Gunsmoke On Purdy Hill! Historical Society Remembers Battle of White Plains

WPCNR NORTHEND EPITAPH. October 25, 2004: Gunsmoke and its sharp, pungent smell of death shrouded Purdy Hill in White Plains Sunday afternoon. The boom of muskets and the cries of charging Redcoats commemorated the Battle of White Plains, the turning point of the American Revolutionary War. The big battle unfolded across Chatterton Hill and Battle Hill, 228 years ago this Thursday,October  28, 1776, and was recognized in a ceremony staged by the White Plains Historical Society on an overcast Sunday made for remembrance.


A crowd of  some 50 persons gathered. The White Plains High School Marching Band played The Star Bangled Banner and other selections, and the names of the first patriots, residents of White Plains who died that day were read with respectful reverence by John Volperian.



Gunsmoke! Enactors of the 4th Colonials, White Plains Militia and Pawling’s Levies fire on Redcoats of General Howe on Purdy Hill Sunday. Photo by WPCNR News.



Overlooking the site of the Battle of White Plains, which unfolded left to right to the West side of the city up the slopes of Battle and Chatterton Hills, Enactors of the 23rd Regiment of Foot Royal Welsh Fusiliers, at left, and Colonial troops and militia stand at Mourning
Rest, as names of White Plains’ 21 patriot dead who lost their lives defending White Plains, were announced with solemn dignity: 


James Carpenter, Jacob Cypher, John Drake, John Faulkner, William Field, Elizah Fisher, John Fisher, Moses Fowler, Robert Graham, Daniel Hatfield, Joshua Hatfield, Daniel Horton, John Hosier, Benjamin Lyon, John Martin, Caleb Merritt, Anthony Miller, Cornelius Oakley, Jospeh Prior, Jacob Purdy, and John Travis.


Photo by WPCNR News.



John Volperian read the names of the Battle of White Plains dead. Roseanna Washington, at left, who conducted the ceremony said the remembrance honored all the men and women who sacrificed their lives in the service of our country in all of the nation’s wars, and remembered the police, firemen, and civilians who died in the World Trade Center, Pentagon terrorist attacks, and members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Photo by WPCNR News.



Alex Piekarz, Senior at White Plains High School played Taps with Zach Glass adding the “Echo Taps” to close the honoring. Mr. Piekarz, mellow, mournful, hauntingly paced delivery, each note stately, dignified, defiant was at once a rugged and elegant elegy.Photo by WPCNR News.



“Run you Rebels. You Cowards!” Cry the Redcoats,  renacting their charge up Chatteron Hill to the West, the 23rd Regiment of Foot Royal Welsh Fusiliers fire on retreating colonials and White Plains Patriots. Purdy Hill, site of the enactment and ceremony was fortified during the Battle of White Plains and served as a retreat  redoubt for the wounded broken American lines on Chatterton Hill. The British encamped in the Plains below, did not charge Purdy Hill. Five hundred British and Colonial Troops died in the battle. The significance of the battle was that the colonial army was not split and destroyed by British General William Howe, who noting the casualties at White Plains refused to go after the colonials allowing them to fight another day. That day would come two months later on Christmas Eve when George Washington attacked Trenton beginning a string of victories by the Colonials, eventually ending in American Independence in 1783. Photo by WPCNR News.



John Grassi, a Fusilier from White Plains, explained that the muskets of 1776 used by the Colonials, White Plains Militia and the British troops had round barrels with no grooves in them. They fired, he said roundshot which would bounce from side-to-side in the barrel. This, Mr. Grassi said, meant the ball depending on how it bounced would go high, left, right, or down, depending on its last bounce at the end of the barrel after firing. Aim was notoriously inaccurate, and the rifles only had killing range up to 100 yards. To set up withering fire, troops would fire in a line, setting up a cross fire to take out troops in front of them. This is why what seems like crazy tactics to us (straight lines of troops firing at each other), the revolutionary war was fought in straight battle lines. The bayonet on the end of Mr. Grassi’s musket, was equipment the colonials and the militia did not have — one of the tactical reasons why Chatterton and Battle Hill defenders retreated. Photo by WPCNR News.



First Patriots: Members of the Pawling’s Levies, 4th New York Continentals and White Plains Militia march down Purdy Hill to the flagpole. Note lack of bayonets. Photo by WPCNR News.



Crowd looks on as enactment enfolds at Purdy House. Photo by WPCNR News.



WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND played The Star Spangled Banner. Photo by WPCNR News.

Posted in Uncategorized

Reading Night at G.W.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. October 24, 2004: George Washington School will hold its 11th Annual Family Reading Night on Tuesday, October 26th, from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.  All students and parents are invited to attend.           

Community members, teachers and administrators from the White Plains Schools will read their favorite stories to small groups of children and their families.  After three 15-minute sessions, everyone will be invited to the cafeteria for refreshments.  The PTA Book Fair will also be taking place throughout the evening and parents and children are invited to shop for books.


Members of the committee include the following staff members:  Darrin Grimm, Chairman, Kelly Agar, Daria Collins, Ximena Gomez, Rhoda Havis, Mary Lincoln, Ashleigh Madureira, Michelle McCray, Jonathan Monti, Denise Orovic, Sandra Rodriguez, Randi Sack, Linda Smith and Maria Zenon.

Posted in Uncategorized

Carmel’s “Humvee” O’Connor Runs Out Clock, Denies Tiger Comeback 21-14.

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 23, 2004: Carmel High’s  “Humvee” Dave O’Connor took over the football with 3:41 minutes to go in the Section I Football Playoff this afternoon.  The reported 260 pound all-muscle, 5-6 fullback consumed yardage, carrying Tigers on his back six straight times through the meat of the valiant Tiger line on six straight plays to wind down the clock and deny the Tigers the ball and a chance to tie or win in the final minutes to give Number 1 seeded Carmel a 21-14 victory today. White Plains record dropped to 5-3.



NIGHT TRAIN LANE (23), shown dashing to the Carmel 39 with the interception that put White Plains back in the football game. Shortly thereafter Kevin Avery hit Gary Morello with a 15 yard TD strike in coffin corner to make the score 21-14. Photo by WPCNR Sports. 



He’s at the 15, Lane at the 10, at the 5, TouchDOWN!TouchDOWN! Mike Lane (at center of pic, between two Rams in blue), shocked the crowd with this 70 yard Kickoff Return with  10 minutes to go in the football game, that gave Tiger Fans hope. Lane picked the ball on the near side line at the White Plains 30, and lit out to the far sideline and simply out ran 8 Rams DOWN the far sideline for 6, to make the score 21-7 with the point. Then the comeback became possible when his interception got the ball back within the next 3 minutes. Photo by WPCNR Sports


After White Plains trailed 21-0 going into the final quarter, Mike “Night Train” Lane got the Tigers back in a position to win the game, with a 70 yard kickoff return and a key interception on the next series leading to Kevin Avery’s 15 yard touchdown pass to Gary Morello to make the score 21-14, and thanks to O’Connor’s grind-it-out-finish, that’s the way it ended.


Carmel dominated the first half, building a 15-0 lead, giving White Plains only 10 plays from scrimmage, while the Rams ran off 25 plays, behind their two big backs, O’Connor and Tom Calinan. A touchdown early in the 3rd quarter resulting from an interception of an Avery pass on the White Plains 39, lead to the final and winning Ram TD by O’Connor.


 


 

Posted in Uncategorized

WPPAC Without Fulltime Exec. Dir. Rosenstock Works 3-4 Hour Week. Pro Bono



WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. October 23, 2004: Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director of the White Plains Performing Arts Center since July 2002, has not been on the payroll of the WPPAC since June 30. According to Mr. Rosenstock he has been donating his services 3 to 4  hours a week to White Plains’ year old theatre operations since the end of June.



Producers, Jeffrey Rosenstock, left, Executive Director of White Plains Performing Arts Center, and Tony Stimac, Producing Director right, at the November, 2003, WPPAC Gala Opening. Mr. Rosenstock announced to the WPPAC Board of Trustees he was working as Executive Director without pay and had been in that non-salaried status since June. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.



 


Tony Stimac, the Producing Director of the WPPAC, and Executive Director of Helen Hayes Theatre Company in Nyack, has apparently been managing the White Plains theatre programming operations and production for the last three months, with Mr. Rosenstock performing a limited supporting role.


Mr. Rosentock, to begin the conversation with WPCNR, said the report of his leaving WPPAC was absolutely not true. He was still the Executive Director and would continue to be, but that he has reduced his hours, and was not accepting pay.


Mr. Rosenstock told WPCNR late Friday afternoon,  he has been working without pay as Executive Director since June 30. He stepped back into the wings, he said,  at his own request because he felt he could not serve effectively as both Artistic Director of Queens Theatre in the Park (in Flushing Meadow Park, Queens) and White Plains Performing Arts Center at the same time, and do justice to both.


 


The change in theatre management direction was confirmed, because WPCNR had reason to believe Mr. Rosenstock was no longer involved with White Plains Performing Arts Center, and called Queens Theatre in the Park  in Queens where Mr. Rosenstock is Executive Director to find out from Mr. Rosenstock personally about his status. 


 


WPCNR was put on hold by the theatre receptionist, and then was told Mr. Rosenstock had stepped away and would call back. An hour later, WPCNR called again and was told Mr. Rosenstock had left for the day.


 


Calling Nyack.


 


WPCNR next placed a call to Tony Stimac at the Helen Hayes Theatre Company in Nyack.


 


WPCNR told Mr. Stimac I was working on a story about Mr. Rosentock’s imminent departure from the WPPAC and asked if I could have the details.


 


Mr. Stimac,  when asked if Mr. Rosenstock was leaving the theatre, said “not to my knowledge, this is the first time I’m hearing about it. I just talked to Mr. Rosenstock yesterday (Thursday), I’ll have to give him a call. “


 


Rosentock Calls Back.


 


Within twenty minutes after WPCNR got off the phone with Tony Stimac, Mr. Rosenstock announced his opting for a supporting role rather than equal billing with Mr. Stimac, to the CitizeNetReporter.


 


 


                                                                                                                   


Pro Buono Status Announced  Two weeks Previously to WPPAC Board.


 


Rosenstock said he informed the WPPAC Board of Directors at a meeting two weeks ago that he had been working on a pro bono basis. He said the Board’s reaction was that of “shock,” that he was not accepting any pay.


 


However, Rosenstock said he continues to work with Mr.  Stimac in the process of programming the WPPAC, booking shows (pro bono) into both Rosenstock’s theatre, Queens Theatre in the Park and Nyack and White Plains, fund-raising, and grant writing.


 


“I could not continue meeting the obligations of both positions,” Rosenstock told WPCNR. “I continue to play a large role in fund-rasing, in grant writing, and booking programs, pro buono. We continue to be sister theatres.”


 


Asked why he assumed a supporting role without salary, Rosenstock said, “so I would not have a moral dilemma. I could not meet the level of effort (required).”


 


$100,000 a year Fee for the Stimac and Rosenstock Partnership.


 


Mr. Rosenstock and Mr. Stimac are paid $100,000 a year, in the second year of their contract to run the WPPAC for the City of White Plains. The $100,000 is straight fee for management services. Over and above that fee, White Plains has furnished seed money for the theatre, services, the details and any financial caps that exist , have never been disclosed by the City of White Plains or the White Plains Performing Arts Foundation which is responsible for  the theatre management.


 


The caps and scope of city subsidies to the theatre are not spelled out in the contract, with references in the contract referring to an “Appendix B”  that the Legal Department told WPCNR did not exist, when WPCNR filed a Freedom of Information Act request for a copy.



Jeffrey Rosenstock, Executive Director. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.


 


Rosenstock Remains Executive Director.


 QTIP Still in the Loop. Expenses Equally Shared.


 


Rosenstock said he still retained the title of Executive Director, still maintained a sister theatre relationship between his theatre, QTIP,  with White Plains Performing Arts Center, and still would be working with Mr. Stimac in programming White Plains first theatre. Asked how m any hours he works a week on WPPAC matters, Rosenstock estimated 3 to 4 hours.


 


WPCNR asked how production costs between the three theatres: Helen Hayes, Queens Theatre in the Park, and White Plains Performing Arts Center were shared on joint productions such as Born Yesterday, The Strength of Names. Rosenstock said the costs of productions were split equally between the three theatre companies (1/3, /1/, 3, 1/3).


 


Rosenstock tried, he said,  to “Executive Direct” both QTIP and WPPAC for one year, but said, he found it too much, and did not feel he was doing an adequate job, so he voluntarily opted  for the limited role at WPPAC. He said the Board of Directors of Queens Theatre in the Park, had nothing to do with his decision, that he made it on his own.


 


Promoter in the future.


 


He said he would continue to be involved promoting WPPAC, fundraising for it, and expected to be greeting the theatre “angels” at the Kathy Lee Gifford, Frank Gifford-hosted  “Broadway Salutes White Plains II Gala”, Monday November 8 at WPPAC.


 


Asked if Ms. Gifford was going to do some numbers from her upcoming show, Mr. Rosenstock said WPCNR would have to speak to Mr. Stimac, because he was handling that extravaganza.


 


 


Coming Back.


 


WPCNR asked Mr. Rosenstock whether at the end of June, 2005, if he would continue in his role as Executive Director, pro buono, on the present basis of  4 to 5 hours a week. “Absolutely,” he said.


                                                                                                 


 


The Debut


 


Mr. Rosenstock was originally suggested to the city administration by Arne Abramowitz, Commissioner of Recreation & Parks, based on Mr. Abramowitz’s working with Mr. Rosenstock when The White Plains Commissioner managed Flushing Meadow Park for the City of New York. (Queens Theatre in the Park is located in Flushing Meadow Park.)


 


The Common Council in choosing the Stimac and Rosenstock Team over, Centerpoint Stage,  Westco Productions and Professional Facilities Management (who run the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island) chose Mr. Stimac and Mr. Rosenstock team because of the team’s professional experience in running  community theatres, and because they could devote the time to running the theatre, while the Council felt the other two contenders could not do that, and did not have the programming resources.


 


City Made Room for the Stimac-Rosenstock Team at the Table.


 


A revised Request for Proposals was also prepared after Centerpoint Stage, Westco,  and the Providence group had submitted their proposals and had them reviewed by the Council, allowing Stimac and Rosenstock to apply legally to manage the theatre without threat of a lawsuit from previous RFP responders.


 


Rosenstock voluntarily reduced his role 12 months  into the three-year contract with the city, which comes up for review by the City of White Plains in June of 2005. The city has the right to cancel the arrangement at the end of the second year, and also the right to terminate the contract after three years. Stimac and Rosenstock retain the right to decide after three years whether they wish to continue the contract.


 


A Break-Even First Year.


 


Mr. Stimac, in the spring of 2004, reported to WPCNR the White Plains Performing Arts Center as breaking even in its first season, costing $1.1 Million to run. He said the theatre raised $400,000 in ticket sales, $500,000 in donations, and received generous donations for the balance of the expenses at the close of the year to break even. However, Mr. Stimac only said this to the CitizeNetReporter, and there has been no formal public release of theatre financial results.


 


White Plains Performing Arts Center begins its season with its first play next week, a revival of Born Yesterday premiering Saturday  evening.


 



WHITE PLAINS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Posted in Uncategorized