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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. November 27, 2003, UPDATED 11:00 P.M. E.S.T. WITH PIX DETAILS: After a scoreless first quarter, White Plains took command of today’s Turkey Bowl game at Parker Stadium on an 11-yard bootleg touchdown run by Quarterback Mike Devere at the beginning of the second quarter and a 1 yard-over-the-top run by Spencer Ridenhour with 3 minutes to go in the first half, to give the Tigers a 13-0 lead at halftime. In the third quarter the Tigers scored three touchdowns to put the contest away, with Ike Nduka getting the clinching third TD on a 34-yard run through a huge hole. The Tigers completed their season with a 10-1 record before a throng of over 1,000 fans in Parker Stadium.

DEVERE COMING IN FOR A LANDING: Mike Devere in center of picture at the 7 yard line rolling around left end for the first touchdown of the game in Parker Stadium at the beginning of the second quarter. Photo by WPCNR Sports

It was a perfect Turkey Day at Parker Stadium as the crowd filed in, the temperature at 10:30 in the upper 40s and sunny in the annual Turkey Bowl game. In a pregame ritual (which lasted longer than the World Series pregame which nobody seemed to mind), Eric Benson, Stepinac’s Junior Varsity Coach and Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains were honored as the “Dedicatees” of today’s game, and the Seniors from the 2003 White Plains Tigers were introduced for the last time.

In the first quarter, Stepinac’s Crusaders took the ball with F.J. Collins taking the kickoff eluding all Tigers in the kickoff melee at the 25 yard line except one,  Keith Shaw, who tripped Collins up just as he was about to break into the clear at the 28. The red, white and blue started smartly.

Crusaders Fail to Convert Tiger Miscues.

Stepinac had three chances to get on the scoreboard first in the opening quarter but White Plains’ defense rose to the occasion all three times.

On first down Rich Delascio, Step QB, caught the Tiger secondary napping launching a long spiral 40 yard intended for Paul Russo on a post pattern who had the closest Tiger beaten by 4 steps, but the pass was just overthrown. On second down Andrew Clark sliced off tackle for 7, Charlie Nyakeh ran for the first down and thensome, giving Step a first down on the Crusader 42. The Tigers tightened and Stepinac punted. However the Tiger cover man touched the ball and the Crusaders fell on it for a first down on the Tiger 24.

The Tigers sacked Delascio back at the 28 on first down, and after a running play went nowhere, Ryan Smalls coming untouched around left end flattened Delascio for another sack at the 25. A draw play went nowhere on 4^th and the Tigers took over.

Lane’s Immaculate Denial.

Devere handed to Spencer Ridenhour on first down at the 25 and Spence could not find the handle, and Stepinac recovered the loose ball on the 20. Another opportunity to get on the scoreboard was presented to the Crusaders. However they immediately squandered field position by a holding penalty which made it 1^st and 20 on the 30. Three plays got nowhere.

On 4^th down on the 32, Delascio looked to the endzone right up the middle got it there and Mike Lane leaping high in the air from behind the receiver tipped it away saving a touchdown. It was a perfectly timed, immaculate denial. Again the Tigers took over. Six minutes had gone by and the Tigers were about to run their second play. Kudos to the Tiger defense for stopping.

Air Devere Turns Game Around.

After two running plays and a holding set the Tigers back to their own 25 facing a 3^rd and 17, Devere made the big play. Given plenty time by the Tiger offensive line Devere stood tall in the pocket and lofted a long spiral down the middle, hitting Spencer Ridenhour behind the deep man at the Crusader 30 yard line, and a shoestring tackle at Spence’s ankle by F. J. Collins saved a touchdown. Spence had the ball knocked loose as he hit the gridiron, but the officials ruled the fumble was caused by him hitting the ground. Tiger First Down on the Crusader 25.

Two running plays to Ridenhour and Nduka gave the Orange and Black a 3^rd and 5 on the 20, and Devere handed off to the “Third Man,” Paul Scotman who followed the parting Crusader line on an angle and picked up 8 yards to the 12 yard line, 1^st down.

A plug into the line by Ike NDuka moved the ball to the 10 as the first quarter ended, 0-0.

On the first play of the second quarter, Devere drifted back on 2^nd down, rolled to his left, looking right, saw daylight and lit out around left end for the goaline flag,  running on an angle. He got a great block at the 8 and jammed it inside the flag for a 6-0 lead. Mike Lane kicked the point for a 7-0 lead. 8 Plays, 70 yards, 7 points.

Crusader Cough-Up Sets Up Tigers.

White Plains stopped the Crusaders on their next series, and could not get it going on their next possession, either, being forced to punt. Stepinac took over at their own 29, and on their first play Andrew Clark fumbled and a Tiger pounced on it at the Step 33. A key break.

The Tigers Ridenhour got outside leftend and scampered 8 yards to the 25. Nduka on a short run made it 3^rd and 1 on the 24. Paul Scotman dove for the first down on the 22. After runs by Nduka and Scotman made it 3^rd and 6 on the 17, Nduka got the call.

Ike hit the line, seemed stopped, then “the pile” of Crusaders, incredibly, was moving with Nduka under it…and miraculously he was free and moving on an angle the far side, being dragged down finally at the Crusader 4.

TouchDOWN! TouchDOWN! Spencer Ridenhour through the line for 6. Spencer Ridenhour ran it once. Then ran it twice, leaping into the middle and romping through for the TD to make it 13-0 with about 4 minutes in the half. It was his 56^th Tiger TD of his career. Spencer is just to the right of the zebra, in center of photo, dipping his toe in paydirt. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

ANOTHER MEMORY FROM “THE REASON:” Ryan Smalls, also known as “The Prosecutor,” at the 5 in top center of your picture trying to evade a last tackler as time ticks off in the first half. The Tigers had one more chance in the first half when Keith Shaw blocked a punt and the “good hands man,” Shawn Jimison (former Church Street Challenger reporter), picked it up and rambled to the Crusader 10 with 9 seconds to go in the half. A great pass to Ryan Smalls was caught by Ryan at the 10 in the right flat, and on his last memorable play as a Tiger, Ryan tried to get out of bounds but not in time at the 2. It was a reprise of the many clutch moments Mr. Smalls has given us this season. New Rochelle remembers him. Photo by WPCNR Sports

A Muffed Onside Kick, Encroachment Doom Crusaders.

The Second half the Tigers came out smoking thanks to a questionable decision. The Crusaders kicked off short. It appeared to be an intended onside kick, but it did not go 10 yards, and the Tigers recovered it on the Step 48. Not a good thing.

Five plays later the Tigers scored. Ridenhour rushed twice for 8 yards. Scotman rushed for 1, and then on 4^th and 1, the Crusader line was flagged for “encroachment.” Automatic first down for the Orange and Black.

On the very next play, they should have encroached.

 because the Crusader line was just ploughed out of the way by the Men in Black and Nduka burst into the seconardy running, angling right, and the Crusaders just seemed to watch him as he dashed into the corner of the endzone for a 34 yard touchdown run to make it 19-0 with 9:17 to go in the third quarter.

NDUKA NUKES ‘EM: Ike Nduka on a slant run in the endzone (at far side of field near telephone pole) has just raced 34 yards weaving through some lacklustre Crusader pursuit to give the tigers a 19-0 lead. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

21 Minutes of Purgatory.

Fired up, White Plains stopped Stepinac on their next possession, took over at their own 35 after a punt. A Devere to Evan McGuire 3^rd down pass gave the Tigers a first down on the Stepinac 45.

On 3^rd and 5 at the Crusader 42, Devere threw to Paul Scotman hitting him on the sideline at the 20,  for his third big 3^rd down play of the day, and “The Third Man” scampered all the way to the Stepinac 2.

THE FLYING TIGERS IN ACTION: Mike Devere (15), completing a Tiger classic play  in third quarter action, spinning to handoff to Spencer Ridenhour (33), the tail gunner on the Tiger Squadron. Photo by WPCNR Sports

On the next play, Spencer Ridenhour scored the final and 57th touchdown of his White Plains career up the gut in his classic style to make the score 25-0. Ryan Smalls on a 2-point conversion attempt hit Mike Devere for the 2 points, to make it 27-0.

The Tiger final score came after the Tigers returned a punt, and took over at the Stepinac 35 with a first and 10. Mike Devere found Tommy Lee all alone in the endzone under the goal posts, no Crusader within 10 yard of him in either direction for a 35 yard touchdown pass. That ended the scoring at 33-0. Mike Lane intercepted a pass to stall a Crusader drive in the 4^th quarter.

Bright Lights Coming On.

Coach Santa-Donato played his Juniors and Sophomores in the 4^th quarter and  it appeared the torch was being passed to the next generation of Tigers.

They looked good, too.  Kevin Avery at quarterback made crisp handoffs to mobile Tigers Roberson Joseph and Jeff Bagley, Jr., moving the ball very nicely.  Joseph broke away for a 52 yard run at the close of the game setting up the Tigers with a 1^st and goal at the Crusader 11. But, with plenty of time to score a touchdown, Coach Santa-Donato told Avery to take a knee on four plays.

This was quite a contrast in sportsmanship in coaching from what the Rockland coaching staff did three weeks ago when they consistently had their boys try to drive the ball in for a score in the last two minutes of play against White Plains even though they had a 34-7 lead.

Westchester’s Best Marching Band Keeps ‘em In Their Seats.

Halftime was highlighted by a 20-minute spectacular show staged by Lesley Tompkins directing the 89-member White Plains High School Marching Band, through a cosmic routine in which they held the big crowd spellbound to the sounds of All-Star, Atomic Dog, Let it Whip, Neutron Dance,We Like to Party (We are the Tigers),  and Skater Boy.

THE DOUBLE BLACK DIAMOND IN MOTION PLAY: Spectacular moving formation featuring rotating marching diamonds was the highlight of the half-time show performed by the band. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

The band played six numbers, creating  kaleidoscopic shapes and maneuvers and staged “Marching Double Diamonds” on the field. They showed they could dance and demonstrated one of the strongest brass sections we have heard on We Like to Party, whose trumpets carried the ball while the woodwind section danced.

Tompkins created a program that the band performed with quick-step precision, belting out a big boss sound while executing complex marching maneuvers without losing their volume, tempo, or speed (not easy to do).

THE LAST VICTORY WALK: The 2003 League I-A South Champions on their traditional handshake at game’s end. Thanks Mike, Thanks Spencer, and Ryan, and Keith, and Pablo and Evan, and Ike, and Paul, and Night Train, and all the Tigers for the memories. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

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WPNCR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications. November 26, 2003 (EDITED): A long-waited proposal to create 17 affordable townhouses in White Plains through a public/private partnership has cleared the final hurdle this week with two key approvals by the Westchester County Board of Legislators.

The board on Nov. 24 approved the sale of a 1.6 acre parcel on Lake Street to Lake Street Partners for $1 in exchange for the developers’ pledge to offer the townhouses at affordable rates. The board also agreed to borrow $800,000 to pay for sewer and water connections for the project. The units would be targeted to families with median incomes, which is Westchester is $90,100 for a family of four. As part of the agreement, the properties cannot be sold at market rates for at least 40 years.

 The proposal, the brainchild of the Delfino Administration of White Plains in cooperation with the county, as part of the city’s acquisition and creation of a waterfront park on Silver Lake (now known as Liberty Park),  is part of the Spano administration’s push to encourage the development of affordable housing, which Spano has cited as one of Westchester’s most pressing needs.

“This is an example of a cooperative effort between government and developers to provide affordable housing which is so badly needed in this county,’’ said Spano. “I’m pleased that the Board of Legislators has approved this very important plan.’’

County Legislator William Ryan, who represents the City of White Plains, said that the city will not only benefit by the affordable housing, which will be offered first to city residents and employees, but has benefited by additional parkland.

In addition to the affordable housing, part of the proposal included the county leasing almost 2 acres of nearby land on Silver Lake to the city for 30 years.

“This open space addition will significantly enhance the quality of life for those in the neighborhood and for all White Plains residents,” said Ryan.

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WPCNR KING KOMMENTS. By City Councilman William King. November 26, 2003: Please take items 38-41 (Shapham Place Parking Garage Improvement) off Monday night’s consent agenda as I will not be voting in favor of them.  I thought this project was a waste of money when it was projected to cost $2-3m so now that the costs have grown to the $7m total cost figure (at least, including design), I am more strongly against this project than ever. 

 There are numerous other initiatives the city could undertake with this kind of money.  The city should re-explore permitting on-street metered overnight parking which would cost about $7m less than this proposed project and be much more convenient to area residents who would use it.

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Based on a decision today by the PSC, Westchester residents and businesses will see their electric bills drop at least 8 percent or as much as 18 percent, depending on calculations and fluctuations in market prices. 

County Executive Andy Spano said he had hoped the PSC would implement the change in rate structure immediately, but the PSC decided at its meeting in Albany today to phase it in over three years. The first adjustment will appear on electric bills in May of 2004, with further reductions every six months until November 2006, when the full reduction will be realized. The rate reduction will affect more than 300,000 businesses and residential customers of Con Edison in Westchester County.

The directive from the Public Service Commission follows an almost four-year fight by Spano to change the rate structure so Westchester electric users are not forced to subsidize New York City electric users.

“This is a fantastic victory for residents and businesses in Westchester,” Spano said today. “We fought and fought for this, never giving up when it seemed like we had reached dead ends.’’ 

Two legislators who have been involved with the effort to reduce electric rates in the county applauded today’s development.

County Legislator Michael Kaplowitz, chair of the Environment and Health Committee, said, “This is great news for the residents and businesses of Westchester County. Thanks to County Executive Spano, they will be receiving some of what is rightfully owed to them.”

Legislator Martin Rogowsky, chair of the Board’s Energy Committee, said, “At long last, we get from the PSC what we have been pushing for for several years. This win is a fantastic development for county residents and businesses.”

At Spano’s direction, Westchester first brought a proceeding before the PSC in 2000, arguing that county ratepayers were illegally subsidizing New York City ratepayers. Since then Spano has taken various steps to force the PSC to act. In August 2003, Spano brought a lawsuit to force the PSC to take up the case. That lawsuit came after the PSC was scheduled to hear the case, but cancelled action – something Spano saw as a stalling effort.

While Westchester ratepayers should realize a significant drop in their electric rates from a favorable decision, New York City customers should see their bills go up only slightly. This is because the pool of users in New York City to absorb the cost is much larger than the pool of users in Westchester. (Con Edison serves most of Westchester and New York City.)

At issue are miscellaneous costs, in addition to the cost of electricity itself, that a utility is entitled by law to recoup from customers. It costs more for electricity in New York City; in order to artificially cushion costs to New York City ratepayers, the PSC allowed Con Ed to recoup from Westchester ratepayers a disproportionately higher amount of these costs.

While Westchester ratepayers account for just 12 percent of Con Ed electric users, there are many months where Westchester ratepayers have been forced to pay 100 percent of these miscellaneous costs.  Annually, this has amounted to overcharges of $100 million to $120 million.

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WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By Paul Riss. November 24, 2003: Trinity Lutheran Church will perform its first musical parody performed by the youth of the church on Saturday December 13^th at 7:30 pm.  Everyone should come see our production of The Von Trump Family Christmas a parody of the Von Trapp family in the Sound of Music.

The musical was originally written by Paul Riss in 1994 and performed by a Sunday school class he was teaching.  We are performing it to raise money for a scholarship fund in memory of Paul’s wife, Nancy.  Tickets are being sold in advance at $10 each.  Playbill ads are also being sold to local businesses and whoever else would like to buy an ad.  We recommend that you make sure you have a seat and buy your tickets early.  You may contact Lynn Fargo or Paul Riss regarding the purchase of tickets.  For playbill ads you may also contact Paul Riss at 310-4724.

 This musical has a wide appeal to all age groups.  It starts with Mr. Von Trump, who is a businessman and widower, and runs his house like a business.  Along comes a new nanny named Julie Andrews, to take care of the 8 children, ages 6 to 16.  While Mr. Von Trump leaves on a business trip, Julie teaches the children many new songs and she takes the children to Trinity Lutheran Church, where they meet Pastor Hurst and Karen Turo  (who play themselves). 

 Naturally, the Von Trump family immediately takes a liking to the church, and they have to figure out a way to convince their father to go to church too.  They try to convince him to go to Trinity by asking him to attend a Saturday evening social function, where they plan to sing “So Long, Farewell.”  But Mr. Von Trump is too busy, and too many other problems have developed with the arrival of Julie Andrews. 

To make matters worse, his oldest daughter is off singing “I am 16 Going on 17” with an unapproved boy.  She later runs away.   As a single parent, he has to reach deep inside and decide what to do about his missing daughter.  Coincidently, he stumbles upon the parable of the lost sheep.  All these things are happening, as the Christmas season is upon them.

Cast of Characters

Mr. Von Trump….Paul Riss

Joe….Michael Smayda

Sonia Von Trump…  Sharon Binford

Rita Von Trump…Andrea Busch

Stephanie Von Trump…Helen Hess

Rose Von Trump…Becky Riss

Michael Von Trump…Josh Hurst

Julie Andrews…Debra Hess

Bobbie Von Trump…Mariana Hess

Helen Von Trump…Hanna Hurst

Becky Von Trump…Lauren Werner

Cousin Rebecca…Kirsten Smayda

Cousin Cameron….Keith Werner

Rev. William Hurst… Himself

Church member I….Karen Turo

Jack ….Jake Riss

Flash….Peter Turo

Stacey…Maggie Roache

Miss Teenage America….Katherine Smayda

Church Member II….Vicky Struss

Orchestra

Keyboards…….Mary Jan Almes

Trombone…..John Hollahane

Trumpet……Zack Glass

Tuba….Robert Hollahan

Keyboards….June Riss

Bell Choir….Vicky Struss

Sax…..Jeff Silver

Trombone…..Devon Williams

Clarinet, Sax….Kim Wood

Mary Jane Almes

Zack Glass

John Hollahan

Robert Hollahan

June Riss

Vicky Struss

Jeff Silver

Devon Williams

Kim Wood