Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market An Upscale Supermarket on Main Street? Not a Deli.

WPCNR Main Street Journal. By John F. Bailey. November 4, 2004: The announcement Wednesday that Wal-Mart is coming to Main Street and will offer a supermarket that, according to a spokesperson quoted by the Journal News this morning that “won’t be a full-blown SuperCenter, but it will provide for some milk, eggs deli-meats and some fruits and vegetables so people in town can have a quick place to pick up some of these items,” does not begin to describe what the market will be really like. 


 


If Wal-Mart is building a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, it will be a full-blown supermarket, open 24-hours a day, giving city convenience to the owners of $2 Million condominums in Trump Tower across the street.  WPCNR has also learned that it will be the flagship Neighborhood Market in the New York Metropolitan area, since there are no Neighborhood Markets listed within 100 miles of White Plains on the Wal-Mart website Store Finder.


 


The Neighborhood Market will underprice Stop N Shop, just opened two years ago, by about 10%  and definitely will underprice Whole Foods Market at Fortunoff.  The Wal-Mart market isn’t a “deli” operation, by any means, and is considerably larger than a gas station convenience store. 





Wal-Mart Neighborhood Markets are open 24 hours a day at 60 locations thoughout the country, and are Wal-Mart’s latest efforts to compete against a new retail sector: the food business.


 


As predicted by WPCNR in September as a good fit for the Sears building,  each Neighborhood Market is approximately 40,000 square feet, which would fit in nicely on the first 82,000 square foot first floor of the “The Shoppes on Main,” the “stackmall” next to City Hall, and upstairs, on the second 82,000 square foot second floor,  there could be the rest of Wal-Mart.


 


Wal-Mart’s Neighborhood Markets according to Baseline.com, the Tampa Bay Business Journal and usavanguard.com, are no Sam’s Clubs. In South Ogden, Utah the Neighborhood Market features wide aisles with luxury glazed brown floors, soothing, sophisticated muzak,  a drive-through pharmacy and a pizza-to-go stand.


 


In a visit to a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Alabama, it was discovered by USA Vanguard reporter Michael Gregory that inside the Neighborhood Market were aisles and aisles of delights from cell phones to satellite systems, cosmetics supplies, school supplies, as well as an automotive section. Mr. Gregory reports the ability to get a key made, a prescription filled, even taxes done. You can read his article at http://www.usavanguard.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/01/02/402066c9235f5.


 


The model Neighborhood Market contains “amply-stocked” meat and deli sections, baked goods, and frozen foods. Neighborhood Markets are tied in by satellite to Wal-Mart’s retail link network to monitor what’s moving and what’s not, allowing trucks to deliver fresh stocks the next day. This economy of supply, according to Baseline.com allows Wal-Mart to offer prices 10% less than traditional supermarkets such as Publix, Winn-Dixie and Kash n’ Karry, Krogers, and Albertson’s.


 


The Baseline report also notes the Neighborhood Markets are operated with 10% less staff than grocery stores.


 

Baseline.com reports a typical Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market averages $19 Million a year in sales with a staff of 90 with a 2.3% profit margin significantly higher than average grocery-store profit margins, with $500,000 in profits per Neighborhood Market store. Baseline.com reports Wal-Mart crediting Neighborhood Market operations as more profitable per square foot than their SuperCenters.  The complete  Baseline article can be read at http://www.baselinemag.com/article2/0%2C1397%2C1522394%2C00.asp

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Goal-Setting for City School District. Closed or Open?

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. November 4, 2004: On November 15, the City School District is holding “an internal workshop,” in an all-day meeting at Sam’s of Gedney Way, from 9 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. It will include what is described as “a cross-section of district people, including a few Board of Education members.”


The purpose of the meeting according to Michele Schoenfeld, is to “reflect on priorities and goals for this and coming years, and how to get there.”


Conducting the workshop as “Facilitator,” will be the author of the best seller, Family Matters, How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing,”  Robert Evans, a clinical and organizational psychologist and Executive Director of the Human Relations Service in Wellesley, Massachussetts.  Evans is described as a consultant to “hundreds of public and private schools throughout the U.S. and internationally, working with teachers, administrators and boards.


The WPCNR question for this week’s poll is whether the general public should be allowed to attend this meeting and participate, considering that the setting of future educational goals and objectives is the purpose. Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors advised WPCNR that the workshop was not open to public participation, because this was a district administrative function “for us,” and that the public would be represented by selected stakeholders in the district who had been invited to the meeting and would be included in the discussion.


 

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Polar Express Rolls in for Sneak Preview of New White Plains IMAX THEATRE Sat

WPCNR SCREEN GEMS. From National Amusements. November 4, 2004: The Polar Express will premier in a sneak preview Saturday night at National Amusements newly converted IMAX theater experience. White Plains will join New Rochelle as Westchester’s second IMAX theatre.  National Amusements will unveil its Directors Hall converted to IMAX theatre this weekend. Also rolling for the first time will be the  movies The Incredibles and a remake of Alfie. The Schedule and Previews:

THE INCREDIBLES The latest animated comedy from Disney and Pixar (FINDING NEMO, MONSTERS INC., TOY STORY) about a family of retired super-heroes who must summon their special powers once again to help save the world. With voices by Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter. Rated PG

ALFIE — A stylish re-make of the 1960’s classic, this film is a humorous, sexy and frequently touching tale of a philosophical womanizer (Jude Law) forced to question his seemingly care-free existence. Rated R

The train is waiting…you have the opportunity now to guarantee passage aboard THE POLAR EXPRESS for groups of all sizes — school, church or youth groups; private employee and client appreciation screenings, or any other group! Book The Journey Now – it’s the perfect destination for anyone from 3 to 93! CALL Debbie Heller at 1-866-581-9138 X 301 to book your group sale today. The Polar Express is Rated G and opens at theatres everywhere on Wednesday, November 10th.

BABY PICTURES At CITY CENTER 15 Cinema de Lux The November 11th feature is “THE INCREDIBLES”, Rated PG. There is no Baby Pictures program on Thursday, November 25th, Thanksgiving Day. The program will resume on December 9th.


Thursday, November 04, 2004  
Saw (R) –12:10; 2:35; 5:00; 7:35; 10:10 pm. ;
The Motorcycle Diaries (R) –12:15; 3:05; 6:15; 9:00 pm. ;
The Forgotten (PG-13) –2:15; 9:35 pm. ;
Surviving Christmas (PG-13) –12:25; 2:50; 5:05; 7:25; 9:55 pm. ;
The Grudge (PG-13) –1:00; 3:30; 5:45; 8:00; 10:30 pm. ;
Shall We Dance? (PG-13) –1:55; 4:25; 6:55; 9:30 pm. ;
Shark Tale (PG) –12:35; 2:55; 5:20; 7:45; 10:05 pm. ;
Taxi (PG-13) –12:00; 4:30; 7:05 pm. ;
Ray **(PG-13) –12:00; 3:15; 6:30; 9:45 pm. ;
The Grudge **(PG-13) –12:30; 3:00; 5:15; 7:30; 10:00 pm. ;
Team America: World Police (R) –12:10; 2:40; 5:10; 7:40; 10:20 pm. ;
Birth (R) –12:00; 2:20; 4:45; 7:10; 9:50 pm. ;
I Heart Huckabees (R) –1:10; 3:50; 6:25; 9:05 pm. ;
Ray (PG-13) –12:30; 3:45; 7:00; 10:15 pm. ;
Friday Night Lights (PG-13) –12:40; 3:40; 6:40; 9:40 pm. ;

Friday, November 05, 2004  
Saw (R) –1:30; 4:05; 6:50; 9:25 pm; 12:00 am. ;
Ray (PG-13) –12:20; 3:30; 6:45; 10:00 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Alfie (R) –1:50; 4:25; 7:10; 9:55 pm; 12:25 am. ;
Team America: World Police (R) –1:40; 4:10; 6:40 pm. ;
Birth (R) –12:10; 2:35; 5:00; 7:35; 10:10 pm; 12:30 am. ;
Fade to Black (R) –1:35; 4:35; 7:20; 10:05 pm; 12:35 am. ;
The Incredibles **(PG) –1:15; 4:00; 7:00; 9:50 pm. ;
Ray **(PG-13) –11:50 am; 3:00; 6:15; 9:30 pm. ;
Shark Tale (PG) –1:20; 4:15; 6:30; 9:00; 11:35 pm. ;
The Incredibles (PG) –12:30; 1:45; 3:20; 4:30; 6:20; 7:30; 9:20; 10:20 pm; 12:10; 12:30 am. ;
The Grudge **(PG-13) –9:10; 11:30 pm. ;
Shall We Dance? (PG-13) –1:55; 4:45; 7:15; 9:45 pm; 12:15 am. ;
The Grudge (PG-13) –12:05; 2:25; 5:10; 7:25; 9:40 pm; 12:00 am. ;
The Motorcycle Diaries (R) –12:00; 10:10 pm; 12:40 am. ;
Friday Night Lights (PG-13) –2:35; 5:05; 7:40 pm. ;

Saturday, November 06, 2004  
Friday Night Lights (PG-13) –1:10; 6:00 pm. ;
Saw (R) –10:45 am; 1:30; 4:05; 6:50; 9:25 pm;

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Yankees’ Flaw: Swinging In Reverse.

WPCNR PRESS BOX. VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. By Bob and Jenny Petrucci. November 4, 2004: How does a team that was just bombed 19-8, by the Yankees, for its third straight loss, so near to extinction, come back and win four straight games against the Yankees, making baseball history?

    

That is the question of the day, if not of the entire era of modern baseball.

 

     A main answer is simple, yet technical, and also relates to the golf swing. We noticed it a few years ago and notified the Yankees (fax)and Yankees’ contacts (email), receiving no response. 

 


VIEW FROM THE UPPER DECK. Photo by WPCNR Sports


     Apparently, after their 19-8 mauling in the third game, the Red Sox finally noticed that certain “something” too (likely confirmed it on video tape where it could be clearly seen) and, out of desperation, correctly made adjustments.  When their turn to adjust, the Yankees could not.

 

     So first, credit the Red Sox staff for outsmarting the long-time “Curse of the Bambino”.  It is no accident that a team suddenly stops the opposition, that was eating them alive, reverses that meal into a very low-calorie diet and maintains that for four straight games. Second, credit their pitchers who were able to do more of something than most Yankee pitchers…that most Yankee batters could not handle well…outside spot pitching with speed.

 

      What is said here basically applies from the fourth game on.

 

      So, let’s start with the Red Sox pitchers.  The Yankees handle well their straight pitches over, or pitches moving toward, the inside part of the plate. In fact, it is their easiest pitch to hit. However, should the pitch start toward the inside part of the plate and then curve inside more and down (or be a fastball that suddenly rises), not only does that success lessen, it also “widens the plate and sets up” outside pitches. And, in the fourth game, the Red Sox clearly threw more and more fastballs near the outside part of the plate

. 

       They did this, apparently, because they noticed that Yankee batters (with a couple of exceptions) can not hit, time or compress, with any consistency, if at all even reach, fastballs toward the outside part of the plate…especially those that move away, and, worst case, down. It is a swing flaw for major league batters; although one that can be readily improved. 

 

       What is it?

 

       Watch a videotape of virtually any Yankee batter.  In approaching the ball, and bringing the bat to it, the Yankees (and many other teams) do more and more of something that “opens” the front shoulder (and the entire body), hinders bat redirection (should the pitch move to either side and/or down), lessens bat reach, slows the bat down, weakens impact-compression-leverage,  pushes the bat back, hinders extension and thereby makes it even more difficult to hit (with any power, if at all) pitches near the outside part of the plate. (It can also be seen on a youth baseball instructional video advertised on television).

 

        We call it “swinging In reverse”.  On some swings, Yankee batters were actually turned toward third base or first base as their bats went through the hitting area and over the ball.        

 

        On the other hand, with reason, the Yankees doggedly adhered to their “Bust ’em inside” pitching tactic, even with its greater possibility for error. This ultimately did them in. However, they did so because their right-handed pitchers could not pitch consistently well outside, especially against left-landed batters. And the typical “lefty pitcher versus lefty batter” solution was not an option for the Yankees, having just one left-handed pitcher (who had not done well all year). To the Yankees credit, they made it to the play-offs in spite of it.

 

        Not only did the Red Sox have left-handed pitchers that could hit that spot, and this is the pitching key, their right-handers could throw fastballs over the outside part of the plate…and also make them move away and/or down. So it was vital that Yankee right-handed pitchers do the same. They could not, at least not nearly as well as the Red Sox.

 

        More importantly, the batting key is: The Yankees could not hit such spot speed pitching as well as the Red Sox could.  Said another way, in bringing the bat “to the ball”, most of the Yankees do something that results in the automatic, circular opening of the body which basically “locks” the bat on its initial “to the ball” path, with no correcting “Smart-Bomb Guidance System”.

 

       However, there is a fairly-simple swing adjustment for this “swinging in reverse” and all that it causes.  What is it?  Just ask.

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