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WPCNR PRESS BOX. From a White Plains CitizeNetReporter. April 12, 2005: The White Plains Tigers found themselves losing to Saunders in Yonkers after one inning by a score of 3 to 1, Monday.  But in the second inning, Mike Bivas got things going with a long ground rules double, that apparently hit a car on one bounce, and not on a fly ball, despite the protesting of Tiger Coach Galligani.  The Tigers tied it up at 3 in the top of the second, and Jake Riss was able to hold Saunders to only a two out single in the bottom of the second. 

With the Tiger fans still a bit upset that Bivas was not credited with a homerun, Sean Campbell came up in the third and crushed a pitch to centerfield to satisfy their hunger.  Campbell was swinging the bat well, and later in the game took a pitch deep to left for a grounds rule double.  But the Tigers were not all about power.  With Mike Crystal on third and Gary Morello on second, Matt Romano put down a suicide squeeze bunt.  Morello had such a jump off second base that he easily scored on the squeeze play, running just a few steps behind Crystal, as the pitcher scrambled to field the bunt and throw to first.

Meanwhile, Riss mowed down the side in order in the third and the fourth, but ran into trouble in the fifth.  Saunders led off with two grounders just out of the reach of shortstop Morello.  On a loose ball, the runners advanced to second and third with no out.  The Saunders’ lead-off batter was now up, and he had hit the ball well in his first two at bats.   Riss induced him to pop-up to Zettl at second, and the next batter followed with a pop out to Morello at shortstop.  Riss, who could have a good future in real estate because he is all about location, location and location, had not yet walked a batter. 

But with first base open and a dangerous number three batter at the plate, Coach Galligani called for an intentional pass.  It looked like a good move on Galligani’s part because the clean-up hitter had been the Saunders’ pitcher and he was now out of the game.  The batter coming up had not yet faced Riss, and quickly fell behind in the count at no balls and two strikes.  But Galligani wasn’t done yet.  Just when everyone was wondering if a high fastball or low curve was coming, Galligani called for a pick-off and Riss wheeled to first where Campbell had been playing behind the runner and came up to catch the throw and tag the runner in one smooth motion.  Saunders’ last threat came up empty and then the Tigers exploded with a 23 – 3 win. 

The Tigers are now 4 – 3 on the season and Riss has three wins with no defeats.  The Tigers are home Wednesday in a big game against their division rivals, Mt. Vernon. 

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS WEEK NEWS ROUNDUP. April 11, 2005: In the news last week, the intrigue surrounding the White Plains City Budget began to swirl, as the Preliminary Budget mysteriously arrived with no announcement or news conference by City Hall announcing the 2005-06 spending plan of $129 Million with fund balance used to balance the budget. Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning announced the city sales tax was on target to hit $42 Million this year. As the week began a discussion of the budget scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 PM (April 12) was temporarily cancelled, no reason given.

Mike Gismondi, Commissioner of Building, working with Cappelli Enterprises, instituted pollution control measures (long called for by Dan Seidel, who has consistently demanded them) on the demolition of the Bar Building annex, which Gismondi said, had been causing several plumes of demolition dust clouds to float over the downtown.

The White Plains Watch announced it was being sold to Patricia Casey, who takes over editorship of the beloved paper from Susan Chang at the end of this month. Ms. Casey announced to the CitizeNetReporter she would move the paper to become a weekly publication as soon as possible.

The Common Council approved a 40-story height for parcels of 300,000 square feet in the White Plains Central Business District, the first stage of expected approval needed for the Cappelli 221 Main Street Hotel and Condoplex. The approval of this project (expected), will be taken up on April 21 at 6 P.M.

China Computer Firm Lured: County Executive Andy Spano returned from his Ricksaw initiative trip to China and announced a series of financial incentives designed to induce China’s leading computer firm to headquarter in Westchester County.

Comprehensive Plan Continues Review: The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee held its fourth hearing last Tuesday to lacklustre attendance, and appears to be not galvanizing the populace. No new ideas were advanced for the development of the city at all, though John Kirkpatrick’s addressed formulated the issues the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee should consider. There was a meeting at Centro Hispano Sunday, and a sixth final meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening (not Tuesday evening) at The Thomas Slater Center, 7:30 P.M.

Meanwhile health care benefits were scheduled to end today for striking county busline drivers in the 40^th day of their strike, which should put an end to their strike shortly.

Highlands Lunch Hour Attack Suit Settled: WPCNR has learned from a member of the Board of Education that the lawsuit filed by the family of a young man sexually attacked by youths during a lunch hour on the Highlands Middle School in 2001, has been settled by the school district. The amount of the settlement (rumored to be in the millions), was not disclosed by mutual agreement, and was paid for by the School District insurance. The family sued the school district over the fact that the true nature of the attack was withheld from them by the Highlands Middle School staff.

Speculation on Who Will Run: Rumors were beginning to surface around town as to who would run for the Democrats against Mayor Joseph Delfino as no front runner has emerged, or stood out to indicate they are running. The candidates are conspicuous by their lack of commentary on either the city budget, the course of city development (in the process of several major approvals), and their lack of criticism of Mayor Delfino. Perhaps Mayor Delfino will run unopposed. Likely candidates with the political credentials to run appear to be Bill Ryan, Benjamin Boykin, Rita Malmud, Tom Roach, and Glen Hockley