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)

Should City Purchase Ridgeway Country Club?

Posted on April 29, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. April29,2009: Last week the120-acre Ridgeway Country Club, it was learned, is being offered for sale for $20 Million. The private club in the heart of prime, pricey White Plains neighborhoods, is, according to zoning, ripe for subdivision into about 100 homes.

Ridgeway Country Club Views

In view of the city’s propensity for building parking garages for private concerns the last eight years, should the city step in and borrow $20 Million or more to take over the Ridgeway Club, as advocates for open space argued the city should purchase the New York Presbyterian Hospital property for many years?

Yesterday, city hall did not respond to WPCNR questions as to whether the city is considering buying the club to preserve Gedney Farms neighborhood ambience. Westchester County government has flatly said it has no interest in purchasing the club.

You make the call: should the city step in and save the club? Vote it in or out in the poll at right.

A Very Soft First Quarter in Housing

Posted on April 29, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. From Westchester Rockland Multiple Listing Service. April 29,2009(EDITED): The first quarter 2009 rate of house closings was down 31% from the fourth quarter of 2008. The 850 Westchester closings were equivalent to an annual rate of only 4,230 sales, the lowest pace recorded by the Multiple Listing Service since the 1985-1990 period.

Deepening recessionary conditions in the autumn months of 2008 markedly reduced real estate activity in the Westchester region. Plunging equity markets, rising unemployment, weak corporate earnings reports, and pre- and post-election jitters about economic policy and the unknown effects of the various stimulus and bailout plans, all combined to discourage prospective homebuyers from entering the real estate market then. The result of the reduced marketing and showing activity at the end of 2008 was that far fewer closings were posted in the first quarter of 2009.

Realtor firms participating in the Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service reported only 850 closed transactions in Westchester in the first quarter of 2009, a decrease of 37% from the first quarter of 2008. Westchester’s single family house market was most affected with a 41% decrease. Putnam County closings were down by 31% from last year.

Prices decreased.

The first quarter median sale price2 of a single family house in Westchester was $532,000, a decrease of $90,500 or nearly 15% from last year. That price level was last seen in 2003. The Putnam County median of $411,250 was 20% lower than last year’s.

The Westchester decrease, however, was not all a case of across-the-board price depreciation. Rather, much of it reflected a severe contraction in the volume of high-end sales. Houses selling for $1 million or more accounted for only 13% of all sales in the first quarter whereas prior quarters have posted 20% or more.

As a result of this change in the contents of the real estate market basket, the mean sale price of a Westchester house fell to $695,176, a very large 26% decrease from last year.

The condominium and cooperative sectors fared better. The median sale price of a Westchester condominium was $352,000, a decrease of 7% or $28,000 from last year.

The median sale price of a Westchester cooperative unit actually increased by 2%, to $179,500.

Inventory Concerns

The inventory of MLS-listed Westchester properties stood at 6,324 units at the end of themfirst quarter, an increase of 7% since last year. Putnam County inventory decreased by 14%. The 2009 Westchester inventory was actually less than that of the first quarter of 2007, once again illustrating the volatility of this local market indicator in terms of the different forces that affect it. In 2007 the inventory was “high” because sellers were attracted to list by the still-favorable market conditions then.

In 2009 the inventory could also be regarded as “high”, but for the opposite reason. At the same time, the 2009 inventory could also be regarded as exceptionally low, considering the 37% decrease in sales volume. The wild card that defeats ordinary supply and demand analysis inWestchester continues to be the ability of potential sellers to time their listing activity to market conditions. As of March 30, 2009, they were still largely withdrawn from the market.

Equity Concerns Affect Plans

It appears from the dismal first quarter results that the Westchester real estate market was particularly hard hit by the chaos that occurred in the equity markets during the autumn of 2008. The Dow Jones index fell by 25% from late September to mid October, followed by a similar large decline in the first half of November. Higher-income households heavily vested in stocks watched their portfolios plunge in value, thus putting a chill on any thoughts of homebuying. Increasing unemployment in the financial services industries also put a damper on the real estate market.

Banking Health

Our region’s close dependence on the banking and financial sectors – which brought the real estate recession home to us with special severity and speed – may also be the factor that rejuvenates the local market as conditions improve. It appears that the “bail out” mechanisms of the Obama administration and Congress have served to stabilize the banking sector, and the stock markets appear to have stabilized as well. The administration and Congress have also enacted legislation to mitigate the marketcorroding effects of foreclosures (Making Home Affordable Program).

Westchester does not have a severe local problem with foreclosures but will nevertheless benefit if nationally some measure of control is achieved. Add to this the resumption of mortgage lending by community banks, mortgage interest rates that are still very low, and inducements to buy such as the $8,000 first-time homebuyers credit, and it can be argued that a framework of conditions and policies is in place to take advantage of any confidence-building turnarounds in the general economy that may occur such as lower unemployment and higher corporate earnings.

Cab Calloway Achievement Awards Need Your Help

Posted on April 28, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. from Piaa Haas, Westchester Broadway Theatre. April 28,2009:On Monday, May 4, 2009, The Westchester Broadway Theatre will again, be hosting the annual Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Awards for 2009. Cab Calloway was a resident of Elmsford, N.Y. for approximately 34 years. His career spanned over six decades and was highlighted by his work on stage, film, television and in the recording industry. The Cab Calloway Lifetime Achievement Awards are meant to honor his commitment to excellence in the performing arts as well as his dedication and support for young, rising talent. It is an honor that the award bears his name.

The recipients are recognized for their body of work, dedication and contribution to some aspect of the performing arts in Westchester County. This criterion can cover performers, educators, entrepreneurs, technicians, designers, producers, directors, choreographers, composers, librettists, conductors, actors, dancers, mentors or even individuals who, through their continuous support, have had a positive effect on some aspect of the performing arts in Westchester. Recipients are chosen by an advisory panel from names submitted by any of the following: The Cab Calloway Foundation, previous recipients of the award, or individuals who know a person worthy of the honor. The awards were established by George Puello in 2001

The special guest presenter will be Lloyd Price (Mr. Personality ). He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 crowning a career that included over eleven major albums (and was featured on an additional seventy), numerous television specials, countless tours, and major hit singles such as “PERSONALITY“, “LAWDY MISS CLAWDY” and “STAGGER LEE”

Guest appearances by; Barry Liebman, The Westchester Chordsmen, Dorina DiLullo, The Westchester Ballet, Anthony Valbiro, Anthony DeCosta and The Lighthouse Protégé Choral Ensemble. A portion of the evening will be devoted to celebrate the life of MICHAEL TIMMONS, previous recipient of the Cab Calloway lifetime Achievement Award, who died earlier this year.

THE 2009 HONOREES ARE:

BARBARA SIMONETTI, HAL SIMONETTI AND SUSAN GEFFEN

Founders of The Armonk Players at The North Castle Public Library and Lifelong supporters of the Arts in Westchester.

The Armonk Players has been “home” to Barbara Simonetti since its start in 1997. Whether producing, performing, or backstage, she has experienced deep personal satisfaction with a group of actors and crew that has become family. Barbara is a realtor with Houlihan Lawrence in Armonk, has been a town resident for 36 years.

Hal Simonetti , Co-Founder, Producer, has built many sets for the Players, Directed 84 Charing Cross Road and was in numerous productions and several staged readings. Hal also served on the North Castle Planning Board

Susan Geffen. Co-Founder, Producer, Front of House, President of the Friends of The North Castle Public Library for 1998-2000 and 2004-2008. Susan serves on the North Castle Architectural Review Board and she is a juror for the Armonk Outdoor Art Show.

MARGARET MARY PIKE

Founder of The Margaret Pike School of Dance in Yonkers. An Irish Immigrant, She devoted her life to instructing children and adults in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Irish Step Dancing, and Ballroom.

ANASTASSIO (STASH) ROSSI

Now retired, Doc (Stash) Rossi Was The Choral Director at Westlake High School and the driving force of their Musical Theatre program, contributing his directorial, designing and technical skills. He is Associate Director of The Westchester Chordsmen, Director of The Sweet Adelines Chorus (Golden Apple).

BETH FRITZ-LOGREA AND JEAN LOGREA

Co-Artistic Directors of the Westchester Ballet Company since 1989 and Co-Directors of the Logrea Dance Academy. Annually, they produce the spectacular Nutcracker at the Westchester County Center.

PAULA LAMONT

She is an active member of The Harrison Players since 1969. She is a Graduate of the AMERICAN THEATRE WING where she studied with Agnes DeMille and Jose Limon. She is the Director of The Paula Lamont School of Creative Dancing and National President of the Ziegfeld Club.

*ELISABETH RAE LAMONT (1907-1996), Will be honored posthumously. She was a Radio and television personality (ABC: Good Looks And Good Living). She was a member of The Ziegfeld Follies and for nine years served as President of The Ziegfeld Club. She was the creator of the Elisabeth Rae Lamont Cosmetic line which was extensively used by prominent Broadway actors because of it’s quality.

* IRMA DENER (1923-2008) will be honored posthumously for her lifelong support of the arts in Westchester and in particular for her thirty–five year patronage of THE WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE.

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SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFERS EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVES TO ADMINISTRATORS, CSEA-ERS.

Posted on April 28, 2009 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. April 28,2009: The Board of Education voted to approve “retirement incentives” to entice members of the Administrators and Supervisors Association and the Civil Services Employees Association to accept early retirement in an apparent cost-trimming initiative last night.

The outgoing Superintendent of Schools, Timothy P. Connors, told WPCNR said he anticipated 11 CSEA employees would take advantage of the incentives, and he expected 5 administrators would do so. Connors told WPCNR that the incentives, (details of which are being sought by WPCNR from the business office), are being offered in order to avoid layoffs, while achieving cost savings by promoting on staff employees into vacated retiree positions. Asked the amount of the savings expected, Connors said “we’ll have to see what we have first.”

Asked if the positions could just be eliminated, Connors said that may not be an option “depending on their (the position’s) value to the school district.”

The head of the Administrators and Supervisors Association said they could not comment on the incentives, saying that should come from the district.

In other Board action last night, the district voted to hire Carmen Soto from the Buffalo City Schools to replace Tom Eaton as House Adminstrator at the White Plains High School.

They voted to approve a $78,972.57 certiorari refund to Ridgeway Country Club and approve a downward assessment of that property to $330,000 from its previous assessment of $487,000. The club is currently being offered for sale for $20 Million by Grubb & Ellis, the New York City realtors.