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 MILESTONES. By John F. Bailey. February 25, 2004: Sunday afternoon, the Antonio Meucci Lodge on Maple Avenue, celebrated its 90^th anniversary with over 100 Italian Americans gathering for the unveiling of a plaque honoring Antonio Meucci,  recognized by Act of Congress as the true inventor of the telephone who had his invention stolen by Alexander Graham Bell.

Italian Americans Gather to Salute Antonio Meucci Sunday. Photo by WPCNR News

 

The celebration attracted many well-know personalities and politicians of White Plains and was highlighted by the unveiling of a plaque in honor of the man whose name is honored by the Lodge name: Antonio Meucci. President of Lodge 213, Antonio Amato, with carnation, beams after plaque is unvieled. Photo by WPCNR News

 

In a poignant way his story is the story of what immigrants to America still face today: difficulty with language, prejudice, and being taken advantage of by our society, and unscrupulous fellow immigrants. Meucci’s case is an example of why persons of immigrant background formed societies such as the Sons of Italy because they needed to stick together and help each other.

 

 

 

90 Years of the Meucci Lodge, Heartwarming Memories in the Lobby: senior members of the Lodge, paused to pick out faces from the past in a photograph of the Sons of Italy taken in the 1950s at the Playland Ice Casino on display and reminisced about their forefathers. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

The introduction of dignitaries in the newly renovated lodge was  proud and moving as generations  of  previous Lodge Presidents and today’s State President, Joseph Ditrapani and National President Joseph Sciame were introduced. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

 The singing of the American and Italian National Anthems was solemn and heartfelt. Ninety years of pride in Italy and America were celebrated by beaming participants.

 

The Man Who Was Having Telephone Conversations Before Bell.

 

Now let me tell you Antonio Meucci’s story, courtesy of the Italian Historical Society. I never knew him until Sunday. But, I know him now.

 

As you read his story, perhaps you can think of immigrants today you know who are a lot like him, and maybe you can reach out and give them a helping hand, the helping hand, Mr. Meucci never received.

 

His story is how Alexander Graham Bell stole his invention and got away with it.

 

Meucci’s main problem was his inability to communicate in any language but Italian which was used against him.

 

A Genius in Conductivity

 

Born in Florence, Italy in 1808, he was educated in design and mechanical engineering at Florence’s Academy of Fine Arts, working in theater as a stage hand when he immigrated to Havana, Cuba to work in theater there.

 

He researcher and experimented in Havana, introducing a new technique of galvanizing metals for Cuban military equipment. In the course of his experiments, he devised a treatment using electronic shocks to treat illness which gained him a clientele.

 

While preparing to administer the shock treatment to a friend one day, Meucci hard his friend’s voice over a copper wire attached to the next room. It was the first voice transmission over a “phone line.”

 

A helping hand betrayed. 

 

For a decade he worked on developing the voice line and traveled to America in 1850 to live in Staten Island. Settled there, Meucci helped many Italian political refugees. Giuseppe Garibaldi, in exile, lived with Meucci for a time. Meucci createded industrial innovations for manufacturing goods which he provided to other immigrants, while continuing his telephone development to the point of setting up a telephone system between several rooms in his house.

 

He organized a public demonstration of his telephone in 1860 in which a singer’s voice was heard over a vast distance through the “phone line.” A New York Italian newspaper covered the demo and Meucci arranged to give a model of the telephone to a man who took it to Italy to start production there, but it was fool’s gold. Financial backing did not develop.

 

While Meucci recovered from being severely burned in a steamship disaster, Meucci’s wife sold his working telephone prototype to an unknown individual.

 

A Patent too Expensive — A Shady Western Union

 

When he was well, Meucci reconstructed the telephone in the hopes of getting a patent, but was unable to raise the $250 patent fee, and instead filed a caveat notice of intent to file a patent, dated December 28, 1871, which he renewed through 1873.

 

He delivered a model to a Vice President Edward Grant of Western Union Telegraph Company, asking for the opportunity to demonstrate it over the wires of Western Union. Grant said several times when Meucci inquired about the possibilities of a test, that the had not been arranged. After two years, Meucci asked for the model to be returned, he was told his model had been lost. This was in 1874.

 

Bell “Invents” It.

 

Then, in 1876, Alexander Graham Bell filed the patent for a device called a “telephone.” Meucci asked his lawyer to complain to the U.S. Patent Office. His lawyer never followed through.

 

A friend did contact the patent office, learning that the original documents Meucci had filed as part of his Notice of Intent to file a patent on the telephone had been mysteriously lost by the Patent Office.

 

An investigation revealed that employees of the patent office had conspired with officers of Alexander Graham Bell’s company.

 

Payoff?

 

It was later discovered in a case of litigation between Western Union and Bell that Bell was to pay Western Union 20% of profits from sale of the “invention” for 17 years in the millions, indicating that there had been collusion between the two companies.

 

Meucci sued Bell for stealing his invention and the case went to trial in 1886. Meucci testified clearly on every step of his invention, but still lost the case.

 

The Secretary of State at the time noted “there exists sufficient proof to give priority to Meucci in the invention of the telephone,” and the United States began prosecution for fraud against Alexander Graham Bell’s patent.

 

Postponements Until Death

 

However, the trail continued to be postponed for years until Meucci’s death in 1896, when the case was quietly dropped.

 

The Meucci story of how his invention was virtually stolen from him by Western Union and Alexander Graham Bell was a revelation to me.

 

Now you know the next time you make a telephone call or a cellphone today, who was really responsible for this device.

 

How he trusted and was betrayed by persons he thought could help him.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2004. From the Office of Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, 89th Assembly District. (Edited) February 23, 2004: Assemblyman Adam Bradley (D-White Plains) today announced he helped pass a legislative package that makes New York eligible to receive federal funding to modernize the election process through the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

“Our election system has relied for too long on antiquated procedures and equipment,” Bradley said. “Modernizing and improving our electoral process will ensure voter confidence and encourage broader participation.”

HAVA is designed to help states create a uniform, computerized voter registration list and assist states with establishing standardized, electronic voting machines. In order to receive federal funds, each state must design a plan, pass enabling legislation, and appropriate state funds. The process must also include citizen participation and public review.

 

The Assembly passed a package of legislation that ensures New York’s compliance with HAVA. The package would:

 

§        consolidate election operations at the county level – ensuring elections are run consistently, and polling places are adequately staffed with well-trained workers (A.8833-B);   

 

§        create a computerized, centralized, interactive statewide voter registration list with proper privacy protections – ensuring that voters get in and out of the polls quickly, votes are recorded accurately and voter fraud is prevented (A.8842-A);

 

§        ban punch ballots and the statewide adoption of a single type of electronic voting machine that will be accessible to all citizens – including persons with disabilities and voters with limited English proficiency (A.8847-A);

 

§        provide for an administrative complaint procedure administered by the state board of elections (A.8841-A); and

 

§        establish basic guidelines to ensure the disabled community has access to polling sites (A.5473-A).

 

“We must adopt a system that works for the voters. This legislation will provide for a paper, voter verifiable audit record.  This is important to ensure that voters can have confidence in election results.  We can help increase voter turnout and empower all New Yorkers with a voting process that is reliable and user-friendly,” Bradley said. “Elections are the lifeblood of our democracy, but they are meaningless without public trust. This package will help ensure voter confidence in New York elections.”

 

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. February 23, 2004, Little Falls, New Jersey: The New York New Jersey Juggernauts the new National Professional Fast Pitch franchise that begins play in the metropolitan area June 1 introduced themselves to the media Monday afternoon at the Yogi Berra Museum. Their Principal Owner Paul Plemenos introduced nationally known fastpitch stars to the media who will begin play in the Juggernaut pinstrips: Erika Hanson, Senior member of the Arizona 2001 National Champions;  Lisa Iancin, second sacker for the Natonal Pro Fastpitch All-Star Team that toured the country las summer, and Sarah Hershman of San Diego State University. Plemenos introduced the three players who would be joining national pitching sensations, Michelle Smith and Kaci Clark on the debut team.

FAST PITCH PIONEERS: Paul Plemenos, Principal Owner with his brain trust and three of his blue chip fast-pitch stars at the Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair today. Standing is Mr. Plemenos, followed by Richard Perrotty, President and General Manager, Linda Derk Manager, V.P., Softball Operations; Erika Hanson, 1st Base; Lisa Iancin, 2nd Base; and Sarah Hershman, Outfield. Plemenos announced the team is making its players available for clinics throughout the metropolitan area. He said the team will be playing singleton 7 inning games (with no international tiebreaker, sports fans), beginning in the easy-to-get-to brand-new Montclair State University softball stadium.

Linda Derk, Manager said the games are designed to be worked with events involving local organizations and to promote the growth of local and professional fastpitch softball. Plemenos reported ticket prices will be low and affordable and provide a wholesome, fast-moving entertaining night out for the entire family. The Juggernauts will be playing teams of equal all-star calibre: the New England Riptide, Akron Racers, Colorado Altitude , Houston Thunder, Sacramento Sunbirds, Arizona Heat and San Antonio Armadillos in a 56-game season. He said it is the National Pro Fastpitch plan to expand to 12 teams in 2005, and 16 teams by 2006. To contact the Juggernauts and find out about their clinic programs go to their website at www.nynjjuggernaut.com. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

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    WPCNR THE FEINER REPORT. By  Town of  Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner. February 23, 2004:  WPCNR is pleased to introduce Paul Feiner as a regular contributor to The White Plains CitizeNetReporter. Mr. Feiner has undertaken to prepare The Feiner Report, a weekly roundup of news matters and government happenings in the Town of Greenburgh. And now, Mr. Feiner:

This is the first in a series of weekly reports to White Plains  CitizeNetReporter. I’d like to thank John Bailey for inviting me to write this report  — so Greenburgh people can be better informed of what’s happening in our town.
   

 

This Wednesday night, the Greenburgh Town Board will hold our next Town
Board meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:15 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall, 177
Hillside Ave, Greenburgh. You’re invited to attend and to participate. In the
event that you’re unable to attend you can watch our meeting on our local cable
TV access channel and call in live. Phone us from your home during the
meeting (993-1540) and participate. Calls are not pre-screened. Phone calls are
accepted any time during the meeting. That’s open government at its best.
 

In the coming months we hope to initiate a new feature: residents will be
able to view our Town Board meetings live on our internet site:
www.greenburghny.com and will be able to archive meetings. I hope that this innovation can
be started within 2 months.
 

  Another way for people to learn about town government is to subscribe to
our automatic e mail alert listing. I post Supervisor Reports on our web site
a few times a week and mail those reports to anyone who is interested in
learning more about what’s happening. Want to be on our e mail list? Email me at
pfeiner@greenburgh.com.
 

  On Thursday I’ll be assigned to the Town Attorney’s office, adjudicating
traffic tickets in Town Court. Once a month I work in a different department
in town government. It’s a great experience, interacting with town employees.
And, I always learn from our employees.
   

Feel free to call me anytime. My office is 993 l540. My home is 478 l2l9.
And, you can always e mail me at pfeiner@greenburgh.com
PAUL FEINER

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WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley, February 21, 2004: Westchester County is a beautiful place to live. Keeping our environment healthy will ensure that our future generations enjoy all this area has to offer. Since I took office, I have made it a mission to sponsor legislation that protects our environment.

 

One of the pieces of legislation I authored would give municipalities a direct role in reviewing proposed private developments in other communities if they can establish that the development would have a substantial impact on the water or air quality in their locality (A.8672). This would ensure that communities have a say in protecting their environment when their environment is clearly placed at risk by decisions made across their border.

Another piece of legislation would ensure legal standing for those individuals seeking to challenge development which may be harmful to the environment (A.8673).

 

I also sponsored legislation to help reduce and eliminate the exposure of school children to hazardous substances that may be found in school facilities (A3935). The legislation calls for sampling of school indoor air, water and paint to identify potential problems.  This legislation also calls for parental notification in the event an environmental health hazard is detected.

 

An environmental danger in our own backyard is the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. I don’t have faith in the plant’s assurances that all of us living near it are safe. Serious questions still remain about Indian Point’s evacuation plan should an emergency occur there. Simply, we do not have the roads or infrastructure to have a successful evacuation in an emergency. It is an outrage that the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission signed off on it. I will continue to be an outspoken critic on this critically important matter.

 

Preservation of our environment and protecting our quality of life is of utmost importance. I will continue to fight for the future of Westchester County so that our children can continue enjoying a healthy, beautiful and natural environment.