WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. September 17, 2004: The property management firm handling the leaseup of the former Sears property on Main Street in White Plains has confirmed that Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest retailer is in a flight of 5 “mid-price” retailers negotiating with Stauback Retail Services,  handling the lease-up of the Sears building for Ivy Equities the owners of the property WPCNR has learned. 

THE WAL-MART WATCH: Target’s archrival is in the final stage of negotiations for space in the former Sears location across the street from City Center, home of Target. The rumors of Wal-Mart eyeballing the space first surfaced in August. Mayor Joseph Delfino went on record at the time as saying he preferred Wal-Mart, (an arch competitor of Target) not rent the space. Photo by WPCNR News. 

Rumors of Wal-Mart flared up strongly again this week in a letter to WPCNR from a union executive, lamenting Wal-Mart personnel policies. That executive said he had been advised by members of the White Plains Common Council at a recent cocktail party that Wal-Mart appeared to be coming in, that they did not like it, but there was nothing they could do about it. Today, Staubach Realty comfirmed the Wal-Mart presence in the hunt.

WPCNR’s source close to the negotiations would not name the other four retailers involved. He described them as “big box” retailers. Negotiations are expected to be completed within two weeks, he said, by which time, the source said the three floor complex will be leased to either two major tenants or all five.

Each floor is only 82,000 square feet, he explained, saying that no one tenant would take all three floors, that he could foresee a mix of one retailer taking two floors and two more splitting the third floor. He said anything could happen, and no mix was decided on yet, but he expected to be announcing the final lineup in two weeks.

He said heating and air conditioning systems were being upgraded, as well as escalators and the electrical system.

WAL-MART BLUE? Not necessarily, our source said. The entrance from North Broadway Plaza to the old Sears, with a fresh coat of  blue, very similar to the Wal-Mart trade color. Photo by WPCNR News.

Asked if the fresh blue paint in the entry halls was “Wal-Mart” blue, the source said absolutely not, that this was the colors of the construction company, Pavarini Construction Managers of Stamford, Connecticut.

“The Shoppes at Main,” the name of the new stackmall  was envisioned at that time by John A. Saraceno, Jr., Ivy Equities Chief Investment Officer to be “one of the county’s finest multi-tenant retail developments.”

 WPCNR’s source said today that finding tenants had taken longer than expected. When ground was broken symbolically last October, Stauback Retail Services expected tenant signings by the end of 2003, with tenants in by Spring, 2004.

Neighborhood Market Makes Sense for location.

Checking the Wal-Mart website, www.walmartstores.com , WPCNR notes that Wal-Mart plans to open 50 to 55 new discount stores and 220 to 230 new Supercenters in fiscal 04-05. They have introduced a new concept called Neighborhood Market, and their plan is to open 25 to 30 of those.

Wal-Mart Discount Stores are huge with some 36 departments, selling clothing, electronics, toys, fabrics & crafts, lawn & garden, jewelry and shoes. A store like that might fill two floors of The Shoppes on Main Street.

A ” Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market,” though appear to be just the right fit for one of the 82,000 square foot floors in “The Shoppes on Main Street.” And, at this point there is no immediate food market within walking distance of the  North Tower apartments and planned Trump condominiums in the South Tower of City Center. A custom Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market might just fill that need.

The Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market  is described as 42,000 to 55,000 square feet, and features fresh produce, deli foods, fresh meat and dairy items, health and beauty aids, one-hour photo and traditional photo developing services, drive-through pharmacies, stationaery and paper goods, pet supplies and household chemicals.

However, the kind of Wal-Mart the organization envisions for “The Shoppes On Main Street” at this time is pure speculation.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. From National Pro Fastpitch, Denver, Colorado. September 19, 2004: National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) has announced that the 2005 National Tryout for its elite professional teams, and the only U.S. major league of fastpitch softball would be held on Saturday, December 4, 2004 from 9 a.m-2 p.m. PDT at Desert Bloom Field (8405 S. Maryland Parkway) in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Jump to Tryout Forms

The National Pro Fastpitch Championship, Akron Ohio, August 29, 2004: The New York-New Jersey Juggernaut and the New England Riptide at gametime. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto & the NY-NJ Juggernaut.

Team representatives from all eight NPF teams, the World Champion NY-NJ Juggernaut, New England Riptide, Texas Thunder, California Sunbirds, Akron Racers, Arizona Heat, and its two new teams in Chicago and Omaha,  will be on hand searching for the best fastpitch talent to invite to spring training in May.

The tryout will again be held in conjunction with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) national convention, which will also host the 2005 NPF Senior Draft, Sunday, December 5 at 6:00 p.m.

All interested women’s fastpitch players who are at least 21 years of age (no later than 5/1/05), and have completed their collegiate fastpitch softball eligibility at a four-year college or university are encouraged to register for the invitation only tryouts. Tryout registrants will be reviewed based on their application materials and an invitation to participate will be sent to only those athletes who qualify.

NAUTS Courtney Scott behind the plate as Carri “Lightning” Leto at second anticipates the play. Photo, Courtesy Nick Leto & NY-NJ Juggernaut.

Players must be prepared to demonstrate a wide variety of skills including, but not limited to, hitting, fielding and base running. All equipment, with the exception of a personal glove, bat, cleats and catcher’s gear, will be provided.

All tryout materials, including the $60 pre-registration fee, must be received in the NPF office no later than November 19, 2004. On-site registration will not be allowed at this year’s tryout.

NPF athletes are gifted athletes who possess great softball skills and present a resume of outstanding softball accomplishments including, but not limited to the following: collegiate All-American, conference MVP, leader in one or more NCAA statistical categories, U.S. National Team or Olympian.

Most NPF players have the educational background to pursue other careers in the off-season or after their playing days are over. That education also allows for a certain level of sophistication and judgment that serves them well in negotiating endorsement deals, interacting with fans and dealing with the media.

Current NCAA athletes should keep in mind that if they participate in a professional tryout, even if unsuccessful, they risk the loss of amateur status and the loss of current or future collegiate softball scholarship opportunities.

To find additional information about NPF players, the game, the season, spectators & media, team staff, etc. visit the FAQ section of the NPF website.

Please read all of the forms completely! If you are having difficulty downloading the registration materials in PDF, the materials can be mailed or faxed to you by emailing a request to Danielle Cox at daniellec@profastpitch.com.

NPF, the world’s premier professional fastpitch softball league for women, consists of eight teams located throughout the United States and features former USA Softball Women’s National Team members, collegiate All-Americans and all-conference selections. The 2004 season featured the inaugural NPF All-Star Game, the first-ever NPF Championship Semifinal and the first NPF Championship Game, won by the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, and has been in operation since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).


2005 Tryout Forms
2005 Tryout Registration Form
2005 Tryout Waiver

CHAMPIONSHIP OUTFIELD of the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut celebrate first ever NPF Championship,  after Kellie Wilkerson, (center) grabs the final out in Amanda Scott’s 10-1 victory over the Riptide. Left is Lauren Bauer, at right is Venus Taylor. Photo, Courtesy, Nick Leto & NY-NJ Juggernaut.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) September 16, 2004: Acting to protect the health and safety of Westchester residents, in particular young people, County Executive Andy Spano proposed a local law Tuesday that would ban the sale or use in the county of a machine that vaporizes alcohol so that it can be inhaled or snorted.

            The so-called AWOL machine (“alcohol without liquid”) is dangerous and will encourage alcohol abuse and underage drinking, said Spano, who has initiated numerous programs to stop underage drinking and drunk driving.

“This machine is dangerous,” said Spano. “Permitting the use of devices designed solely to achieve a quicker high – devices aimed primarily at young people – will likely lead to an increase in inexperienced  drivers getting behind the wheel in an intoxicated state, endangering themselves and others who use the roads.”  

            Spano was joined at a news conference Tuesday  by several police chiefs, who gave their support to his proposal to ban the use and sale of the AWOL machine. The bill has been sent to the county Board of Legislators.    

            If approved, the bill would ban the purchase, sale, possession with intent to use or the use of alcoholic beverage vaporizers. Violators would be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, a prison term of up to a year, or both. Enforcement would be the responsibility of local police departments and the county Department of Public Safety. 

            As detailed by Spano, liquor poured into the AWOL machine is mixed with oxygen and vaporized; the vapor can then be inhaled, effectively administering a “quick hit” of alcohol to the user. Because the alcohol is inhaled directly into the bloodstream via the lungs, its effects are felt immediately.

            AWOL’s distributor, Spirit Partners, is marketing the product as a hangover-free, calorie-free and carb-free way to enjoy alcohol.  They are marketing AWOL to bars and restaurants, as well as to individuals for parties and weddings. 

            Spano said the machine is  fraught with risks, for several reasons:

•  While the distributor recommends limiting use time to 20 minutes, appropriate use and monitoring would be the primary responsibility of the purchaser. Use of the machine for more than 20 minutes at one time, or repeated use of 20 minutes each, could very quickly lead to blood alcohol levels at the impaired or intoxicated levels.  Further, what is to prevent customers from using the AWOL machine in addition to having ‘traditional’ drinks?  How accurately will a bar, restaurant, or party host be able to monitor the amount of alcohol consumed by each patron or guest?

• Bars and restaurants that cater to the younger (21-30 year old) drinkers, in particular, may see this as a marketing tool, a new “party machine,” that could increase their business. One could even offer incentives, such as a discounted price on your first vapor shot, to further encourage its use.

• It is well known that many underage drinkers still access bars with fake IDs and that binge drinking rates are high in this age group.  This machine could become just another binge drinking game for underage drinkers to compete in.

• According to AWOL’s own  marketing literature, the distribution of this machine is not restricted to “on-premise licensed establishments,” and can be purchased or rented for weddings and other private parties. If left unchecked, this machine could be sold or rented to anyone, without regard to age or intent.

• Many who are going to get behind the wheel of a car might not understand the immediate and direct effect of “vaporizing” versus drinking.

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            WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of  Communications. (EDITED) September 15, 2004: County  Executive Andy Spano today signed historic legislation that formalizes restrictions on the number of commercial flights at the Westchester County Airport, and significantly stops the F.A.A. from opening up the airport to more flights per day and evening hours.

            “This is a very important piece of legislation,” said Spano. “It means these traditional protections for the communities around the airport will now be part of the laws of Westchester County. They will now have permanence.”

            Spano commended the Board of Legislators, particularly Martin Rogowsky,  for its hard work to develop and approve the new law.

            Commented Rogowsky, “This is a historic moment in the life of the Westchester County Airport. As the legislator representing the community surrounding the airport, I am thrilled that the Spano Administration has been able to accomplish this.”

            The new legislation provides the following: 

• A maximum of 4 scheduled commercial aircraft may enplane or deplane per half hour,


• On average, there may not be more than 240 scheduled passengers per half hour (either arriving or departing),


• Continuation of the lottery allocation system for flights, to determine what airline can use the airport at what time,

• County control of ramp operations.

            These restrictions are similar to what has  been in effect by contract at the airport since 1984. Over the years, the airlines agreed to periodic extensions of the restrictions. With the latest extension set to  expire Dec. 31 of this year, Spano initiated an effort to  codify the restrictions, to make it less likely the restrictions can ever be successfully challenged.

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th District. September 15, 2004: Westchester seniors face unique challenges, from costly prescription drugs to maintaining a home on a fixed-income. To protect those who have made Westchester a great place to live, work and raise a family, I’ve pushed for stricter property tax exemptions for seniors, opposed fee increases to the state’s Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage Program (EPIC) and supported decreasing expenses for medication.

            Improving access to quality, affordable health care

                        Unfortunately, the Bush administration created a new Medicare program which helps drug companies – at the expense of seniors – and just recently raised seniors’ Medicare premiums for doctor visits by 17 percent. It’s obvious that much more work needs to be done to ensure that Westchester seniors are provided the care they deserve.

                        Now, with Westchester County Medical Center in danger, it’s critical that our health care providers have the funding they need to keep their doors open. That’s why I fought the governor’s narrow-minded proposals and worked to restore $40 million in cuts to hospitals, and rejected a new “sick tax” on hospitals and other health care providers. 

                        Quality health care is a right, not a privilege. Too many cuts – masquerading as “reforms” – are targeting the most vulnerable among us, especially seniors living on fixed-incomes. That’s just not fair, and I’ll continue fighting to ensure our loved ones have access to quality, affordable health care. Our priority must be seniors, not HMOs or large pharmaceutical companies.

            Reducing the tax burden

                        Westchester seniors have worked hard their entire lives to save money so that one day they could live comfortably. They deserve that right, which is why I’m pushing for greater property tax exemptions for seniors.

                        To help seniors who see a drop in their income due to retirement or other reasons, I sponsored legislation which passed the Assembly allowing them to substitute more recent tax returns if it helps them to meet the income requirement for the enhanced STAR program (A.7873). I also helped save taxpayers $4.4 million next year by lessening Westchester County’s Medicaid burden.

                        Our seniors have worked hard to enrich our community, provide for their families and preserve our quality of life. It’s time for us to give back, and I will continue to ensure that Westchester seniors receive the care and assistance they deserve.