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

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. From National Weather Service. March 31, 2004: As of 9 P.M., 1.75 inches of rain had fallen at WPCNR Studios in White Plains, and the National Weather Service is predicting more heavy rains for Thursday morning. The sodden soaking weather pattern is predicted to continue through Sunday. The National Weather Service Forecast as of 10:30 P.M.:

ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY…

A LARGE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM OVER VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA WILL
REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY INTO FRIDAY. A FEW TROUGHS OF LOW
PRESSURE WILL ROTATE AROUND THE MAIN LOW RESULTING IN PERIODS OF
RAIN ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY.

A STRONG TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE LOCAL AREA BY LATE
THURSDAY MORNING…RESULTING IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN THROUGH
THE LATE AFTERNOON. THE CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF HEAVY RAIN FALL FROM
WEDNESDAY EVENING AND THE EXPECTED RAINFALL THURSDAY WILL RESULT IN
RISES ON AREA RIVERS AND STREAMS AS WELL AS SOME STREET FLOODING IN
AREAS WITH POOR DRAINAGE. HOWEVER…THE AREA RIVERS ARE FORECAST TO
REMAIN WITHIN THEIR BANKS. THE RAIN WILL THEN TAPER OFF TO SCATTERED
SHOWERS THURSDAY EVENING.   

STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND OTHER LOCAL MEDIA FOR FURTHER
DETAILS OR UPDATES.

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WPCNR THE TALK OF FERRIS AVENUE. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2004: The White Plains Historical Society and Ron Jackson, “The Last Activist,” are working together to create a lasting memorial to Jerome “Bump” Robinson, founder of the Thomas Slater Center Drum Corps, tireless worker for youth, and behind-the-scenes feeder of the hungry, who died last month. Jack Harrington, former President of the White Plains Historical Society, in discussions with Mr. Jackson, the driving force to create a “Bump” remembrance, suggests creation of a garden park on a vacant corner across the street from the firehouse at the foot of Ferris Avenue.

BUMP ROBINSON PARK: Possible site for Jerome Robinson memorial. Jack Harrington, the Historical Society, Ron Jackson, and Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Robinson’s widow, are enthusiastic about this vacant property, owned by the city at the intersection of Ferris Avenue and Hillside Terrace.  Mr. Harrington has suggested a neat garden park, with a few benches, highlighted  by a large boulder memorial with a plaque remembering Mr. Robinson provided for by the Historical Society to commemorate his thirty years of service to the residents of the community. Support is now being sought among council members and the city to Photo by WPCNR News.

 

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2004, Updated 2:20 P.M. E.S.T.: A 30 year old man, living at the Open Arms Shelter & Social Service Center at 86 East Post Road, is being considered a suicide by police after he fell into the path of a pedestrian at the corner of Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard and Martine Avenue, apparently, police said, falling from East Garage of The Galleria at 10:20 P.M. Tuesday evening. He was taken to Westchester County Medical Center Trauma center and died at 12:30 A.M.

Deputy Director of the Open Arms Shelter, Terri Dicosmo, told WPCNR Wednesday afternoon, that she did not recall the person, and that homeless people are welcome to stay at Open Arms until 10 PM each evening when they are then bused by the Department of Social Services to the county homeless shelter at Westchester County Airport. She was checking to see if the man had registered Tuesday evening before he fell to his death.

Lieutenant Nick Kralick of the White Plains Department of Public Safety said no note had been found at the scene, and that the man had not been wearing a shirt when he fell. Officer Kralick told WPCNR friends of his at the Open Arms Shelter had reported that the man, Claude M. Riddick, 30 years old, “indicated he may have been depressed.”

Kralick said nothing in the medical report indicated the man had been inebriated, but the police were waiting for toxicology reports from the Medical Examiner. Kralick reported that “a woman with the same last name,” had reported a conversation with Mr. Riddick, in which he talked about “the saving power of God,” and that he seemed “depressed.” Kralick said the police were attempting to find out if Mr. Riddick had been receiving medical help for depression. “At this time, we’re looking at it (his death) as a suicide,” Kralick said.

When asked if Open Arms Shelter had counselors on duty at the time of  Mr. Riddick’s fall, Kralick said, no counselors were available at that time of night at the shelter. 

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2004, UPDATED 3:00 P.M. E.S.T.: Mack Carter, Executive Director of the White Plains Housing Authority, said today that Operation Early Read, would not end early as theorized in a news article on the Early Read program last Sunday. “I had a pleasant conversation with Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors Tuesday, and the program will continue. The School District is going to work it out. We’ll come up with the money ($10,000).” Carter told WPCNR Wednesday morning. “It was just a small blip.”

That Superintendent of Schools, Timothy Connors,  speaking to WPCNR Wednesday afternoon said, “As I told you Monday night, this is a program the Board (of Education) is very supportive of and is very successful. Had Mack and I had a chance to discuss this, we would have all been on the same page.”

Connors said the program costs the School District $38,000 to administer, and that it was the Housing Authority decision to bus the students over to Berkeley College at a cost of $10,000. He said that he did not know at this time whether the Housing Authority was going to contribute, but Connors expected to use Federal Dollars in terms of Title I if they were available to assist in paying the extra $10,000. The Superintendent said he is having the School District Business office examine if there is any Title I money still available, but that the funding would be found. “It will go to the end of the year,” Connors said.

Connors added that The Journal News should have checked with the School District before reporting the program would end early.

Mack Carter, Executive Director of the Housing Authority, had been reported by The Journal News as saying the Early Read program that tutors over a hundred youngsters on Saturdays would end early.  Asked why he had not discussed this previously with Connors and how the paper could have gotten that impression, Carter said “That was the way they chose to report it.”

Superintendent Connors was disturbed Monday evening that a news report had been circulated by the Housing Authority that the Early Read program was ending early, without anyone from the Housing Authority talking to him about it since the School District runs the program and pays for it.

Asked what the money problem was, Carter said, the transportation costs (to Berkeley College in White Plains from the Winbrook complex) were too high. “I said there was the possibility we might have to end it a couple of weeks early,” Carter said.

Carter would not say where the money was coming from, the School District or the White Plains Housing Authority, just that “We’re going to work it out.”

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. March 30, 2004: The White Plains High fastpitch softball season began Tuesday, weather permitting with a pair of games at White Plains High School. Ted O’Donnell’s Varsity softball team and John Jay (Cross River) tied 1-1 in a scrimmage today at 3:30 on “O’Donnell’s Bluff” and the Junior Varsity under Alberto Minotta came back to tie, 5-5 on the lower softball field, playing in Arctic conditions. WPCNR talked to Coach O’Donnell about the make up of this year’s Varsity that was 17-5 last season. One thing is sure you’re going to see good starting pitching.

 

 

THE 2004 WHITE PLAINS HIGH VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM: Photo by WPCNR Sports

Frozen Fast Pitch Season Starts.

 

 

O’Donnell said in an interview Friday that this year’s varsity was a “dedicated, hardworking group of kids excited to get on the field and play.”

 

He said he had not made up his mind on any particular lineup combination and was looking to this past weekend scrimmages in the Minisink Valley to make up his mind and see what order combinations worked the best.

 

He described the lineup, no matter what combination, as one “with no weak links,” with the ability to “string a lot of hits together.”

 

Taking the picket duty first, O’Donnell said he sees Erin Cook, a sophomore in left field, whom he described as an excellent outfielder with a lot of range. Offensively, he said, she gets better every year.

 

Captain Kelly O’Neil, one of four seniors on the team, is at first base. O’Donnell described her as a first team All County First Baseman as a Junior. At 5’ 11” in height, O’Donnell said her long arms and long legs are ideal for first base, giving her the ability “to bail out a lot of those throws wide or in the dirt.” He says she handles the bunt very well. At the plate he sees O’Neil as a clean-up hitter with power who doesn’t strike out a lot.

 

Abbotts Up the Middle: The sister combination of Sophomore Carrie Abbot at shortstop and  Junior Candace Abbott at second is “strong in the middle” O’Donnell said.

 

Coach Ted described Carrie Abbott,  as having “really grown in last year as a shortstop,” and that she played every inning of every game during the summer season. He says she has been getting stronger by working out, and that her arm is a lot stronger even since the summer and is very accurate. He describes her as totally fearless, able to hang in as runners bear down on her at second. At the plate he notes she is tough offensively, “coming into her own last year.”

 

Sister  and Captain Candace Abbot , a Junior,  starting for the first time at the keystone sack, is expert on the bunt rotation, according to the coach, coming in to cover first when first sacker O’Neil crashes the plate on a bunt attempt. At the plate, the coach says the summer experience helped give her confidence. He describes her as having “a tremendous eye-hand coordination, rarely strikes out, and explodes out of the box, going from 0 to 60 very quickly.”

 

Danielle Szabo, a freshman, is seen as a third sacker who can handle every single play at third. “She’s got quick reflexes, a strong arm and honed skills.”

With a stick, he says, she has power, bat speed, good hand-eye coordination

 

Behind the plate, Camille Marquis takes over the catching duties. O’Donnell said she caught all summer long and has become an excellent catcher with the reflexes to get out and handle the bunt well. He says she’s working on her mechanics, but has a gun for an arm that gets the ball “down there in a hurry.”

 

Marquis, O’Donnell says, “has so much power, good quick hands.” Marquis also plays the outfield.

 

Sandra Mastrangelo, an eighth grader, who catches and plays the outfield, O’Donnell says “is ready for the varsity experience,” because she impressed him in her stint in the 16-and-under games she played this past summer, and has grown “tremendously as a player, and instilled confidence.”

 

“That’s what summer ball is for. The summer experience (with his 16-under team), benefited her. It’s about getting experience at a highly competitive level with very little pressure. I don’t care about winning in the summer. What matters is the experience.”

 

Pitching: The Usual Suspects

 

Senior  and Captain Tara Pollard, starting on the Varsity since 8^th grade, twice all State Pitcher as a sophomore and Junior, will be the number 1 starter, with Sophomore Kelsey Kulk in the Number 2 slot.

 

“Every year Tara keeps getting better,” O’Donnell said admiringly. “She’s been competing for so long, I expected some drop off in motivation. But, she has such a strong work ethic, this year she’s worked harder than every to be the best she can be.”

 

League 1-A hitters will not rest easy knowing that Tara the Tiger has a new drop curve to go along with a rise, change, and curve. “She’s a warrior,” O’Donnell  said.

 

When Tara is not in the circle, she will play third base, where O’Donnell describes her as “excellent.” He also rates her 2004 stick as “the best I’ve ever seen of her offensively.”

When Tara is not in the circle, Kelsey Kulk of the Brooklyn Beach Girls will be on the hill. Kulk has played all over the country with the Beach Girls this winter against top gun fastpitch teams in California, Arizona and Florida all winter long, hitting over .350, and brings not only a mean competitive demeanor to the mound, but a bat that’s strong.

 

O’Donnell describes Kelsey as giving White Plains two strong pitchers, and recalled how she came in against Lakeland last year, stopped the bleeding, and ignited a comeback resulting in an extra inning win.

 

He said Kelsey is an excellent outfielder and will be the regular starter in centerfield.

 

 

 

COACH O’DONNELL WATCHES Ashley Encarnacao hit on “O’Donnell’s Bluff” at Friday’s Tiger Fastpitch practice. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

Ashley Encarnacao, a sophomore, also a pitcher is seen as an outfielder. He says Ashley has bought into being a member of the team, and is accepting her role in the outfield as in the best interest of the team. “It’s a new position for her,” O’Donnell said, “She can play, has tremendous bat speed and power.”

 

 

Christine Younkin, a Junior,  in her second year on the varsity, plays the outfield, and brings more power to the plate, and O’Donnell says he is “anxious to see that power.

 

Emily Lettieri, a senior, in her second year on the varsity is a veteran of many summers on O’Donnell’s summer team, playing on it since eighth grade. He describes her as an experienced player, able to play the outfield and the infield.

 

A Smaller Grittier League 1-B (Renamed AGAIN!)

 

You can’t tell the leagues without a decoder in Westchester-Rockland sports, because they change the league alignments and the names every year.

 

O’Donnell described the new League 1-B which will see the Tigers competing with New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Ossining, Scarsdale, Ursuline and  Yorktown. He sees New Rochelle as being very strong, and a formidable “contend-a.” He  singled out Ursuline as another fastpitch force, which features Vickie Sconzo and Tara Kushman, two White Plains players on the club.

 

 

THE WHITE PLAINS HIGH VARSITY SOFTBALL SCHEDULE. Photo by WPCNR Sports