D-Day was 59 years ago today.

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WPCNR STARS AND STRIPES. June 6, 2003: Fifty-nine years ago this morning, thousands of troops stormed the beaches in Normandy, France in the largest invasion in history. The bloody assault against a heavily defended coastline, involving incredible courage and sacrifice by allied troops, landing craft, paratroops, signalled the beginning of the end of the Third Reich and the regime of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.

The quiet beaches of Normandy today, and the rows of white crosses in cemetaries around the little town bear silent vigil to the sacrifice of those brave men and women who fought, died, and triumphed this day 59 years ago today.

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City Awaits Decisions From the Men in Black on NY Hosp, Delgado.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. June 6, 2003: The White Plains Legal Department reports that “all the briefs are in” on the Citizens for Open Space Article 78 lawsuit in Supreme Court to force the Common Council to reexamine their decision to permit New York Presbyterian Hospital to construct a biotech research facility and proton accelerator cancer treatment facility deep within its pristine grounds. The city has filed its “answer” to Attorney Thomas Wyatt’s motion to block the approval based on the approval being a violation of zoning. It is with the judge, and Corporation Counsel Edward Dunphy expects a decision in about two months.

Meanwhile back in Appellate Court in Brooklyn, the Appellate Court received the Attorney General’s rebuttal to Thomas Abinanti’s motion to dismiss the Attorney General’s Quo Warranto action on behalf of deposed councilman Larry Delgado as being filed past the statute of limitations for actions against the state.

Jeffrey Binder, Mr. Delgado’s attorney, lauds the Attorney General’s brief as being quite thorough going back to the 1700s in its summation of cases. Binder said he expects Mr. Hockley to be removed from the Council shortly by Judge Francis Nicolai, pending an expected Appellate Court denial of Abinanti’s motion.

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City Center Dance Holds Open House Saturday

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From City Center Dance. June 6, 2003: City Center Dance is holding an “Open House” Saturday from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. at their studios at 236 E. Post Road. Parents and children can observe demonstrations, find out about fall dance programs, and register for Fall and Spring of the 2003-04 season. Refreshments will be served.

City Center Dance provides “professional instruction” in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe and hip hop. The Center provides numerous performance opportunities around Westchester County, including the dancers for the Westchester Wildfire basketball team.

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Flash! Sun Comes Out at 2:33 P.M. E.D.T.

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WPCNR WEATHER SCOOP. From WPCNR Weather. June 5, 2003: The sun officially appeared from behind breaks in the overcast today at 2:33 P.M, and has been shining on the White Plains area for 45 minutes. It was only the third day when the sun has shown in the last 7, after two days of desultory showers and dismal weather.

A spokesman for the sun said that it’s partial appearance would be only brief with a one-day engagement tomorrow.

The National Weather Service still calls for possible showers early this evening, with partly sunny skies called for on Friday with showers likely to return Saturday afternoon.



CHARISMATIC CELEBRITY: The Sun breaks through at 2:33 P.M. in White Plains A spokesman for the sun said that it’s partial appearance would be only brief with a one-day engagement tomorrow.
Photo by WPCNR WeatherScoop


PEONY BASKS IN SUNLIGHT: Sodden White Plains flowers dried themselves out Thursday afternoon after taking only 3 days of sunshine in the last 7, and putting up with 5-1/4 inches of rain in the last week.

Photo by WPCNR WeatherScoop

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SchoolsTest Calling System: Clear, Concise, Bilingual, Familiar, Repetitive

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 5, 2003: The City School District test of its “Emergency Broadcast System”, actually the PACE Calling System was transmitted by telephone flawlessly to WPCNR Headquarters this morning at 10 A.M.

The system worked. Parents of White Plains Middle School students only who did not receive this recorded phone call from their school, Highlands or Eastview, should contact the school district to update their Emergency Contact Information, because it will mean the school district does not have a way to contact you regarding emergency or other school announcements of significance. The PACE Calling System is envisioned by Superintendent Timothy Connors as being a means of contacting parents promptly about positive events, as well as emergencies.

If you are a parent or guardian of a child in the White Plains Middle School, and do not receive this call, the School District requests you contact the Student Information Center at 422-2040.

What the Calling System did:

At 10 A.M., WPCNR answered the phone, and the message began with these words: “This is Joseph Cloherty, Principal of Eastview School,” followed by a repeat of his opening message in Spanish.

Right away the message sounded authoritative. Cloherty then returned to say this was a test of a Calling System so that the district make sure they have the correct contact information for your family. This was again repeated in Spanish.

The only quibble I had with the message was it did not give a number to call in case this message is received but no longer going to the correct telephone numbers. It is also not clear whether the message goes to all numbers parents list. WPCNR assumes it does, a must in the case of two-parents-working families.

What struck me about the message was the technological clarity and the message customized to my child’s school, complete with an option to hear the message again at the end of the recorded announcement. This was an excellent feature.

The Calling System provides an ability for the schools to contact parents quickly and apparently goes out to parents of a specific school, with the voices of school-familiar personnel delivering the message, in this case, the Principal.

The system, in this reporter’s opinion, is so reasonable and simple one wonders why this was not done long before June, 2003. Outcall technology has been available for twenty-five years.

The PACE Calling System has many possibilities: Announcing snow days, avoiding the tedious listening to roll calls on radio stations; announcing postponement of weather-related events; announcing time changes. Plans for circumstances under which the system will be used have yet to be formed, but the test appears to be a success at least at this location.

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Republican Slate Wins the Independence Party Line. Hickey Off to Strong Start

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WPCNR THE WHITE PLAINS STREET. June 5, 2003: The Republican slate of Frank Cantatore for County Legislator, and Common Council Candidates, Jeffrey Binder, Rosa Munoz, and Tim Sheehan have been awarded the Independence Party line for the November election, giving the Republicans three lines, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Council Challenger Dan Hickey has gotten off to a good start in seeking the 398 signatures needed to get on the September Primary ballot to challenge for a Council nomination.

Elsewhere, petition signing began Tuesday evening, and Republicans canvassing in council challenger Dan Hickey’s neighborhood found that the former Deputy Police Commissioner had acquired significant signature coverage and are taking his candidacy very seriously.

Should Mr. Hickey acquire the 400 signatures needed to primary the three nominated Republican council candidates, and nosed one of them out in the September Primary, any Republican candidate Mr. Hickey defeats would still remain on the ballot on the Conservative and Independence Party lines, with a possibility of further splitting the White Plains vote.

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Fort Hill Players Is Doin’ A Show: The Odd Couple Auditions June 17.

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WPCNR Stage Door. From Fort Hill Players. June 4, 2003: Fort Hill Players announces auditions for their fall production of Neil Simon’s hilarious comedy, THE ODD COUPLE, directed by Jim Brownold.

The cast calls for Oscar and Felix (2 divorced men), their four card-playing buddies, and two women – all roles are open. Auditions will be held June 17th and 19th from 7:30 to 10 PM. Performances: October 2003.

Auditions will be held at Rochambeau School, 228 Fisher Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606.

Jim Brownold, clever voice-over specialist in real life and raconteur, phantom of the stage by night, wrote much of the script for Fort Hill Players’ origanal work, HARMONY ON THE SEA, directed CHARLOTTE’S WEB, and Co-directed with Mark Snyder, the original review, MORE THAN MUSIC.

Out of town, he directed BIG CITY FACTS with Greenville Community Theater; DAMN YANKEES with the Farmington Players in Michigan; and HMS PINAFORE with the New Country Theater in Middletown, NY.

In Manhattan, Mr. Brownold directed the JOE MAMA REVIEW plus numerous award-winning commercials. He has also done standup and improv in many Manhattan clubs.

Professionally, Jim is a commercial actor living in New York and Scarsdale.

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Knitting Arts Studio Opens With Workshops and Classes for the Fiber Artist

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WHITE PLAINS, NY — May 22, 2003 — Artyarns.com announced today the opening of the Knitting Arts Studio, a new home for the promotion of knitting and the fiber arts. The studio will hold workshops and classes for all levels of fiber artists.

Well-known fiber artist and Artyarns.com co-founder Laurie Kimmelstiel has noted that there is “an upsurge in interest in all crafts, particularly strong in knitting, which has reached epoch proportions throughout the nation.” Co-founder Iris Schreier feels that “the studio will promote the use of natural beautiful fibers because these will result in unique and important handwork.”

The Knitting Arts Studio will offer classes this June in Beginning Knitting, Back to Knitting (for those who have learned to knit in the past but think they’ve forgotten how), Knitting for Baby, Knitting with Sequins, and Knitting with Japanese Yarns. Classes and workshops will emphasize the use of luxury and other unusual and rare fibers such as cashmere, silk and beautiful wools.

Both women have had extensive backgrounds in the fiber arts as both designers and educators. They are currently co-authoring a book on knitting accessories with luxury yarns to be published by Lark Books. Utilizing exquisite yarns, they hope to share and promote their love of the knitted craft to all whom cross their path.

Future class offerings will include Lunch-Hour Knitting for nearby office workers, Crochet, Knitting with Beads, Embroidery, Quilting, Spinning, Knitted Socks, as well as an array of terrific classes for kids including Beginning Knitting (ages 10 and up), Dyeing Yarn with Kool-Aid, workshops for parents and kids together, and great classes for teens to explore their own creativity with the fiber arts. A full listing of the Studio’s summer schedule of workshops will be available on their website: Artyarns.com

The Knitting Arts Studio is located in Suite 703 of the newly renovated Westchester Arts Exchange Building located at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, at the corner of Martine Avenue and right next door to the new City Center complex. It is convenient to parking and public transportation in the exciting and revived downtown White Plains.

Note: For more information on classes, schedules and to register, log on to Artyarns.com or call The Knitting Arts Studio at 1-914 / 428-0333

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Next Steps for White Plains Performing Arts Center

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. June 4, 2003: The Common Council set the “Playbill” for the management of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Monday evening by approving the Memorandum of Understanding between the city and independent producers, Tony Stimac and Jeffrey Rosenstock, of the Helen Hayes Theatre Company and Queens Theatre In the Park, respectively.
No financial terms of the arrangement were disclosed in the memo, however, Benjamin Boykin, in his comments said, Mr. Stimac and Mr. Rosenstock “offered the best financial package.” The Memorandum states the city has budgeted $100,000 for each of years one and two of the theatre operation, plus a $25,000 loan.

To come in the weeks ahead on a timetable of the city’s design are selection of a Board of Directors by the producers, (with heavy city and citizen representation), a selection of a Performing Arts Center Community Advisory Committee of artists and art organizations by Mayor Joseph Delfino, to define community access, negotiate rents and eligibility.

Department of Parks and Recreation Has Responsibility for the Theatre

In Common Council President Benjamin Boykin’s remarks about the Performing Arts Centre at the Common Council Monday evening, he credited and thanked City Parks and Rec Commissioner Arne Abramowitz for bringing the two producers, Stimac and Rosenstock to the attention of the city, adding them to the first three organizations who had originally replied to the City’s Request for Proposal, Professional Facilities Management, Westco, and Centerpoint Stage.

Mr. Abramowitz, when he was managing Flushing Meadow Park for the City of New York, worked with Mr. Rosenstock in developing the Queens Theatre in The Park who was then and still remains, its Artistic Director. Abramowitz’s department, will also “represent the city’s interests” in the new Performing Arts Center.

Stimac & Rosenstock Handle Day-to-Day Management and Fundraising

In the Memorandum of Understanding approved unanimously by the Common Council Monday evening, the two new producers will produce or co-produce theatrical events, schedule live entertainment, arrange to lease the facility to local arts groups, and rent theater, lobbies and rehearsal rooms.

The two veteran empresarios have the responsibility for fundraising to “sustain the operations of the Center,” in addition to maintenance of the Center and its equipment, and will manage Box Office and “House Operations, and liason with City Center management and National Amusements, which will run the theater’s concessions, taking 80% of the proceeds, according to a National Amusements spokesperson.

You, too, Can Be a Board Member.

Stimac and Rosenstock will be expected to form a Board of Directors to “govern” the new theater, with the city supplying a short list of candidates whom the city feels have an interest and expertise to set theater policy. The city will have three representatives on the Board of Directors from the Department of Public Works, Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Department of Planning.

It is not spelled out in the Memorandum whether Stimac and Rosenstock have to clear their programming and policies with the Board of Directors, the Department of Recreation and Parks, or whether they have a free hand.

Calling all Cultural Leaders. Calling All Cultural Leaders.

The show business duo has committed to “support community access to the new facilities by committing to provide a number of dates for community groups for each fiscal year.” The duo are committed to give adequate lead time to community groups in announcing those dates, which are defined to include “late-week and week-end dates.”

To achieve this delicate balance, the Memorandum states Mayor Joseph Delfino will appoint a “Community Advisory Committee” made up of “local artists, representatives of arts organizations and other cultural leaders.” This committee will work with Stimac and Rosenstock to hammer out a theater policy on community access to the theater, the costs of rental, and what defines a “resident organization.”

Scaled Rents to be Determined.

The Memorandum makes it very clear that community organizations will pay rents for performances, rehearsals, user fees, which will be “scaled” for different days of the week or prime show times during the year. The Memorandum states: “The operating success of the Center will be based partly on the ability to earn revenues from operations, with an efficient means of allocating time in the spaces of the building.”

$100,000 Operating Budgets

Rosenstock and Stimac will be signed to a three year contract with an option to renew. The Memorandum of Understanding notes that the contract is to be signed by June 15, and that “The City and the Operator are in the process of finalizing a budget” but does not disclose the fees or royalty arrangements, if any being negotiated with the producers. The two producers are given the authority to negotiate royalty and residual income from “successfully produced plays” for the White Plains Performing Arts Center. How those fees accrue to the Center after the Operator leaves will be spelled out in the final contract.

The city commits to budgeting $100,000, plus services for operation of the theater iuneach of the first two years, with a $25,000 city loan, to be secured and repaid over three years. The purpose of the loan is not stated.

Option to Renew

The operator, according to the Memorandum, will be given a contract to run the Center for three years with an option to renew “to be exercised by the Operator.”

The Memorandum acknowledges that “more specific direction on booking policy, rental rates, user fees, scheduling horizons and other community access issues” will be forthcoming.

“White Plains Mystery Theater”

Meanwhile, the theatre in the developing City Center remains under construction. The interior design of the theatre is a mystery, though structure and physical plant have been specified by a professional theatre architectural firm, there is not at this time a definite interior decorating scheme that anyone in the city is willing to show WPCNR, if indeed it does exist. Repeated inquiries by WPCNR as to what the theatre will look like visually, not physically, have been met with assurances that there is a design, but who and what firm or person is designing it has not been disclosed. No interior designs have been shown to WPCNR despite repeated requests.

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School Budget Passes by 83%; Bassano, McGuire, McLaughlin, Tratoros Elected.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 3, 2003, UPDATED WITH FINAL OFFICIAL FIGURES, June 4, 2003: In complete official returns from all 6 polling places, released Friday morning by Education House, City School District voters passed the 2003-2003 School Budget of $134.6 Million Tuesday by better than a 4 to 1 margin, 1,456 to 300. First year Superintendent of Schools Timothy P. Connors said, “I want to thank the community for the vote. It’s nice when we have the support of the community we can count on to have quality schools for all our children.”

In elections for the Board of Education, Peter Bassano, Terence McGuire and Donna McLaughlin were elected to full three year terms ending in June, 2006, while Michelle Tratoros, by virtue of receiving the fourth lowest vote total is elected to the one year remaining on former Board Member, Richard Bernstein’s term, that expires in June of 2004.

Donna McLaughlin, elected to her third term on the School Board, was very pleased, saying “This is a great board, and I’m very optimistic about the coming year. We have a great administration.”

Terence McGuire, elected for the first time said he was very happy to be elected, “but now the work begins,” he said he would work hard “to make sure males of color do better in the future.”

The new Board of Education that will be seated in July, not June, (as previously reported) will be comprised of: Peter Bassano, Susan Kirkpatrick, Terence McGuire, Donna McLaughlin, William Pollak, Michelle Tratoros and Maria Valentin.

Here are the unofficial totals of the budget, and Board of Education race:

The unofficial totals by Polling Place:

School Budget

Fire Station: 96Yes, 17 No.
Church Street: 301 Yes, 80 No.
Rochambeau: 103 Yes, 26 No.
Middle School: 380 Yes, 64 No.
Mamamarock Ave School: 85 Yes, 17 No.
Ridgeway: 491 Yes, 96 No.

Grand Total: 1,456 Yes, 300 No.
Yes Margin: 83%

School Board Election Results

Michelle Tratoros: 1,152
Peter Bassano: 1,351
Donna McLaughlin: 1,245
Michael Seymour: 969
Terence McGuire: 1,311

Candidates’ Breakdown By Polling Place

Peter Bassano, 1,351:
Fire House: 74
Church Street: 274
Rochambeau: 82
Middle School: 365
Mamaroneck Ave. School: 89
Ridgeway: 467

Terence McGuire, 1,311

Fire House: 86
Church Street: 277
Rochambeau: 99
Middle School: 335
Mamaroneck Ave. School: 85
Ridgeway: 429

Donna McLaughlin, 1,245

Fire House: 85
Church Street: 249
Rochambeau:96
Middle School: 326
Mamaroneck Ave. School: 91
Ridgeway: 398

Michelle Tratoros, 1,152

Fire House: 91
Church Street: 230
Rochambeau: 93
Middle School: 257

Mamaroneck Ave School: 89
Ridgeway: 392

Michael Seymour, 969

Fire House: 67
Church Street: 216
Rochambeau: 72
Middle School: 237
Mamaroneck Ave School: 68
Ridgeway: 309

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