-game lead over the Racers and kept place with the first place Thunder in the National Pro Fastpitch league.


 


Catcher Lindsey Collins’ three-run double tied the game at three after singles by second baseman Carri Leto, first baseman Kellie Wilkerson, and shortstop Lyndsey Klein loaded the bases. Pinch hitter Lisa Iancin quickly put the Nauts ahead 4-3 when she scored Collins with a base-hit through the left side. Collins, Leto, Wilkerson, and Klein were all 1-for-3 on the night. Akron starter, McArthur allowed seven hits, one walk, and three earned runs over the course of six innings.


 


Juggernaut starter Amanda Scott would only need the one-run lead as she pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the victory. The three runs scored by Akron were all unearned as Scott pitched a complete seven innings, giving up nine hits, one walk, and no earned runs.


 


Akron began the scoring in the third when catcher Jenn Poore hit a two-out two-run double down the right field line. Poore went 2-for-4 with two RBI on the night. Leftfielder Heather Wright began the inning with a leadoff base-hit and two-outs later centerfielder Iyhia McMichael reached first on an error by shortstop Lyndsey Klein. McMichael also had a multi-hit night, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.


 


The Racers tacked on another run in the fourth when third baseman Lindsay Wood scored on a throwing error by Collins. Amanda Scott was the winning pitcher for the Nauts moving to 3-1.


 


Upcoming Games:


 


June 17th vs. Akron (home), 7:35 pm


June 18th vs. Akron (home), 4:05 pm


June 20th vs. New England (aired live on the YES Network), 5:05 


                                             


 


 

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Hockley Gets TRO from Appellate Court. On Council for at Least a Month.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. June 16, 2004: Councilman Glen Hockley reported to WPCNR tonight at the Highlands-Soundview joint civic association meeting, that the Appellate Court, 2nd Circuit in Brooklyn had granted him a Temporary Restraining Order while his lawyer and the Attorney General’s Office prepare paper arguments as to whether a stay should be granted. The Temporary Restraining Order bars former councilman Larry Delgado from being seated on the Common Council for three weeks or so, enabling Mr. Hockley to remain on the Common Council at least  through the July meeting.


The arguments over a stay revolve around  the critical question of whether Mr. Delgado should be placed on the Council by the Court immediately and Mr. Hockley  be removed while Mr. Hockley’s appeal of Judge Francis Nicolai’s summary judgment that Delgado was the clear winner in their November 6, 2001, is considered by the Appellate Court. Hockley told WPCNR, “I expect to be around awhile.”


Mr. Hockley has now managed through seven different legal maneuvers in three years by WPCNR count (2 appeals, 3 legal objections to the quo warranto procedure , a second appeal to the Appellate Court, and now the request for a stay), and a less than efficient judiciary to remain on the Common Council for 27 months of the 48-month term that he and Mr. Delgado contended for in November, 2001.


Jeffrey Binder, Mr. Delgado’s attorney noted today in an e-mail to WPCNR:


 

The 2d Dep’t this afternoon issued a TRO staying further proceedings on the order granting summary judgment in the Delgado quo warranto. We had thought that the application was premature, since the AG’s proposed order and judgment was noticed for settlement on Friday. But the grant of summary judgment was in the form of a decision and order, and the court (Hon. Sandra L. Townes) decided not to wait for the order and judgment.

 

The TRO came in the context of a motion for a stay pending appeal, and the AG’s/our papers in opposition to the motion are due on Thursday, June 24.

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Juggernaut Notches third straight shutout over Sunbirds for SWEEP

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WPCNR PRESS BOX  Special to WPCNR From Kristen Zimmerman.  (Edited) June 16, 2004: The NY/NJ Juggernaut  swept the three game series against the California Sunbirds with their third shut-out in a row, a 4-0 win Tuesday evening  in a National Pro Fastpitch league game at Montclair State University Softball Stadium before 305 fans.  Gina Oaks (now 3-1)  earned the victory for the Nauts, giving up only three hits and one walk while striking out seven. The Sunbirds managed only eight hits over the entire three game series. The Nauts (8-4, and undefeated under Owner-Manager Paul Plemenos)  face the third place Akron Racers this evening whom they lead by 1 game as the Nauts  attempt to keep pace with the first place Texas Thunder (at 9-3) league leaders by a single game over the Nauts.


Shortstop Lyndsey Klein batted in two of the four runs for the Nauts’ with a solo homerun over the left field fence in the fourth to make it 2-0 and an RBI double in the fifth for NY/NJ’s fourth run. Klein went 2-for-3 on the night with two RBI and one run scored.


 


First baseman Kellie Wilkerson also brought in a fifth inning run when third baseman Jaclyn Pasquerella scored on her two-out RBI single. Pasquerella began the fifth inning rally with a leadoff infield hit, one of two hits she had on the night.


 


Neither team managed a hit until Nauts’ leftfielder Lauren Bauer singled home second baseman Carri Leto in the third inning for the first run of the game. Leto reached base on a fielder’s choice and then stole second to put herself in scoring position for Bauer.


 


California rightfielder Kellyn Tate had two of the Sunbirds three total hits. She led off the fourth inning with a basehit but Oaks struck out two and induced a ground ball to kill the rally.


 


The Juggernaut now have an 8-4 record and are currently undefeated at home with a sweep of both the New England Riptide and the California Sunbirds. Today marks the first of a three-game home-stand against the Akron Racers.


 


Upcoming Schedule:


 


June 16th vs. Akron Racers (home), 7:35 pm


June 17th vs Akron Racers (home), 4:05 pm


 


Juggernaut Statistics, Wednesday, June 16:


 













BATTING Click on column name to sort









































































































































































































































































































































































Player AB R H RBI 2B 3B HR BB SO KL SB GDP HITDP HBP SH AVG OB% SLG
Bauer, Lauren 9 2 2 1 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.222 0.300 0.222
Clark, Kaci 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000
Collins, Lindsey 38 2 5 1 2 0 0 5 9 2 0 0 1 1 0 0.132 0.250 0.184
Fairchild, Germaine 23 1 2 3 0 0 0 2 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.087 0.160 0.087
Hanson, Erika 16 1 5 0 0 1 0 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.312 0.421 0.375
Hershman, Sarah 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000
Iancin, Lisa 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.200 0.333 0.200
Klein, Lyndsey 41 6 11 9 3 0 2 2 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.268 0.302 0.390
Leto, Carri 44 7 17 4 2 0 0 4 4 0 3 0 0 0 2 0.386 0.438 0.432
Oaks, Gina 28 2 6 3 2 0 0 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 1 0.214 0.290 0.286
Pasquerella, Jaclyn 37 6 13 2 0 0 0 2 7 2 2 0 0 0 6 0.351 0.385 0.351
Scott, Courtney 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.000 0.000 0.000
Scott, Amanda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000
Smith, Jen 24 0 7 0 1 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 0 0 3 0.292 0.292 0.333
Smith, Michele 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.000 0.000 0.000
Taylor, Venus 33 3 5 2 0 0 0 5 8 3 2 0 0 0 0 0.152 0.263 0.152
Wilkerson, Kellie 34 7 14 8 3 1 1 9 6 3 2 0 0 1 1 0.412 0.545 0.559
PITCHING Click on column name to sort




















































































































Player W L S GS CG IP H R ER BB SO SHA BF AB HBP KL 2B 3B HR PB ERA
Scott, Amanda 3 2 1 4 3 33.1 16 5 3 13 26 2 131 116 0 7 2 0 2 0 0.65
Clark, Kaci 1 1 0 4 2 26.0 23 11 7 10 19 1 115 96 4 4 5 0 0 0 1.94
Smith, Michele 1 0 0 1 1 7.0 3 0 0 1 12 0 25 23 1 2 1 0 0 0 0.00
Oaks, Gina 3 1 0 3 1 23.2 12 9 6 7 23 1 93 84 0 1 1 1 3 0 1.81
Infinity Pro Sports

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Planning Board Clears Way for Cappelli Hotel CondoPlex, 4-2, Thumbing Up Subdiv.

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WPCNR CITY HALL LIMITS. June 16, 2004: Mary Cavallero, Chairperson of the White Plains Planning Board, reported to WPCNR Wednesday that the Planning Board voted 4-2, with Russ Imlay and Robert Stackpole voting against approval, to approve the subdivision of the Frank and Anthony Longhitano property at 199 Main Street, commonly referred to as The Bar Building. Cavallero said that the plans were not quite correct and had to be revised just prior to the Tuesday evening meeting. The plans were revised to provide “a few feet” between the rear of the Bar Building which is to be preserved, and the Cappelli hotel building. Mr. Stackpole had argued strongly against approval because he felt approval was perpetuating a noncomforming site situation. However, with Tuesday evening’s vote the path is cleared for Cappelli Enterprises to begin demolition and construction of the project.


The proposed Cappelli Hotel Condoplex on Main Street. As seen on TV. Photo Capture by WPCNR News

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Mayor Lets the Dogs Out. Dog Run Park, Pet Boarding Facility, TV Show Planned

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WPCNR Main Street Journal. June 16, 2004, UPDATED WITH PIX, 10:30 A.M. E.D.T.: Mayor Joseph Delfino launched a new quality of life initiative Tuesday, announcing that the city would build a Dog Run Park for citizens to let their “best friends” loose in a controlled environment. The park will be located on the Southeast side of Delfino Park on the Town of Harrison line alongside a brook and would be 100 feet x 200 feet in size. It will be constructed over the summer by the Department of Public Works and will open in September according to the plan.



MAYOR INTRODUCING HIS DOG PARK PLAN TO INTERESTED CANINES at City Hall Tuesday. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog


The Mayor also announced as part of his “Love Our Pets Initiative” that the city would produce a television program on WPPA-TV, beginning in August on White Plains Public Access that will feature animals in need of homes, discuss pet welfare issues.


To care for pets that already have homes, the Mayor introduced Dennis M. Dolan, President of Best Friends Pet Resorts & Salons who will be opening what the Mayor described as “a state-of-the-art pet care facility in White Plains,” occupying the former Colin Cares building on South Kensico Avenue at One Brockway Place. It is expected to open in December.



DOG PARK SITE: You are looking Southeast from second base at Delfino Field II. The White Plains Dog Run Park will be constructed directly across Main Street from the third base side of the field  and extend back 200 feet. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog



PROPOSED ENTRANCE TO DOG PARK: According to Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, the Dog Run will be constructed this summer at a cost of $9,000 to $10,000, (mainly for fencing). The City Hall News Release reports the Dog Run will be open from dawn to dusk, and include a water fountain for dogs, a dispenser for clean up after dogs, and a waste receptacle, and will be ready in September. Play equipment to amuse your dog will be added, should the city find a sponsor.  Havilands Manor resident and schnauzer trainer, Barbara Dille who suggested the site to Mayor Delfino, said the program sounds very good and is much needed. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.



MAYOR IS THANKED BY CURRENT RESIDENTS of the New Rochelle Animal Shelter, (a no-kill shelter), for his initiative. Frannie, Hunter, Ginger and a puppie, Bosco visited from the New Rochelle shelter to dramatize the plight of homeless pets. Eleven Million animals are in shelters nationwide, and each year eight million are euthanized. The Mayor said, through the new White Plains Public Access television show, that he hoped more animals would be adopted by the community. Fred Strauss, General Manager of WPPA-TV in White Plains said he is very enthusiastic about the show and thinks it’s “a fantastic idea,” since his first two dogs were strays he rescued from the street in the South Bronx. He said he’d be keeping WPCNR posted as production details of “The Dog Show” were ironed out. Dana Rocco, (left) Manager of the New Rochelle Shelter  looks on. Frannie, Hunter, Ginger and Bosco may be adopted for just $100 with complete shots, and  a vet check, spayed or neutered depending on gender,  by contacting 632-2935. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog



DOG HOTEL SITE: The former home of Colin Cares (which has moved to 170 Hamilton Avenue), will become the site  of a Best Friends Pet Resort & Salon in December, another phase of the Mayor’s Love Our Pets Initiative. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.




BEST FRIENDS PET RESORTS provide a variety of services for White Plains pets who have homes, including boarding (over family vacations), daycare, grooming, training, a specialty pet boutique, and a veterinary clinic. Exhibits at the news conference displayed some of the “suites” available for pets staying at Best Friends Pet Resorts. The national chain has Best Friends facilities in Norwalk, Rockland County and nearby in Harrison. The facility in White Plains, Dennis  Dolan said, would provide short stay lodging for 200 dogs and 36 cats. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog



FRANNIE, A 9-year old chocolate Lab, shakes hands with the CitizeNetReporter. From this reporter’s observations the three older dogs were people-friendly, very well-behaved and would make great pets for any home. Frannie can be adopted, (and she has a yellow lab companion dog, too, that she was found with, abandoned.) Photo by WPCNR NewsDog



HUNTER, a 9 year old mutt, is dignified, friendly, looking for a home. He typifies the millions of older dogs that people do not want, and who are eventually killed because shelters cannot handle the overload of animals who are not wanted. The New Rochelle Shelter where Hunter lives does not kill the animals it cannot find homes for. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.



GINGER, faithful female companion for someone. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.



BOSCO, THE LUCKY PUPPY. He’s lucky because he lives at the New Rochelle Animal Shelter. He’s available now as are Frannie, Ginger, and Hunter and many other homeless, but-cared-for, dogs and cats by calling 632-2925. Photo by WPCNR NewsDog.

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Mayor Holds Summit in the Highlands Tonight.

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WPCNR SOUTHEND TIMES. June 16, 2004: Mayor Joseph Delfino will make a community outreach appearance this evening, addressing the Highlands and Soundview civic associations, and taking questions and answers from the audience. The meeting is open to the public and will be held at Highlands Middle School, second floor, beginning at 7:30 P.M.

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Fort Hill Players Fete Their Membership

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 WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Fort Hill Players. June 15, 20045:  Saturday, June 19th,  White Plains’ community theater group,  Fort Hill Players, will gather from 12 – 2 pm at Delfino Park on Lake Street in White Plains for a MAD occasion (Membership Appreciation Day).  Taking a break from rehearsals to attend the BBQ is the cast of our current Free Summer Theater in the Parks production, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf.   A crowd of  about 40 current members is expected to attend the BBQ.  Former members who wish to attend should call Nan at 945-0311.

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Legislature Expected to Dissolve WPPA by End of Next Week. City in Money.

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WPCNR Parking Zone. By John F. Bailey. June 15, 2004: The city legal and financial team presented in detail the reasons why the city was within its legislative parameters in dissolving the White Plains Parking Authority last night at  7-11 South Broadway, in what most likely was the last official meeting of the WPPA after 57 years. It was announced that the Senate and Assembly were likely to pass the home rule request of the City to dissolve the Parking Authority as early as June 25.


THE PARKING AUTHORITY’S LAST STAND: Tim Sheehan, at far head of the table leans into his agenda and convenes the apparently last meeting of the White Plains Parking Authority Monday night. Photo by WPCNR News.


Common Councilwoman Rita Malmud, observing the meeting,  said Ted Peluso, Eileen Earl, architects of the city parking authority takeover, presented their case for why it made sense for the city to absorb the Parking Authority at this time.


 


She said Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy presented a 9-page document explaining his lreasons why the city was legally entitled to turn over Parking Authority funds and the fund balance regardless of whether the legislature dissolved the Parking Authority or not.


 


He also, Malmud said, was “optimistic”  that legislation introduced in Albany dissolving the WPPA was expected to be passed by the end of next week, safely assuring the $7-1/2 Million Parking Authority fund balance would transfer into the city’s fund balance on the 2004-2005 books, shoring up the city’s financial position for the keen eye of the bond rating agencies.


 


Ms. Malmud also reported there were no details provided or timetable on how the city’s new Department of Parking would “transition” into effect as of July 1.


 


She also noted to WPCNR that the Parking Authority Fund balance would simply become part of the city’s fund balance, and according to her recollection this would add up to a total city fund balance of $24 Million (both designated and undesignated). She said it was explained that  the $7.5 Million would not be dedicated to use only for the Department of Parking to meet its budget, that the Department of Parking would simply draw on the city fund balance.


 


She said it was unclear whether the White Plains Parking Authority Board would ever meet again.

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