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)

Performing Arts Center Benefit Honors Conservatory Performers

Posted on June 4, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. From Kathleen Davison, White Plains Performing Arts Center. June 2, 2010: The White Plains Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees announced that the annual Spring Benefit, to be held on Monday June 21 at 7pm, will honor the talented young performers from the Conservatory Theatre’s 2009/2010 season.

The entertainment for the evening will be highlights from several of these productions including “A Chorus Line”, which played this winter to sell out crowds, “Fame” which just finished a successful run as well as a sneak preview of the upcoming production of “Edges”, which has already garnered rave reviews while still in rehearsal. Broadway World called “Edges” a “scintillating new production” and a “must see event for all theater lovers in the Greater New York Area”. The production costs for the Benefit are supported by a generous contribution from U.S.Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management.

The casts of all 2009/2010 conservatory productions will be formally recognized on stage as part of the evening’s events; prizes will be awarded in various categories. Raffle drawings will be held for an exciting selection of leisure activities as well as tickets to sports events and Broadway shows. The evening will benefit the Conservatory program and help to fund scholarships for deserving students with demonstrated potential as well as financial need.

The Conservatory provides a healthy, joyful outlet for youthful creative energies in a well structured program of theatre arts. The camaraderie among students, directors and teachers creates a supportive environment for youngsters in need of a sense of belonging and a positive self image. Here is a telling quote from a current participant in the program ” I don’t know what it is about theatre but it gives me this awesome feeling like I never want what’s happening to go away, whether it’s being in it, doing tech or just watching.” The proceeds from the June benefit will ensure that many more youngsters are able to participate in the joy of live theatre.

The evening Ticket prices are $50 for Premium seating; or $35 for adults and $25 for students for general seating. To reserve benefit tickets on line, and to purchase tickets to any upcoming production, please visit www.wppac.com. Tickets may also be purchased during business hours at the Theatre Box Office or by phone at 914-328-1600.

The White Plains Performing Arts Center, a 501© 3 not for profit organization, based in downtown White Plains, is dedicated to the presentation and production of a full spectrum of performing arts events for the City of White Plains and its surrounding communities. The Conservatory Theatre is a professional training and presentation program for theatrical artists between the ages of 8 and 18, offered year round at the White Plains Performing Arts Center. The mission of the program is to provide the community with the highest quality, most professional training in all aspects of theatre arts.

Oil Spill Traced to Leaked Oil from Fuel Tank at 235 So. Lex

Posted on June 4, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From Antoinette Biordi, The Mayor’s Office. June 4, 2010 (EDITED): The City of White Plains and Westchester County are working together to make sure the clean up process continues along the Bronx River in White Plains. On June 2, 2010 approximately several hundred gallons of heating oil leaked from a building on South Lexington Avenue and into the Bronx River. White Plains Mayor Adam Bradley says, “The City, the County and NYSDEC have been working hard to make sure that the river is being cleaned up, and the wildlife population that was affected gets the proper rehabilitation needed.”

In a related development, White Plains Police Chief James Bradley said a repair to a furnace in the basement of 235 South Lexington Avenue had been completed at 5 P.M. Tuesday afternoon, shortly before the oil is believed to have leaked from the furnace heating oil tank, in such quantity that the spilled oil triggered a sump pump which circulated the oil into the city storm drains and subsequently into the Bronx River. It is unclear at this time whether the furnace repair caused the fuel tank to leak the oil.

The NYSDEC is reporting that they have crews walking along the shoreline from White Plains to Scarsdale overseeing the clean up. The booms that were put in place along the river are preventing the oil from spreading further downstream. There is a private contractor (Tri-State Environmental) that is supplying 15-20 employees to assist in cleaning up the oil with vacuums from the surface.

Greenburgh Animal Control is actively looking for any wildlife that was affected. So far they have been able to retrieve three of them. A Canada goose and a duckling had oil on them and were taken to the Greenburgh Nature Center to be rehabilitated. One baby goose that was found survived several hours, but later died. A wildlife expert will be assisting with the rehabilitation of any impacted animals.

The investigation into the oil spill continues and the City and County will make sure that taxpayers will not be responsible for any of the costs associated with the cleanup.

WP RETIREES TO FILE SUIT TO STOP CITY REQUIRING THEY PAY 15% of MED PREMIUMS

Posted on June 2, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. June 2, 2010: White Plains retirees are fighting back against the city action last week forcing them to pay 15% of their medical plan premiums.

The medical premiums for retirees have previously been paid in total by the city. When the city forces retirees to pay 15% of those medical premiums beginning July 1, the measure will reduce their pensions by $1,102 if they have a single plan, and $2,396 if they have a Family Plan.

An article 78 action is being prepared by The Pirro Group on behalf of a new organization, White Plains Retirees Association to challenge the city plan to charge his retired clients for a portion of their medical going forward.

Albert J. Pirro, Jr., the White Plains attorney representing the retirees, said unless the city action is overturned in the courts, he predicted municipalities and counties across the state would imitate the White Plains action to lower their retiree obligations. He said it would have far-reaching implications for pensioners if not stopped.

The city as of yet has not notified retirees of the details of the pending change, though retirees were told last Friday letters were going out that Friday. To date the official announcement has not been received by retirees, to this reporter’s knowledge.

Effective July 1, A $1,102 payment is required for city retirees of unions, management and appointed officials, and confidential employees (who started with the city before July1, 1995for a retired person with Single Person Medical, $2,395 if the retiree is on Family Plan.

Pirro estimated that 659 retirees are affected by the city action.

WPCNR estimated that the city would save over a million dollars a year by the measure which the Council incorporated into the new city budget for 2010-11 on May 24.

According to the city, police and fire, Teamster, and Civil Service Employees Association employees working for the city prior to July 1, 1995 would be affected, even though they may have retired within the last 15 years since that date.

Sources have told WPCNR that there is a memorandum declaring that the city action is illegal and a breach of contract. The sources observe that the city ignored this memorandum, in pushing forward with the medical benefits payments plan for the retirees.

Pirro said that the Association is seeking as many retirees as possible to join in the class action suit and may contact his offices for information on the pending Article 78 action. He may be reached at

Albert J. Pirro, Jr., Esq.,One North Lexington Avenue White Plains, New York 10601(914) 287-6444.

Oil Leak to Bronx River contained. Spill Traced to Sump Pump at 235 So. Lex

Posted on June 2, 2010 by John Bailey

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. From Antoinette Biordi, The Mayor’s Office. June 2, 2010 UPDATED 3 P.M. E.D.T UPDATED 9 P.M.: UPDATED FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2010: A home heating oil spillage in the Bronx River Wednesday morning, leaking from one of the buildings at 235 South Lexington Avenue has been contained according to a press advisory from the Mayor’s Office just issued.

Thursday, White Plains Police Chief James Bradley reported to the media that repairs had been made on the furnace at 235 Lexington Avenue late Tuesday afternoon. Sometime afterwards, Bradley said, heating oil leaked from the fuel tank, triggering a sump which pumped the spilled oil out into city storm drains and subsequently into the Bronx River several blocks away, causing the oil spill discovered in the river Wednesday morning.

Home heating oil that leaked from a nearby apartment building in White Plains made its way through a storm drain and into the Bronx River in White Plains near exit 21. The NYS DEC is reporting that several hundred gallons leaked into the river and is now contained.

In the news conference held at the Exit 21 Bridge, Mayor Adam Bradley said that the cause of the spill was under investigation and the parties responsible would have to pay the cost of the clean-up. An undetermined number of geese and ducks were observed coated in the oil. The Mayor said wildlife rehabilitation teams from the state would be brought in to clean the birds. He praised the swift cooperation of the emergency crews who responded to stop the spill at Crane Road.

A jogger in Scarsdale reported a heavy oil smell around 7:30 this morning. Emergency crews from White Plains Public Safety, Westchester County Police, New York State DEC, Westchester County Hazmat, Westchester County Health Department were all on the scene to contain the oil in the Bronx River by using booms. The booms stop the oil from spreading downstream and a private contractor is using a vacuum to skim the oil from the top of the river

The source of the oil came from the basement of 235 South Lexington Avenue, at the corner of Maple Avenue and across the street from White Plains Hospital Medical Center. A joint investigation is ongoing as to how the oil leaked into the storm drain. No connection, but the building was also the site of a marijuana lab bust conducted by White Plains Police in February.