Sandra Mastrangelo Awarded 4 Year Scholarship to Brown University

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. June 9, 2008 UPDATED 12 NOON EDT: A news conference held in honor of Sandra Mastrangelo, the all-universe catcher for the White Plains Tigers softball team, announced Ms. Mastrangelo has been awarded a four year full scholarship to Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, where she will continue her  distinguished softball career.



 Her Coach for the last five years, Ted O’Donnell who has had some great players through his decade as White Plains softball coach, said, “I never had a harder working player than Sandra,” and said, “It’s not a mystery the importance Sanra has played in the team’s success, and still found the time to place 14th in her class.” He predicted her character is so exemplary that she will make an impact in some way on society in the future.



Ms. Mastrangelo is the only scholarship recipient honored with such a news conference this reporter can remember  as having prepared written remarks to thank the crowd of players, parents, and fans who packed the conference. Attributing her success to hard-work and dedication, she honored her coach, her various mentors at the school with the words, “Your belief in me, has made me believe in myself.”



Sandra and her Mom, Jody


Her fellow captain, Jackie Flooks prepared a “Hall of Fame Plaque” for her speaking eloquently of what she has meant to the team. Dom Sputo, father of Lauren Sputo, praised Ms. Mastrangelo for helping to break his daughter in as pitcher, and mentoring her the first two seasons.



The ” Sandra Mastrangelo Hall of Fame Plaque”– Created by her Softball Team Co-Captain, Jackie Flooks.The Plaque Reads:167 Consecutive Varsity Games & Scrimmages Played; Over 1,170 consecutive innings caught; 4 League Championships; 3 Time Sectional Semi-Finalist; 2 Time Section Finalist;  5 Time All-League;  4 Times All County; 4 Times All-Sectional; 2 Times All-State; 2 Year Captain; Con Edison Award Winner; 9 Times a Scholar-Athlete,(5 in Softball, 3 in Field Hockey, once in Track; 2008 New York State Softball Officials Organization Section 1 Sportsmanship Award; The Best Number 7 in the World.


 


The Hudson Valley Chapter of the New York State Softball Officials Organization has recognized Ms. Mastrangelo as a special kind of ball player. Jack Lim, the former President of the association, and frequent varsity umpire will be presenting her with a  Section 1 Sportsmanship Award on behalf of the umpires.


Ms. Mastrangelo told WPCNR she had always had an affinity for Brown University, and hoped to study in the medical field there. She said the softball team has a new coaching staff, and the team is coming on, saying they see her as either an infield or catching possibility.


For the fans who frequent O’Donnell’s Bluff where fastpitch is played in White Plains, it just won’t be the same without Sandra behind the plate; the bazooka snap throws to first, her flying leaps to grab bloop pops, her ferocious defense of the plate, and her ability to call a game, calm down a pitcher and get that little something extra out of her. Like Frank Chance, “The Peerless Leader” of the old Chicago Cubs, Ms. Mastrangelo makes everyone she plays with better from her own example of  hustle, intelligence, and poise in a pinch.


 

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Spano: Cap Mandates Not Just Property Tax. Connors: Prop Tax Caps Don’t Work

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 9, 2008: After digesting Governor David Patterson’s introduction of a bill to implement a 4% cap on property tax increases across the state, on the heels of the Suozzi Commission Preliminary Report on Property Tax Reform last week, Westchester County Executive Andrew  Spano issued a statement to WPCNR Friday saying it does not go far enough, saying that it is state mandated spending that needs to be capped – not property taxes.


On another front, those most affected, the school districts, Superintendent of Schools for the City of White Plains, Timothy Connors said that the district was examining the proposals, but that it was too early in the legislative process to evaluate  how a property tax cap would impact the White Plains district.


 


Mandate Cap Needed: Spano.  Property Tax Caps Don’t Work: Connors.


WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. June 9, 2008: After digesting Governor David Patterson’s introduction of a bill to implement a 4% cap on property tax increases across the state, on the heels of the Suozzi Commission Preliminary Report on Property Tax Reform last week, Westchester County Executive Andrew  Spano issued a statement to WPCNR Friday saying it does not go far enough, saying that it is state mandated spending that needs to be capped – not property taxes.


On another front, those most affected, the school districts, Superintendent of Schools for the City of White Plains, Timothy Connors said that the district was examining the proposals, but that it was too early in the legislative process to evaluate  how a property tax cap would impact the White Plains district.


Governor Patterson’s bill to enact a cap would cap school property tax levy increases at 4% or 120% of the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less; require at least 55% of voters to approve any tax levy over the cap, and increase that “Supermajority” requirement ot 60% if the school district is receiving an increase in state education funding of 5% or more. (This year, if those rules had been in effect, the White Plains School Budget would have gone down to defeat, having passed by 52% to 48% with a 6% tax increase (8% actually, when the STAR Exemption cut is figured in).


The Governor’s proposal would also provide that if the proposal is rejected by the voters, the levy increase reverts back to the cap of 4% or 120% of CPI, whichever is less, and authorizes voters to place “underride” proposals on the ballot if they wish to adopt a tax levy of less than 4%. The Governor’s legislation also preserves the voters’ right to vote on the school budget every year.


Chief Advisor to Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano, Susan Tolchin issued this statement to WPCNR on Mr. Spano’s reaction to the Suozzi report and the Governor’s Bill:


On the issue of the Suozzi recommendation, the County Executive wants to lower all property taxes, not just school taxes and  the best way to do that is a cap on unfunded mandates that the state passes down on all taxing jurisdictions: schools, county and local governments.


 


 He wants to see that one big tax bill reduced. There should be a moratorium on new and expanded mandates and a cap on existing mandates, similar to what we now have on medicaid. 


 


The County Executive has made his position known to the Commission in his testimony and in memos and draft legislation that was shared with the governor’s office, County Executive Suozzi and NYSAC. 


 


Superintendent Connors said, “It’s a little early to react to it (the property tax cap legislation).Tax caps haven’t worked (in Massachusetts and California), and are detrimental to education. We’re looking at the proposals.”


Connors noted that in Massachusetts, where there is a tax cap, many communities vote to override the caps annually because of the effect the cap would have on their individual communities. He also mentioned how California school budget controls had lowered California educational effectiveness since Proposition 33 was passed.


In White Plains, the contingency budget that would have gone into effect this year, had voters not approved the $184.4 Million budget, was a 5.79% increase compared to a 5.95% increase in the budget, and would have cut $700,000 from the budget. 


The Governor’s proposal of a limit of 4% on the property tax cap this year, would have forced the White Plains School District to cut $5.5 Million from the proposed budget to stay under the cap. That $5.5 Million would have been just $1 Million more that the total salary increases incorporated into the budget that passed. Of course, the district could have gone for the ovveride from the voters


 


In order to stay under the hypothetical cap, the school district would have been forced to keep the budget at the $179 Million level and cut expenditures elsewhere to keep the salary schedule they have in effect.


On districts which put in double-digit budget increases, the effect of the cap would be quite a bit more drastic. Overrides would have to take place in order to maintain the level of spending.


Of course, given the unstable advance in consumer prices now taking place, the inflation rate is advancing at a 3.94% Rate from April 2007 through April 2008.

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Afifi Double Cleans Bases, Beats Arlntn, 3-2. O’Connor Stab Turns TP

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WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. June 7, 2008: Caitlin  Schell  leaped  high in the circle after just getting Yorktown’s big boppette,  Cassie Reilly Boccia swinging on a 2-strike pitch with the tying runs on first and second for the second out in the last of the fifth in Saturday afternoon’s Class AA Section 1 Championship game.


 Schell still had a 2-0 lead and had to get the  Husker cleanup hitter, Tori Matzura to get out of the inning without having to face Casey O’Connor and Reilly-Boccia again for the rest of the way. The crisis seemed past.


 



 However, she walked  catcher Matzura  on five pitches,  not even close, loading the bases.  Stepping in was Alia Afifi who had singled sharply and walked previously, a dangerous hitter.


Schell made the first fastball (obviously trying to get ahead), a little too good, a little too up, in the wheelhouse and Afifi got a LOT of it – right on the button with a quick sweet swing,  blasting a screamer “on a LINE” (as Met broadcaster Lindsey Nelson used to say) into the gap in right centerfield. But the outfielders were playing straight and not deep.


Chaos!


Huskers Porcelli, O’Connor and pinch runner Laura Pirogi (the potential winning run) were wheeling around the bases at top speed.


The ball got down in a hurry rolling, rolling, rolling  all the way to the fence,  one run scored, the tying run scored, and the rightfielder’s throw to the plate to head off the go-ahead runner streaming around third, all the way from first was up the first base line and late. It was not close.


Three runs came across to give the Huskers a 3-2 lead. On the walk that followed, the inning ended on a look-back violation. But Arlington which had given Yorktown a great battle was not done.


With Yorktown’s crafty Dana Bisaccia – master of speeds  — just about out of gas in the 95 degree and humidity, Emily Peltz walked and Olivia Reeves (who was 3 for 3 and nearly threw out Yorktown’s Porcelli at second on O’Connors sharp single to center in the last of the fifth) singled up the middle, putting the equalizer and the go-aheader on the bases with no one out for the Admirals.


Erin Weinberg was up next, the Designated Player. After a conference on the hill. Action resumed. Arlington chose not to bunt and move the runners up. Weinberg swung away.


Crack!  Disaster! 1 Swing 3 Outs.


The first pitch was lined to the right side, ankle high at second sacker Kasey O’Conner!  O’Connor  in the baseline, made an instinctive backhand spear of the ball off her right ankle at her shoetop. What a play! OUT!


Arlington’s  Reeves, off with the crack of the bat thinking hit all the way, was 30 feet off first. O’Connor  slung the softball to first sacker Reilly-Boccia for out number two!


Reilly Boccia seeing the lead runner at third fired the ball to shortstop Porcelli for the TRIPLE PLAY, A 4-3-6 trifecta, crushing the rally in one pitch. It was electrifying. 


Going Quietly


In the seventh, Arlington had two outs with the bases empty.  Their last hope got on base via an error, but inexplicably the last hitter,  bunted into an championship-winning third to first out, close, but out on a solid play by the thirdbaser Elayne Dombrowski under great pressure.


The Huskers had come from behind like Champions, showing strength in their lineup from top to bottom had won their second consecutive Section 1  Class AA Championship.


The Huskers threw their caps into the air celebrating a great victory.


A Lesson in Heart in the Heat


Arlington’s Caitlin Schell, pitched terrifically, heroically, valiantly in the heat as did Yorktown’s crafty diminutive rightside windmiller,  Dana Bisaccia, who pitched out of a 2 on, no one out jam in the second by striking out the side, and threw a triple play ball when she needed it (that is a softball joke, fans.)  You rarely see a triple play in the bigs, and never see it in fastpitch, but we saw one today.


Arlington scored a run in the third to break the ice in this ballgame on a single by Jessie Chapman who moved to second on a passed ball. After a flyout, Schell lashed a single to right to take a 1-0 lead. Arlington added another run in the fifth when Valerie Nelson singled and took second when the leftfielder bobbled the ball. She moved to third on a bunt by Jesse Chapman and leadoff hitter Dombrowski ripped  a single in the shortstop hole to left for a 2-0 lead.


Game of Inches


The Yorktown winning rally started with one out, when Porcelli singled to center on a 3-2 pitch. Then Kasey O’Connor whacked a sinking liner to left center. Reeves tried for a shoestring catch, and short-hopped the ball getting off a quick throw to second that just missed getting Dombrowski at second, who had had to hold to see if Reeves was going to catch the ball. It was a very close play. That set the stage for Affifi’s heroic bases-clearing double.


It was a Section Championship to remember in weather as hot and as tough to play in as you will ever see and feel. The sweat just dripped off you in the blaze of heat and humidity. But everyone was on their game.  Lots of banger calls at first base. Courageous, reach-back-for-that-something-extra pitching and opportunitstic plays.  Paige Murray, the Arlington rightfielder stopped a run from scoring from second on a single in the 4th uncorking a teriffic charge and throw to the plate. The teams were a testimony to the heart and grit of these two fine fastpitch programs.


Schell walked five and fanned four, allowing 7 hits, only one for extra bases – the game winner. Bisaccia, going the distance, mixed speeds well, used her fastball sparingly, scattering 7 hits, walking 2 and recorded 5 strikeouts, none after the third inning. She was economical, too throwing only 77 pitches. Schell threw 89 in six innings of work.

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The Real Deal: A Different Kind of Party Totally Necessary

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WPCNR’S THE REAL DEAL By The Wedding Jeannie, Jeannie Uyanik of Cap and Gown Weddings. June 7, 2008: Given that we plan parties all the time, it’s rare when we see something completely new or totally out of the ordinary.  But today I learned you can make even the scariest events fun; I attended a Mammogram Party.  The idea sounded interesting to say the least, but it was proposed by my ObGyn, Dr. Claudia Holland (and a past client of our firm’s) and when it’s the woman who delivered your child, that’s an invitation that you don’t refuse. 


 


 



The Wedding Jeannie


Jeannie Uyanik


Wedding Planner to the World


WPCNR Columnista



 


 


 


 


Dr. Holland is a firm believer in early and frequent mammograms and because the idea conjures much stress and even more procrastination, she offered to help minimize the pain by having a few of us go together.  And from there the idea of the mammogram party was born. 


 


Three of us were invited and greeted with coffee and pastries.  Changing into our robes made it seem like more of a spa day than a necessary and lifesaving exam. The professional and very kind associates at the top notch facility where we had the mammograms, made the event a breeze.  While there are many great facilities throughout New York City and the tri-state area, our mammograms were completed at:


 


Columbia-Presbyterian Eastside


16 East 60th Street


Suite 350


New York, NY 10022


To schedule an appointment, call: (212) 326-5552


 


http://www.cper60th.org/imaging/mammo.html


 


The results were produced in minutes for some of us, and we were all given clean bills of health within an hour.  We continued the party at a celebratory lunch. 


 


Should you not be so fortunate to have your physician insist on attending your exam, you can still be a trend-setter.  Plan a mammogram party.  Get a group of friends, family or associates together and make back to back appointments. 


 


 As I learned today from one of the attendees at our “party”, sometimes you have to have multiple exams in a day, if the first tests are not clear, and having backup there waiting for you in the reception area provides a feeling of comfort and a needed distraction.  There is no need to go it alone.  I certainly would not have been so eager or quick to get this done had I not had a big push and a lot of support. 


 


And once the mammograms are completed, have the real party start off premises and plan a girl’s brunch, lunch or cocktails to mark the momentous occasion and the steps to take better care of our health.  But most importantly, if you are required to have a follow-up, when you learn this, at least you are surrounded by people who care for you and will support you no matter what the outcome might be. 


 


 


 

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