WPCNR WHITE PLAINS VARIETY. From Michelle Schoenfeld. November 26, 2002: Artwork of five White Plains High School students is being exhibited at the Rye Arts Center through the month of December, along with work from other Westchester high school students.
Students whose work was selected are Alana Fitzgerald, Jennifer Lev, Alison Miller, Jennifer Russell and Jillian Salik. Their teachers are Judith Brindley, Robert Dancik, Mary Fennell and Mark Hauge.
WPCNR WESTCHESTER VARIETY. December 2, 2002: A capella Doo Wop Live will be presented by The Persuasions this weekend in Yonkers at historic St. John’s Church, Getty Square, Yonkers. The vintage doo-woppers will be performing Crhistmas and Gospel Classics at 3 PM Sunday, December 15.
Westchester County is in luck. The Persuasions will be performing a new holiday tradition, featuring Christmas and Gospel classics performed by the legendary a cappella doo wop group on Sunday, December 15, 2002 at 3:00 P.M. Tickets are $20 adults, $18
seniors, $15 children.
Rap evolved in the ‘hood while a cappella found harmony in the stoops
of Brooklyn or the ground floor of the 5-story walk-ups that dotted The Bronx way back when.
It began in 1961 for The Persuasions. The Persuasions released 18 albums through the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, until the genre suddenly acquired mainstream popularity as an outgrowth of rap.
The Persuasions were “Chirpin'” (also the name of one of their albums) while struttin’ their vocal dexterity.
Mix Magazine wrote that, “The Persuasions are four parts of one voice, one spirit.” Cash Box proclaimed, These all-vocal,
instrument-free heroes paved the way for today’s platinum a capella acts, Take 6 and Bobby McFerrin, as well as the retro-hip-hop styles of Boyz II Men and Color Me Badd.”
Or, as Tom Waits once said, “These guys are deep sea divers. I’m just a fisherman in a boat.”
Their film documentary, Spread the Word: The Persuasions Sing A Capella drew nothing but praise from coast to coast. The film airs periodically on PBS. The Fred Parnes documentary is a funny, moving,
and invigorating look at a vocal group that is one of America’s national treasures¦ Actually, I can think of one greater remedy for despondency; if The Persuasions happen to be playing around town, go see them. No film could possibly capture the sheer joy and
energy of the group live.”
Ticket purchase may be accomplished by sending e-mail to PPAC or by telephone at 914.964.8977. The performance will be held across the street from the newly restored PPAC (Philipsburgh Performing Arts Center) at historic St. John’s Church, located at One Hudson Street, in
the heart of Getty Square, in Yonkers, NY.
WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 30,2003: At Hommocks Rink in Larchmont, the New York Raptors played host to the Albany Cougars, New York Raptors, New Jersey Daredevils, Rochester Ice Cats and Washington Ice Dogs in a roundrobin Holiday Tournament Saturday night. Don Kerr and the Mamaroneck Youth Hockey Association donated the icetime so these 88 special players could compete against each other.
WPCNR PRESS BOX. November 30, 2003: The White Plains Hockey Tigers trailed Rye 3-1 going into the Third Period at Ebersole Rink Saturday night. In the first 4 minutes of the third period, the Tigers turned into the Montreal Canadians of the 1950s, and Tommy Sommer turned into Maurice “Rocket” Richard. Sommer scored 5 of the Tigers’ 6 unanswered goals in 4 minutes, stunning Rye to win their second game of the Tigers Thanksgiving Invitational, 8-5. Tommy added 1 more later to record 7 goals scored, a double-“Hat Trick”.
There were the Tigers playing a close tight-checking defensive game, kept at bay by Rye’s disciplined position hockey system, and trailing 3-1 going to the third period.
Rye had taken the lead on two power play goals in the last 5 minutes of the second period, and as a fan, you were not prepared for the Tiger team that hit the ice to start the Third Period.
Within 10 seconds Tommy Sommer had poked in a rebound on the far side in a two-Tiger breakaway, to make it 3-2.
Fifteen seconds later on an identical 2-on-1 play, Sommer did it again to tie the score 3-3. Incredibly before a minute and a half had gone by another Sommer sizzler from the head of the far circle had given the Tigers the lead, 4-3. Rye pulled their goalie.
Sommer’s wingmen and forecheckers were swarming the Rye nets skating like the Flying Frenchmen of the great old Montreal Canadians of the 50s. It was an overwhelming, beautiful thing to see.
At the 12 minute mark, Sommer poked home another rebound to make it 5-3.
Not since the Boston Bruins scored 6 goals in the first 4 minutes of the Third Period against the New York Rangers in 1958, had I seen anything like this.
White Plains Coaches Howard Rubenstein and his assistant were shaking their heads after the game, one coach said he had never seen anything like it, “Amazing,” he said, “Simply amazing.”
The Tigers were 2-0 in the tournament, and Coach Rubenstein was refusing to take calls from Ranger Coach Bryan Trottier, inquiring about Sommer’s availability for the next Ranger game.