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’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. February 7, 2004: Bitter temperatures this winter caused a sudden increase in home heating costs – wreaking havoc on family budgets.

 

To give Westchester relief, I helped pass a resolution urging President Bush and the United States Congress to provide additional funds for the federal Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). Thankfully, the federal government acted quickly to provide more aid.

 

HEAP provides grants from $40 to $400 to help eligible low-income seniors, those with disabilities and families pay their heat bills. New York’s program provides regular and emergency benefits to eligible renters and homeowners alike.

 

Eligibility is based on variables including household income, living arrangement, heating expenses, young, old or disabled family members, and type of heat. For instance, a family of four that pays for its heat directly and has a gross monthly income of less than $3,325 could receive between $150 and $400. An elderly couple that doesn’t pay directly for heat and makes less than $2,261 monthly could save between $40 and $50.

 

Skyrocketing home heating costs are a real emergency – especially in a winter with near-record lows. Through the end of January, 640,000 households received assistance – an increase of 39,000 over the same period last year. In an effort to fight the devastating cold, the additional funding helps New Yorkers avoid choosing between heating their homes and cutting back on basic necessities such as medicine or food – or worse, resorting to unsafe heating sources. The additional aid will help keep Westchester families safe and warm.

 

To receive an application or find out if you are eligible for HEAP benefits, contact my District Office at 686-7335 or call the HEAP hotline at 1-800-342-3009. You can also visit www.otda.state.ny.us and download an application off the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Web site.

 

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Innovative Stages. February 5, 2004: A glamorous vampire from the ancient past falls in love with a brilliant young doctor – the first romantic affair in her long, long life. It’s the premiere of “Blood & Kisses,” a musical by John Driver and Ed Weissman, to be presented at Memorial United Methodist Church on March 6 at 8 p.m.

With an edgy style and contemporary music, the new work explores the intrigues of romantic passion with wit and insight. The four-character work is presented by Innovative Stages, the non-profit organization committed to the development of diverse, innovative theatrical works.

An open discussion follows the performance. Suggested donation for admission
is $5, and $3 for senior citizens and students.

Innovative Stages is attracting growing audiences to attend monthly
script-in-hand productions of plays and musicals by emerging playwrights,
composers and librettists. The group is sponsored by Mamaroneck Council for
the Arts.

Memorial UMC, in addition to monthly theatrical works,  presents regular
“Music at Memorial” concerts and a biannual art show.  The church is located
on Bryant Avenue between North Street and Mamaroneck Avenue. The
congregation of Memorial strives to welcome and respect persons of every
race, ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental ability, gender, family
status, sexual orientation, age, theology, and economic circumstance. Its
pastor is Rev. Joe Agne.

The show will also be presented on Friday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m., at the
Bronxville Library, 201 Pondfield Rd., in Bronxville, and on Sun., March 7,
at 2 p.m., at Mamaroneck Library, 136 Prospect Ave., in Mamaroneck.

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WPCNR CITY HALL BEAT. From The Mayor’s Press Office. February 5, 2004: Mayor Joseph Delfino and  White Plains Superintendent  of Schools, Tim Connors  announced the creation of Club Excel, Thursday —  a new, joint academic initiative that will be run by the City Youth Bureau and housed in the City’s two middle schools. Club Excel will provide White Plains middle school students extended learning opportunities for three hours a day, five days a week during the school year, for free. 

          

  “I have always believed that we need to give young people every opportunity to succeed in life, and

this program will help us do that,” Mayor Delfino said. “I cannot thank Superintendent Connors enough

for his support and expertise in getting this program started.”

Club Excel will be held in the City’s two middle schools and will include 100 students from the Eastview Middle School and 125 students from the Highlands campus- almost 5 times what the Youth Bureau’s after school program currently supports. 

The wide variety of programs that will be offered are designed to enhance the educational, social, cultural, and recreational needs of students and their families. A typical day will include academic support and elective – “academies” – during which students will learn about a wide range of topics including technology, the arts, life-learning skills, health and leadership training.  The program will also include recreational activities.

One aspect of the program that makes it even more unique is the inclusion of family participation. The families of the students will have the chance to attend workshops and sessions on improving their own computer, language, and basic life skills.

Club Excel has been made possible by a $1.575 million dollar grant that was awarded through the State Education Department’s “New York 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program”. The Youth Bureau, working with the City’s Grants writer Ted Lawson, Superintendent Connors, the Principals of the Highlands and Eastview Middle Schools, Diana Knight and Joseph Cloherty, Charles Celauro, Principal of St. John The Evangelist School, and Dr. Margaret Olson, a consultant for the City put together the proposal that won this major award. The funds from the grant provide for salaries, services, supplies and materials, transportation expenses and employee benefits.

For more information about the program, please contact the Youth Bureau at (914) 422-1411

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey February 5, 2004. Updated 2:43 P.M. E.S.T. UPDATED WITH MR. RIDENHOUR’S WHITE PLAINS RECORDS, February 5, 2004: Spencer Ridenhour, “The Pride of the Tigers,” signed a letter of intent Wednesday morning to attend Pennsylvania State University on a full four-year football scholarship to play under the legendary football coach, Joe Paterno. With many of his football teammates looking on, the halfback and defensive back who set many records, and scored 57 touchdowns in his high school career at Parker Stadium, signed for the full ride at 9:58 A.M., joining thousands of other high school players nationally in committing to programs, the first day under NCAA rules in which they could do so.

TIGERS FOREVER: Spencer Ridenhour (front row center, with the biggest smile)  was congratulated by his WPHS football  teammates after his signing this morning with the Nittany Lions of Penn State. Many teammates spoke emotionally of their love for Spencer, what he has meant to them, and that they would always be there for him, visibly moving their teammate. Spencer told WPCNR he chose Penn State because of Coach Joe Paterno’s emphasis on academics and his focus on developing the whole individual, “He develops not just the athlete, but focuses on making you a responsible adult young man.” Ridenhour will pursue a prelaw degree at Penn State. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

TIGER RIDES WEST: Spencer Ridenhour has just signed his Letter of Intent to attend Penn State in the fall. His coaches, Mom and Dad look on. Head football Coach Marc Santa-Donato is at near right, seated, then right to left, Spencer, his mom, Lani, Dad, Al. WPHS Principal Dr. Christine Robbins, a Penn State graduate herself, is behind Coach Santa-Donato. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Coach Mark Santa-Donato, opened the signing ceremony by saying “This is all something Spencer earned. It is an historic moment for us and our football program.” Santa-Donato who has coached Mr. Ridenhour for all four years, said, “We are very proud of you, and what you have achieved, and you have been very humble about it.”

 

Athletic Director of White Plains High School, Mario Scarano said he had been asked what Spencer has meant to White Plains High School, and Mr. Scarano said,  “Spencer represents what the White Plains “Student Athlete” is all about if you can get an athlete to learn and perform.” He said Ridenhour was a role model for what a student athlete is.

 

Lani Ridenhour, Spencer’s mom, said her son was smart, articulate and would be successful wherever he went, saying she was very proud of him. Al, Spencer’s Dad, said a beautiful thing about his son. Al Ridenhour played football too, he said,  and when Spencer asked him about playing football in seventh grade, Mr. Ridenhour said to “play football because you want to, not because I did it.”

 

Then Mr. Ridenhour, a fierce competitor himself, said some words every son would want to hear, he said “I couldn’t play with you if I were your age.”

 

SPENCER’S TEAMMATES  took turns recalling memories of him, praising him, saying how they loved him and would always be there for him as friends. Spencer was visibly moved by these emotional tributes, and there was not a dry eye in the Career Center. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

 

Mike Devere, the quarterback who put the ball in Spencer’s hands the last two years, recalled when he first met Spencer and his parents in Little League, when Mike was pitching. He reminisced about that day. He recalled that Spencer hit a long drive to right field off him, and “before I knew it he was home.”

 

THE QB TAKE: Mike Devere, Tiger QB said what playing with Spencer on the football field was like: “You get a lot from him. He’s a role model. He has good qualities, leadership qualities. You just feed off him. He makes you better.” Devere appeared to speak for all, telling Spencer: “We’re always going to be buddies, and you’ve been a true friend to me.” Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

Spencer Ridenhour who will always be one of The Prides of the Tigers talked to WPCNR as he was about to leave for class.

 

He said he selected Penn State because of its academics overall, and described the university as a place where he felt he could fit in. He said the tradition was “solid,” “the people nice.”

 

He said he did not know the role envisioned for him on Coach Paterno’s team, saying he would learn more during camp at the end of July. He said the team had talked possibly defensive back with him.

SPENCER RIDENHOUR’S LAST GAME AT PARKER STADIUM: The Pride of the Tigers at far right, poised to take the handoff. Blockers ready. Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

He described Coach Joe Paterno as “a legend, very down-to-earth, who tells it like it is.” Spencer said  “The biggest attraction (of Penn State) was that Coach Paterno was so solid on the classroom. Many coaches just concentrate on your athletic ability. Coach Paterno molds a good athlete into a well-rounded person, a well-rounded young man.”

 

Asked how he balanced his own academics with his football dedication, Spencer said “Discipline.”

 

Advice? Spencer said he would tell other young athletes to “believe in yourself, not necessarily being boastful. You have to have the feeling you can do it. “

 

He said you cannot concede that someone is better, you have to “keep working hard to be better and accept nothing less.”

 

A Coach Remembers

 

Coach Santa-Donato said in conclusion, “I feel terrific (about Spencer’s achievement). He’s unselfish. His parents have been so supportive of him.”

 

Santa-Donato recalled Spencer’s will to succeed, remembering the Mount Vernon game when Spencer had injured his ankle in the first half and was in great pain. In the second half he begged the coach to go back into the game, saying his parents had given him permission to return to the game. Santa-Donato tried to talk him out of it. But, Spencer insisted.

 

“He ran 70 yards for a touchdown, “ Santa-Donato recalled.

 

Later in that game, Ridenhour ran for first downs on three consecutive crucial third down plays to run the Purple Knights out of time, on the same bad leg.

 

He has a Tiger’s pride, and already has a Lion’s Heart.

 

 

 

NUMBER 33 Photo by WPCNR Sports

 

These are the 9 career or season records that Spencer broke or tied at White
Plains:

Total Overall Career Yards – 3,796
Total Career Rushing Yards – 3,676
Most TD’s In A Career – 57
Most Points In A Career – 344
Most Rushing TD’s In A Career – 54
Most Points In A Season – 144 (2003)
Most TD’s In A Season – 24 (2003)
Most Rushing TD’s In A Season – 23 (2003)
Most Points In A Game – 30 (2003), Tied With Marcus Walton (1999)