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. By Johnny Angel. April 5, 2008: Susan Katz’s Westco Productions brought another legend back to Westchester County Saturday night  — The legendary Lettermen – the slow dance kings of the 1960s.  They mesmerized, memoried and  mingled with over 300 adoring fans at  intimate Irvington Town Hall Theatre Saturday night in another of Westco’s marvelous “Blasts from the Past.”

 The three showmen extraordinaire,  The Lettermen singing one of their  signature medleys: The Way You Look Tonight, A Summer Place and When I Fall in Love beginning the second half of Saturday’s Lettermen extravaganza. Front to Back: Donovan Tea, founder Tony Butala, and Mark Preston

The trio of recording artists have been with Capitol Records for 47 years recording their standards of slowdance in 17 languages that were the soundtracks of the romances of the rock and roll generation. They delivered a  blockbuster concert singing, joking, and connecting with an international audience for more than two hours of actual onstage performance.

There was Duncan Tea singing Cowboy Love in the balcony, to Tony Butala, show here singing Maria to a real “Maria” chosen from the audience,  to their fabulous medleys of  the group’s signature 60s love songs

The Lettermen earned another  letter from the clapping, toe-tapping audience in the little theater on Main Street. The cleancut three complete with “Letter Sweaters” delivered the signature songs in strong update robust vocalizations that were better than they sounded on The Swinging Soiree when Murray the K played them on WINS when WINS was a rock and roll station. The boys  packaged their favorites in seamless medleys that they flowed into effortlessly.

 The Lettermen made old hearts young again. Couples held hands  when “their”  Lettermen song was brought back once more.

The trio features Tony Butala (Center) the leader of the group, and Donovan Tea,  (left)the lanky Texan looking incredibly like a blonde Righteous Brother. Mr. Tea has been with the group for 25 years and  Mark Preston (right) – the man with the Robert Goulet- Bill Medley baritone, a member for 23 years.

The group got everyone on a groovy trip back to the innocent 60s with a rousing, toe-tapping,  People Got to Be Free and  Look Inside Your Heart , and followed that ”double play” with Our Day Will Come and Love is a Many Splendored Thing, Memories/Hurt So Bad/Put Your Head on My Shoulder and that was only part of the first half of this “You got your money’s worth and more” concert. But of course, you always get your dollars’ worth at a Westco production!

When the group came down into the audience sing Beautiful Balloon and invited the audience in the orchestra seats to come up and have pictures taken with them – something this reporter has never seen in a concert – the audience bonded with The Lettermen

Throughout the show, whatever the boys did, the audience loved. And they did it well. Their backup band did not over shadow them. Their voices blended and as the leader Mr. Butala said, the Lettermen have always featured three strong singers who can solo and harmonize.

That was what kept this show delivering two hours of music without any dull parts. Every concert seems to have some songs that do not grab you – but not this Lettermen concert. From Donovon Tea’s (above) original song to his new daughter, Daddy’s Girl, and Mr. Tea’s Cowboy Love (sung from the balcony), you never knew what The Lettermen would do next. There were no dull moments! 

When Mr. Butala reminisced about his start in show bus`iness with the Mitchell Boys Choir in the 1950s, and did a trio of Cole Porter’s Kick Out of You, Under My Skin and Night and  Day singing them in the audience it was as entertaining as it was unexpected. When Mark Preston executed CopaCabana in the second  half, and worked the audience, shaking hands with them, well this was entertainment!

You Never Know Who You Might Meet at a Gold Star Event: White Plains Personalities, left to right, Dave Corcoran, Brenda Starr, Don Hughes, Candyce Corcoran and Mrs. Hughes  talk over the exciting first half of the concert.

The second half topped the first half, if that was possible.  Mr. Tea’s Little Boy’s Prayer, another original composition by Mr. Tea in honor of his 3 year old son was very nostalgic.

In Part Two of the evening, the Lettermen reported receiving lots of notes backstage and delivered two medleys that made their  signature hits of the 60s sound upbeat and irresistibly romantic better than ever.

The boys have kept their voices in blockbuster form, belting with heartfelt emotion, articulating tenderness flawlessly.

This reporter’s favorite of the evening was Ebb Tide, with Mr. Preston doing a Righteous Brothers riff on this  high school gym slow dance classic. (If you’re in your 60s, now you know what I mean by that.)

After Mr. Preston mesmerized the hall with his version of the Paul Anka classic Say You’ll Love Me, another smooth medley of The Way You Look Tonight, A Summer Place and When I Fall In Love, even Mr. Cynicism, John Bailey wanted to dance.

A large contingent of persons from the Phillippines attended the concert, and, in their honor, The Lettermen even sang Because of You in Filipino — which is just as pretty as it is in English. It was a moment that showed that America through its music, at least, and the music of The Lettermen delivers the emotions and the feelings that the world falls in love to. Here the boys pose with the group that came out to see them The boys will be performing in the Phillippines this July.

On into the night the boys sang – ending with three encores that included God Bless the U.S.A., and I Believe. You got the impression the boys did not want to leave. The audience of devoted fans were standing en masse applauding at the end.

Never have I seen a concert where the performers delivered this many songs all done well. The audience wouldn’t them go, and the boys did not want to leave.

And note to all performing groups – The Lettermen did not do  one “B-Side.” (A B-side in rock n roll radio,  children, was the non-plug side of a record, and if you do not know what a record is it is a like a CD with 2 songs on it instead of 18. When the record was delivered to the deejay – be it Alan Freed, Jack Lacey, or  Murray the K, or Dick Biondi, or Art Roberts, he was instructed by the record promoter to play the A side. )

The Lettermen did all A Sides tonight.

After the concert, the boys didn’t leave, they continued a wonderful feature of the Westco Gold Star Series,  staying a full hour afterward  to have pictures taken with fans, sign CDs and enjoy  the love.

Susie The K — White Plains’  First Lady of Westchester Theatre,  Susan Katz, Westco Founder with The Lettermen, Mark Preston, left, Duncan Tea, center, and Tony Butala. Ms Katz founded the Westco Gold Star series last year and has been attracting overflow crowds to see the groups and stars who created the soundtracks of our lives. 

The marvelous Irvington Town Hall Theatre has an informality and cordiality that seems to bring performers and audience together. In the audience tonight were Joe Segal who sang the lead for The Tokens on The Lion Sleeps Tonight, (who rendered the never to be forgotten  “Ee E E HEE” hat begins that song, which delighted the audience).  Three other  rock celebrities came up just to see the Lettermen sing. Next up in Wextco’s Gold Star Series is The Fifth Dimension (Beautiful Baloon-remember?) on April 28, Felix Cavaliere’s  Rascals  May 3 and next fall the New Christy Minstrels on  October 5.

Why do people come out to see the groups of the past? Why do the groups keep performing?

Tony Butala, the Lettermen founder in 1958, when The CitizeNetReporter  congratulated him on the super professionalism of the group, said, “We have been a part of a lot of peoples’ lives, and they tell us this. And you never get tired of hearing that.”

May the Lettermen continue to go to high school forever.

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WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS POLL. April 5, 2008: As the County Tax Bill was sent to White Plains voters this week, and the School District after another week of hand-wringing cut $1 from the per $1,000 of assessment tax rate, which now sits at $506.61 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the city awaits with baited breath our last hope for tax stability: Mayor Joseph Delfino’s tax rate  Monday evening, the future for the White Plains tax payer has become clear.

At the present rate of annual tax acceleration applied by the county government, city government and the gorilla in the vault, the city school district White Plains property owners face this prospect: A tax bill that will at the present rate of compounding go up 7% a year, will bring taxes owed the school district, county and city to the $20,000 and up level in seven years..

If you own a median-priced home in White Plains, ($700,000), you will pay $12,240 in property taxes this year (persons with homes priced to go at over $700,000 will pay considerably more ) to the County, City and State (provided the City Tax increase is 5 to 7%).  If the city increase is  less than 7% you will be in slightly better shape.

Nonetheless half of White Plains property owners will pay $1,000 more in taxes a year if the three tax authorities keep their present rate of spending the way it is.

This means if you’re paying about $12,000 in property taxes now, you’ll pay $13,000 in 2009-2010; $14,000 in 2010-11 and so on.

By 2015, your property tax,  if the present rate of annual tax increase remains at 7% — your tax bill for that typical median home in White Plains will be $19,000 to the county, city and school district.

WPCNR would like Mr. and Mrs. and Ms. White Plains to tell us if they believe they can sustain the county, city and school district’s “7% solution.” Of course if tax increases are larger than that the escalation rate and taxes will be higher. Can White Plains homeowners accept a 7% tax increase rate annually? What do you think?

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WPCNR TRACKSIDE. April 3, 2008: The school district began installation of the Mondo “Olympic Standard” track at the new Loucks Field Wednesday with workmen beginning the process. The district has 34 days to install the track before the Loucks Games begin May 8. Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors said Monday evening the contractor needs warm (temperatures in the high 40s and 50s) weather to install the track and little rain. Work can proceed as long as there is no rain, he said, and surfaces need not be dry to resume installation after any rain has stopped. The track portion of the new stadium renovation is the final phase in the $5 Million field project, which is said to be on budget, despite most of the money built into the budget for contingency expenses.

Installation of Mondo Track Begins at Loucks Field, Wednesday.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. April 2, 2008: April Fools Day arrived Tuesday and with it came the Westchester County Tax Bill that amounted to $2,400 (including sewage and refuse disposal). The typical median White Plains home on the market for $700,000 and assessed at $18,475 ($14,775 with STAR exemption) now awaits White Plains Mayor Joseph Delfino’s promised tax increase April 7.

Looking at the county, school and city bills for 2008-2009, the conclusion can be drawn that half of White Plains homeowners can look forward next year 2009-2010 to paying just about $15,000 in property taxes and substantially more in taxes on homes marketed over $700,000.  If your home is a million dollar home you’ll be paying $20,000 plus in taxes; $1.5 Million, $30,000 plus in taxes.  But the inexorably, unstoppable spending of the schools, the city and the county compounds the property tax felony across all housing values.

The school district as WPCNR pointed out, if assessed values do not plummet over the next two years (due to the bottom falling out of the equalization rate in 2008 (2.75%), keeps its present conservative budget escalation rate the same 5.7% (a little less than double the inflation rate of 3.3% according to the way the state figures it) we can figure on another $35 being added to the tax rate, that will increase the tax rate to $540 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. But, the school district increase most likely will be more considering the certiorari time bombs and $50 Million in financing added to the budget. On the median home that means a tax of $8,000.

Throw in another county escalation of 10% in 09-10, with another county tax increase,  and you’re up to $2,600, and a city tax in 2009-10 of say another 7% — and you’re at $3,000 – for a total tax bill next year from our three public servant agencies of $14,000 — if your home is on the market for $700,000. 

 If the school district inflates its spending to 7% for example – half the White Plains homeowners will be paying $15,000 in property taxes and the highest priced homes about double or more.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 31, 2008: The White Plains Board of Education adopted the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget of $184 Million Monday night, holding out the possibility that it might dip slightly lower pending increased state aid resulting from the final State Legislature budget. The average White Plains home will pay $12,420 in county, city and school taxes in 2008-2009. The $184 Million budget is $1.4 Million higher  than the Contingency Budget the state would impose, if the voters voted tonight’s budget down May 20.

The Deed Is Done: School Board within seconds after voting to approve the Superintendent of Schools Proposed $184 Million School Budget last night. Left to Right,Sheryl Brady, Rosemarie Eller, Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors, Donna McLaughlin, Terence McGuire, Peter Bassano, Charles Norris, and Michele Schoenfeld, Clerk to the Board of Education. 

The budget adopted is $1,389, 042 higher  than would go into affect if  a state-mandated Contingency Budget  had to be adopted if the voters of White Plains vote down the school budget.  The adopted budget which will be presented to voters May 20.

$12,420 in School, City, County Taxes

The adopted school budget will result in a $479 Tax increase for the average White Plains home assessed at $15,000 (a $700,000 home), creating total school taxes of $7,599. Add to this a city property tax of $2,600 (if there is no city tax increase) and $2,200 in County property taxes and  the total taxes paid by the owner of that $700,000 home in White Plains will be $12,420 breaking White Plains taxpayers into the 5-figure tax club.

Tax Rate Descended $1 in one week to $506.61 per assessed $1,000 in Value an increase of $32 over last year.

Monday morning, Mayor Delfino told WPCNR  city property taxes would indeed rise, and noted that had Assemblyman Adam Bradley put in for the 1/2% increase as Mayor Delfino had requested in the fall, there would not be any tax increase in city taxes.

Technology Overhaul for $500,000 Plus

In the budget, the school board provided for hiring a new Director of Management Information Systems for $150,000, a new Database Manager for $100,000, a new Special Education Consultant Teacher for $70,000 and a Special Education Private Schools Placement director partime for $41,000 by adding to the duties of a person on staff. Classified staff was cut by $180,000 to allow for the new data hires.

The new data management and database manager positions are part of an effort by the district to upgrade their technology, last updated in 1996. Over the last eight years, present data management persons have been unable to meet the Board of Education’s annual demands for longitudinal data studies that would demonstrate the success or lack of success of  student performances by group through each grade.  Commissioning BOCES to execute such studies, according to Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors in a meeting last week has not delivered the data the district had hoped for when the contract for BOCES to analyze district data was signed last year.

Assistant Superintendent for Business Fred Seiler reported at the Board of Education meeting last week that the new database persons would be hired after the new software has been purchased to upgrade the school data system. That software (one of two education-oriented softwares available) would be purchased for an additional $300,000 as the district begain its district data overhaul. Present data managers previously charged with supplying the performance data to the district, but who could not provide the detail with the present system due to input problems in the past, will remain on the staff. Their inability to provide the data the Board requested was why BOCES was tried last year as a solution.

Grousing About Baseball Field Cosmetics

In another matter last night,  Board of Education President Donna McLaughlin and Peter Bassano complained about a surprise item: $90,000 to renovate the backstop and dugouts for the varsity baseball field. It was said that the baseball field at the high school had not been renovated in 17 years. However, this reporter remembers the field being completed resodded, dugouts being put in (privately) and temporary fences.

It was speculated by some in the audience privately, this was just the baseball-oriented contingent attempting to keep up with the softball contingent which is getting new dugouts this spring. Superintendent Connors could not explain to the Board  why the baseball field improvements were needed, and suggested the Board could take the $90,000 out of the budget if they wished.

Mr. Bassano and Ms. McLaughlin declined to do so, and the board adopted the budget with the proviso that the $90,000 would remain in the budget, to be looked at.

WPCNR notes that had baseball or softball field markings or markings for both of those sports been incorporated into the Loucks Field synthetic surface, (with portable dugouts), there would have been no need to resurface or build dugouts on either the softball or baseball diamonds.

Winners and losers

A total of $237,575 in expenditures was cut, including $60,000 for bleachers in the high school south gym, which does not have any; deleting refurbishing of a science lab and a locker room at Eastview saved $105,000; and $191,541 was saved due to retirements. A total of $500,000 in additional revenue is expected from restoration of tuition in private schools ($100,000) and $310,000 in BOCES Aid and $90,000 in Foundation Aid.

The Assistant Superintendent for Business, Fred Seiler said this was the the lowest tax increase in 9 years. The tax increase in 1999-2000 was 6.72%. Since that year, the tax increases have run as follows:

2000-01 – —7.64%

2001-02 ——7.94%

2002-03 ——8.59%

2003-04——-6.89%

2004-05——-7.53%

2005-06——-9.36%

2006-07——-8.12%

2007-08 ——6.95%

2008-09—— 6.74% (proposed )

$200 Million Here We Come!

Should the budget continue on its present course, with a similar 5.72% increase next year (2009-2010) and no decrease in the assessment roll, the school budget will be $194.5 Million. 

However, it should be remembered that the school district takes on much larger debt in 2009-2010, perhaps another new contract with the teachers (depending on the length of the new one now being negotiated), plus a round of new certioraris that were postponed from 2008-09 into 2009-10. The odds are good next year’s budget will hit $200 Million.

Peter Bassano, a member of the Board of Education asked Mr. Seiler why the budget went up 5,72%, and the tax increase was a full percentage point above that. Mr. Seiler explained when state aid goes down ½%, ($150,000),  the property tax has to make up that revenue.

$50 Million in Financing Going to Market in June

Mr. Seiler told WPCNR that the district would be going into the markets for financing of $50 Million for Post Road School and the Mamaroneck Avenue School in June. He said the district underwriting specialist predicted that due to the district bond rating, financing of 5% could be obtained.

Loucks Rounds the Far Turn and Down the Stretch It Comes

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors announced a lacrosse game May 2 would dedicate the new Loucks Field.  He also said a community ceremony May 8 at the start of the Loucks Games at White Plains High School there would be a community ceremony, too, thanking the community.

Fred Seiler said the district contractor expects to begin installing the Mondo track (needed for the Loucks Games) beginning Wednesday. He said it would take three weeks to install it and that in order for it to be a successful installation, the district needed temperatures in the 50s and 60s and dry weather, though once rain stopped, the surface did not need to have drying time before the rubberized track surface had to be installed. The district has 39 days before the Loucks Games begin.

In another Loucks Field matter, the Board approved $375,000 in contingency funds (previously budgeted for the job) to pay for additional rock-clearing (found under the surface) of the south end of the new field, leaving $11,000 in contingency funds available. Asked if the contractor had not done rock borings which should have revealed the subsurface, Seiler said they had done such borings, that was why they included contingency for it.

Contract Complaint

The district approved a contract for the Heating and Air Conditioning at Post Road School against the protest of Patrick McVeigh, Jr., Director of Labor Management for Mengler Mechanical, Inc., a competing local contractor located in Brewster, NY.

McVeigh, in the public session said he had pointed out to the school board that the contractor chosen,  JNS had been cited by the Attorney General for falsification of business records, false filings and perjury in efforts to obtain construction contracts on Long Island. McVeigh said the contractor had subsequently been cleared of those charges.

McVeigh told WPCNR that the Board of Educationhad advised him they had decided to award the contract on the advice of the White Plains district lawyers. JNS was the low bidder on the $4 Million heating and air conditioning contract on Post Road School by 1/3 of 1%. McVeigh made the point that the school district, according to its own contracts,  “reserves the right to reject any bid.” Superintendent of Schools Connors said the Board had gone over the contracts, done its due diligence and selected the contractor accordingly.

Post Road Poised

The Board voted to approve all the contracts for construction of Post Road School which Fred Seiler said he expected would begin in approximately 3 weeks. He said they were behind, but still on target to complete the new school in September 2008.