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 WHITE PLAINS CONFIDENTIAL. By John F. Bailey. March 5, 2003: Former Councilwoman Pauline Oliva told WPCNR she would “give up retirement to help” if asked to run for the White Plains Common Council seat this fall. The Democrat slate is in need of a third spear carrier to replace Councilman William King who in a surprise announcement leaked exclusively to The Journal News and The White Plains Watch said he would not run again on the Democratic Ticket. Mr. King gave as his reasons he could not work with his Democratic colleagues.

THE PAULINE OLIVA COMEBACK: Mrs. Oliva, former councilwoman addressing the Common Council Monday evening.
Photo by WPCNR News

The first indication that something was up was the appearance of Mrs. Oliva, greeted with open arms by former Democrat colleagues, Rita Malmud, Robert Greer, and Benjamin Boykin, Jr. at the first opportunity they had. It was like a “welcome back.”

Pauline Oliva has been getting up to speed on Council doings, attending the droning and dragging Council meeting, Monday evening, to comment strongly in support of the Council vote to expand the Shapham Place parking with a double-deck extension behind the Rader’s-Dunkin Donut Strip at Bryant Avenue and Mamaroneck Avenue. Oliva went to great lengths to discredit the previously proposed overnight on-street parking proposal advanced by Mr. King and rejected by the council.

Speaking to WPCNR today, Ms. Oliva commented on the state of the city: “The die was cast long ago that White Plains is a major city. You have to have development and if you develop it carefully, I think we have, the development will work. I voted on many of these projects that I think were right. I strongly supported open space acquisition initiatives, and I still do.”

Even before WPCNR had thought of the question, Mrs. Oliva spoke up for development: “Once you see these projects which I voted for on line, and the taxes are kept low, those people who are against it will see its value.”
Councilman Robert Greer told WPCNR Monday evening after the council had amended the Cappelli-Bland Hotel resolution to extend the scooping session three weeks that there were a couple of calls to him expressing concern about development. Mrs. Malmud had offered the amendment saying that 4 days (March 13-17) was not enough time for the public to comment on what the city’s very famous consultants, Arnold & Porter, and two nationally known urban design and transportation exports would consider.

Mrs. Oliva said in addressing the council that “she was glad to be back on this side of the fence.”

Taking time out from making h’ors d’oeuvres for the Womens Club of White Plains meeting, Oliva told WPCNR she did not miss the council, but “I would be willing to sacrifice retirement to help (run for council

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WPCNR Morning Sun. From Police Reports. March 5, 2003 White Plains Police have announced the arrest of a Brooklyn “Commuting Thief” last Thursday after he was arrested with a handbag taken from a building on Water Street. The suspect, police say, allegedly commuted to White Plains, blended into office environments as if he worked there, to steal office workers’ belongings, cash and computer laptops from various locations. Police also consider him a suspect in eight similar thefts committed over the last month.

Captain Anne Fitzsimmons credited Stephen Demchuck and Harry Pino of the anti-crime unit and Detectives Walter Holubis and Michael Maffei for their work on the case.

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WPCNR Common Council Chronicle-Examiner. By John F. Bailey. March 3, 2003: The Common Council today officially made Anne Reasoner the Budget Director for the City of White Plains. Ms. Reasoner was approved by a unanimous vote and said her immediate plans were to concentrate on getting out the city budget which she said is due to be presented to the Council April 7.

ANNE REASONER
New Budget Director
Photo by WPCNR News

Ms. Reasoner succeeds Eileen Earl who resigned effective February 7.

Ms. Reasoner joined the city as Deputy Budget Director in July, 2001, coming from Deputy Comptroller of the Town of Stamford. Prior to this she served 17 years with the Town of Greenwich as Budget Director there where she designed the budget for both the city government and the city school district.

She remarked that she applied for the White Plains job in 2001 at the suggestion of a coworker in Stamford who was from White Plains. Reasoner said she took the Deputy Budget Director position, “kind of hoping” that Ms. Earl would retire in a few years. She said the two towns, Greenwich and White Plains, were very similar in that each was a combination of city and residential neighborhoods. Of the budgets of the two cities, the Greenwich budget was slightly larger because it covered the schools, too.

Ms. Reasoner said she did not plan any immediate changes in operations until the budget process was completed. She said she was looking for a new Deputy Budget Director, and that position has been advertised.

Asked about the budget situation, she remarked that the sales tax receipts were still running $2 Million behind expectations as they were one month ago.

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WPCNR WESTCHESTER COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester County Department of Communications and John Bailey reporting. (EDITED) March 3, 2003 UPDATED: County Executive Andy Spano will hold a symposium Tuesday monring at 9:30 in the “D” Room in the Westchester County Center to explore a new electronic transmission line proposal to bring 2,000 Megawatts of power to the region, with an eye towards replacing the electricity supplied by Indian Point, should Indian Point be closed.

Presently, according to the New York Independent Systems Operator press office spokesman, Steve Sullivan, speaking to WPCNR Friday, there are not enough existing transmission lines to bring the full 2,000 replacement megawatts to the region. According to the NYISO office, Friday, transmission lines presently in place can only handle 1,600 megawatts, leaving Westchester 400 megawatts short no matter how much electricity NYISO can import from New England or upstate. Mr. Spano has moved to find ways to address this capacity problem. He has not taken a position on whether or not he supports the line.
Officials throughout Westchester County will have a chance tomorrow to learn about the proposal to bring inexpensive clean electric power from upstate New York and parts of Canada to Westchester County and the surrounding region.

County Executive Andy Spano has sent out letters inviting more than 100 federal, state, and local officials to an informational meeting on the project at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4. A presentation will be given in Room D at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

“We want everyone who is interested in energy, Indian Point and the environment to hear the presentation and be able to ask questions,” said Spano, who has not taken a position on the proposal. “It’s important to show everyone that there are possible alternatives to Indian Point.”

Representatives of the company making the proposal – Conjunction LLC – will give a presentation on the “Empire Connection” project. The speakers will be Steve Mitnick, chief executive officer; Jeanine Hull, the company’s general counsel; and Roger Clayton, new senior vice president for electrical engineering (also the former chairman of the New York Reliability Council).

Mitnik noted that the project would dramatically reduce electrical costs for the entire downstate area.

“Electric bills would fall significantly in Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties. Families and businesses in New York City would save more than $100 million a year,” he said. “The power would be cheaper than any other power source down here – save the limited amount provided by upstate hydroelectric plants and the output from the Indian Point nuclear power plant.”

As proposed, the plan would move 2,000 megawatts of power from upstate to downstate – equivalent to almost a quarter of New York City’s average electric usage, Mitnick said.

Unlike the transmission lines that make up the current grids, built between 1950 and 1975, the new line would have cables following the tracks of an old rail route, going underground as necessary, to avoid
unnecessary environmental impact. It also uses a modern solid cable that can not leak, combust, electrify or explode, according to company officials.

When above ground, in remote areas, Empire Connection would replace the rail communication poles that currently line the rail route. When underground, two five-inch cables will be buried five feet below the surface.

The line would start in Albany – 140 miles north of New York City – and follow the old Hudson River Railroad along the Hudson River to Manhattan. Railroads currently using the rails – including Amtrak and Metro-North – would receive substantial annual payments which could be used to improve service between Albany and New York City.

To carry out the project, Conjunction must get approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the New York Independent System Operator. Those applications have already been filed. An application to the New York Public Service Commission will be filed this spring.

The project is proposed to start construction in late 2004 and be complete in late 2005. During installation, Conjunction intends to fund selective projects to enhance the beauty of the east bank of the Hudson River and increase New Yorkers’ access to the river.

The company has been meeting with the counties involved as well as environmental groups, and will hold regional meetings where members of the public will be invited to participate.

“Even at this early stage we want to hear from people,” Mitnick said. “If they want details or drawings or have questions about how it will affect them – we want to hear that. We know that if we’re open and answer their questions honestly, they’ll feel better about the project.”

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS BATON & DOWNBEAT. Review By John F. Bailey. March 2, 2003: Close to one thousand proud parents and relatives from around the county heard two grand reasons why Westchester County is the leading county in the state in quality musical education at the 46th Annual Elementary & Intermediate All-County Band Musical Festival Saturday afternoon.

INTERMEDIATE BAND ALL-STARS TAKE A BOW, lead by their Conductor, Robert Dalpiaz, after their flawless performance at Purchase Performing Arts Center Saturday afternoon. The 7th, 8th and 9th Graders represented 41 Middle & High Schools in Westchester County.
Photo by WPCNR Arts

After only three rehearsals, both the elementary and intermediate school band all-stars representing 96 schools in the county, navigated their way with precision, passion, and power. They blended as if they had been playing together for years performing a series of musical tour de forces that showed off the the abilities of every instrumental discipline in the bands.

Judy O’Savio, President of the Westchester County School Music Association introduced the program and encouraged parents in the audience to write their legislators in Albany and make a strong case for the music programs in the schools, and to restore budgeted cuts.

She introduced Warren Arbiter, Chairperson of the Elementary Band who noted that the value of the county band experience for his 139 musicians and elementary music at large is that it introduces them to “the aestheticism of live music” creating the future generation of concertgoers, performers and supporters of the arts.

With that, Mr. Arbiter introduced the 139-musician Elementary Band lead off the program under the baton of Chris Melito, Director of the Middle School Bands in Briarcliff Manor. Melito lead them in a crisp, tight, and refreshing performance of Sousa’s “Washington Post March.” This perennial marching band favorite had a mellow surging roll to it with the flutes outstanding on their solo, with just the right blending of take over trombones in the middle section of the piece with trumpets taking charge with crystalclear uplifting tone on their solo turn.

From Sousa the band moved into “Hillcrest Pageant,” which found the musicians creating waves of musical circus scenes, section by section. Again on “Pageant” the trumpets simply dazzled.

THE ELEMENTARY ALL COUNTY BAND ALL-STARS, being conducted by Chris Melito of Briarcliff Manor Schools Saturday afternoon. On “Carnaval De Brasil,” the elementaries impressed this reporter with the percussion section abilities at Grade 4, 5, and 6 level to create the sultry marimba-samba beat of “Carnaval De Brasil.”
Photo by WPCNR Arts

Their Latin rhythm with whistles, bells, and maracas simply fascinated, transporting and engaging the audience to Rio. Considering that many of the young people have probably never heard a samba, their ability to get it just right is a tribute to Mr. Melito’s ability. The French Horns and trumpets answered each other flawlessly, weaved together by the trade winds of the percussion section. Unlike a march, the samba features a lot of solo work on “Carnaval”, section by section, and all the young musicians came in right on the beat.

The elementaries wrapped with the Glenn Miller standard, “In the Mood,” arranged in a stately, slow, swinging tempo that you could tell the children really enjoyed playing. The audience was highly impressed with sharp, loud applause for the variety of the program, and the simply amazing musicianship.

Elliot Semel, Intermediate Band Chair introduced the Intermediate All-County Band under the baton of Robert Dalpiaz, Director of the Brentwood (L.I.) High School Concert Band. Semel said the 118 young artists had “become an ensemble,” over the last three days, and had learned “the art of teamwork,” crediting much of this to Conductor Dalpiaz. The musicians (both bands) practice together as a group once in January, once on the Friday before the concert, and once on the day of the concert. The performances the audience heard Saturday are testimony to how good the young players are and how skilled their conductors are at conveying the intricacies of the selections.

The Intermediate Band began with Sousa’s “El Capitan,” where the trombones were mellow, the clarinets crisp in holding the light airiness of this famous march, that the brasses filled out with majesty, elegance. Baritones and French Horns cast a golden horizon as the march wound up to a smart punchy conclusion.

The grand “Gathering of the Ranks at Hebron” with its varying tempos and vistas created by the various sections was painted with dignity and grandeur by the band. You could visualize the regiments marching onto the grounds each with a different character, elegantly precisely rendered.

The Intermediates even produced a friendly “Bach Prelude and Fugue in Bb Major,” that featured impressive solo work, section by section. But, in this reporter’s opinion Bach does not belong in a band program. In fact, it lulled the audience, who could not wait for it to be over, clapping at the natural breaks. The band played it well, but next, year, let’s forget about Bach for band. Save it for the orchestra.

The concluding piece of the afternoon, “Variation Overture” turned the band loose to create more precise impressions. It became a band of vistas, horizons, and colors painting musical impressionistic paintings that allowed the pictures in the mind to perform. The percussion section in the Intermediates really shown in this one, producing a variation of stirring percussionistic effects and tones that delivered impeccable strong foundations for the various sections’ artists rendering the musical canvases. The young man with the bells was especially timely and authoritative.

Having seen two of these All-County Band Concerts now, I have to say and listeners agreed in my section this was a solid performance by both bands. The Intermediate had an edge in sound and artistry, while the Elementary had much more interesting repertoire and nailed it.

The All-County Band program is a tremendous undertaking and quite a miracle really. Saturday’s performances were a tribute to the talent of Conductors Melito and Dalpiaz for their ability to marshall “the young professionals” into bands that appeared to have been playing together for years not just three days. The youngsters seemed to enjoy it, too. This is achieved by the individual sections rehearsed separately on their parts, then joining the bands for full “sound checks” at the end of the rehearsals. It works based on Saturday’s marvelous and inspiring perfomrance. You forgot these students were mostly under 13 years old, and as young as 9.

The only phenomena that I noticed was that despite a “rainbow coalition” of caucasian, hispanic and asian nationalities in both bands, the groups were sadly missing a basic color, black. There were no African-American representatives. Hopefully, the Westchester County School Music Association might address ways to make it more possible to encourage young black musicians in the future years of this wonderful venture.

Photo by WPCNR Arts