Ice Princess Does Her Long Program At City Center De Lux

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WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. March 18, 2005: Ice Princess, Disney’s foray into the figure skating world for cinema entertainment premiers today at the City Center de Lux at, of course The City Center in downtown White Plains. Also up on the screen is Ring 2. The rundowns and schedule of showtimes:

THE RING 2 — Naomi Watts returns in this sequel to the horror blockbuster, THE RING, about a mysterious videotape which causes nearly everyone who views it to die in “seven days.” Rated PG-13

ICE PRINCESS — A high school bookworm wants nothing more than to be a figure skater, but her strong willed mother has her on a fast-track to Harvard. The Walt Disney Pictures film is filled with laughs and a few important lessons. Stars Michelle Trachtenberg and Kim Cattrall. Rated G.


Friday, March 18, 2005  
The Pacifier **(PG) –11:30 am; 1:55; 4:10; 6:35 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:45; 4:50; 7:25; 9:55 pm; 12:25 am. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:10; 9:15; 11:30 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10; 4:00; 7:20; 10:05 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Ice Princess (G) –12:50; 3:15; 5:35; 8:00; 10:20 pm; 12:40 am. ;
The Ring 2 **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:45; 6:30; 9:10; 11:50 pm. ;
The Ring 2 (PG-13) –1:35; 2:10; 4:15; 4:45; 7:00; 7:35; 9:45; 10:15 pm; 12:15; 12:40 am. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:50 pm; 12:35 am. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:40; 7:05; 9:25; 11:45 pm. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –1:40; 4:30; 7:15; 10:00 pm; 12:35 am. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 6:55; 9:35 pm; 12:10 am. ;
The Jacket (R) –8:50; 11:35 pm. ;
Be Cool **(PG-13) –6:50; 9:40 pm; 12:20 am. ;
Robots (PG) –11:45 am; 12:45; 2:00; 3:00; 4:15; 5:15; 6:45; 7:30; 9:45 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –11:40 am; 2:05; 4:25 pm. ;
Sideways (R) –9:05; 11:55 pm. ;

Saturday, March 19, 2005  
Robots (PG) –11:45 am; 12:45; 2:00; 3:00; 4:15; 5:15; 6:45; 7:30; 9:45 pm; 12:00 am. ;
The Jacket (R) –8:50; 11:35 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 6:55; 9:35 pm; 12:10 am. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –1:40; 4:30; 7:15; 10:00 pm; 12:35 am. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:40; 7:05; 9:25; 11:45 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:50 pm; 12:35 am. ;
The Ring 2 (PG-13) –1:35; 2:10; 4:15; 4:45; 7:00; 7:35; 9:45; 10:15 pm; 12:15; 12:40 am. ;
The Ring 2 **(PG-13) –1:00; 3:45; 6:30; 9:10; 11:50 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –12:50; 3:15; 5:35; 8:00; 10:20 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Sideways (R) –9:05; 11:55 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10; 4:00; 7:20; 10:05 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Be Cool **(PG-13) –6:50; 9:40 pm; 12:20 am. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –11:40 am; 2:05; 4:25 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:10; 9:15; 11:30 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:45; 4:50; 7:25; 9:55 pm; 12:25 am. ;
The Pacifier **(PG) –11:30 am; 1:55; 4:10; 6:35 pm. ;

Sunday, March 20, 2005  
Hostage (R) –1:45; 4:50; 7:25; 9:55 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:10; 9:15 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 6:55; 9:35 pm. ;
The Jacket (R) –8:50 pm. ;
Because of Winn-Dixie (PG) –11:40 am; 2:05; 4:25 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10; 4:00; 7:20; 10:05 pm. ;
Sideways (R) –9:05 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:35; 3:35; 6:45; 9:50 pm. ;
The Ring 2 (PG-13) –1:35; 2:10; 4:15; 4:45; 7:00; 7:35; 9:45; 10:15 pm. ;
Be Cool **(PG-13) –6:50; 9:40 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –12:50; 3:15; 5:35; 8:00; 10:20 pm. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –1:40; 4:30; 7:15; 10:00 pm. ;
The Pacifier **(PG) –11:30 am; 1:55;

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240 Main Back in Play. Berg Says Cappelli to Lower 240 Ht.. Hotel Coming.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. March 17, 2005: Bruce Berg, President of Cappelli Enterprises, confirmed today to WPCNR that Mr. Cappelli’s firm presented a plan to the Urban Renewal Agency this morning to lower the height of the affordable housing complex they propose for 240 Main Street to 5 stories from its previously planned 8 story height. Berg said it was an alternative presented to the Common Council and was 10 feet higher than Ginsburg Development Corporation had prosed for the “Donut Nook site,” parallel to the City Place drive.



Cappelli Offers to Cut Down 240 Main Street to 5 Stories, include swank cafe on City Place Drive. The controversial Donut Nook, Main Street Bookstore and Deli property being wrangled over by Developers Louis Cappelli and Martin Ginsburg. Mr. Ginsburg plans his 23-story pinnacle immediately in back of the Nook-Deli-Bookstore complex. Photo from WPCNR News Archive.


The proposal would have the downsized Cappelli affordable housing project provide 24 affordable units in the building and a restaurant on the first floor. Asked if the remaining 18 affordable units Mr. Cappelli owes the city under their Council’s 6% Reserve for Affordable Housing statute, would then be built at 221 Main Street, Berg said that has not been decided. He added that the remaining 18 units of affordable could either be built at a site the Common Council suggests or Mr. Cappelli would pay a fee in lieu of building the other 18 units. Cappelli had previously suggested he could build all 42 at another site in the city of the Council’s suggestion, rather than at 240 Main since the Council appeared opposed to that March 7.


In the matter of what firm will partner with Mr. Cappelli in constructing the hotel at 221 Main, Mr. Berg said he was working on the term sheet with the hotelier “now.”  Asked if the buyer was Donald Trump, Mr. Berg said it was a national firm. Asked if this was a national firm headed up with a man with blondish reddish hair, Mr. Berg laughed and said “No comment.”

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20-25 WPHS Students Rounded Up by Police At St. Patty’s Day Party Adjacent WPHS

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. March 17, 2005. UPDATED 5:45 P.M. E.S.T. : White Plains Police confirmed police broke up a “St. Patrick’s Day Party” involving underage WPHS students on Baylor Circle adjacent to the White Plains High School this morning. A police spokesman said he believed there were 20 to 25 students involved, who were transported by school bus to the Youth Bureau at Eastview School, where the students’ parents were being called.


Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, interviewed by WPCNR reports the fate of the students involved is under discussion at this time. He did not know how many students were involved. Connors said, “Some of them  were off campus legitimately, some of them may have cut class and we’re in the throes of investigating this.”


Asked if alcohol was on the premises Connors said he did not know at this time. He reports:


“I know the youngsters were off campus. We got a heads-up. We’re working with the (high school) administration now to figure out what was there and what aspects of our Code of Conduct may have been violated. When I know that, John, we’ll share that with you. I’ll get a full report from the school tomorrow and we’ll deal with it in the best interests of the students involved.”


Asked how the gathering was broken up, Connors said, “The high school administration made me aware of the situation and they had a plan to work with the parents and they implemented it, which involved getting the kids back to school and then determining what steps we’re going to take depending on what aspects of the Code of Conduct may have been violated.”


The police spokesman said the police were notified at 10:30 this morning about the party in progress.


Students say alcohol was available. The party, according to WPCNR information, was not a “spontaneous” event. The Police spokesman told WPCNR that Sergeant Howard Tribble was advising the school district on any statutory matters. The spokesman said no child was arrested or charged at this time and that the school was addressing the incident on the basis of Code of Conduct violations.


Students were said by knowledgeable parties to have left study hall and the campus to attend the “party.” WPCNR knows of two students approaching the location who saw police cars and did an abrupt about face and returned to class.


 

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY

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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. March 17, 2005: This week demolition began at 221 Main Street with the systematic destruction of the Bar Building annex to clear the way for the Cappelli Enterprises HotelCondoplex, (with hotel operator to be named later).



AXING THE ANNEX.March 17, 2005. Photo by the WPCNR Roving Photographer.

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One of Our Del Vecchios Is Missing. The Lion is Missing From Hall of Mayors

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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. EXCLUSIVE! By John F. Bailey. March 15, 2005; Breaking NEWS UPDATE 12:20 P.M. E.S.T.:  It was a day like all days in the WPCNR News nerve center. I was working the School Board out of bunko division when the call came in from the highly reliable informed source: 


“Scoop of the Day: Mayor Del Vecchio’s Portrait is missing,”  the informant said.  This was big news.


The outrage was first noticed last Thursday, our observer said. The photographic portrait of Mayor Alfred Del Vecchio, (who served as Mayor from 1976 to 1993) was missing from his accostumed position in the hallowed City Hall Rotunda. His businesslike countenance viewed all ascending to the Common Council Chambers with his confident, upbeat and businesslike demeanor. The wall was not the same without his benevolent but challenging confidence looking down. It was as if a piece of City Hall was missing.



The Case of the Missing Mayor: Mayor Del Vecchio’s Portrait Vanishes. Mystery of the Missing Mayor Solved.  The space formerly occupied by the portrait of former Mayor Del Vecchio stares down blankly at City Hall today. Photo by WPCNR News


 


Sensing a story behind the story, the CNR News Team mobilized.


Would there be  evidence that the expensive city hall security monitors were not being watched to record comings and goings?  Perhaps a Del Vecchio stalker had purloined the portrait. Was this, perish the thought, a Mayor’s Office sensitive to criticism striking back?  


Speculation tore through the nonexistent media press lounge at City Hall, prompting discreet inquiries of the usual sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. The CNR news team swung into action. Fox News was notified but did not have their spin team ready.


Confronting David Maloney, City Hall press spokesperson in the second official city Hall media callback of the year, WPCNR grilled “The Maloney” and got to the bottom of “The Missing Del Vecchio.”


The Department of Public Safety has not been called in.


Mr. Maloney told The CitizeNetReporter that the disappearance of the Del Vecchio Portraint involved no wrong doing or breach of security.


Mr. Maloney said that in cleaning the former Mayor’s photograph last week, the picture clasp used to suspend the portrait had broken. The portrait was sent to the City Clerk’s office for repair. Asked when the portrait would resume its right place in the Hall of Mayors, Mr. Maloney could not give a date, but said it was “being worked on.”


The Lion’s portrait is expected to be returned to its perch shortly. Calls to the City Clerks office on the progress of the repair and when the Del Vecchio image will be back “in the lineup,” have been placed.


The City Clerk’s office press spokesperson said the portrait is in the possession of Anne McPherson of the City Clerk’s office who is personally taking charge of the repair. Asked if Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti had been consulted on the selection, requisition and specifications of the new picture suspending technology selected, or whether the expertise of the Department of Public Works engineers was needed to supervise installation of the new picture suspension mechanism, and the official rehanging of Mayor Del Vecchio, the spokesperson declined comment and referred further questions to Mr. Maloney.

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District Selects Architect to Survey School Buildings; Athletic Field Upgrades

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 15, 2005, Updated with Picture 10 A.M. E.S.T.: In a succession of pronouncements after the recognition of 85 Student Athletes, and six winter sports teams that qualifed as Scholar Athlete teams (high school athletes with a grade average of 90 or better and a team average of 90 or better), Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors announced a series of initiatives and delivered a status report on goals of the district. The Board of Education publicly announced the selection of an architectural firm to prepare a Building Conditions Survey for the district, and design of a five year facilities upgrade program, which would include upgrading of athletic facilities.


 





The Board voted to accept the architectural firm of Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson to prepare a Building Conditions Survey (required by New York State) of school district buildings and athletic fields and prepare recommendations for building renovations, and possible conversion of certain athletic fields to artificial turf.


 


Articulating Scope of Bond Issue Next Year.


 


Connors said the facilities survey in conjunction with the field analysis would be undertaken in anticipation of a bond issue to be presented to the district voters next year to improve and bring into compliance any school buildings in such need of repair, enhancement, as well as financing field improvements.



Loucks Field Consultations Held. The District has discussed the renovations of Loucks Field (at the High School), and the possibility of that project being included in the Facilities upgrade. File Photo from WPCNR Sports Archive.


 


Connors announced the district had been in conversation with a local booster group under Dan Woodard seeking to modernize the Glen Loucks football field at the high school with synthetic turf, modern stands and state-of-the-art media and clubhouse facilities at a cost of $7 Million (the estimated cost given three years ago. To date only a fraction of that cost has been raised by private donations.).


 


Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson is the architectural firm which designed the recent $28 Million renovation of the high school. Connors said KG & D were familiar with the district facilities. The firm in a presentation approximately two months ago cited their close ties with the State Education Department and knowledge of state facility standards as qualifications that would make them a better choice for the school district. Though the amount of the contract was not announced publicly, the Kaeyer, Garment & Davidson contract for the survey and 5 year facilities plan is $59,000, according to School Board of Education Member, Bill Pollak. 


 


At the time the firm was interviewed Superintendent Connors said any survey fee would be deducted from any future architectural commissions assigned the firm when the school district embarked on any facilities improvement campaign. Last night Connors said that the Finance Committee would go over the parameters of the survey before the actual contract was signed. He said the architectural firm was not guaranteed future design of any projects they recommend which would be bid.


 

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Another School District Certiorari Shocker: $1.378 Million to Gateway One.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. March 14, 2005: At last night’s meeting of the Board of Education, the Board  on recommendation of its certiorari  counsel,  voted to accept a $1.378 Million certiorari settlement to Gateway One, One North Lexington Avenue  last night, bringing the total amount of certriorari refunds to prominent city commercial properties this year to $5.8 Million all to be paid out of a reserve for certioraris.  


 


Superintendent of School Timothy Connors noted that City Assessor Eyde McCarthy would be addressing the relationship between development, certioraris and residential property assessments in addition to the trend in future PILOT payments the City School District can expect at the public hearing on the Preliminary School Budget March 21.


 


Actual amount of the certiorari was not publicly stated in the televised meeting. The Business Office stated the refund to Gateway One’s owners was $1,377,626.26.   This is permanently lost revenue to the City School District.

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Bradley’s Crusade on Medicaid Adopted by Assembly.

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WPCNR ALBANY CORRIDORS. From Office of Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. March 15, 2005: Assemblyman Adam Bradley’s office has issued the following statement on Medicaid:


When I arrived in Albany, one of my first actions was to introduce legislation to cap counties’ contributions to Medicaid (A.4240-2003). I am pleased to see the Assembly’s budget resolution has taken up this cause to relieve the Medicaid burden on local taxpayers. This plan calls for a complete cap on county Medicaid costs (Resolution C322). Starting January 1, 2006, the state will permanently takeover any additional Medicaid costs.


 


This, combined with the state takeover of the Family Health Plus program enacted last year, will save Westchester County property taxpayers more than $18 million. That’s $7.8 million more than the governor’s plan would provide in 2006, and $15.2 million more in 2007. Overall, the plan, which I have advocated, will provide more immediate and more significant property tax relief than the governor’s plan. I hope the governor will join the legislature and the county executives and work with us to implement a meaningful Medicaid cap.


 


 

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Adam In Albany: Authors Credit Protection.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. March 15, 2005: Buying a home is a daunting task, everyone should try to get the best mortgage rate they can to help keep their monthly bills in check. But not everyone knows that shopping for the best mortgage can hurt your credit, making it more difficult to purchase your dream home.


 


To take the mystery out of mortgage shopping and to help protect homebuyers’ credit, this week I introduced two bipartisan bills in the Assembly. My first bill would prevent consumer reporting agencies from penalizing a person for requesting a rate quote when determining a credit score (A.6303). My second bill would require lenders to inform customers of the potentially negative effect mortgage rate shopping can have on their credit (A.6306).


 


Currently, when a consumer is shopping for the most competitive mortgage rate, their credit score could drop when they engage in comparison-shopping. Furthermore, the consumer is rarely notified that a credit check will lower their score because lenders are not required to provide the information.


 


When consumers do become aware of the situation, they are deterred from further comparison-shopping due to the threat of a lower credit score or a negative inference on their credit report, which could lead to higher interest rates or increased financing fees. It is simply unfair to the consumer, who could save thousands of dollars with the right mortgage rate.


 


Homebuyers should be able to shop for the lowest mortgage rates and fees available without fear of a lower credit score. My legislation corrects this inequity by preventing a negative inference on a person’s credit report for competitive mortgage shopping and ensures that a person will not have their credit score adversely affected when they seek to find the best mortgage rate.  In addition, it will make consumers more educated when dealing with their credit and lenders. I will work with my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to provide homebuyers with the tools they need to make their dream of owning a home a reality.

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The Finest Promote 9, Hire Legal Specialist from NYPD.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. March 14, 2005: The White Plains Department of Public Safety promoted nine officers and welcomed a Counselor & Intelligence Specialist to the Department in a ceremony at the Public Safety Building.


 



A Good News Police Story: Promotions for Service well done were announced for 9 officers and a new legal officer for the Department of Public Safety was officially brought on board. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



Officer Traffic: The Irreplaceable Living Trademark of The White Plains Police Department, Bill Biolsi. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


They also said good bye to “Officer Traffic” in White Plains, the man who has choreographed traffic at Main and Bank for twenty years,  the man whom Commissioner Frank Straub characterized today as the model for what a White Plains Police Officer should aspire to be: Bill Biolsi.  Detective Biolsi was promoted to Detective today as he retired.


 





Michael Knox was promoted to Lieutenant, and praised by Commissioner Straub for creating a training program for new police officers for which Lieutenant Knox devised the Neighborhood Conditions Unit that is now being extended to officers other than trainees. Photo by WPCNR News.



James Parlow, Cynthia Hood, and Howard Tribble come forth to be sworn in. Photo by WPCNR News.



 


Promoted to Sergeant were Cynthia Hood, for her work in the Domestic Violence Unit,  James Parlow, and Howard Tribble. Sergeant Tribble’s promotion will move him out of the School Liaison Officer position serving the High School and Middle School, but Sergeant Tribble assured WPCNR that a worthy successor will be chosen.


 



 


Ed Rutledge was promoted to Detective Second Grade for his work in taking and handling some of the biggest cases in the Detective Division. Commissioner Straub administers the oath, as Mayor Joseph Delfino and Police Chief James Bradley  observe. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



 


August Fazzino, Micharel Munroe, James Spencer and “Officer Traffic,” Bill Biolsi were promoted to Detective. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



 


The final swearing in was a welcome and official hiring of Martin Gleeson, as the Department of Public Safety Counsel and Advisor on Public Safety Issues. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Mr. Gleeson retired last week after twenty years with the New York Police Department. He replaces Eve Monroe who left the position about one year ago.


 


Commissioner Straub told WPCNR that Mr. Gleeson recently served as a Sergeant in the Legal Bureau of the NYPD. He was in the Legal Bureau for 17 years according to Commissioner Straub handling “profile matters,” and most recently was in charge of advising the NYPD on their approaches to security matters related to the Republican Convention, including treatment of demonstrators, arrests, and security issues.


 


Straub said Mr. Gleeson’s first assignment will be to review Department of Public Safety training from a legal standpoint as to how officers are taught to conduct themselves with the public. Straub said he would also advise the department on safe housing issues, and evaluate options available to the department in their handling of restaurant, bistro, and bar issues.


 



 


Mayor Joseph Delfino at the beginning of the ceremony said what he had to say about the Department of Public Safety could not be said about any other police department in the country. He said the people of White Plains go to sleep at night that there are men and women, “someone out there watching and caring,” and that by the job they do they make White Plains a better place to live. Photo by WPCNR News.

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