Bradley: State to Give $540,000 More in Aid to White Plains

WPCNR’S ADAM IN ALBANY. By District 89 Assemblyman Adam T. Bradley. March 31, 2005: We are well on our way to the first on-time budget in 20 years after we began passing budget bills yesterday. Included in the Legislature’s budget is an increase in municipal aid to cities, towns and villages. The Legislature’s budget will provide White Plains more than $4.7 million, which is $540,000 more than last year. The funding can be used to provide important services like police and fire protection. It’s a win-win situation that will help preserve our quality of life, while keeping local property taxes down. Our budget protects the services that matter most – and I urge the governor to join us in moving these bills forward.”

 


Detailed below are all of the cities, towns and villages receiving aid under the Legislative budget plan in the 89th Assembly District. Overall, the Legislature’s budget provides nearly $450,000 more to municipalities in the 89th AD than the governor’s executive budget provided.


 


Municipality                                2005-06 Funding


 


Bedford                                              $        65,384


Harrison (1)                                          $        148,095


Lewisboro                                           $        30,711


Mount Kisco (1)                                   $        65,718


New Castle                                          $        71,123


North Castle                                        $        43,077


Pound Ridge                                       $        264,449


White Plains                                        $        4.7 million      


Total                                                  $        5,388,557


 


(1) Represents funding for both the town and village.

Posted in Uncategorized

NPFS Fastpitch Femme Fatales — Juggernaut Open June 2 at Night

WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR from NPF. (Edited) March 30, 2005: On the day when the White Plains High School softball teams play a pair of exhibition games at WPHS, National Pro Fastpitch, ball’s third  major league the media don’t cover, don’t talk about, and ignored last season,  announced its 2005 schedule.  The league, featuring the champion NY-NJ Juggernaut will play a 48-game regular season schedule for each of the six NPF teams, including games that count against international champions from Canada, China, Venezuela, Russia, and Australia. Juggernaut Tickets are now on sale for their 2005  32-game home season featuring visits from the Chicago Bandits and Jennie Finch, the Venezuela and China national teams, their archrivals the New England Riptide and the Akron Racers with Krystal Bustos.



BALL BEYOND MEN! Johnny Vorperian, White Plains “Mr. Baseball,” interviews NY-NY Juggernaut star Carri “Lightening Leto,” secondbaser of the NY-NJ Juggernaut (center) and 1996 USA Olympic Champion and General Manager of the Juggernaut, Julie Smith on Beyond the Game at the WPPA-TV, White Plains Public Access Television Studio. The Juggernauts were in town to discuss the Juggernaut 2005 season last week. They open the season in Long Island on June 2 where they will be playing at a larger facility under brand-new lights with free parking. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling the Juggernaut office at 212.907.6561 or gameday at the Ticket Office. General Manager Smith has put together a strong rotation and have UCLA and 2004 USA Olympic sparkplug, Natasha  “Whackin” Wately batting leadoff with Lightening in the number two slot. The program will “cable” closer to the start of the season. Photo by WPCNR Sports.



Ms. Leto in her Business Suit, 2004 Season. Photo, Couresy NY-NJ Juggernaut.



Whackin’ Wately is coming to town. Ms. Smith figures to have America’s flashiest fastpitch legend hitting leadoff at the Naut’s new home. Photo, Courtesy NY-NJ Juggernaut.


The first riser of the season will launch the first week in June and run through August 21, 2005 with the exception of the Arizona Heat kicking off their season Memorial Day weekend. Regular season play will be followed by the Playoffs and Championships August 27–28, 2005. The six NPF teams include the Akron Racers, Arizona Heat, Chicago Bandits, New England Riptide, NY/NJ Juggernaut, and Texas Thunder. The California Sunbirds will also play a limited schedule in 2005 with plans to fully participate in the league again in 2006.


 


International Teams Hook Up with NPF — Da Best Play in Da NPF




NPF is excited to be able to include the Australia, Canada, China, Russia and Venezuelan National teams into the schedule.  The New York-New Jerseyy Juggernaut open the season June 2 with the Venezuala ball club.


“Bringing in international teams to play NPF teams is the league’s way of promoting both NPF credibility and continuing the development of U.S. Olympic and international players simultaneously,” stated NPF President, Bill Conroy. “It is our hope that the league will build attendance and media coverage through the international team drawing power.”


Brakettes Lead Prestigious Clubs into NPF in 2006

NPF has also opened the pool of opponents to include potential teams and owners in 2006 and beyond. The nationally recognized Stratford Brakettes already announced their plans to join NPF in 2006. Additional teams include the Phoenix Flames, SoCal Schutt Hurricanes, Peoria Outlaws, Illinois Cougars, St. Louis Saints and the Long Island Angels.


 “Due to the overwhelming demand for potential owners it made good sense to look at the teams’ viability in the league as well as allow them the opportunity to experience what it’s like to participate and compete at this level,” stated Conroy.


To make the competition even more interesting, all games against the international teams and potential expansion teams will count in the league standings and only the top four NPF teams will go on to compete in the Playoffs.


NPF enters into its third year as the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of professional women’s fastpitch softball. The new alliance with ASA/USA Softball and the International Softball Federation (ISF) has helped tremendously with bringing the international teams into the fold.


ESPN Discovers NPF





Be sure to tune into ESPN this summer, the Worldwide Leader in Sports, as they will air a select number of NPF games in 2005, as well as, Comcast who signed an agreement to televise eight NPF games.


“This type of national exposure is exactly what the league and players need to continue to create awareness of this awesome sport and its female athletes,” stated Conroy. Agreements for radio broadcasts and webcasting are in the works.


Sponsor Lineup Grows for the League the Media Does Not See.


National and local NPF sponsors include Majestic Athletic, Schutt® Sports, JUGS, Adams USA, Inc., Mizuno, Anderson Bat Company, Louisville Slugger, Akadema, Gatorade, My Sports Warehouse, Softball Junk. Com, Infinity Pro Sports, Motion DNA, Fisher Nuts, AMI Graphics, Radio Disney, Softball Today Magazine, Marcus Theatres, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Tanel 360, Velocity Sports, Dominick’s Finer Foods (Safeway) Thilman Filippini, See’s Candies, Innovative Sports, Athletique Inc., TFC Bank, United Community Bank, Canandaigua Wine Company, National Baseball Softball Academy, Swing Town, American Hole-In-One and Jewel-Osco.


National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL).


To view the NPF Composite Schedule Click Here

Posted in Uncategorized

Sin City, Beauty Shop, Upside Arrive at City Center De Lux

WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. March 30, 2005: The City Center De Lux welcomes the new Bruce Willis vehicle, Sin City this weekend, Queen Latifah’s new flick, and rolls Joan Allen’s comedy turn, Upside of Anger. The capsule rundowns and showtimes for the week:

BEAUTY SHOP — Queen Latifah stars in this comedy about the trials and tribulations of an Atlanta hairdresser who decides to open her own salon. Co-stars Alicia Silverstone and Kevin Bacon. Rated PG-13

OPENS FRIDAY, April 1st, EVERYWHERE

SIN CITY — Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett and Clive Owen star in this visually stunning action thriller based on the successful Sin City comics about seedy underword characters. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. Rated R

UPSIDE OF ANGER — Joan Allen stars as a divorced woman raising several daughters. The plot thickens when she finds herself falling for her neighbor, played by Kevin Costner. Rated R


Wednesday, March 30, 2005  
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 6:55; 9:35 pm. ;
Robots (PG) –12:45; 3:00; 5:15; 7:35 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:25; 3:20; 6:30; 9:25 pm. ;
The Ring Two (PG-13) –1:20; 4:00; 6:40; 9:15 pm. ;
The Ring Two **(PG-13) –12:40; 3:25; 6:10; 8:50 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –1:00; 3:15; 5:35; 8:00; 10:20 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous **(PG-13) –1:15; 4:10; 7:00; 9:50 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (PG-13) –1:45; 4:40; 7:30; 10:15 pm. ;
Beauty Shop (PG-13) –12:00; 2:25; 4:50; 7:20; 10:00 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:10; 9:15 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:40; 4:50; 7:20; 9:55 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10; 4:15; 7:25; 10:10 pm. ;
Guess Who **(PG-13) –1:05; 3:45; 6:45; 9:20 pm. ;
Guess Who (PG-13) –1:35; 4:25; 7:15; 10:00 pm. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:15; 4:35; 6:50; 9:10 pm. ;
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –10:05 pm. ;

Thursday, March 31, 2005  
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (PG-13) –10:05 pm. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:15; 4:35; 6:50; 9:10 pm. ;
Guess Who (PG-13) –1:35; 4:25; 7:15; 10:00 pm. ;
Guess Who **(PG-13) –1:05; 3:45; 6:45; 9:20 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10; 4:15; 7:25; 10:10 pm. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:10; 9:15 pm. ;
Hostage (R) –1:40; 4:50; 7:20; 9:55 pm. ;
Beauty Shop (PG-13) –12:00; 2:25; 4:50; 7:20; 10:00 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (PG-13) –1:45; 4:40; 7:30; 10:15 pm. ;
The Ring Two **(PG-13) –12:40; 3:25; 6:10; 8:50 pm. ;
The Ring Two (PG-13) –1:20; 4:00; 6:40; 9:15 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –1:00; 3:15; 5:35; 8:00; 10:20 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –12:25; 3:20; 6:30; 9:25 pm. ;
Robots (PG) –12:45; 3:00; 5:15; 7:35 pm. ;
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:20; 6:55; 9:35 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous **(PG-13) –1:15; 4:10; 7:00; 9:50 pm. ;

Friday, April 01, 2005  
Hitch (PG-13) –1:30; 4:10; 6:55; 9:30 pm; 12:10 am. ;
Robots (PG) –12:45; 3:00; 5:10 pm. ;
Million Dollar Baby (PG-13) –8:00; 10:35 pm. ;
Ice Princess (G) –12:00; 2:00; 4:00; 6:00 pm. ;
The Ring Two (PG-13) –1:20; 3:55; 6:35; 9:05; 11:50 pm. ;
Be Cool (PG-13) –1:10 pm. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous **(PG-13) –4:10; 9:50 pm; 12:20 am. ;
Upside of Anger (R) –1:40; 4:30; 7:35; 10:10 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (PG-13) –1:45; 4:40; 7:30; 10:15 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Hostage (R) –1:20; 4:20; 7:05; 9:55 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Robots: The IMAX Experience (PG) –12:15; 2:30; 4:45; 7:10; 9:30; 11:30 pm. ;
Beauty Shop (PG-13) –12:05; 2:35; 5:00; 7:40; 10:25 pm; 12:45 am. ;
Fever Pitch (PG-13) –7:30 pm. ;
Guess Who **(PG-13) –1:05; 4:00; 6:40; 9:20; 11:55 pm. ;
Guess Who (PG-13) –1:35; 4:25; 7:20; 10:00 pm; 12:25 am. ;
The Pacifier (PG) –12:00; 2:15; 4:30; 6:50; 9:10; 11:25 pm. ;
Sin City (R) –12:50; 3:50; 6:45; 7:25; 9:45; 10:20 pm; 12:35 am. ;

Saturday, April 02, 2005  
Sin City (R) –12:50; 3:50; 6:45; 7:25;

Posted in Uncategorized

Outers, Gateways, Corridors Addressed by Graessle

WPCNR MR. AND MRS. AND MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. March 29, 2005: Mike Graessle, former Commissioner of Planning delivered the following commentary at the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee’s Third Public Meeting this evening, delivering a planner’s “take” on housing and neighborhood issues in the surrounding “donut” area of the city. Here is the text of his statement:


Affordable Housing

The Comprehensive Plan should include a statement that supports the
current program for creation of affordable rental units as part of new
multiple-family rental apartment buildings.  The six percent set-aside
for affordable housing in newly-approved rental apartments has worked
to provide additional affordable units for rent.  The City should
formalize and continue this process. The location of the units ––Core
Area or Close-in Neighborhoods––depends on the applicant and is
desirable in both areas.

The Comprehensive Plan should also deal with affordable housing
purchase units.  This is a more difficult issue than rental affordable
housing since the cost of building affordable housing in what are often
high-end luxury buildings presents an entirely different set of
planning constraints. Developers are not likely to want to market
affordable units in a luxury building since it could discourage 
high-end buyer interest. 


 Also, if amenities in a luxury building are
uniformly included in the monthly maintenance, the monthly costs would
likely be too high for the typical first-time affordable housing buyer,
thereby undermining the basic rationale. Further, affordable purchase
housing is best situated in areas that provide the public amenities
that appeal to young first-time home buyers with families; for them,
parks and schools are important. Still further, Core Area land values
are usually too high–– it would make economic sense to consider
Close-in Neighborhoods for locating affordable purchase housing. 
Whether in a townhouse format, low- or mid-rise building, these units
would have the advantage of lower land costs and would likely be more
compatible with surrounding residences. Areas such as the Eastview
Neighborhood are experiencing new development and could support new
affordable housing. The opportunity to raze older houses in need of
extensive repair and replace them with new affordable housing would
benefit many of the Close-in Neighborhoods.


Comments on Core Area and Close-in Neighborhoods
                       

Community Development Block Grants

The Federal Government is considering changes in block grant programs
and the Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) is among those
being considered for elimination or major change. Since this CDBG has
been a life-line for many of the programs in White Plains it is likely
that some alternative plans may be in order for:
    The Core Area: Funding changes could have a deleterious impact on the
downtown neighborhood. Mitchell Place, Winbrook, Slater Center,
sidewalk improvements, etc.  Can the Post Road improvement proceed
without CDBG funds?



    The Close-in Neighborhoods: The City should take a pro-active stance on
the Housing Rehabilitation Program (HRP) that has been a life-line for
the Close-in Neighborhoods. Although a revolving loan fund was wisely
created years ago, the staff that administers the Housing Rehab Program
is supported by the CDBG; without their expertise the program wouldn’t
work.  The Comprehensive Plan should recognize the importance of HRP
and recommend its continuation to help keep the Close-in Neighborhoods
vital.


Traffic



The Comprehensive Plan should recognize that traffic affects
neighborhood quality of life. Traffic continues to be a significant
concern to many of the Close-in Neighborhood  residents. During the
rush hours many drivers seek faster routes to and from their work
places downtown; slow-moving traffic on the major streets encourages
the use of neighborhood streets as alternatives. A suggestion that
might discourage the cut-through traffic is to move traffic better on
the major arteries. For example, when cars are parked on major streets
during rush hour, travel lanes are frequently reduced to one as cars
pull into and out of parking spaces. Therefore in the morning rush
hour, eliminate parking on the in-bound side of major streets between
7:30 am and 9:00 am, and, in the evening, eliminate parking on the
out-bound side of major streets between 4:30 pm and 6:00 pm. This
regulation should increase the carrying capacity of major streets and
should reduce traffic in the Close-in Neighborhoods.
.
Parking



Another problem is the overflow of commercial Core Area parkers seeking
to avoid the meters by spilling into Close-in Neighborhood streets,
e.g.,  Linda, Smith, Davis and Oakwood Avenues. This problem could be
resolved by limiting parking time or some similar program. Here, again,
the Comprehensive Plan should encourage better regulations and
enforcement programs to protect the quality of life for these areas.

Code Enforcement



Residents of the Close-in Neighborhoods have reason to be concerned
about violations of the City’s Zoning Ordinance and Building Codes for
economic benefit of a few. Recent fires and discoveries of significant
code violations make this a very high priority.
The Comprehensive Plan should spell out the critical importance of
vigorous code enforcement to protect the residents’ quality of life.
                       
Marginal Lots



Developers’ submissions to create buildable lots out of marginal
properties, many with wetlands, steep slopes and similar features, are
a unique problem, particularly in the Close-in Neighborhoods where
smaller lot size requirements contribute to difficult lot
configurations which affect neighboring properties. This can also
result in more requests for variances since owners must locate proposed
structures in areas that do not meet existing zoning requirements.



New York Hospital Property

This key property continues to be a topic that provokes discord within
the community.  While everyone seems to agree that some part of the
land should be made available for public open space and/or park use,
public efforts to acquire a portion of the property for this purpose
have not coincided with the Hospital’s development proposals.
This Comprehensive Planning process might furnish an appropriate method
for exploring alternative possibilities.  Not considered so far has
been the process used to acquire Liberty Park  with land from the
County of Westchester, that is, to lease a portion of the New York
Hospital property. Such an arrangement might establish a more workable
format for  both the City and the Hospital.



The Comprehensive Plan should recommend the Bryant Avenue frontage and
the wetland area as the two sectors of the property most likely to be
of interest to City residents.




































                        
















                       

Posted in Uncategorized