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

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. February 7, 2004: Bitter temperatures this winter caused a sudden increase in home heating costs – wreaking havoc on family budgets.

To give Westchester relief, I helped pass a resolution urging President Bush and the United States Congress to provide additional funds for the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Thankfully, the federal government acted quickly to provide more aid.

HEAP provides grants from $40 to $400 to help eligible low-income seniors, those with disabilities and families pay their heat bills. New York’s program provides regular and emergency benefits to eligible renters and homeowners alike.

Eligibility is based on variables including household income, living arrangement, heating expenses, young, old or disabled family members, and type of heat. For instance, a family of four that pays for its heat directly and has a gross monthly income of less than $3,325 could receive between $150 and $400. An elderly couple that doesn’t pay directly for heat and makes less than $2,261 monthly could save between $40 and $50.

Skyrocketing home heating costs are a real emergency – especially in a winter with near-record lows. Through the end of January, 640,000 households received assistance – an increase of 39,000 over the same period last year. In an effort to fight the devastating cold, the additional funding helps New Yorkers avoid choosing between heating their homes and cutting back on basic necessities such as medicine or food – or worse, resorting to unsafe heating sources. The additional aid will help keep Westchester families safe and warm.

To receive an application or find out if you are eligible for HEAP benefits, contact my District Office at 686-7335 or call the HEAP hotline at 1-800-342-3009. You can also visit www.otda.state.ny.us and download an application off the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Web site.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Innovative Stages. February 5, 2004: A glamorous vampire from the ancient past falls in love with a brilliant young doctor – the first romantic affair in her long, long life. It’s the premiere of “Blood & Kisses,” a musical by John Driver and Ed Weissman, to be presented at Memorial United Methodist Church on March 6 at 8 p.m.

With an edgy style and contemporary music, the new work explores the intrigues of romantic passion with wit and insight. The four-character work is presented by Innovative Stages, the non-profit organization committed to the development of diverse, innovative theatrical works.

An open discussion follows the performance. Suggested donation for admission
is $5, and $3 for senior citizens and students.

Innovative Stages is attracting growing audiences to attend monthly
script-in-hand productions of plays and musicals by emerging playwrights,
composers and librettists. The group is sponsored by Mamaroneck Council for
the Arts.

Memorial UMC, in addition to monthly theatrical works,  presents regular
“Music at Memorial” concerts and a biannual art show.  The church is located
on Bryant Avenue between North Street and Mamaroneck Avenue. The
congregation of Memorial strives to welcome and respect persons of every
race, ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental ability, gender, family
status, sexual orientation, age, theology, and economic circumstance. Its
pastor is Rev. Joe Agne.

The show will also be presented on Friday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m., at the
Bronxville Library, 201 Pondfield Rd., in Bronxville, and on Sun., March 7,
at 2 p.m., at Mamaroneck Library, 136 Prospect Ave., in Mamaroneck.

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WPCNR CITY HALL BEAT. From The Mayor’s Press Office. February 5, 2004: Mayor Joseph Delfino and  White Plains Superintendent  of Schools, Tim Connors  announced the creation of Club Excel, Thursday —  a new, joint academic initiative that will be run by the City Youth Bureau and housed in the City’s two middle schools. Club Excel will provide White Plains middle school students extended learning opportunities for three hours a day, five days a week during the school year, for free. 

  “I have always believed that we need to give young people every opportunity to succeed in life, and

this program will help us do that,” Mayor Delfino said. “I cannot thank Superintendent Connors enough

for his support and expertise in getting this program started.”

Club Excel will be held in the City’s two middle schools and will include 100 students from the Eastview Middle School and 125 students from the Highlands campus- almost 5 times what the Youth Bureau’s after school program currently supports. 

The wide variety of programs that will be offered are designed to enhance the educational, social, cultural, and recreational needs of students and their families. A typical day will include academic support and elective – “academies” – during which students will learn about a wide range of topics including technology, the arts, life-learning skills, health and leadership training.  The program will also include recreational activities.

One aspect of the program that makes it even more unique is the inclusion of family participation. The families of the students will have the chance to attend workshops and sessions on improving their own computer, language, and basic life skills.

Club Excel has been made possible by a $1.575 million dollar grant that was awarded through the State Education Department’s “New York 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program”. The Youth Bureau, working with the City’s Grants writer Ted Lawson, Superintendent Connors, the Principals of the Highlands and Eastview Middle Schools, Diana Knight and Joseph Cloherty, Charles Celauro, Principal of St. John The Evangelist School, and Dr. Margaret Olson, a consultant for the City put together the proposal that won this major award. The funds from the grant provide for salaries, services, supplies and materials, transportation expenses and employee benefits.

For more information about the program, please contact the Youth Bureau at (914) 422-1411