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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By The WPCNR Roving Photographer. May 27, 2008: Recession, an unresolved campaign, a war without perceived end, and a day to remember the sacrifices of the nation’s war dead all made Memorial Day Weekend 2008 particularly meaningful to White Plainsians as the sunshine and perfect 80 degree weather restored pride in the past, and offered the sunshine of the future. WPCNR takes a look at an American tradition — The Memorial Day Weekend.

Lead by Grand Marshall, Captain Shawn Tabankin, center, the City Fathers headed the parade, Left to Right,Councilmen Glen Hockley, Dennios Power, Assemblyman Adam Bradley, Councilwoman Milagros Lecuona, Board of Education Member, Bill Pollak, Captain Tabankin, County Legislator Bill Ryan, Councilman Benjamin Boykin and Tom Roach. 

White Plains Finest Signalled the Start of the Parade

Jewish Veterans of  World War II lead the parade of those who Served.

Looking Sharp! The WPHS High Marching Band debuted their new uniforms.

The Parade of Antigue Cars Turned Back the Clock to the Days of Penny Gas.

Girl and Boy Scout Troops — Legions of Them — Promised Future Dedication to Community and Country Service

Calvary Baptist Church

Slater Center Jerome Bump Robinson Drum Corps Always a Favorite!

The Ladies Who Make White Plains a Beautiful Place

White Plains Wolverines

White Plains Bravest: The Fire Department

Slater Center Drum Corps Marching Up Broadway to Rural Cemetary

Battle Hill Residents Were There!

 

Striking Old Glory at the White Plains Rural Cemetary

White Plains Milton Hoffman, veteran Reporter Dispatch Correspondent, delivered the Invocation, in which he described the veterans and those who gave their lives as “Champions of Righteousness and Justice,” setting a high note.

Adele Zucker, widow of a World War II veteran, reading the poem “I Remember,” urged those in attendance to introduce themselves to veterans and thank them for their sacrifice and to remember those who died defending America for the liberty they died for. Arne Abramowitz, Commissioner of Recreation and Parks read the Mayor’s Proclamation of the Day, noting the war dead did not serve in order to die they served to procure freedom.

 

Captain Shawn Tabankin, wounded in Afghanistan, shared personal insight with the audience on the special bond soldiers feel for one another, united in the defense of freedom. He wears a bracelet in memory of his medic, who died in Afghanistan in 2004. He said there is not a day he does not think of him. It was a unique and touching personal insight into the bond all veterans share.

 

The Presentation of the Home Defense Wreath by a White Plains Policeman and Fireman, as Mr. Abramowitz observes.

The WPHS Band played The National Anthem and rendered a medley of Taps, Amazing Grace and America the Beautiful that took the audience from melancholy, to appreciation to and uplifting of spirit.

The son of  the Veteran Honoree, Ralph Gersin, remembered his late father (owner of ARGEE Glass in White Plains), telling his World War II service and Korean War service, noting his career as an Army Air Corps Pilot, and how he took his grandchildren flying at age 90 just to prove he could still fly. His reminisces displayed Mr. Gersin’s strong sense of values that lead him to his extraordinary service. Mr. Gersin’s son closed commenting on the World War II veterans and war dead that “we’ll always remember your sense of commitment and your service to this nation.”

 

Moments after the Rifle Salute to Departed Veterans by the Firing Squad of American Legion Post # 135

 

WPCNR MILESTONES. May 24, 2008 UPDATED 1:30 PM EDT UPDATED 9:10 PM E.DT.: White Plains was saddened to learn Saturday evening of reports that Marc Pollitzer, the longtime respected, well-liked, and tireless community activist who championed and pioneered the Council of Neighborhood Associations, serving as its President, and speaking up faithfully, forthrightly and powerfully at public hearings on key White Plains development decisions  affecting the outer neighborhoods of the city,  died Saturday, after reportedly collapsing playing tennis at Ridgeway Country Club. 

 

A Familiar and Imposing Advocate for White Plains: Marc Pollitzer

The Council of Neighborhood Associations posted an In Memoriam Message on its website announcing Mr. Pollitzer’s passing. The CNA, through its Co-President, Candyce Corcoran released this statement Sunday afternoon observing the loss of Mr. Pollitzer:

“Marc was one of the  most prominent voices in the community. White Plains was very fortunate to have Marc for as long as we did. He was a tireless advocate, fighting to make White Plains the best it could be. White Plains has lost a model citizen and pillar of the community. I like many have lost a good friend.”

Common Council President Benjamin Boykin issued this statement about Mr. Pollitzer Sunday evening:

“My family and I wish to express our condolences to the Marc Politzer family. We are saddened to learn of the unexpected death of Marc. Marc loved White Plains. He was very involved in city affairs and passionate about planning, urban development, protection of neighborhoods, excellence in our schools, open space and quality of life issues affecting residents throughout our city. Marc was a champion fighting to make White Plains a better place for all of us. Marc has left a great impact on our city and he will be missed.” 

Politzer was reportedly stricken Saturday afternoon. Police report responding to Ridgeway Country Club (where Mr. Pollitzer was a member), to the report of a possible heart attack.

 

Mr. Pollitzer was instrumental in leading the fight against the acceptance of  parkland from  New York Presbyterian Hospital in exchange for adding a retail component near the Bloomingdale’s store adjacent to the hospital property in the year 2000, that was denied by the Common Council.

 Later in the year 2001,  he also fought vigorously, but unsuccessfully,  in leading opposition to the proton accelerator project proposed by New York Presbyterian Hospital, which was approved but never built. Pollitzer, longtime head of the North Broadway Civic Association,  spearheaded a decade long opposition to the German School expansion of their enrollment in the North Street area.

His eloquent and erudite appeals before the Common Council in public hearings were always distinguished by his earnest, booming, James Whitmore-type voice, beginning, “Good evening Mayor, my name is Marc Pollitzer, President of the North Street Civic Association….”.  His addresses were earnest, fact-based, passionately argued, and persuasive and you had to fasten your seat belt.

Pollitzer served on the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee for many years in advising the school district on the school budget year-to-year. He was also one of the few members of the Budget Advisory Committee to sound the alarm in recent years about the certiorari drain, the inability of the city to help the school district financially with its development policies, and the unexpectedly low amount of PILOTS and revenues from the new development  in the city.

Pollitzer argued strongly, but always commanded respect from adversaries, and stood in high regard among his peers and other community leaders, and had the easy-going ability to maintain cordial, effective relations with political adversaries.  He was a champion of preserving White Plains and its neighborhoods  as they were in the past. He also was a leader in devising the White Plains Master Plan in the mid-90s, which was completed in 1997.

In 2007, he was briefly a candidate for Common Council and spearheaded the campaigns of at large council candidates Robert Levine and Robert Stackpole.

Pollitzer was a model community-conscious citizen and he epitomized the concern that a resident should show towards what was happening in his community.  He was 61 years of age.