WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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New York State Commissioner of Education, Maryellen Elia addressing parents and school executives from around the tricounty area at the White Plains High School Media Center Monday afternoon.

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS BY JOHN F. BAILEY. MARCH 15, 20167:

NEW YORK STATE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION MARYELLEN ELIA ADDRESSING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PERSONNEL FORM MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON AT WHITE PLAINS HIGH SCHOOL PROMISED VIRTUALLY ALL TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND PARENTS WANTED IN DESCRUBING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ONGOING PLAN FOR ADDRESSING THOSE CONSTITUENTS’ CONCERNS ABOUT COMMON CORE, ASSESSMENT TESTS, AND TEACHER EVALUATION.

STANDARDS, SHE SAID WOULD BE FORMED USING A COMMITTEE OF EDUCATORS, TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS WHICH WOULD VET THE NEW FORMED STANDARDS WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND TEACHERS FOR APPROVAL.

WHITE PLAINS SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS PAUL FRIED TOLD WPCNR MONDAY EVENING THAT COMMISSIONER ELIA DID NOT SPELL OUT A TIMETABLE WHEN THE STANDARDS WOULD BE FINALIZED.

SHE PROMISED THIS YEAR’S ASSESSMENTS WOULD HAVE ALL QUESTIONS VETTED BY A PANEL OF TEACHERS WHO WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO REMOVE QUESTIONS IF THEY FELT THEY WERE INAPPROPRIATE FOR GRADE LEVELS.

SHE REPORTED THE NEW TESTS THIS YEAR WOULD BE SHORTER WITH LESS READING PASSAGE QUESTIONS, AND THAT STUDENTS SHOWING GENUINE EFFORT WOULD BE ALLOWED EXTRA TIME TO COMPLETE THE TESTS.

WPCNR ASKED THE COMMISSIONER HOW THE SUCCESS OR LACK OF SUCCESS OF THE NEW TESTS WOULD BE DETERMINED IF THE RESULTS WOULD BE MEASURE AGAINST COLLEGE READINESS TESTS OR ADVANCED PLACEMENT TEST RESULTS.

SHE TOLD WPCNR SHE IS WORKING WITH EDUCATORS FROM THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AND CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK TO DETERMINE HOW TO DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE NEW TESTS.

SHE ASSURED THE AUDIENCE IN THE PUBLIC SESSIONS FROM 4:45  TO 7 PM THAT THE ISSUES OF TEACHER EVALUATION (USING ASSESSMENTS OR NOT) WOULD BE NEGOTIATED WITH THE TEACHERS UNTIL ALL SIDES ARE SATISFIED WITH THE SYSTEM.

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WPCNR BRIDGE NEWS. From the Governor’s Press Office. 4 P.M. EST:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today delivered an update on the State’s response to a tugboat accident and resulting fuel spill on the Hudson River.

One tugboat crew member is deceased, and State Police divers are coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard and local law enforcement to locate two remaining crew members who are unaccounted for. The State Department of Environmental Conservation and a private contractor have deployed a Rapid Response Team and monitoring equipment to contain leaking fuel from the sunken tug.

“Today’s accident was a tragedy, and we offer our thoughts are prayers to loved ones of the crew members aboard the tugboat,” Governor Cuomo said. “The State is actively working with our partners in law enforcement in locating the missing crew members and minimizing environmental damage along the Hudson River. We will conduct a full investigation to understand exactly what led to today’s events and provide more information as it becomes available.”

Summary of Incident

Early Saturday morning, three tugboats were transporting a barge with construction equipment southbound on the Hudson River. The barge and accompanying tugs did not come down the middle of a 600-foot-wide U.S. Coast Guard designated channel, instead approaching too close to a construction barge stationed next to Pier 31, where work on the Tappan Zee bridge replacement is happening. One of those tugs, by the name of Specialist, struck the Tappan Zee barge and sunk.

The Governor said:

“Brief summary of the situation: Approximately 5:15 a.m. this morning there was a barge coming down river headed south, the barge had a crane on it the barge and the crane that were coming south were unrelated to the Tappan Zee construction. The barge was being steered by three tugs one on the left, one on the right and one in the read. The tug on the right collided with a barge that also had a crane on it. That was a barge that had Tappan Zee contractor workers on it, 13 workers were on that barge, and that barge also had a crane. That barge was working on the Tappan Zee Bridge as part of the operation. The barge that was coming down the river was being operated by, two tugboats from New York Marine towing, and one was a Weeks tugboat. The tugboat that struck the Tappan Zee barge was being operated by New York Marine Towing out of Albany, it was the tug – that was on the right side.

There were no injuries on the Tappan Zee barge that had 13 workers. Speculation is that the workers saw that there was an imminent collision and had time to prepare themselves and brace themselves as to why there were no injuries of the 13 workers. The tug that hit the barge was name the Specialist; it was approximately 84 feet long, and apparently sunk within minutes of having collided with the barge.”

Tappan Zee Constructors, the builders of the bridge replacement, had a crew of 21 workers on their barge at the time; none were injuries when the tugboat struck.

After striking the barge, the tugboat began leaking up to 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel, creating a fuel slick approximately 100 yards wide and 5 miles long.

Local law enforcement deployed a fuel-containing apparatusto the water due to a visible sheen. Westchester County has initiated a cleanup agreement with a private party, Miller Environmental Group, to manage the diesel spill. Personnel from the State Department of Environment Conservation’s Oil Spill Team are on the scene to monitor and support the cleanup with two DEC vessels – a 31 foot with a crew of three and a 44 foot with a crew of three.

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner John P. Melville said: “The Division’s Office of Emergency Management and Fire Prevention and Control staff are providing command and control support and will continue to assist local, state and federal first responders during this incident.”

State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said: “The State Police have been working with our local law enforcement partners as well as first responders and the U.S. Coast Guard on rescue and recovery efforts since the accident was first reported. Our divers are working now to determine the position of the sunken tug so a decision can be made on how recovery operations will proceed.”

Acting DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said: “DEC crews are on site monitoring oil spill cleanup operations to ensure minimal impacts to the environment. Spill responders will remain on site as long as necessary until cleanup is complete.”

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MICHELLE DAWSON HAUNTING, SPIRITED THRILLING INSPIRING DULCINEA!

Garry Marachek as Sancho Panza and Michelle Dawson Aldonza helping Don Quixote (Paul Schoeffler) reach The Impossible Dream. All Photos by John Vecchiolla

PAUL SCHOEFFLER TOWERING POWERFUL QUIXOTE INSPIRES HER TOGETHER THEY LIFT HOPES.

WPCNR STAGE DOOR. FIRST RUSHES. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. March 11, 20016:

From the haunting burst of trumpets at the overture to the last lilting pleas of Michelle Dawson, Paul Schoeffler and company belting out “The Impossible Dream,” Westchester Broadway Theatre’s revival of musical that lifts you out of despair against all odds triumphed at its Opening Night last night. The Bravos wafted like Knights pennants in the closing ovation.

As Miguel de Cervantes, the tax collector, awaits his fate in the hopeless dungeon in Seville, awaiting his fate before the Spanish Inquisition court, Cervantes creates a play in the dark to amuse his fellowed doomed prisoners. It is a fanciful tale that is the second best selling book of all time next to the Bible, telling of a disillusioned nobleman who believes he is a knight, Don Quixote.

Captured by the beauty of the (very) fair Aldonza (magnificent Michelle Dawson) whom Quixote in his delusion refers to as Dulcinea, much to the serving girl’s disgust, Quixote defends her against the lowlifes who frequent the inn he and his squire, Sancho Panza (a most amusing and droll Gary Marachek) stop after he declares himself Man of La Mancha.

The play within the despair of the Grand Inquisitor’s dungeon never fails throughout to uplift the audience with its message to “Dream the Impossible Dream,” against the odds,  an anthem that inspired the 1960s. Originally designed to be staged in theatre-in-the-round just like the Westchester Broadway Theatre, the musical just fits

The ominous yet still fresh trumpets of the overture whisk you back to an age of repression far harrowing than today’s. The fighting prisoners in the dank dungeon (shown above); the imposing lowering gang plank that descends awesomely with a helmeted towering guard stepping menacingly down the stair seeking the next doomed wretch to face the Inquisitioner is a process that chills you with fear. The dungeon set designed by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case never lets you forget for a moment the hopelessness of the prisoners, a metaphor for the crises we each face personally every day in our own private dungeons we consistently struggle to escape.

The pair who struggle in Man of La Mancha:  Aldonza, the servant woman little more than a plaything tormented and disrespected by the riffraff who inhabit Cervantes’ mythical inn, is taken by the delusions of Don Quixote Man of La Mancha who transforms himself in his first big number Man of La Mancha – that brings out the “the noble knight” in every man especially with Paul Schoeffler’s lusty baritone that makes Quixote like Sir Lancelot.

Aldonza (Michelle Dawson) and ensemble perform One Pair of Arms

Ms. Dawson holds her own turning down and commanding the attentions of the Inn rowdies, with disdainful, mocking, cynical, confidence delivered amusingly by the runs, trills and amazing leaps of her coloratura soprano style in It’s All the Same. Leave it to Ms. Dawson’s amazing range to bring us back to hope and courage and the good fight as Quixote rises from his death bed, when she raises goosebumps by her echoing reprise of The Impossible Dream in the on- your-feet finale.

Comic turns in Act One feature David Cantor’s rendition of The Barber’s Song, and awarding Don Quixote The Golden Helmet of Mambrino.

Act One carries you to the pinnacle of the show—Mr. Schoeffler’s confident, growing-ever-stronger octave by octave Impossible Dream—a song that stirs the most downcast heart, which is the great strength of this show.

Act II begins with  Don Quixote rescuing  Dulcinea/Antonia from her tormenters the muleteers but also leads to Dulcinea’s undoing in a scene that could be disturbing for young audiences (it disturbed me),  and could have been done considerably more tastefully.

Before Dulcinea is carried away though Quixote is dubbed Knight of the Woeful Countenance by the innkeeper played drolly by Geoff Belliston .

The spectacular appearance of the Duke in shining armor (Quixote’s doctor in real life) leads to Quixote’s abrupt return to reality.

As he recovers, he does not remember his time as Quixote until Dulcinea (Ms.Dawson) appears as either his dream coming alive again – the impossible dream (psychiatrists help me out here), and as Quixote departs his spirit lives on in a stirring finale.

Schoeffler is every bit the swaggering, posturing Quixote who makes you root for him, because in reality we all dream the Impossible Dream – but we need some help. Man of La Mancha is a musical gives you that help.

It plays the WBT through May 1. Check the box office at 914-592-2222 or the WBT website, www.BroadwayTheatre.com.

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THE WHITE PLAINS COMMUNITY POLICING DIVISION HAS ADVISED WHITE PLAINS RESIDENTS OF THE FOLLOWING TELEPHONE FRAUDS BEING PERPETRATED ON ELDERLY RESIDENTS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES.

IF YOU ARE ASKED TO PAY AN OUTSTANDING BILL THROUGH GREEN DOT OR MONEYGRAM BY A PARTY RELATED TO A LEGITIMATE BUSINESS, POLICE ADVISE YOU THIS COULD BE A SCAM.

THE CALLS ARE BEING MADE TO ELDERLY OR LOCAL BUSINESSES.

CALLERS THREATEN TO CUT OFF SERVICE, HAVE YOU ARRESTED, OR ENACT AN IMMEDIATE PENALTY.

CALLERS INSIST YOU PAY BY GREEN DOT CARD OR MONEY GRAM PRIMARILY BUT MAY SUGGEST OTHER TYPES OF PRE-PAID CARDS — THEY EXERT VERY HIGH PRESSURE AND INSIST YOU PAY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

IN GENERAL, WHITE PLAINS POLICE SAY, NO LEGITIMATE COMPANY WOULD INSIST OR MANDATE THIS TYPE OF PAYMENT.

IF A COMPANY, A UTILITY SERVICE DEMAND YOU PURCHASE MONEY CARDS AND CALL THEM BACK WITH THE MONEY CARD SERIAL NUMBER, IT IS ALMOST CERTAINLY A SCAM.

CALL THE REAL COMPANY TO VERIFY WHETHER YOU OWE MONEY AND HOW PAYMENT MAY BE RECEIVED BY THEM. DO NOT USE THE NUMBER GIVEN BY THE SCAMMER, USE PHONE NUMBER FROM A BILL RECEIPT OR PHONE LISTING.

CALLERS HAVE PURPORTED TO BE FROM SEVERAL BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING

CON EDISON

CABLEVISION

WHITE PLAINS (OR OTHER CITIES) COURT

WATER DEPARTMENT

US MARSHALLS OR OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT ENTITIES INVOLVING WARRANTS FOR ARREST

IRS (TAXES OVERDUE)

CLAIMS OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN JAIL, CAR ACCIDENT, OR OTHER NEEDS OF ASSISTANCE

IF YOU ARE SUSPICIOUS OR WORRIED, CONTACT THE WHITE PLAINS POLICE DEPARTMENT 914-422-6111

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. NEWS & COMMENT by John F. Bailey. March 10, 2016:

THE WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL BUDGET AND THE CITY OF WHITE PLAINS BUDGETSHAVE PROBLEMS..RIGHT NOW THE SCHOOL BUDGET IS DEPENDING ON MORE AID FROM THE STATE..YET IT IS ROLLING OVER LAST YEAR’S BUDGET AND EXPECTS IT TO BE $209.3 MILLION –$3.5 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

THE CITY ASSESSMENT ROLL HAS STAYED THE SAME BUT –SINCE IT DID NOT GO UP THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS TO ABSORB THE 1.7% INCREASE IN SPENDING THEY CURRENTLY PLAN. THIS MEANS THEY HAVE TO GET THE MONEY FROM YOU BY RAISING THE TAX RATE $13 TO $228.

THIS IS A 2.13% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE WHICH TRANSLATES TO—AROUND $235 MORE IN TAXES FOR A MEDIAN PRICED HOME ($650,000)—THAT’S WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS NOW DEPENDING ON THE SCHOOL INSTRUCTION BUDGET COMING UP NEXT WEEK—AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT ANOTHER BIG BOND ISSUE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR. 

THE CITY HAS A BIG LABOR PROBLEM.

THE POLICE SETTLED WITH THE CITY FOR A 6.75 % SALARY INCREASE THROUGH 2017-18…BUT THE OTHER THREE UNION CONTRACTS ARE UP THIS YEAR SO YOU KNOW THE POLICE, CSEA AND THE TEAMSTERS ARE HUNGERING FOR PARITY.T

HIS WILL COST THE CITY PLENTY IF THE PRESENT SOFTNESS IN SALES TAXES CONTINUES—IT WAS DOWN 6% IN JANUARY…AN ADDITIONAL $6 MILLION IN SALARY PLUS BENEFITS IN THE 2016-2017 YEAR AMOUNTS TO A $16 PER THOUSAND INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE –TO COVER THAT IF THE SALES TAXES CONTINUE TO SOFTEN.

THAT IS A 1% INCREASE IN THE TAX RATE (UNLESS HOTEL TAXES HELP OUT)…NOT AS BAD AN INCREASE AS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT POSSIBLY FACES…BUT THE PROBLEM IS THESE SO-CALLED BUSINESSES (THE CITY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICTDO NOT CUT EXPENSES AS THEY GO FORWARD FACING BLEAK HOME PRICES, AND LACKLUSTER ECONOMY GROWTH.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW THE CITY PARKING REVENUES ARE DOING—AND THE CITY FUND BALANCE IS DEFINITELY NOT GROWING BECAUSE $5 Million of the sales tax set aside every year is used to pay salaries and is not socked away for a rainy day.

OVER IN GREENBURGH—WE LEARNED THAT GREENBURGH HAS BEEN VERY PATIENT WITH OVER 300 HOMEOWNERS DELINQUENT IN THEIR TAXES…LOST IN THE GREENBURGH PRESS RELEASE IS THE GLARING FACT THAT THOSE HOMES LEFT – 72 THAT GREENBURGH IS ASKING THE COURT TO FORECLOSE ON WILL BE SOLD BY THE TOWN..FURTHER LOWERING REAL ESTATE VALUES. IT SHOWS THE ECONOMY IS STILL SICK DESPITE THE ROSY FORECASTS OF JOBS BEING UP.

SPEAKING OF JOBS –THE PLAYLAND JOB FAIR IS THIS WEEKEND AT THE COUNTY CENTER—BUT MORE TO THE POINT WHO IS GOING TO RUN PLAYLAND IS THE COUNTY REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT SPENDING $58 MILLION MORE OR LESS ON INFRASTRUCTURE?

THAT’S WHAT THE DEVELOPER HANDPICKED BY THE ASTORINO ADMINISTRATION WANTS THE COUNTY TO SPEND…AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE AND THE DEVELOPER WANTS TO RUN PLAYLAND FOR 30 YEARS…ARE THEY SERIOUS? I THOUGHT THE APPEAL OF THIS DEAL WAS WE’D BE RELIEVED OF PLAYLAND DEBT SERVICE AND THE COUNTY WOULD MAKE MONEY?

WE TAXPAYERS DO ALL THE PAYING AND THE DEVELOPER GETS ALL THE LIVING.

BUT DOES THE COUNTY BUDGET COMMITTEE TAKE UP PLAYLAND FIRST ON THE AGENDA MONDAY. NO.

WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY TAKING CARE OF PLAYLAND THE LAST 6 YEARS DURING THE ASTORINO YEARS, AND DURING THE SPANO YEARS? WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT THE COUNTY BOARD’S REVIEW OF THE ORIGINAL DEAL? (A LOOK AT BY A DISORGANIZED POSSE OF LEGISLATORS RIDING BY ON A FAST HORSE.)

WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT HOW CLOSELY THE DEVELOPER LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY…$60 MILLION IS A LOT TAXPAYER MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN AND IT HAS TO BE SPENT BY THE COUNTY WITHIN 3 YEARS. THE COUNTY TAKES A DECADE TO REBUILD A SWIMMING POOL

THIS PLAYLAND SCREW UP IS A LOUSY JOB BY THE ASTORINO ADMINISTRATION, AND THE SHEEPISH COUNTY BOARD IN REVIEWING THE FIRST DEAL.

AND REMEMBER SUSTAINABLE PLAYLAND WAS THROWN OUT BY THE  COUNTY BOARD BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT ASSURE THE BOARD THEY WOULD FINANCE WHAT THEY WANTED TO DO WITH THE PARK AND REVEAL WHO WOULD BE THEIR VENDORS….

IF THE BOARD APPROVES THIS 30 YEAR DEAL –WITH SHARPLY HIGHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COUNTY SHARE OF THE PROFIT SHARING…THAT COVERS THE $60 MILLION DEBT THE NEW VENDOR WANTS THEM TO PICK UP IT IS A BAD DEAL FOR THE TAXPAYER.

WHAT’S NEW? EVERY GOVERNMENT DEAL IS A BAD DEAL FOR THE TAXPAYER.