THE WORLD READS WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER — 8,324,077 VISITS IN ONE YEAR | 2,905,611 VISITORS VISIT 8,324,077 TIMES 3 TIMES EVERY DAY IN ONE YEAR. HIGHEST ACTIVITY IN WPCNR HISTORY.White PlainsCitizeNetReporter lifted its worldwide visits from unique visitors to wpcnr.com to 8,324,077,a 1,306,419 increase in visits in one year from 7,017,658 visits to the site last year which covers White Plains and Westchester County. The 8,324,077 visits were made by 2,005,611 unique visitors who visited wpcnr an average of 3 visits a day. ON JULY 20- -2026 visitors have accessed wpcnr and made 3,072 visits an average of 1.6 visits. In the last week 33,495 individual vistors made 54,458 visits, averaging 1.6 visits. In the last month, 152,940 visitors recorded 229,338 visits (1.5 visits)

The Lame Duck Dilemma. Should Executive Officer Continue to Drive Agenda?

Posted on June 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VOICE. June 4, 2004: Now that the City Executive Officer has decided to take a new position in Fort Lauderdale, the question of should policies he has set in motion be followed out the window in light of the fact he will not be around to see them through and fix things if the policies do not work comes to the forefront.

Should the Department of Parking be established and Parking Authority funds absorbed? Should the bonding plan to keep the budget down be followed to the letter? How objective and interested will the Executive Officer be in making decisions if he is inputting into Fort Lauderdale and learning about that position at the same time as he is working for the City of White Plains? Should the Mayor release him immediately? Should the Executive Officer annoint his own successor? Mr. and Mrs. White Plains let us know what you think by voting in the poll at the right. You may vote on various issues more than once.

Juggernaut Sweeps Opening Series with the Tide. Now Hit Road.

Posted on June 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. Special to WPCNR by Jen Carlo. June 3, 2004: The NY/NJ Juggernaut opened up the season with a three game sweep of the New England Riptide which was capped off by tonight’s 2-0 win. NY/NJ starting pitcher Amanda Scott got all the run support she needed in the first inning when second baseman Cari Leto scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Kellie Wilkerson. Leto was walked by Riptide pitcher Leigh Ann Ellis to lead off the inning, stole second on the next pitch, and then advanced to third on a passed ball. The victory came on the heels of Wednesday’s 17-inning, 4-3, Nauts’ win.

Up until the seventh inning, New England had only managed one hit off of Scott. However, in the seventh inning, the Riptide strung together three singles by catcher Jessica Allister, left fielder Ashley Moore, and designated hitter Meg Young to load the bases and threaten the Juggernaut 2-0 lead. Scott quickly ended the rally and the game by striking out centerfielder LaDonia Hughes. Scott struck out six, allowed no runs, four hits, and two walks over a complete seven innings.

The Juggernaut pushed across an insurance run in the sixth when catcher Lindsey Collins led off the inning with a single to right. Collins was the only Juggernaut with multiple hits on the night, going 2-for-3. Pinch runner Sarah Hershman advanced to third on a wild pitch and fielder’s choice, and then scored on another wild pitch by Ellis. Ellis allowed one earned run on two hits, three walks, while striking out five over six innings.

The Juggernauts will now go on the road for a week to take on the Arizona Heat and the Texas Thunder. The Nauts are 3-0 and lead the league by one game over the California Sunbirds.

Score by Innings R H E

—————————————–

New England Riptide.. 000 000 0 – 0 4 1

NY/NJ Juggernaut…… 100 001 X – 2 5 1

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Whole Foods Market Opens. An Organic, No-Preservatives, Supermarket at Fortunoff

Posted on June 4, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR EAST SIDER. By John F. Bailey. June 4, 2004: The long-awaited debut of Whole Foods Market took place Wednesday morning, and saw shoppers flocking in to a sprawling supermarket where wide aisles, attractive displays, and understated elegance tempted shoppers to buy and buy some more. Every item carried in the store is of organic origin with no preservatives aiding shoppers who have to avoid dairy products, or are looking for meat and fish and produce that are free of hydrogenated oils, artificial additives, preservatives, sweeteners, colorings, and flavors.. Far from a specialty store, (which is what this reporter expected), you can actually acquire all your household needs as well as foods in this place.

MAYOR DELFINO BREAKS THE BREAD, officially opening Whole Foods Market at 110 Bloomingdale Road in the Fortunoff complex Wednesday morning. Photo by WPCNR News.

ARRIVING TO COVER the Whole Foods Market opening is White Plains Watch’s Susan Chang. Shoppers may park on the first floor of the Fortunoff garage, and there is free valet parking with a $15 purchase. Photo by WPCNR News.

Outstanding Seafood Selection: By far the most eye-catching display in a supermarket we have seen is the Pigeon Cove Seafood Display where mouthwatering filets of trout, salmon, bluefish, plus oysters, live crabs, scallops await the seafood lover. Dave the seafood buyer reports all seafood is raised at Pigeon Cove in Glouster, Massachussetts where fish live a pampered life in the ocean, are hand fed by Whole Foods tenders and are not “plumped up” or injected with any dyes for coloring. All seafood is fresh daily. Photo by WPCNR News.

Fish Filets Lounge on ice. Photo by WPCNR News.

The Biggest Darn Shrimp you’ll ever see. A bucket of colossals next to scallops and lesser delicacies. Oysters on the half-shell, live crabs , the works. This is easily the most tastefully tempting seafood display in the city. A very chic young woman advised WPCNR the prices on the seafood were very “fair.”Photo by WPCNR News.

Remembering Karl Ehmer: Not since Karl Ehmer purveyed his meats in White Plains, has this reporter seen such mouth-watering finely butchered cuts of meat. They are just awesome to look at. One customer said he had never seen such beautiful meat. That is, our guide tells us, because WFM steers and livestock are organically fed and grown and “kind killed,” as our WFM guide put it. The color of the meat is natural, folks. Photo by WPCNR News.

WHAT A CONCEPT! Every sausage you could ever dream of. Julie’s favorite is the Apple Chicken Sausage. Photo by WPCNR News.

Don’t Feel Like preparing a dish? Prepated meat dishes await. Photo by WPCNR News.

PREPARED FOODS may be ordered in advance, as WPCNR’s Tour Guide, Julie, demonstrates. There are also chili bars, and soups, and two salad bar islands. Photo by WPNCR News.

Julie showcases the vast selection of grains, nuts, beans, and edibles. A fantastic selection for the intrepid ingredient intense cook. Photo by WPCNR News

Leah and Gerald supervise the Whole Foods Market Coffee Bar featuring strong, intense blends roasted on the premises with the roaster to Leah’s right. Leah says the beans roast in 15 minutes. No flavored coffees are offered, but syrups and flavorings (organic and natural, of course) are available. Chris Snell, Store Team Leader, told the guests that WFM in White Plains employs 220 persons, each neat in appearance, in impeccable tunics with a sense of hustle about them. Photo by WPCNR News.

The Tea Bar. Photo by WPCNR News.

A Salad Bar Island. Photo by WPCNR News.

The Intriguing Olive Bar. Photo by WPCNR News

PEANUT, PEANUT BUTTER. It tastes so good when you make it yourself at the WFM Peanut Butter Bar. Julie demonstrates. Photo by WPCNR News.

Oh Look at it would you? That’s real peanut butter, ladies and gentlemen. Photo by WPCNR News.

Facial treatments and beauty aids harvested according to the moon cycle are demonstrated by the health beauty buyer, Susan. A skin specialist will be on hand at times to aid ladies in selecting appropriate beauty aids and treatments all extracted naturally from nature. Photo by WPCNR News

Julie and Susan stand in front of 9 shelves of lipbalms and beauty aids. A fascinating array of aids for the whole body. Photo by WPCNR News.

Whole Foods Market specializes in dairy substitute products, as well as organic eggs, butters, milk, cereal, cookies, the selection is very competitive with Stop N Shop down the street with one exception: all the foods are organic, natural with no preservatives. Even the laundry detergents and household cleaners are organic. The produce is local, garnered from Roxbury Connecticut, and the Finger Lakes region.

Chris Snell, the Store Team Leader, told WPCNR that WFM had been seeking a Westchester market for about eight years, and that Edge Marketing which had attracted Fortunoff to the property, approached Whole Foods Market and brought them into the project.

Entrance to Whole Foods Market at the Fortunoff complex, White Plains. Photo by WPCNR News

MORTON’S STEAKHOUSE, according to Mayor Delfino will complete the Fortunoff block when it opens July 7. Photo by WPCNR News.

Gretsas is Going, Going, almost Gone. Takes Fort Lauderdale Job in 45-60 days.

Posted on June 3, 2004 by John Bailey

WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. June 3, 2004, UPDATED 3:00 P.M. E.D.T.: George Gretsas is officially leaving the City of White Plains as Executive Officer to Mayor Joseph Delfino in 45 to 60 days. He accepted the position of City Manager of Fort Lauderdale Wednesday evening. The Mayor’s Office had no statement available as of early Thursday afternoon, and no indication of when Mr. Gretsas was leaving, whether he would continue to input into city decisions, or who his successor might be. Mr. Gretsas was unavailable for comment, and had no prepared statement at the Mayor’s Office.

GRETSA GOES ON DOWN: George Gretsas shown last month talking over the Fort Lauderdale job with Councilman Robert Greer and Councilwoman Rita Malmud. Photo by WPCNR News

The Public Information Office of the City of Fort Lauderdale advised the CitizeNetReporter this morning at 7 A.M. that the City Commissioners of Fort Lauderdale voted 4 to 1, to approve a contract with Mr. Gretsas. The Public Information Office did not forward the contract to the CitizeNetReporter as they promised they would. Mr. Gretsas had told WPCNR Sunday evening he expected to sign a contract Thursday or Friday

However, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel in a news story this morning reports Mr. Gretsas is leaving for a $180,000 a year annual salary with $5,000 raises built-in annually plus the possibility of merit raises. Gretsas gets a $45,000 raise in pay over his $125,000 salary in White Plains, plus what is described as having benefits and stipends worth $250,885.

The Sun-Sentinel also reports Gretsas agreed to take the job Wednesday evening. The complete Sun-Sentinel story may be read at www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-scgretsas03jun03,0,4039487.story.

The buzz about City Hall today is who will now succeed Mr. Gretsas for “The Rest of the Renaissance,” as contenders jockey for position.

Edward Dunphy. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Edward Dunphy, City Corporation Counsel, told WPCNR, “I’m genuinely happy for the man, and wish him the best of luck. He’s a good friend and a good man, and I wish him all the luck in the world.”

Asked if he was a candidate to succeed “The G-Man,” Mr. Dunphy said, “I’ve had no discussion with the Mayor concerning my being a replacement for George.”

WPCNR asked what the purpose of the Executive Officer was. Dunphy said, “You need someone in there to shepard programs and issues, and provide guidance and counsel for the Mayor.”

Asked about the day to day function of the Executive Officer, Dunphy described it as “providing leadership, inventing policy, and legislating, implementing that policy.”

WPCNR asked Dunphy if he saw the Mayor conducting a national search for a Grestas alter-ego. Dunphy said he did not think that was necessary, noting, “I think there are enough competent people in the present city structure who can fill that position very capably.”

Susan Habel. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

Susan Habel, Commissioner of Planning, asked about the Gretsas move, said “I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for him.” Asked if she was interested in the Executive Officer void, Ms. Habel said “that’s not a relevant question.”

Commissioner of Public Works, Joseph Nicoletti was not available for comment.

City Accessor, Eyde McCarthy told WPCNR, “I’m very happy for him. I think he’ll do an excellent job.”

Asked how Mr. Gretsas was as a boss, Ms. McCarthy said, “He always knew exactly what he wanted.”

Ms. McCarthy was asked how she thought the Gretsas void might be filled. She said, “That’ll be up to the Mayor. The Mayor will make the right decision.”

Paul Wood, Mr. Gretsas’ right hand man as Economic Development Officer, and whispered successor to Mr. G, said “I have no reaction,” when asked about the Gretsas decision to depart. Asked if he could fill George’s position, Mr. Wood said he had “No comment.” Asked if the aura of paranoia surrounding the Mayor’s Office relationship with the media might lift in the future, Wood said, “I think so.”

Mayor Joseph Delfino, appearing in public at the Whole Foods Market opening this morning did not announce the Gretsas departure, and Mr. Gretsas was not seen by this reporter at the opening.

Meanwhile in Fort Lauderdale — No Comments by Fort Lauderdale City Employees Policy Issued.

In what surely is a coincidence, coming within a week after the City Commissioners of Fort Lauderdale voted to select Mr. Gretsas as their next City Manager, the acting City Manager announced that “requests for records, information or interviews (with city officials, officers, and personnel) to be approved by city Communications Director Leslie Backus.” The new policy forbids any city employee from speaking to the public without clearing it through the Public Information Office.