District 5 Legislator Candidate Calls for Legislative Reform

WPCNR COUNTY CAMPAIGN JOURNAL. From the Cantatore Camp. September 4, 2003: Frank Cantatore continued his assault on the County Legislature Friday in his effort to represent White Plains and Scarsdale in the Fifth District of the Westchester County, calling for a new law to require the Board of Legislators to post on the internet agendas for the Board and committee meetings at least 48 hours before the meeting. The law would also require the Board to post monthly expenditure reports from the Legislature’s budget, as well as monthly reports on postage utilization and printing expenses for each Legislator. It will also require the Board of Legislators to post on the internet a “staffing disclosure report”, which will list every member of the Board of Legislator’s staff, a job description for each individual, including minimum qualifications required and the total salary paid to each individual.


 


 


“The Board of Legislators should be held accountable for their actions. This law creates a system using new and readily available technology that will give the public information they are entitled to. After all it’s their money that is being used. What’s more I was recently informed that over 200 purchase orders were submitted for the Courthouse renovation that not even certain members of the Board were aware of. That’s why we need to have this system up and running,” said Cantatore.  Currently such information does not exist in this manner. Citizens interested in obtaining such information have to submit a “freedom of information request” in order to receive it.


 


According to recent media surveys, over 60% of households have internet access. “People will be able to access information on where their monies are being spent from the comfort of their home, office or local library. This will bring much needed transparency to County government. This is an initiative whose time has come. What with all the corporate scandals of this past year, the American public has lost its faith and trust in the private sector. This initiative will restore Americans’ faith and trust in government,” said Cantatore.

                                                                                               

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Westchester Way.. 2004 .Guide to Meeting Sites…FREE!

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From Westchester Office of Tourism, September 3, 2003: Sensational spaces, sites and scenery characterize Westchester County, New York as an ideal destination for meetings and special events.  The Office of Tourism has released “Meetings, The Westchester Way” the county’s  Meeting Planners’ Guide, 2004 edition, as an information resource to help meeting and event planners find venues throughout Westchester for conventions, conferences, meetings, and special events of all dimensions.

Published by Westfair Communications, Inc., the 40-page, four-color Meeting Planners’ Guide contains detailed information on the county’s hotels, conference centers, the Westchester County Center, and meeting space located in Westchester County parks facilities, such as Playland Amusement Park in Rye and Croton Point Park in Croton on Hudson. 


A section on additional “Unique Spaces and Places” describes non-traditional locations that create a special atmosphere for events, such as historic sites, mansions, theaters, parks, colleges, restaurants and catering facilities.  Event planners will appreciate the information on outstanding spaces such as castles, gardens, river cruises, and parks located throughout the county for weddings, anniversaries, holiday parties, etc.


“As a meeting destination, Westchester County offers the highest standard of service, combined with top notch facilities,” said Margo Jones, Director of the Westchester County Office of Tourism.  “Westchester is also conveniently located in the heart of the Hudson River Valley, just north of New York City.”


The Meeting Planners Guide also provides information about service vendors, such as audio-visual providers, booth and exhibit contractors, caterers, decorators, destination management consultants, transportation companies, entertainment and temporary staffing.


An “At Your Leisure” section on entertainment and recreation describes several possibilities for after-hours activities and group events, and a travel information page helps expedite travel to and from the area.


To request a free copy of the Westchester County Meeting Planners’ Guide, call the Office of Tourism at (914) 995-8500 or 1(800) 833-9282; e-mail [email protected], or visit  www.westchestertourism.com.  Special-interest brochures, such as the Westchester County Travel Guide, Gardens, and Antiques are also available.

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The White Plains Performing Arts Center Tour

WPCNR’S CITY CENTER JOHNNY ON TOUR. By John F. Bailey. October 3, 2003: The highlight of the Mayor’s White Plains Performing Arts Center News Conference Thursday was “the tour.”  A group of about 30 persons were given hardhats and proceeded to cross the street from City Hall to the City Center, proceeding into “Conroy Place,” which now has its cobblestone drive mostly in place and gleaming black light posts emulating the new street ambience in White Plains.



 


 


DIGNATARIES from public relations persons to reporters, to councilpersons gawked at the imposing rich emerald green façade of the bridge from the new parking garage, the elegant cobblestones and the black granite fountain. Entering on the first floor street level, they were greeted by a brightly lit Circuit City store, looking ready to open. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


 



ENTERING STREET LEVEL ON CONROY PLACE: We proceeded to climb the escalators in the vaulted two level atrium/lobby,  to the fourth level of the City Center. As we entered from Conroy Place soon to be named City Center Place, we passed the Circuit City looking ready to open, and very inviting. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



PASSING CIRCUIT CITY, the party ascended the escalators which were not in motion to the fourth floor, the theatre level. Photo by WPCNR News.



 


THE THEATRE ENTRANCE: Main entrance, steel scaffolds of seating can be seen. Photo by WPCNR News


 



 


BOX OFFICE AREA IS TO THE RIGHT: We entered the theatre noticing that there is a shell of a theatre and that THE arc of steel seating structures were in the process of being installed. The stage is to our left. The walls of the theatre are sheetrock, awaiting interior decoration. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



 


 


 


PROJECT MANAGER, Steve Feinstein, of HRH Construction (in light blue shirt, slightly to right in photo), explained the next order of business was installing the light banks and control booth at top left of picture.  Photo by WPCNR News


 



 


CREATING THE VARIOUS SEGMENTS of the theatre will proceed on a simultaneous basis. To come: pouring concrete for the stage, and installing the polished wooden stage floor . Feinstein said work was proceeding at a 6-days-a-week-10 hours-a-day pace with a completion date of October 31 for the Performing Arts Center. He noted an elevator would whisk theatre goers directly from street level entry to the White Plains Performing Arts Center floor. Photo by WPCNR News.


 



 


ON THIS VERY STAGE, IN 35 DAYS, the Flying Karamazov Brothers will be doing the juggling. For now the intricate, precision juggling is being handled deftly by the HRH Construction crews who have been performing building miracles for two years, being counted on to finish a theatre in 28 days. Speaking to WPCNR after the tour, Co-Producer Jeffrey Rosenstock told WPCNR that he expected to be “running through” the theater control, lighting and production systems the first week of November. Photo by WPCNR News


 


Calling More Angels. Calling More Angels.


 


The Gala performance on November 9 is being relied on to produce a performance budget. In the meantime, George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said a single sponsor (in Broadway speak, an “angel”)  has underwritten Bob Newhart’s performance. He would not reveal that sponsor, saying that was up to the Board of Directors of the theatre to announce at their discretion.


 


Asked the source of future operating funds for the theatre and whether any advance contributions had already been made, Gretsas said he did not know and would get that information. Rosenstock and Stimac as operators of the theatre are paid a flat $100,000 for the first year of their contract to operate the theatre, and that is the maximum city contribution to the theatre.


 


Staffing Up


 


Tony Stimac said a third person had been hired for the White Plains Performing Arts Center staff in addition to Kathy Davidson, the Theatre Manager. The new hand on board is Melinda O’Brien, who Mr.Stimac said will be Development & Programming Associate. He said she would responsible for fundraising overtures and program development.


 


Community Groups Invited


 


Mr. Rosenstock, echoing a theme in the news conference said the theatre would be produce 1/3 professional performances, 1/3 community-produced performances and 1/3 new creative works. Mr. Rosenstock said that Ms. Davidson had worked out what he called “a Basic Rental Sheet” and said “we’re working on drawing up a standard contract.”  He said groups desiring to rent the theatre could contact Ms. Davidson now for preliminary discussions on how to do that. She can be reached at 422-1376.


 



 


WPCNR SIDEWALK INSIDER CHAT with Jeffrey Rosenstock, Co-Producer. Mayor Delfino chats with Tony Stimac at left. Photo by WPCNR News.


 


Rosentock was bubbling with enthusiasm for the theatre during our sidewalk chat in front of City Hall.  He said he presents 425 performances a year at his Queens Theatre in the Park.  He said the synergy generated by persons coming to his Queens facility has brought many community groups throughout Queens to his theatre. “People come to the theatre, see groups performing there and inquire about how they can use the theatre,” he explained, saying he has attracted rentals from many groups in Queens this way. He says the enthusiasm is contagious, and that he and Mr.Stimac have had the experience of growing theatres and looked forward to watching it happen here.


 


Financing to Come.


 


Asked about what financial contributions had already been received by the White Plains Performing Arts Center, George Gretsas, the Mayor’s Executive Officer, said a sponsor, whom he could not reveal,  had underwritten the Bob Newhart Gala performance. He said he would get the information as to whether any other donations had been received.


 


Early Thursday evening, Gretsas said that of the $100,000 the city is paying the non-profit organization of Stimac and Rosenstock to run the theatre, about $50,000 has been spent, and he said they would continue “to draw down” on it. He said that he could not tell what financing had possibly been already contributed to the Center’s “endowment” because the White Plains Performing Arts Center was a private nonprofit organization and only their Board of Directors could supply that information. He said Mr. Stimac was the person we should ask for that information.


 


 

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Gala Key to Endowing Performing Arts Center. Mayor, Impresarios Impress.

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. By John F. Bailey. October 3, 2003: Mayor Joseph Delfino and Co-Producers, Tony Stimac and Jeffrey Rosentock, operators of the White Plains Performing Arts Center, introduced their opening Weekend Thursday and took dignitaries and media on a tour of the theatre under construction Thursday.


 



MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Mayor Joseph Delfino introducing Thursday morning’s news conference to approximately 30 dignataries, media, and Common Council members that announced the details of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Opening Weekend, November 8,9 and 10. Left to right, Eli Schonberger, of the Founding Board of Trustees, the Mayor, and WPPAC Impresarios, Jeffrey Rosenstock and Tony Stimac. The Mayor said, prior to the tour of the theatre, that what you’ll see is “the shell of a theatre well under way to becoming the cultural heart of this city.” Photo by WPCNR News.


 




The Mayor introduced the news conference saying, he felt he should write a play about how the theatre came about. The first part, he said, would be a tragedy about all the attempts to build a community theater, and the second part would be about how a community could get it done and find a way to pay for a $3.5 Million theatre without the city having to pay for it. No city property taxes are being used to fund the theatre.


Cooperation. Cooperation. Cooperation.


The Mayor said today’s success was the product of cooperation between federal, state, county and local government, and the private sector. He singled out the Department of Housing and Urban Development and New York State Senator Nicholas Spano to thank for his acquiring Empire State Development Corporation funds for the theatre.


 


Newhart Show the Key.


 


Tony Stimac announced that Bob Newhart, the comedian, and star of The Bob Newhart Show, and Newhart, television hits of the 70s and 80s, would be the Gala Fundraising showcase performer appearing November 9 at 7 PM.


 


 There will be a cocktail reception and post-performance get-together to kickoff a fundraising drive to endow the theatre. Stimac saluted Newhart for agreeing to accept “a greatly reduced fee” for his one-man performance. Newhart is enjoying new popularity with his role in the movie, Legally Blonde II and an upcoming Christmas release, Elf.  For more about Bob and reviews of his comedy act, WPCNR refers readers to Bob’s website at www.bob-newhart.com.


 


Tickets to the Newhart performance at the Gala, the Mayor said could be reserved  immediately, ( tickets start at $250) by calling 1-888-977-2250, right away. If 200 persons (the theatre seats 417) attend at $250 a head, the theatre will raise at least $50,000 to get it underway. A full house at the $250 minimum would raise $100,000.


 


Envelopes for the invitations were reported by Stimac at the news conference to have arrived today and the balance of invitations to the Gala would be mailed out shortly.


 


Two more Shows Articulate the Theatre’s Mission.


 


Mr. Stimac turned the festivities over to Jeffrey Rosentock, his Co-Producer, who said the Opening Weekend would showcase three events to show the three audiences the White Plains Performing Arts Center wanted to reach: family performances, the mature audience tastes (represented by Mr. Newhart at the Gala), and new works.


 


The enthusiastic Mr. Rosenstock, a natural born salesperson, (who makes you want to pick up the phone and order tickets right away), said that on Saturday, November 8, the day the National Amusements Theatres open, the WPPAC would also open its doors to present the Flying Karamazov Brothers.


 


The Flying Karamazov Brothers in Two Shows.


 


The Flying Karamazov Brothers will be performing their new show Catch! They are a national phenomenon who specialize in juggling, acrobatics, mime, sight-gags reminiscent of the vaudeville of the past with a contemporary pace and excitement that is entertainment for the entire family. They will perform a matinee at 3 PM  and an evening performance at 7 PM, with tickets priced at $30 to $35, with $20 tickets for children under 12. Those tickets will be on sale beginning October 8, according to Kathy Davidson, the Theatre Manager.


 


Catch! is described in the news release “includes traditional juggling of everyday items, such as sickles, hatchests, meat cleavers and torches. It also features a favorite bit of the brothers, “The Gamble,” where the audience brings whatever objects they think the group will be unable to juggle, betting applause against a pie in the face that the Brothers cannot juggle the objects. Catch! features taiko festival drumming, Polish Appalachian Clog Dancing and their “trademark” Nine Objects of Danger. For more about the Flying Karamazovs, visit their website at www.fkb.com.


 


Stimac to Bring Broadway to White Plains


 


Rosentock turned it back to Mr. Stimac for the latest on a surprise Monday night performance to take place on Monday, November 10.


 


Stimac is lining up a host of current Broadway stars to perform in a  one-time-only production he’s calling “Broadway Salutes White Plains.” According to the news release, this is an original review in which “cast members from Henry IV, Avenue Q, Aida, Beauty & The Beast,” and other shows will appear, doing numbers or bits from their shows, according to Mr. Stimac. Stimac told WPCNR walking back to City Hall after the tour that he had already gotten five Broadway performers lined up for the Monday evening performance. Stimac said that it made sense because Broadway is dark on Mondays and performers often do benefits and special guest appearances on those evenings.


 


That Monday evening performance, Rosenstock said, was to showcase WPPAC’s mission to bring in new creative works. Mr. Stimac said the complete lineup will be announced as soon as possible. Rosenstock added that a brochure will be out within two weeks with more details about WPPAC’s upcoming programming.


 


Tickets for Broadway Salutes White Plains are priced at $35 to $45, and will be available beginning October 8, again by calling the 1-888-977-2250 number.


 

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