THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR

WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR From Kristen Zimmerman. July 29, 2004: The NY/NJ Juggernaut defeated the Arizona Heat 2-0 in the first game of Thursday’s doubleheader at Montclair State University Softball Stadium behind a two-hit shutout by Amanda Scott. Scott pitched six innings, giving up no runs on two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. Gina Oaks earned the save for the Nauts, giving up one hit and striking out two in the seventh inning. Scott moved to 10-6 on the season.

The NY/NJ Juggernaut (27-16) swept the twinbill with a 1-0 win in the nightcap for Kaci Clark.The only run of the game came in the fourth inning when catcher Germaine “G” Fairchild singled to left with two outs to score shortstop Lyndsey Klein. Klein led the inning off with a double to the left field fence.

The doubleheader, WPCNR has learned, marked the second debut of Juggernaut Owner, Paul Plemenos as Manager. Mr. Plemenos relieved Manager Dina DeAquino of her duties prior to the start of the doubleheader, and took over in the dugout. DeAquino had managed the Nauts to a 22-9 record since taking over June 13.

A two-run second inning would provide Juggernaut starter Amanda Scott with all the run support she would need. Centerfielder Venus Taylor singled to center with two outs to score catcher Courtney Scott for the first run of the game. Courtney Scott led the Juggernaut offensively, going 2-for-2
with a run scored. After stealing third, Taylor then scored the second and final run of the game on a basehit to right by third baseman Jaclyn Pasquerella.

The Nauts attempted to continue the scoring in the third but Arizona’s defense put an end to the bases loaded rally. Leftfielder Lauren Bauer and second baseman Carri Leto both singled and Heat starter Erica Beach hit right fielder Kellie Wilkerson with a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

Beach pitched six innings giving up two runs on eight hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. However a ground ball off the bat of shortstop Lyndsey Klein gave Arizona the first out of the inning at the plate.
Arizona then turned a double play off a line drive by designated player Lisa Iancin to end the inning. Leto was 2-for-3 on the night.

Nightcap gets the Nauts off the Houston Downer.

Germaine Fairchild led the Nauts offensively in Game Two going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Klein also had two hits, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a double. The sweep turns the Nauts around after a rugged weekend in Houston, and two losses to the Thunder.

Juggernaut starter Kaci Clark kept the Heat scoreless in the finale, pitching seven full innings, giving up no runs on three hits, one walk, and nine strikeouts. Tarrah Beyster took the loss for Arizona, giving up one run on six hits, one walk, and one strikeout.

The Juggernaut now travel to New England for a three-game road trip, and will return home for a crucial three-game series against the first-place Akron Racers next week.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. July 29, 2004: National Amusements personnel from the City Center Cinema De Lux theatre in White Plains will meet with White Plains Department of Public Safety Fire experts next week to address evacuation procedures for the new City Center theatres, according to Jennifer McGuire Hansen, spokesperson for the theatre management company.

ON THEIR OWN: The concourse leading to entrances of Cinema De Lux theatres at the City Center. A meeting between National Amusements and Fire Department officials is being scheduled at the insistence of the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Public Safety after an orderly, but alleged unsupervised,  confused evacuation of thousands of movie goers late last Saturday afternoon from the complex after “cooking problem” caused a smoke alarm to sound, prompting a mass exit from all 15 theatres. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

According to Candyce Corcoran, who brought the incident to WPCNR’s attention, she and her husband were in a Director’s Hall with the main feature about to start at approximately 4:30 P.M. At that point a man in a red shirt, identifying himself as a projectionist, said the fire alarm is sounding and that the audience should leave the theatre. However, according to Ms. Corcoran, they were not advised by the official where to exit, and the person had no flashlight. She said there were no lights in the theatre except for the red exit signs and the footlights in the aisles.

DIRECTOR’S HALL, City Center Cinema De Lux, interior. Only aisle footlights and red exit signs were visible after moviegoers were advised to leave the theatre, according to patrons. Sconce lights on wall, lit here were out. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

She said she and her husband elected go to a side exit, and not back out into the main foyer. Corcoran said there were no public address announcements of what the emergency was or where it was located She said patrons were orderly and there was no panic, but personally attributed that to the mature crowd.

Corcoran said that she and her husband exited down a corridor at the side of the theatre but had no idea where they were going, eventually making their way to the street. Once outside the complex, Corcoran said the sidewalks on Main Street were jammed with “thousands” of theatre goers. Some, she said returned inside to the movie.

Ms. Hansen, Corporate Public Relations Director for National Amusements in Boston, commented to WPCNR Thursday afternoon said part of the evacuation problem dealt with where people were being evacuated, and their expressing complaints to the Mayor’s Office and the Fire Department about being evacuated out onto the street, and not being allowed to return to the City Center Garage.

“We will examine this with the Fire Department (next week) to modify our evacuation plan, whether it should be into the Parking Garage, or the Street, (or other parts of the mall.” Ms. Hansen said.

Asked about why there were no Public Address Announcements either by the fire personnel, or the National Amusements employees, Hansen said it was her understanding there was a public address system in the theatre, and that “it was used.” She said she would check into it Persons in the theatre, WPCNR has heard from said, they heard no public address announcements.

Hansen said every National Amusements Cinema de Lux “has an evacuation plan in place.” WPCNR asked if the theatre personnel were drilled on what to do in an emergency, and Hansen said she would get that information.

A spokesman for the Mayor’s Office, Paul Wood, confirmed to WPCNR Tuesday of this week, that the incident did take place, and that the Department of Public Safety had offered to work with National Amusements on evacuation procedures.

WPCNR has learned that all public places are required by the Fire department to have an evacuation plan. White Plains bars are monitored by Fire Department Inspectors for occupancy compliance, for example. However, establishments are not required to submit details of the plan prior to opening.