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THE WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. March 4, 2004: Today’s White Plains scene is good ol’ Ebersole Rink, and a view of White Plains Ice Angels in action, the Ebersole Advanced Figure Skating Club at twilight. The girls and boys are busy preparing for their yearend Figure Skating Show, Ticket to Broadway, which will be presented Saturday evening, March 27 at 7 P.M.
ICE ANGELS By The WPCNR Roving Photographer
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WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. Special to WPCNR. March 4, 2004, UPDATED 10 A.M. E.S.T.: At a meeting in City Hall Wednesday evening, a community contingent of 40 persons, including representatives of the White Plains African-American community, the Common Council, civic and religious leaders decided on creating a recognition day for Black American heritage in 2005 which will have as its theme the celebration of June 19, the date which recognizes the freeing of the last slave in America, an occasion that Black Americans know as “Juneteenth.”
A Steering Committee was formed to be headed by Charlie Booth, Director of the Thomas A. Slater Center to plan the parade that will be part of the White Plains Juneteenth Celebration, and to create significant other events to make the day the start of a festive and solemn tradition in White Plains. According to Glen Hockley, speaking to WPCNR Thursday morning, this was a wonderful harmonious meeting and it was agreed to plan the event to take place in June, 2005, because of there not being enough time to organize the event for this year.
The first meeting of the Steering Committee will take place on March 24 at 7 P.M. back in City Hall, and the entire group will return for a planning meeting on April 28 at 7 P.M.
For more on June 19, go to http://www.elecvillage.com/juneteen.htm
Mr. Hockley, speaking to WPCNR Thursday morning said he was overwhelmed at the participation of so many Black leaders from the community and the support of the Mayor and Common Council. He described the spirit of the meeting and the vibrations in the room as “warm and solid.”
Hockley said Mayor Joseph Delfino opened the meeting in a “most gracious and understanding manner,” and that the meeting proceeded with Charlie Booth of the Slater Center directing traffic, listening to all who participated. Hockley noted that many Black leaders were there from all walks of life, including Mack Carter, Ted Lee, Bill Alexander, Monique Farrell, Michelle Tratoros, Bob Tuck, Bill Brown, Bill Campbell, Darrell Jenkins, four young persons and every member of the Common Council.
Hockley said he was very impressed with the way Mr. Booth ran the meeting and kept the discussion moving.
He noted that Reverend Jacob Stukes and Councilman Arnold Bernstein brought in the concept that the event being planned should be more than just a parade, but should also be one that benefits the community, with workshops dealing with various issues, working for progress.
He said a steering committee was formed to sort out ideas, and that the general theme of the special day would celebrate Juneteenth, the African-American Emancipation Day.
Juneteenth first took place in 1865 in Galveston, Texas, to celebrate the observance of African American Emancipation Day, June 19, 1865 and is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery.
Around the country, Juneteenth not only keynotes African American freedom, but salutes the education and the acievement of Black Americans in this country. Celebrations of the holiday across the country feature speeches, picnics, gatherings.
The Emancipation Proclamation of Abraham Lincoln legally freed slaves in the Confederacy, but those in Delaware and Maryland were not freed until the Manumission Statutes. In Missouri and Kentucky, slaves were not set free until the 13th Amendment was passed in December, 1865.
The traditional date of celebrating Juneteenth dates back to June 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger and his troops landed in Texas at Galveston to wrest Texas from the Confederacy was ordered to inform Texans that their slaves were then free. Texas had been the last Confederate State to refuse to free its slaves, waiting 2-1/2 years past the Emancipation Proclamation.
In 2004, 150 cities in 30 States recognize “Juneteenth Independence Day” and rejoice in it through community recognition of their African-American heritage.
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WPCNR PRESS BOX. March 3, 2004: The Mount Vernon Knights and the White Plains Tigers played cat and mouse for three quarters before the Knights pulled away in the 4th stanza to defeat the Tigers for the Section I Championship at the County Center Wednesday afternoon, 65-51.
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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By Sunset Boulevard .
A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY: “Candy” from Fashion Avenue models a Valentino pale lemon jersey dress from the Mary Jane Denzer collection Monday evening as Fashion Avenue took over “The Center.” Photo by WPCNR FashionCam.
Angels of the White Plains Performing Arts Center threw their dollar support solidly behind the theatre ingénue again Monday evening as WPPAC raised the curtain on its first spring lineup of productions. The WPPAC Spring season launches with three prominent
Fashionistas Turn Out.
Paying $100 a ducat for champagne reception and show, theatre and girl watchers of White Plains sipped champagne in fluted glasses, sampled the visually appealing salmon and liver pate hors d’oeuvres and succulent goodies catered by Blue restaurant and their creator of simple elegance, Chef Pat Kelly in the curtain raiser on the balcony.
WHITE PLAINS FINEST: About 150-200 professionally attired women and sharp, cleanly pressed suits could be seen chatting each other up on the theatre concourse of the
Models on Madison Ave Step Out.
Dressed to Thrill began with one-man piano man, Henry Aronson at the keyboard doing a springtime riff, who introduced local
Mr. Holmes welcomed the 200 patrons (seats were filled up the middle with the last 6 rows and far and near sides vacant) and introduced
Gaston Returns
Michals in cutaway black tails and open-necked white shirt, was a little Tom Jones, a little Robert Goulet, a little Steve Lawrence, but in that unmistakably winning Michals style he warmed his edgy emotional mellow tones into getting the audience in the mood for style rendering Where Is the Girl? From The Pimpernel. Michals played Gaston and The Beast in the Broadway production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast.
The Michals Broadway charisma whet enthusiasts’ appetite for looking at beautiful women. The queens of fashion from Madison Ave made their individual turns with panache and presence, long, long legs in spike heeled pumps, their graceful body lines articulating White Plains’ Mary Jane Denzer’s luscious gowns, making splendid statements with pulchritude to music.
Just Like Bryant Park Fashion Week
Leading off in pairs walking in opposite directions in an X-shaped, spotlit path stately sashaying in the dual spotlights, duplicated in closeup in live video screens, was the cool and statuesque Aussie Blonde, Kylie Cappelli, (Mrs. Louis), in a Roberto Cavalli black jersey halter with open-laced sides, and “Cammy” in Valentino white linen corset dress with chiffon capelet sleeve.
Leading Ladies of White Plains standing up highly favorably to the supermodels onstage were Kylie Cappelli, Felicia Finley and Monica Meadows, the actresses, and well-known betterhalf of Westchester’s acting couple, Paulette Scholtman.
They were joined by supermodels: Cammy, Candy, Dori, Krista, Margie, Melissa, Michelle, Liz, Lonna and Sherry.
High fashion comes to
Mrs. Cappelli and her ethereal entourage marched with indulgence and confidence across stage, up aisles among the patrons to display the “Denzer daring” up close and personal, complimented by Mr. Holmes’ engaging patter.
LONG COOL WOMAN IN THE RED DRESS HAS IT ALL: “Melissa” in a red crepe-back-satin halter dress from John Galliano on the runway at WPPAC with Henry Aronson working keyboards. Photo by WPCNR FashionCam.
Midway in the one-of-a-kind program, two ladies, Monica Meadows (star of the upcoming Fashion), and Felicia Finley, star of Aida at the Helen Hayes Theatre Company, graced the audience with two songs giving the “credit cards” in the audience a break.
Kathleen Gunn, Executive Director of the White Plains Downtown Business Improvement District, said of the show, “I loved it, and thought the show was great. It was a high caliber event. I thought I was in
A striking universe of 48 outfits you do not want to know the prices of were showcased by the striking Monday night “chorus line,” the average cost of the outfits being $4,000 and up. Ms. Gunn’s favorite was Cammy modeling the Valentino yellow print jersey side-slit gown.
Tony Stimac, director of the show, an expert at pulling together these one-of-a-kind events, said the show had sold 320 tickets as of Monday, and Wednesday morning said it had raised $30,000 for the theatre. Tony knows everybody, and has the persuasive ability to pick up the phone and, say, “we’re doing a show, we’d love to have you, you want to be in it?” and the stars come out. White Plains citizens should watch for the next one. They are something else.
Mingling with the Newsmakers
Yours truly, Sunset B., working the crowd got the word from a mingling Louis Cappelli that he has signed Office Max to occupy a portion of the City Center, to join coming signed partners, the Atlanta Bread Factory, Applebee’s, Barnes & Noble, Circuit City, Filene’s Basement, Legal Seafood, Target and Zanaro’s to augment his City Center showplace on Main Street.
The Super Developer said he only had 25,000 more square feet of space to sell at the
THE SUPER DEVELOPER AND THE SUPER MODELS: The Super Developer, City Center impressario, Louis Cappelli, right, was on the scene at showtime. He is chatting with Gary Blum, left, President and Chief Creative Officerof The Laurus Group of Harrison, who told WPCNR his company has been appointed the advertising agency for the White Plains Performing Arts Center. Photo by WPCNR FashionCam
Blum said he was commissioned at the end of last week to prepare posters, marketing materials, identify markets, and handle direct response and possible direct mail campaigns for promoting attendance at the theater. Presently, he said the assignments are being executed on a project-by-project basis. He pointed to the new posters hanging in the lobby as some of his first efforts. He said local television and print ads were a possibility.
Asked if he would be handling Helen Hayes Theatre Company and Queens Theater in the Park, two of the
Local movers and shakers who sponsored the event were of course, Mary Jane Denzer, Fortunoff, Shalz Cadillac, Papa-Razzi, Blue, and Trotters.
Local Musical Groups test the
Three outstanding local organizations present classic contemporary movie music, including a classical performance by young musicians and local Arab-American musicians presenting performances that will demonstrate the full acoustical range of the White Plains Performing Arts Center.
Tomorrow evening, Westchester’s Philharmonia Virtuosi will perform music from “Master and Commander” March 4 at 7:30 P.M. Philharmonia Virtuosi will feature Mela Tenenbaum on violin; Alexandr Tenenbaum on violin; Dortothy Lawson, cello; Robert Igliss, oboe; and Richard Kapp on piano. For tickets, priced from $30, children under 18, free, may be purchased at 914-693-5595.
Philarmonia Virtuosi will be followed into City Center stage by the Music Conservatory of Westchester Mentoring Orchestra, under direction of Anthony Aibel on Friday night for an O-T-O performance at 8 P.M. Tickets are $5, and my be purchased at 914-761-3900.
Ali Hamideh, a long-time member of the Arab community in
Comedy and Song and Dance Return.
Next Tuesday evening, bigtime Broadway entertainment returns with Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor starring in the comedy, It Had to Be You, beginning March 9 at
It Had to Be You is followed by the Stimac-Pippin-Brown musical, Fashion, debuting Saturday, March 20 at 8, followed by a Sunday Matinee at 2 on the 21st. Fashion runs at “The Center” on March 23 at 7, then March 24, 25, 26,27, and April 1,2,3 at 8 P.M, with matinees at 2 on March 28, 31, and April 4.
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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. March 3, 2004: With temperatures rising into the balmy mid-sixties and the January-February snowcover melted, exhibition baseball about to begin, and fields finally drying up, a father and his children started tuning up for the new season at Delfino Park in the sunset last night.
SWING, BATTER, SWING By the White Plains Roving Photographer.
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WPCNR CLUBHOUSE. From Westchester County Department of Communications. March 3, 2004: Saying golf on public courses should be both affordable and accessible, County Executive Andy Spano has announced changes to the county’s E-Z Reserve Golf at the five county-owned golf courses, including Maple Moor Golf Course in White Plains.
Using the E-Z Reserve system, Westchester residents with a valid park pass can reserve a regular tee time for their foursome on Saturdays and Sundays for a 25 week golf season, from April 17 through October 3, by paying a flat non-refundable fee of $250 per person in advance for each foursome.
Applications for limited E-Z Reserve times will be accepted at each county golf course on Saturday, March 13, for Saturday tee times, and on Sunday, March 14, for Sunday tee times, beginning at 8 a.m. each day.
“We created the E-Z Reserve System to make golfing more convenient, but we also wanted to make sure that it remained affordable to the general public,’’ said Spano. “That’s why we’ve adapted the system so that golfers don’t have to pay upfront.’’
Spano said when the county started E-Z Reserve last year golfers were happy at being able to reserve tee times for the season, but some had concerns about paying for those times up front.
“Now they have the best of both worlds: A reserve system so they don’t have to call every week, and a pay-as-you-go system for those who can’t afford to pay all at once,’’ he said.
Under the revised policy, when a golfer cancels a weekly reservation at least 36 hours in advance, a greens fee is not required. If the golfer does not cancel the reservation and fails to show up, the golfer will be charged the $27 greens fee unless the county can re-sell the time slot.
The E-Z Reserve program is available only to Westchester residents with a valid Park Pass. Only one tee-time will be allotted per group per day. At least one member of the group must sign up in person. Park passes can be renewed at that time. All golfers must have a valid park pass by the first date of play.
The five Westchester County-owned golf courses are Mohansic in Yorktown Heights; Maple Moor in White Plains; Saxon Woods in Scarsdale; and Dunwoodie and Sprain Lake, both in Yonkers. As Dunwoodie is scheduled for construction at the end of the summer, its E-Z reserve program will be prorated for 20 weeks with a reservation fee of $200.
For more information about method of purchase and specific program details on the E-Z Reserve program or to download an application, log on to www.westchestergov.com/parks, or call the County Parks Department at (914) 864-7011.
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WPCNR HEALTH MAINTENANCE OBSERVER. From Somnia, Inc. March 3, 2004: Metro Screening and Somnia have joined forces to raise public awareness about the need for colon screening to aid early detection and prevention of colon cancer during March, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. To learn more or locate a doctor, call 877-MD-SCOPE or go to www.metroscreening.com.
Colon cancer is 90 percent curable when detected early. Despite these favorable odds, it remains the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the
The focus of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is to highlight that colon screening can save lives. It is advisable for people over the age of 50 to have a colonoscopy screening every 10 years. For people with a history of colon cancer in their family, physicians may recommend that patients start getting checked earlier.
Why do patients delay colon screening? Most fear that the procedure will be painful. Many are not aware of the benefit of early screening – how detection and removal of polyps before they become cancerous can save patients from further health complications. With the use of anesthesia administered by an anesthesiologist, colonoscopy can be rendered pain-free. As Medicare and most commercial insurance carriers cover the cost of colon screening, colorectal cancer prevention is easy for patients physically and financially.
“Most people put off scheduling a colonoscopy because they are afraid it will be uncomfortable, even if they understand the importance of screening,” explained
About Metro Screening
Metro Screening is a free service that puts patients in touch with gastroenterologists in their area who perform pain-free colonoscopies. Through its physician network, Metro Screening enables people to schedule a colonoscopy quickly and easily, without a long wait for an appointment. To learn more or locate a doctor, call 877-MD-SCOPE or go to www.metroscreening.com.
About Somnia, Inc.
Somnia provides comprehensive anesthesia services to office-based surgical practices and ambulatory surgery centers. The company is a management service organization based in
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The first concert, free of charge, is dedicated to the Italian American community in the Hudson Valley and will be held on Saturday, April 3rd at SUNY PURCHASE RECITAL HALL in Westchester at 7:30 pm, Purchase, New York.
The second concert will be held on April 4th at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center at
For any additional information or to reserve tickets please call
Sandy Auriti – Italian Academy Foundation, (914) 699-2020 ext 128 or
E mail: S.Auriti@CINN.com
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WPCNR MAIN STREET DAILY. From John Martin. March 2, 2004:The White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced the selection of the honorees for this year’s parade at a reception attended by over 200 guests at Vintage Restaurant in downtown
St. PATRICK’S DAY HONOREE: The 2004 Grand Marshal is Mary Ann Meegan, according to Parade Committee Chair John Martin. Mary Ann has long been active in Irish-American groups in Westchester County, having served as past president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 17 of White Plains. Mrs. Meegan has been a member of the White Plains St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee since 1998. Photo Courtesy, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Commitee.
Aides to the Grand Marshal were announced as William Bertram, Timothy Connors, Mary Cuff, John Donahue, Anne Fitzsimmons and Dorothy Walsh. Mr. Bertram recently retired as a White Plains Police Lieutenant and Timothy Connors is the White Plains Superintendent of Schools. Mary Cuff is the Treasurer of the Women’s Club of White Plains and John Donahue is a White Plains Fire Department Lieutenant. Anne Fitzsimmons is a Captain in the White Plains Police Department and Dorothy Walsh was instrumental in the foundation of a joint Our Lady of Sorrows – Great Hunger Foundation program to adopt families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In addition to this year’s honorees, the 2003 Grand Marshal, Joseph Davidson, was presented with a commemorative Grand Marshal’s tricolor sash.
Chairman Martin also announced that this year’s parade, on March 13th, will have 17 bands, the largest contingent since the parade’s inception, as well as several floats and many community groups.
For more information, call Parade Committee Chairman John Martin at (914) 686-0239 or the White Plains Downtown B.I.D. at (914) 328-5166.
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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. March 2, 2004: The Public Hearing on the 221 Main Street project WPCNR refers to as the Cappelli Hotel, was closed last night by the Common Council, and then they approved the Final Environmental Impact Statement on the project. The public is being given 10 days to comment and address their remarks in writing to White Plains Common Council c/o City Clerk, 255 Main Street, White Plains, NY 10601. Comments are due by 5 P.M. March 12.
Only two persons spoke at the public hearing, Mark Edelman, speaking for the Business Improvement District, who praised the project for its design, preservation of the Bar Building, and benefits.
Dan Seidel, the only other speaker, urged the council to create a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement to address the issues of sewage flow, water district issues, and he again pleaded with the city to build a new 27″ Main Street sewer line, otherwise, he pointed out, every new project on Main Street in the future would have to build its own direct connect. He alleged the figures provided for City Center on gallons of sewage averages were wrong, and if the two projects, City Center and 221 Main are to be considered contiguous, the estimates provided the council needed to be more closely examined.
He noted the Planning Department thinks 300 Mamaroneck Avenue (the JPI Jeferson project) connects to the Mamaroneck sewage treatment plant, while the Department of Public Works reports it connects to the Main Street sewer which would add to the effluent the Main Street sewer is expected to handle. “Which is it?” he asked.
Seidel also called for exploratory archeological diggings on the 221 Main Parking Lot area, since nothing had been built on it for 200 years.
Councilperson Rita Malmud speaking after the Council closed the hearing said that Louis Cappelli would pay the total cost of the direct connect Nicoletti Bypass sewer planned to carry the Cappelli Hotel effluent to the Main sewer line to Yonkers. She said the 20% reduction in size of the project was a big improvement on the project, as was the increase in open space by the mass reduction. Malmud noted that a lot of work had to be done, and that design of the project would be finalized during the site plan process.
Glen Hockley noted that development was an important part of the revitalization of the city, saying that without the development so far we would not have an increase in jobs in the city that is not the case nationwide. He also noted that the new development so far has meant increased funds for the school district.
Councilperson Benjamin Boykin echoed Ms. Malmud’s comments about reduced density making the project acceptable, and asked Louis Cappelli for “a signature building” at the design stage now in process.
Robert Greer requested a rooftop restaurant at the hotel in addition to his remarking that he too, was troubled when he first saw the project by its size and density, though Mr. Greer actually did say at the time Mr. Cappelli first presented the original two buildings, “What’s there not to like?” and encouraged more height.
Council President Tom Roach applauded development as a means of making White Plains a better city.
Councilperson Arnold Bernstein said he was impressed by the hard work and energy of his colleagues and the city as the project was moved to this point.
Mayor Delfino noted at the close of the hearing that his was not a development administration, but an administration that was trying to make White Plains better.
The project could be approved at the April Common Council meeting or by May at the latest.
In other action, the refurbishment of two pumper trucks for the fire department was approved; the site plan of the White Plains Housing Authority Headquarters was extended, with Glen Hockley saying he and Executive Director Mack Carter had agreed to work together to equip Winbrook buildings with video security.