Attorney General Initiates Quo Warranto Proceeding to Bring Delgado Back

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WPCNR AFTERNOON TRIB & POST. By John F. Bailey. December 3, 2003:Attorneys for former councilman Larry Delgado of White Plains, were notified today that Eliot Spitzer’s Quo Warranto Review panel has found in favor of Mr. Delgado and will file papers today to bring a quo warranto procedure in supreme court in White Plains to restore Mr. Delgado to the Common Council.
Jeffrey Binder, attorney for Mr. Delgado during the councilman’s three tier court fight to secure a remedy for a jammed voting machine, reported the Attorney General’s office decision today.

Mr. Binder said he thought the procedure would be a jury trial, not a bench trial, and the action would be to restore Mr. Delgado to the Common Council.

He said that an attorney from the Attorney General’s Office, Joel Graber, a seasoned and knowledgeable election law attorney would be representing Mr. Delgado’s interest in the quo warranto procedure in which the Attorney General will seek to remove Mr. Hockley from office as a “usurper,” the essence of any quo warranto action. Binder speculated that the action could begin within two to three weeks, almost nine months since the Court of Appeals threw out Judge Francis Nicolai’s decision, and the Appellate Division rulling calling for a new election between Larry Delgado and Glen Hockley.

Binder said the Quo Warranto Review Panel informed him that they “appreciated our (Mr. Delgado’s) patience.”

Mr. Binder said the last quo warranto action in the state was executed in 1990, successfully.

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TDR Hearing Closed Without Comment; Council Study IP; Kills Permit Pkg. Request

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. December 2, 2003 UPDATED 12 Noon E.S.T.: The Common Council opened and closed the hearing on the ordinance allowing transfer of development rights (TDR) in the Central Business District 3 and 4 and the Urban Renewal Area, setting a vote on the historic zoning change for January 6.



SUSAN HABEL HOLDS FORTH ON TDR: Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel preached to the choir Monday evening on the Transfer of Development Rights legislation public hearing, comparing it to a transfer of sand between two sandboxes.
Photo by WPCNR TVCam


No one spoke from the public on this matter, and it will be voted upon in January. The legislation, barring a sudden change of heart on the Council, will make it possible for Louis Cappelli, the City Center developer, to erect a hotel and office complex on his recently acquired Main Street parcel extending from Church Street to the Court Street extension.



STUDY INDIAN POINT FIRST: Councilman Robert Greer advised the public “This resolution does not call for an immediate shut down of Indian Point.” He said it calls for a study of issues, including security, operation, the evacuation plan, and storage of fuel rods issues to determine if the plant is a safe risk to remain open. The resolution also calls for a study of how Indian Point electrical demands will be met if it were to be decommissioned.
Photo by WPCNR TVCam


Councilman William King noted that “I want the citizens of White Plains to know how proud you should be of your council and your Mayor posed nontop questions (on their tour of Indian Point). I was really proud of how the council and the Mayor took it (the Indian Point safety issue) very seriously.”

Council KILLS Overnight Street Parking.

The Council passed a homerule resolution, 4-to 3 to prepare a bill asking Albany to allow Permit Parking on the streets in White Plains to alleviate the overnight parking shortage in key areas, most notably, the Old Mamaroneck Road area. Councilpersons Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin, Robert Greer and Bill King supported the draft of such a bill, while Councilpersons Glen Hockley and Tom Roach and the Mayor opposed it.

However, the measure did not pass because a homerule request requires a “super majority” vote of 5 to 2. The result: overnight street parking is a dead issue for now.

Messrs. Hockley and Roach said a highly detailed plan working out the mechanics of how such a permit plan would work, would be a more prudent course than simply asking Albany for permission for permit parking on the streets, and a detailed, thought-out plan, would, they felt have better chance of approval.

The council voted down a proposal for metered parking.

TDR: Nobody Cares.

Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel opened the public hearing on the transfer of development rights in the downtown area, likening the concept to that of two sandboxes.

She said that a child with a sandbox very full wanting to transfer sand to another child’s sandbox which did not have as much sand, could do so, however the child transferring the sand, could not “add any more sand” to their sandbox. She described this scenario as what the Transfer of Development Rights legislation does.

She noted that any developer wishing to transfer development rights had to do a traffic study and an environmental review, demonstrating that their transference was preferable on the site to receive the development. She said the developer had to have a specific project in mind that fit the zoning requirements of the site they wished to transfer development rights.

No Speculation Boom

She said this would not start a stockpiling of properties, or rampant speculation in downtown properties. Because any transfer of development rights would have to be done simultaneously according to a specific plan.

Speculation Window Limited

In response to Councilman Thomas Roach’s concern about a developer saving a site with the hope of transferring its development potential to another site in the future, the Commissioner said she did not expect this, saying that transfer of development rights had to be done simultaneously between two sites. Ms. Habel advised Mr. Roach that the Common Council has a series of controls on such transfers that include compliance with the overall city comprehensive plan, environmental review, the Urban Renewal Plan, and the requirement to provide a Traffic Study.

The Cappelli window is an example

WPCNR notes that Mr. Cappelli purchased development rights over the parking garage he is building, and in the meantime, has acquired the Halpern property on Main Street. He has only a few months left before he has to pay the city another million dollars to maintain his control of those development rights, which he wishes to transfer to his new Main Street property to build a convention center and hotel.



MR. WHITE PLAINS GIVEN KEYS TO CITY: Mayor Delfino gives Robert Ruger the keys to the city and a special plaque honoring Mr. Ruger on his 90th birthday. The Mayor, at the beginning of the Council meeting, said he wanted to “pay homage to Robert Ruger” for his long service to White Plains.
Photo by WPCNR TVCam


Ruger, shown here accepting the plaque, said he wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge “those volunteers who have never gotten the opportunities I’ve had, and wish them all the best and have a very happy holiday.” The Mayor, visibly moved, said, “Always conscious of others. Bob, thank you very much.”

In other action Monday evening, the council approved the White Plains Firefighters new three year contract calling for 3.75, 3.75 and 4.00 pay increases over its three year life…The council authorized a commissioning of a design concept for the new Liberty Park on Silver Lake.

Attendance was poor Monday evening. Less than twenty persons turned out for the meeting.

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King Komments:Bring A Little of the Heartland to White Plains

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WPCNR KING KOMMENTS By White Plains Councilman William King. December 2, 2002:The Councilman went home for Thanksgiving to good old Wheaton, Illinois, and files this report on a Thanksgiving downtown promotion for White Plains.
I was back in the Chicago area over Thanksgiving, where I grew up. Wheaton is like White Plains. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County right outside of Chicago and has tall apt. buildings near the train station, single family homes everywhere else, and a downtown that is probably 3-5 years ahead of ours, with all nice stores, home grown plus chains including Starbucks, etc.

Anyway, they have a tradition going now that is very popular – a night-time holiday celebration the day after Thanksgiving. We missed a little parade they have (probably like the one in White Plains that is on a Saturday late morning) but they also have high school kids dressed up in various character costumes standing in front of stores that gets the little kids excited (they had Barney, the Grinch, Cinderalla, Blue from Blue’s Clues, someone dressed up as a large slice of pizza in front of a Pizza restaurant, Darth Vader, etc. … everybody but SpongeBob Square Pants). Cinderella was actually inside a jewelry store, maybe because it was so cold but it also drew people into the store, including us.

Central Park Carriages in White Plains?

They also had horse-drawn carriage rides where they suggested a donation and a free hot chocolate stand (that ran out of hot chocolate). The carriages, which we waited a half hour for, went around a loop maybe 4 blocks in 5 minutes.

It was a relatively inexpensive way to create some local excitement – people came from all around as Wheaton’s event has drawn attention, such that other suburbs are copying them. We should copy Wheaton and then other towns in Westchester will copy us.
Councilman William King

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School District Is Looking for a Few Good Numbers People. It’s Budget Time!

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS GAZETTE. From Michelle Schoenfeld, WP City School District. December 2, 2002:The White Plains Board of Education announced today that it will, for the seventh consecutive year, organize its Annual Budget Committee (ABC), as the District begins the formal process of preparing the 2003-04 school budget.
The ABC is an advisory group which provides input, feedback and suggestions to the District. The Committee is comprised of representatives of more than a dozen various civic and community organizations as well as individuals who have expressed interest
in serving.

Following an orientation session for new members on January 29th, a series of three meetings will be held with the ABC, the administration and Board: February 5th and 12th, and March 5th.

Meetings are held at 7:30 P.M. at Education House, 5 Homeside Lane, and will include an overview of the budget as well as discussions of key issues and recommendations.

Anyone wishing to serve on the ABC may call Michele Schoenfeld, District Clerk, at 422-2071. All of the meetings are open to the public.

Dates to Remember

The budget process will continue with a Public Hearing on the
Superintendent’s Proposed Budget on Monday, March 24th, at 7:30 P.M., and the adoption of a final budget by the Board on Monday, March 31st. Another Public Hearing will take place on Monday, May
12th, and the annual Budget Vote, along with the Election of Board of Education members, will beon Tuesday, May 20th, from noon to 9 P.M.

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White Plains Art Students Showcase in Rye

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. From Michelle Schoenfeld. November 26, 2002: Artwork of five White Plains High School students is being exhibited at the Rye Arts Center through the month of December, along with work from other Westchester high school students.

Students whose work was selected are Alana Fitzgerald, Jennifer Lev, Alison Miller, Jennifer Russell and Jillian Salik. Their teachers are Judith Brindley, Robert Dancik, Mary Fennell and Mark Hauge.

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The Persuasions Look for an Echo This Weekend

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WPCNR WESTCHESTER VARIETY. December 2, 2002: A capella Doo Wop Live will be presented by The Persuasions this weekend in Yonkers at historic St. John’s Church, Getty Square, Yonkers. The vintage doo-woppers will be performing Crhistmas and Gospel Classics at 3 PM Sunday, December 15.
Westchester County is in luck. The Persuasions will be performing a new holiday tradition, featuring Christmas and Gospel classics performed by the legendary a cappella doo wop group on Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 3:00 P.M. Tickets are $20 adults, $18
seniors, $15 children.

Rap evolved in the ‘hood while a cappella found harmony in the stoops
of Brooklyn or the ground floor of the 5-story walk-ups that dotted The Bronx way back when.

It began in 1961 for The Persuasions. The Persuasions released 18 albums through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, until the genre suddenly acquired mainstream popularity as an outgrowth of rap.

The Persuasions were “Chirpin'” (also the name of one of their albums) while struttin’ their vocal dexterity.

Mix Magazine wrote that, “The Persuasions are four parts of one voice, one spirit.” Cash Box proclaimed, These all-vocal,
instrument-free heroes paved the way for today’s platinum a capella acts, Take 6 and Bobby McFerrin, as well as the retro-hip-hop styles of Boyz II Men and Color Me Badd.”

Or, as Tom Waits once said, “These guys are deep sea divers. I’m just a fisherman in a boat.”

Their film documentary, Spread the Word: The Persuasions Sing A Capella drew nothing but praise from coast to coast. The film airs periodically on PBS. The Fred Parnes documentary is a funny, moving,
and invigorating look at a vocal group that is one of America’s national treasures¦ Actually, I can think of one greater remedy for despondency; if The Persuasions happen to be playing around town, go see them. No film could possibly capture the sheer joy and
energy of the group live.”

Ticket purchase may be accomplished by sending e-mail to PPAC or by telephone at 914.964.8977. The performance will be held across the street from the newly restored PPAC (Philipsburgh Performing Arts Center) at historic St. John’s Church, located at One Hudson Street, in
the heart of Getty Square, in Yonkers, NY.

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Hockey Night: New York Raptors Host East Coast Special Hockey Clubs

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 30,2003: At Hommocks Rink in Larchmont, the New York Raptors played host to the Albany Cougars, New York Raptors, New Jersey Daredevils, Rochester Ice Cats and Washington Ice Dogs in a roundrobin Holiday Tournament Saturday night. Don Kerr and the Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association donated the icetime so these 88 special players could compete against each other.



RAPTORS RAPPING ON THE DAREDEVILS-COUGARS DOOR: Hockey action shows Rich Egan trying to jam the puck in from point blank range in the 5-5 nightcap of the hockey doubleheader. Some two-hundred parents and family from three states enjoyed a buffet supper as the ice action in the “Heart League” unfolded.
Photo by WPCNR Sports

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Hockey Night: Sommer Nets 7 Goals. White Plains Stuns Rye, 8-5.

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 30, 2003: The White Plains Hockey Tigers trailed Rye 3-1 going into the Third Period at Ebersole Rink Saturday night. In the first 4 minutes of the third period, the Tigers turned into the Montreal Canadians of the 1950s, and Tommy Sommer turned into Maurice “Rocket” Richard. Sommer scored 5 of the Tigers’ 6 unanswered goals in 4 minutes, stunning Rye to win their second game of the Tigers Thanksgiving Invitational, 8-5. Tommy added 1 more later to record 7 goals scored, a double-“Hat Trick”.



FLYING TIGER: Tommy Sommer No. 16 swoops by Rye’s Goaltender stick high in triumph after racing on left wing and blasting his 6th goal behind the hapless Garnet, to give the Tigers a 6-3 lead with 11 minutes to go in the Third Period. The Tiger was on fire in the first 4 minutes of the third period, scoring 5 goals.
Photo by WPCNR Sports


It was the most incredible team and individual performance this hockey fan has ever seen.

There were the Tigers playing a close tight-checking defensive game, kept at bay by Rye’s disciplined position hockey system, and trailing 3-1 going to the third period.

Rye had taken the lead on two power play goals in the last 5 minutes of the second period, and as a fan, you were not prepared for the Tiger team that hit the ice to start the Third Period.

Within 10 seconds Tommy Sommer had poked in a rebound on the far side in a two-Tiger breakaway, to make it 3-2.

Fifteen seconds later on an identical 2-on-1 play, Sommer did it again to tie the score 3-3. Incredibly before a minute and a half had gone by another Sommer sizzler from the head of the far circle had given the Tigers the lead, 4-3. Rye pulled their goalie.

Sommer’s wingmen and forecheckers were swarming the Rye nets skating like the Flying Frenchmen of the great old Montreal Canadians of the 50s. It was an overwhelming, beautiful thing to see.

At the 12 minute mark, Sommer poked home another rebound to make it 5-3.

Not since the Boston Bruins scored 6 goals in the first 4 minutes of the Third Period against the New York Rangers in 1958, had I seen anything like this.

White Plains Coaches Howard Rubenstein and his assistant were shaking their heads after the game, one coach said he had never seen anything like it, “Amazing,” he said, “Simply amazing.”

The Tigers were 2-0 in the tournament, and Coach Rubenstein was refusing to take calls from Ranger Coach Bryan Trottier, inquiring about Sommer’s availability for the next Ranger game.

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Tiger Stand Stymies Stepinac, 19-14. Crusaders Are Denied 4 Times Inside 3

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2002 UPDATED 11:00 PM EST: Three big touchdown plays by Spencer Ridenhour, Darrell Mack, twice, and a classic goalline stand by White Plains, held off the innovative passing game of the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders today before over 1,500 fans at Parker Stadium, as the Tigers won 19-14 in the Annual Turkey Bowl Classic.



FIRST DOWN! Spencer Ridenhour strains to the 13 yard line for the clinching first down on 3rd and 1 at the Tiger 12, with little over a minute to go in the football game, to clinch the Turkey Bowl. The Tigers ran it out of trouble after holding Stepinac off at the goalline to deny them the winning touchdown. Ridenhour had a 91 yard touchdown run for the Tigers first touchdown. Darrell Mack, in his last game for the Tigers, had a 76-yard run for a touchdown, and a 45-yard touchdown pass reception in the marvelous contest.
Photo by WPCNR SPORTS


After trailing 19-7 at halftime, the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders pulled to within 19-14 midway through the third quarter on a 15-yard drawplay up the middle with Frank Scuderi carrying the mail untouched into the endzone, to make the score 19-14 with the extra point.

The score was set up by an interception of a Mike DeVere pass by Yonkers’ Rich Pedilla as he waited on Mike’s flat pass to the near flat intended for Evan McGuire, cut in front of Evan on the near sideline, picking him off, returning the ball to the White Plains 35.

After a running play was futile, on the second play from scrimmage, Greenburgh’s Wendell Barbour, the talented scrambling quarterback in the Fran Tarkenton tradition, hit White Plains’ own Billy Flooks with a 21-yard crossing pattern to the far sideline, putting the Crusaders on the Tiger 15.

On the next play, Barbour delayed to the fullback Scuderi, completely fooling the spread Tiger secondary. Up the middle the “Bronx Batterer” cruised for the touchdown that put the Crusaders back in the game with 9:18 left in the Third Quarter. 4 plays and a touchdown. Three plays, 7 points.

Stepinac Stalls the Tiger Ground Forces

The Crusaders stopped the Tigers on the next series, with Spencer Ridenhour’s short punt (He slipped on the frozen tundra), setting the blue and scarlet up on their own 42. Tiger fans were apprehensive.

They had every reason to be, with QB Barbour mixing up flat passes to the White Plains ends, Griffin Nugent and Billy Flooks, Stepinac moved to the White Plains 25. Barbour to Nugent for 14 yards. First Down on the WP 46. Barbour to Nugent for 18 yards.

First down on the WP 27, where the Tigers stopped them on downs as two passes to Nugent fell incomplete. The Tigers had held off the challenge for the lead. It was the second time the Tigers had stopped Stepinac in the red zone. In all on the day, Stepinac only converted once in 3 tries after reaching the White Plains 25.



TIGERS RUN CLOCK. The Tigers running game settled things down when Ridenhour rumbled for a first down to the Tiger 35, and QB Mike DeVere trapped, rolled and picked his way for another first down to the Tiger 46. Then the Crusaders toughened up and stopped the Tigers on downs at the Crusader 48. Forced to punt, the Tigers coughed up the ball to Stepinac on the Stepinac 35. Ridenhour punted extremely well most of the morning on the frozen field, handling snaps deftly and getting kicks off with reasonable 30 yard distance from scrimmage.
Photo by WPCNR Sports


The Drive.

After White Plains had stopped Stepinac on downs and was forced to punt again, Stepinac got the ball back on their own 25 with 8:30 to go in the contest.

Given new life, the short scramble and pass game that Wendell Barbour, Grif Nugent and Billy Flooks had been working to torment the Tiger secondary the whole day, got into high gear, and drove 72 yards in 13 plays and came up just short of a miracle.

This was a classic sequence, replete with amazing third down plays. Barbour to Flooks for a first down on the 35 on a third down play. Barbour on a scramble run for a first down on the White Plains 45 on a do-or-die 3rd and 13. Barbour finding Nugent in the near flat, and the nimble Nugent deking and dodging and feinting tacklers on a first down play to the Tiger 36.

The dogged Tiger secondary zone was being skillfully sliced apart by Barbour’s accuracy and ability to elude the Tiger pass rush, giving either Flooks or Nugent to time to work themselves free. On 2nd and 1 from the Tiger 36 with 4:13 to go, Barbour rolled right almost in the grasp of two Tiger rushers only to hit Flooks in the left flat who turned up field and cruised to the Tiger 25.

On the very next play, the snarling Tigers covered the pesky Flooks-Nugent combination, but the pass rush could not get to Barbour who faked four or five tacklers out of their cleats in an amazing combination rollout-quarterback draw and scramble dashing all the way up the middle to the Tiger 3 yard line. Incredibly the Crusaders were knock-knock-knocking on Heaven’s Door.

The Stand

First down the Crusaders handed off to Scuderi up the middle. No dice, losing two yards.

Second down, Barbour scrambled right threw left. Incomplete.

Third down, Barbour dropped back, two Tigers were coming on, he pitched the ball forward and we believe it was Nugent getting the ball back to the three.

The Crusaders called timeout.

The Immaculate Knockdown

On the final play, Barbour threw to the right into endzone traffic trying for Nugent in Coffin Corner, and without maneuver room, the Tiger secondary was all over him, Mike Lane knocking the pigskin to tundra to deny the bid, according to Mike’s dad who was sitting behind me.

It was a Goal Line stand to remember.

The Tigers took over on downs and ran out the clock. Spencer Ridenhour carried three times to chew out a first down on the 13 with a minute to go to avoid a punt from the Tiger endzone.



BIG PLAYS IN FIRST HALF ELECTRIFY THE MULTITUDES: The defensive drama of the second half was in direct contrast to the offensive dazzle of the opening stanza. Here the standing room only crowd takes in the action.
Photo by WPCNR Sports


After Stepinac was stopped on their first series, Frank Scuderi intercepted Mike DeVere’s pass to the near sideline at his own 40 yard line and returned it to the White Plains 15. On 4th down at the Tiger 9 Barbour hit Nugent high in the back of the endzone, and he could not hang on to the ball, ending that drive.

Ridenhour Rumblin’ and Stumblin’ 91 yards to Glory

After the touchdown drop, Spencer Ridenhour on a simple off tackle play emerged from a pile of blue jerseys and was gone racing 91 yards up the middle being pursued by a posse of Crusaders and outrunning his nearest pursuer for 6 points and the first score. The point by Tony Ciarmella made it 7-0.

Mack’s 76-yard run makes it 13-0.

Stepinac and White Plains each exchanged punts. In the early going in this game, the White Plains line easily handled the Crusader running game, and the Barbour-Nugent-Flooks aerial madness had not gotten in gear.

When Stepinac coughed the ball up on downs again with 9 minutes to go in the half, the Tigers took over at their own 26. Handoff: Darrell Mack. The senior halfback bounced into the line darted right down the sideline and the race was on down the far sideline. They did not get him, and the Tigers were on top 13-0, on a 76-yard run off tackle. Tiger fans were complacent.

Not for long.

Coach Mike O’Donnell cranked up his Air Barbour game and within seconds Grif Nugent had slipped behind the Tiger deep man, and with no Tiger within 10 yards of him caught Wendell Barbour’s lofted pass and gleefully romped to a quick 6. The point made it 13-7, with 8:41 to go in the half.

Crusaders denied at 3-minute mark.

Taking the ball over at their 23, Stepinac drove to their 49 yard line, when Barbour hit Nugent for a 31 yard pass play setting them up at the Tiger 19. After one play, Barbour found Flooks at the 15, it looked as if Stepinac was going to tie it up.

Ridenhour to the Rescue.

Then Barbour, looking for Nugent on the goal line threw it over the middle and Spencer Ridenhour picked it off at the goaline, lit out for the far sideline and we went the other way. The big greyhound returned the pick 101 yards, only to have it called back for a clip on the Stepinac 31.

DeVere to Mack

After a penalty, Mike DeVere drifted back, having enough time to take a Regents, and found Darrell Mack at the Crusader 25 in the near flat, complete! Mack spun, busted a move on his would-be tackler, leaving him spinning like a top. and followed a convoy to the endzone for a 42-yard touchdown pass and run. His second touchdown of the quarter. The half ended, 19-7, White Plains setting the scene for a second half to remember.

Most intricate passing game this season.

The Crusaders, finishing the season at 4-6, played a terrific game and unofficially we have Wendell Barbour passing for over 200 yards. Coach Mike O’Donnell’s plays involving his brilliant ends Flooks and Nugent were intricate, sophisticated and well executed against a bigger Tiger line. Barbour, Flooks and Nugent are all Seniors, and their final game was one to remember.

The Tiger defense was brilliant in the first half and hung on doggedly to contain the relentless air game in the second half.



THE WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND, under the direction of Leslie Tompkins produced college quality marching entertainment before the game and at halftime, forming a “WP” and a big “W” at halftime with a fine rendition of “Mr. Touchdown,” big brassy themes from “Shrek,” “Austin Powers,” and a choregraphed “Jungle Boogie.” The White Plains Cheerleaders warming up for the Cheerleading Championships Monday performed high-jinks.
Photo by WPCNR BandCam


Press Notes

The crowd was a big one, arriving well before game time and we estimate the crowd to be approximately 1,500 persons.

In pregame ceremonies the Turkey Bowl Game was dedicated to Reverend Monseignor John J. O’Keefe for his ten years of leadership of Archbishop Stepinac, and Frank McMahon, the recent inductee to the White Plains High School Hall of Fame.

The White Plains Tigers completed the season with a 7-4 won-lost record. Senior Darrell Mack had perhaps his most spectacular game as a Tiger with two touchdowns.

We say so long to Seniors Tony Ciaramella, Terrell Smith, Matt Jones, Adam Reiss. However, coming back will be Spencer Ridenhour, Mike DeVere, Evan McGuire, Sean McLaughlin, Mike Lane, Ike NDuka and the usual suspects for a great run next year. They’re learnin’.



THE BAND IN A “WP” PLAYS THE WHITE PLAINS ALMA MATER, start of a perfect football day.
Photo by WPCNR BandCam

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Heroes Are Forever: James Bond is Cool.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. Movie Review by Rob Barrabee of The Yonkers Tribune. November 27, 2003:Above all else, James Bond is cool. He’s cool in the way he orders his martinis. He’s cool in the way he seduces his women. He walks cool, he talks cool, he even gets beaten up cool. In Die Another Day, the latest addition to the 40 year-old James Bond franchise, his coolness shifts into an even higher gear; his coolness, in fact, carries the film.
While making its way towards the climax, for example, Die Another Day devotes a good deal of its time to, surprise surprise, a car chase. Almost unbelievably, though, I would actually venture to say that, in this case, it’s time well spent. Car chases are perhaps the most overused element in all of action film, but James Bond’s car chases are different. They are better. How come? Coolness, pure and simple.

James drives an incredibly cool car (an Aston Martin, with all the best fixins); he drives it in an incredibly cool locale (the icy plains of Iceland); and, most importantly, even while driving, he behaves in a manner that can only be described as, you guessed it, cool (at a crucial moment in the chase, Bond’s car flips, and, as it does so, viewers are treated to a close-up of his face.

His expression shows no signs of even the least bit of distress; he is calm, collected, and cool, even in the midst of this life threatening car accident. He sits in a flipping car exactly as he would sit in the padded chair of a ritzy hotel dining room, pondering the wide selection of entrées).

All of this coolness is why I watch James Bond movies. It is why companies like Ford and Sony happily fork over millions for the privilege of placing their products somewhere inside James Bond’s world (Die Another Day reportedly has over $120 million in product placement deals). It is why, after forty years and twenty films, James Bond is still going strong.

The Usual Plot

Shifting from coolness to “as usuals,” the film’s plot, as usual, is stuffed full of ludicrous political intrigue (North Korea, South Korea, US interference, demilitarized zones, blah blah blah). As usual, the film’s characters never show more than kitchen-sink depth (which is not much). As usual, the action sequences vastly overshadow both the ludicrous plot and the shallow characters (more on that later).

As is becoming usual, Pierce Brosnan plays Bond with style and flare (all that aforementioned coolness would not be possible without him). As is altogether unusual, the film’s trademark Bond girl (played by Halle Berry) is quite a fighter in her own right (although she still manages, on a couple of occasions, to get herself into classic Damsel-In-Distress situations).

Returning to as usual, the villains of the film (played by Toby Stephens, Rick Yune, Rosamund Pike, and Will Yun Lee) are delightfully quirky and delightfully wicked (a killer satellite dish, diamonds-in-the-face, et cetera).

Q and M (John Cleese and Judi Dench) are, as usual, scene stealers, and Moneypenny (Samantha Bond) is completely infatuated with her boss, as usual.

In the previous paragraph, I commented, among other things, on the frequency of action sequences in the film. To better grasp this frequency, I have set up a comparison, and the comparison is this: relatively speaking, there are more action scenes (chases, explosions, shoot-outs, sword fights, cliff dives, et cetera) in Die Another Day than there are “as usuals” in the previous paragraphs. Get the idea?

Lack of Mystery

Because of all the chases, explosions, shoot-outs, sword fights, cliff dives, et cetera, the element of mystery in James Bond movies has become increasingly sparse. It is still there, of course, just not as much as it should be. To make up for this shortage, I have included in this review (along with the last paragraph’s “comparison”) a mystery of my own. For the very first time, I have written into a review a legitimate spoiler, but it is shrewdly hidden. If (and only if) you have already seen the movie, feel free to go back and see if you can find it.

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, forget about my spoiler and get to the theater fast, because, despite its numerous flaws, Die Another Day is pretty cool.
Die Another Day, directed by Lee Tamahori. Written by Neal Purvis and Robert Wade. Starring Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Rosamund Pike, Rick Yune, John Cleese, and Judi Dench. Running time: 123 minutes. Rated PG-13 (for action violence and sexuality).

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