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 STAGE DOOR. May 1, 2008: In response to a request from WPCNR, Treasurer Ted Peluso of the White Plains Performing Arts Center Board of Trustees has provided more detail on the Arts Center halo effect on White Plains. Mr. Peluso and Chairman of the Board of Trustrees provided this detail on the Center’s impact on the city economy by its continued presence.

Mr. Peluso projects that in 2008-2009 the center will deliver $230,000 in local government revenues (not exclusively sales tax), and 95 full-time equivalent jobs (not all employed at the Arts Center). Mr. Peluso’s statement:

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. April 30, 2008: The County Legislators Compensation Advisory Board came out in favor of freezing Westchester County Legislators’ salaries until January 2010. They called for raises in salaries and stipends only to be voted upon after odd-year elections and to be limited to the cost of living price index.  Their recommendations are not binding, and the legislature can choose to raise the increases and implement them with impunity earlier  and higher if they wished. Chairman of the Board of Legislators Bill Ryan issued this statement on learning of the findings and cost of living increases recommended this morning:

“I would like to thank the members of the Compensation Advisory Board for their service to the people of Westchester. They worked hard over the last three months to address a difficult issue. The report they have submitted today is thoughtful and deliberative. The legislators will carefully consider their recommendations.”

The Chair did not respond to a WPCNR question as to whether the legislators would abide by the wage freeze recommendation, or the scope of the cost-of-living increases recommended, or would act to reward themselves despite the committee’s findings.

The Advisory Board found the job of County Legislator to be “a part-time job” and advised that legislators should not be recommending or voting to approve their own salaries, as a primary reason for delaying the Board’s recommended increases an average of 2.5% a year until 2010.

$49,000  Increased to $55,200 recommended

The Board, noting legislators are currently enjoying  compensation increases  made effective January 1, 2006, recommended the Legislators’ base pay should rise by a total of 7.5% effective January 2010 increasing their annual salary to $52,890. Stipends for Committee Chairs should rise $1,000.

The Board  advised that the position of Chair of the Board of Legislators,  currently held by White Plains’ Bill Ryan should be upgraded 7.5% ($3,000) to an annual stipend of $43,000, which added to his base salary would reach an estimated $98,000. The committee member WPCNR spoke with to confirm that figure estimated that was what the Chair would earn under the recommended guidelines.

In the course of the news conference, William Mooney, the Committee chair, noted pointedly that his committee concluded the job of legislator was, in Mr. Mooney’s words “At this time, we feel this is a part-time job.”

But it is a great part-time job

Mooney took one legislator’s pay and used it to note that should the Panel’s recommendations be followed, the legislator would receive $55,200 bade pay effective in Janury 2010, plus $25,000 in benefits for this “part-time” job. In addition to a $55,200 salary, each legislator receives $14,000 worth of medical benefits, $640 for Dental Care. Pension benefits $5,600,  and $5,000 more in benefits.

Public Commentary Running Against Original Proposals

Asked if public forum input swayed the panel’s feelings towards limiting legislator pay to the cost of living rate, Mooney said there was a good deal of support for increasing legislator pay more on the part of the public, but that the “cons” had the advantage by a slim margin.

The panel  strongly recommended legislators vote only on pay raises on odd-numbered years, and that they be limited to the cost of living.

The Chairman of the Board of Legislators (Mr. Ryan) ignited a controversy and much press attention, over legislator pay when he recommend his own stipend, using the argument that legislator and Chair is not a part-time job. The legislators’ original plan would have raised Ryan’s total pay $149,000 a year (more than the Mayor of the City of White Plains, who makes $145,881 presently).

More job description and oversight, please

Mooney said the fact that many Westchester residents are hurting in the present economy was a key element in the panel decision to keep wage recommendations to the 2.5% cost  of living increase.

Mooney chided the way 17 persons have been added to the Board of Legislators staff with no particular description of their duties – noting the budget of the Board of Legislators staff has doubled from $2.4 Million to $4.7 Million over three years.

Mooney said he had revealed the findings of the panel to Chairman of the Board of Legislators, Bill Ryan before the news conference and that the Chair had thanked him for their work.  Mooney stressed that the panel was only advisory.

Still, this puts the Board of Legislators into a touchy spot.

As Mooney put it in the news release, “Westchester residents have repeatedly expressed their concern about the growth and cost of government. This is also a difficult economic time when our society is facing significant stress from the cost of energy, job losses and rising taxes. This is the context  for the recommendations this panel is presenting to the legislators today.”

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WPCNR FOR THE RECORD. April 29, 2008: Monday evening at the Common Council Budget Review session, John Ioris, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the White Plains Performing Arts Center began the Center presentation requesting a $150,000 increase in city funding from the council with a statement taking exception to a press report in the Journal News quoting him as asking the extra funding because of fears Louis Cappelli would withdraw his funding. Ioris, in addition, disputed the press report on theatre activities in the first half of 2007.

John Ioris, reading his statement Monday evening in the Mayor’s Conference Room

Here is the text of Mr. Ioris’ statement read to the Common Council:

Ø Mayor Delfino and Members of the Common Council.

Ø Good Evening.

Ø My name is John Ioris and I am speaking on behalf of the WPPAC where I serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.  Please allow me to take this opportunity to introduce several of my fellow Board Members who have joined us on this stormy evening.  Rick Ammirato, Bob Cole, Bill Fishman, our Vice-Chair Susan Egginton, Michael Katz, Ted Peluso, Greg Schaffert, Jeff Schlotman & Jack Batman.  Also present are our three ex-officio members, Commissioners Habel, Abramowitz & Nicoletti.

Ø Initially, I had not planned to be presenting to you this evening, but in light of a very recent occurrence I have decided to make a few comments.  Our Executive Producer, Jack Batman and our Treasurer, Ted Peluso will speak to you on the merits of the WPPAC and its position in our community.  They will be following my presentation shortly.  I am here to correct the gross inaccuracies and misstatement of facts that appeared in yesterday’s front page story in the Journal News and their potential impact on our organization going forward.

Ø Please indulge me a few moments to set the record straight and I promise not to bore you with insignificant details.  I will enumerate only three of the misstatements of facts that are contained in the article.  They are as follows:

1.   The article gives the impression or makes the implication that I personally am requesting the increase to our funding.  This premise is totally false.  The WPPAC has twenty-six voting members on its Board of Trustees and the decision to request additional funding from the City of White Plains, as well as all pertinent business decisions, are approved by our Board at regularly scheduled meetings.

2.   The article also gives the impression that the organization was requesting additional funding from the City in anticipation of a cut in our funding from the Cappelli Organization.  This premise is categorically false.  At no time was the WPPAC ever informed that Louis Cappelli was pulling his financial support from the theatre.  Quite the contrary.  During my tenure as Chairman dating back to November, 2006, a period of seventeen months, Louis Cappelli has contributed $400,000 to the WPPAC for use in our day-to-day operations.  Mr. Cappelli’s most recent contribution, $150,000, was received in March of this year.  Louis Cappelli has responded favorably each and every time I have requested his help for the WPPAC.  His role in the building of the theatre notwithstanding, the facts are what the facts are, the WPPAC would not exist in its current form without the support of the Cappelli Organization.  This being said, it is both presumptuous and foolhardy to assume that past contributions will automatically assure that future contributions will be forthcoming at the same levels.  Our organization must not lose sight of this premise.

3.   Regarding our financial performance, the article states that the WPPAC had a surplus of some $66,000 which was only accomplished because our stage went dark and this is how we saved money and achieved a surplus.  This is the most troublesome part of this entire story.  It is indeed true that we had a surplus of over $66,000 during my first year as Chairman.  It is totally and completely false that our stage was dark.  During this purported period of darkness, the WPPAC ran 54 different shows and events which totaled 94 performances.  These performances entertained 22,851 patrons.  During this dark period, the theatre generated $938,000 in revenues.  It should also be noted that the surplus was achieved during a period where the organization was adding new hires in anticipation of implementing our new business plan which included this production season which is currently concluding with How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  I should also add with some measure of pride that the $66,000 surplus was the first operating surplus in the history of the organization.  In my own humble opinion, our staff should be congratulated for a job well done and not have their accomplishment demeaned by false statements.

Ø Coming to a conclusion, I will ask the Mayor, the Council Members and any citizens present, to think outside the box for a moment.  What was the news quality of this article?  Why did it appear on the front page of the Sunday paper on the day before this work session?  Was it to highlight the significance of $150,000 as a part of a nearly $162 million budget?  Did it mention that we have not had an increase in our funding since our inception?  I think not.  The only explanation that makes any sense is that it was a deliberate attempt to sabotage the funding for an Arts organization that belongs to the citizens of this City.  There is no other purpose that I can see and understand.

Ø This Mayor and this Council have presided over an unbelievable Renaissance of this City and the White Plains Performing Arts Center is a spawn of this great Renaissance.  It is one of, if not the Jewel, of this great City.  For this fact, all of you should be proud.  The WPPAC is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue.  It is a quality of life issue that enhances the existence of all of the residents of the City.  This City, and all of its citizens, deserves the WPPAC.  With your help and the help of our volunteer Board and the business community at large, it can continue to thrive, grow, and prosper.

Ø Mayor Delfino, members of the Common Council, the WPPAC is asking you not allow a news reporter, supporting some unknown agenda, to use misstatemts and falsehoods to make legislative decisions on your behalf.  Each of you were elected by the citizens of White Plains to use your best judgment regarding the management of the affairs of this City.  Please use that judgment to evaluate our request fairly and on its merits.  Please do not make this, the Arts, a political issue.  What we are asking you is simple.  If you like the face that has been painted on the WPPAC and would like the face to remain unchanged, please approve our request to increase our funding.  If you do not wish us to continue on our current course, well, I’m sure you’ll tell us that too and I would then expect our request to be denied.

Ø I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have either now or at the conclusion of Jack and Ted’s comments.

Ø Thank you all very much for your time.

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WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. By John F. Bailey. April 28, 2008: WPCNR has learned that the BASIC Middle Class STAR rebate checks issued last fall to White Plains homeowners, can again be counted on this fall. Middle Class STAR Rebate recipients will receive the same amounts received in 2007,  based on their income.  Seniors now eligible for Enhanced STAR Rebates will receive  $1,180 in their refund – a 40% increase from last year’s $843.  Though for those who itemize deductions, the rebates must be deducted from property taxes paid on your tax returns.

According to the Press Office of the Department of Real Property Services today , the White Plains taxpayer who has not changed their address since last fall will automatically be issued a rebate check based on the income levels of last year, and can expect to receive the same amount. Seniors qualifying for Enhanced STAR Exemptions will receive an increase in their checks of 40% from $843 to $1,180 – regardless of their income.

The White Plains Breakdown

Last year in White Plains, the maximum amount you as a homeowner could have gotten in your Middle Class Rebate Check was $1,035 if you had income up to $120,000; earning $125,000 to $175,000, $776, if you made from $175,000 to $250,000, you received $517. Those amounts, according to Geoffrey Gloak, of the Department of Real Property Services will not change.  Previously, Gloak said the former Governor Eliot Spitzer had proposed a 16% increase in the Middle Class Basic STAR Rebate, but this was dropped due to the state’s financial difficulties which have become known the last three months.

Do not forget to Deduct.

Gloak did note though, that according to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance,  if you itemize your taxe,  seniors and middle class STAR  recipients must deduct your rebates from your amount of property taxes paid on 2008 income taxes. The effect for the wage earner is the rebate gives back on one hand and takes away on the other.

The figures, WPCNR quotes above are strictly for White Plains residents. The amount of the Middle Class STAR and Enhanced STAR rebates are computed differently for each community in the state.

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WPCNR  DANCIN IN THE AISLES. By John F. Bailey. April 28, 2008: Saturday night  was the most unusual concert  The 5th Dimension has experienced in their 43-year recording and performing career – according to founding member, Florence LaRue. Speaking to WPCNR backstage she said the group had never gone on without musical scores,  or their elegant costumes,  but the show had to go on with or without the music – the sheet music that is.

5th Dimension Takes the Stage Saturday Night, Taking a Full House Up Up and Away at Westco’s Latest Gold Star Concert!

 Let me set the scene for you: at the Westco Productions “happening” at Tarrytown Music Hall Saturday, staged by Westchester’s First Lady of Theatre, Susan Katz, an audience of over 700 waited.  It was approaching 9 PM and Ms. LaRue and her “Dimensionaires”  —  were waiting for their music.

At  that moment, speeding across I-287, was Ms. Katz’s co-producer, Peter Katz ,on a mission to and from LaGuardia Airport to get the legendary group’s music.  American Airlines had lost the case of sheet music  as well as the  Dimension’s  elegant limegreen  suits and costumes due  to the massive cancellation of flights from heavy weather Friday in the middlewest .

The Dimension improvised on  costumes — having T-shirts made reading “London Paris Rome TARRYTOWN”  (destined to be collector’s items), which were an instant hit with the audience when the group appeared on stage. But it was a question whether the Dimension musicians would have to play backup from memory. Would the music get there before they were to hit the stage?

As Mr. Katz screeched into the back parking lot of the ancient Music Hall, racing in with the music – the band was prepared go play into the night without music. But, with the music in hand and tension gone the 5th Dimension hit the stage with the audience warmed up laughed out and feeling great thanks to opener-upper comic Billy Garan – the Dimension gave Tarrytown all they had.

The group was introduced and  bounded  out with their first song drowned in applause. Rapport with the audience was immediate and the crowd entered another dimension in space and time – The 5th Dimension.

The  Dimension sang for 90 minutes straight delivering 14 gold records, and favorites that evoked the emotions of those changin’ times, their voices and harmony stronger,  more emotional and as meaningful, perhaps more meaningful than when they first became hits in the 1965-1975 era.  Their intro song all but drowned out by the applause, they shifted into a Motown records classic – My Girl –  complete with a nostalgic coordinated “Temptations” shuffle moves by Ms. LaRue’s  backup boys — then launched into Up, Up and Away first big single and the audience  was winging away feeling the freedom , the high of those years when that song just made you feel good.

The 5th Dimension — 1960s — Florence LaRue is pictured at lower right of this publicity still. Today’s  Dimensions deliver a tight, personal show, as crisp as old Top 40 Radio – lead by the only original 5th Dimensioner – Florence LaRue, who was a Bronze Talent Award Winner in 1964. She’s perhaps even more beautiful today singing with an authoritative silky contralto with depth range and emotion that lifts you right out of your chair and makes you pay attention, baby.

From the warm start,  the audience  dug Wedding Bell Blues, Worst That Could Happen, Last Night I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All,  and MacArthur Park, they turned to a change of pace: 

Florence LaRue Today — Dancing with a member of the audience to Stoned Soul Picnic.

 Stoned Soul Picnic  turned into a dance contest, with Ms. LaRue going down into the audience, inviting former flower children to come up on stage and show their moves with her – and dance to the Dimension’s  upbeat treatment of their classic.  (You remember it, don’t you? “Come on and surrey down to the stoned soul picnic”). 

Audience dancing in the aisles.

She got the packed-in house moving, conjuring up memories of Richard Nader’s Rock N Roll revivals, and as I’ve written before of these popular Westco Gold Star Concerts, the Fillmore East. Only no one was lighting candles or smoking anything Saturday night. They were listening to the once and future, and still digging it.

After the spectacle of Stoned Soul Picnic, the group assumed stools and showed their mastery of moods with what I’ll call, the “Rain” medley – started off by Jamila Ajibade’s solo turn on It’s Raining Men

Then Ms. LaRue showed off her remarkable voice singing a portrait of  Stormy Weather that was a little Billie Holiday, a little Ella Fitzgerald, a little Lena Horne,  but uniquely Florence LaRue. Ms. LaRue’s sensitivity and depth  had the entire throng of upwards of 800 silent, rapt, reflective.

Ms. LaRue’s Stormy Weather was my favorite of the show and was a highlight of  a set of rain songs, that included Ms. Ajibade’s Raining Men,  Can’t Stop the Rain, Rain Keeps Falling on My Head. The difference between then and now is the group sings the songs with more depth and feeling, rich with the  wisdom of a full life, the understanding conveyed in the harmony and earnest manner the group delivers them. They sound just like those great 45s — only better.

Love Back to You — The group wrapped up the evening  with their perhaps most loved song, Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In and it did!

This brought back an encore where Ms. LaRue and the group just did not seem to want to leave. Rarely have I seen an audience so on edge, ready for every song – as energetic in listening as the performers were in performing. This reporter has heard only one other group over the years who played for 90 minutes straight — The Ventures. The 5th Dimension showed the advantage of the continuous format, building and building the memories with each song. They made everyone feel so good!

King of the Two-Liners

The Katzes also gave the Goldies aficionados something completely different on this concert: A standup comic who is really funny – the Italian Henny Youngman, Billy Garan – king of the two-liners – Set up and punchline in 25 words or less and you laugh — guaranteed! A lot.

As Mr. Katz was flooring it from LaGuardia back to Tarrytown music case in hand containing the precious sheet music,  the new king of the one-liners 2008, comic Billy Garan fresh in from a gig in Atlantic City was convulsing the audience with his machine gun, New Yawk Italian wiseguy  stand up routine – sample: “I’m sorry  Rudy Giuliani didn’t get the nomination President, so we could have a President who can say, Go bomb Iran and make it look like an accident.”  There was not one dud.

 On and on his jokes  went about traffic, L.A. people being too nice, tolls, all jokes consisting of two lines – setup and punchline.  Like an Italian Henny Youngman, he went for 20 minutes,  then 30 minutes –  faster, funnier, cleverer than the Letterman – Leno – O’Brien legions of writers could ever be. He should be doing a talk show. 

Garan asked the audience if they wanted “More” They did – and then he gave us  his 4 minute version of Casablanca with him playing all the parts. Billy the joke gunner must have told  50 jokes. You cannot get more laughs for the money. You have to see him to believe him. But – Billy – please slow the lines down they’re all so darn funny – and you say them so fast – we hearing-impaired 60s types miss them. Give us a CD, please!

The Katzes  caught Billy’s act in Newport, Rhode Island, and decided due to the nature of the 5th Dimension show to add him as an opening act. Rarely have I laughed so much – without it being polite laughs executed by myself because a comedian no matter how bad or unfunny, you feel as an audience you have to titter or give a polite laugh even though comedians are not funny in the least

There was no need for that with Mr. G. Mr. Garan got thousands of genuine, oh did he really say that’s?  Gasps, grins and chuckles, yucks and howls of recognition—guffaws of truth – and belly laughs of shock.  Laugh out loud laughs. Lots of them. There are no false laughs in a Garan monolog.

Mr. Garan works casinos  from Las Vegas and points west and had just finished up a gig in Atlantic City, and gave Westchester some much needed laughs on what was a very bad week.

Westco’s Susie the K (Katz), left with The Fifth Dimension  and the legendary Florence LaRue, center…and Michael Mishaw, left, Jamila Ajibade, Ms. LaRue, Leonard Tucker, and Willie Williams.

Another feature of Westco’s Gold Star Concerts is the autograph and meet and greets with the artists. Here Ms. Larue and the gang sign for their fans after Saturday’s show. (You have to love those T-shirts…what an idea).  One Dimensioner told WPCNR after the show, that though he has been singing for 25 years, that he never gets tired of it. He loves it. It showed Saturday night.

The 5th Dimension is the latest in Westco’s Gold Star Concerts  the series invented  by Susan Katz two years ago that brings back groups so great they have never gone away. WPCNR has given her the sobriquet “Susie the K” —  in homage to the legendary DJ, Murray the K who staged concerts at the Brooklyn Paramount.

The lineup to come includes Jefferson Starship with Grateful Dead pianist Tom Constanten September 27; The New Christy Minstrels October 5; The Turtles October 25 and one I know all of you fraternity brothers have been waiting for – Eric Burden and The Animals on November 16.

However, we have to do something about the dress code. At the next Gold Star Concert – bring those cigarette lighters – and could we see some tie-dyed dresses, ladies, please, and men – a few leather jackets?  For information to score ducats, go to www.westcoproductions.org. Or dial 914-761-7463

Remember, children — it’s Peace, Love, and music,  not  lawyers, guns and money.