Students Speak Up to the Board of Education
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The Civ Ed program, school clubs, interdisciplinary courses, stress and the competitive environment at Scarsdale High School were all discussed on Wednesday March 6, when a select group of students met with the Scarsdale Board of Education and administrators. Board members and school leaders, including Principal Kenneth Bonamao and teacher and school government leader Neil Ginsberg, were present at the meeting and encouraged honest opinions from the students.
Civ Ed, a program designed to help freshmen transition to high school through interaction with upperclass advisors, received high praise from the students. "Civ Ed makes school friendlier and warmer," said Freshman Harry Gale. "I know I have people looking out for me." Other Civ Ed students agreed that the program made a huge difference in their transition to the high school.
Another topic raised was interdisciplinary courses, which are classes that connect two subjects. Students present at the meeting generally favored these classes. "If someone is passionate about one subject, it is good for them to see it through a different lens to enjoy another subject," said Solange Azor, SHS student president. The courses allow students to master subjects in which they are weak by learning them through subjects in which they may be stronger.
The importance of "real-world" learning experiences to complement traditional classroom learning was also discussed. Ginsberg spoke of a course about old age that he taught in 1979. He took students to nursing homes to spend time with the elderly. His students and the elderly formed unexpectedly strong bonds that helped bring the subject to a personal level. When an elderly woman who the students were actively visiting died, the whole class mourned. Ginsberg reflected on this time as a critical and personal learning experience for his students. "The stuff we do inside the school is great, but getting outside the school is really important to learn things that cannot be taught in a classroom," said Ginsberg.
When asked what the students would change about SHS, most students seemed generally content with the schools' organization. Azor spoke of ideas under discussion by the school government including music rather than bells on the P.A. system between classes, the implementation of a "hug day," and a school day starting at 10 am instead of the usual 8 am.
The topic of a new fitness or "wellness" center was also up for discussion. If built, the center is planned to be a more gender-neutral environment than the current fitness center that largely attracts boys. It would also include labs where students would study health-related issues. Most students agreed that the old, cramped fitness center needed a change, but some thought a new wellness center may not be used by a lot of students because they are so busy with sports, clubs, and other activities.
Despite the divergence of opinions on many issues, both students and board members embraced the school's motto of "Non Sibi," or "not for oneself," and agreed that Scarsdale as not just a town of 17,293 people, but a strong community.
Contributor Isabel Klein is a sophomore at Scarsdale High School where she can be found using an abundant amount of exclamation points, writing for Scarsdale10583 and dreaming about wandering the streets of Manhattan, Africa, and hopefully one day, the moon. Follow her on twitter @isabel_ellis.
Greenburgh Police Report: Rapist Caught and Car Thieves Plague Edgemont Homes
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An illegal immigrant has been arrested for forcible rape after he met three escorts on the website Backpage.com and assaulted them at hotel rooms in Westchester. In the latest incident on Sunday March 3, police were called to La Quinta Hotel on Saw Mill River Road in Greenburgh about a sexual assault. The 19 year-old victim was a Pennsylvania resident who had placed an ad in the "Escorts" section of the website and arranged to meet the respondent at the hotel.
When Silvio Raul Illescas, age 40 of Elmsford came to the room he raped the woman at knifepoint. Using phone records, police were able to locate Illescas on Monday and charged him with two counts of rape in the first degree (Class B- Felony) for the rape on March 4 as well as another assault that occurred on February 13. He is being held at the Westchester County Jail without bail.
In the 2/13 incidient, Illescas has been charged with raping a 29 year-old woman from Washington state and holding her for five hours before fleeing. Then on February 23, Illescas allegedly attempted to rape a woman from California in a Doubletree Hotel in Tarrytown. He slashed the woman's neck but evaded the police.
Greenburgh Police believe that prostitutes are travelling to Westchester for liaisons here because there is a wealthy client base. The women place ads in Backpages.com and arrange multiple appointments at Westchester hotels. According to police, the going rate is $200 per hour.
Thefts at Sunningdale: Two Edgemont residents reported that their iPhones were stolen from their bags during a bar mitzvah at Sunningdale Country Club on Underhill Road in Scarsdale on Saturday March 2. The guests had left their seats to observe the festivities and when they returned to their seats the two iPhones were gone.
Car thieves target Edgemont and Hartsdale:
Thieves swept through Edgemont on the night of February 25 -26 and entered man cars. Here's the report:
Overnight on 2/25-2/26, two cars parked in a Hadden Road driveway were ransacked by thieves who made off with $600 in cash and a hand-held power drill valued at $300.
A Honda Civic and a Toyota Sienna parked in the driveway of a Kempster Road home were entered overnight on 2/25 – 2/26. $20 in cash was stolen.
On the morning of 2/26, an Audi Q5, parked in the driveway of a Cotwold Way home was entered. Missing was $10 in quarters, and an iPod.
An unlocked Lexus parked in the driveway of a Withington Road home in Edgemont was entered overnight on 2/26 – 2/27 and change was stolen. There was no sign of forced entry.
On Campden Road an unlocked 2012 BMW X3 was entered sometime on 2/25 or 2/26 and a pair of broken sunglasses, valued at $800 as well as change was stolen. A Toyota Highlander parked on Campden Road was entered overnight 2/25-2/26 and $20 was stolen. A Land Rover, also on Campden was entered that same night – and thieves made off with $160 in cash, an Apple nano, a pair of sneakers valued at $200, an Apple iPad valued at $800 as well as the $100 cover.
Thieves were also busy in Hartsdale.
A 2008 BMW 328I, valued at $20,000 was stolen from a garage at 45 East Hartsdale Avenue sometime on 2/24 or 2/25.
Overnight on 2/26-2/27 a 2009 Acura parked in an indoor garage on East Hartsdale Avenue was vandalized. On Wednesday morning 2/27, the car's owner found that all four wheels were missing and the car was resting on folding chairs and an aluminum ladder. The driver's side window was smashed and there was damage to the hood as well. An attempt was made to remove the tires from another car at that same location that night. The bolts on the passenger side tires of a 2006 Acura were also removed, but the tires remained.
Inside Job at Sunshine Bagel: The owner of Sunshine Bagels on Central Avenue in Hartsdale reported that an employee had stolen $350 from the cash register on Saturday night March 2. The owner reported that the incident had been captured on videotape and wished to press charges.
Volunteers Needed for Village Boards and Councils
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Scarsdale volunteers are needed for Village Boards and Councils and the Scarsdale Village Board would like to remind residents how to apply by visiting the Village Website at www.scarsdale.com and click on " read more " under Volunteers Needed for Boards and Councils. On the next screen, complete the online application form and follow the on-screen instructions .
The site contains information on the seventeen Boards and Councils that serve the Scarsdale community and the Scarsdale Village Board. Over 150 village residents serve as volunteers on these Boards and Councils. By volunteering and serving, Scarsdale residents have the opportunity to be involved and provide input to the Village Board.
This year 70 current volunteers are up for reappointment or they may retire, creating a number of openings on all Boards and Councils. All positions are important and there are several key positions that need applicants: the Board of Architectural Review needs to fill two open positions, preferably with architects. The Town Assessment Review Board has one 5 year term open, the Committee For Historic Preservation has one 3 year term open and the Associate Village Historian position is open for a one year term.
With an application deadline of Friday, March 1, residents are encouraged to apply as soon as possible so the Personnel Committee has time to review all applications. Applications can be sent via the website or delivered to Village Hall. If residents have questions or need a printed application, please feel free to contact Trustee Bob Harrison, Personnel committee Chair at 914 725-0962 or by e-mail at proscars@aol.com.
Trustee Bob Harrison
Personnel Committee Chairman
Village Election Day is March 19: Important Instructions for Voters
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If you are not a registered voter but want to vote in the Village Election on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, the last day to register with the Westchester County Board of Elections is Friday, March 8th. You can pick-up a mail-in registration form at Scarsdale Village Hall or go directly to the Westchester County Board of Election at 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains.
In order to register to vote, you must:
• Be a U.S. Citizen
• Be 18 years of age by the date of the election in which you want to vote
• Live at your present address at least 30 days before an election
• Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere
For registered voters who will be out of Westchester County on Village Election Day, an absentee ballot can be obtained by filling out an application form at Village Hall or by requesting one by phone or mail. March 12th is the last day for the Village Clerk to receive an application for an absentee ballot which is to be mailed to a qualified voter; however, applications made in person can be accepted until Monday, March 18, 2013.
All Election Districts will be voting in the Lobby at the Scarsdale Village Hall. Hours of the election are 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and noon to 9 p.m.
For more information, call the Village Clerk's office at 722-1175.
Greenburgh Police Searching for Accused Rapist
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Greenburgh Detectives are investigating a rape that occurred at the Marriott Hotel in the Tarrytown around 1 am on February 13, 2013. The alleged attack occurred inside the room where the victim was staying as a registered guest. The suspect is described as a Hispanic man in his mid thirties 5'6" to 5'8" tall, medium build, dark complexion with very dark hair combed forward. He has a scar on his temple and a mole on the left side of his face near his jaw line with several tattoos on his arms. He was wearing a tan Carhartt type jacket with hood, jeans and dark boots.
The suspect, pictured here, was a visitor to the room. The 29 year-old victim sustained injuries as a 
result of the attack including bruising to her face and cuts to her neck. She was treated at the scene by Greenburgh Police EMS and transported to the Westchester Medical Center.
Photos obtained from surveillance video of the suspect are shown here. Anyone who may recognize the suspect or may have information concerning this investigation is asked to contact Greenburgh Detectives at 914-682-5331. All calls will be kept confidential.
