MAY 6 WHITE PLAINS SATURDAY NIGHT! 50 YEARS OF THE WHITE PLAINS PUBLIC LIBRARY CELEBRATED AT FESTIVE ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF THE WHITE PLAINS LIBRARY FOUNDATION CELEBRATING THE JOY OF READING

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WPCNR AROUND WHITE PLAINS. By John F. Bailey. May 5, 2024:

The White Plains Library Foundation whose mission is to promote and expand services and attractions and community involvement in the continued growth of the White Plains Library celebrated the “Joy of reading” last night.

Where else–but among the books and welcoming atmosphere of thousands of –books!

The Foundation created an elegant dining room festooned with green plants on the tables and even secluded tables in the beckoning shelves where colorful titles of books jump off the shelves saying “Read me! Look me over. Take me home!”

Some 70 persons (exact counts of  guests  not available at press time),  mingled and greeted each other to hear author Mariah Fredericks (above) fascinate a rapt audience with the fascinating life of Edith Wharton,  the first woman author to win the Pulitzer Prize.  Wharton turns detective  to investigate a notorious murder in 1920 of  controversial author, David Graham Phillips, in Ms. Fredericks’ The Wharton Plot. 

Addressing a crowd packing White Plains Library Auditorium Studio, Ms. Fredericks said she was attracted to writing about the Phillips murder because of the controversy over book banning and attacks on authors in our present day and the parallel to the violence of the Roaring Twenties. Describing Wharton’s Gilded Age background fasicnated the gathering making real life writer from history one you wanted to know more about.

Ms. Fredericks said that in attending an author’s conference recently attended by published authors and young persons dedicated to publish books or novels where they have something say, encouraged her how important it is that no voices be denied, in view of the moves to censor books today. She concluded saying it is her mission to make sure by writing that children as they grow up will have their eyes in books and not their I-phones.

Supporters of the Library bought chances for wine collections, Mets tickets, hotel stays, restaurants and bundles of book collections at the Raffle Auction

 

Brian Kenny, Library Director recalled the efforts and great business relationships in building The Trove, modernizing the auditorium into a studio, creating The Edge and the welcoming spacious high interior. He gave a shout out to previous Library Director Sandy Miranda for starting the project of redesigning the library. He introduced the honoree of the evening the builder and designer of the spaces.

 

Rai Fernandez, Partner, Bermello Ajamil Architects

(Photo by Graham Trelstad, Courtesy White Plains Library Foundation

 

Mr. Fernandez, (Debonair in tuxedo)   remarked to the crowd how  challenging the project was and how cooperative the community was with their ideas. The foundation website wrote the end product was a mutual collaboration, that has worked splendidly in building patronage and involving the community,noting:

With creativity, technical skill, and appreciation for our grand old building, Rai Fernandez and his team have transformed almost all of the Library’s spaces, improving the user experience for thousands of people every year. The Trove (children’s area), Edge (teen area), entire first floor, Auditorium, and Gallery are stunning renovations created through a multi-year partnership with Bermello Ajamil Architects. Rai Fernandez has over 30 years of experience in managing, coordinating, designing, and master planning a variety of award-winning projects including hotels, airports, residential buildings, ports and libraries.

Caperberry presented its elegent buffet  with salads, vegetables, meats(superbly prepared) easy to access serving, with a round of rotating delicious appetizers  with servers circulating among the mingling multitude with unigue treats featuring salmon, figs, and most creative combinations refreshing and tasting fresh-served.

 

The great surprise was encountering a warm inviting  complete dining room refreshed by  realfresh green centerpieces, spacious with plenty of room to circulate to tables. This should be continued in some fashion. There were even secluded spaces among the engaging alluring shelves. We used to call them stacks back in the days.

I

The Auction Raffle

Celebrities

 

THE CITIZENETREPORTER  and BRENDA STARR  You’ll never know what will jump off the shelf out you in the Library.

50 YEARS OF  History of the Library 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS THE 8 CANDIDATES FOR 3 SEATS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL BUDGET & BOARD ELECTION MAY 21

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WPCNR, courtesy of  the White Plains League of Women Voters presents the 8 candidates running for three seats on the Board Of Education in the School Board Budget and Elections May 21. They will be appearing at the Candidates Form at 7 PM  for the Forum, to be held May 9  in the  White Plains High School Library. The Forum will be zoomed and retelecast on FIOS Channel 46 and Optimum Channel 77. The information is published as received from the League and there may be some errors in fonts. Addresses and contact information excluded for privacy. 

Information Sheet for Board of Education Candidates

 

Name:                         Ferenc Tasnady

 

Education:      SUNY Oneonta, class of ’99. Econ/Business double major

Profession:      Technology Sales

 

Questions

  1. Do you currently have children in the White Plains Schools or have you had children in the schools in the past?

I have 3 children and all attend WP Schools. My oldest daughter is a freshman and basketball/volleyball player in WP High. My younger daughter attends the Highlands and plays basketball and lacrosse. My youngest (son) is a 1st grader at Ridgeway and he’s in the chess club.

  1. There are many ways individuals can serve the community. Why have you chosen to run for the school board?

I will be a voice and true representative for the people of White Plains – students, taxpayers, and teachers. I’d also like to see more transparency in the way decisions are made. If elected I would be a true public servant, expressing and fighting for the will of the people and doing my best to enact policies that support it.

  1. What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member? In what school or district activities have you been involved?

As a sales executive I’m essentially a professional communicator. In managing complex transactions I work closely with different constituencies within large organizations. They typically  have competing goals and interests and I have to navigate them to produce an outcome everyone is happy with. I have limited school experience although I have coached youth sports and teach jiu jitsu.

  1. What do you think is the most important role of a school board member?

The primary role of school is to educate and enrich the lives of our students. The board needs to ensure this is the focus of the administration and ecosystem around our schools. We need to make the best possible use of the finite resources we have to produce the best outcomes for the kids.

  1. What are 2-3 strengths of which the White Plains Public Schools can be proud?

We have excellent extracurricular programs and activities for those who choose to participate. We also have great resources for those with special needs. We also have great programs for our gifted students.

  1. What are the White Plains Schools’ greatest challenges?

These are challenging times and the school system (budgets in particular) are under a lot of stress. I anticipate more strain in the coming years and allocating resources properly will become more difficult and contentious. Additionally our high school is ranked as the 326th best school in NY, tied for 491st place in graduation rate. This needs to be improved. This data is from US News and World Report.

 

  1. At the end of your term on the School Board, what would you hope to have been the
    accomplishment you are most proud of!

I would want my constituents to say that their voice was heard during my tenure. Additionally, and more importantly I’d hope they’d say they were more informed and aware of what was going on within our schools while I was serving.

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WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS THE 8 CANDIDATES FOR 3 BOARD OF EDUCATION SEATS IN THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND BOARD ELECTION MAY 21

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WPCNR, courtesy of  the White Plains League of Women Voters presents the 8 candidates running for three seats on the Board Of Education in the School Board Budget and Elections May 21. They will be appearing at the Candidates Form at 7 PM  for the Forum, held May 9 in the  White Plains High School Library. The Forum will be zoomed and retelecast on FIOS Channel 46 and Optimum Channel 77. The information is published as received from the League and there may be some errors in fonts. Addresses and contact information excluded for privacy. 

Information Sheet for Board of Education Candidates

 

Name :            Vincent Orlando

Education:      Bachelor History with a minor in Education from Mercy College

Profession:     I started my career in Education and moved on to Financial Services.

Questions

  1. Do you currently have children in the White Plains Schools or have you had children in the schools in the past?

I currently have two children in the White Plains School district.

 

  1. There are many ways individuals can serve the community. Why have you chosen to run for the school board?

As a lifelong resident of White Plains and having gone through the White Plains  School district, I have chosen to run for the White Plains School Board so I can continue  to serve my community. I feel it is an important responsibility to work with our community  and schools so that all children can have an opportunity to succeed. As a current PTAmember, I know the importance of working side by side with our schools to give our  students access to experiences and opportunities for all.

 

  1. What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member? In what school or district activities have you been involved?

I am very involved in my children’s school, from organizing events, to volunteering  during lunch and I currently serve as the PTA secretary for my children’s school. I have  worked closely with parents, teachers, and the principle to help facilitate events and  activities. I have worked with the PTA in fundraising so we can offer programs for little to  no cost for our students, and not add cost to our school district.

 

  1. What do you think is the most important role of a school board member?

I believe the most important role of school board member is to work with the  Superintendent, parents, and educators to help students succeed and to ensure that the  school is building a bridge with the community. Part of the responsibility of a  schoolboard member is to ensure that the school budget is fiscally responsible and that  we are including key stakeholders from each department to the decision-making  process.

  1. What are 2-3 strengths of which the White Plains Public Schools can be proud?

The White Plains School District provides a multitude of opportunities for all our  students and families. At the elementary level being able to offer school choice is a  unique opportunity that not many districts can offer. Each school provides and targets  the values of the families of our community. For example, we have schools that offer  bilingual education that in the long run would address the seal of biliteracy as a  graduation pathway. We also offer STEM opportunities. Our schools value the voice of  our families.

 

  1. What are the White Plains Schools’ greatest challenges?

As the population of White Plains continues to grow, we need to make sure that we  continue to address all the needs of our student’s, English language learners, students  with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students and our gifted and talented  students. We need to make sure that we continue to offer as many opportunities as possible to our students that we can. We also need to make sure there is transparency  with decision making process and that we move away from top-down decisions.

 

  1. At the end of your term on the School Board, what would you hope to have been the accomplishment you are most proud of!

At the end of my term on the school board I hope that we have as a school district  where our process of decision making, takes in consideration all voices; staff, parents,  students and tax payers and all decisions are made with the children first.

 

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WHITE PLAINS LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PRESENTS THE 8 CANDIDATES FOR 3 SEATS ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL BUDGET AND BOARD ELECTIONS MAY 21

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WPCNR, courtesy of  the White Plains League of Women Voters presents the 8 candidates running for three seats on the Board Of Education in the School Board Budget and Elections May 21. They will be appearing at the Candidates Form at 7 PM  for the Forum, held May 9  in the  White Plains High School Library. The Forum will be zoomed and retelecast on FIOS Channel 46 and Optimum Channel 77. The information is published as received from the League and there may be some errors in fonts. Addresses and contact information excluded for privacy. 

Information Sheet for Board of Education Candidates

 

Name:             Craig Mondschein

Education: HS  Half Hollow Hills HS West

BA – University of Rochester

MBA – University of Rochester Simon School

Profession:       Corporate Treasurer

 

Questions

  1. Do you currently have children in the White Plains Schools or have you had children in the schools in the past?
    1. Yes, Amanda graduated 2021 and Sabrina graduates 2024

 

 

  1. here are many ways individuals can serve the community. Why have you chosen to run for the school board?
    1. As a parent of children who have attended not only the White Plains schools but other schools as well, I feel I have the perspective and experience to positively impact the education of our White Plains children. I have been able to observe firsthand what has worked and what improvements are needed to meet the educational needs of our children.
    2. As a community member of WPCSD Finance and Audit committee since 2017, I have gained a very good understanding of the budget and finances of the school district. I feel I can use this knowledge as a Board member to represent the taxpayers of Whtie Plains.  I will ensure property taxes are fair and used efficiently to maintain strong property values while delivering a superior education to our children.
    3. As a parent of post high school age children, I finally have the time to dedicate to the White Plains community as a Board member.

 

  1. What particular skills or experiences qualify you to serve as a school board member? In what school or district activities have you been involved?
    1. As a parent of a child who had an IEP in elementary school and is now a PhD candidate, I have seen firsthand the positive impact a public school education can have on the life of a child. I have experienced the importance of Teacher, Parent and Administration collaboration to benefit our students and want to promote this approach as a member of the Board.
    2. I grew up in a home where my mother was a Reading and Special Education public school teacher and my father was a Pediatrician. My mother taught in one of the least affluent school districts on Long Island (Roosevelt) and opened the Reading lab to parents in the evening, so they were able to learn to read and write to help make a better life for their families.  My father was a strong advocate at IEP meetings for his patients in the schools when requested by parents.  Their dedication to helping the community, above and beyond their required jobs, has always been an inspiration to me and taught me about giving back to the community.
    3. As a corporate treasurer it is my responsibility to ensure that proper operating controls are in place to eliminate fraudulent payments and activities that will negatively affect the shareholders of my company. Similarly, as a member of the White Plains Finance and Audit committee we review the financial controls of the District and instruct the school administration to make needed improvements as they arise.  As a Board member representing the taxpayers of White Plains, it is a critical role to ensure that our property taxes are being spent wisely and that proper financial controls are in place to eliminate fraudulent activities.
    4. As a Greenburgh Hebrew Center Trustee and former Treasurer, I am actively involved in the recruitment and hiring of professional staff, including religious leaders and teachers, and will bring this experience with me as a member of the Board of Education.

 

  1. What do you think is the most important role of a school board member?
    1. A strong advocate for the very best education experience for all our children based on the needs of every child.
    2. A strong advocate for the taxpayers of White Plains to ensure property taxes are fair and used efficiently to maintain strong property values.
    3. Providing guidance and advice to the White Plains Superintendent and his team on policy and procedure issues to ensure the best possible education for our children and working environment for all White Plains schools employees.

 

  1. What are 2-3 strengths of which the White Plains Public Schools can be proud?
    1. The incredible opportunities our children have to learn both in the classroom and outside the classroom. White Plains has done a very good job of meeting the individual needs of every student.
    2. Ricca and his team. Dr, Ricca has implemented and continuously ensures a children first approach.  Everything the administration, teachers, staff and the Board do is first and foremost for our children.  Educating our children has to be, and is the first priority.
    3. The financial condition of the White Plains schools is a huge accomplishment and strength.
      1. The foresight to create capital funds which are approved by the taxpayers not only upon creation, but also prior to use, has allowed the District to effectively use property taxes on capital projects without a need to issue additional bonds or raise new taxes.
      2. At the onset of the pandemic the District was able to purchase and distribute iPads to every child, using existing cash in the bank account, so every student was able to continue to learn through the pandemic.
    4. The quality of the White Plains Schools employees. White Plains has been able to recruit and sustain a very high-quality employee base which translates into a positive and rewarding learning experience for our children.

 

  1. What are the White Plains Schools’ greatest challenges?
    1. The great unknown of the NYS budget and the effect on White Plains schools is an issue for every school district. It is very difficult to effectively budget and plan when a significant amount of State aid is unknown during the budget process.  It is critical that Albany supports our students with a fair and equitable budget.
    2. The age of the White Plains Schools buildings is a huge issue. The administration has done an admirable job maintaining the aging buildings.  As a member of the Master Planning Committee, we were able to prioritize the needs of the District and implement a plan to renovate the District infrastructure.
    3. The changing demographics of White Plains. From the new construction to new members of the community the school district has to meet the needs of the community.   The current demographic analysis indicates fewer students in the years ahead but with the new construction this may change.  The needs of our students will continue to evolve as new families move into White Plains.  The Board and administration have to anticipate these needs.

 

  1. At the end of your term on the School Board, what would you hope to have been the accomplishment you are most proud of!
    1. Leaving the children of White Plains better than when I joined the Board.
    2. Allowing our children to reach their full potential as a result of the education they received at White Plains.
    3. Through education, helping families improve their economic wellbeing for generations into the future.
    4. The completion of the renovation and restoration of the school buildings.
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