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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 19 March 2017

Created: 19 March 2017

Last Updated: 21 March 2017

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(This is the opinion of site founder Joanne Wallenstein) On the way into the Scarsdale Village Board meeting last Tuesday evening, I heard one of the village trustees, who was fighting a terrible cold,  appeal to outspoken and long-winded resident Bob Harrison to please keep his public comments to a minimum.

But instead, it seems that Mr. Harrison took that plea as a challenge to see how long he could speak beyond the five minute limit. When the public comments period started, Mr. Harrison approached the podium with a disorganized pile of papers and bulging folders ready to hold forth. For the next twenty-one minutes, he touched on many topics that had already been thoroughly discussed, managing to insult almost everyone in the room, including me. In the course of his rambling, he called an analysis of data published on Scarsdale10583 "bogus." Pointing at me in the audience, he claimed that "10583 has published misinformation," and attributed this to the tax assessment on my home.

When Trustee Stern sought to respond to Harrison, a screaming match ensued and it was impossible to hear either one as they each yelled louder and louder.

I was so shaken by being called out on television that I could barely focus on what should have been the headline of the meeting. Myra Saul from Lincoln Road was attending to call attention to the need to protect undocumented residents and workers in Scarsdale. She said, "There is a palpable fear of deportation," and asked Scarsdale to formalize policies to protect immigrants, first by supporting a proposed bill before the county legislature that would prevent county police from investigating immigration status. She said she would come forth with additional proposals in the weeks to come.

Good for Ms. Saul and the others who came to the meeting to support her! This is just the kind of public discussion that warrants our time and energy. We've spent the better part of a year focused almost entirely on the tax roll, while other important issues have been neglected. Let Ms. Saul be an example of what we can accomplish if we rise above petty differences and harness the substantial talents of our residents to move forward and make Scarsdale a model for the meaning of community.

Just consider the caliber of our residents. Among our taxpayers are Richard Garwin, who was awarded the Medal of Freedom by President Obama for his work as a physicist and scientific advisor. We've got Irving Picard, who untangled the mess left by the Madoff Ponzi scheme and Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn, who address global issues such as poverty and human trafficking. We have John Harris, who recently wrote an amicus brief on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League opposing President Trump's immigration ban that may have been instrumental in the recent decision from the state court in Hawaii to block its implementation. Among our residents is NYS Legislator Amy Paulin, who has championed legislation for the rights of children, teens and women, and much more. And we've got all of you – bright, engaged and accomplished citizens --who care about the future of our Village and the world.

We have real issues - both local and national - to confront, and if we can rise above partisan politics and bickering we can make a difference.

Just look at what the Board of the Scarsdale Library has accomplished. Recognizing the need for an improved library and meeting center, they researched, visited other libraries, interviewed planners and architects and formulated plans for a state of the art facility. Overcoming substantial opposition, they rallied supporters and presented a workable a plan for a public/private partnership for the project and ultimately won the backing of the Village Board.

For similar reasons, when the Scarsdale School Board got friction on plans to improve the district, the Scarsdale Schools Foundation was born. Their efforts have made it possible for the district to replace obsolete and unused areas of the high school with a new design lab and a fitness center that are already under construction.

What about our empty downtown storefronts? Can this issue be addressed? In addition to what the Scarsdale Forum is already doing, can residents help? With so many top lawyers among our ranks, would it be possible to negotiate with our Village landlords to lower rents and increase incentives to fill the empty retail spaces? With reasonable rents these spaces would be workable for both mom and pop stores and national chains like Sweetgreen and Papyrus . The initiative to build a mixed used project at the Freightway site is a first step forward and I am hopeful that this initiative will also reinvigorate our downtown.

But as Myra Saul points out, we can do more than improve our own lives. For example, in addition to safeguarding undocumented people within our borders we can consider national issues such as gun control and pass local laws on gun ownership, gun sales, gun security and safe storage. As Scarsdale residents Michelle Sterling and Ron Shulhof are already doing, we can support conservation and sustainability by recycling, conserving energy and saving trees and natural resources. These initiatives benefit Scarsdale but also set an example for other communities. What else? It's high time we passed local legislation to preserve historic homes, safeguard trees and prevent overbuilding.

In short, we have wasted the better part of a year arguing over a single issue and squandered the time and energy of our village volunteers and village managers who were forced to spend countless hours reviewing over 30,000 FOILED emails and defending all of us against what may very well be a meritless lawsuit.

There's so much more at stake in Scarsdale and in our country than potholes. The reason our predecessors established a non-partisan system in Scarsdale was to offer a framework to minimize conflict and forge consensus. This election is demonstrating just how divisive partisan politics can be... and how a pothole can expand into a sinkhole.

When you go to the voting booth on Tuesday, think about which party will build bridges and move us forward -- and cast your vote accordingly. Use your voice and considerable talents to make a difference in Scarsdale and beyond.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 23 March 2017

Created: 23 March 2017

Last Updated: 24 March 2017

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With live storytelling events sweeping the nation, the Scarsdale Adult School is pleased to present Tales from the 'Dale and Beyond, an evening of true suburban stories told live by local luminaries and special guests. This event will take place on Wednesday, April 5th at Heathcote School Auditorium, 26 Palmer Avenue, Scarsdale, NY.

Modeled after the wildly popular "The Moth" shows, which are broadcast on 400 radio stations and draw enthusiastic crowds at venues nationwide, Tales from the 'Dale and Beyond is intended to bring friends and neighbors of Middle School age and above together for a heartwarming, completely authentic and at times hilarious evening. All stories must be true (at least as each teller remembers it), and present a conflict that somehow gets resolved by the end the telling.

Tales from the 'Dale and Beyond will be hosted by Moth StorySLAM winner and former Scarsdale resident Sandi Marx, who has become a fixture on the New York storytelling scene. Featured storytellers include: Moth GrandSLAM champion Danusia Trevino; Scarsdale High School teacher and former model Rashid Silvera, 107.1 The Peak radio host Jimmy Fink, social media star Lucie Fink; print journalist turned TV writer/producer David Handelman; Scarsdale Middle School teacher Denise Del Balzo; Fran Scheffler-Siegel, writer Victoria Assa and textiles designer Lori Weitzner.

You won't want to miss this inaugural evening of suburban storytelling. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online here or at the door on April 5th. Students 18 and under are free! For more information, contact the Scarsdale Adult School at 914-723-2325.

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Written by Emma Satin and Ally Wolloch

Published: 16 March 2017

Created: 16 March 2017

Last Updated: 16 March 2017

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On Thursday, March 9th, Scarsdale Maroon and White continued their annual tradition of honoring the season's athletes. At Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, winter athletes, parents, and coaches gathered to celebrate the successes of the season. With several teams making it to their respective finals, there was much to celebrate. Excitement and pride still emanated from the boys' Varsity Basketball Team, who made it to the County Center finals against Mount Vernon, just a week earlier.

Reminiscing on their 18-6 record, varsity Basketball captain Max Bosco recalls "our chemistry was a really big part of our season, everyone was incredibly close with one another from seniors to sophomores, and that played an incredible role both on and off the court. "After defeating Yorktown 61-44, at the Class AA semifinals, the team continued on to play Mount Vernon. While they lost the game, the team had a lot to be proud of. After rallying 26 points in the fourth quarter, and ending the game 55-55 in overtime, the raiders went out on a high note. The team looks back on their two games at the Country Center as their "dream from first stepping onto the court in high school."

After losing only three matches, the Bowling team proudly ended their season second in the section. Varsity captain Ryan Minster, who spent his entire high school career on the team, said, "it was a lot of fun, I made a lot of friends, and it was a really great learning experience, and an even greater four years." Minster believes that the future team is in great hands and that "the juniors are really great and are only going to make the team stronger."

Boys Wrestling welcomed 18 new freshmen to the team this season, and senior Harrison Booker stated that, "for a very young team we really didn't expect to end second in the league, as we did, and I was very proud of that." Joey Ballan also looked back on the team's successes mentioning that, "the seniors and juniors mentored the freshmen into the whole season, and had a really successful season after essentially starting from scratch."

Ski Team: The team's record improved as the season went on, ending by winning their final race. Senior Captain Katie Hirsch, who has been on the Varsity team since her sophomore year, mentions her love for "the long bus rides, because that's were everyone really bonds as a team." Although it is an individual sport, Hirsch states, "it really feels like a team, whenever I am skiing I can always hear my team cheering me on, and gives me a lot of confidence." Male captain, Rohan Gharekhan says " the season was really awesome, I loved every part of it. We succeeded at a lot of races at varsity and we had one skier (Nick Coeytaux '18) go to states, which was really amazing."

Gymnastics Team: Despite a losing record, captains Chloe Shuster and Laura Pollack, look back on their final season, "really proud of how hard everyone worked, especially the freshmen." Pollack says "the freshmen were really sweet, and really dedicated to the team. The future of the Gymnastics team is definitely good in their hands."

Track and Field Senior, Jilly Mehlman mentions "that spending time together at the Armory, and at practice has caused them to grow as a team and as people", and despite her personal season not ending the way she had wished, due to health reasons, Mehlman looks forward to continuing the sport at Yale in the fall. Greg Crowley, mentions how "the team mostly consisted of underclassmen, but they pushed each other to get better, and kept the seniors really close." He reflects on personal sickness preventing him from having the ideal season, while still winning Leagues, Counties, Sectionals, and Placing 6th at States. While not being "completely back, yet," Crowley '17, will run at Dartmouth in the fall. Kendall Bensche also reflects on her season, recalling that "the team was even closer than it has been in previous years, and that the same core group of girls has really grown up together." Bensche looks to next year saying "I'm excited to run next year at Harvard, but I'm really going to miss this group of girls"

Hockey Team: Senior Captains Robbie Kramer, and Jonathan Schwartz remember their 8-7-6 record, proud that "despite having a really tough schedule, we competed throughout, playing some of the best teams in the state," said Kramer. Schwartz mentions how the team "started from the beginning, constantly working hard and playing well. Every game was close, we were really in every single game." The captains recall season highlights like "the first time we beat Suffern and playing against Mamaroneck." Leaving behind some of their strongest players and their star goalie, Sam Seltzer '18, the future of the team is very strong.

Swim Team: Liam McPhillips mentions that "there is so much camaraderie on the swim team, and it is more than just an individual sport, despite the results being all you." McPhillips discusses sportsmanship on the team, stating that "We're really always cheering each other on and rooting for one another." The team had an extremely successful season, placing third in the section and having six swimmers, Liam McPhillips, Tanner McFarland, Ryan Lee, Aidan Wilson, Jack Callahan and Haofeng Liu, qualify for States.

Text by Emma Satin, Photos by Ally Wolloch