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 Shame of Liberty Park: $500,000 Plus Down the Drain.

Posted on August 12, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE SUNDAY BAILEY. News & Comment By John F. Bailey. August 12, 2007: WPCNR dropped in at Liberty Park last week, expecting perhaps to rent a rowboat, or to see picnickers enjoying themselves. At 2 PM I only saw two persons using the park. Curious, I parked and walked in to the park, billed two years ago as White Plains “waterfront park” where you could ride paddle boats and rowboats, even, as I recall take kayak lessons — hike, and enjoy nature.

I saw why no one uses Liberty Park today.

Liberty Park, August 5, 2007 — Three Persons were using the park as of 2 PM. No activities.

Geese calling Cards There for Weeks.

You would not want to walk in Liberty Park today, let alone picnic on the grass.

Goose Park. August 12, 2007 Geese lounge at Liberty Park, fowling the grounds.

The park grounds are fouled with geese droppings, feathers, and goose excrement over the brick path, on the trimmed grass. No one would want to spread a blanket on those grounds to picnic. There is the smell of dried goose feces in the air. No mother would want her child crawling on the grass because it is littered with Canadian Geese calling cards.

When I visited last Sunday, and this morning, no boats were being rented. The lake was befouled with algae growing up from its bottom, just like last summer. No kayaks were being paddled. No paddle boats paddling to be seen. Rowboats were tied up at the docks but not used. This Sunday I returned and the boats had been put away, and a stagnant slime was in the middle of the lake. The algae bloom from the bottom of the lake is clearly visible about the dock this morning.

The $500,000 boondoggle.

When the City of White Plains leased this from Westchester County for a dollar a year for thirty years in exchange for building the 17 affordable housing units at Horton’s Mills adjacent the park, Mayor Joseph Delfino touted this park as a waterfront playground for city residents, promising boating, picnicking and trails.

He unveiled plans for an $800,000 waterfront, including a fishing dock (which has not been built), in addition to the waterfront boat rental. Well the city spent $500,000 plus of taxpayers money to clean up the park, install the dock and prepare the present grounds which are now unusable.

How do we know that? On an 80 degree summer day, one person was using the park. No hiking trails were marked to attract hikers. On top of that the boat concessions are not in action. And the lake continues to be algae blocked.

Last summer the lake was closed due to a raw sewage leak from the Harrison side.

The city has apparently neglected the park that they created just prior to Mayor Delfino’s reelection bid in 2002, in time for the 2003 election. Now it has been forgotten, apparently, another season lost.

Whatever Happened to the Rest of Liberty Park? This was the original $1,000,000 Plan.

I called Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, Arne Abramowitz to find out why the rowboats and paddle boats were not in action, and why the goose leavings were not cleaned out of the grounds. Mr. Abamowitz did not return my call.

I called the Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti, and asked what his plans were to deal with the algae blooms, and no raw sewage leak causing them this year, (that we know of). The Commissioner had indicated he was considering introducing carp to eat the algae last year. WPCNR left a message with the Commissioner’s secretary and how he can get back to us to explain how he plans to deal with the algae problem next year – or whether the park will be open for boating this fall when the algae disappears.

Slime on the water August 12, 2007

Nevertheless, to spend $500,000 on a park and let it fall into this unattractive, unappetizing state, indicates perhaps that the city simply is not knowledgeable enough to be in the parks business.

James Benerofe, whose firm owns a large office park in Harrison said they had a similar problem with geese, and they were able to discourage the geese from landing by placing statues of coyotes on the grounds.

It appears that the City of White Plains Recreation Department simply does not have the expertise to keep Liberty Park appealing to its citizens.

The lake is dirtier now than it was when Councilman William King helped clean it up in 2002. What is causing the algae in Silver Lake now? It’s another White Plains mystery.

Will White Plains ever master the ecology and clean up the shame of Liberty Park?

The citizens should demand it.

Pace, Youth Bureau to Graduate First Students of College SAT Prep Class Tuesday

Posted on August 11, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR CITY HALL TICKER. From Melissa Lopez, The Mayor’s Office. August 11, 2007: Mayor Joseph M. Delfino is pleased to announce that the first class of White Plains “Lets Get Ready” program will graduate sixty students on Tuesday, August 14th, 7:00 p.m. at Pace University in White Plains. The program is a collaboration between the White Plains Youth Bureau, White Plains High School, PACE University and Let’s Get Ready. The program was paid through a donation given by Wellesley-in-Westchester, the Westchester County alumni group of Wellesley College.

The program helps youth who cannot afford the SAT prep classes necessary to keep up with the new standards for college admission. Participants in the program pay a $25 deposit fee which is refundable if they miss three or fewer classes.

Students meet at Pace University twice each week on the corner of Martine Avenue and Bank Street. Students are grouped based on students’ diagnostic SAT scores. On Tuesdays, groups of four to six students review verbal for two hours. On Thursdays, the students review math with a different math specific coach.

For one hour on both days, students review the College Choice curriculum – a special curriculum created by Let’s Get Ready with activities relating to college admissions.

College coaches help support the program providing tutoring and mentoring. The coaches are college students from Syracuse University, Columbia University, New York University, Pennsylvania University just to name a few of the universities. The program has a 1 to 5 ratio of coaches to students.

The program has also offered college tours this summer. Students have visited Columbia University, New York University and the University of Albany.

Mayor Delfino says that having a Lets Get Ready program in White Plains will go a long way to help students in their preparation for college.

The Yorktown Grange Fair Calls for Blue Ribbon Paticipants Sept 6- 9

Posted on August 11, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMMUNITY CHATTER. From the Yorktown Grange. August 11, 2007: The 83^rd Annual Yorktown Grange Fair, slated for September 6^th– 9th is only a few weeks away. Now is the time to start thinking about what fruits, vegetables, flowers, houseplants, baked goods, preserves, needlework, woodworking and photography you would like to have judged and maybe win the blue ribbon. If you are a Lego builder there is even a contest for you! Entries are also accepted for those who raise poultry and livestock with pre-registration. Anyone living anywhere may enter.

The first step for potential exhibitors is to obtain a schedule booklet that lists rules, regulations and prizes offered. The booklet can be viewed entirely by visiting our website at www.yorktowngrangefair.org or by phoning the fair office weekdays between 9:30 a.m.and 2 p.m. at (914) 962-3900.

The fair theme is “A Timeless Tradition”. All competitions are divided into three divisions:

Youth– for ages up to 11 yrs

Junior– ages12-17

Adult– 18 and older

(Exceptions are noted in the booklet)

Some of the areas of competition listed in the booklet include:

The Flower Show which features a design division, horticulture division and an expert division.

Produce has been a fair tradition since Chester Hyatt, a local dairy farmer and member of the Yorktown Grange, challenged his fellow grangers to a potato judging

contest in the fall of 1923. Today’s produce schedule lists much more for competition.

There are over 40 varieties of vegetables and fruits ranging from beans, beets and broccoli, to peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, acorn and butternut squash, apples, pears, peaches, plums, nectarines, melons, berries and grapes. There is also a category for Farm Market and Commercial growers, Heirloom vegetables & fruits, Civic Organization Award and Special collections. There are no entry fees. The annual auction of all produce will be Sunday night, Sept. 9^th at 7:00 p.m. This is the fair’s finale each year.

Needlework continues to draw the finest in handiwork, all those who engage in this form of art are invited to exhibit. The schedule lists crochet and tatting, knitting, needlepoint, rug craft, crewel embroidery, counted cross-stitch, smocking, candle wicking, quilts and afghans.

The Home Baking Contest is separated into three categories: Adult (18 years and older), Junior-ages 12-17 and Junior-up to 11 years of age.

The Baking Show takes entries in the following categories: Jams and Jellies, Canned Fruit, Salsa, Molded/Filled or Covered Chocolate Clusters, Chocolate lollipops, Chocolate Decorating, Fudge and Hard Candies. Cake categories include: Coffee cakes-crumb or pound, Cakes made with Fruit or Vegetable, Bundt Cakes, All Chocolate cakes, all kinds of cupcakes, Cookies, Bar Cookies, Brownies, Traditional and Novelty Cake Decorating, Cookie Decorating and Gingerbread Houses. Pies-fruit/cream, Bread, and Rolls, Biscuits, Fruit and/or Nut Breads, all kinds of muffins and cheesecakes, and a category for “your favorite recipe”. There is no entry fee, but a limit of 3 entries per class is requested.

The Photography Show is for all the shutterbugs out there and has 6 sections: Floral/Still Life, Landscapes/Architecture, Farm Scenes, Pets and other Animals, People/Portraits and Computer Processed Photos. There is a limit of 5 entries per section. Black and White and Color will be judged separately.

The Woodworking Competition has 3 divisions: Youth Division –up to age 11, Junior Division ages 12-17 and Adult Division-ages 18 and older. The classes include furniture, ornamental, Carvings; Lathe turned projects and toys.

The Lego Show encourages the exhibitor to enter their original LEGO CREATIONS (no kits accepted). Divisions are: Youth 1: Ages 6-8, Youth 2: Ages 9-11,

Junior– Ages 12-17, Adult- Ages 18 and over.

The fair features a midway with rides and games, great food, live music every evening, audience participation contests, variety shows, antique tractor display, special demonstrations and livestock exhibits.

This year’s fair special performances include:

Friday Disco Night at 7:30

Saturday’s Musical performances: Annie and the Natural Wonder Band at 2:00 pm, Al Edwardsen’s East Coast Band at 5:30 and Sundown at 8 pm.

Sunday’s musical shows: Pax Romana at 1:30 and ThunderRoad at 5 pm

Fair hours: Friday & Saturday– Sept. 7^th and 8^th: 10am-11pm

Sunday-Sept 9^th: 10am-9pm

Admission: Adults: $8.00 Children under 12: $3.00 Parking is free

City Surrenders Marine Car. Returns It to Recruiting Fleet. Talks Continue.

Posted on August 9, 2007 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE PARKING NEWS. By John F. Bailey. August 9, 2007: The City of White Plains has returned the Marine Corps Recruiting Vehicle it had impounded with the intent to auction it off to pay outstanding Marine parking ticket fines and late fees. Gunnery Sergeant Matthew Butler reported to WPCNR today the city returned the vehicle Tuesday.

Sergeant Butler said the Corps is continuing to hold talks with the city over the settlement of $94,000 the city is claiming the Marines owe, despite $70,000 of that being fines for space in the Chester-Maple Garage that Marines claim was paid for in full. The city has denied there was a lease on the permit spaces. The Marine car impounded since April has been quietly returned to the Marines.

Butler said Marines the Corps has been able to determine were the drivers of Marine Cars ticketed by the city for parking violations are “voluntarily paying their tickets.”

“We want to be good partners with the city,” Sergeant Butler told WPCNR Thursday. “Individual Marines we’ve been able to identify are voluntarily paying their tickets.” Asked about the $70,000 in tickets the Marines report are related to the city ticketing vehicles where space was already paid for in the Chester-Maple garage, Butler said those issues were still being worked on in good faith. Sergeant Butler said he did not have any figures on how much in fines have been paid so far by the Marines.

The city seized the car with the intention of auctioning it, but apparently returned the car after learning that federal law prohibits seizure of government owned vehicles or selling of government property, which apparently the city Department of Parking was not aware of.

WPCNR has also learned that the ticketing of the Marine vehicles was begun apparently in earnest only in July 2006 (at the beginning of a financially troubled year for the city).

WPCNR learned according to one source this was initiated by the city when neighboring stores complained. According to a person who worked in a business near the Marine Corps Recruiting Office, “I previously worked at a privately owned store on East Post Road and also parked in the Chester Maple garage. I remember a time when enforcement on the Marine cars was “select” depending on the person writing tickets that day. Oftentimes the cars were ignored and the neighboring store owners would complain to not only the officer writing, but the Marines as well.”

The person recalled the ticket blitz began about a year ago, confirming what WPCNR had been told by the Marines last week. Some tickets have been said to date back to 2001, but that has not been confirmed by any breakdowns from the Department of Parking, which has said to various media that they do not have a breakdown of the ticket details as to place and infraction.

The source said, “Then, it pretty much came out of nowhere that they started getting tickets on the street outside their office.”

The source also indicates “While it may be wrong for the Marines to receive tickets…a primary reason they do is not the enforcers’ desire to do so, but the CITIZENS and STORE OWNERS who call and complain to Parking Department brass, and say that the Marines are taking our spots (or potential customers’ spots) without paying. Ticketing them only began a little over a year ago, as it was not common practice until complaints were made by the public.”

The person said they did not understand why Marine vehicles parked in the garage were ticketed for check clearing problems, pointing out that it was their experience if you’re an individual, “checks do not have to be cleared in order to receive a permit, any regular permit holder can walk into an office on the first of the month and receive their permit by simply writing a check. If the check bounces, the permit of that individual is sought out by use of permit numbers that help identify the owners. So that excuse doesn’t make sense.”

To date the Army Corps of Engineers which the Marines say issued the check on the first of the month for monthly Chester-Maple Permits has not furnished details of the agreement the Engineers have with the city. The city has denied there is a lease on the spaces, but there may be an agreement.

Last week, Tim Curry, New York Times reporter covering the story reported that Paul Wood, the City Executive Officer as saying he did not know whether the $94,000 would ever be paid, or if a city court judge might choose to waive the fines.

This week, Barbara Leek, the City Judge, eliminated the late fees attached to tickets paid by the first Marine to come forward to pay parking tickets his vehicle had received.