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 WHITE PLAINS LAW JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. August 18,2010 UPDATED August 20,2010:  

Mayor Bradley in a statement to the Common Council at a Special Meeting today, said The Board of Ethics has filed a complaint against him involving his “temporary residency (in White Plains) and the possibility that the owner of the property is doing business with the city.” WPCNR awaits the complete statement from the Mayor’s Office.

WPCNR has learned from a county source Wednesday that the Mayor is now living at one of the apartments at Hall Avenue (1-19 Hall Avenue) because “his car was spotted there.” A new spokesperson for the Mayor confirmed that to The Journal News Thursday.

The Journal News also reports that the owner of the apartment house is attempting to purchase a small piece of land from the city citing a letter to the Planning Department that the paper obtained on a Freedom of Information request.

The Special Meeting Tuesday was called at the request of  Chief of Staff John Callahan for the purpose of the Common Council to appoint a Special Counsel to represent the Board of Ethics and investigate the Board complaint. The council declined to act today to  appoint Steven Leventhal, the Callahan-suggested Special Counsel, pending further consideration of other possible attorneys, voting unanimously to table the appointment until August 26. Mr. Leventhal of Leventhal and Sliney, if the council approves him would be paid a fee not to exceed $20,000, and $5,000 for a court reporter.

Earlier, Mark Elliot, the Chairman of the City Board of Ethics confirmed to Ben Rubin of The Journal News that the Board brought the complaint July 20 and met August 13, finding probable cause for the complaint.

Bradley had been living at his parents’ home since placed on a restraining order from seeing his wife, and recently moved into another residence in the city. Mr. Rubin reported the Mayor declined to say where he is living.

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RENT, the gritty, life-affirming musical experience celebrates the power of love and friendship and community. Set in NYC’s East Village, RENT is a modern take on the classic Giacomo Puccini opera, “La Bohème”. The mustical that ran on Broadway for 12 years,  written by White Plains High School graduate, the late John Larson, opens Thursday evening at the WBT, and will play through September 25.

Tonya Thompson and Andy Kelso (as Mark) on the set.

Photo, Courtesy,Westchester Broadway Theatre by Jennifer Edwards Kawa

This unforgettable story of a group of starving artists who, despite poverty and illness, learn to fall in love and find their voices, brings a universal message of hope for everyone. For information, go to www.broadwaytheatre.com or call 914-592-2222

The musical was first seen in a limited three-week workshop production at New York Theatre Workshop in 1994. RENT opened at the Nederlander Theatre on the 100th anniversary of the original “La Bohème”. Unfortunately, Jonathan Larson died unexpectedly the night of the show’s final preview. But his creation would go on to become one of the biggest Broadway success stories of the decade.  Before Rent, Jonathan Larson had composed another musical called Superbia, a rock monologue; tick, tick … BOOM! and a variety of songs for children including songs for “Sesame Street.”

Over the course of its groundbreaking 12-year New York run, RENT  transformed the definition of musical theater — and changed Broadway forever. RENT gained critical acclaim and garnered all the major theatre awards of 1996 including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Obie Award, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and three Drama Desk Awards.

The Show has left a powerful legacy in the theater community, which for many decades had seemed doomed to revivals of 1950s classic musicals. Many theater critics hold the show partly responsible for the restoration of the American musical. Since RENT premiered in 1996, the call for new Broadway shows has increased tremendously, and a new generation has been brought to the theater by the message and power of the show.

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WPCNR ENTERTAINMENT TOMORROW. August 11, 2010 UPDATED August 12, 2010, 11:30 P.M. E.D.T. with Broadcast Link:

Former White Plains resident, Candyce Corcoran, internationally known as an animal rescuer, and defender of the delicate Bichon Frise breed, and finder of homes for animals who have no home,better known in the past in White Plains for her challenges to Bill Ryan and her runs for the Common Council and tireless work for a major party is fitting right in, downhome in Nashville, Music City, USA.

Candyce and Oliver arrive at WSMV-TV NBC Studios in Nashville Wednesday for their appearance on BETTER NASHVILLE with Kacy Hagerty which telecast Thursday on NBC affiliate. To see the interview go to Click here: Dog Helps Kids Cope With Daily Meds – Video – WSMV Nashville

Ms. Corcoran has been a resident of Murfreesboro,Tennessee,for one year, just outside of Music City, USA,  Ms. Corcoran through her community involvement on environmental issues and work with local Bichon Frise owners and fanciers is rapidly becoming a key factor in the resilient and historic pillar of the South, Nashville

Thursday, Ms. Corcoran was interviewed on the NBC Television network affiliate, Channel 4 on Kacy Hagerty’s program BETTER NASHVILLE. The program may be viewed on the internet on this link: Click here: Dog Helps Kids Cope With Daily Meds – Video – WSMV Nashville . Ms. Corcoran discusses her children’s book “Oliver,” written by her to help children cope with medical treatments.

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. Photos Forwarded From John Shapiro, Director of Operations, Florida International Terminal, LLC., Port Everglades August 10, 2010 UPDATED 5:07 P.M. E.D.T.:

WPCNR presents exclusive photographs depicting the Sunday collision off the port of Mumbai in the Arabian Sea, unfolding. The MV Khalijia and the MSC Chitra collided, causing the Chitra to list, spilling its cargo into the Arabian Sea off the Port. For the story, go to http://indiascanner.com/collision-merchant-ships-msc-chitra-mv-khalijaiiiSliofficials-navigational-error-9442

Oil cargo leaks from the Chitra Monday, threatening Port of Mumbai (on horizon) For more shots of this “navigation error,” now under investigation. Click “Read More”

The Bow of the Kilijia  quayside in Mumbai after the collision, reminiscent of the SS Stockholm after it rammed the Andrea Doria in 1956.

According to the Indian Scanner website, around 200 containers have been floating in a radius of 2 miles outside the Port of Mumbai. MSC Chitra is has a cargo of 88000 tones of lube oil and 239 tonnes of diesel. The Indian government says the waters off Mumbai are very sensitive and efforts are being made to contain the spill. Dispersants are being applied.

The Chitra in a 70 degree list

Another view.

Cargo Sliding off the decks. Bow View

Ocean Overwhelming the Carrier, floating carriers into the sealanes

Listing at approximately 80 degrees.

Oil leaks.

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WPCNR CAMPAIGN 2010. From the Thomas Roach Campaign. August 10,2010 (Edited):

Assembly Candidate Tom Roach (D, I WF) issued a news release Monday that  said  his campaign for the 89^th Assembly District will focus on ways to reform Albany. “Like everyone else in New York, I am fed up with Albany dysfunction.  That’s why I am running for the Assembly. I’ve signed a number of pledges prepared by independent organizations that share my concerns and want to see business as usual in Albany brought to an end.”  

“I am committed to working for an on-time and balanced state budget without any increases in taxes, fees, assessments or borrowing as well as no unfunded mandates that would cause local property taxes to rise. This can only be accomplished by a real reduction in state spending.”

Mr. Roach faces Harrison attorney Mark S. Jaffe in the September 14 Democratic Primary for the opportunity to run against Robert Castelli, the Republican incumbent who won the 89th District seat by soundly defeating Peter Harckham of Katonah last February to replace former Assemblyman Adam Bradley.

Roach said that he believes that the state should use performance budgeting and outcomes measurement to be sure that the programs and services funded are not redundant and are meeting stated goals.

He has also signed pledges for independent redistricting. “Incumbent re-election is something to be deserved; it is not an automatic right. Gerrymandering districts to keep the status quo has only perpetuated the problems we now face. Enough is enough,” he said.

Roach noted that the first step in the process has to be the creation of an independent, non-partisan redistricting commission that is free from legislative and partisan influence.  In signing pledges sponsored by the Westchester County Association as well as NY Uprising, Roach is committed to working for a diverse commission whose members are not elected officials, not relatives of elected officials, not lobbyists, or party representatives.

Roach also signed a pledge to further transparency in government and promised to vote for ethics reforms regardless of the position of the leadership in the state legislature.

“The public has the right to hold their elected officials to the highest standard. This means that state legislators should be required to file a comprehensive annual disclosure form, available to the public, to disclose any outside income as well as any relationships or associations that may involve government interests or issues.”

Roach noted that the pledges he signed are the requirements of good and responsive government. “I have seen first hand, as president of the White Plains Common Council, how a dysfunctional Albany negatively impacts local government and our residents. I take these pledges seriously…because that’s how we can begin to reform Albany,” he said.

NY Uprising is a non-partisan, independent coalition started by Ed Koch to seek government reform in Albany. Roach is listed on its website as a “hero of reform”.