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 ALBANY REPORT. From Assemblywoman Amy Paulin of the 88th Assembly District. February 19, 2003:Assemblywoman Amy Paulin announced today that she has secured $50,000 in State funding to assist the City of White Plains with sidewalk improvements around the development site currently under construction at the intersection of Bloomingdale Avenue, Maple Avenue and Paulding Street. The City has committed a total of $1,978,000 to this public/private partnership that will bring new retail, jobs and taxes to the City, County and the State.

“It is exciting to watch new retailers move into White Plains, and to anticipate the jobs and sales tax revenue that will follow,” said Assemblywoman Paulin. “I am pleased to be able to assist with the project’s progress.”

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2003: WPCNR learned Tuesday that one of Glen Hockley’s attorneys, Elizabeth Shollenberger, has joined Judge Francis Nicolai’s law clerk, Diane Lundin, and applied for the vacant judgeship on the White Plains City Court.

Within hours of learning for the first time late Tuesday that Ms. Shollenberger had applied for the position, Mr. Hockley asked her to resign as his attorney. Mr. Hockley told WPCNR his decision late Tuesday evening.

Ms. Schollenberger is the attorney formerly assisting Thomas Abinanti in Glen Hockley’s defense of the Attorney General’s quo warranto action against him on behalf of Larry Delgado. She is the author of the brief requesting Judge Nicolai recuse himself citing as one of the reasons for recusal, Ms. Lundin’s application for the city judgeship (that Mr. Hockley as a member of the White Plains Common Council would have to approve).

Mr. Hockley contacted WPCNR late last evening to report his decision to dismiss Ms. Shollenberger from his leagal team. The Councilman said that to be fair he could not demand the recusal of Judge Nicolai or removal of Ms. Lundin as law clerk on the quo warranto action if his own attorney on the case was also applying for the judgeship.

Application Just Under the Wire.

Ms. Shollenberger confirmed Tuesday afternoon to WPCNR that she had applied for the City Judgeship on February 9, the deadline for applicatios. This was five days after the Motion for recusal was filed (February 4). Asked why she had applied on the last day, Ms. Shollenberger said she had the application for some time and had simply waited until the deadline.

Ms. Shollenberger told WPCNR she applied for the judgeship because she felt her twenty years of experience qualified her to sit in White Plains and sit in judgement of the rights and responsibilities of individuals.

WPCNR asked Ms. Shollenberger why she felt her application for the judgeship was not a conflict of interest, whereas Ms. Lundin’s was. She said she was an advocate for Mr. Hockley, and made no secret of that, whereas Ms. Lundin’s position was that of a court attorney who is supposed to be neutral towards both parties, yet who could be perceived to have an interest in Mr. Hockley’s being on the council, or off of the Council.

Mysterious Leak

There is a mystery as to how Ms. Shollenberger’s application came to the attention of the media.

WPCNR contacted the Mayor’s Office to discover whether or not the list of applicants with the city’s Law Department could be released upon request. (The Law Department is where applications for the judgeship are rendered). George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said the list of applicants was not subject to the Freedom of Information Act and that it was a matter of city policy that applications were not available to the general public for privacy reasons.

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WPCNR WEATHERSCOOP. By John F. Bailey. February 18, 2003: The City of White Plains was open for business at rush hour Tuesday morning taming the 15-1/2 to 18 inches of snow overnight. Roads at daybreak were clear in most neighborhoods, navigable and parking lots accessible. Motorists should use caution on turning into traffic at intersections due to high piles of snow on the corners.

The Cross Westchester Expressway was cleared with all three lanes wideopen. Motorists entering at entrances to I-287 should be aware the high piles of snow block your views of oncoming traffic in the right lane. Motorists should avoid traveling the far right lanes in both directions due to other cars attempting to enter the expressway. Roadbeds were cleared to the concrete and very little slush remained.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. CINEMASCOOP by Film Buff Harry Avery. February 16, 2003: WPCNR’s film critic, Harry Avery has been digesting the films of the 02-03 season and weighs in with his picks for Oscar winners. May we have the envelope, please?
Performance by an actor in a leading role

Daniel Day-Lewis in “Gangs of New York” (Miramax)
–Having been coaxed out of being a cobbler in Italy specially for this role, Day-Lewis did a brilliant job and deserves the Oscar-not that it’s hard to outshine the accents of DiCaprio and Diaz.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

John C. Reilly in “Chicago” (Miramax)
–This was the Year of John C. Reilly, giving him four movies, three with noticeable roles (Chicago, Gangs, and The Hours). He deserves this for a lifetime of unrecognition.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Kathy Bates in “About Schmidt” (New Line)
–Outshining the great Jack Nicholson is no easy task, but Bates pulls it off in her own classic style.

Best animated feature film of the year

“Lilo & Stitch” (Buena Vista)
–Despite the big names in “Ice Age” and Matt Damon in “Spirit”, this movie was both heartwarming and entertaining–something the whole family could enjoy together.

Best documentary feature

“Bowling for Columbine” (United Artists and Alliance Atlantis) Michael Moore and Michael Donovan
–In his long-awaited Oscar nomination, Michael Moore shines in this brilliant, hard-hitting, and occasionally tear-jerking look and gun control and teen violence.

Achievement in film editing

“Chicago” (Miramax) Martin Walsh
–It’s not easy to convert an audience-pandering musical into a fantasy-inpiring movie, but Walsh pulls this off brilliantly.

Achievement in makeup

“Frida” (Miramax) John Jackson and Beatrice De Alba
–If just for making one of the most beautiful actresses of our time into the unibrow-ed Frida Kahlo.

Achievement in music in connection with motion pictures (Original score)

“Catch Me If You Can” (DreamWorks) John Williams
–The man is a god amongst men in composing.

Achievement in music in connection with motion pictures (Original song)

“Lose Yourself” from “8 Mile” (Universal) Music by Eminem, Jeff Bass and Luis Resto Lyric by Eminem
–An unlikely winner, but one has to imagine that the oft-violent Eminem would not be invited to such a red carpet event unless he had a purpose.