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Published: 18 May 2010

Created: 18 May 2010

Last Updated: 28 May 2010

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This story was picked up from Scarsdale10583 by CBS and aired in a segment by Tony Aiello on the 6 pm news on May 27th.  Dear Scarsdale10583: As I looked out my kitchen window today, Fox Meadow Road resembled Manhattan in the early 80's. There was garbage strewn everywhere. Everything from dry cleaning wrapping, crumpled Red Bull cans and used Tupperware decorated the street. This is becoming a common occurrence on Fox Meadow Road. I have actually witnessed my garbage man …(sorry) "sanitation engineer", drop garbage from his collection route, step over what he's dropped and give me a big friendly, toothy morning smile. I called the Scarsdale Sanitation Department today to complain and they actually had the audacity to tell me that they don't collect litter!!

They lackadaisically said that they would send someone out in a week or two to do a general clean up, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. I drove along Fox Meadow Road, getting in and out of my car in the pouring rain to collect all the trash with my bare hands. It is all still in the back of my Acura. My intention is to drive on over to the Scarsdale Sanitation Department tomorrow and sprinkle it all over their front lawn. Maybe just maybe then will the Sanitation Department see that picking up litter is part of a Garbage Man's..(sorry) "Sanitation Engineers" job.

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Published: 24 May 2010

Created: 24 May 2010

Last Updated: 03 June 2010

Hits: 7991

Here is the latest news on the proposed sidewalk discussed at a Planning Board Board meeting held June 2nd

Update: The Greenburgh Planning Board met on June 2 and the crosswalk was the first item on the agenda. The Parks Department (Gerry Byrne) favors the raised crosswalk.  The Police Chief spoke and favored a crosswalk but suggested that there needed to be a further study regarding the raised crosswalk which could only be done by an outside expert – but the issue is paying for it.

One resident spoke against the crosswalk – Abe Reckson, the gentleman who wrote several letters.  About 10 residents spoke in favor, including one eighth grader. The Board closed the hearing but left the record open until June 11. The Board will make a decision at its meeting on June 16 and then it is on to the Town Board.

(Original Article) The Edgemont Association has spent the last four years fighting for the installation of a crosswalk across Edgemont Road to Crane's Pond. This section of Edgemont Road links the Pipeline with Edgemont High School and Central Avenue and is a frequent thoroughfare for people going to and from Hartsdale Station. Cars travelling at high speeds east and west pose a danger to children crossing the street to access Crane's Pond and Edgemont Junior and Senior High School.

Prior to the summer of 2006 there were two painted crosswalks that pedestrians could use to access the pond. But when the road was repaved, the Town did not repaint the crosswalks because the Police Chief felt the crosswalks were not safe due to limited sightlines. In response, in October, 2006, 115 residents signed a petition for the reinstallation of the crosswalk and the police studied the issue for the next 2 ½ years.

In October, 2009 the police concluded that a raised concrete walk, similar to the one on East Hartsdale Avenue in Hartsdale would provide the greatest degree of safety. A second alternative was to simply repaint the crosswalk near Barclay Road. In November, 2009 the Edgemont Association advised the Greenburgh Town Board that they supported the raised crosswalk, which would now need to be handicapped accessible to conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

In mid-November, 2009 the Greenburgh Town Board met with members of the Edgemont Association, the Parks and Recreation Commissioner and the Department of Public Works. Everyone agreed that the raised concrete walkway was the best option and Supervisor Paul Feiner suggested that the Town use the Parks and Recreation Escrow Fund to finance the estimated $75,000 in expenses.

However, following the meeting, Feiner solicited community opinion and Abraham Reckson who lives on Round Hill Road opposed the crosswalk. Since that time, progress has slowed. The Edgemont Association requested that the town hire a safety expert to consider the location of the crosswalk and in response Feiner suggested that Edgemont hold a community meeting. However, Franklin Kaiman, who is currently the Director of the Edgemont Association's Traffic and Safety Committee has found that everyone, with the exception of Mr. Reckson, supports a crosswalk.

Therefore, in an April 14th letter, the Edgemont Association is asking the Planning Board to authorize the use of $75,000 from the Parks and Recreation Escrow Fund to pay for the crosswalk and street improvements recommended by the Police Department. Nearly four years have passed and residents want to see a new crosswalk before an accident occurs.

The Planning Board will meet on June 2nd at Greenburgh Town Hall at 8 PM and the funding is the first item on their agenda. All concerned Edgemont residents are encouraged to attend to voice their opinions.

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Published: 15 May 2010

Created: 15 May 2010

Last Updated: 15 May 2010

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To the Editor: As past and present leaders of the Joint Committee of the School Board Nominating Committee (which includes this year’s and last year’s Administrative Committees of the SBNC), we are writing to support the School Board nomination and election process that has provided the Scarsdale schools with extraordinary leadership for over four decades. The members of the Joint Committee collectively have over 60 years of experience with this rigorous and effective process. The members of the School Board Nominating Committee know how the School Board operates and work together to evaluate the candidates’ skills in information-gathering, consensus-building, and the other things the candidates need in order to be effective and valuable members of the School Board.

In addition to their annual work on the school budget, each week the school board members must read and understand numerous reports on subjects as varied as lower, middle, and high school curricula, human resources issues (including vital hiring and tenure decisions), special needs programs, student stress, transportation, discipline, narcotics, operations, maintenance, and many other topics involved in the operation of our schools. Each year, the candidates our committee interviews – some self-proposed, some proposed by others – talk to the SBNC about how their skills and experience would enable them to absorb, discuss and form consensus on any of these subjects. The committee goes out into the community and verifies their claims with friends and neighbors and learns their potential strengths and weaknesses as potential school board members. Then the committee selects the most promising candidates it has interviewed for the slate of nominees. It is this process that has given our community a long succession of School Boards made up of dedicated and thoughtful members who in collaboration with one another have provided us with the school system that is one of our community’s greatest assets. We think it deserves the strong support of all of our citizens.

A committee has been formed by a group of people who firmly believe in the process and want to preserve our non-partisan system -- Friends of the Slate 2010. Since the candidates who were nominated this year by the SBNC did not anticipate they would need to campaign, the new committee has taken the lead to provide this effort this year. Look for their palm cards, answer their phone calls, and help them provide absentee ballots or rides to the polls for those in need of such assistance. They also need volunteers to support these activities. Please email susan.ross@verizon.net if you are able to help.

Sincerely
David M. Brodsky – Past Chair of the Joint Commitee
Susan Kessler Ross, Chair of the Joint Committee