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 STARS & STRIPES . By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2004: Crowds of friends and neighbors gathered at White Plains High School’s rolling fields this evening to enjoy the annual city party for America: The 2004 Independence Day Celebration. A crowd, smaller than in recent years, seasoned observers said, and numbering about 5,000 persons saw a 25-minute fireworks display that satisfied, showcased a diversity of pyrotechnic creativity and ended with a powerful ever-building finale that took the crowd’s breath away with the appropriate “oooooohhhhhhs” and “ahhhhhhhhhs” in the right places.

CROWD GATHERED AT 6:30 P.M., at White Plains High School good-naturedly spreading out blankets and enjoying the music provided by Jazymn. Photo by WPCNR News

HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN enjoyed a mini Midway, with rides at $1.75 each, plus magic shows and Mad Science. The White Plains P.T.A., Good Humor, Fried Dough, Netmeg and Maui Wowi also provided food booths. Photo by WPCNR News.

ROGER THE VENDOR sold red, white and blue “light-ups” for your ears, your mouth and your hands. Photo by WPCNR News.

JAZMYN played a mix of latino and pop that lent a festive flavor leading up to the fireworks. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

THE WESTCHESTER COUNTY POLICE EMERALD SOCIETY PERFORMED stirring patriotic songs on the pipes to the delight of the little children frolicking on the field. In blue shirt and khaki pants is Commissioner of Recreation & Parks, Arne Abramowitz, and Master of Ceremonies who produced the show. Photo by WPCNR News

Mayor Joseph Delfino Introduced Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Assemblyman Adam Bradley, and County Legislator William Ryan and his Common Council seen standing to the Left of the Mayor.  Mayor Joe awarded plaques to the Extravaganza’s five sponsors, Todai Restaurant, Famiglia Pizza, Century 21 Wolff, White Plains Hospital Center, and the New York Power Authority. The Mayor invited visitors to enjoy White Plains new revitalized downtown, its Renaissance Plaza Fountain, new restaurants and retail stores, and wished America a great happy birthday. Photo by WPCNR News

MEANWHILE, down on basebaseball field,International Fireworks crews prepared the launch batteries for 3 inch, 4, 5 inch, 6 and 8 inch “shells” as they call them in the pyrotechnics biz. Five batteries of these cylindrical “mortar” launchers consisting of  approximately 25 cylinders lined up in a row on each of the five batteries, plus  about 7 to 10 steel barrels for the hotter “shells” were used to put on the 25-minute show. The Pyrotechnologist on the right is readying a fuse. The “Shells” are all lit by hand. Photo by WPCNR News.

A 5 INCH SHELL, demonstrated by Chris Burgmier, supervisor of the show for International Fireworks. He holds the fuse in his left hand, and the business end in his right. The Shell is dropped into a cylinder, lit by hand by roving igniters. Burgmeir told WPCNR that it took 8 to 10 hours to set up last night’s show. Burgmier has been putting on fireworks shows for 30 years, another member of his crew has been in the bang business for 33 years. Photo by WPCNR News.

AND THEY WORK PRETTY GOOD, TOO! Photo by WPCNR News

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WPCNR CITY HALL SPIN. July 1, 2004: George Gretsas, Executive Officer for Mayor Delfino, told WPCNR Wednesday that his last day with the city has not been decided yet, laying to rest a rumor that July 13 would be his last day.

WOOD’S THE WORD: Paul Wood, standing, behind Mayor Joseph Delfino in October, 2003., is the rumored successor to George Gretsas. Photo From WPCNR News Archive.

Speculation on the new City Manager of Fort Lauderdale’s departure from the White Plains city limits has been the talk of city hall. Paul Wood, the City’s Economic Development Director and sometime press spokesperson, according to “City Hall speculators” and county sources will be appointed by Mayor Joseph Delfino to the position of Executive Officer after Mr. Gretsas leaves. Wood has told WPCNR he would like the job.

Wood is a former reporter for a New Jersey newspaper whom Mr. Gretsas met while Mr. Gretsas was serving on the Board of Education in Park Ridge, New Jersey. Mr. Wood has filled many roles behind the scenes in the Delfino Administration.

He has been the city political and economic intelligence specialist researching relationships, and players in city intrigues. He has found companies to bring to White Plains, by attending economic development conventions, and has toured cities for development ideas. He has written redevelopment plans, campaign literature, news releases.

A Gretsas Guy

Ostensibly a media spokesperson, he has done less and less media contact over the last 15 months, supervising other members of the Mayor’s Office staff, and being a confidente of Mr. Gretsas, working ever more closely with the increasingly isolated Executive Officer over the last two years. Wood is familiar with Gretsas’ thinking, and of course, would have ready access to the Gretsas thinking, after Mr. Gretsas leaves the city. (Though Mr. Gretsas has said he would not consult with the City of White Plains after he leaves.)  Wood has a personable manner in dealing with city hall employees and media personnel (most times). Wood may have to rely heavily on the City Legal Department or other knowledgeable sources in the areas of common council procedure in implementing Mayoral policy, and City Charter matters.

Dunphy A Long Shot

The other apparent candidate is Edward Dunphy, the City Corporation Counsel, but this appears unlikely at this time,  unless Mayor Delfino has a change of heart.

Awaiting the Plume of Smoke

Since Mr. Gretsas let it be known he had accepted the Fort Lauderdale position, there has been no announcement, statement or procedure announced by The Mayor’s Office as to whether a national search for an Executive Officer would or would not be conducted, if the position would be filled from within, or if the Mayor would leave it unfilled, or even when Mr. Gretsas would officially depart the city. The Mayor’s Office has had shades drawn tight most of the day and night despite beautiful summer weather. Phone calls have not been returned on the Gretsas replacement issue.

Mr. Gretsas will begin his Fort Lauderdale adventure August 2.

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WPNCR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. July 1, 2004, Updated 4:45 P.M. E.D.T.: The days of 50 cents an hour parking ended midnight, today, when the White Plains DOP (Department of Parking) was born, and the White Plains Parking Authority ceased to exist after 57 years. The DOP has advised the White Plains CitizeNetReporter that all streets in the city with parking meters will be converted to the new rate structure by the first of September, not two weeks as previously reported by the DOP.

The first three blocks of the downtown on-street meters and garages will be converted by Tuesday of next week, according to Al Moroni, Director of Parking, at which time the new rates will be enforced. Moroni noted that downtown on-street meters currently do charge 75 cents an hour but only until 6 P.M.. He said that by Tuesday these will be converted to accept 6 hours worth of quarters after 6 P.M, complete with “new signage,” at which time these meters will be enforced 6 to midnight.  The sequence in which the rest of the city’s streets ( where 25 cent an hour meters will be converted to 75 cents an hour meters)  will be converted appears at the end of this report. “You have to get a Cash Key,” Moroni said, “Because that is a lot of quarters.”

GOT CHANGE? The White Plains Department of Parking on-street meters will demand 3 quarters to park an hour instead of the usual two beginning today. Garage and Lot meters will be raised to 50 Cents an Hour. The rates and hours will be in effect 7 days a week, as well as the time you can spend at one meter, according to the DOP today. “We’ve already received calls about the time limitations on Sundays,” a DOP spokesperson said. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

Today,  the City of White Plains on-street parking meter rates go to 75 cents an hour throughout the city, and lots and off-street meter rates go up to 50 cents an hour.

 

18 Quarters Required to Park six hours After 6 P.M.

 

Parkers throughout the city should note meters will be enforced from 9 A.M.  until 12:00 midnight, whereas previously in White Plains, meters were only enforced from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M. Three new Public Safety Aids are being hired to enforce the new hours. The DOP also informs WPCNR that after 6 P.M. citizens will be able to buy 6 hours of parking at a time in the new meters to avoid having to “feed the meter.” However, to park for six hours will require 18 quarters.

 

 

Citizens in the downtown at restaurants, bistros, stores in the evenings will have to feed the meters and keep leaving their dinners to do so to an enjoy an evening out or face a $15 dollar summons when their meter runs out.

Parking Finance Planning Urged.

Shoppers and diners between 9 A.M. and 6 are urged by WPCNR  to calculate walking time and have quarters, dimes, nickels or Cash Key  with them to feed in the extra quarters and consider carefully how long it will take to walk to their retail destination pick up their item and return. Cash keys may be purchased for any amount at White Plains Department of Parking offices (located at 7-11 South Broadway and at WPDOT garages (The Galleria, City Hall).

 

The city will be phasing in the meters gradually street-by-street. Today July 1, the meters on Main Street from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Broadway and EJ Conroy Drive to South Broadway will have the new rates (75 cents an hour) in effect. Meters within city lots and garages move to 50 cents an hour (the present rate at the City Center Garage). 

 

A few days of warnings…and then the $15 summons.

 

The city will issue  “OOPS” warnings after 6 P.M. in the first few days of the new rates and will switch to real summonses (costing you $15, up from $10) at an undisclosed date in the very near future.

 

Overtime notices in city garages like The Galleria and the City Hall Garage,  go up to $2 for the first overtime hour (or part) (up from $1).

 

The city will be phasing-in the new rate increase and extended hours electronically on the city’s on-street meters in the following order:  Main Street West to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and East to Broadway, and EJ. Conroy Drive to South Broadway has been completed. Meters will then be converted to the 75 cent rate in the following order:

 

1. Mamaroneck Avenue North and South to Maple Avenue both sides.

2. Martine Avenue

3. Mitchell Place.

4. Quarropas.

5. Court Street.

6. Grand Street

7. Post Road (South Broadway to MLK)

8. Church Street.

9. Barker Avenue.

10.Cottage Place

11. Water Street

12. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Main to Water Street)

13. Hamilton Avenue

14. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Martine to Post) Fischer Court

15. Longview

16. S. Lexington Avenue

17. Cromwell

18 Chester Place

22. Waller Avenue (Post to Carhart).

 

The Outer Town Street meters and lots will be converted next in this order:

 

1. Mamaroneck Avenue (Maple to Bryant)

2. Carhart

3. Rutherford

4. Greenridge

5. Livingston

6. Edgewood

7.Bloomingdale

8. Doyer

9. Shapham Place

10. Hall Avenue

11. Bond Avenue

 

 

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from Leigh Greenfelder, Akron Racers, (EDITED). June 30, 2004: The New York/New Jersey Juggernaut won the the opener of Tuesday’s Twilight-Night Doubleheader in Akron, beating the Racers, 3-2 in the opener behind Kaci Clark who picked up her third win of the season, with Amanda Scott picking up the save.

The Nauts lost the nightcap when pitcher Gina Oaks misplayed a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning that allowed Trena Peel to score the winning run from second, pinch-running for Dana Derek who had doubled to lead off the ninth. The Nauts take their 15-9 record to Sacremento to play the California Sunbirds Thursday night in the opener of a three-game set.

In the opener, The Nauts got things started in the opening frame when “Lightning Leto,” (Carri) walked, moved to second on Gina Oaks’ bunt and scored on Kellie Wilkerson’s single off Brandee McArthur. The Nauts notched two unearned tallies in the third when Jacki Pasquerella was safe on McArthur’s error. After Carri Leto popped up and Gina Oaks flied to right, Pasquerella stole second and McArthur lost her control walking Lauren Bauer and Kellie Wilkerson to fill the bases. Then Ms. Clutch, Lisa Iancin singled to left for 2 runs, 3-0, Nauts.

 The Racers applied some gas in the third getting 2 back, as Kaci Clark succombed to control difficulties, too. Heather Wright singled and Kaci walked Brandi Stuart and Anoinette Armstrong to load ’em up. Iyhia McMichael, who beat the Nauts Sunday afternoon, delivered a hard single to left field, plating Wright and Stuart, 3-2, Nauts after three. And that was the way she stayed as Clark pitched through the fifth, and Amanda Scott finished the Racers off with two innings of uneventful relief.

The nightcap was another classic Naut extra inning battle featuring former Stratford Brakette standout, Nikki Meyers in the circle who handcuffed the Nauts going all the way for a 2 to 1 win, outduelling Gina Oaks. Gina and Nikki matched each other for four innings before both teams scored in the 5th.

Lindsey Collins-Miller, Naut backstop, doubled home Lisa Iancin who had walked for a short-lived 1-0 Naut lead, and Lindsey was stranded. In the last of the fifth, the Racers’ Kristin Johnson tripled and scored on an errant relay to the plate. Johnson was awarded home anyway when third bassette, Jackie Pasquerella was called for interfering with Johnson. And that’s the way she stayed until Oaks’ fateful error in the ninth.

Grass Roots Support in Akron.

WPCNR checked with Paul Panegas, Sports Editor of the Akron Beacon-Journal told WPNCR by telephone, on how the Akron club has been drawing. Panegas said the Racers have been attracting a hard core of fans, averaging about 250 fans a game at Firestone Stadium, despite being plagued by bad weather. He said the team has drawn a couple of crowds in access of 1,000 fans. He said his paper has featured the minority members of the team, and done a number of stories on the team. Panegas said he relies on reports from the team for road results because the Associated Press wire does not carry the scores of the National Pro Fastpitch league.

Leigh Greenfelder, Akron Racers spokesperson, told WPCNR the Akron television station covered the doubleheader last night and did several interviews with the players. She said the local television station has done features on the players and gives the scores of Racer games. She added that the Cleveland stations have not caught on to the Racers yet, “but we’re working on them.”

Last night’s crowd in Akron was 315 fans and Greenfelder said she hoped to get the attendance up to 800 fans a game.

National Pro Fastpitch Standings  June 30, 2004

                                      W      L      PCT.    GB

Texas Thunder             14     7     .667       ____

Akron Racers               12    7    ,632           1

Juggernaut                    15    9    ,625          1

Arizona Heat                   9   14    .391          6

New England Riptide     9    15    .375         6-1/2

California Sunbirds        8     15    .348         7

Tuesday’s Results

New England 1, California 0, 15 innings.

Texas 5, Arizona 0.

New York-New Jersey 3, Akron 2, (1st)

Akron 2, New York-NJ 1, (2nd), 9 Innings.

 

 

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. June 29, 2004: The Attorney General’s office has filed a motion with the Appellate Court, Second Department in Brooklyn, asking the Appellate Court to deny a stay (which would keep Glen Hockley in his Council seat) while Mr. Hockley appeals the quo warranto decision rendered by Judge Francis Nicolai earlier this month, requiring Mr. Hockley to step down from the Common Council.

The papers argue that Mr. Hockley is not entitled to the stay because he is a private citizen, and not a duly elected member of the Common Council, and also note that Mr. Hockley’s cases cited for the stay involve corporate offices, and not elected offices. The papers ask the Appellate Court to not grant a stay, and consider the case as an election case, setting early arguments for the appeal.