WPCNR FBI WIRE. Special to WPCNR From the Federal Bureau of Investigation. January 27, 2012:

A 14-count superseding indictment was unsealed this morning in Brooklyn federal court charging five members of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the “Bonanno family”) variously with racketeering, extortion, illegal gambling, and conspiring to distribute marijuana. An associate of the Gambino organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra (the “Gambino family”) was also charged with loansharking.¹

The defendants were arrested earlier today in New York and are scheduled to be arraigned FRIDAY afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joan M. Azrack, at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York. The case has been assigned to United States Chief District Court Judge Carol B. Amon.

The White Plains NewsBoys .

Tonight WHITE PLAINS WEEK, the city news roundup show, with WPCNR Executive Editor John Bailey, left; former international anchor and White House Correspondent Peter Katz,(center) and the Dean of White Plains School of Journalism, Jim Benerofe, of www.suburbanstreet.com  talk about the approval of the City Dump Clean-up by the State DEC, the Tappan Zee Bridge Rush Job, the Mayor's Vision for the City of White Plains, the destruction of the Robin Myth, and White Plains Money Today.

Catch your neighbors who know all the truth and tell nothing but the truth, so help our ratings.

See them at 7:30 on Channel 76 or Channel 45 and later on the internet at www.whiteplainsweek.com

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY By the WPCNR ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER. January 27, 2012:

Temperatures in the fifties combined with the heavy moisture in the atmosphere after last night's rains, made downtown White Plains, New York, USA invisible this afternoon at 1 P.M. The rare sight of zero visibility to ground level made it appear as if aliens had beamed White Plains up into space and no city ever existed. Photographs are from the terrace of City Limits Restaurant, looking East to the City Center. You would never know two 500 foot buildings were in that fog bank.

WPCNR PHOTOGRAPH OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer. January 25, 2012 UPDATED WITH ROBIN INTELLIGENCE, January 26, 2012: 

Two of the 5 Robins who visited WPCNR News Tuesday afternoon.

A squadron of five robins, red-breasted and well-rested landed at WPCNR World News Headquarters in White Plains, New York, USA Tuesday afternoon at 4:45 P.M and proceeded to browse the grounds.

A WPCNR Reader, Paul Schwarz responded to our inquiry yesterday as to why the robins are back so early. He explains they may never leave:

"I participate in Feeder Watch - a project which is based at the Cornell Dept. of Ornithology. Thousands of individual reports from all around the country help to create detailed maps and patterns of bird populations.

WPCNR GREEN NEWS. January 24, 2012:

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has approved the White Plains measures to cap, seal and close the Gedney Landfill, Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti told WPCNR Monday. The Commissioner said he received final approval from the DEC in a letter Friday.

White Plains Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti

The plan was devised by the Commissioner in several versions over the last six years under the auspices of the NYSDEC. It came about based on a series of test well readings measuring the amount of Tri-Chloral-Ethylene (TCE) contamination below ground beginning in 2006.

After the series readings, the Commissioner of Public Works working with consultants devised a recommended plan to cap the dump on the surface and on its sides to prevent escape of an underground TCE pocket sixteen feet below the surface that has been polluting the Mamaroneck River for over 35 years. The TCE pocket was created by disposal of dry cleaning agents in the dump for many decades.

As part of the plan, the city will  resurface the Our Lady of Sorrows Softball field adjacent the dump, to avoid users of the field from any contact with contaminated soil, according to the DEC)  below the surface of the field, or adjacent to the field..

Commissioner Nicoletti told WPCNR bids will be requested shortly, and he expected the work to begin by June, 2012.

Previously the Commissioner has speculated the project could cost the city $8 to $10 Million with the state reimbursing the city approximately $2 Million.

WPCNR CITY CIRCUIT. January 23, 2011:

 The Capital Projects Board voted unaminously this afternoon to spend $130,000 to purchase three-quarters of an acre of open space along Chapman Street off a development on Orchard Street to preserve the land as open space, adding it to the open space inventory.

Mayor Thomas Roach said the small parcel had been on the list of properties recommended by the Open Space Committee to acquire, and that it preserved a wild life habitat (of a migrating turtle) and also provided a buffer to the city's watershed property that is adjacent to the strip of land to be acquired.

Asked if the area would be open to the public, Chief of Staff John Callahan said that the city had not considered that possibility yet.

Commissioner of Public Works Joseph Nicoletti, told WPCNR and Councilperson Milagros Lecuona that the $130,000 would be paid for out of the city Water Fund.

The land first came to the attention of the city and opposition formed against the proposed subdivision in the summer of 2007. The prospect of opening the wooded area behind the subdivision to possible future development, and possible runoff into the reservoir across route 120,as well as a threat to the Eastern Box Turtle, were primary reasons why the city explored acquiring the strip.

WPCNR BACKROOM BULLETIN. January 20, 2012:

David Buchwald, the White Plains Councilman, after two months of being asked repeatedly by WPCNR if he was going to run for Assemblyman Robert Castelli's 89th Assembly District seat as the Democratic candidate, announced his candidacy for the seat to The Journal News Thursday.

Buchwald, who squandered two months of potential political positioning time by agonizing over whether he would run or notwhen he was shoring up support, is being challenged by a political unknown, Jeremiah Frei-Peterson, who has come out of nowhere. He is a lawyer locally and a White Plains resident since last year.

WPCNR Political Correspondent King tells WPCNR Mr. Frei-Pearson is the choice of the  County Democratic Party, and perhaps the New York City Democratic power structure. Though unknown politically in the city, he is a seasoned, savvy political operative.

Frei-Pearson also announced his candidacy to the Journal News this week. The Gannett reporter, Richard Liebson writes Frei-Pearson ran for the Assembly in the 36th District in Astoria, Queens in 2010.

WPCNR has learned that Frei-Pearson competed against two other Democrats for the Democratic nomination to run for that seat, but dropped out of actually contending in the primary because, Frei-Peterson's spokesperson at the time, Michael Murphy said in a Gotham Gazette article, "because Frei-Pearson and Aravella Simolas has similar stands on the issues, Frei-Pearson did not want to take votes from her that might allow for a third snd more conservative candidate, John Ciafone to win." To read about this race, go to www.gothamgazette.com/article/Albany/20100805/204/3329 

WPCNR has also learned Frei-Pearson is a accomplished attorney, who won a $63 Million lawsuit against Con Edison for victims of the Queens blackout, and has won state reforms in how the developmentally disabled are treated.

Liebson describes him as a native of the Lewisboro, Bedford Hills and Mount Kisco and reports him as saying he and his wife, Karla Mosley a television actress (with a former role as a regular on The Guiding Light, and now a star of the childrens show, Hi-5), , moved back to White Plains to settle down.

More about Frei-Pearson, can be learned at http://www.thealbanyproject.com/diary/8108/locals-want-jeremiah-freipearson-to-run-for-state-assembly

The local White Plains Democratic Party district leaders will get an opportunity to meet both candidates this week.

White Plains Looking South

Vacant former Wallachs on Mamaroneck Avenue, January 2012

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michele Schoenfeld. January 18, 2012:

White Plains High School senior Benjamin Van Doren has been named a Semifinalist in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search. 

He is one of 300 students selected nationwide, from more than 1,800 entrants.  Timothy Selg, Teacher of the school’s Science Research Program, said he was proud to report that Van Doren is the 16^th student to receive this prestigious award since 2000, the year of the first graduating research class at the school.

Van Doren’s research is entitled “Meteorological, Topographical and Behavioral Correlates of Diurnal Autumn Morning Flight Migration in the Northeastern United States.” The data has implications for the growing wind power industry, aviation and conservation efforts.

Van Doren will receive a $1,000 prize, with a matching award to the high school.  Among his other activities, he is Track Team Captain, plays in the Jazz Band, is on the Academic Challenge Team, and was president of the New York State Young Birders Club in 2010.  He plans to attend Cornell University next year.

WPCNR ALBANY ROUNDS. From Governor Andrew Cuomo's Press Office. January 17, 2012:

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled his 2012-13 Executive Budget and Reform Plan, which expands on the historic reforms enacted last year to continue building a New New York. As a result of the tough decisions and bipartisan cooperation of the past year, the State is able to close the current deficit without broad cuts, new taxes, fees or gimmicks. In addition, the Governor’s Executive Budget proposes major reforms to reduce the cost of government for taxpayers, implements accountability in our schools to put students first, and puts the State in a position to leverage billions of dollars in private sector investment to grow the economy and create jobs.

"Because of the tough choices and the historic reforms we achieved last year, we are able to propose a pro-growth budget, tackle broad fiscal reform, drive accountability in our schools to put students first, and leverage tens of billions of dollars of new investment to create jobs without significant cost to the taxpayer," Governor Cuomo said. "Through fiscal discipline and working in partnership with the private sector, we are making New York a pro-growth State once again. This budget represents the next step in our plan to transform New York State."

The Governor's Executive Budget closes the current $2 billion budget deficit with no new taxes or new fees. It also proposes sweeping mandate relief and pension reform that will save taxpayers and local governments billions of dollars and launches historic education reform to put students ahead of the education bureaucracy. The Executive Budget also lays the groundwork for an innovative $25 billion economic development agenda, funded largely by leveraging billions in private sector investment rather than by taxpayer dollars.

WPCNR POLICE GAZETTE. January 17, 2012 UDATED 4 P.M. E.D.T.:

WPCNR has learned there was an armed robbery of the coin exchange in the White Plains Mall .

Commissioner of Public Safety David Chong advises WPCNR:

"At approximately 10 AM this morning White Plains police units responded to a holdup alarm at the Coin Mint store located in the White Plains Mall at 200 Hamilton Ave. 

 Units arrived to find one employee, who was unhurt, the employee stated that "a Dark Skinned Male, approximately 5"7, wearing a black coat and black knit hat was buzzed into the store, once inside he displayed a silver gun and told the employee to open the safe." 

The employee did not have the combination, the suspect then went into the back office and took the weekends proceeds from a desk.  Employee is reporting approximately $9,700 (was taken). 

 The suspect then ran out of the store and left in an unknown directions.  No one was hurt. 

White Plains Detectives are investigating this case and ask anyone who may have any information about this incident to call 914-422-6223, the Detective TIPS hotline.  All calls will be confidential.

WPCNR MILESTONES. January 16,2012 UPDATED:

Arnold Clinton, a wrestling coach and Junior Varsity coach for White Plains High School passed away unexpectedly Friday, of a sudden illness according to friends' posts on Facebook.

Mr. Clinton was a graduate of White Plains High School in the early 1980s, and was approximately 47 years old.

According to the Facebook page, venue for the services has chanced.

Services will be held for Mr. Clinton at the Bethel Baptist Church in White Plains beginning Tuesday morning at 11 A.M. with a wake followed by the funeral service. More information as it is developed by WPCNR.

WPCNR THE HOUSING NEWS. From the Multiple Listing Service. (Edited) January 16, 2012:

The Empire Access Multiple Listing Service issued  numbers on home sales in Westchester for 2011 and the news is not encouraging.

Single Family Home sales  were down 4.4%, condominiums by 10.9% and Co-ops by 8.5%

Westchester home prices continued to bleed equity.

The average selling price of a Westchester single family home was $814,667, while the median selling price was  $600,000, due to a  drop in the sale of luxury homes over $1,000,000, that accounted for only 13.7% of sale down from 16% or more in the fourth quarter in previous years.

The decline in sales in all three residential markets is blamed on the banks. The Multiple Listing Service writes “there is convincing anecdotal evidence from Realtors in our region that the benefit of low (mortgage) rates (4%) is increasingly negated by tougher qualification rations, required higher credit scores, and slower processing by lenders. Overly conservative appraisals are said to be impairing transactions too.”

Consumer confidence is lacking. The service blames this on Westchester County’s “painfully slow improvement in the job market.” They point out that Westchester unemployment declined  3/10 of a percent.

In an unusual criticism of leadership, the Service writes,

“the greatest erosion of confidence is of political origin…there are no undisputed plans in place as to how the economy is to be managed…consumers don’t know what to expect…they hunker down, postponing any decision making of consequence such as home buying. If that is true, we’ll have to wait for elections to establish a firm action agenda for recovery, and the local real estate market in 2012 will look pretty much like 2011 as to sales volumes and prices, unless still deeper price reductions bring on a burst of sales such as appears to have been the case with co-ops in the fourth quarter.

Co-op prices in Westchester County stabilized, averaging $421,688 but  the median sales price  was $146,000 – off 15.2%--declining $30,000) Co-0p sales in Westchester increased by 49 from 2010’s 244 to 2011’s 293.

Condos continued steady, with 200 sold in the 4^th quarter, just 4 less than 2010. Condo price data showed a deceptive impression of stability  with the mean sale price of $421,888, not going down, while the median price was $338,000  (down 5.8% from 2011)

WPCNR THE BIG EXTRA. News & Comment by John F. Bailey. January 16, 2012:  

I wrote this column in 2004. It still stands relevant today,  Even more.

Monday morning at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains at 8 AM, the man, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is being remembered. His birthday is today.

 I am not that familiar with Dr. King’s life, but I do know that he, like other great men of America who have their days, Dr. King’s name stands for a value that America holds dear.

Abraham Lincoln for freedom

Columbus for discovery,

Dr. King’s name stands for Opportunity. 

Let me add to that fairness. Compassion. A willingness to help and recognize wrong.

What would he say if he addressed the group at the Crowne Plaza Monday?

WPCNR WESTCHESTER EXCELLENTIAL By John F. Bailey. January 14, 2012:

As Andy Rooney might have said if he was into yoga, “Why is it when I go to yoga the exercise areas are always crowded, noisy, and I always have to look at my body in mirrors and think about anything but my inner self?”

Well former Wall Street strategist Irene Sinyavin (left)and Olga Morozova want to talk to serious yoga enthusiasts--men and women-- about their new European style yoga facility, Scarsdale Yoga Studios. It does away with the "competitive distractions" you will experience at existing Westchester yoga venues.

The SYS  is going to transform yoga in Westchester, creating “a true sanctuary for adults" to “explore and nurture themselves."

The two founders of SYS,Irene and Olga, two living testimonies to the focus, vision and physical benefits of yoga,  will be at their Scarsdale railroad plaza Office,(on the corner of the plaza, as you drive in),  this week to tell you about their new facility that will be Westchester’s most spacious, effective and relaxing yoga experience for members only.

If you’re shopping in Scarsdale or out and about this week, Irene and Olga will be at their Office Kiosk at the Scarsdale train station shopping plaza to talk to serious or beginning yoga enthusiasts beginning all day Monday through Friday, 7 AM. To 8 P.M. all the way up to opening month when they open: February.

Ms. Sinyavin, a devotee of the upper levels of yoga as it is practiced in Europe, recognized the need for a Westchester “best-of-the-best” yoga spa while visiting her friend  Olga in Bronxville several years ago. She conducted surveys and determined there would be the upscale market in the county that would support such a facility.