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WPCNR CHURCH STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. December 21, 2004: As reported by the CitizeNetReporter Friday, Grace Church has reached an agreement orchestrated last week with the  Westchester County Department of Social Services to keep Samaritan House open. 

 

In an official press release, Grace Church Community Center ended its  fiesty six-week negotiation with the Department of Social Services announcing Samaritan House, its homeless shelter for women, housed in the Grace Church annex adjacent to the soon-to-rise Cappelli Hotel and Condominium complex, scheduled to begin construction in mid-January would remain open in 2005. They credit County Executive Andrew Spano and Legislators William Ryan and Lois Bronz  and an anonymous donor with “the save.”

 

A Little Help From John Beresford Tipton: The church said that it is not getting all the increase they  wanted from the Department of Social Services, but that the difference is being made up by an anonymous donor. That gift was announced during a service Sunday morning at Grace Episcopal Church.  That “difference,” between what the D.S.S. is raising their contract amount and what the church wanted was not disclosed. Photo by WPCNR News.

 

 

The terms of the contract and the percentage of increase Samaritan House were not disclosed in the news release, and Westchester County Director of Communications and Chief Advisor to County Executive Spano, Susan Tolchin did not have the actual contract increase and rent increase (reported as only 5%), given available to WPCNR  when WPCNR contacted her at 5:45 P.M for those figures.

 

Ms. Tolchin said she would attempt to get them for WPCNR if the D.S.S. was still available at this hour.

 

WPCNR has since learned that Samaritan House will receive $599,203 from D.S.S. to run the shelter, some $222,000 to $300,000 short of what Samaritan was reported as requesting according to print media reports over the last month. Samaritan received $598,752 last year. Apparently, the D.S.S. did not quite feel Samaritan House numbers added up.

 

No figure has come out as to what Grace Community Church is going to get to run what they say in their press release is a combined Open Arms-Samaritan House operation, splitting services between the two operations (Open Arms and Samaritan House).

 

WPCNR awaits Ms. Tolchin to get back to us with more detailed figures on the rent increase, and what Grace Church Community Services is getting to run both operations.

 

The shortfall, estimated to be about $200,000 to $300,000 by Samaritan House  statements given to other media will be made up by the donor.

 

As long as Financially Able.

 

Mr. D’Ambrosio, head of GCCC said, in a statement:  “Our intention is to keep the shelter open as long as the community needs it, and as long as we are financially able to,” he said.

 

D’Ambrosio described the new contract as  reimbursing  the GCCC for more actual costs associated with operating Samaritan House, and as providing an increase in the rent received by Grace Church based on a determination by the Office of Real Estate and Economic Development at the request of County Legislator Bill Ryan and the DSS. Sal Carrera officially informed County Legislator Ryan that a rent increase was justified last week.

 

Not All they Wanted. Enter the Donor

 

D’Ambrosio said in the release that the increase in the contract did not “meet the full request of the church”  and is being made up for by an anonymous donor who has donated the difference. It was not specified in the announcement whether the difference is to be in cash or “work services.”

 

The anonymous donor is believed widely to be Louis Cappelli, the Super Developer developing next door.  However, Bruce Berg, Mr. Cappelli’s President and close associate told WPCNR Monday he knew nothing about any anonymous donor, essentially denying that his boss was Samaritan’s angel.

 

Cash or Services?

 

The Rev. Vincent said, “The gift, by an anonymous donor, will enable the church to recover its real costs for housing Samaritan House, for the first time in twenty years.”  She added that the church continues to subsidize the GCCC soup kitchen, day care and other programs run by the GCCC, which according to the news release employs 120 full-time and part-time employees. 

 

 The Samaritan House wing is also slated for significant renovations in 2005/6, which will be executed by Mr. Cappelli gratis, as he has promised $1,000,000 in work services to refurbish Samaritan House and the entire church annex with new heating and air conditioning, new bathrooms, windows, and furnishings. Mr. Berg, speaking to WPCNR Monday said that work would be begun when plans are completed with Grace Church, and they have not been completed yet, he said.

 

The gift from the donor and its form was not disclosed.

 

Revised Proposal Flies

 

The GCCC news release described the agreement reached as being  “a revised proposal  (reported by WPCNR last week) for Samaritan House to the DSS during their meeting on December 8, 2004.  The revision involves a restructuring of Samaritan House to make it a satellite shelter of the GCCC Open Arms Shelter.  The restructuring allows for combined administration and food service while maintaining full client care services and supervision for Samaritan House and Open Arms residents.” 

 

The news release states the church “is pleased  that the DSS worked with us on the restructuring and gave it their approval.  We look forward to continuing our partnership of service to homeless women and men of Westchester County.”

 

Carlos Muñoz, (Chairman of the GCCC Board) stated: “The senior staff of the GCCC worked diligently to come up with a creative proposal that would allow the GCCC to continue to operate Samaritan House and the church to receive a long overdue rent increase, all at little additional cost to the County.  We consider this a major achievement for our Samaritan House residents and for the taxpayers of Westchester County.” 

 

Not cooperative with Request for Justification.

 

Originally, Grace Church Community Services did not work “diligently” at all  on a “creative proposal.”

 

 

The organization had refused to justify their cost increase to the Department of Social Services when asked for documentation. That cost increase was put out to other media at various times by Samaritan House as being $300,000 then $222,000 and then $300,000, and most recently back to $222,000.  Oddly, Mr. D’Ambrosio himself told the Department of Social Services in a telephone call that Samaritan House was closing, rather even attempt to negotiate the increase down, according to Ms. Tolchin.

 

The Reverend Blows the Whistle.

 

 It was only when Reverend George Sinzer, an Universal Life Church minister, who had brought his friend, Kathy Sullivan to the shelter November 1, found out about the closing through Ms. Sullivan that the story of the closing was reported.

 

Sinzer was shocked to find out when Ms. Sullivan told him the Samaritan House was closing.  He then advised NewsCenter 4 of the impending closing  on November 18, and News Center 4 broke the story in a telecast on Monday, November 22, that the Church attitude changed. Before the NewsCenter 4 story, the congregation of Grace Church had not been informed of the closing plans.

 

Samaritan House was induced to return to the negotiating table by a concerned county government, and the embarrassment of being caught in charges they were closing the shelter in return for Mr. Cappelli’s million dollar gift.

 

Mr. Cappelli denied to WPCNR that there was any “quid pro quo,” in the Samaritan House closing announcement and the $1,000,000 gift coincidence  (originally reported as cash, but revealed by the CitizeNetReporter to be work and services).

 

Ryan to the Rescue. Schwartz Facilitates.

 

The news report succeeded in producing a dialogue between the County and the Grace Church on working to save the shelter, spearheaded by Mr. Ryan and Ms. Bronz. Ryan told Samaritan House they acted too hastily and petulantly  in closing and admonished them for not justifying costs and negotiating. He also extracted a promise from the Department of Social Services that they, too were committed to keep Samaritan House open. The ensuing negotiations with Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz mediating resulted in resolving all major issues except the rent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WPCNR SPORTS. By John F. Bailey. December 20, 2004: The New York-New Jersey Juggernaut has risen from the softball dead. Bill Conroy, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Pro Fastpitch league told WPCNR today from Chicago,  that John Schmitz, of Huntington, N.Y. has made arrangements to purchase the team.  

 

In an extensive interview with WPCNR, Conroy announced that a new owner, John Schmitz, whose background is in corporate finance, investment banking and small business finance, has agreed to purchase the team and pay a franchise fee to take over the club, and has begun signing players. He has contracted with Julie Smith, 1996 Olympic Great, to run the team.

WPCNR knows of eight players who have left the team: Jen Smith, the outfielder, The pitcher, firstbaser Gina Oaks, outfielders Laura Harms and Venus Taylor, (signed by the Chicago Bandits) shortstop Lindsay Klein ( gone to the Arizona Heat), and the biggest loss, firstbaser, outfielder, heavy hitter Kellie Wilkerson (former Stratford Brakette, and second leading hitter in the league last year) who will play for the New England Riptide. Lisa Iancin, the clutch pinch-hitter has also gone to the Riptide. WPCNR also believes Erica Hansen has left the team,.

 

Schmitz, reached at his office today, told WPCNR that Julie Smith, member of the 1996 U.S.A. Olympic Softball Team, will be director of softball operations for his team. Currently Schmitz said, Smith has been in touch with all the players from the 2004 champions, and is putting together a roster which he said should be intact by early January.

 

Ms. Smith has her work cut out for her.

 

He said he is negotiating to bring back The Great Scott, “The Blonde That Rules the World,” Amanda Scott and her battery mate  sister, Courtney Scott. Germaine Fairchild, Jaclyn Pasquerella, Carri Leto may be the only other Juggernauts returning.

 

AMANDA SCOTT in Autograph Alley after a huge win in August.

 

Amanda Scott Working in the Circle Against the Texas Thunder in August.

Kaci Clark, Number 2 Juggernaut Pitcher, Photos, WPCNR Sports Archive.

 

It will be essentially a new team, one Schmitz said, hoped to sign Olympic players as part of his roster.

 

Schmitz said the team will play mostly home games, under the new NPF format (see later in this story), with only three roadtrips under the new schedule and is seeking to renew arrangements with Montclair State University  (The Little Ballpark by the Railroad Track) at this time. He plans a news conference in January to introduce his players and Ms. Smith.

 

He is entertaining other playing options in the tri-state area, in case Montclair State and he cannot workout a mutually beneficial arrangement. He also said he is thinking about bringing back his publicity director, Jen Carlo and others who worked for the club in their Montclair lair.

 

Schmitz said the contests with international teams would help generate fan interest and help increase the gate. He said he is planning a media budget, and is planning to televise 6 to 8 games on the YES Network, as well as radio for the team.

 

Stepping to the Plate

 

Asked why he is buying the team, Schmitz said he was not “a big softball follower,” but came in because a professional option was “a necessary level for these girls to have something to look forward to.”

 

He said Smith will take care of the entire softball operation, and described her as a person who can not only evaluate talent, but who can select players who will mesh as a team.

 

The Plemenos Departure

 

The Juggernaut was relinquished by former owner Paul Plemenos after the close of the 2004 season in September, because Mr. Plemenos told WPCNR today, he could not see sustaining the losses his team had suffered in 2004 on an ongoing basis.

 

Because the league, on its own, not Mr. Plemenos’ decision  released all Juggernaut players from their contracts when Plemenos abdicated the team, according to two Juggernaut players WPCNR has interviewed, the Champions roster has been decimated.

 

Other NPF clubs have signed Juggernaut greats to their rosters.

 

 

A Great Week for the NPF

 

 

 The National Pro Fastpitch league under its new Chief Executive Officer, Bill Conroy, has had a great week.

 

On Friday in the Windy City, Conroy’s NPF new Chicago Bandits signed the Ponytailed Powerhouse, Jenny Finch, USA Olympic standout to a long term contract. Read the story on the Chicago Sun Times website. Some seven networks covered the signing, according to Mr. Conroy.

 

Conroy also found Mr. Schmitz to take over from Paul Plemenos for its  2004 Champions, the New York-New Jersey Juggernaut franchise.

 

Conroy has in addition, designed and announced a new league format that will bring international teams in to compete with NPF Teams in games that count.

 

Making up with USA/ASA Softball.

 

Conroy added that one of the first things he had to do was establish a working relationship with USA/ASA Softball to heal the rift that had developed between the NPF league and the amateur organization fighting over players. (The U.SA./A.S.A. sponsors the U.S.A. Olympic team.)

 

Bringing in international teams to play NPF teams is the the league’s way of promoting both NPF credibility and the continuing development of U.S. Olympic and international players simultaneously, Conroy indicated.

 

Conroy added that seeing New York beating up on Akron was not the same as seeing say New York playing Team U.S.A., or Team Japan, and he hoped that the league would build attendance through the international team drawing power.

 

Looking for more corporate sponsors.

 

Conroy said his top priority was to bring in more corporate sponsors, perhaps through naming rights to the league, and other forms of sponsorship. Previously corporate sponsors of the league had donated equipment only. The Bandit owner and league CEO said he was also seeking more cooperation with Major League baseball, the league development partner.

 

Shorter Schedule Featuring International Competition that Counts.

 

In the new league format, Conroy said, each of the 7 NPF teams will play 48 games, 24 games against each other and 24 games against international teams. The International games will not be exhibition games because results of say the Bandits against Team Japan, will  count in the league standings, he said. Schmitz said he expects the Juggernaut to play Team USA, the China Taiwan Team, and Team Japan with others to be announced.

 

The Omaha Comets, signed to join the league, will not play in 2005, but will begin play in 2006, Conroy said.

 

The schedule will be unbalanced with the NPF teams not playing an equal amount of home and away games with the founding league teams.

 

Less Schedule. Less Travel.

 

Conroy said the team was playing less games at request of the players.  He said the travel grind of six games a week wore the players down because as Conroy put it, “travel conditions were not first rate.”

 

Another stabilizing factor in place is the league has instituted a $100,000 payroll salary cap per team.  Some players can be paid more than others, with the average salary, with 12 players per team being paid an average of $8,000 for the 10 week season, with some players making more, others making less.