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)

Comprehensive Plan Committee Meeting 4 at George Washington School Tuesday

Posted on April 4, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REPORTER. April 4, 2005: The Comprehensive Plan Review Committee will be meeting Tues., April 5 at George Washington School Auditorium at 7:30. The main focus of the evening will be to discuss Community Resources and Implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. Public comment will also be accepted on any aspects of the Comprehensive Plan that were discussed at previous meetings.

White Plains Week News Roundup

Posted on April 4, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR White Plains Week News Roundup. By John F. Bailey. April 4, 2005: It was a week like all weeks in White Plains filled with shock, intrigue, innuendo, vicious rumor and behind-the-scenes maneuvers. Here’s the top stories for the week of April 4:

The Appellate Court Throws The Pinnacle for a Loss: The Appellate Court in Brooklyn threw out the F & J Food Corporation lawsuit, claiming their right of first refusal in the 240 Main Street deal was still in effect. The suit had been sold to the Ginsburg Development Corporation whose lawyers tried the action. The toss cannot be appealed without permission from the New York State Court of Appeal. This clears the way for Louis Cappelli to build affordable housing on the 240 Main Street site. The setting of a public hearing for April 21, is on tonight’s Common Council Agenda.

School Board Adopts 2005-06 Budget: The School Board voted to adopt a $154, 759,198 budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year at their March 28 meeting, according to Jackie Mackin of the Assistant Superintendent for Business office. The district received slightly more school aid from Albany than expected and two capital projects were retired. Despite the legislature increasing the amount the Governor cut state aid, overall, state School Aid to the White Plains City School District is down 3.2%.

Mackin said the Tax Rate Increase was 9.36%. The increase budget-to-budget was 7.61%.

Charlie Booth announced his retirement as Executive Director of the Thomas Slater Center. No procedure for selecting his successor has been outlined as yet. Mr. Booth said a meeting of the Board of Directors would make that clear this month.

Teen Drinking Aftermath: Police said the students caught about to start a drinking party during school hours on Saint Patrick’s Day were counseled at Eastview School, and police also disclosed that there had been beer on the premises on Baylor Circle where the party was about to begin when police intervened.

The Comprehensive Plan Committee met at White Plains High School with only 32 citizens attending. Susan Habel revealed plans to extend a trail down through Romar Avenue to Saxon Woods Park, stated there was a Master Plan for Delfino Park. Doris Sassower proposed building affordable housing townhouses on her estate at 295 Soundview Avenue (to the Comprehensive Plan Committee). Marc Pollitzer demanded the Committee consider rezoning of New York Presbyterian Hospital property in conjunction with plans for the St. Agnes Hospital site, and suggested any Presbyterian Hospital commercial medical ventures be taxed. The next meeting of the CPC is Tuesday evening at 7:30 at George Washington School to consider the infrastructure and city finances.

Theatre Manager Gets New Job: Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel said Kathy Davisson, formerly Theatre Manger for the White Plains Performing Arts Center was not working on any theatre business in her new position with Community Development Program. Habel said she was working with community groups to help them develop fundraising efforts. WPCNR asked if part of that effort was booking community groups into the Performing Arts Center for fundraising activities, and Ms. Habel said it was one of Ms. Davisson’s options in her new job. Asked if any of the other 15 individuals listed in WPPAC programs were being transferred to city departments, Ms. Habel said Ms. Davisson was the only one.

Theatre Impressario to be Renewed? With three months to go before the city has to tell Tony Stimac whether or not they are renewing Mr. Stimac’s $100,000 contract to run the White Plains Performing Arts Center for a third year, Commissioner of Planning Susan Habel said she had no knowledge of whether Mr. Stimac was going to be renewed. Asked if she thought the Performing Arts Center contract and the job Mr. Stimac had done warranted renewing, Ms. Habel said she had no statement to make on that at this time.

House of Strauss Will Have New Leader. Fred Strauss is Retiring. Ad Confirms.

Posted on April 4, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR Red Light. By John F. Bailey. April 4, 2005, UPDATED 11:00 E.D.T.: Fred Strauss, Director of Cabletelevision for and Public Access television station, WPPA-TV, “The Spirit of 76,” home to the county’s best lineup of citizen-produced television shows such as Beyond the Game, Winbrook Like it Is, the syndicated Happiness Show, and mentor/pioneer/conceiver of the county’s best and only local news show, White Plains Week, is stepping down. Mr. Strauss’ retirement was confirmed by an advertisement, appearing in The Journal News classified section Sunday and The New York Times. The ad was also placed in the trade publication of The Alliance for Community Media at the suggestionof the White Plains Cable Commission, according to City Personnel Director, Betty Wallace.

Lou Grant Stepping Down?: Fred Strauss, the personable, committed facilitator of free speech on cable in White Plains for two decades will be leaving “Master Control” at WPPA-TV (Public Access 76)and WPGA-TV (Government Access Channel 75). No date yet has been set for Mr. Strauss’ departure. Photo by WPCNR News.

Calling all Lou Grants: Mr. Strauss is, according to sources retiring with his wife, Nancy Strauss, (who retired from her position with the City School District last month), to Santa Fe, New Mexico. A lone ad, buried in the Journal-News Sunday appeared to confirm Mr. Strauss’ planned departure. It is unclear at this time whether the advertisement is also being placed in national television/broadcast trade publications. Photo by WPCNR News.

Mr. Strauss supervises seven days of 6 hours a day programming on the White Plains Public Access Channel 76 and Government Channel 75..

Mrs. Strauss (Nancy) exclusively supervises the Educational Station, channel 77. Mr. Strauss is not involved with the day-to-day programming of that channel as previously reported.

Mr. Strauss supervised the design of the studios of White Plains Public Access Television in the early 1980s. He organizes tapings of common council meetings and recording of city events, sets policy and aids citizens in producing programs. Programs are free form. Censorship is unheard-of, and relations with telecast talent and producers are cordial, welcoming, and highly cooperative under his genial patronage.

Strauss earlier in the year told this reporter he hoped to take a hand in the negotiations the city is beginning this year on a new contract with Cablevision. Now, depending on when Strauss sets his departure, that may fall to his successor, or the city.

Mr. Strauss is the first and only Director of Cabletelevision White Plains has had. He built the station, has brought it to where it is today. He will be missed.

Yonkers Figure Skating Club Raises $4,000 for Jorge Posada Foundation

Posted on April 3, 2005 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. APRIL 3, 2005: The Yonkers Figure Skating Club held their Thirteenth Annual Charity Exhibition Sunday evening for the benefit of The Jorge Posada Foundation at Murrays Skating Rink in Yonkers, raising close to $4,000 for the organization founded by the New York Yankees Catcher.

Thirty-six skaters preformed solos. Each received proclamations in their honor from Yonkers City Councilman Angelo Martinelli. The Team Image Synchronized Skating Teams, which competed in the national championships in February, both Novice and Junior opened and closed the performance as Mrs. Laura Mendez-Posada, her child Jorge, Jr. and his sister, Paulina stayed the entire program and selected winners in a post exhibition raffle.

Team Image Novice Starts the Extravaganza. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Mrs. Laura Mendez-Posada, holding Paulina, and Jorge, Jr., with William Sullivan left, winner of a raffled Jorge Posada baseball card. Mrs. Posada and her family were guests of honor who watched the complete show and stayed to select the winners of raffled prizes, and accept a check approximating $4,000, the largest amount ever raised by the Figure Skating Club since they have been mounting these charity-dedicated exhibitions. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

The organization’s mission to create awareness of craniosynostosis, a condition requiring immediate surgery upon birth. The foundation supports medical facilities and programs conducting research and providing medical treatments for patients suffering this condition. Each year the children of the Figure Skating Club choose a charity or cause to dedicate their show.

Haley-Ann Simpson “Skating on Sunshine.” Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Nicole Muccio’s Ena Bauer at the rinkside box as The Posadas look on. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Juliana Bailey in flight. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Senior Graduating Skaters, Julia Boccumini, Hemandria Busgeeth, Jennifer Gottfried, Gail Machado, William McGuinness and Sarah Zanotti were honored for their years of participation and peformed this choreographed number. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Team Image Junior Skaters closed the program with their spectacular gypsy number. Photo by WPCNR Sports

Mrs. Posada select raffle winners as Jorge, Jr., supervises. Treasure of Yonkers Figure Skating Club, Elise Hubsher holds the tickets. Photo by WPCNR Sports.