THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

NY CEO OF LENDING COMPANY GETS 8 YEARS IN SLAMMER FOR BANK FRAUD

Posted on August 18, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. August 18, 2015:

Earlier today, John Murphy, the former Chief Executive Officer of Oak Rock Financial, LLC (Oak Rock), was sentenced in federal court in Central Islip, New York to 97 months of imprisonment.

In December 2013, Murphy pled guilty to bank fraud after admitting that he had been lying to various financial institutions and investors regarding Oak Rock’s financial health since January 2009.

The sentence was announced by Kelly T. Currie, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Diego Rodriguez, Assistance Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).

“By making fraudulent representations with respect to Oak Rock’s financial position, Murphy caused financial institutions and private investors to suffer millions of dollars in losses,” stated Acting United States Attorney Currie. “Those who defraud others will be held accountable for their actions.” Mr. Currie expressed his appreciation to the New York State Department of Financial Services for its assistance in the investigation.

Oak Rock, a financial lending company located in Suffolk County, New York, secured lines of credit for businesses throughout the United States.

During his time as Chief Executive Officer, Murphy misled banks about the state of Oak Rock’s financial health by providing them with false documentation concerning businesses that failed to make timely payments on their loans or that were in default.

Murphy, who was compensated $600,000 a year, failed to address the defaulting loans and instead operated Oak Rock as if it were a sound financial organization through lies and deception. Specifically, he defrauded the banks by changing delinquency dates to make it appear that loans were current; booking fictitious payments, thereby creating fictitious accounts receivable; and falsifying delinquent accounts receivable by copying data from timely paid accounts so that the defaulting loans appeared to be timely paid and stable. These misrepresentations caused Israel Discount Bank, Oak Rock’s primary lender, as well as other financial institutions and private investors, to sustain losses totaling in excess of $93 million.

The charges were brought in connection with the President’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. The task force was established to wage an aggressive, coordinated, and proactive effort to investigate and prosecute financial crimes. With more than 20 federal agencies, 94 U.S. attorneys’ offices, and state and local partners, it is the broadest coalition of law enforcement, investigatory, and regulatory agencies ever assembled to combat fraud. Since its formation, the task force has made great strides in facilitating increased investigation and prosecution of financial crimes; enhancing coordination and cooperation among federal, state, and local authorities; addressing discrimination in the lending and financial markets; and conducting outreach to the public, victims, financial institutions, and other organizations. Since fiscal year 2009, the Justice Department has filed over 18,000 financial fraud cases against more than 25,000 defendants. For more information on the task force, please visit www.StopFraud.gov.

The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Leonard D. Wexler.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Long Island Criminal Division. Assistant United States Attorney Michael P. Canty is in charge of the prosecution.

The Defendant:

JOHN MURPHY
Age: 65
Nesconset, New York

“HIGH HEELS” HAS ZING,ZIP AND GINGER! YOU’LL BE DANCING ALL THE WAY HOME. 5 Weeks Only–A Hot Ticket

Posted on August 15, 2015 by John Bailey

DARIEN CRAGO’S INTREPID,PEPPY ELEGANT GINGER ROGERS –JEREMY BENTON’S LIGHTER THAN AIR FRED ASTAIRE, BRING BACK TOE-TAPPING, SASS, ROMANTIC CLASS OF HOLLYWOOD PAST. Photos, Courtesy Westchester Broadway Theatre, by John Vecchiolla

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. First Rushes Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. August 15, 2015:

Backwards in High Heels The Ginger Musical opened Friday evening at Westchester Broadway Theatre dazzling the audience with a show that moves, taps, charms.

From the first announcement of Ginger Rogers 1941 Academy Award to the triumphant close, Ginger’s thank you speech for the award and ode to her mother, Lela played with a sensitivity by Erika Amato (above with Ms.Crago) every mother and Dad will standup and cheer. Ms. Amato’s credibility and “mothering reality” made the conflict of the show work, and she showed pitch perfect feeling on her big solo, You’ll Never Know.

From Fascinating Rhythm, Ms. Crago’s first winning number to Mr. Benton’s silky Astaire classic performance and duet with Ms. Crago ,Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, the two spin the airy perfection of the real Astaire-Rogers partnership spiced feisty rivalry holding your interest like the beat of their tap-dancing feet.

Ginger (Darien Crago) outfront singing We’re in the Money with the hardest working, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-us, dancinest, tappinest, ensemble on the WBT Boards…Their energy provides the show’s continuity, drive and pace…seamlessly with no letdowns for a sec…They are Avital Asuleen, Jacob ben Widmar,Matt Gibson, Ryan Steer,Sebastian Goldberg, Amy Van Norstand.Excelsior!

The musical has been thrilling audiences for eight years since its premier in the sunbelt in 2007. Last night Crago and Benton brought the Astaire-Rogers mystique, engaging opening nighters with the rap tap of tap, classic Rogers Astaire “turns.” It’s a darn good drama showing the tough, intrepid, not-to-be-denied spirit of the spunky original “Ginge” as the real Mr. Astaire used to call her.

“Ginge” hosts a Hollywood Party with the wonderful AVITAL ASULEN delivering a living-on Marlene Dietrich (with cigarette holder). Asulen does a classic imitation of Ethel Merman in Act 1 (Below) You’ll meet Jimmie Stewart, Bette Davis, and Katherine Hepburn at the party, too.

Avital Asuleen brings back Ethel Merman, singing I’ve Got Rhythm –another just flawless impression of the classic Merman, whom Ginger starred with in Girl Crazy.

Ms. Crago gives it all she’s got, and Mr. Benton delivers the appearing “effortless” sophistication that made men want to dance like him.

Highs heels tap, fly and prance across the WBT boards thanks to a crisp, no-let-down book that makes every use of Ms. Crago’s engaging enthusiasm. She’s a dancer who can sing, or a singer who can dance, and deliver a no-nonsense bosslady ‘tude – that was a key part of Ginger Rogers rise to the top paid Hollywood actress.

The show moves, with 19 songs — even with a 30-minute intermission, breaking at 10:25 P.M. It’s just the right length with charming Astaire-Rogers song and dance stagings driving the show as an oldtime Hollywood success story movie – which this musical brings off –showing Ms. Rogers’ flare and charisma and her flaws or assets, with no apologies.

Here are the Rogers-Astaire duets you old-time smoothies will remember, and millenials will discover with delight:

Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off, Change Partners (cleverly used to introduce Ms. Rogers’ 5 husbands), Shall We Dance, They All Laughed, Embraceable You, Let’s Face the Music and Dance (another fabulous sophisticated turn by the multi-threat Mr. Brenton’s Fred Astaire), We’re in the Money, Ms. Crago’s delightful make-up with her “stage mother” mom, Ms.Amato as Lela, All My Eggs in One Basket.

Mr. Benton does not appear as Mr. Astaire until Act II when the Astaire-Rogers partnership-rivalry-intensity blossoms. But, do not dispair:

Ms. Crago’s Ginger in a blaze of triple threat talent just fills the first Act sails with no need of any extra help and she’s soaring Mr. Benton directed this splendid summer fare on the WBT’s boards and he has assembled a dancing saga-review-and drama in one.

Ginger and Fred dance up the memories and the inspirations for just one month,closing September 20.

As my critic friend Addison DeWitt would say, this is a hotter ticket than Hamilton.

WBT is the only place you can get a great prime rib…and the longest-running supporting actress dish in theatre,(below) the elegant Peach Melba, shown receiving her Academy Award last night. Go to your box office mon, at WBT at 914-592-2222, or get on that website, www.BroadwayTheatre.com

You’ll be dancing all the way home. Hand me down my tuxedo, next week I’m coming back for more.

The Oscar goes to Darien Crago as Ginger Rogers.

WESTCHESTER THE “MEET ME” PLACE IN THE TRI-STATE AREA

Posted on August 14, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. August 14, 2015

Visitor spending in Westchester hit a record $1.74 billion in 2014 and is on pace to top that number in 2015, Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced today. Since 2010, tourism has added $8.3 billion to the county’s economy.

“These numbers show the growing popularity of Westchester as the ‘Meet Me’ destination in the Hudson Valley,” Astorino said. “Whether for business or pleasure, Westchester is attracting more and more visitors and that’s great news for our economy.”

In 2014, visitor spending supported 23,681 jobs in Westchester, 6 percent of all jobs in the county. At the same time, tourism generated $207.7 million in revenue for the county and local municipalities, representing $600 for every household in the county. Overall, visitor spending grew 14 percent – more than $200 million – over five years. Westchester’s tourism industry, which ranks third in the state behind New York City and Long Island, represents 52 percent of all visitor spending in the Hudson Valley region.

Natasha Caputo, Director of Westchester County Tourism & Film, said upcoming attractions for the fall season will add to the momentum of Westchester’s tourism industry.

The fall season’s various events and activities include:

American Gold Cup. Rated as the United States’ No. 1 competition by the North American Riders Group, the American Gold Cup returns to Old Salem Farm September 9-13.

Circus Latino! A 90-foot “Big Top” tent with the sound and energy of Brazilian and Ecuadorian bands combined with the artistry of aerialists and acrobats, at Edge-on-Hudson on September 18-20.

SOWE Music Festival. Featuring three stages of world class rock, dozens of top national and regional artists, beer, wine food trucks, carnival rides and more, this festival takes place on September 19 at Harbor Island Park in Mamaroneck.

White Plains Jazz Fest. A four-day jazz and blues celebration featuring seven live music concert events, located at venues throughout downtown White Plains on September 24-27.

WHITE PLAINS ELA 2015 ASSESSMENTS: 30% PASS 2015 COMMON CORE ENGLISH. 35% PASS MATH 1% IMPROVEMENT IN 2ND YEAR OF THE COMMON CORES

Posted on August 13, 2015 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. August 13, 2015 UPDATED with most Recent Opt Out Figures.:

The State Education Department released school district by school district 2015 Assessment Test results yesterday.

The White Plains School District posted a 1% Gain in the number of Grade 3 to 8 students passing the English Language Arts and Mathematics Assessments based on the Common Core tests that were supposed to be more user-friendly in the second year. White Plains students across grades 3 to 8 were hard-pressed to handle the new tests.

The State Data for White Plains may be viewed at http://data.nysed.gov/assessment.php?year=2015&instid=800000034913

A total of 30%, 842 of 2,807 students testing ELA (compared to 29% last year) across Grades 3 to 8 passed the ELA TESTS.

10% of students eligible to take the ELA tests were held back by their parents from taking the ELA tests, the Superintendent of Schools Paul Fried told WPCNR Thursday afternoon.

In Mathematics, 35%, 881 of 2,517 passed over the 3 to 8 grades, compared to 34% in 2014. Of the 2,807 students taking ELA, 348 were students with disabilities — 7 of them passed.

Of total students eligible to take the Math Assessments, 16% of the students eligible to take the Math Test were held out of the tests by parents, The Superintendent of Schools said.

Breaking down by ethnicity, 53% of white students, 331 of 625 passed ELA in Grades 3 to 8; 20%, 323 of 1,613 Latino-Hispanic students passed; 25%, 103 of 411 Black/African American students passed; and of 104 Asian students, 65%, 68 of 104 taking the tests passed.

On the Mathematics assessments in 2015, across grades 3 to 8, 60% of white students,310 of 517 passed the mathemetics tests; 25% of Hispanic-Latino students taking, 376 passed of 1,507 taking the test; 23% of Black/African-American students passed, 80 of 347 taking;of Asian students 72% passed the mathematics across grades 3 to 8, 71of 99 taking. Of the 2,517 mathematics candidates tested, 308 were classified as developmentally disabled, and 7% 21 of them of them passed.

Taking a look at the English Proficient students’ performances on the ELA assessments, the state reports 1/3 passed (824 of 2,498). Limited English Proficient numbered 309 across all 6 grades (3 to 8) and 2% of those, 6 passed.

In the ELA results, demographically, Not Economically Disadvantaged students, numbering 1,124, 41% passed (460 of 1,224). Economically Disadvantaged students in the White Plains district taking the ELA numbered 1,683. A total of 17% passed (286 of 1,683).