Scarsdale

Drumroll, please: It's the 2014 OscarsDales

Our eyes were on Hollywood last weekend as we watched the Oscars. But now it's time to think local again. Scarsdale's own version of that fabled ceremony, the OscarsDales, is here! Sure, our golden statuette only got its glow from spending the afternoon in a tanning bed, but we'll take what we can get, right?

Let's all sit back, order in a pizza from Lange's, take a few selfies, and find out who's getting top honors. (Hint: You'll be thrilled--and a little scared--to learn how often the winner is YOU!)

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

...Every parent who acts delighted to sit on a cold metal bench on Saturday mornings and cheer his kid's Rec softball team.

BEST ART DIRECTION

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

...Anyone who offered gentle yet astute tips while supervising her child's Halloween Window Painting Contest efforts. ("I think someone's already drawn a witch on a fart-powered broom, sweetie.")

BEST SOUND MIXING

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

...All those who added their illegal generator's racket to the din coming from all the other illegal generators during our last power outage (thanks!).

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

...Any (and every) woman among us who's made $300 Uggs and $900 Moncler puffer jackets the uniform that shouts "I'm just slumming around town."

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

The Realtors of Scarsdale, for demonstrating incredible skill at taking MLS photos. (How do you make a 1500-square-foot Tudor on .10 acres of land look like the Taj Mahal, anyway?)

BEST ANIMATED SHORT

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

Residents who attended brief hearings on the Homestead Tax Option and got as agitated as if they were taking a spin on Space Mountain, blindfolded.

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

Envelope please...and the award goes to...

Katzenberg's for closing their doors, vanishing overnight and leaving not a trace of the salad bar.

These awards were presesnted by Deborah Skolnik, a Greenacres mother of two and the Content Director for Myron Corporation, a large business-gifts firm in Maywood, New Jersey.

Homestead Tax Option Struck Down After Much Deliberation

Following months of briefings, meeting and hearings, the Mayor and Board of Trustees of Scarsdale voted unanimously 7-0, on March 4, 2014, against the adoption of the Homestead Tax Option. The measure was under consideration as part of the Village-wide tax revaluation process that will re-asses the way the tax burden is distributed across Scarsdale. If passed it would have changed the methodology for assessing condominiums, so that condominiums would be assessed on their market value rather than on their potential rental income, which is the current methodology for coops.

Sounding more like judges than trustees, several of the board members spoke eloquently on the reasoning behind their votes, each offering a unique perspective on this perplexing issue. Many cited the undue tax burden that would be placed on the condo owners of Christie Place in exchange for a minimal benefit to owners of Scarsdale single family homes. Since the intent of the Homestead Tax Option legislation is to rebalance the tax burden between commercial and residential properties following a revaluation, some felt it was wrong to apply this option to reclassify a small number of condominiums. Trustees also believed that these condo-owners had no previous knowledge that their taxes could be tripled just a few years after they purchased their units, making it a bait and switch situation. Plus Homestead would create a new disparity between the valuation of condos and coops, and there is a lack of sales history data to properly assess the condominiums at fair market value.

Here are excerpts from their statements:

Trustee Stacey Brodsky said, "As everyone who has followed this debate knows, the adoption of Homestead will not eliminate disparities since coops will continue to be taxed using the income based valuation method whether or not the Homestead provision is enacted. Because the Homestead law allows only the possibility of revaluing condos using market value, it creates a disparity in the real estate valuation method and consequent real estate tax treatment of condos versus coops." ..."With the Homestead Option, we would be proposing to increase property taxes on the condos some 100 to 200% based upon assumptions about market conditions that we have not previously had and have no experience with in Scarsdale. My concerns about the valuation process are underscored by the age restrictions limiting Christie Place condominium ownership, which affect the universe of buyers eligible to purchase a unit.... We, the village board, simply lack the power to treat all owners of property the same way; therefore, to my way of thinking, the analysis to support the Homestead option must go deeper than broad assertions of fairness."

Calling this one of the most difficult decisions she has had to make on four year on the Village Board, Trustee Kay Eisenman said, "Fairness in applying the law is not always equivalent to fairness to individual persons. In this case the law evenly applied to all would not impact all equally. Condo owners would share an unequal burden of economic change and endure a great financial burden when these rules are implemented." She then answered those who argued that diligent condo buys should have known that a tax increase was possible, saying, "These owners, unlike home owners, had no inkling that reval could so drastically change their lives. Frankly I don't know if anyone was aware of this, or saw it coming, because it was never part of the discussion about reval, which I recall was thorough and extensive. ... This seems to me inherently unfair and a game changer for those owners. ... My vote was cast because I could not in good conscience decide to do something that, while permissible under the law, feels morally corrupt and a poke in the eye to people who had every right to expect that they purchased their homes in an open and fair process."

Trustee Jon Mark discussed the shift in the burden that would be caused by the adoption of Homestead as well as the intent of the Homestead Tax Option, saying, "In my view making a fundamental change in the methodology used to assess condominiums that produces a significant tax dollar burden on 47 condominium units and an insignificant tax dollar benefit for approximately 5,300 residential properties is not a fair result. It is not comparable to the re-allocation of tax burden among residential properties that is expected to occur from the Village-wide revaluation where no change in methodology is involved.... Since we are not considering adopting the Homestead Tax Option for its primary purpose – to re-establish pre-revaluation property tax allocations among residential and other property classes, it would seem that adopting it solely to change the methodology for valuing condominiums has a punitive quality that also strikes me as unfair."

Trustee David Lee echoed some of the same concerns, saying, "We all understand that the whole point of the reval was to put all of the residences in Scarsdale on an equal footing....So it is quite troubling to consider that in the absence of our adopting the Homestead Tax Option condominium owners at Christie Place will benefit from a method of calculation that undercuts the equal footing concept.... Yet, what ultimately governs my vote is that I believe there is a principled reason for singling out the residents of Christie Place. In my view the residents of Christie Place had a reasonable expectation that their property taxes were correctly calculated and would not double or triple in size within a very short number of years. They could justifiably believe that the newly computed assessments on their property were reasonably accurate and not subject to huge swings in the near future....I distinguish their situation from that of a buyer of an old home with a low assessment who is now subject to a dramatic swing higher in taxes. That buyer either knew or with only a modest amount of discussion on the subject would have known he or she was simply enjoying the good fortune of an outdated assessment."

"I am not willing to say that the Christie Place residents should have done their homework better to discover the existence of the Homestead Tax Option...Nor am I willing to say that if they have a complaint it is with the developer to whom they overpaid for their apartment or it is with their real estate attorney who failed to advise them of this possibility. ... The adopted plan would be harshly inequitable.... An exception must be made in this case to prevent an injustice."

Trustee William Stern noted that while he did not agree that there would be a decrease in the value of the Christie Place condominiums, he grouped condominiums and coops as, "Fungible housing," which should not be treated differently by raising the tax rates on one and not the other.

Mayor Robert Steves had the final word before the vote, again citing the, "disproportionate impact," the taxes would have on a small part of the community. He went on to say that it is important that the Board of Trustees is, "Careful not to start setting different demographics against each other." He made clear that he in no way felt any tax laws were created illegally, or used to foster backdoor or illegal dealings. In his interpretation of the re-evaluation, Mayor Steves said, "The law recognized circumstances to re-evaluate and gave the village the power to do that," going on to describe the methodology used in previous evaluations as consistent with the one used across the state.

Advocates for Homestead continued to present arguments for its adoption. They touched upon the necessity for fairness in the tax code by citing the need to tax everyone at the same level. Robert Berg claimed that everyone deserved the, "Opportunity for equal protection under the law," Lambasting the tax option as, "Unfairly benefitting Christie Place residents since 2008," Mr. Berg also made a direct plea to the Board, not to let their sympathy for the plight of the Christie Place owners influence their decision.

Robert Selvaggio called for taxes to be "levied in an equitable way," saying, "we are all paying for the people who live in Christie Place. Selvaggio said, "I don't want to pay my friends taxes anymore than they want to pay my kids college tuitions." He continued saying, "We hate to see anyone's taxes rise," and called a vote against the Homestead Tax option as a, "Victory for crony capitalism."

Former Trustee Bob Harrison called for all condos past and present to be assessed at fair market value. With that said, he also noted that the yearly cost of a Christie Place condo should be taken into account when determining the increased tax rate, and that he thought, "the dollar value of condos will be maintained."

Linda Doucette-Ashman of the League of Women Voters f Scarsdale read sections of the consensus statement from the League which came out against Homestead. You can read the entire statement here:

Richard Gerwin, a Christie Place resident, cited the 116% tax increase and a potential decrease in retail value as compelling reasons to vote against the ballot measure. David Rosen, another Christie Place resident, explained his view that the arguments made in support of equal taxation had little to do with fairness, but were rather, "A cover for anti-development arguments," stemming from the fear that many condominiums would spring up due to lower tax rates.

As the lengthy debate came to a close, both the Mayor and Board of Trustee's acknowledged the gravity of the issue, and the time that was spent in order to reach their decision. With the motion voted down, the town avoided a, "Fundamental change for condo's," in the words of Trustee Jon Mark, and continued with the re-evaluation process.

Hora Time

My son is having his Bar Mitzvah at Yankee Stadium- he can't wait to see his montage on the big screen.

My daughter had a professional photo shoot before the big day- there will be life-size posters of her hung all around the ballroom.

My daughter didn't want the big party, so we just hired limos for her and 15 of her friends and rented them a house in the Hamptons for the weekend. We had activities planned for them the entire weekend.

By age 11, your child has a Bar/Bat Mitzvah date. This important milestone in Judaism marks the bittersweet road from childhood to adulthood. By age 12, your child is learning to chant a Torah portion. You feel proud, and you start the party planning. You figure you better start making a list of the things you need to do and decisions you need to make to get ready to celebrate your child's accomplishment.

Your list likely includes, but is not limited to:

• Invitations- (Who to invite? Should I make an A list and a B list? What wording should I use? Is it really possible to spend that much on invitations? She wants to invite how many friends?)
• Calligrapher
• Hair Stylist
• Make-up artist
• Venue and caterer (as well as menu- so many choices!)
• Photographer and videographer
• Seating chart (decide whether or not you'll take "requests")
• Graphic Designer (for invitations and/or "branding your child")
• Entertainment and games
• Music (DJ? Band? An 11-piece band? Live performance by Flo Rida?)
• Cake
• Favors
• Event planner
• Exit favor
• Dresses and suits
• Flowers
• Centerpieces
• After-service Kiddush luncheon
• Thank you notes
• Security- (actually, this is a team you can hire to act as "babysitters" for the kids, although they often disguise themselves as dancers)
• Meeting after meeting with the calligrapher, florist, caterer, venue, baker, DJ/band leader, entertainers, graphic designer, hair stylist, makeup artist, etc.

How much should I expect to spend on a Bar/Bat Mitzvah party? Costs vary, of course. First, and most importantly, you need to come up with a budget you are comfortable with given your own family's circumstances. One Rabbi I spoke with said that there is nothing more upsetting to her than a family who doesn't plan well and ends up suffering financially as a consequence. An average venue with catering can run $20,000 or more for 175 people, but this does not include anything else on the above list; and these services can be pricey. Once you have your budget, you can begin making calls. Costs, as well as quality, have a wide range, so referrals from friends or colleagues and reading online reviews can help. One Scarsdale mom I spoke with cautioned against hiring the first person you meet with. "I met with one popular guy that people use to book their DJs and games. The whole time he was trying to figure out where my party was and who my friends were so he could 'size me up.' He sent me a quote," she continued, "and it was more than double all the other quotes I had gotten." She estimated the cost of a party to be between $20,000-$150,000 with the average in the middle. "And remember, everything can be negotiated," she added. Jacqueline Vazquez, an event planner and owner of Lifetime Events by Jacqueline, estimated that the average cost for a party in Westchester is around $50,000, but can go as high as $100,000 or more. "A modest luncheon could be had for $8,000."

What are popular venues for a party? Hotels, country clubs, and temples continue to be popular venues, but Life, The Place To Be in Ardsley and Chelsea Piers in Stamford are fun alternatives. Nightclubs or dance clubs are increasingly sought after venues. Ms. Vazquez said that the Net Jet Hanger at Westchester Airport is another interesting space people are using for parties, and there's also the CV Rich Mansion in White Plains. Destination Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are becoming more commonplace as well. Rabbi Andrea Frank, an independent Rabbi, said her favorite Bar and Bat Mitzvah parties were in people's backyards. "Often, people will have a tent and dance floor set up, the grill going, and a separate area for kids and adults, so everyone tends to have a great time," she said.

What are current trends in Bar and Bat Mitzvahs in Scarsdale? Christine Varbero from Caperberry Events provides event planning and on-site catering for the CV Rich Mansion. "The night club theme is very in right now," she said. "Also, fun things with food, like candy bars and themed food stations." The most elaborate party she saw was when a family had the mansion transformed into a carnival with stilt walkers, rides, and real carnival games. "Kid branding" is very in right now. For example, a girl by the name of Dawn David (fictitious) might have her initials (DD) branded to look like the Dunkin' Donuts logo. And after the branding is complete, prizes, favors, decorations, and cakes often contain the logo. The branded decorations alone can cost thousands of dollars. The Scarsdale mom I spoke with exclaimed, "The amount of other-kid-branded sweatshirts my kids have is insane!" Ms. Vazquez added, "The top tier trends are high tech- intelligent lighting, gobos with fun patterns, live event cams, virtual reality games, and laser tag games. Colors are still popular, and traditional themes are still used such as sports and hobbies."

Most importantly, how do parents keep the true meaning of a Bar or Bat Mitzvah in the day? The Scarsdale mom I spoke with does think that the day gets lost on many Bar/Bat Mitzvah children. "They're only 13, and the families must take responsibility to see that the meaning of the day is significant to the child beyond how tall the cake is." She has increasingly seen girls registering at a specific jewelry store in Scarsdale. She prefers to gift money- she feels that at least that may go toward paying for college. More concerning is seeing the day get lost on the parents. The planning is exhausting, but one must keep in mind that it's a short party, and just a party at that- for a 13-year-old. Unfortunately, people still tend to talk about how great the party was (or not) instead of how wonderful a job a child did with his or her Torah portion. Many synagogues now require students to do service projects as part of their Bar/Bat Mitzvah training, but why wait until then to teach your child the lesson of service to others and the gratification that (hopefully) comes along with it? And why leave it up to the synagogue to teach that instead of the parents? From Bronx River cleanups to volunteering with the Junior League of Central Westchester to donating used books and toys to other children, there are plenty of opportunities to teach even the youngest of children the gift of a mitzvah.

Speaking of gifts, what do people in Scarsdale traditionally give as gifts to a Bar or Bat Mitzvah? Most people I spoke with gave me a range, depending on how close you are to the child or family, and whether it is just the child going or the whole family. Multiples of 18 are traditional, as 18 stands for Chai and is a spiritual number in Judaism. One Scarsdale parent told me that she gifts a minimum of $200 if attending as a family, and up to $500 for a close friend or family. "For a close circle, $360 is most common," she said. "Kid to kid is usually $54. If you barely know your child's friend, then maybe $36. For a close friend we would go up to $108." What if you're not attending the ceremony and party? Some people give, some people don't, but it's usually on the lower end if a gift is sent.

Two New Retailers Open in Scarsdale Village

Though the snow is still piled high outside, Pookie & Sebastian has just opened in the Village with some great looks for spring. The spacious new store, the seventh in the chain, extends from East Parkway to Harwood Court and has been artfully designed to display their very appealing line of clothing, bags, shoes, jewelry and accessories. From what they have in stock, it looks like we'll be wearing lots of white this summer – and perhaps some orange and navy too. There are sheer tunic tops – reasonably priced at $78, which can be paired with colorful jeans and jean shorts. Also on display are long, flowing maxi dresses, lace crop tops, and crochet cover-ups. They can outfit you from head to toe with a straw hat, platform sandals and wonderful accessories from their large selection of beads, chains and pendants. This store is going to be fun for both moms and their daughters. Stop by and tell them Scarsdale10583 sent you!
Pookie & Sebastian
34 East Parkway
Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 713-4396
Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 7 pm

Around the corner there's more in store at the newly-opened Green with Envy in two storefronts at 6-8 Harwood Court. They've got display cases filled with jewelry, as well as scarves and bags for you or to give as a gift.

The jewelry starts with a fashion forward collection of bracelets, necklaces and earrings and extends to designer lines with semi-precious stones. There are 1950's Swarovski crystals, diamonds So whether you're looking for a $25 gift or a $10,000 indulgence, you'll find it in their collection. On the other side of the store I spotted some wonderful spring leather totes, cashmere wraps in pastel colors plus crinkly scarves ($18 -$40)

Green With Envy
6-8 Harwood Court
Scarsdale, NY 10583
914-725-9700

Meanwhile – it looks like Cosmetic Boutique around the corner on Spencer Place did not get off to a good start. The store is closed and a sign says they have temporarily shut their doors due to a problem with the furnace. Will keep you posted on this one!