Hits: 0
WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. December 9, 2004: The Wesley Snipes vehicle, Blade:Trinity and the George Clooney remake of Ocean’s 11, Oceans 12 roll at City Center De Lux this week. The synopses and schedules:
BLADE: TRINITY — Wesley Snipes returns as a day-walking vampire hunter in the explosive third and final film in the Blade franchise. For years, Blade has fought against vampires in the cover of night, but now he is forced out into the daylight for his most dangerous confrontation ever. Rated R
Opening Nationwide, Friday, December 10th
OCEAN’S TWELVE — George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Julia Roberts are back for round two in this action-adventure-crime-comedy, joining forces once again to pull off a spectacular international heist. Directed by Steven Soderbergh. Rated PG-13
Sunday, December 12, 2004 Hits: 0 WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. Meanwhile, County Legislator William Ryan appears to have found that money, and then sum in the County Board of Legislators’ surplus budget. SCHWARTZ HOLDS THE DOOR: WPCNR surveillance shows Larry Schwartz, Deputy County Executive, holding the door for D.S.S. Brass entering Grace Church Annex for the Mystery Meeting. Photo by WPCNR News. Tolchin denied the County Executive and Deputy County Executive were going to participate in the “Mystery Meeting” as reported by WPCNR three hours before the meeting was to take place yesterday, when Reverend Janet Vincent of Grace Church revealed to WPCNR that the top two County Leaders were going to attend. Tolchin said yesterday at ENTER SCHWARTZ: Deputy County Executive, Larry Schwartz personally leading an entourage of Department of Social Services brass in a pedestrian procession from the County office building yesterday afternoon down Main Street and down Church Street, arriving at 3:40 P.M., for the Mystery Meeting that County Executive Chief Advisor Susan Tolchin would not confirm Wednesday noon. Photo by WPCNR News. Ms. Tolchin reported to WPCNR last night after the meeting that was “not on the calendar” that “The meeting was positive and productive, and will be followed up.” However, no date for the next “Mystery Meeting” was set, according to Tolchin last night. Ryan: Meanwhile the intrigue surrounding the closing of Samaritan House or the continuing of Samaritan House continues, but County Legislator William Ryan has quite by accident isolated a source for funding the $237,000 needed to keep Samaritan House going. Ryan and his spokesperson Gary Kriss have not returned WPCNR calls requesting details on his efforts to resolve the Samaritan House survival issue. However, Mr. Ryan has the money. Mr. Ryan has reported to the media that the County Board is trimming its raises for each member of the County Board of Legislators, and that the County Board has under-spent its own budget by $312,000 – more than enough to fund the $222,000 give or take some thousands, that Samaritan House says it needs from D.S.S. to continue operations. The figure has been reported at various times by Grace Community Services Executive Director Joseph D’Ambrosio to be $50,000, $300,000 or $222,000. Mr. D’Ambrosio has not returned a WPCNR call to clarify the exact dollar amount, and why he was so confused over what his organization needed. However, the good news is the money is there, according to County Legislator Ryan’s statements to other media. To make matters more rosey for Samaritan House, the Mr. Ryan reconfirmed that statement about the $27 Million suplus in a media report out today. The county is also on record as providing a $30 Million bail out for the alleged mismanaged Westchester County Medical Center. Why the Mystery? Is Cutting Staff O.K.? WPCNR requested last week through the Department of Communications an interview with Kevin Mahon, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services as to why the Department feels Samaritan House has to justify its price increases. Samaritan House has had its rent raised by $70,000 by Grace Church, which indirectly operates the House through its subsidiary, Grace Community Services. WPCNR was told by staunch advocates of the wonderful work Samaritan House does, that this was to make up the shortfall caused by staffing 9 persons to handle the 19-woman capacity of Samaritan House, when the shelter does not serve that capacity most of the year. A request by WPCNR of Reverend Vincent for the number of clients it serves was met by the answer that she did not know. Staff is Now Cut. However, Samaritan House has been operating with three persons, 2 during the day and 1 at night, and a 4th person brought in from Open Arms, the Grace Community Services’ other homeless center for men. Samaritan House is currently being allowed to continue operating with less than “required” staff. Apparently, the Department of Social Services is allowing them to operate the shelter at the level of three persons when they have 14 persons living there. Operating at reduced staff is apparently legal. What does Department of Social Services Still Want? The Mystery Meetings are mysterious because all the Department of Social Services wanted according to media reports, (D.S.S. has never returned WPCNR requests for comment), was for Samaritan House and The Department of Social Services has not accused Samaritan House and Grace Community Church of any wrong doing, though Grace Community Church has had significant bookkeeping problems in the past in their Day Care Program, as recent as 2002. WPCNR asked the Department of Communications for details from the Department of Social Services on this Day Care Program problem and have not received any statements on those details, though the Day Care Director at the time, acknowledged to WPCNR that the errors happened and the over-billing was paid back. Samaritan House Performance Numbers Requested. WPCNR also asked the Department of Communications for details on the average stay of persons at Samaritan House. WPCNR asked how many persons had been rehabilitated and sent back into productive stable on-their-own living situations over the last several years. WPCNR has yet to receive those numbers from the Department of Communications. The county’s new partner in placing the homeless back into productive, contributing lives, Pathways to Housing, an independent contractor with the Department of Social Services has had a great track record in placing homeless persons around the county and keeping them placed. Requests by WPCNR with the Department of Communications for Pathways to Housing numbers and placements of Samaritan House residents have also been requested, presuming Pathways to Housing has been given Samaritan House residents to place. Residents Continue to Seek Today’s date is December 9. Samaritan House has scattered its staff, having already fired six of its reported “required” staff for its mandated 19 capacity. Residents have 22 days, 14 working days to find new shelter before the cold fist of winter grips Residents of Samaritan House continue be assigned appointments to find them alternative housing as of January 1. Residents are at this time scheduled for appointments with the Hits: 0 WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. December 8, 2004: The White Plains Department of Public Safety has confirmed in talking with firefighters who were first into the apartment fire at 23 Old Mamaroneck Road Tuesday night that two rescues were executed in the first smoke-filled minutes of the fire. Fire Lieutenant James Maganello felt the presence of a person collapsed on the stairway as he was groping his way up the stairway between the 4th and 5fh floors of 23 OMR as he was searching for residents of the building in dense, zero visibility conditions. Maganello told Inspector Daniel Jackson, of the Public Safety Department that he was proceeding up the staircase in dense smoke, feeling his way up the stairwell when he felt a body with his fingers. He then proceeded to carry a woman, unconcious from the smoke, down two flights of stairs where he handed her off to two other fire fighters. The woman, Inspector Jackson reports, is still hospitalized at Jackson said that Deputy Commissioner David Chong was first on the scene within one minute of when the alarm was called in. Have To Go at the Fire From the Inside. He said the fire was contained within Apartment 3-C where it started. He described the building as sustaining extensive smoke and water damage on the other floors in another of other apartments. Jackson said that hose was deployed up the stairwell to the third floor and to the apartment where the blaze was situated and extinguished from the inside. The spokesman for the Department of Public Safety said 50 White Plains Firefighters were actively involved in fighting the fire, representing 10 companies, 4 mutual aid departments were deployed. Hits: 0 Mr. Spano’s expected attendance at the meeting was denied by the County Executive Chief Advisor, Susan Tolchin, when WPCNR asked to confirm that Mr. Spano would be at the meeting and was taking a personal interest. According to Reverend Vincent interviewed by WPCNR at However, with the The issue of Samaritan House surfaced November 18 as a result of a News 4 report that Samaritan House was closing. News 4 broke the story when they received an e-mail from Reverend George Sinzer, a minister with the Sinzer’s e-mail to Investigations@nbc.com, dated Sunday, My name, The Reverend George Sinzer and I am a Minister with the Universal Life Church, I am writing to you on behalf of the women that are (for the time being) housed in the all women’s shelter at 33 Church Street, White Plains, N.Y. The shelter is being closed due to “lack of funding by the County of Westchester”, this is what the Director of the Shelter (Joseph D’Ambrosio) told the women that are housed there, but the NY Journal News (who will print this story front page Tuesday) has talked to the Department of Social Services that they have been fighting to keep it open. There is also the contribution to the Church from either the builders or the owners of the building going up, but it seems there is a lot going on, things that just do not add up. On top of this, some of the staff will lose their jobs and ten men will be brought into the shelter to work, some of these women have issues dealing with men, and this could do more harm than they could have realized. And to add insult to injury, the shelter is set to close December 31, but the women must go six blocks or better to have lunch and dinner at the Men’s Shelter (Open Arms on All this because of a Please someone call me so that I may tell these poor, scared women that you will help get to the bottom of this mystery, my contact number is XXX-XXX-XXXX and you may also e-mail me at this address. Sincerely, The Reverend George Sinzer. Hits: 0 WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. December 7, 2004, UPDATED December 8, 9:02 A.M. E.S.T.: A number of families are evacuated from their apartments at 23 Old Mamaroneck Road, the scene of a third floor fire early Tuesday evening. Three families have been housed overnight by the American Red Cross and an undetermined number of other residents have found shelter with other family and friends. Inspector Daniel Jackson of the White Plains Department of Public Safety told WPCNR this morning that the 22 apartments in the wing of 23 Old Mamaroneck Avenue were not inhabitable because the power and services had been cut to that part of the building. Jackson said the City of White Plains Building Department would be meeting with some of the residents at noon today to inform them on the status of the building and when they could return to their homes.. Inspector Jackson said he did not have information on the total residents left homeless by the fire. Jackson said the alarm was phoned in at 4:36 P.M., and was fought from the interior of the building. He said four residents were treated at White Plains Hospital Medical Center for smoke inhalation. No Fire Department personnel were injured Jackson said. No cause has been determined at this hour. 23 Old Mamaroneck Road on Shapham Place side, 8 A.M. Photo by WPCNR News At about 5:15 P.M, WPCNR learned of a fire in progress in the vicinity of Mamaroneck Avenue School. Police Headquarters reported the fire is at 23 Old Mamaroneck Road. Police Scanner reports indicated the fire was on the third floor. A resident reported a very smokey atmosphere in the area, and as of 7 PM, a pungent acrid smokey odor could be smelled on the east side of the city. A motorist phoning in to WPCNR said traffic was blocked off on Mamaroneck Avenue and in the Old Mamaroneck Road area, and that “the southend is in gridlock.” The building was at 23 Old Mamaroneck Road a short distance from Nosband Avenue Shapham Place View. Photo by WPCNR News As of 9 P.M., the fire was reported out by Bob Reggio, the Coordinator for the American Red Cross. He said a number of persons had been evacuated from the building, and could not return. He reported an undetermined number of residents were able to find shelter with “family and friends,” and that the Red Cross was housing three families they were “putting up for the night.” As of 9 P.M., Reggio said he had six Red Cross volunteers in the Mamaroneck Avenue School handling inquiries. Fire began on Third Floor. Closer View of the damage as of Wednesday morning. Photo by WPCNR News Hits: 0 WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. A young resident stressed the importance of the city continuing to add actual affordable housing units in new buildings, saying that payment of funds by developers building condominium buildings to satisfy the city 6% set-aside–affordable-housing ordinance was not working, since the $25,000 available through existing downpayment assisance plans did not begin to cover the cost of acquiring a house or a condominum. PhotoCapture of WPGA-TV Government Acces Telecast by WPCNR News A hearing on the ASB Capital Management Hamilton Condominium to build a 13-story condominium was adjourned to January, and faced commentary from former Councilman Glen Hockley, advocating a density bonus plan where developers would be allowed to build larger to accommodate affordable units. Ann Pollack, Chair of the White Plains Affordable Housing Committee, urging the council require the developer to provide actual affordable units instead of payment of a fee to satisfy their affordable housing obligation. ( A city ordinance requires 6% of rental units of any new project to be set aside for affordable housing, and a consensus agreement by the council offers a payment alternative.) The Mayor said that he appreciated the concern for affordable housing, and reported that right now in the city, 38% of the housing in the Central Business District fit the income profiles of “low and moderate income” (60% of median income, and 80% of median income) persons seeking residences. He noted the city was getting affordable units online in the future: that The City Center towers were going to provide 36 units (from Mr. Cappelli), that 16 were going to be available at The Jefferson, and 5 were in Clayton Park. A proposal to rezone 7 Minerva Place as light industrial to accommodate an expansion of a self-storage unit by a new owner, Storage USA, faced opposition from a Mr. Cooper speaking for owners of property at 12, 13, 14 and the 26-unit, 16 Minerva Place saying expansion of the facility and rezoning to light industrial would lower their property values. Commissioner of Planning Explains the Advantages of the 4 New Affordable Housing Units. PhotoCapture from WPGA-TV Government Access Telecast by WPCNR News In light of this opposition, the hearing was continued to January, when a full-blown presentation was promised by Mayor Delfino. Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel noted that the new owner, Storage The city extended the site plan permit for the senior affordable housing project spearhead by former Councilman Bill Brown. The Council renewed the cabaret license of Coughlin’s restaurant, and approved the application of the Novita/Caffe Bar at The Mayor recognized Amedeo Fusca, Automotive Mechanic II with the Department of Public Works as Employee of the Month. Mr. Fusca was praised for his design of a Squad 4 Fire Department truck to provide the fire department with a first-response apparatus to respond to unusual life-threatening emergencies. WHITE PLAINS CEREMONY TREE LIGHTS SUNDAY NIGHT. The Moment of Light.Photo by WPCNR News The Mayor told the citizenry he was very moved by the Tree Lighting ceremony held Sunday evening in Tibbetts Park on the North Broadway median, saying approximately 2,000 persons attended, which he said was the largest crowd he had every experienced in his seven years of executing the ceremony. MAYOR DELFINO SINGING JINGLE BELLS with White Plains Youth Bureau After School Choir Sunday evening. Photo by WPCNR News. MAYOR DELFINO WELCOMES SANTA Sunday Night. The Mayor invited the view public of Monday evening’s Council Meeting to attend the City Ball Drop on New Year’s Eve, which he announced would be televised live. Photo by WPCNR News. Hits: 0 The city Financial Report for 2003-2004, examined by WPCNR at the City Clerk Office, is also being officially released this evening showing the city collected $37,698,714 in sales tax for the 2003-04 fiscal year, hitting WPCNR’s projection made in the spring of 2004 that the city would have to collect $9 to $10 Million in sales tax in the last quarter to hit their budget projection. They just did make it. The 2003-04 Financial Report also paints a picture portraying a robust White Plains economy last spring, when the city picked up $9,240,938 in sales tax in the final quarter to meet their budget, a 13-1/2% increase in sales tax pace over the last quarter (April May June) of 2002-2003, when the city took in $8,135,166 in sales taxes. A fast examination of the Final financials of 04-04 by the CitizeNetReporter appears to indicate that the unreserved fund balance, though has committed $5,644,256 to “subsequent year” expenses this fiscal year, leaving the city only a $1,190,655 cash available for emergencies. It should be noted that the fund balance can be replenished as the so far “roaring 04-05” rolls on. WPCNR will provide a more detailed report when the Final financials become available to the general public this evening. Hits: 0 WPCNR EAST END SCENE. From Memorial Methodist Church, United Methodist Church. December 5, 2004: In this season of giving, Memorial and Central Korean United Methodist Churches invite you to turn your family’s Christmas tree into an opportunity to give to the needy. Christmas trees for charity! Hits: 0 WPCNR West Side Story. By John F. Bailey. December 4, 2004: Is redevelopment about to be proposed for One member of the White Plains Common Council told WPCNR about hearing rumors of redevelopment, but had no facts to support the rumors, and had not been briefed on any such development planned for that part of the city. The “West Side Story” so far as WPCNR can tell based on the wildfire of rumors going around the city this weekend is that it may involve affordable housing and other development possibly planned to be built somewhere on West Post Road by a prominent local developer. The actual location of the development is sketchy. The rumored site would according to the whispers be in the vicinity of West Reverend Lestor Cousin of Is there any substance to the rumors? Stay tuned. Hits: 0 WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. Decmber 4, 2004: The Appellate Court in Brooklyn will hear arguments on Glen Hockley’s appeal of Judge Francis Nicolai’s Summary Judgment decision removing Mr. Hockley from the Common Council in July, and putting Larry Delgado on the council in his place. Mr. Hockley is appealing on grounds that he was entitled to a jury trial where his attorney could question the voters signing affidavits swearing they voted for Mr. Delgao that were adjudicted by the Attorney General’s Office through a quo warranto action on Mr. Delgado’s behalf as being evidence that Mr. Delgado had actually won District 18 on November 5, 2001 when the voting machine hammed in that heavily Republican District. Thomas Abinanti told WPCNR that he was cautiously optimistic that the appellate court would find for Mr. Hockley in the proceedings. Abinanti said Mr. Hockley’s case would be argued by G. Oliver Koppell, former Attorney General of the State of New York in the early 1990s. Mr. Delgado did not return calls for comment. Referring to the Senator Nick Spano, Andrea Stewart-Cousins vote count currently under way, Abinanti said, “You can’t just accept affidavits as ballots without the same scrutiny, especially after the voters knew the result of the election.” Mr. Hockley recently had his appeal to the Court of Appeals to have Judge Francis Nicolai removed from the case as being biased, dismissed by the highest court, according to Jeffrey Binder, Mr. Delgado’s attorney, who informed WPCNR of the setback to Mr. Hockley by e-mail today. Mr. Abinanti said that if the Appellate Court found for Mr. Hockley, calling for a jury trial, they could really do anything they wanted even to the possibility of Mr. Hockley being placed back on the council and Mr. Delgado removed, while the jury trial was set up.
Ocean’s Twelve **(PG-13) –12:10; 3:10; 6:10; 9:10 pm. ;
Blade: Trinity **(R) –12:50; 3:40; 6:30; 9:20 pm. ;
The Polar Express (G) –1:00; 3:15; 5:35 pm. ;
National Treasure (PG) –10:15 am; 1:05; 3:55; 6:50; 9:45 pm. ;
Alexander (R) –12:00; 4:00; 8:10 pm. ;
Blade: Trinity (R) –10:40 am; 1:20; 4:10; 7:00; 9:50 pm. ;
Finding Neverland (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:45; 7:10; 9:35 pm. ;
Christmas With the Kranks (PG) –12:10; 2:35; 4:50; 7:15; 9:40 pm. ;
Ray (PG-13) –9:00 pm. ;
Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (G) –10:20 am; 12:40; 2:55; 5:15; 7:40; 10:00 pm. ;
Closer **(R) –12:05; 2:30; 5:00; 7:30; 10:00 pm. ;
Closer (R) –12:30; 2:55; 5:25; 7:55; 10:25 pm. ;
Ocean’s Twelve (PG-13) –12:40; 3:40; 4:10; 6:40; 7:10; 8:00; 9:40; 10:10 pm. ;
The Incredibles (PG) –11:00 am; 1:50; 4:40; 7:20; 9:55 pm. ;
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (PG) –10:25; 11:20 am; 12:30; 1:45; 2:40; 4:45; 7:05 pm. ;
Monday, December 13, 2004
The Incredibles (PG) –1:50; 4:40; 7:20; 9:55 pm. ;
National Treasure (PG) –1:05; 3:55; 6:50; 9:45 pm. ;
Alexander (R) –12:00; 4:00; 8:10 pm. ;
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (PG) –12:30; 1:45; 2:40; 4:45; 7:05 pm. ;
Closer (R) –12:30; 2:55; 5:25; 7:55; 10:25 pm. ;
Ocean’s Twelve **(PG-13) –12:10; 3:10; 6:10; 9:10 pm. ;
Ray (PG-13) –9:00 pm. ;
Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (G) –12:40; 2:55; 5:15; 7:40; 10:00 pm. ;
Finding Neverland (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:45; 7:10; 9:35 pm. ;
Christmas With the Kranks (PG) –12:10; 2:35; 4:50; 7:15; 9:40 pm. ;
The Polar Express (G) –1:00; 3:15; 5:35 pm. ;
Ocean’s Twelve (PG-13) –12:40; 3:40; 4:10; 6:40; 7:10; 8:00; 9:40; 10:10 pm. ;
Blade: Trinity (R) –1:20; 4:10; 7:00; 9:50 pm. ;
Blade: Trinity **(R) –12:50; 3:40; 6:30; 9:20 pm. ;
Closer **(R) –12:05; 2:30; 5:00; 7:30; 10:00 pm. ;
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Ocean’s Twelve **(PG-13) –12:10; 3:10; 6:10; 9:10 pm. ;
Blade: Trinity **(R) –12:50; 3:40; 6:30; 9:20 pm. ;
The Polar Express (G) –1:00; 3:15; 5:35 pm. ;
National Treasure (PG) –3:55; 6:50; 9:45 pm. ;
Alexander (R) –12:00; 4:00; 8:10 pm. ;
Blade: Trinity (R) –1:20; 4:10; 7:00; 9:50 pm. ;
Finding Neverland (PG) –12:00; 2:25; 4:45; 7:10; 9:35 pm. ;
Christmas With the Kranks (PG) –12:10; 2:35; 4:50; 7:15; 9:40 pm. ;
Ray (PG-13) –9:00 pm. ;
Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience (G) –12:40; 2:55; 5:15; 7:40; 10:00 pm. ;
Closer **(R) –12:05; 2:30; 5:00; 7:30; 10:00 pm. ;
Closer (R) –12:30; 2:55; 5:25; 7:55; 10:25 pm. ;
Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender (NR) –1:00 pm. ;
Ocean’s Twelve (PG-13) –12:40; 3:40; 4:10; 6:40; 7:10; 8:00; 9:40; 10:10 pm. ;
The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (PG) –12:30; 1:45; 2:40; 4:45; 7:05 pm. ;
The Incredibles (PG) –1:50; 4:40; 7:20; 9:55 pm. ;
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
National Treasure (PG) –1:05; 3:55; 6:50; 9:45 pm. ;
The Incredibles (PG) –1:50; 4:40; 7:20; 9:55 pm. ;
Closer (R) –
Schwartz Shows at Grace, Spano No-Show. Ryan Got Money.
Fire, Police Make Two Rescues in smoke-filled fire scene at 23 Old Mamaroneck
Andy to the Rescue: Spano, Schwartz, DSS, Grace to Meet Today
Smokey Fire OUT at 23 Old Mamaroneck Road. Residents of 22 Apts Temp Homeless
Council Approves Ben Simon Land Purchase; Continues Hamilton & Storage Complex P
City First Quarter Sales Tax Receipts Jump 15.6% — Projects to $44 Million/YR
Christmas Trees for Charity Available at Memorial Methodist Church
The covenant partners, who are in ministry together and share a church on
Bryant Avenue in White Plains, are selling Christmas trees in our front yard
beginning Dec. 2, and donating all of the profits to local and international
children’s ministries.
More than 300 fresh frasier firs and balsams in a variety of sizes are being
shipped here from Maine and Pennsylvania to fill local homes with the
holiday spirit. The trees will be on sale in front of our church at 250
Bryant Avenue on Thursdays through Sundays from Dec. 2-24 or until the trees
run out. You can also buy greens, roping and wreaths!
The Tree Selling Schedule is as follows:
Thursdays & Fridays 3 to 6 p.m.
Saturdays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sundays Noon to 6 p.m.
If you don’t need a tree, please consider buying one for a local family that
can’t afford it, and Memorial volunteers will gladly deliver it. What’s the West Side Story? Post Road Makeover In Works?
Hockley’s Last Chance Coming Up Friday December 10 in Brooklyn