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WPCNR GREENBURGH GAZETTE. By Town Supervisor Paul Feiner. March 26, 2004: The spring/summer town activities brochure for the town of
If you’re interested in serving on the committee – the next meeting will be held on March 30th. PAUL FEINER
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WPCNR MAIN STREET From The Mayor’s Office. March 25, 2004, UPDATED 8:45 P.M. E.S.T.: Paul Wood of the Mayor’s Office reported today that County Parks Department workers noticed an uprooted tree in the vicinity of Walworth Avenue and Colvin and the Bronx River Parkway, had snagged a sewer line, the root wrapping around the pipe, apparently causing a break in the pipe seam, causing a slow, odoriferous leak.
Wood reports that a White Plains Department of Public Works crew has repaired the pipe and it is back to normal. Stan Johnson of the DPW, Wood said, attributed the leak to the uprooting and the root which had grown around and sewer line caused the pipe to leark at the joint. Wood said the seam had cracked and the city called the County Health Department as precaution…and that things were back to normal as of this afternoon.
Donna Green of the Westchester County Department of Communications reports this update that another leak in the sewer is further down the line in Scarsdale: “Apparently at first it was believed that this leak was caused by a WP sewer and some trees that were uprooted.. WP DID fix that. But it has now been determined that was not the main problem… Scarsdale officials have now been notified. The Department of Health, has put dye into the river that is green, so if it seems green to people it is NOT the sewage doing that.
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. Mayor’s Introductory Remarks From the Mayor’s Office March 24, 2004: Prior to Ruben Cors, Chief Operating Officer of la ciudad de los ninos addressing the Common Council Wednesday evening on the potential for Kids City in White Plains, Mayor Joseph Delfino introduced him, and took responsibility for bringing Kids City and the Silverman Realty Group together. Here is the text of the Mayor’s remarks:
I am very excited about the next item on our agenda.
Several months ago, Tony Nardozzi had come in to discuss a proposal for a new project on Mamaroneck Avenue called Downtown Crossings.
I had asked Tony to include a Children’s Museum as part of the project because I felt that some type of educational attraction that was oriented specifically for children would add tremendous value to our downtown.
Since their last visit, I became aware of a company called Kids City which has successful taken the Children’s Museum concept and taken it to a whole new level. Kids City successfully merges education with entertainment and provides families with a new and unique experience.
I asked Kids City to come to City Hall and after seeing their presentation, I knew that Kids City was right for White Plains. I asked Tony to sit down with Kids City and see if they could incorporate them into their Downtown Crossings project. And I am very pleased that both parties have been able to work out a deal as long as the City wants them.
In fact, if we can get this project done, White Plains will be the first in the nation to have this type of attraction.There are plenty of places in the region where kids go to play video games or go on rides. What makes Kids City so fantastic is that it is truly an educational experience that is going to wow our kids.
And to be the first in the nation to have this is very exciting.
Remarks of Mayor Joseph Delfino, welcoming Ruben Cors of Kids City.
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER BRIEFS March 24, 2004: Wednesday evening in addition to the Kids City and Louis Cappelli buzz, the Common Council agreed to raise Parking Rates, Water Rates, (details to come in future stories) and approved Bensidoun USA as the operator of the French Market at $1,000 a year, with no futher financial details disclosed. The Council also agreed to raise the amount of the Downtown Business Improvement Association assessment of member businesses from $400,000 to $450,000, raising the BID Budget overall to $500,000. John Martin said the BID receives the extra $50,000 in donations.
The Council said it was reviewing the Draft Findings Statement on the Cappelli Hotel Project.
Mr. Cappelli updated the Council on the status of the City Center South Tower, saying he would begin construction again Monday and complete the South Tower building and the Loft Condominum by June 1, 2005. He said he would be opening a sales office for the condominums next to sales office in the North Tower. He said his crews had been laying power under the City Center Garage to deliver the power to run his construction crane to proceed with the South Tower the last week.
The Council wrapped up the action at 11:40 P.M., after Joseph Nicoletti advised the council that the city spent $300,000 over their snow budget ($500,000) this winter. Half of the $300,000 was for salt, another $100,000 for overtime, and the balance asphalt and chemicals. They postponed their Executive Session until another day.
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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey.
21st CENTURY CAPPELLI: The Triple Towers. There are three towers. The Bar Building is at center of picture. You are viewing the corner of Main Street and the Church Street extension. Photo by WPCNR News.
The Super Developer said he was going to apply for a Demolition Permit within 30 Days, and upon expected approval in May, looked to demolition the abandoned buildings between the Bar Building and Grace Church, put up an aesthetic construction fence, to begin construction in June, and then he would “start digging a hole, because we need something else to do.”
The Mayor joking said of The Bar Building that is adjacent to the impending demolition, “Please don’t weaken the foundation. (of the
Everyone laughed nervously.
Mr. Cappelli noted that he is entertaining the possibility of turning the business portion of the project into a condominium tower, too. In the bustling Mayor’s reception area, afterwards. Director of Planning, Susan Habel said Cappelli would have to file a Long Form Environmental Assessment, which would include a traffic plan, environmental, and infrasture (including sewer) impact assessment before the building could be changed to residential.
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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey.
INTERNATIONAL VISITOR: Ruben Coors Gil presents masterfully, enthusiastically to the Common Council Wednesday evening. Photo by WPCNR News
La ciudad de los ninos, Cors’ company, is willing to make
COLORFUL SLIDES DEFINED WHAT KIDS CITY IS: Kids enter, “fly” to a destination, enter scale-down replicas of buildings where they participate as adults would in making a living activities, such as operations. Photo by WPCNR News.
Cors predicts his center, open 10 A.M. to 3 P.M., originally intended to go into the Palisades Mall in Rockland County, will bring 900,000 visitors to White Plains a year, that works out to 2,400 visitors a day to the White Plains downtown. Tony Nardozzi (of Silverman Realty Group) said more of those visitors would probably come on the weekends. Cors plans to charge $25 for Children and $18 per Adult (since it is a
Tony Nardozzi, a Silverman partner, told WPCNR that Silverman is attempting to finance the project by assembling investor/tenants to construct and apparently own each floor of the three-story Downtown Crossing project, originally pitched to the Common Council last fall.
Cors is the first investor to be attracted. Terms of Mr. Cors’ engagement did not come up in the discussion in the hasty news conference after the presenatation. Mark Weingarten, of DelBello, Donnellan & Weingarten, attorney for Silverman, said other investor developer partners were being pursued. Downtown Crossing is seeking to attract a major retail anchor for the first floor and a sports academy for the third floor.
Cors said he did not have an idea yet when the project would be completed speculating it was at least three years away.
Kids Cityt attracted 762,000 visitors in its first year, when Mr. Cors had projected 400,000, In 2000, it attracted 789,000, and in 2001 it had reaced 830,000 visitors a year. In a metropolitan area of 20 million people.
Named “the Best New Business” by Expansion Magazine, in 1999, the leading business magazine in
MR. CORS’ PRESENTATION set a new standard of enthusiasm and fact presentation, with slides and a 10 minute movie. It is easily the best developer pitch delivered to the Common Council since yours truly has covered the council (five years). The media kit shown above, given each Councilman included DVD, sample credit card, CD, and play money children are given to “spend” in the Kids City pavilion. Photo by WPCNR News
The council gave a consensus swell of enthusiasm which means that planning for the project will now begin, according to Weingarten.
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WPCNR COUNTY TRAILS. From the Westchester County Department of Recreation and Parks. (Edited) March 24, 2004: The five Westchester County-owned golf courses will open for the season on Friday, March 26, weather and conditions permitting, with several new programs to make golf more accessible and enjoyable for patrons, County Parks Commissioner
According to Stout, a new Frequent Golfer Rewards program and savings for
“We continually strive to make golfing more enjoyable for our customers,” Stout said. “The new programs are part of our long-term commitment to enhance services, improve conditions and to keep golf affordable and accessible.”
The county courses nearest White Plains are
FREQUENT GOLFER REWARDS
Stout said that the new Frequent Golfer Rewards program will debut this season. The program will enable golfers who hold a
Back by popular demand, golfers can play the back nine for an hour in the morning. Back nine times will be scheduled for 30 minutes after the first group of golfers begins play on the front nine. For
Golf Leagues & E-Z Reserve
Golf leagues will once again enable groups to utilize late afternoon tee times on weekdays at a reduced nine-hole rate. Each league must consist of a minimum of eight players, with substitutions allowed. Tee times will be scheduled between
The E-Z Reserve block tee-time sales program continues this year. The program allows foursomes of Westchester County-resident golfers to pre-pay to reserve a regular weekend tee-time slot for 25 weeks during the season at Maple Moor, Mohansic, Saxon Woods and
County Park Passes
There’s extra incentive for Westchester resident golfers to take advantage of the lower resident greens fees this season, with a new offer that allows them to purchase a Westchester County Park Pass (required for resident rates) at $10 off the face value, or $35. New park pass applicants can pick up their $10 coupon at any course when applying for the pass. Passes, which are now valid for three years from date of issue (six years for senior citizens and disabled residents), also provide access to all county-owned park facilities and provides other discounts on park user and parking fees. Park passes will be issued at all five courses, seven days a week, from
Greens Fees
Greens fees for 2004 are $23 weekdays and $27 Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for
Holidays for 2004 are Memorial Day (Monday, May 31), Fourth of July (Sunday, July 4), and Labor Day (Monday, September 6).
Reservations
Reservations can be made by calling (914) 995-GOLF. Golfers who wish to play during the first two hours of operation can still make their reservations in person at each course seven days in advance of the play date. Any unreserved tee times for those first two hours will then be made available through the telephone system at
Reservations, whether made in person or by phone, are accepted up to seven days in advance for county park pass holders and up to four days in advance without a park pass. There is a $3 reservation fee for non-park pass holders only.
Each of the five
For more information about the county’s golf courses and for a complete list of 2004 tournaments, call the Parks Department at (914) 864-7000. For general information about county parks, log on to www.westchestergov.com.
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WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. March 24, 2004: Todays Photo celebrates the call of the diamond, the first outdoor practice of the season. Always a thrill!
55 AND SUNNY ON O’DONNELL’S BLUFF By The White Plains Roving Photographer
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WPCNR
The Bradley bill grants to the Supreme Court Judge a new power in evaluation of protested general elections:
“The court, in a proceeding involving a dispute over the winner of a general or a special election, shall order that a new election be held, if there is clear and convincing evidence that the wrong candidate was or would be determined to be the winner.”
Eliminates Usurpation.
Mr. Bradley’s bill, in enacted, would prevent a repetition of the Glen Hockley-Larry Delgado situation where Mr. Hockley still occupies a Council Seat after 1 year and 3 months as an alleged “usurper” by Mr. Delgado’s quo warranto suit.
The Bradley Solution would carryover the existing officer currently in the contested office, so there would be no disruption of the ability to conduct government business while a new election was awaited to resolve the dispute between deadlocked or “in doubt” contests. The language of the bill reads:
“The provisions of section five of the public officer’s law shall apply to any candidate who held the office of the disputed candidates prior to the election that yielded the disputed results.”
Would Have Resolved Delgado Problem Faster.
Bradley, speaking to WPCNR by phone Wednesday, said that the current situation whereby Mr. Hockley occupies a council seat while Mr. Delgado is asking to be appointed to it, and Mr. Hockley removed, would not occur under this law. Speaking hypothetically, Bradley said either Pauline Oliva or Mr. Delgado, the incumbent, would continue to serve in the seat until the new general election called for by the judge were to be held. Bradley’s bill would call for a new election, “the sixth Tuesday after the court’s determination is issued.”
“Dangerous” to Have Judges Declare Winners.
Bradley was asked why he did not concur with Attorney General Elliot Spitzer’s bill which gives judges the power to declare a winner in a disputed election.
He said he felt judges had the right to determine issues on the validity of ballots, but felt that allowing them to make a judgement on who the winner is would be a dangerous precedent, considering judges are themselves elected.
Bradley said the right to call a new election had to be based on “clear and convincing evidence,” which the bill in the form sent to WPCNR, does not spell out.
Clear and Convincing Evidence is Very High Standard: Bradley
Mr. Bradley, contacting WPCNR Wednesday afternoon, clarified to WPCNR that the term “clear and convincing evidence” is a legal term and does not have to be spelled out, and constitutes a very high legal standard.
Bradley patiently explained that “clear and convincing evidence” was a standard term where circumstances in which a new election could be called did not have to be “spelled out,” and that what constituted “clear and convincing evidence” would vary upon the situation.
Asked if the affidavits that Larry Delgado submitted to show proof that persons disenfranchised by the jammed voting maching in District 18, would be “clear and convincing evidence,” Bradley said “maybe, but at least the judge would have the right to call for a new election. Under present law, the judge does not.”
In the “Memorandum In Support of Legislation,” Mr. Bradley concludes,
“This law is important because it contains a mechanism to ensure fairness and transparency in elections throughout New York State by giving courts a meaninful remedy, and insuring that an aggrieved candidate can obtain a new election when it is clear that a losing candidate would otherwise be declared the winner.”
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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. March 23, 2004: School nurses are on the front line dealing with drug- and alcohol-abuse, including the current trend of abuse of over-the-counter medicines. With that in mind,
The event will run
· Alcohol and illicit drugs
· Over-the-counter and prescription drugs
· The role of the school nurse
· The signs and symptoms of drug use and overdose
· Legal issues, discipline and parent invovlment
· Emergency procedures
The event is sponsored by the county’s Stop-DWI Office, along with Student Assistance Services and Zone 4 of the New York State Association of School nurses.