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)

‘Evita’ Opens at the Helen Hayes in Nyack: Oscar Smalls’ Opening Night Diary:

Posted on October 18, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By Oscar Smalls, The Helen Hayes Theatre Company. October 17, 2003: Evita, the long-waited-for production of the Broadway hit opens this evening at the Helen Hayes Theatre Company in Nyack.
This musical masterpiece starring Broadway’s Felicia Finley premiers at the Helen Hayes Theatre Company in Nyack from October 18 – November 2. Tickets are $32.50 to $47.50. For tickets or more information, call the Box Office at 845-358-6333 or visit their web site at http://www.hhtco.org.

What is the last week prior to opening night like? Here is Oscar Smalls’ Countdown to Opening Night Diary of what Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were like at the Helen Hayes.

Wednesday, October 15: The cast and crew are in the middle of “tech week”, which is getting the lights, music, costumes, sets, actors and crew all working seamlessly together.

Robert Levinstein (stage manger) was running things effortlessly even though he had actors, tech people and musicians all looking to him for answers on entrances and exits, light cues and position marks. In between light cues, Stephen Purdy (musical director) was busy getting in extra rehearsal time on the number “The Lady’s Got Potential”. Although rehearsal came to a halt when Evita herself (actress Felicia Finley) could not locate a crucial costume piece, a marabou robe, the robe was found and Ms. Finley came onstage instantly back in character and on went the show. Everyone stopped for a moment to listen to her sing…wow…and then on with the tech rehearsal!

As the office staff of the Helen Hayes was winding up it’s day at 5:00, the cast and crew had only begun their lunch break, with a full evening of work (and play!) to go.

Thursday, October 16: Despite the fact that the lobby of the Helen Hayes is still littered with boxes of props and set pieces, lighting equipment and cords running all over the place, Meredyth Mindte, the Helen Hayes Production Manager, insisted that this is all quite normal. In fact, she said rehearsals were ahead of schedule and in her words, “just swell!”.

The cast was taking extra time to rehearse some of the musical numbers. For instance, the number Rainbow Tour takes place on chairs with wheels and there was problem with the chairs slipping out from underneath the actors while they moved around…not good. Today was the first day the actors got to work with the chairs they will be using in the show. So with several runs at it and some giggles in between everyone felt comfortable and safe!

The choreographer, Kim Jordan, was reworking some of the dance pieces on the number, And the Money Kept Rolling In. Sometimes what looks great in a rehearsal studio doesn’t always fill a stage once you get there. With a few minor adjustments, Kim’s vision came alive to create one of the most exciting musical moments in the show.

Friday, October 17: The final rehearsal day! Will the light cues be seamless? Will the song transitions flow? Will the audience be blown away? We’ll find out tonight!

After weeks of planning and endless days of rehearsals, EVITA finally gets the last ingredient – an audience. Tonight’s invited dress rehearsal is reserved for the employees and colleagues on the show’s corporate sponsor – LeCroy Corporation.

With the final touches on costumes and lights, orchestrations and sets, the excitement is in the air is palpable. EVITA is ready to mesmerise and enchant!

The Helen Hayes Theatre Company in Nyack, NY is within 30 minutes from most towns in Westchester and Bergen Counties and only 20 minutes from the George Washington Bridge. “Evita” is sponsored by LeCroy Corporation.

Republicans Claim Democrats Taking Credit Where None is Due

Posted on October 18, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR Campaign Trail Telegraph From Frank Cantatore Press Office, October 17, 2003:

Businessman, community leader and candidate for the Fifth District of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, Frank Cantatore is questioning the validity of a recent mailer sent to households in White Plains by the Democratic candidates for City Council and his opponent Bill Ryan.

“I recently received a colorful brochure from the Democratic candidates for City Council and County Legislator. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Next to pictures of bucolic landmarks in White Plains there are statements in which Bill Ryan is taking credit for accomplishments he had nothing to do with. I find it very disingenuous for him to take credit for things that he knows he had nothing to do with. In fact, when I questioned him recently at an Editorial Board meeting of the Journal News on whether or not he’s spoken to Mayor Delfino on various city projects he told me he has not. Everyone in White Plains knows that the sole person responsible for the boom times in the city is Mayor Joseph Delfino.”

A direct mail piece was sent out by Democrats claiming that projects such as the ‘hole in the ground’ at Bank Street was “filled” by them. The fact is that Mayor Delfino made a pledge to get it developed. The mailer also takes credit for the new Super Stop and Shop and Fortunoff. At the grand opening of both stores, Mayor Delfino was singled out by executives of each as the main reason they decided to locate in White Plains. At the Fortunoff grand opening, Lou Fortunoff, President of the family store acknowledged it was Mayor Delfino who contacted him and got the “ball rolling”. It also mentions the Renaissance project, which will have a Starbucks and will feature dancing fountains. The Renaissance project was made possible from proceeds obtained by Mayor Delfino from the City Center developer as well as an innovated partnership with Starbucks which will help fund a land preserve acquisition fund.

“Fortunately the residents of White Plains know better. The reason taxes in the City are low, and the reason there is so much economic activity is due to Mayor Delfino’s efforts. I would hope that Bill Ryan would include the Mayor when he mentions that great things that are occurring in White Plains,” said Cantatore.

Civil Service Employees Union at Loggerheads With City. Intends to Lobby Council

Posted on October 17, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR Daily White Plains Worker. By John F. Bailey. October 17, 2003: Janice Marra, spokesperson for the Civil Service Employees Association told WPCNR today that the CSEA which represents approximately 400 City of White Plains employees is unhappy with the Common Council response towards CSEA demands for a new contract. “The White Plains City Council has not been too receptive to some of our requests,” she said.

George Gretsas, asked about street talk indicating to WPCNR that negotiations with the CSEA were not going well, said that an impass in negotiations had been declared and that a fact finder had come in to review the rationales of both the city and the union, who would make a recommendation that might lead to a settlement, but it was not binding. He said he expected that the fact finder would have their analysis ready within “a few weeks.”

Marra, spokesperson for the CSEA’s Southern Region Office in Beacon, New York, confirmed to WPCNR that the impasse and fact-finder being brought in was true, saying, “The Common Council has stalled things to date. The City Council hasn’t been too receptive to some of our suggestions. Efforts at mediation have been unsuccessful.”

Marra said 400 City of White Plains workers are CSEA members, and that there are 2,000 CSEA members living in White Plains. She said, “We’re looking at starting public outreach in the next few weeks, asking our members to reach out to Mayor Delfino and members of the Common Council to urge them to return to the bargaining table.”

Asked what the sticking points were, Marra said they were not over wages, but benefits, saying the city was asking to raise the cost of some benefits and reduce other benefits. WPCNR has learned privately from sources close to the Common Council that the union is seeking the same level of salary increase as the police and fire unions, 3.5%, and the council has said they are “not going to get it.”

Marra said it was not the union’s policy to negotiate through the media. Mr. Gretsas said it was not the city policy to comment on ongoing negotiations to the media, either.

“We’re looking for the city to be fair to working families,” Marra stated. “We want fair raises, affordable benefits. We urge the Common Council and the Mayor to come back to the bargaining table.”

Boys and Girls X-Country Teams Finish Third In League Championships

Posted on October 15, 2003 by John Bailey

WPCNR PRESS BOX. By John F. Bailey. October 16, 2003: Despite the League Championships starting early, the White Plains High Varsity Cross Country team got off their bus and jogged immediately to the starting line, no time to warmup, and off they went, as the League Championships started about 30 minutes ahead of schedule. Despite not having a warmup, Senior Mike Smayda won the race with an 18:13:97 and his Sophomore running mate, Jeff Bergman finished third, at 18:47:02 on the 3.1 mile course giving White Plains a Third Place finish in the League Championships behind Scarsdale and Yorktown.

ONE AND THREE: Mike Smayda first place finisher (left) in the League 1B Sectional Championships Wednesday, with Third Place Finisher Jeff Bergman, right. Joanna Drucker of the Girls Varsity X-Country team congrats the boys. Smayda and Bergman were chosen for the “All-League Boys Cross Country Team” for their Performance this season. Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue, Tamiko Younge, and Juliana Bailey of the Girls Cross Country Team were also named to the “All League Girls Cross Country Team.”Photo by WPCNR Sports.

The Girls Varsity also finished third their strongest showing in several years with Eighth Grader Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue finishing first at 21:33:56, Senior TamikoYounge finishing sixth 22:56.82, and Juliana Bailey 13^th, at 23:39:09, in the field of 49 runners. Ursuline won it. Yorktown was second, and White Plains third.

K.K. ALL THE WAY: Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue wins her sixth Cross Country Race, crossing the finish line at 21:33:56, despite taking a wrong turn on the course and falling 5 seconds behind at one point. Ms. Gilmartin-Donohue was named to the All League Cross Country Team. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

Smayda said the lack of a warmup did cause him to cramp up severely at the top of one of the hills on the Westchester Community College course. Other White Plains boys commented that the course was quite muddy in the woods, and that the wind resistance of the 30 to 40 knot breezes made balance and pace difficult. Because of the early start to the meet that was on the schedule for a 4:30 PM start, WPCNR could not photograph the boys race which was finishing when WPCNR arrived at 4:10 P.M.

TAMIKO YOUNGE NAILS 7TH in the Championship in a field of 49 Runners. Photo by WPCNR Sports.

This was the third meet that was run on the Westchester Community College course, and each meet has had organizational problems. At the first meet there, it started twenty minutes late. At the second meet, it started on time, but girls races were started too close to the boys races, and the finishers overlapped. And, at Wednesday’s meet, the action began early ahead of the scheduled time.

Another problem with the Westchester Community College Course is the scheduling of athletic events on the field where the races are started and finished. In Wednesday’s meet, this policy resulted in placing the finish line behind the bleachers, which had the effect of treating the cross country runners as not as important as the so-called major sport taking place on the field. There was plenty of room to finish the race alongside the athletic field.

The 2003 Varsity Girls Cross Country Team at the Start: L to R, Tamiko Younge, Juliana Bailey, Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue, Akina Younge, Kirstin Smayda, Rachel Salazar and Joanna Drucker. The team turned in one of the strongest showings of a Girls Cross Country team in years, winning four meets with a team of only 7 girls. Juliana Bailey, Kaylin Gilmartin-Donohue and Tamiko Younge were named to the “Girls All League Cross Country Team.” Photo by WPCNR Sports

THEY’RE OFF! A TYPICAL FAST START AT WEDNESDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIPS. Photo by WPCNR Sports