THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

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WPCNR AFTERNOON TRIB & POST. By John F. Bailey. October 9, 2002: Mayor Joseph Delfino announced today a new program in conjunction with Westchester Community College, the Westchester Library System, the White Plains Public Library providing 12-week courses in English for non-English speaking adult residents over 18, who speak little or no English, to be given mornings, afternoons and evenings all year round at the White Plains Public Library.

ESL FOR DAILY LIVING ANNOUNCED: The architects of the new ESL for Daily Living program just launched at the White Plains Public Library at their news conference Wednesday morning: L to R, Walter Anderson, of the National Center for Family Literacy, Isabel Villar of Centro Hispano, Sandra Miranda of the White Plains Public Library, MayorJoseph Delfino, Dr. Maurice Freedman, Director of the Westchester Library System, and Dr. Joseph Hankin, President of Westchester Community College. There is still room in the first series of courses and adults over 18 must register in person at the library Thursday at 3:30 PM.
Photo by WPCNR News

Registration for the current session in the mornings and afternoons is scheduled for Thursday afternoon 3:30 PM at the Library. The cost per student is $40 for books and course materials, with instructors of the course being provided by Westchester Community College.

Mayor’s Initiative.

The program was conceived by Mayor Delfino and suggested to the Library and Westchester Community College that worked together to design the program.

Sandra Miranda, Director of the White Plains Public Library, said that the current course underway has received an “overwhelming response,” and that there is still room for students in the morning and afternoon courses. She said that 85% of the persons currently enrolled are from White Plains.

Limited Room in present course. New course begins in Janurary.

Beginning in January a new course will start up. The instruction will be primarily for Spanish-speaking persons wishing to learn English, but all persons who speak a different language than English who want to learn English, technological English, and English skills for employment and daily living are eligible and will be accepted into the program, space permitting.

Currently the program is designed to handle 100 to 125 students per 12 week course. The present course is filled in the evenings, however there are some slots open in the mornings and afternoons and those will be filled on a first-come first served basis beginning at 3:30 today at the White Plains Public Library. For more information, call the White Plains Public Library at 422-1400, or Westchester Community College.

Program funded by Westchester Community College.

The cost of the program was not available at the news conference, but it is being underwritten by Westchester Community College, and they are reimbursed by grant money from New York State.
Mayor Inspired to Create the Program by his father.

Mayor Joseph Delfino, introducing the course, said “the diversity in our city is important to us, and this program will bring us together.”

The Mayor pondered on the questions residents who speak no English raised in his head: “How do you communicate? How do you relate to your children and with homework? How do you motivate them?”

The Mayor said the new courses are designed to help make them a bigger part of this community. He cited the example of his own father:

“There’s the example of my own Dad. He was talking to me, he said “how tough it was when I came here. I couldn’t do anything.”

The Mayor said his father got a job at New York Hospital in a custodial position where he had to do a certain task each day. He said he told his father “It wasn’t that you couldn’t do anything. It’s just that you couldn’t read, and he said to me, what do you know?”

“In my heart,” the Mayor said, “I know that had he had the ability to learn and speak English he would have done more.”

Walter Anderson – a living example.

Walter Anderson, CEO of Parade Magazine, a White Plains High School student and White Plains resident, and a member of the Board of Advisors of the National Center for Family Literacy spoke next in support of the program.
Mr. Anderson said that he grew up in Mount Vernon, the son of an alcoholic father who beat him when he caught him reading. On the other hand his mother encourgaged him to read. He said there was an “island” in the midst of the turbulence and anger and violence, and it was the Mount Vernon Library, which had “wonderful librarians.”

“I would do anything I could, and I was able to imagine myself out of a slum (through reading),” he said.

He praised a teacher of his, a Ms. Williams, who encouraged him: “Every child needs somebody to be crazy about them.”

It was her encouragement guiding him to parocial school, Windward School in White Plains, and White Plains High School, and eventually the Marine Corps and then a degree from Westchester Community College which lead to his success today.

“I read myself out of poverity long before I worked myself out of poverity,” Anderson said. “Destiny is not something you wait for. Destiny is a choice.”

“We are going to make a Difference.

Mayor Delfino in closing the official side of the news conference, and thanking the organizations who created the program, looked Heavenward and said, emotionally, “Dad, I found a way. I tried. I found some people to help. We are going to make a difference.”

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. October 8, 2002: UPDATED 8:20 A.M. E.D.T. CORRECTION October 9, 2002 The Common Council all but approved “God’s Miracle” last night, voting unanimously to refer out to departments the plans for the building of a 1,200 seat new sanctuary building adjacent to Calvary Baptist Church fronting West Post Road to the raucous approval of about 25 Calvary Church members attending the big night. Such was the congratulatory handshakes going around, that it appeared to this reporter the proposal was approved, however, there were several items needed to be resolved, and the matter was actually adjourned to November 4. WPCNR regrets the error.

“GOD’S MIRACLE” ALL BUT APPROVED BY COMMON COUNCIL: Councilpersons discuss the new sanctuary building before voting on the proposal last night. L to R, Robert Greer, Benjamin Boykin, Gary Warshauer (architect), Rita Malmud, William King and Reverend Lester Cousin, Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church whose personal vision for the congregation sees the sanctuary as being a center for use by the entire community, discusses the 1,200-seat ediface to rise on West Post Road.
Photo by WPCNR

In other action, the Council approved the leasing of 2 acres of the former Dellwood Dairy property off Lake Street and 18 acres of Silver Lake, acquiring White Plains first lake front park.

Meanwhile, across town in the Michaelian Building, the County Legislature voted 17-0 to rent the park property to the city for $1 a year for 30 years, and 12-5, respectively to approve purchase of the Pettinichi property and the construction of affordable housing on the site.

Mayor Joseph Delfino called it a happy day in White Plains history, and thanked the County, the council, the city staff, and the Woodcrest Heights Association for working together to make the park acquisition possible.

In other council action:
The Council kept the public hearing on overnight paid parking on Old Mamaroneck Road open until the November 4 Council meeting, after hearing 6 citizens speak against it and 5 citizens speak for the ordinance. Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, Albert Maroni (Executive Director of the Parking Authority), and Joseph Nicoletti, Commissioner of Public Works, spoke out firmly against the proposed one-year trial of overnight paid parking. The Battle Hill Neighborhood Association and the Highlands Civic Association announced their strong opposition towards the plan.

CHEERS ON SOUTH BROADWAY: Coughlin’s American Bistro was approved last night. Here is how the exterior of the new restaurant and pub will look on South Broadway. The new owner is seriously renovating the former Oliver’s into an upscale sophisticated pub and lounge with gourmet food with a renowned New York chef. The new establishment will have a fireplace and lounge on the main floor, a fireplace on the interior balcony, and richer luxurious atmosphere. He plans a Thanksgiving weekend opening, promising entertainment and hopes to attract business and social events.
Photo by WPCNR

The council inacted an ordinance approving continuing salary and benefits to city employees called to active duty by the armed forces. Jim Donohoe, President of White Plains Professional Firefighters praised the Common Council, and told the story of how a member of the WPFD, currently serving as a rifle instructor with the National Guard at Fort Bragg was being helped by this measure.

The council accepted over $171,000 in grants for Youth Bureau programs that were secured by the efforts of Frank Williams, Director of the Youth Bureau.

At the outset of the Council meeting, the Mayor recognized a group of employees celebrating their 25 and 30 years of service with the city.

The hearing on the transferral of development rights within the central business district was postponed until November, pending the rewriting of the ordinance. Details were not immediately available as to what changes were contemplated with the new ordinance.

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WPCNR NEWSREEL. From the Paulin Press Office. (Edited)October 7, 2002:Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who represents the 88th District in the New York State Assembly, has been endorsed by two key environmental groups in her campaign agains Tony Sayegh, her challenger for the 88th District Assembly Seat.
The Sierra Club and the New York League of Conservation Voters have both given their support to Assemblywoman Paulin’s re-election effort.

George Klein, Chairman of the Lower Hudson Group of the Sierra Club, said, “Amy Paulin’s experience in the Assembly shows she cares about the environment. She has delivered the protections the environment needs. Her promotion of Westchester County’s purchase of David’s Island shows her commitment to open space.”

Marcia Bystryn, Executive Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters, said that the endorsement “is a testament to [the Assemblywoman’s] dedication to preserving and protecting the environment. The League is impressed with [her] record as an outstanding leader on environmental issues.”

Assemblywoman Paulin was credited in the endorsement with her achievements in: Sponsoring a bill finalizing Westchester County’s purchase of David’s Island as open space.Sponsoring a bill to increase penalties and provide additional remedies when timber is illegally cut or removed from state or private lands. Opposing a proposal to increase the number of state highway permits for large trucks.

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WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. From Westchester County Office of Tourism. October 5, 2002:Serious shoppers have a new resource in their hunt for antiques. The Westchester County Office of Tourism has produced a new publication, “Antiques, The Westchester Way”, a four-color brochure that lists and describes antique stores throughout Westchester County, New York in the heart of the Hudson River Valley. This new brochure takes the work out of planning a trip to shop for antiques, attend an auction, or visit an antiques show.

“Shopping for antiques is an exciting pastime that can be enjoyed any time of year, but not every destination boasts the same concentration of stores as Westchester County,” said Margo Jones, Director of the Westchester County Office of Tourism. “Whether you’re searching for an 18th-century silver tea set, a 19th-century French armoire, or just a cider press like Grandma used to have, you’ll find it here.”

Nearly 50 stores that are open at least four days per week are listed in
alphabetical order. Each shop description includes the types of products that are available, and any special collections from specific countries or time periods. Auction houses that sell antiques to the public are also listed. Additional information includes the days and hours of operation for each location, addresses and websites.

The brochure provides a county map showing the location of each store or shop. The map, which shows concentrations of antique stores in several areas, can be used to plan shopping trips along specific routes, such as Route 9 (Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington and Tarrytown) along the Hudson River; and Route 1 (Pelham, Larchmont, Mamaroneck and Port Chester) along Long Island Sound.

A calendar of special events has been included, listing annual antiques shows and fairs that take place the same month every year, such as the Fall Antiques Show at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, and the Annual Chappaqua Antique Show in November.

Directions utilizing public transportation (trains, buses, and taxis) to the
towns with a large concentration of stores are also listed. Funds from the D.O.T. Smart Commute program made the printing of this brochure possible.

Free copies of the “Antiques, The Westchester Way” brochure are available, from the Westchester County Office of Tourism at 222 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 100, White Plains, NY 10605. Phone: (800) 833-9282 or (914) 995-8500; or e-mail: tourism@westchestergov.com.

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WPCNR CITY HALL TRIBUNE HERALD. October 3, 2002: George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said today that the Winbrook residents who turned out for Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel’s briefing to Winbrook on the new location proposed for the White Plains Housing Authority, were enthusiastic about the suggested extension of the ground floor of 225 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard into a new headquarters for the WPHA and community room for the community.
Grestas reported that between 75 and 100 residents attended the community briefing at Bethel Baptist Church and were generally behind the proposal. He said there were other issues, but that the attitude towards the headquarters proposal was positive. He added that the Board of Deacons of Bethel Baptist Church were in favor of the proposal, too.

Asked if the White Plains Housing Authority was buying into the proposal, Gretsas said, “Yes,” that as long as the Winbrook community was in favor of the extension and park program, this was the only issue holding up the plan. He said he expected the program for the extension of 225 MLKJ Boulevard into new Housing Authority offices with a community room for Winbrook residents plus a new Winbrook park to move ahead in a few weeks.