WPCNR CITY HALL CIRCUIT. From Melissa Lopez, Director of Economic Development, City of White Plains. April 10, 2006: The New York State Conference of Mayors’ “Main Street Economic Development Conference” will take place April 24 – 25 at the
The regional conference will begin with a comprehensive Mobile Workshop of White Plains and
The Conference of Mayors represents 575 cities and villages in
WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By Johnny Broadway. April 10, 2006; UPDATED With More Pix 4:45 P.M. E.D.T. NEW PIX added April 11, 2006 4:45 P.M. E.D.T.: White Plains own Westco Productions and the White Plains Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Committee and 9 other patrons, practitioners, sorcerers and angels of the local arts received the coveted “Stars” at the posh luncheon extravaganza thrown by the Westchester Arts Council Arts Award 2006 celebration Wednesday, as over 500 patrons of the arts filled 53 Tables at Rye Town Hilton ballroom at $50 a ticket to celebrate the people who “make a difference.”
As Frank Ingrasciotta, an actor receiving a “Star” for working with Greenburgh youngsters in film, said, as to why he acts and works with the children, “They make me feel like I make a difference.” The Winners of the “Stars” make a difference!
First Lady of
The Pied Piper of Sculpture: Eli Schonberger Chair of the White Plains Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Committee, accepts with Mayor Joseph Delfino, “America’s Favorite Mayor of All the Arts,” receiving their “Star” for reintroducing sculpture as a cityscape in Westchester County. Mr. Schonberger worked to bring an exhibition of sixteen sculptures to grace
Everybody Loves the Arts! Yours truly arrived just before luncheon to find the glamorous, the glitzy, the glib, the “Who is Somebody of Westchesta” elbow to elbow, schmoozing over cheese and cocktails, catching up on the arts, the deals, and the gossip. Everywhere I turned I saw the powerful, the connected, the savvy and the suave tightly, tentatively navigating very crowded cocktail and conversation space. Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam
The photo ops were many, the
Susan Katz, left, with WCBS-TV’s Tony Aiello, Liz Aiello, and Michael Barrett of Caramoor, schmoozing. Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam.
After a half-hour of patter while enjoying open bar and cheese and crackers the distinguished guests drifted into the grand ballroom to fill 53 tables to lunch. What awaited them was a culinary one-time only trendy tour for the tastebuds precisely prepared flakey but willowly and slender filet of chilled poached salmon, irresistibly, indolently posed seductively on a culinary stage of coquettish mixed greens and jewels of succulent artichoke hearts. It was a gourmand’s match, garnished with choice of delicately gleaming dressings, playing with a piquant, palate-pleasing finale: slivers of orange on chilled custard torte to engage the tastebuds of the most discerning with a mellow cup of Rye Town Hilton coffee. Not exactly the bacon cheeseburger, fries and malted this repawta has for lunch, but hey, this was the
The Queen of the arts, herself, Janet T. Langsam, Executive Director of the Arts Council hostessed her own event with easygoing poise and cordiality which created an air of intimacy and support throughout the adoring artsy throng. Ms. Langsam saluted the Westchester lawmakers on hand for the luncheon for “doing the right thing for the arts.” Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam
As one presenter, Jan Adelson of Adelson Galleries remarked, “No one does it better (fundraising and networking than Janet Langsam).”
Ms. Langsam got off the best line of the afternoon, too, in searching for a piece of script, at one point, she smoothly quipped, “I seem to have lost Page 10,” which brought down the house, with hearty guffaws and uneasy laughter, depending on your political affiliation.
Ms. Langsam turned proceedings over to that smooth talkin’ guy, (described as “What a guy,” by Ms. Langsam), the genial Tony Aiello, Channel 2’s Westchester Correspondent. What an emcee!
Mr. Aiello glibbed and glided a verbal softshoe pattering masterfully through the 11 presentations with panache, interesting, articulate and smooth, getting in plugs, and introductions at exactly the right moment without awkwardness. He’s really good at emceeing, better than most celebrity hosts I’ve seen. Channel 2 should give him a talk show if he does not already have one. The Academy Awards are next, Mr. Aiello.
Two of Mr. Aiello’s colleagues in broadcast news, News 12 alumna, Mary Calvi, and Scarsdale High’s Jim Rosenfeld also presented, having that unique gift of making the audience feel at ease in their presence, giving importance credibility and honor to the “Stars.” The running joke was the WCBS 2 News personalities had to promise to give future reports on Katie Couric’s great CBS Anchor adventure.
Mayor Joseph Delfino, center with WCBS-TV’s gracious Mary Calvi, the News12 Newscaster who went to the big time, accepting Star award on behalf of the White Plains Sculpture Committee. Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam
The “Stars” were awarded one after another with slide show montages on the big projection screen behind Ms. Langsam’s arts pulpit, giving graphic evidence of each “Star” winner’s endeavors in the
Bill Ryan, (left) Chair of the Board of County Legislators, presented the Arts Organization Award to “The First Lady of White Plains Theatre,” Susan Katz, and Steven Sledzik, President, Westco Productions Board of Trustees, saying that Ms. Katz’s Westco Productions was such a great entertainment for kids, the family, but more than an entertainment that it introduced children to a lifelong love of theatre, while bringing out their poise by acting themselves. Mr. Ryan was particularly complimentary of Ms. Katz’s work ethic, her tireless energy and commitment to involving children in theatre magic. Photo, Courtesy, Westchester Arts Council, by Ben Hider
Ms. Katz in accepting the award, thanked everyone who had worked long and hard to make Westco a success. She thanked her Board, and the county and the Arts Council for their support and announced her little theatre company would pass the the 600,000 mark in total attendance when she opens her fall 2006 season. She said the little company has honored its contributors by never incurring a deficit in its 26 year history. Westco mounts 17 separate productions a year divided between professional productions and childrens workshop productions all around
Hey, That’s My Kid! Mrs. Katz’s father, Sonny Katz, the City Marshall of White Plains since 1663, looked on. May every parent know the pride the senior Katz must have felt. Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam
Mayor Joseph Delfino, (Center), accepted the White Plains Sculpture Committee “Star” (Committee members surrounded the Mayor on the dais) and extolled how Eli Schonberger had come to him with the idea for the Scuplture Garden (opened in October, 2004), and how “there’s nothing we cannot do if we work together.” The Mayor also noted that
Mr. Schonberger (fourth from right in above photo), returned the bouquet saying how it never would have happened without the Mayor’s help, either. Schonberger announced that
Eli Schonberger holds his “Star”, with the rest of the White Plains Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Committee. Mayor Delfino is shown with Mary Calvi, of WCBS-TV, third and fourth from right. Photo, Courtesy, Westchester Arts Council, by Ben Hider.
A very happy Westco Board of Directors sits with Susan Katz. Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam
Scarsdale’s Favorite Anchorman, Jim Rosenfield of WCBS-TV presents his “Star” to Frank Ingrasciotta. Mr. Ingrasciotta told the audience of a little girl who took a film class of his in Greenburgh in which the children reenacted a slave’s escape. He told how the little girl said to him after her acting part that she had been afraid to do it, but in learning about the slave’s escape, she felt she was not afraid to be on stage any more. Mr. Ingrasciotta said it was a moment that told him that what he does “makes a difference.” Photo, Courtesy, Westchester Arts Council, by Ben Hider.
The Winners of this year’s Westchester Arts Council “Stars”: For Arts Patron: Helio Fred Garcia of Chappaqua (not pictured), President of the Neuberger Museum of Art, Matthew Lifflander (not pictured)and Onyx Orton Lifflander of Hastings-on-Hudson (second from left, front row) for being on the Board of the Hudson River Museum; For Artist, Melvin Sparks of Mount Vernon, (back row. far right) the rhythm and blues guitarist, creator of 9 solo albums and 150 recordings; for Arts Organization, Caramoor Center for the Arts, Katonah, Michael Barrett, backrow, extreme left and Susan Katz of White Plains, (front, center)Westco Productions; For Education: Frank Ingrasciotta, of Greenburgh, Arts Educator in film back row, second from right; and Yvonne Pollack of Katonah (back row, second from left), of the New Castle Art Center, founder of Katonah Museum of Art Education program, and member of the Jacob Burns Film Center’s Educational Advisory Board; Carol Walker, of Purchase Dean of the Purchase College’s Conservatory of Dance (front row, extreme right); For Community Arts, Anthony Fazio of Harrison, founder of The Harrison Friends of the Opera, (front row, extreme left) and Eli Schonberger, front row, second from right, White Plains Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition Committee. Photo, WPCNR ArtsCam
A recurring theme among the acceptances speeches by the awardees was how their parents had originally introduced them to the arts.
The event was sponsored by The Journal News and Hudson United Bank that is changing its name to Bank North in a hot new financial item megadeal. Look for the new green logo. Now, if only someone would buy The Journal News and put me in charge of it. Calling Katie Couric!
None of this would have been possible without Ms. Langsam’s One and Two Star Sponsors: Jan and Warren Adelson, Entergy Nuclear Northeast and
The 2006 Arts Award Panelists selecting the 2006 winners were Geneive Brown-Metzger, Aaron Flagg, Dare Thompson and Lucille Werlinich. The 2006 Arts Award Committee was chaired by Mr. Aiello, Tom Donovan, Publisher of The Journal News, Kenneth Gould, Emily Grant, Hannah Shmerler and Fran Singer.
WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER . April 11, 2006: Todays’ Photograph of the day brings back the glory of the inner city ballpark, that oasis of green amongst the towers and the nitty gritty and the spires of commerce that lets the city breath. Such a ballpark is the Rutgers-Newark fastpitch softball field site of an old-fashioned Sunday doubleheader in the sunshine yesterday, with downtown Newark as its stage.
We’ve Got green grass sunshine. Let’s Play Two — Ernie Banks. Rutgers Scarlet Knights play Rowan College Sunday in a “an old-fashioned Sunday doubleheader.” Photo, WPCNR Roving Photographer.
We’ve Got Plenty of Room Come on Out.
By Fastpitch Johnny
Give me the old-fashioned Sunday Twin Bill
Left over from the Fifties when baseball mattered not the till.
When Mel and Vin remarked into mikes in their booth redoubt.
“If you’re driving in the area,
We’ve Got Plenty of Room, Come on out!”
(More)
When the Openers match Kings of the Hill
AVirgil Trucks and Allie Reynolds who’d give the big Sunday crowd a thrill.
In the Nightcap, in long shadows, a rookie like Tiant would debut
Matching a long reliever, El Tiante in one chance for the Tribe’s rotation breakthrough.
You got one game per scorecard so you had to buy two with grids too small.
It was two games for the price of one, the only true bargain I ever recall.
Soggy hot dogs for lunch and soggy hot dogs for dinner was a fans’ banquet
Camaraderie in empty upper decks made an endless day of serendipidous companions you met.
As ace matches ace, pitch for pitch on carpet of green in neat parallel mow,
Sharp shadows creep between mound and home as The Opena’s innings progressed inexorably
Sun bronzes bleacher baskers, while winds chill deck denizens in shadow
Pennants whip-snap with cheer above grandstand. Goose-eggs align on towering scoreboard stately.
The “Pock” of stomped drinking cups by bored miscreants punctuate the nightcap’s languid pace.
Gorging on ball, eating our fill of cracks of the bat, nifty picks, and pitching changes
The fateful shadows of the game, extending, quenching our thirst as we drank in the game’s changing face.
Shadows are long now, starters long gone, the closer tries to nail it down. Another of the game’s challenges.
Drinking fill of creamy crisp beer’s head, we chat with neighbor like sages of Homer
Pleased when judgments are confirmed, roaring together on the clutch hit gamer.
Eager to commend and second guess and leap to our feet when a bad call enrages.
Every play is discussed and analyzed, with new found companions newfound friends better than any girl friend.
Shadows cover the outfield now, a bowl of sunshine basking the last bleacherites
Laying a patina of dusty gold hue over dark outfield walls
Lighting up wrappers and cups in now vacant bleacher wells
Zhyphers of the past wisk papers and dust devils across outfield sentinels as Nightcap ends and glowing tower lights.
A split, a split! Opener’s heartbreaker is forgotten with a mighty collective shout!
Down the ramps to street, talking Jackie’s winning hit. A last look at Elysian Field green,
The game in its cathedral beckons and holds an always-with-you scene,
We’ve Got Plenty of Room, Come on Out
Comisky Park, Chicago, 1975. Photo, WPCNR Sports
WPCNR ODD LOTS. April 10, 2006: A spokesperson for Pulte Construction, would-be developers of 71 luxury condominiums at 10 Windsor Place told WPCNR today, the company “is not going to build it.” Windsor Terrace was approved with much fanfare to a development group which included the builders of Clayton Park, which cleared the property (after site plan approval by the Council).The original developers sold the property to Pulte Homes for $6 Million according to a The Journal News report, and now Pulte is pulling out and selling it again The Journal News reports.
Eyesore across from Eastview School: 10 Windsor Terrace joins the Hamilton Avenue and Church Street vacant lot (across from the site where Avalon Bay plans to build), as another White Plains lot in limbo. Projects approved for these two sites have been abandoned after Common Council approval. The Church and Hamilton lot has already been sold once, and now there is an uncomfirmed report that the new owner has sold it again. Photo, WPCNR
Ten Windsor Place becomes the second site plan approved by the Common Council in the last three years to stall out. The Hamilton project on Church and Barker has been sold once and now is reported up for sale again. The Journal News report said that Pulte Homes has a buyer for the property, based on a spokesperson’s e-mail to a neighbor in the area, George Curtis.
Keith Eddings, the Journal News reporter, notes in his story today that Pulte is asking the Common Council to approval an extension of the site plan.
A lot with an approved site plan is more valuable and can fetch a higher price on the real estate market.
There is a third site plan that has been approved by the Council and extended three times that is the New York Presbyterian Hospital biotech/proton accelerator project, which is still awaiting a council decision as to whether to extend for a fourth time. Nothing has been done on that project for four years from the time it was approved in 2002.