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)

Memorial Day Parade Draws Light Crowd. Mayor Says Work to Build Better World

Posted on May 30, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PARADE DRESS. May 30, 2006: White Plains saluted its veterans Monday at the annual Memorial Day Parade. Though Memorial Day Parades in the past have never traditionally drawn well, Monday’s parade was particularly poorly attended by the populace. Fewer than 50 persons lined Mamaroneck Avenue from Martine to Main, and spectators on North Broadway were scattered. However, that did not take away from the solemnity and the pride of the occasion. Mayor Joseph Delfino saluted those who have given their lives for America at the annual festivities at White Plains Rural Cemetary, encouraging all to honor their sacrifice by “work every day to make this a better world”

The Mayor Remembers America’s War Dead at the Rural Cemetary Monday. Photo, WPCNR News.

Veterans proceed up North Broadway with the White Plains High School Band, with antique cars of the past bringing up the rear. Photo, WPCNR News

The White Plains High School Band, as is traditional, marched to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Director Leslie Tompkins is at the far right. Photo, WPCNR News.

The White Plains Common Council and Board of Education members marched together. L to R, Councilpersons Glen Hockley, Tom Roach, Rita Malmud, Benjamin Boykin, Arnold Bernstein, Board of Education Member Bill Polack, County Legislator Bill Ryan and Board of Education Member Donna McLaughlin. Photo, WPCNR News

Superintendent Chides Comptroller Audit for Misinformation.

Posted on May 28, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 28, 2006: White Plains Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors has written parents in the School District a letter, stating the “New York State Comptroller’s audit on disruptive student behavior has caused some confusion and misinformation,” and assuring parents “that White Plains High School is a safe and healthy environment for all of our students and staff.”

Connors writes parents that “We want you to be aware that disruptive behavior, as defined by the state, is not necessarily violent behavior. It includes incidents such as cutting class, plagiarism, and other infractions of the school’s code of conduct.”

Connor also reveals in the letter, that before Comptroller Hevesi published his report last week, accusing White Plains High School of withholding 94% of disruptive incidents, “we had agreed to meet with the State Education Department to review our data and ensure that we are fully compliant with their reporting guidelines. We, along with many other school districts, had found the reporting system very confusing. This meet (with the the SED) will take place in the coming weeks.”

“Like all high schools, we have disruptive incidents that occur. When they do, we work closely with our school administrators, students and parents to resolve them to ensure the safety of everyone involved. We also work with the White Plains Police Department, when necessary. We agree with the Comptroller that accurate reporting is necessary in order to address the safety of schools across New York and we are committed to keeping our schools safe learning environments for all.”

The tone of Connors letter stops short of accusing the Comptroller’s office of grandstanding on the reporting of disruptive incidents by schools, but implies it. He finishes by writing,

Connors, in a telephone interview with WPCNR Friday, cited for example of the misinformation the Comptroller’s report implied, stating that White Plains had failed to report one instance of “sexual violence.” Connors objected strongly to characterizing the incident as violent because it involved a student exposing his posterior out the window of a school bus.

Connors said WPHS reported 24 Disruptive Behavior incidents in the School District to the SED in 2004-2005. In 2003-2004, the year the Comptroller’s report covered, the district reported 22, and was accused of withholding 289 incidents they should, in the Comptroller auditor’s opinion, should have reported

The Comptroller’s Press Office told WPCNR last week their auditors who compiled the unreported incidents by going over school records at WPHS did not meet with police, but were “expert” in their experience in analyzing incidents of disruptive behavior.

Tigers Mastrangelo Suicide Squeezes In the Winner in WP Sect. Opena

Posted on May 27, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. May 27, 2006 UPDATED 5:45 P.M. EDT: Catcher Sandra Mastrangelo with the North Rockland infield back bunted perfectly with Erin Cook racing in from third on what on a daring suicide squeeze play to give White Plains a 2-1 come-from-behinder win today on O’Donnell’s Bluff in the Tigers opening Sectional tilt.

In the Tiger seventh inning, a one-hop double to the centerfield fence over the head of the North Rockland centerfielder blasted by Dena Frederick set up the tying run after North Rockland had taken the lead with a solo homer in the top of the seventh and the Tigers were facing doom with three outs left in their season.

Frederick moved to third on Carrie Abbot’s sacrifice bunt. Then Kelsey Kulk blooped a 1-2 pitch dying quail Texas Leager into the Bermuda Triangle of shallow center with shortstop and second baser watching it fall to score the equalizer, plating Frederick from third to tie it 1-1. Kulk went all the way for the win, fanning 10.

The Tigers won it in the bottom of the eighth when Lisa Tompkins pulled one in the hole on an 0-2 pitch to the thirdbaser’s left who picked it, juggled it and could not make the play. Jackie Flooks sacrificed Erin Cook running for Tompkins to second. A wild pitch off the catcher’s glove moved Cook to third with one out. Mastrangelo then won the game when the Rockland pitcher fielded her bunt but threw too late to catch the fleet Cook flying in from third. It was another extra inning humdinger played by these two teams, and North Rockland is no fifteenth seed. Jackie Flooks, in addition to getting the key bunt down to move the winning run into scoring position, threw out a North Rockland runner at the plate with a throw from the base of the left centerfield fence that got the runner at the plate in the first inning in the play of the game.

The Tigers face the Carmel High in White Plains Tuesday afternoon in the Tigers’ next sectional game. Carmel defeated John Jay East Fishkill Saturday afternoon, 1-0, on Danielle Basciano’s screaming liner into right in the third with two out. Kaleigh Burke spun a beauty, shutting out John Jay on 3 hits and only two threats. This sets up a rematch between Burke and Kulk who dueled in the second game of the season, where Burke prevailed, 3-0.

Fred Seiler to be Appointed School District Financials Man Replacing Schruers

Posted on May 27, 2006 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 27, 2006: The Board of Education will appoint Fred W. Seiler of Rochester, NY to a three year contract as its 2006-2007 budget strategist replacing Terrance Schruers as Assistant Superintendent for Business after Mr. Schruers retires this September. Seiler takes the unenviable job of planning the $165.8 Million school budget that is facing rip-snorting cost increases in utilities, sensitive salaries (a new contract with the teachers has to be negotiated), and structuring the school board capital projects bond referendum and debt service tentatively planned for October or December 2006. Seiler holds a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in Business Administration and an MBA fromthe Rochester Institute of Technology.

Mr. Seiler comes from the Spencerport Central School District West of Rochester, just South of the shores of Lake Ontario, from a district of 22,334 residents, with a school budget of $60.6 Million, a little less than one-third of the White Plains School Budget of $165.8 Million. However, the man he will succeed, if approved, Terrance Schruers came from a similar sized upstate district and fit in smoothly to the White Plains financial behemoth.

Seiler has experience in bonding for capital improvements having presided over the formulation of a $15 Million Capital Project bond for Spencertown in the 2006-2007 budget the district just prepared and passed. Seiler is reported as Clerk to the Board of Education and Assistant Superintendent for Business. Spencertwon is a district of 4,411 students, four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. White Plains has 7,000 students, five elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.