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

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WPCNR KING KOMMENTS. By White Plains Councilman William King. September 23, 2003:  Councilman WilIiam King, entering his last three months as a member of the Common Council submits a proposal that would save St. Agnes Hospital. Here is his plan:

Councilman William King

I would like to submit a proposal to bond for $25m for the St. Agnes property if NYPH will agree to exchange their southern 100 acres for St. Agnes.  The proposal would hinge on several things:  

a. NYPH’s willingness to allow the City of White Plains to run a park on the southern 100 acres for at least 100 years;
b. The State Dormitory Authority, which St. Agnes owes $36m, to forgive the other $11m they are owed;
c. St. Agnes/Westchester Medical’s willingness to permit redevelopment of their property for biotech research and the proton beam accelerator proposed by NYPH;
d. White Plains Common Council and state legislature/governor’s approval.

The main hospital buildings on the St. Agnes campus could remain and continue to serve in- and out-patient functions and lodging for those patients and their families who have come for pba treatment as well as other general medical patients.

The 100 acres could be used for all types of uses, passive and active, and could be used as unmatched space for summer day camps.  Buildings remaining along the southern end of the historic oval could be used for needed indoor activity space during inclement weather.

The County and Federal Government would be invited to help the City with bonding and grants.  County and City sales tax revenues from the new Fortunoff’s and City Center could be used to pay off the bonds.

I ask that NYPH and the city administration not reject this proposal out of hand as has been done in the past.  

The example right across the street from NYPH of Fortunoff’s redeveloping an existing vacant site(vacant Saks store) is analogous to the opportunity of redeveloping the St. Agnes property where significant parts of that property will soon be closed on top of other parts of the site which are significantly underutilized.  

The proximity of biotech research activity at St. Agnes to the former Kraft General Foods office space across North Street may also help to stimulate related, safe medically-related usages and leaseup of that building complex.

Councilman William King

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. September 23, 2003: The saga of  the Glen Hockley-Larry Delgado jammed voting machine election of 2001 has not ended.  It continues with a court shelf life of its own. It resumed last Thursday in the Appellate Division, 2^nd Circuit in Brooklyn when arguments were heard by Appellate judges in the move by Glen Hockley’s attorney, Thomas Abinanti, to dismiss the New York State Attorney General’s quo warranto action on behalf of former White Plains Councilman Larry Delgado, as having not been filed in a timely manner, and should be dismissed.

STILL GOING: The Day of Victory, March 14, 2002: When the Court of Appeals dismissed Judge Francis Nicolai’s and the Appellate Court’s call for a special election city wide as a remedy for the disputed 2001 election result due to a jammed voting machine in White Plains District 18, Glen Hockley, (left), with his attorney, Adam Bradley, was sworn in to the Common Council. Seven months later, in November 2002, the New York Attorney General’s Office after an investigation, filed a quo warranto action in November on Mr. Delgado’s behalf. After a series of motions to dismiss the quo warranto were filed, the case was put on the Appellate Division Calendar in late April, 2003. Last week, after Mr. Hockley has been in office 17 months, the motion to dismiss based on the quo warranto being filed too late was argued before the Appellate Court. WPCNR File Photo

 

Jeffery Binder, present Republican Candidate for Common Council, and attorney for Mr. Delgado with John Ciampoli throughout the Hockley-Delgado climb to the Court of Appeals, observed the action. Joel Graber argued for the Attorney General. Thomas Abinanti for Mr. Hockley’s side.

 

Binder  said “It went very nicely. The court was somewhat unsympathetic towards Hockley’s case, judging by the tough questions they asked. They were very questioning of Mr. Abinanti’s argument that election disputes should be resolved in a short time frame. The court suggested why couldn’t it (the time to resolve the dispute) run to the end of the term of the office.”

 

Binder said he was optimistic, but “you never know.” He said he expected the Appellate Division to rule shortly. When asked why he thought the Hockley-Delgado matter had not been expedited on the Appellate Court calendar, Binder said he thought that it was because White Plains was not being deprived of representation since Hockley was in office.

 

Asked what might happen, Binder said that in either case, one side would appeal the Appellate Court decision and it would move back up to the Court of Appeals, which should be interested to see the case again.

THE PHANTOM COUNCILMAN:  Larry Delgado addressing the White Plains Common Council where he used to sit. Delgado has been battling for 21 months to get his seat back by seeking a “remedy” for the jammed voting machine incident which cost him 103 votes in District 18. Those 103 votes would have given him the victory in 2001 had the machine not jammed, failing to record them. File Photo by WPCNR.

 

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. September 20, 2003: White Plains rolled up  over 200 yards of offense in the first half on Saturday afternoon, piling up a 34-0 lead at the half, to defeat Mamaroneck, 40-6 at picturesque, steamy Parker Stadium before 500 delighted fans. The Tigers scored two touchdowns on their first plays from series after an opening sequence sputter, with “The New Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside,”  Spencer Ridenhour and Ike Nduka rambling 44 yards and 47 yards respectively for spectacular touchdown runs. Later the Dynamic Duo each scored another touchdown.

 

 

CLUTCH CATCH BY “MR. LEE”:  Mike Devere at left watches Thomas Lee hang on for a spectacular touchdown pass and catch to give the Tigers a 19-0 lead in the early second quarter of Saturday’s game.

Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

 

The Tiger line blew away the Mamaroneck line opening six foot holes for the rambling boys to rumble to paydirt, and gave quarterback Mike Devere time to write essays while looking for receivers. Senior Ridenhour and Junior Nduka ran for two “Sixers” each, and emerged, for the first time,  as a true two-back running threat.

 

Ferocious Charge

 

Playing in 80 degree heat and stifling humidity, White Plains dominated the harbor visitors awesomely.

 

The charge of the defensive line lead by “The Prosecutor” Ryan Smalls, Chris “The House of” Osher, and Gabe “Press-man” Robles, had the seaside Tigers for lunch. They gave only one first down in the first quarter, piling up three sacks, three pressured punts, pinning backs play after play. Their fierce charge overwhelmed the visitors, making would-be tacklers disappear as if vaporized. Smalls had his most outstanding game on defense of the season.

 

In Mamaroneck’s first possession, with the paper Tigers going for third and 5 at their 40, Ryan Smalls struck for his first sack of the afternoon, ripping the football from the quarterback’s grasp then pouncing on it. It was a harbinger of things to come.

 

After two offensive pass interference calls on Ryan Smalls for pushing off the defender, the Tigers faced a third and 18 on the 21, White Plains messed up a pitch back and fumbled it away with Mamaroneck recovering on their 29. The Grandstand Offensive Coordinators in the sun-splashed bowl groaned. But this was the only highlight for Mamaroneck in what was to become a nightmare in daylight.

 

Mamaroneck was pushed backwards to their 20 and were forced to punt. Their punter shanked the kick and Ryan Smalls returned the ball to the Mamaroneck 44.

 

One Play, 44 yards, 6 Points! TouchDOWN! TouchDOWN!

 

Mike Devere handed off to Spencer Ridenhour on first down. The Tiger line parted the Mamaroneck line like Moses parted the Red Sea and Ridenhour rumbled  through like a fast freight. Picking up speed, loping, cruising into the secondary headed for the far side. He could go, he might go, he was gone with several blockers riding shotgun on the touchdown convoy and it was 6-0. One play, 6 points! Pablo Siaba booted the point and it was 7-0 halfway to go in the first quarter.

 

Another play, 47 yards, TouchDOWN TouchDOWN!

 

After the kickoff,  on Mamaroneck’s first play from scrimmage at their 25, Evan McGuire swooped in on the quarterback’s right side and sacked him for a loss to the 20. After two plays gained no yardage, a partially blocked punt (the renowned law firm of Smalls, Robles and Osher filing the motion to block the kick) was downed at the Mamaroneck 47. So far the game had been played entirely in Mamaroneck territory.

 

Mike Devere handed off to Ike Nduka in the deep backfield. The Tiger line swept aside the slow-to-form interference on the left side, springing Ike around left end and, lengthening his stride he was long gone for a 47 yard touchdown spin. The big bowl was joyous!  Pablo Siaba missed his first extra point of the season, and the score was 13-0 with about 3 minutes to go in the first quarter.

 

Mamaroneck, feeling more like coyotes in a never-ending Road Runner cartoon, warily took the kickoff from Kevin Dulanto (who had a lot of practice today), and had first down on their 29. On third and 2 on the M-38, Ryan Smalls bulldogged the Mamaroneck back in the backfield to make it 4 and out again. Only this time the dashing prosecutor Smalls cleanly blocked the punt and the Tigers took over on the M-28.

 

Another offensive pass interference on the fiercely competitive Ryan Smalls,  set the Tigers back to the Mamaroneck 45 yard line. Spencer Ridenhour picked up 9 yards back to the 36. And the quarter ended.

 

Touchdown STRIKE to “Mr. Lee.”

 

At this point it was still a game. Not for long. The Tigers faced a third and 6 on the Mamaroneck 35.  Paul Scotman followed the Tigers “take no prisoners” blocking to pick up 8 yards for a first down on the M-21.

 

Now it was first and 10 on the Mamaroneck 21. Pilot Mike Lefty Devere rolled out to his right paralleling the line, looking, looking, then throwing back to his left under the goalposts just inside the goal line, looking for  Thomas Lee who had two Mamaroneck Tigers on his back. The sophomore sank to his knees, caught the strike as he was going down, two defenders on his back, cradling it, mothering it and holding it, hitting the grass and hanging on for the touchdown catch. 19-0, White Plains. Siaba kicked the point and it was 20-0, with most of the second quarter to go.

 

Four and out again.

 

Mamaroneck tentatively and in shock took over after the fourth kickoff in 13 minutes at their 20. After going three plays, the Tigers did not rush the punt and Ryan Smalls (there’s that name again), with three Mamaroneckers all around him took the punt at the Mamaroneck 46, deked his way around them, shed three more tacklers as he lit out for the opposite sideline before being pursued out of pounds on the Mamaroneck 30.

 

One Play, TouchDOWN! TouchDOWN!

 

Mike Devere had an abundance of options. Who should he give the ball to on first down? How about an off-tackle play to Spencer? Sounds good and it was. Ridenhour blew through the hole, hurtling into the secondary, angling left to the far sideline. They weren’t going to get him and the score was 26-0. Pablo Siaba kicked the point and the Tigers were ahead by four touchdowns with around 6 minutes to go in the half.

 

Again, Mamaroneck could not make a first down thanks to the prosecutorial team of Smalls and Osher and the Tigers took over the ball in their own territory at their 30 for the first time. No problem.

 

Ike Nduka followed a convoy of blockers to midfield. Mike Devere hit Mike Johnson and the Tigers were to the Mamaroneck 11. Two plays later, Ike Nduka plowed up the middle for the fifth touchdown of the half, and his second touchdown of the afternoon.

 

A TOUCHDOWN MOMENT: The linesman signals touchdown as Ike “Nuke” Nduka gores the Mamaroneck line for a 5 yard touchdown score, his second touchdown of the game to make the score 26-0 midway in the Second Quarter. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

In the second half, the Tigers added a sixth touchdown fittingly on a 5 yard run by Ryan Smalls.

 

The Big Band is Back.

 

The day was highlighted by the return of “The Big Band,” the White Plains High School Marching Band under the direction of Lesley Tompkins,  that sounds as good as the Florida Seminoles band. It’s just not football without a great marching band on hand, and the “Big Band”  proved it once again. 

 

THE BIG BAND IS BACK: The BIG brass, the crystal clear woodwinds and rumbling, precise authoritative percussion could be heard all over White Plains from “Parker Bowl”.  The WPHS band stirring arrangement of Touchdown in the pregame perhaps inspired the tag team of Ridenhour and Nduka.  Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

HALFTIME:  the band introduced Neutron Dance and Jakomo. The band is so good to hear, that the spectators stay and listen at halftime! Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

 

 

INTRODUCING THE SYNCHRONIZED CHEERLEADERS: The White Plains Cheerleaders introduced their halftime synchronized rap routine and were precise and “righteous”. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

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WPCNR STREETS OF WHITE PLAINS. By John F. Bailey. September 19, 2003: Governor George Pataki visited the fire-ravaged Bet Am Shalom temple in White Plains Friday afternoon to lend his support, concern and compassion to the templeless congregation. The Governor arranged with SUNY Purchase to make available the Fine Arts Center at Purchase to the congregation for the High Holy Days coming up. Saying it was important in crisis for us all to hang together, the Governor congratulated the White Plains Fire Department for their bravery in containing the blaze, preventing the sanctuary from being extensively damaged. He and Mayor Joseph Delfino surveyed  the interior damage to the old Bet Am Shalom mansion it sustained in its Primary Day fire, September 9.

“GOVERNOR WITH A HEART:” George Pataki, arriving at 3:35 P.M. Friday,  views the damage at Bet Am Shalom on Soundview Avenue with Mayor Joseph Delfino, and Rabbi Lester Bronstein, head of the congregation. Later, Mayor Delfino characterized Governor Pataki as a “Governor With a Heart,” for his prompt arranging space for the congregation at SUNY Purchase. Photo by WPCNR News.

IN PROCESS OF ESTIMATING COST OF DAMAGE: Governor Pataki and Mayor Delfino solemnly surveyed the devastated, roofless hulk of the Bet Am Shalom mansion as it looked Friday. Robin Rattner, the synagague Executive Director,  said their insurance company, Church Mutual Insurance Company, is in the process of determining the cause of fire and estimating the cost of the damage, and that was not expected to be calculated for about 2 to 3 weeks. She also reported the congregation anticipates rebuilding the mansion on the structure in place and perhaps enlarging it and adding additional sections, figuring the time to rebuild would be about 2 to 3 years, at the cost of several million dollars. Rabbi Bronstein said the temple sanctuary at the extreme right in this picture is being clean up and will undergo reconstruction of the beams before it could be ready for services again. Rattner said the temple’s Hebrew School is being housed at Solomon Schechter in White Plains, and praised Solomon Schechter for stepping forward so promptly to provide facilities to keep the school operating. Photo by WPCNR News

 

 

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. September 18, 2003: The Board of Elections has done it again. For the third straight election WPCNR has covered, reporting of results by the Board of Elections has been late, inaccurate, and poor decisions and priorities have been set. Every year the Board of Elections has ten months to fix their performance and every year the same dismal nineteenth century reporting methods keep White Plains voters, and all voters in the county in suspense. Take our poll at the right and let us know your thoughts, after all you are the electorate. Vote more than once.

Yet the Westchester County Board of Elections does not improve performance. Board of Elections canvassing on Election night is not as accurate as party call-ins on the votes. Recanvassing takes too long. Counting of Affidavit Ballots and Absentee Ballots delays results more than a week, and this happens every election year. You also ought to know this. The Board of Elections is not accountable to the County. Complaints are to be directed to State Elections Board.

What do Mr. and Mrs. White Plains think? Take the poll at the right. And I encourage you to vote more than once so we can pinpoint areas that might help the Board of Elections count quickly, accurately, and authoritatively, something they demonstrate every year they cannot do.

This is not a knock on the volunteers who work on the Board of Elections. They only use the systems that are put into effect by their management, and the volunteers need to be used more strategically and intelligently. What do you think?