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)

The Happy Rink

Posted on December 18, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR RINK SIDE. December 18, 2007: Good old Ebersole Rink ice was hard as glass Saturday — perfect ice. The first genuine winter afternoon was crisp and chilling. White Plains Tots, Teens and Ice Princesses shivered but delivered a most impressive Holiday Ice Show under Mount Everest conditions before over 200 persons at the outdoor rink.

The Fabulous Tots Fabulous Opening Number!

The White Plains Figure Skating Club Fantastic Final Number.

Jen Bisignano’s lead-off Solo set the tone for an afternoon of sharp edges, concentration and grace to the sounds of the holidays.

Maggie Dunne’s Finale Solo thrilled the audience with her Sasha Cohen Impression. This signature Cohen move has not been done ever before on Ebersole Ice by a soloist to this reporter’s knowledge.

First there were everybody’s favorite group numbers featuring 85 of White Plains youngest, hardiest and tryin’ est, in three group numbers. The young skaters got to perform in public, many for the first time in their first team experience. Then many of the younger skaters stayed to watch fifteen solists perform their spirals, spins, and jumps to music of the season. All who saw Saturday’s extravaganza produced by the White Plains Figure Skating School’s Kristin Fuerst got a great start to the holiday season .

Here are some sights of the future Oksanas and Katherinas, Sarahs, and Sashas – this is how they get their start – out on the ice practicing over and over each move, the waltz jumps, the spins, performing in a group number – then one day out there just you and the ice with parents and friends watching soloing for the first time. Their first experience with the glory of pressure and the challenge of the ice.

The Fabulous Tots Opening– made up of Tots 1, Tots 2, and Special Alpha — started the show.

Jen Bisignano Set the Tone and the Standard for the Solists to follow her.

Sherree Geller Spiraled in the Sunlight

Spinning Top Mary Garten

Katie Irmler’s Flying Camel Spin

Nadia Abdulwahab launching a spin.

The crowd filled the warming house splitting time between staying warm and coming out to watch their favorite skaters. The skaters performed brilliantly despite 25 degree temperatures that made it hard to get loose and challenged the concentration.

The Gamma Delta Freestyle Group Impressed with a Synchronized routine.

Laura Hollahan’s Flying Foot Spin.

Laura Migliaccio’s Spiral to Die For.

Allison Fuerst About to Go into a Sit Spin — a most elegant performance!

Ta Da! Mary Claire Kennedy.

Bethany Herrmann’s spectacular Sit Spin.

Pre-Alpha, Alpha and Beta Group Impressed with their lines and syncrhonization!

Cara Lopilato in the always difficult slide move…

Allison Seife Spiraling with Grace.

Julie Joseph’s Fast Moving, fully packed program — here she is in a sit spin

Gabriela Rivas coming out of a Jump.

Maggie Dunne in Mid-Bielman closed the show with a loaded, energetic program that impressed the house.

I do not normally show every skater when I report on the skating shows, but this show was a remarkable effort by all the soloists and the group numbers in harsh Canadian conditions. The ice was a mirror, they had to skate cold and concentrate and let they bodies and instincts take over the skate. That took poise and toughness, and every soloist showed those qualities. All did the best they could and it was great to see.

The skating we saw Saturday afternoon was one of the best overall efforts by all the participants this reporter has seen — a tribute to the instruction and the atmosphere — and the camaraderie all the skaters have for each other. What is so inspirational about good ol’ Ebersole Rink is the way skaters root for each other to have great skates — and support each other.

During an icecut — the state-of-the-art Ebersole Fries and Dogs and Cappuchino — are not to be missed. The fries are soft on the inside, crisp on the outside but not too crisp and just the right deep fried grease!

From the greatest tasting fries and snacks at any rink, to the courteous and encouraging staff — Matt, Kristen, Lou and Rose and the icemakers you cannot beat the atmosphere — the hospitality and courtesy of the skaters on the ice. It’s why Ebersole is “The Happy Rink.”

After the Show, Everyone was invited out on the ice to skate with Frosty the Snowman (Michael Cavellero)

Photographs of the Day

Posted on December 18, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. December 18, 2007: Today’s Photos are the happiest shots of the year: The Ritz-Carlton Pre-Opening Pep Rally — hosted by Louis Cappelli in front of his sparkling new Ritz-Carlton Westchester and in the Grand Ballroom of the Ritz — prior to the the 70th Ritz-Carlton hotel opening tomorrow night.

The Job Creator, Louis Cappelli, the Man in the black suit, with 255 of the young futures he helped to start today by building the Ritz in front of his crowning achievement, The Ritz-Carlton Westchester.

The Super Developer mingled and appeared genuinely moved and proud of the young work force who were celebrating the end of two weeks of vigorous training in The Ritz Way.

The Grand Ballroom of the Ritz-Carlton Westchester carried 300 persons easily at the “pep rally” and had room for 200 more. The accoustics were beautiful, the rug and arched ceilings muting the cacophany of the enthusiastic crowd

The theme was 1970s in keeping with the fact that the Ritz Carlton Westchester is the 70th Ritz to open worldwide. The hotel is providing 255 new jobs plus 18 managers promoted from the Ritz Carlton chain to the White Plains hotel. The average age of the new hires is 28. They were hailed as being “Gems” by the Ritz Vice President for Personal Affairs. Jacqueline Sanders, the General Manager of the Hotel told WPCNR all the new hires were from Westchester and The Bronx.

Louis Cappelli gives the key to The Ritz to Jacqueline Sanders, while Bill Rhodes head of Ritz-Carlton operations in America looks on. Ms.Sanders told the new Ritz-Carlton work force there were three codes to live by in the start of their new careers: “Smile, Use Our Minds and Use Our Hearts.”

Board of Legislators to Mull Legislators’ Raises Stipends Longer.

Posted on December 17, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From County Legislator Judith Myers. December 17, 2007: At the County Board of Legislators this afternoon, action on voting legislator stipend increases including that of the Chair of the Board of Legislators, has been postponed indefinitely, according to County Legislator Judith Myers of the seventh district, who issues this statement. Legislator Myers reports the raises, and amounts of stipends are going to be studied by a to-be-formed Legislative Compensation Committee who will issue a set of recommendations.

The outing of the legislators’ plans to raise the stipends is credited to the Westchester League of Women Voters which discovered the plan to raise the Chair of the Board of Legislators’ (White Plains own Bill Ryan)stipend from $40,000 to $75,000 in addition to his legislator salary, giving him a 39% raise in total compensation. Stipends of other Legislature Committee heads would increase from $12,000 to $15,000 under the plan. Ms. Myers reports they are going to study this plan via formation of a committee. Her statement:

I applaud the action taken by the County Legislature today to deny the legislative pay raise as proposed.

I did not support the pay raise proposal because I did not believe that the issue was afforded the same due diligence given to the 2008 County Budget as a whole. Until this due diligence is complete, including the establishment of a Legislative Compensation Committee and the issuance of an advisory opinion, I cannot in good faith vote for a stipend increase.

I look forward to a timely recommendation for fair and equitable pay levels, from this committee. I thank the League of Women Voters, the Westchester County Association and other concerned taxpayers in this County for their input and I look forward to working together with my colleagues to serve the needs of the people of my district and the County as a whole.

Gov Wards $14.8 M Tax Credits, $1M inJob Grants to ITT to Stay in NY at 1133 Wst

Posted on December 17, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE DEVELOPER NEWS. From The Governor’s Press Office. December 17, 2007: Governor Eliot Spitzer and ITT Corporation (“ITT”) today announced that ITT, a global engineering and manufacturing firm, will invest $14.8 million to expand its world headquarters in a new White Plains facility. The company pledges to retain all existing 119 jobs and create 96 new jobs within five years of occupying the new space, adding to the thousands already in its workforce across the state.

Governor Eliot Spitzer Announcing the ITT grants today in White Plains at 1133 Westchester Avenue: At far left is Westchester County Deputy County Executive, Larry Schwartz; Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains, 3rd from left; Congresswoman Nita Lowey (4th from left), Governor Spitzer (at podium) State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer, State Assemblyman Adam Bradley; at far right, is owner of the complex, Robert Weisz. (Photo, the Governor’s website).

Instead of moving out-of-state, ITT decided to move its world headquarters across the street, to a leased 90,000 square-foot facility at 1133 Westchester Avenue. In recognition of its investment in New York, Empire State Development and ITT have agreed to a series of project milestones, through which the company will be eligible to apply for up to $1 million in Jobs NOW funds. Under the agreement, ITT will receive the full amount once it reaches project targets set by Empire State Development.

1133 Westchester Avenue, shown under renovation last March. (Photo, WPCNR)

“For more than 100 years, ITT and its businesses have been a bedrock of the New York economy, currently supporting more than 3,700 employees across the state,” said Governor Spitzer. “The company’s decision to expand its headquarters in White Plains reaffirms its commitment to New York and sends a powerful signal about its faith in our efforts to improve the state’s business climate.”

Pat Foye, downstate Chairman of Empire State Development, said: “Westchester has long been a magnet for corporate headquarters, including more than a dozen Fortune 500 firms, and we are pleased with ITT’s decision to remain among the more than 170 major corporations calling Westchester home. In selecting New York over its other options, ITT has affirmed how hard our administration fights to convince companies to locate here and to help existing businesses grow in New York.”

Steve Loranger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of ITT, said: “We are pleased to have found a new home for our world headquarters here in White Plains and to remain in New York. We’ve got a rich history in the state and owe a lot of our success to the very talented people who live and work here. We’re grateful to the State of New York for its continued partnership and look forward to a bright future here.”

ITT Corporation is a world-wide supplier of pumps, systems and services to move, control and treat water and other fluids. The company is also a major supplier of sophisticated military defense systems and provides advanced technical and operational services to a broad range of government agencies. With 2006 revenues of $7.8 billion, ITT employs more than 3,700 people in New York State and approximately 35,000 worldwide. In addition to the company headquarters in Westchester, ITT maintains facilities in Monroe, Seneca, Cayuga and Wayne Counties.

New York has been host to the company’s world headquarters since 1995. After recognizing the need for a new world headquarters, ITT considered alternative sites in Connecticut, New Jersey and Colorado, where it has existing facilities. New York State and Westchester County took a proactive role in working with ITT, leading to the company’s decision to expand in the State.

ITT also expects to receive sales tax abatements from the Westchester County IDA worth $500,000 over a three-year initial period for eligible construction expenses and approximately $25,000 to $30,000 in energy cost abatements through a Con Ed Business Incentive Rate (BIR) contract over a seven to ten year period.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey said: “ITT’s decision to expand its operations in Westchester is good news for the State of New York. This decision will allow ITT to benefit from New York’s highly educated and skilled workforce, and will create job opportunities for New Yorkers in a highly competitive global industry. I commend Governor Spitzer and Empire State Development for their efforts, and I will continue to do everything I can to make New York an even greater place to live, work, and do business.”

State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer said: “Hearty congratulations go to Governor Spitzer’s economic development team, County Executive Spano and ITT for keeping and expanding the company in White Plains. This is just one indication that state government is working to bolster New York’s economy.”

Assembly Member Adam Bradley said: “I am delighted that ITT is not only staying in White Plains, but expanding its world headquarters in the City. Their commitment to the City of White Plains and the State of New York is a testament to our efforts to maintain a vibrant economy in the Region. I am particularly pleased that Empire State Development has played such a vital role in making this happen.”

Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano said: “We are proud and pleased that ITT has chosen to keep Westchester as its world headquarters. I want to thank Governor Spitzer for his efforts which show, once again, that by working together, we can benefit our residents, businesses and our economy. ITT will not only remain in Westchester, but will also be increasing its workforce here. This is an example of the successful economic development partnership between the State and the County.”

White Plains Mayor Joseph M. Delfino said: “When ITT approached me about their desire to remain in Westchester County and about their interest to move their world headquarters into the City of White Plains, I was pleased to help them. The theme of my administration is that of working together. This is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when we work together to reach a desired goal. This partnership between the private and public sector is helping New York State continue its economic growth with the creation of 96 new jobs. It’s is a win-win situation for the City of White Plains and the ITT Corporation.”

Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Chairman Bill Ryan said: “ITT’s decision to remain in Westchester and expand its operation is good news for area residents. Westchester will realize more jobs, a stronger tax base and an enhanced corporate community. These will benefit the county both immediately and in the years to come.”

The Spitzer administration has taken steps to improve the state’s business climate by confronting what the Governor calls “the perfect storm of unaffordability” – a mix of high taxes, burdensome costs, and regulations that have hampered growth. This year, the administration succeeded in obtaining a historic workers’ compensation reform that will reduce businesses’ premiums by more than $1 billion while increasing benefits for injured workers. Also this year, the administration cut business taxes by $150 million and reduced property taxes by $1.3 billion.