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 PRIMARY REPORT. By John F. Bailey. UPDATED Friday, September 12, 2003, 10:30 P.M.: Official Board of Elections results for the White Plains Republican Primary Results have been posted showing all 30 Election Districts involved Tuesday night. The vote totals are lower than phoned in to Republican Headquarters. The spread between Rosa Munoz and Daniel Hickey has been almost cut in half, showing Timothy Sheehan the leader at 884, Jeffrey Binder second, 829, Daniel Hickey holding his lead for the third slot on the Republican Council slate with 790, by 12 votes over the Rosa Munoz’ 778.

The Absentee Ballot Desk reported to WPCNR that Absentee Ballots were opened and counted election night, and as of Thursday afternoon, 23 Absentee Ballots were left to be counted, and they can come in through next Tuesday. The Recanvass will take place Monday at 2 PM at the Board of Elections.

Jeffrey Binder relayed to WPCNR Friday afternoon, that the 23 votes are not the only votes to be counted. He notes that there are 61 Affidavit Ballots, and 6 Emergencies, in addition to the 23 Absentees to be evaluated and tallied. Affidavit Ballots are ballots filled out by persons arriving at the polling place, claiming they are Registered Republicans, but who are not listed as being Republicans on the official registration lists. “Emergencies” are filled in ballots that are completed when a voting machine is down.

Daniel Hickey according to the BOE results reported Thursday at midday, holds a 12-vote lead over Rosa Munoz with those 23 Absentee Ballots, the Affidavit Ballots, and Emergencies  left to be opened and tallied. That reckoning will take place Wednesday, according to Co Chairman of the Board Elections, Carolee Sunderland’s office. The Official Recanvass will not be held Friday, but Monday afternoon at 2 PM, according to Ms. Sunderland’s Office. Asked why there was a delay in reporting officially the missing districts Tuesday, the spokesperson said they had to open the bags to get out the reporting sheets of the missing districts and enter them.

The discrepancy between what was phoned in to Republican Headquarters by their poll-watchers and the official results was unexplained, most likely a result of misreads by overeager Republican poll watchers due to election night excitement.

The Official Recanvass Monday will set the stage for the final certified result that will be declared after the 7 day wait for Absentee Ballots to roll in. As of 1 PM Thursday afternoon, there are 23 to be counted.

The Board of Elections counted some absentee ballots Tuesday night, at that time, 44 Republican Absentees were reported left to be counted, which apparently accounts for Hickey’s lead narrowing. FONT>

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WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From  Lynn Bedell, Westchester County Department of Communications. (EDITED) September 10, 2003:  Tuesday  in Milan, Italy, County Executive Andrew J. Spano opened up a “Westchester Desk” as part of an agreement with the Italian Center for Commercial Affairs-USA (ICCA) – a move which should pave the way for Westchester companies interested in doing business in Italy.

  The Westchester Desk, which will operate out of ICCA’s offices at no charge to the county, will work with the county’s Office for Economic Development to promote trade, business opportunities, industrial cooperation, and cultural and technological exchange between key cities in Italy and Westchester County. Even small companies – which might otherwise never pursue overseas sales – will be able to get assistance entering a global market.

Spano noted that the inauguration was attended by high ranking officials in the Italian region, including the commercial attache from the US Dept. of Commerce and his Italian counterpart. An Italian manager, Salvatore Cicco, will staff the desk.

The creation of a Westchester Desk was the culmination of a week of economic and other meetings by a county delegation in the cities of Genoa, Turin, and Milan. Besides Spano, the delegation included Salvatore Carrera, director of Economic Development; Joseph Stout, parks commissioner; Marsha Gordon, executive director of the County Chamber of Commerce; White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino; Jerry Mulligan, planning commissioner; Margo Jones, director of tourism; and county CIO Norm Jacknis. The trip was paid for by the Italian cities being visited.

The delegation embarked on the week-long trip, which ended today, as part of a long-term strategy to promote international trade and help companies here in Westchester. A similar delegation, also led by Spano, visited China in August 2002 to scout out opportunities and cultivate new business relationships.

Italy’s Westchester Desk will be involved with public relations, promotion, exhibits and fairs, and the representation and distribution of Westchester products and services, as well as offer administrative support for the Italian business presence of these companies. 

In Genoa, the delegation was welcomed as the first such group from America to come for trade discussions. Members met with several Italian companies whose interests ranged from wanting to learn about office space for American headquarters to seeking partners for innovative new technology projects.  The county executive also met with the president of the Liguria Region (equivalent to governor of a state), mayor of Genoa, the leaders of the local business community and a group of technology companies that have organized a “virtual technology park” similar to Westchester’s Information Technology Cluster.

In Turin, Spano and the delegation met with leaders of the regional organization responsible for global trade and economic growth opportunities, who were enthusiastic about the possibilities of mutual economic growth. They felt their companies could help Westchester companies increase sales in the European market while Westchester companies could do the same in North America.

Other highlights included:

·        Discussion with the leading European superconductivity firm, Ansaldo Superconduttori, about its role in the multinational demonstration project of plasma/fusion energy and the possibility of replacement of nuclear fission at Indian Point.

·        Signing of a joint venture on park planning with six mayors in the Milan area.

·        Briefings by the American consulate in Milan and discussions with both the Milan mayor and the head of the Italian national chamber of commerce.

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WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey.  September 9, 2003: White Plains Commissioner of Public Safety Dr. Frank Straub at the scene reported the Bet Am Shalom fire Tuesday morning has been brought under control as of 1 PM after approximately three hours. He said the efforts of 75 fire fighters,  50 from White Plains, and 25 from Hartsdale, Greenville and New Rochelle had been able to save the building. He reported the religious artifacts from the temple had been saved and that the primary place of worship had suffered little damage. He reported the roof on the “older portion” of the building is gone, but the building saved.

Straub said there was nothing suspicious about the origin of the fire. He said the cause appeared to be electrical because it had been burning for some time, noting “the walls were hot when we got there.” He said as of 1 PM the firefighters were still putting out “a few hot spots.” He said the crews would then clean up the premises of debris and conditions created by the fire fighting procedures.
 

UNDER CONTROL. NOT SUSPICIOUS. SAVED. The Bet Am Shalom Synagogue at 1 o’clock today, smouldering but under control. Photo by WPCNR News

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS AFTER DARK. September 9, 2003: The Cheesecake Factory opens its doors to its especially eclectic and tasty fare with “California style” this afternoon, when it opens its doors at Maple Avenue and Bloomingdale Road as the new Fortunoff “palace” premier attraction. No reservations are accepted. The Renaissance begins at 5 PM!

THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY at Bloomingdale and Maple will become the first of the nationally acclaimed retail and restaurant names to launch officially the “White Plains Renaissance” as it is becoming known by city pundits and politicos. The “oakey” interior combines a mix of classic clubiness with contemporary style with the welcoming hospitality of uniquely tasty food, not just cheesecake. For a glimpse of what is in store on their menu, (it’s outrageously mouth-watering) visit www.thecheesecakefactory.com.  Fortunoff stages its elegant opening in a week, September 17. Photo by WPCNR Street CruiserCam.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. September 9, 2003: Four White Plains High School Graduates of the Past were named to the WPHS Hall of Fame Monday evening at the Board of Education meeting. Dr. Christine Robbins made the announcement of the 2003 inductees, selected by a committee composed of civic and school groups.

PRINCIPAL OF WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL DR. CHRISTINE ROBBINS ANNOUNCES 2003 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES LAST NIGHT: They are the late Dr. Kenneth Trout, Class of ’43, the former cardiologist and president of  the medical staff of St. Agnes Hospital; real estate magnate Nicholas Wolff, Class of ’69, the tirelessly involved civic leader; the reporter, David E. Sanger, Class of ’78, the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times; and Dr. Yvette Rooks, Class of ’84, the specialist in Family and Sports Medicine at the University of Maryland. Photo by WPCNR News.

The quartet of distinguished alumni will be officially inducted to the WPHS Hall of Fame during American Education Week in November. Dr. Robbins said that one of the highlights of that week will be the expected appearances of Wolff, Robbins and Sanger who will visit the High School on Tuesday, November 18, spending time with high school students and staff. The Induction Ceremony will take place in the new Media Center and will be followed by a reception. The Ceremony is open to the public.

Dr. Trout ’43 pioneered the medical profession in Westchester County in the mid twentieth century, becoming president of the medical staff and Director of the Department of Medicine of St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains.

Wolff  ’69 is a second generation Hall of Famer, Robbins said, heading the Century 21 real estate firm on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains and a civic activist in organizations ranging from the United Way, the White Plains Children’s Center, to the Slater Center. He joins his late father, F. Richard Wolff, Class of ’25 in the WPHS Hall of Fame. 

Sanger ’78 the Times man in the White House, has won two Pulitzer Prizes, and is seen frequently on network news programs.

Dr. Rooks, ’84, is another child of a White Plains High School Hall of Famer, George D. Rooks, Class of 1947,  a Captain in the White Plains Police and mentor to you. Dr. Rooks is nationally recognized for her achievements and promotion of the new medical discipline, Sports Medicine. She is Assistant Professor of Family Medicine/Sports Medicine and Director of the Family Medicine Clerkship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Dr. Robbins in announcing the names of the inductees said that the Hall of Fame honors those WPHS graduates who have achieved significant success in their chosen careers and have contributed to the betterment of society.

She said nominations are entertained each year and inductees selected by a committee of representatives of civic and school groups from nominations submitted by the public.