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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WPCNR News & Comment By John F. Bailey. October 5, 2014:

In this boring, uncontested election season with no candidates really addressing the issues, and the prospect of more blather and dither ahead it’s refreshing to have a shocking resignation that opens up the political log jam.

When someone goes down, someone else moves on up.

Last week, Eric Holder, the first African-American Attorney General announced he was stepping down.

NPR reported the names of three persons who might be in line to replace him. One was the relentless crusader, merciless menace to Wall Street insider traders, who has finally more than any U.S. attorney in memory, made white collar criminals and crooked businesspersons sweat and, surprise, actually go to jail.

None other that Preet Bharara.

Bharara  appears to have the prosecutorial record of convictions meaning trouble for the corporate robber barons looting the economy and the taxpayer’s pocket, while evading corporate taxes abroad. Barara knows how to do investigations and put together a case and works effectively with other law enforcement agencies to get the goods.

Besides he has been such a rat dog dick on the guys in the white shirts and bland ties and bellies-over-the-belt set that the establishment has to get him out of New York and kick him upstairs so they can get back to stealing as usual with a kinder, gentler U.S. Attorney.

Besides moving The Preeter up from the Southern District of New York  (Big Crime’s Hometown), frees up a move-up position. Now, can you name a District Attorney that might move into that position?

I suggest Janet DiFiore, who was elected to her third term as Westchester District Attorney last year. since I cannot even name. She has been County D.A. for  nine years now. She needs another job, to open the D.A. ship for an appointment by the Astorino administration who can reward a Republican.

Of course there may be a New York City D.A. candidate, a DiBlasio selection,or Obama may go with one of the other choices,  but no matter what, the U.S. Attorney position in the southern district will be weakened with Bharara’s departure.

DiFiore sounds like a logical political move-up, and she is a Democrat.

Why? Because appointing her puts a woman in a major prosecutorial spotlight. She will inherit many of Preet’s on-going cases, assuring herself of some victories early. Bharara cases usually stick.  She will be able to ease up on some sensitive cases, making the establishment breathe easier if that is what the establishment wants.

Heroin abuse is up in Rockland and the northern Westchester County border but is not apparently as bad in most of the county. Gang activity appears more controlled as I write this because ever since DiFiori held her gang conference among law enforcement parties seven years ago we have not heard much about gang activity. Does this mean gang activity is down?

My point is DiFiore has neither a bad track record or a good one. She is bland. Has not made anyone mad. Just who you want to lower the heat on the big time crooks. And with gambling coming to New York, you definitely want someone in the U.S. Attorney position politically sensitive. You know gambling companies want as little scrutiny as possible. Bharara is anything but, but he is dragging his feet on the State Senate tax evasion scandal.

People I speak to about this are laughing at the suggestion of DiFiore for U.S. Attorney. But they laughed when she ran for District Attorney in Westchester County, too.

You if you are the establishment do not want the U.S. attorney to go after the 20 legislators who were singled out by Governor Cuomo’s commission for tax evasion and false reporting on their income taxes, who just happened to vote in Governor Cuomo’s budget. No connection, of course.

We have been waiting for Preet to pounce on that one, but alas, he may be going to Washington. It does not look like anything is going to come out of the U.S. Attorney’s office on that tax evasion situation by legislators until after the election. Talk about good timing for those scaliwags!

Anyway, it is a thought that with Preet going to Washington…who will replace him in this key position. I do not think DiFiori is right for it. But who is? We were lucky to have Preet going after the corrupt, the profane, the greedy, the snake-oil salespersons while we had him.

Ms. DiFiore’s resume from the Westchester District Attorney website:

District Attorney Janet DiFiore has dedicated her career to public service as both a former Judge and a prosecutor in Westchester County, New York.

Elected as District Attorney in 2005 and re-elected in 2009 and 2013, District Attorney DiFiore is the County’s chief law enforcement officer of Westchester County, New York. Her 238 person office includes 119 Assistant District Attorneys, 34 Investigators and 85 support personnel. Together they prosecute approximately 40,000 cases each year.

District Attorney DiFiore served as an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County for more than ten years, and as Chief of Narcotics for the last four and a half of those years. As Chief of Narcotics, she coordinated drug enforcement and prosecution efforts within Westchester County on behalf of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Elected as a Judge of the Westchester County Court in 1998 and as a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court in 2002, District Attorney DiFiore presided over hundreds of cases in Westchester County Court, Family Court and the New York State Supreme Court. In 2003, District Attorney DiFiore was appointed by Chief Judge Judith Kaye to serve as the Supervising Judge for the Criminal Courts in the 9^th Judicial District, with oversight responsibility of the criminal courts of Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Rockland and Putnam Counties. She served as Supervising Judge until May of 2005 when she resigned from the bench in order to run for District Attorney.

District Attorney DiFiore has initiated policies and programs at the District Attorney’s Office that have enhanced prosecutions and improved public safety. In response to the longstanding critical need for more effective coordination among Westchester’s 42 local police departments and county, state and federal law enforcement agencies, District Attorney DiFiore led the development of the Westchester Intelligence Center, which provides technological resources, data analysis and coordination to support these agencies.

Working with partners from County and local government and child advocacy agencies, the District Attorney led the effort to create the Child Fatality Review Team, the Multidisciplinary Team and the Child Advocacy Center. Together, they provide systematic analysis of child fatalities and risks to children’s health and safety, and investigate cases of child abuse through multi-disciplinary teams that achieve the most effective and compassionate results.

The District Attorney was a partner in the creation of Westchester’s Family Justice Center, a comprehensive facility for services for victims of domestic violence and their families. Sharpening the Office’s approach to violent felonies, District Attorney DiFiore established the Violent Felony Screening Protocol, a system of early review of violent felony cases by a Deputy Division Chief to assess the legal and factual issues and seek to enhance the prosecution of such cases.

In 2009, District Attorney DiFiore was appointed by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman to serve as Co-Chair of the New York State Justice Task Force, a permanent body created to examine the causes of wrongful convictions, make recommendations for reform, and monitor the effectiveness of any reform that is implemented. The membership of the Justice Task Force consists of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, law enforcement personnel, legal scholars, legislators, executive branch officials, victim advocates, and forensic experts. The Task Force has issued two reports to date, Recommendations Regarding Forensics and the Expansion of the DNA Database and Recommendations for Improving Eyewitness Identifications.

District Attorney DiFiore has served on then-Chief Judge Judith Kaye’s Commission on the Future of Criminal Indigent Defense Services and Commission on Drugs and Courts. In addition, she has served as the New York State Unified Court System’s Coordinator for Access to Justice Initiatives for the 9^th Judicial District, and as a member of the Office of Court Administration’s Committee on Criminal Jury Instructions, the Task Force on the Future of Probation in New York State and the New York State Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board.

District Attorney DiFiore serves on numerous boards that deal with criminal justice issues in Westchester County, including the Westchester County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, the Westchester County Domestic Violence Council, the Task Force on the Future of Probation in New York State, the CLUSTER/Restorative Justice Advisory Board and previously, the Advisory Board of the Westchester Holocaust Commission’s Juvenile Offender Program.

Governor Andrew Cuomo recently named her as a member of the Commission on Youth, Public Safety & Justice.

In July, 2011, the District Attorney was installed as President of the District Attorney’s Association of the State of New York.

She is a member of the National District Attorney’s Association and a Co-Chair of the Grievances/Ethics Committee of the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. District Attorney DiFiore also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County and the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Wrongful Convictions. She is a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Westchester Italian Cultural Center and on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Children’s Museum. District Attorney DiFiore is on the Board of Visitors at Pace University School of Law and on the Advisory Council of Mercy College School of Social and Behavioral Science. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Westchester Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center, and is a member of the Greyston Foundation’s Wisdom Council. She is an advisory group member of the New York State-Federal Council.

Recent honors include in 2011 the Distinguished Alumnae Award from the Women’s Law Society of St. John’s Law School and in 2010, the “Spirit of Giving” Community Service Award at the Lois Bronz Children’s Center’s Annual Gala and the Star of Hope Award from the Westchester Region of Hadassah.

District Attorney DiFiore has lectured, both in New York and abroad, to judges and lawyers about domestic violence, the effects of domestic violence on children, ethics, and problem-solving courts and effective case management techniques.

She is a lifelong Westchester County resident and is married to Dennis E. Glazer, a partner at the law firm of Davis Polk & Wardwell. They have three children.

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George Dvorsky as Emile deBecque and Hayley Swindal plays Nellie Forbush on the beach falling in love in Westchester Broadway Theatre’s revival of SOUTH PACIFIC that opened this week. All photos by John Vecchiolla

WPCNR FOURTH ROW CENTER. Theatrical Review by John F. Bailey. October 4, 2014:

First there’s the lilt of the score as the overture begins, then those familiar strains of Some Enchanted Evening, Wonderful Guy, Bloody Mary, Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair, (you’ll know ‘em, Mack) as the lights go up on a idyllic terrace overlooking the Pacific, and you’re transported into another time, world and mindset – the South Pacific islands at the height of World War II at the land of make believe, Westchester Broadway Theatre. The revival of the Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rogers is an enchanted evening.

Haley Swindal (Nellie), George Dvorsky(Emil) Kaleigh Picco as Ngana, Daniel Ward as Jerome and Pedro Kaawaloa as Henry.

The enchantment starts when the two children of Emile de Becque go through lessons (Isabella D’Erasmo and Kaleigh Picco alternate as Ngana, and Kyle Arzaga and Daniel Ward as Jerome)  on a terrace set for tea, dueting cutely on Dites Moi— one of the great grab-the-heart-at-the-get-go openings.

South Pacific is all about the heart, how its longings take you over; how the wishes are fulfilled; how they are dashed, and the triumph of the heart related through characters remarkably believable with Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan book that moves right along to plot-sensitive, action-consistent songs—one Broadway classic belt after another.

Nurse Nellie Forbush (Hailey Swindel, previously seen here in Nine) coyly finds herself attracted to the dashing older man, and sings I’m a Cocked Optimist. DeBecque (crafted perfectly by baritone suave by George Dvosky, who created the title role in The Scarlet Pimpernel on Broadway)  lifts your heart and makes Nellie’s beat faster with a splendid Some Enchanted Evening.  (Come on, you remember the words) In minutes, you care about these characters from two different worlds, as Nellie fights her reluctance to fit into a marriage where she will have to be step-mother to two Asian children from de Becque’s first marriage. He invites Nellie to a party to introduce her to the island, the romance is heady but Nellie is not sure.

Enter Lt. Joseph Cable (Zach Trimmer) attempting to set up a spy mission behind enemy lines, meeting the sailors at headquarters with Bloody Mary (Joanne Javien) trying to make a sale.

Then we go to the navy base where the sailors, Seabees and Marines working the port, get a visit from one of two scene stealers, Bloody Mary played with comic timing somewhat and dated Pidgin English by Joanne Javien, who tries to make a Yankee Dollar by selling souveneirs to the bored sailors. Why are they bored? They ain’t got Dames, as the rollicking crew rouses all with There’s Nothing Like a Dame.

Javien wraps up that seen with an exotic ode to Bali Ha’I the special island. javien who is more attractive than most actresses I have seen play Bloody Mary,makes the mystery of Bali Ha’i come through with lilting, lush, broads sweeps of her voice. Really she takes one of the weaker songs in the score and because of the power of her voice, makes it into a promise that keeps.

But wait, there’s a war on, and the Navy is trying to get into it instead of hanging around the base. The dashing Zach Trimmer, Lieutenant Joe Cable  arrives at the Commander’s office, played with navy-perfect pompousness and authority by James Van Treuren who brings an edge of sharp reality to every role he does (he stepped in on Opening of Kiss Me Kate here two years ago and played the lead spendidly—an actor’s actor).

Trimmer as the cocky pilot and Treuren as the base Commander are no-nonsense military presences. As Cable seeks to go behind enemy occupied islands to spy and report Japanese warship convoys.  He seeks the help of de Becque.

Stephanie Cowan, Maria Logan, Haley Swindalz (Nellie) Ashley Lanyon, Laura Yen Solito, Sarah Ellis “Wash That Man Right Out of Their Hair.”

Swindal tries to Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair on the beach only to have de Becque overhear her. And as they leave, Swindal tells the woman’s side, singing Wonderful Guy. Swindal’s way with the swing of the upbeat songs Nellie sings makes Nellie particular appealing to the audience, while underlying her conflict as to whether she will be happy. After all she is from Little Rock.

The Swindal “Swing” really sells her role.

While Cable waits to see if de Becque will change his mind, he hangs out with the sailors and the comic bosun Luther Billis (Bill Dietrich, master of the comic quip) inveigles Cable to take a night cruise to Bali Ha’i. Romances blossoms as matchmaker Bloody Mary introduces Cable to Liat, her daughter (Alison T. Chi. Cable and Liat are instantly attracted. Cable sings Younger Than Springtime to her with a masculine sensitivity that makes this throwback romantic love song not only sweet but powerful.

Zach Trimmer as Lt. Cable and Alison T.Chi as Liat discovering each other

South Pacific mixes two tear-jerking romantic liaisons with a nervous adventure story.

In Act Two, you are started off splendidly with a real slice of how life was in World War II, with Thanksgiving Follies, a camp holiday show, with a procession of sight gags children and the adults will love.

Ms. Swindal  with her beyond cute sass channels a Mary Martinesque duet on Honey Bun with Bill Dietrich as Luther Billis dressed in a grass skirt. He is particularly comic and she gamin-Gaynor cute! (Mitzi Gaynor played the role in the South Pacific movie version.

De Becque sends Nellie flowers to try and win her back, but she does not receive them. De Becque laments his fate in a another very effective treatment of This Nearly Was Mine. His ringing voice delivers the pain, the regret, the emptiness of loss that makes this song resonate with any male who has lost a woman they were crazy about.

Director Charles Repole and Musical Director Leo Carusone have paid particular attention to allowing Mr. Dvorsky and Mr. Trimmer to let themselves really loose on Some Enchanted Evening, This Nearly Was Mine, Younger Than Springtime

Then there are  very nervous times in ACT II, as de Becque decides to join Cable on the mission.

They fly out of the base in a staging that suspends the audience’s belief by imaging with spotlights and overhead roar of Lockheed-alike airplane props growling up  into the night with wing lights flashing overhead. Highly imaginative stage by  WBT’S light man, Andrew Gmoser and set designer, Steve Loftus.

The radio transmissons from the radio shack build the suspense. Will the couples reunite?

Will Nellie overcome her fear of being able to love children not hers?  Will Lieutenant Cable accept Liat?

South Pacific creates a real feel to the military of the World War II era; Bookman  Joshua Logan, who served in the military in World War II was able to write military types and military dialogue that delivered how the Navy was back in that crucial time.

South Pacific delivers  the suspense of a movie; the feelings that we love feeling and hate feeling and the entire cast just sends you out with tears, pride, good feelings, and appreciation of that time.

South Pacific plays through January 25. For ticket information go to www.BroadwayTheatre.com or call  the box office at  914-592-2268. Try the brand-new dinner selection, sliced ham, it is delicious!

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WPCNR THE BOYKIN BEACON. From County Legislator, District 5, Benjamin Boykin. October 4, 2014:

The New York State Department of Taxation and Finance is warning residents about scam artists attempting to gain personal information by claiming victims are eligible for a tax rebate.

Initial reports are that the calls have been made in Central New York. However, the Department cautions all New Yorkers to be vigilant when being asked for personal information.

“Tax scammers will take advantage of any opportunity to solicit information-including social security numbers-from taxpayers,” New York State Taxpayer Rights Advocate Margaret Neri said in a statement.

The department always makes first contact by letter, which includes a phone number to verify that it was sent by the agency.

For the new Family Tax Relief and Property Tax Freeze Credits, the Department confirms eligibility using available data; taxpayers are not being contacted by telephone.

To report a scam, call the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau – 1-800-771-7755.

Sincerely,

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WPCNR ASSEMBLY ROUNDS. From the Office of Assemblyman David Buchwald. October 2, 2014:

 Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced that he will be hosting his third Small Business Forum on Tuesday October 7th, with this one focused on the important topic of how small businesses and nonprofits interact. The goal of the meeting is to facilitate an exchange of ideas and to understand the priorities and concerns of the business and nonprofit communities in Westchester County.

It will be an in-depth conversation with experts on how these two types of organizations can work to help each other and what resources are available for their use. Assemblyman Buchwald is pleased to be hosting this forum at the White Plains Public Library located at 100 Martine Ave., and the public is invited to participate. The forum will begin promptly at 9:30am and will conclude at 11am.  

Please RSVP with Assemblyman Buchwald’s District Office Director Alex Roithmayr at 914-244-4450 or roithmayra@assembly.state.ny.us

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL-CHRONICLE EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. September 29, 2014 UPDATED 10:30 P.M.:

The jury will remain out on the French American School of New York proposal to build a 5-building campus on the former Ridgeway Country Club as the concurrent hearings have adjourned to October 28 at 6:30 P.M.

The continuation makes it a certainty that no Common Council decision will be made before Election Day, November 4.

The scope of the questions and acerbic comments delivered by the Council to the FASNY representatives indicate that it may be months before the site plan, legal agreements, traffic management, aesthetics, and construction protocols are satisfied to the Council satisfaction, if they indeed can be satisfied. The FASNY representatives appeared stunned by the commentary leveled at them this evening.

Comments from the public may still be delivered for consideration,  based on this evening’s  French American School of New York adjustments offered tonight. Tonight’s council questioning was based on public comments through the September 9 adjournment of the hearings.  New comments may be sent to the Mayor’s Office at 255 Main Street or the City Clerk through the 28th and beyond.

The adjournment is for the French American School of New York to respond to questions raised by all 7 members of the Common Council with Michael Zarin, the attorney for The French American School. Tonight’s session lasted from 6:30 P.M. to 10:15 P.M.

Mayor Tom Roach was very concerned about whether the “Conservsancy” agreement “ran with the land,” should the operation planned by FASNY cease to be a school. He said that perpetual use of the conservancy by community residents was a key matter that FASNY had to address. He also said that discontinuance of Hathaway Lane “could not be taken lightly,” and that not a compelling case has been made yet.

Councilpersons Dennis Krolian was very concerned about the safety issues on North Street, and wanted more  traffic study of the effect of FASNY’s suggestion of adding a 140-foot left turn lane in the northbound lane of North Street leading in to the North Street entrance.  He also sparred with Mr. Zarin’s longheld view that schools and churches had to be approved based on previous court rulings, pointing out that the actual decision cited by Zarin said that approval depended on the impact on the neighborhood.

Krolian also queried Zarin closely on the question of where the school stood with the Army Corps of Engineers on the issue of jurisdiction over wetlands. Zarin soft-shoed around the importance of this Army Corps jurisdiction issue, not saying where the school actually stood with the Army Corps. Krolian did not press Zarin on whether all documents had been submitted.

Councilperson Milagros Lecouna was most concerned about why the school site plan  increased square footage of the first Phase of the project ( High School and Middle School) was 30,000 square feet larger when enrollment had been decreased 20%.  She also wanted clarification on what exactly Phases 1 and 2 consisted of.

Councilperson Nadine Hunt-Robinson commented she was most concerned about the health and safety of White Plains High School students, the restrictions and conditions of the conservancy  agreement,  and the specifics of the construction plan, and the enforcement of the school busing plan and contingencies if other school districts stopped providing school busing servieces.

Zarin, FASNY attorney,  said the school is looking for guidance from the city on the construction plan restrictions and requirements. He mentioned in passing that Turner Construction was going to be the contractor.

Beth Smayda expressed concern on the issue of landscape buffering, the additional parking near Hathaway Lane and why it was needed, as well as the outdoor basketball court and the need for a three-dimensional video simulation.

John Martin, the Council President observed that a compelling case for Hathaway Lane closure had not been made. He termed the traffic management plan “insufficient.”

In convening the continued hearings Mayor Thomas Roach said the hearings would not be closed tonight because there are a number of questions that the applicant will have to address. Common Council questions will be forthcoming later this evening.

The hearing (with both continuations of the site plan special permit and the Hathaway Lane closure running concurrently), should be available on the city of  White Plains website Tuesday for your viewing.