The City of New Rochelle is disputing our exclusive report that former Corporation Counsel Bernis Shapiro was "escorted" from the building by police on Thursday after being fired by City Manager Chuck Strome.

That all depends on the definition of "escort".

Sources tell Talk of the Sound that Detective Sergeant William Olszewski, head of the Special Investigations Unit of the New Rochelle Police Department was called to City Hall as part of the process of "suddenly retiring" Shapiro. Olszewski, not in uniform, waited in the City Manager's office suite "just in case" while Shapiro packed up after she was informed of her "sudden retirement" by Strome. Shortly after Shapiro left so did Olszewski. Meanwhile, another police officer was stationed outside the building, near Shapiro's car, to make sure she was not taking any City documents with her.

As the travesty of the Thomas Paine Museum has begun to sink in, residents might do well to consider what other forces are at work silently selling off or stealing the heritage of New Rochelle to make a quick buck.

The Armory was given to the people of New Rochelle by the State of New York to use as a public space and not for a handful of politicians to trade away for some PAC money and promises of future campaign cash. The gift of the Armory to the people of New Rochelle was not meant to put a bargaining chip into the hands of a Mayor or other members of the City Council to negotiate with a self-interested real estate developer whose only goal is to maximize their own short-term profit and earn a healthy return for bankers and other investors who have never set foot in New Rochelle and probably never will.

The Paine collection so recently spirited away by the New York State Historical Society needs a proper public home in New Rochelle. That home is not Elmsford (the home of the Westchester Historical Society) and it is not a private college across the street from a local diner.

Illustrating his statement, "Bigger is not better," Former New Rochelle Mayor Len Paduano speaking to the New Rochelle Citizens Reform Club claimed that the two cities in Westchester that are hurting the most financially because of over-development are New Rochelle and White Plains. Eastchester, Larchmont and other communities are not experiencing such large real estate tax increases. Even New Rochelle's sales tax increase can be attributed mainly to the 1% increase granted by the state.

Sadly he said that a developer wants the New Rochelle Post Office because "people roll over" backward. New developers should go some place else where they are needed, such as Mount Vernon. In his opinion some council members know nothing about how how the facade of the Post Office was replaced with brick. This did not change its historic significance and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Statement from Mayor , regarding the Thomas Paine Museum artifacts:

"Generations of New Rochelleans have grown up knowing and caring about Thomas Paine's prominent place in our history. The items and artifacts stored and displayed at the Thomas Paine Museum are much beloved and have helped establish a tangible, physical connection to our past. The relocation of this collection is a tremendous loss to our community, and I am deeply concerned that the process employed to select a permanent site has been flawed, incomplete, and indifferent to the concerns of our residents. In this spirit, I will vigorously support efforts to establish a permanent home and a lending policy that keeps these priceless items as accessible as possible to the people of New Rochelle and our region." – Mayor Noam Bramson

Westchester Magazine: Best of Westchester 2009

Nightlife - Editors' Picks - Chill Bar Spot
The Gnarly Vine
501 Main St
New Rochelle, NY 
914-355-2541

Home Decor - Ethnic Finds
Ethnika Home Decor and Antiques
1 Portman Road
New Rochelle NY 10801 
914-813-8920


Home Decor - Knockout Showroom 
transFORM
20 Jones Street
New Rochelle, NY 
914-500-1000

Chains We Love
New York Sports Club
175 Huguenot Street
New Rochelle, NY
914-636-2455


Chains We Love
Home Goods
Palmer Square Shopping Center
Petersville Rd. & Palmer Ave.
New Rochelle, NY
914-235-9821

With 14,170 visitors and 60,155 page views, June 2009 was our biggest month ever. Thanks for your support and making up the biggest and best hyper-local news site for New Rochelle! Today we hit 70,000 readers since launch last September 1st.

What to make of this? Don Coqui is back.

Jimmy Rodriquez is set to re-open the former MacMeanamin's Grill as Don Coqui (again) after the restaurant was originally closed down by a court-appointed bankruptcy trustee.

The web site uses images from the old MacMenamin's Grill web site and the restaurant is still offering a cooking class for kids. So, why is the New Rochelle school district now putting out its cooking class contract for bids? What do readers know?

Here is what there web site has to say:

Don Coqui, you are always reminded of how great it feels to be alive!

Once again, Jimmy Rodriguez, the creator of the internationally-renowned Restaurants is cooking up a storm with his new and masterful creation of Don Coqui.

Mr. Rodriguez's personal passion for creating something great, and his business philosophy, "you can't succeed if you are not excited about what you are doing," are the main ingredients behind Don Coqui's story.

Press release from Jim Maisano:

Legislators Maisano and Board of Legislators Request that Thomas Paine Historical Artifacts Remain in Westchester County – Hopefully in New Rochelle

Westchester County Legislator Jim Maisano (R, New Rochelle) announced today that he drafted a letter, signed by every member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, that was mailed to the New York State Education Department and New York State Museum requesting that all historical artifacts located at the Thomas Paine National Historical Association (“TPNHA”) remain in Westchester – hopefully in New Rochelle (Paine_Ltr.pdfletter is attached).

City of New Rochelle press release:

The restoration of three significant monuments adorning the east and west entranceways to the City’s central business district will be celebrated at a ceremony on Wednesday, July 1 at 11:00 a.m. at the World War I monument, Faneuil Park, at the East Junction of Main and Huguenot Streets. In case of inclement weather the ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 2 at 11:30 a.m.

The Soldier’s Monument (1895), Eliza and Dr. Peter Moulton Memorial (1914) and World War I Memorial (1921) had each suffered considerably through the decades from soiling and moderate decay. The Monument Restoration Project was approved by the Council in 2008 and began in March 2009 under the direction of the Department of Public Works. Ben D’Onofrio, Construction Engineer, was assigned as the Project Manager. The preservation assessment was performed by Jablonski Building Conservation and restoration work was accomplished by Archa Technologies and Steve Tatti. The total cost of the project is estimated to be approximately $100,000.

“Our monuments commemorate the extraordinary sacrifices made by generations of New Rochelleans to advance the cause of freedom throughout the world,” said Mayor Noam Bramson. “They are also wonderful examples of artistry that lend grace and beauty to their surroundings.”

Members of the Board of Education of the City School District of New Rochelle will hold the following meetings on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the Administration Building, 515 North Avenue, Second Floor, New Rochelle, New York:

· 6:30 P.M: Committee of the Whole Session…(Executive Session)....Carew Room

The Board anticipates making a motion to go immediately into Executive Session to discuss employment history of particular persons and legal matters with District Counsel.

· 7:30 PM: Committee of the Whole Session….. (Public Session)……Board Room

AGENDA

I. Board of Education Announcements
II. Superintendent's Report
A. Update: Full-Day Kindergarten
B. Westchester-Putnam School Boards Recognition
C. Sustainability Advisory Board
D. Thanksgiving Day Parade
III Review of Draft Resolutions
IV. Board/Community Informal Discussion

· 8:00 PM: Special Meeting …………………………………………..Board Room

EDITOR'S NOTE: Where are the board resolutions for this meeting? Why are they still being kept secret! Why have they not been published online as promised during the 2009 campaign?