Volunteers Busy Sorting Books for the Scarsdale Library Book Sale
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- Written by Marie Ceske and Carly Glickenhaus
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As many of you may know, The Friends of the Scarsdale Library holds an annual book sale to benefit the library. The sale has become a well-known tradition in Scarsdale. Every year, just after the 4th of July, the Friends start collecting donations from people throughout Westchester County. In recent years, they have collected almost 50,000 books in total. Donated books are sorted into categories like Trade Fiction, Classics, World History, Biography, How To and Children's Books to name a few. However, the Friends do not only collect books; they also sell CDs, DVDs, audio-books, cassettes, and VCRs.
Needless to say, the preparation for the book sale is a lot of hard work! And the library is grateful to have almost 30 active volunteers who help to make the sale preparation process move along faster. Volunteers start with sorting bags and boxes of donated books. These bags and boxes are all brought downstairs to the basement where their contents are loaded onto carts. From these carts, each book is deposited into a cardboard box based upon its category. When a box is full, it is folded up and a new one is stacked on top. In August, all of the boxes are moved to the Scott Room, where they are laid out and further organized in preparation for the sale. Volunteer Phyllis Heine reflected: "Book sorting involves an understanding that everyone makes mistakes and the sorting process can take time to get used to and perfect, but the end result is a successful book sale." The dedication and knowledge of Kathy Steves, head of the book sale and a librarian herself, is greatly appreciated by her fellow volunteers; she always knows where to sort an odd book that could belong in three or four different genres.
In addition, there is a lot that volunteers gain from helping. As Mrs. Steves stated: "[Volunteering] is addictive. There is always one more box to 
open to see if that treasure's inside." Ms Heine also remarked: "You can come across books that you have never even heard of and wind up with a great summer read!" The library is also a great place to get community service hours. Tenth graders Virja Metha and Chris Teresa are among a few teens who volunteer everyday for about three to four hours. Their jobs include carrying boxes of books from the basement up into the Scott Room. Virja noted: "You see what different books there are. It also teaches you valuable life lessons like how to work." And Chris included he likes coming to the library because of "the joy of helping people out." For some people, volunteering is really like a summer job: they spend hours working each day. Others stop by to help a few times a week.
The book sale has grown over time. The first year Mrs. Steves worked the sale, which was about 10 years ago, volunteers could fit all of the books on the sale tables and there were no books stacked below. Now, books are not only stacked underneath the tables, but they are also presorted and stored in boxes in the back rooms. In addition to the growing quantity of books, there are also more volunteers. Mrs. Steves noted that this increase is most likely because of the growing awareness of the sale.
As one volunteer stated, "the book sale is mass recycling." Every donated book finds its way into another hand by the end of the sale. Because of the enormity of the collection, not everything can be displayed at once, and each day new books are put out as others are purchased. Therefore, many people return to the sale day after day and still come home with new surprises each time. Hard covers cost $3 each and paperbacks sell for $1 or $2, depending on size. There are also specially priced books, such as those that are autographed. There are actually quite a few autographed books and, this year, this collection includes one signed by Al Gore and another by Isaac Bashevis Singer. About 90% of the books sell, and what is left is donated to charity.
In the past, the funds raised through the book sale have allowed the library to redo the Children's section, fund children's programs like the Writer's Conference, and purchase tables and chairs for outside the entrance. Many years ago, the funds were used to help the library's collection of books itself. Leni Glauber, Assistant Director of the Scarsdale Library, indicated that the book sale was very important to the library: "We really do appreciate the generosity."
August 24th is the last day the library will accept donations, so please drop off your donations soon.
The Friends Preview will be held Friday, Sept. 6 | 7pm-9pm. The Regular Sale will begin Sept. 7 | 9am-4:30pm; Sept. 8 | 10am-4pm; Sept. 9 | 11am-8pm; Sept. 10 | 11am-8pm. The Half-price sale begins Wednesday, Sept. 11 | 11am-8pm; Sept. 12 | 11am-5pm; Sept. 13 | 10am-4:30pm. The Blow-Out Sale will be Sunday, Sept. 15 from 11am to 4pm. If you have any questions, visit www.scarsdalelibrary.org/friends or call (914) 722-1300.
Marie Ceske and Carly Glickenhaus will be sophomores at Scarsdale High School this fall.
Frustrated Resident Tells Trustees, "You Are Chasing Us Out of Town"
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Fed up with the overdevelopment of their neighborhoods, about 20 residents came to Village Hall on Tuesday night August 13 to attend a meeting of the Law and Land Use Committees of the Scarsdale Village Board. The meeting had been convened to review the current Village code regulating development and to listen to residents who are frustrated with the Village's lack of control over the construction of large new homes on existing lots.
Before the public spoke, Village Planner Elizabeth Marrinan reviewed the zoning tools that the Village now has at its disposal to regulate development. She explained that Scarsdale is divided into 19 zoning districts, but only 7 of these districts comprise 99% of the Village.
She explained that Floor Area Ratios (FAR) regulate the size of a home permitted on a given lot, regulations that were adopted in 2002 after a two-year study. The goal of this regulation is to control the perception of the bulk of a home when viewed from the street. Since its implementation, Marrinan reports that the FAR guidelines have not been challenged and few variances have been requested. However, builders have used the guidelines as justification to build the largest house permitted on the property, resulting in new homes that neighbor original homes that are often half the size.
A set of guidelines that were also implemented at the time were later rescinded, because because, according to Marrinan, "they were drawn by planners and they were difficult to use and understand."
Lot coverage requirements regulate the maximum coverage permitted for all buildings on a lot, as well as impervious surfaces. She noted that of late, in order to build more 
on less, residents have begun to convert impervious asphalt driveways to gravel driveways to give them more space to build a pool or a pool house. Wetlands properties are allowed 30% less lot coverage that non-wetlands properties and no construction is permitted within 25 feet of a wetland.
Marrinan warned that if we change these regulations to control future development, many of the existing homes could become non-conforming, an issue that poses problems for the village.
Setback requirements are yet another zoning tool that dictate how a home can be built on a lot. Depending on the zoning district, these regulations define the required distance from the street, sidelines and rear property line.
The residents waited over an hour to speak, and when they did get the chance to do so their frustration was evident. Most came from two areas of Quaker Ridge where it has become commonplace to tear down a 2,500 square foot home and replace it with a "gargantuan" palace, as one man said.
The residents aired a variety of concerns including:
- Bulk of the new homes
- Builder's disregard for building sites
- Changes in elevation requiring high retaining walls to flatten yards
- Subdivision of properties where two home replaced one
- Infrastructure needs
- Neighborhood character
A Dell Road neighbor complained about "humongous bulky homes" on her street. She said, when homes go up for sale, they are never even put on the market. Instead realtors, in partnerships with builders, sell the homes to the builder to knock down. In her words, "they are ruining our street."
Phil Moscowitz of Herkimer Road, which is a private road off Hutchinson Avenue said these new homes are "changing our neighborhoods and cheapening Scarsdale." He also said that these large new homes "strain the sewage system," and added, "we are very unhappy with the new structures."
Also from Herkimer Road, Susan Safter told the trustees two years ago the neighbors pitched in $65,000 to repave their street and now find that the builders have no respect for the street. They "dump soil," and "all the mud from the construction drains down onto our properties." She also said that the current storm drains cannot accommodate these larger homes.
Dick Wolf of Rock Creek Lane told trustees to consider changes in topography of existing land. He reported that in order to create flat yards for the new homes, builders backfill sloped properties, resulting in "an 11 foot retaining wall" in a yard that backs onto Dell Road. He said, "In order to create a picture perfect property you end up with massive changes in elevation and retaining walls. He raised the issue of subdivision of properties as well and asked the Village Trustees to make the developers pay for infrastructure improvements such as storm sewers to accommodate the run off from these large new homes.
Richard Schiffer, a resident of Dell Road for 45 years told the Trustees that the original homes were built in the 1950's, and many were just 2,000 square feet. Bemoaning the gargantuan homes being built on Dell Road he said, "We came here to live in a Village in park. We should try to preserve our homes the way they used to be. I should not have to live 10 feet away from a 5,000 square foot house. You are chasing us out of town by allowing this to happen. Most of us will move away."
Another neighbor brought up the condition of the work sites, saying, "Is there monitoring of work in process? The street looks like a war zone. There are tree trunks sticking up and dirt is tracked into the street. Is there a timeframe for completion of the project?
Due to time constraints, the meeting was called to a close. Mayor Steves vowed to set another meeting date to finish the conversation.
Water Alert: Lawn Watering Limited to Two Days Per Week in Scarsdale
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Parched lawns and wilted foliage may be in our future due to limitations on watering that have been imposed by Scarsdale Village. The Village is restricting water usage for the remainder of the season – not because of a water shortage but due to the fragility of the Village's pumping station. This past weekend two pumps failed at the Reeves Newsome Pumping Station, Scarsdale's primary station, and caused a severe drop in water pressure. Now 61 years-old, the pump station is due for an overhaul. The Village upgraded the Ardsley Road Pump Station and reopened it in late 2011. They plan to rely on this facility when Reeves Newsome receives a planned $4 million upgrade.
On Tuesday July 23, the Village issued the following Water Alert that limits lawn watering to two days per week. Below find a schedule of days you are permitted to water your lawn, depending on the location of your home:
Properties located between the Bronx River Parkway and the Post Road are permitted to water their lawn on Mondays and Thursdays.
Properties located between the Post Road and Palmer Avenue/Wilmot Rd/Secor Rd/Old Mamaroneck Road are permitted to water their lawns on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Properties located between Palmer Avenue/Wilmot Rd/Secor Road/Old Mamaroneck Road and the Town of Mamaroneck Boundary are permitted to water their lawns on Wednesdays and Saturdays or Sundays.
See the map at right to find out when you can water: 
Some automatic sprinklers cannot be set at uneven intervals, so residents may need to control them manually.
The lawn watering restrictions will remain in effect for the balance of the summer and fall, unless otherwise determined by the Superintendent of Water. All residents are encouraged to utilize water conservation techniques and/or equipment to increase their water efficiency and reduce water demand. For more information visit the Village website or call the Water Department at 722-1138.
Scarsdale Building Department Cites 1 Palmer for Violations
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The Scarsdale Village Building Department is citing the developer of the new building at One Palmer Avenue for non-compliance. The "Order to Remedy Violations" includes a long list of variances between the approved building plan and the building that has been built.
The order mandates the builder to either remedy the discrepancies or return to the Board of Architectural Review to approve the changes.
All of the violations involve changes to the exterior of the building including differences in the doors, railings, roofline, windows and building materials. Residents who have been questioning the building design may be happy to know that the building that has been constructed deviates in substantial ways from the building that was approved by the BAR.
Originally kosher food purveyor Supersol (aka Seasons) had intended to move into the space. But the deal was cancelled when Gristedes announced they were closing and now rumor has it that Seasons will stay in the Golden Horseshoe and move into the Gristedes space where there is ample above ground parking. Since the new building at One Palmer has no tenant, perhaps the developers have cut back on building expenses by using inexpensive substitutes for the exterior elements in the original plan.
Here is a list of the discrepancies:
Palmer Avenue Elevation:
- The top roof railing was to be a post and rail type roof guard. Instead the builder has installed a metal picket fence above the front door.
- The windows in the rounded section of the building at the corner of Heathcote Road and Palmer Avenue were to have decorative lintels over the windows. None have been provided.
- The exterior wall lights do not match the style of the lights indicated on the drawings.
Heathcote Road Elevation:
- The pitched metal roof should have extended past the second floor window and the two ground floor exit doors. The current pitched roof extends only to the end of the smaller ground floor fixed glass window.
- The top roof railing was to be a post and rail type roof guard. Instead the builder has installed a metal picket fence above the front door.
- The exterior wall lights do not match the style of the lights indicated on the drawings.
North Elevation as seen from Balducci's Parking Lot:
The approved drawing calls for the pitched metal roof to extend to the end of the building. The existing roof does not extend to the end of the building. An exhaust hood has been installed on the section of the flat roof that was designed to be a pitched metal roof.
East Parking Lot:
- The approved drawing calls for double glass entrance doors. The opening for the doors that was built is substantially smaller and includes a steel door rather than glass doors.
- The drawing calls for a decorative railing along the top of the first story above the glass doors. No railing has been installed.
- In addition, though the violation does not list it, the original renderings showed trees, landscaping and potted plants. The building that now stands is surrounded by a concrete sidewalk with no area for plantings.
The Law Committee of the Scarsdale Board of Trustees will meet on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 5:30 PM to hear a status report on the construction at One Palmer Avenue. They are expected to go into executive session to discuss litigation of alleged violations with the Village Attorney and Building Inspector.
Attention Greenacres Residents: Data Mailers for Reval Include Error
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We received this notice from Nanette Albanese, Scarsdale Village Assessor about the data mailers that were mailed to Greenacres residents: The data mailers for Greenacres that were mailed on Saturday July 13 contained an error. Apparently the letter is dated July 11, 2013, and indicates that any corrections to the form need to be returned by July 15, 2013, which allows insufficient time for corrections.
On the data mailer itself, page two indicates that the corrections need to be returned by July 26, 2013, which is a lot more reasonable. This was an oversight by Tyler Technologies, the company that is conducting the reval. Please note that any corrections to the data about your home are due by July 26, 2013, not July 15, 2013.
