The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 3

www.nyjournqlnews.com NEW YORKREGION rk The Journal News Sunday, August 1 5, 1 999 3A Cafe to call attention to Pershing Square $5 million project across from Grand Central will reflect World War I era BILL VARNER The Journal News NEW YORK It just might be the kind of cafe where its namesake, Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing, would have felt at ease. The Pershing Square Cafe, where the decor evokes the time when Pershing commanded the American Expeditionary Forces during World War is the latest venture in the revitalization of Grand Central Terminal. Built under the Park Avenue viaduct, across 42nd Street from Grand Central, the cafe is expected to open no later than Labor Day weekend, says designer and owner Michael "Buzzy" O'Keefe. The viaduct was built during World War and the area in front of the terminal was dedicated to Pershing in 1918.

"It is going to become a restaurant landmark," said Dan Pisark, director of retail development for the Grand Central Partnership, the business group that provides security, sanitation and other services in the neighborhood. The cafe, with seating for 250, will open within weeks of two other steps in the terminal's revitalizatioa Several new retail outlets on the lower level of Grand Central opened this month, and new underground passageways starting at the train platforms and leading as far north as 48th Street, known as Grand Central North, are due to open by Labor Day. The refurbished main hall of Grand Central had its grand IS fern "rii I 1 1 4W fv I I uvi: i fi TiMum 't irr mi mi i mhi ii i in i ing area The kitchen is at the 41st Street end. The decor includes two walls at the front end that are the original, 3-foot-thick pink granite of the viaduct. The ceiling of the restaurant part of the cafe features reproductions in Fiberglas of the original steel beams.

They are painted the same shade of green as the famous ceiling of Grand Central's main hall. "It will be great fiin. People will get a kick out of the design," said O'Keefe, who envisioned a combination of P.J. Clarke's, 21, and the Belmont Bar and Garden Restaurant a seasonal outdoor beer garden that was open in the 1930s at the site where the Philip Morris building now stands on 42nd Street. O'Keefe insists that the Pershing Square Cafe will be a moderately priced eatery, as far as Manhattan prices go.

A beer will cost $4.50, a hamburger platter about $9. It will probably not take reservations because "reservations implies fancy," O'Keefe's partner, John McFadden, said. He promises that the wait for a table won't be longer than 15 minutes. That may be tough, given that Grand Central Partnership studies have shown that more than 7,000 people pass through Pershing Square during an average nonrush hour. That number can rise to as high as 12,000 per hour during peak periods of the day.

O'Keefe started with what he terms a "raw" space: no electricity or plumbing. Before and during World War II, the area was enclosed and turned into a combination visitors bureau for the 1939 Worlds Fair and a USO club. "This brings back the name 'Pershing which has slipped off the tongues of most New Yorkers," Pisark said. "It really advances the district bringing dead space back to life." Mark VergarlThe Journal News Michael "Buzzy" O'Keefe, owner of the Pershing Square Cafe in Manhattan, stands in front of the soon-to-be-opened restaurant across 42nd Street from Grand Central Terminal. Balcony of the terminal from 1987 to 1991.

O'Keefe has given such meticulous attention to the details of his latest creation that the cost of construction jumped from an anticipated $2.5 million to $5 million, and the opening, originally set for around St Patrick's Day, is coming almost six months later. For example, only slot-head screws were used in construction because, O'Keefe said, there were no Phillips-head screws in the early 1900s. The chairs in the cafe portion of the restaurant were designed and made by the only chair maker left in Paris, he said. Electric cords on the brass lamps on each table are covered by gold silk thread made in Paris. No paint was applied by spray or brush; it was all hand-rubbed.

State's grape growers say drought may produce vintage wine year opening last year. O'Keefe, owner and designer of the Water Club in Manhattan and the River Cafe in Brooklyn, is leasing the Pershing Square Cafe space from the Grand Central Partnership, which in turn rents it from New York City. He ran the Grand Central Cafe famous for its chicken pot pie on the north side of the West long time," he said. Cayuga County has had about 10 fewer inches of precipitation in the past 12 months than normal. But that's just fine for wine grapes, winemakers say, because too much rain dilutes the grapes.

"Grapes really love the dry weather and sunshine, it's the complete opposite of what you're hearing (with farmers) everywhere else," said Nancy Battistel-la, owner of Six Mile Creek Winery on Route 79 outside of Ithaca Besides creating a strong flavor, the dry warmth also helps grape production in a few other ways, according to James Trezise, president of the New York Wine and Grape Foundation in Ham-mondsport Dry weather prevents mildew, which can destroy crops, Trezise said. It also causes the grapes to ripen faster, allowing farmers to The front entrance, on 42nd Street, leads into the cafe area, where baked goods and coffee will be sold. Behind that is the bar area including a sign dubbing it the "Buzz Bar" and behind that is the restaurant seat- Clothing Toys Man charged with 20 Greenwich burglaries GREENWICH, Conn. A New York City man who police say has confessed to more than 100 break-ins, has been charged with committing 20 burglaries in Greenwich. Kyle Richard Tighe, 27, allegedly admitted burglarizing those homes and dozens more in Stamford and Westchester County.

Police said he specialized in jewelry, credit cards, cash and small electronic items. In almost all of the break-ins, Tighe kicked in the front door of an unoccupied home in mid-afternoon and carried away valuables in a pillowcase he took froqi a bedroom, police said. fa He was arrested in July after a burglary was interrupted by a Greenwich homeowner, police! said. Officers apprehended Tighe when he crashed his car while trying to flee. On Friday, Tighe was charged with 40 counts including burglary, larceny and forgery in Greenwich.

He was arraigned and returned to the Community Correctional Center in Bridgeport, where he has been held in lieu of $400,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to court Sept 20 for a pretrial hearing. 2 boys accused of slashing 8-year-old NEW YORK Two 12-year-olds are charged with assault and attempted murder after they allegedly slashed an 8-year-old boy's throat, a wound that required 75 stitches. Adis Lucvic, of Queens, was released from Elmhurst Hospital on Friday night with bandages covering the four inch wound. Police said the slash had just missed the boy's carotid artery, which supplies blood to the head.

"I don't know why they did it," the boy had told reporters from his hospital bed. Adis was playing with his younger brother in their front yard in the Astoria section. At about 7 p.m., two youths approached them and slashed Adis with a single edge blade. Hearing his son's screams, Amar Lucvic came outside and chased the two alleged attackers. He caught them at a nearby street corner, as a police patrol car passed by.

The officers arrested the two boys. "It was lucky the police came when they did, because I lost my self-control," said Lucvic. Lucvic and his wife, Sanada, immigrated to New York from Montenegro 14 years ago. "It was the daytime, right in front of my house," he said. "I still can't believe something like this would happea" Officer Gary Cillo, a police spokesman, said the boys, whose names were not released, would be charged as juveniles.

One of the youths was also charged with robbery after a passerby at the arrest scene identified him as one of a gtoiip that mugged him last mDifith. mm 20 injured as bus hits NTJ. Turnpike divider RIDGEFIELD PARK, NJ. AUjus headed to an amusement pSrk in Pennsylvania crashed off; the New Jersey Turnpike yesterday morning, injuring about 20 people. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

Trooper Dave Dragotto of the Newark State Police Barracks said the Coach USA bus carrying 50 passengers was traveling in the southbound lanes near Route 46 when it struck a divider at around 9:10 a m. The bus was en route to Oorney Park near Allentown, Fa, from New York City. MM" Uhe injured were taken to Hjply Name Hospital in Tea-nejk, Hackensack Medical Center- and Englewood Hospital and Medical Center, where they were treated mostly for cfltS and bruises, Dragotto said. Police were still investigating th? cause of the crash, but believe the driver, who was among the injured, was speeding, Dragotto said. Police expected to issue a summons to Samuel Aboagye, 46, of Heady exfieutded Say 4 4ectcot harvest them earlier and decrease the risk of an early frost ruining the crops.

There are about 1,000 grape growers listed in the state. About two-thirds of those grow grapes for grape juice and table grapes. The rest grow grapes for wine. There are about 137 wineries registered in the state, and most grow at least some of their own grapes. While the drought could make for an outstanding vintage year, there are some drawbacks to the lack of rain.

Because the grapes lose about 20 percent of their size during droughts, the overall crop is reduced, Trezise said. An average crop of about 150,000 to 170,000 tons of grapes will be harvested this year, Trezise said, and the price of those grapes might increase to offset the reduced harvest. charged with murder and burglary in connection with the crime. National statistics show that while the Catholic population is increasing, the number of ordinations has dropped dramatically, from 771 in 1975 to 460 this year. As pastor of one of the state's largest parishes, Lysz was repeatedly praised for his ability to guide his parishioners.

"He wasn't afraid to accommodate us," said Anthony Smith, 35, a parishioner who will begin his third year of theology at a seminary in Rome. Finger Lakes vintners are among the few folks cheering recent dry weather The Associated Press GENOA, N.Y. The summer drought that devastated so many central New York farmers has one group raising a toast grape growers. Winery owners say the dry conditions could produce one of the finest vintages in more than a decade, because little moisture allows for a stronger, richer flavor. "All bets are off until the fruit is in the tanks fermenting, but this could be one of those years," said Peter Saltonstall, owner of the King Ferry Winery in the hamlet of Genoa on Cayuga Lake.

"These grapes could produce wines with more intense varietal character than we've had in a Slain pastor had The Associated Press BRISTOL, Conn. Rev. Robert J. Lysz, the Roman Catholic priest bludgeoned to death in his church in June, is remembered as more than just a compassionate spiritual leader. The slain pastor of St Matthew Church was also an inspiration during a time of waning interest in the priesthood.

His down-to-earth demeanor and ability to recognize the religious calling in others prompted five men from his parish to think about joining the clergy. "He seemed to know that the priesthood was something I was Newborn thru Pretoen Ortun 7 Dim wrt -teen Open 7 Days 104 Route 202 Ramapo Plaza, Pomona (914) 362-8337 E3 laza, Pomona (914)362-8337 3 inspired 5 to explore priesthi lurn Your Screened Porch 0 Dresswear lagnif iceiif, yfijAw9tK i 1 Dresswear CO Deck Into A lodem, All-season For Far Less Then You Imagine! considering, but wasn't sure of," said Michael Slusz, who is beginning his first year of theology at Mount St Mary's Seminary in Maryland this month. "The more I watched Father Lysz, the more I felt the calling," said JefF Romans, 22, who will enter his first year of theology school at St John's Seminary in Boston later this month. "He always had time to talk about what I wanted to do with my life. He was a model of the priesthood." Lysz, 50, was beaten to death in his Bristol church on June 25.

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