Arthur Manor Holds 95th Annual Parade and Celebration
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- Written by Matt Miller
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Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association held its 95th Annual 4th of July parade in Arthur Manor and later conducted the July 4th ceremony and picnic in Davis Park on an overcast and very muggy Tuesday morning, July 4th. Throughout the morning’s parade and ceremony, it was unclear if the weather would cooperate. Fortunately for all in attendance, the rain held off until the end of the celebration. This annual neighborhood association celebration started in 1928!
Marchers gathered at the corner of Bell and Sprague Roads at 9:15 am on Tuesday morning to compete in the various categories of parade and float participants. Before the parade started, judges carefully reviewed and ranked the individual and group marchers in categories such as most patriotic costumes, strollers, tricycles, and of course the floats.
At 9:45 am, a special Scarsdale Police Department escort led the parade, accompanied first by the Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 (founded on Sprague Road in 1893) together with all of the marchers, including Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest and Village Trustees Dara Gruenberg and Randy Whitestone, leaving first from Bell and Sprague Roads, down Sprague Road to Lyons Road and then finishing up at Davis Park.
After the marchers and parade watchers all reached Davis Park, the traditional 4th of July ceremony was held before the flag pole at the North end of the park.
The ceremony began with the raising of our nation’s flag by the Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1’s color guard. Long time Arthur Manor resident Richard Gast then beautifully sang the National Anthem which was immediately followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The crowd also observed a moment of silence to remember all of the men and women who sacrificed so much for liberty and democracy in the United States and abroad.
Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest then addressed the crowd in Davis Park on the importance of July 4th and the significance and history of this special day both locally and nationally. Village Trustee Randy Whitestone spoke next to the crowd on the vital role local Scarsdale community organizations played during the Korean war and the parallels in today’s geo-political environment. Former Trustee Matt Callaghan was also in attendance together with Arthur Manor’s very own Uncle Sam (played, as always, with style by Teegan Lee).
Former Arthur Manor President Al Stuart then conducted the awards ceremony for the day’s marchers and other parade participants in the various categories such as patriotic costumes, floats, bicycles, and tricycles.
The Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association’s July 4th parade and picnic was sponsored by its own members and the awards for the 2023 field events were provided by local merchants such as the Bagel Power, Big Top Toys, and Scarsdale Pastry on Weaver Street, Buon Amici on Scarsdale Avenue, Carvel on Mill Road, Giannoni’s Deli on Garth Road, Happy Days Pizza on Post Road, Italian Village Pizza and Standing Room Only at the Golden Horseshoe, Martine’s, La Renaissance and Learning Express in the Village Center, Pizzarelli’s on Depot Place in the Village, Via Forno, Scarsdale Bagels and Jackie B’s on Garth Road. The Arthur Manor association encourages all of its residents to buy local when possible. 
At the conclusion of the 4th of July ceremony, the crowd then walked to the other end of Davis Park for the annual field events including the three-legged race, potato sack and wheel-barrow races, and Arthur Manor’s all-time favorite, the annual “egg toss” - first appearing at Arthur Manor’s July 4th picnic in 1944. The field games were expertly conducted by Arthur Manor resident Andrew Krause. (A list of the winning field event participants also follows below).
This year’s egg-toss was won by Ari Maibrunn and Shane Kelly! Second place egg-toss winners were Olivia and Sam Bryant! Congratulations to all those who participated in the 2023 egg toss event! Lots of good memories were made on July 4th in Davis Park this year.
Hosting the event was Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association President, Matt Martin.
This annual event in Arthur Manor is only made possible through the collective efforts of the Arthur Manor volunteer residents including especially the Marcus, Roche, Porco, Krause, Carlton, Bonanno, Bongiorno and Stuart families, and all of the other Arthur Manor volunteers too numerous to list here. A tremendous THANK YOU to all those residents who helped make the special day happen!
The Arthur Manor association encourages all of its residents to start practicing now for the July 4th, 2024 egg toss.
Arthur Manor 4th of July Celebration Parade Winners, July 4, 2023
Marchers in Patriotic Costumes
1st place: “Stars and Stripes, Barbershop Quartet”, Chris, Jeanie, Christopher and Grace Horne
2nd place: Isadore Nathanson
3rd place: Miles and Joshua Koppel
Scooters
1st place: Penny Stuart
2nd place: Bobby Kyle Carlton
3rd place: Abby Garvey
Honorable Mention: Olivia Garvey
Bicycles
1st place: Leila Capossela
2nd place: Caitlin Hung
3rd place: Eliza Krauss
Honorable Mention: Natalie Stelzer and Cole Capossela
Tricycles
1st place: Sophia Barguirdjian
2nd place: Oliver Barrera-Shere
Carriages and Strollers
1st place: Sophie’s Super Tricycle, Sophia Barguirdjian
Floats (1st Place Tie!)
1st place: “From Sea to Shining Sea”, The Porters and Nathanson Families, (Hazel, Anna, Colin and Izzy), and dog as shrimp
1st place: “The Igloo”, The Callaghan and Lednack Families, (Jack, Sloan, Reed and August)
2nd place: “Stars and Stripes, Barbershop Quartet”, Chris, Jeanie, Christopher and Grace Horne
Arthur Manor 4th of July Celebration Field Events, July 4, 2023
Dash
1st Heat: 5 yrs. Old and under, boys and girls together
1st- Anika Pandit
2nd- Sarah Basner
3rd-Harry Ferjak-Seely
2nd Heat: 6 and 7 old, boys and girls together
1st- Thomas Mykijewycz
2nd- Colin Porter
3rd – Eliza Krause
3rd Heat: 8,9,10 year old, girls
1st- Juna Feldmann
2nd- Sophia Vuu
3rd- Lillian Peterson
4th Heat: 8,9,10 year old, boys
1st- Johan Schuerlein
2nd- Patrick Haggerty
3rd- David Diaferia
5th Heat: 11 yr old and older, girls
1st- Malu Gonzalez
2nd- Bilun Karal Kenison
3rd- xxxxxxxx
6th Heat: 11 yr old and older, boys
1st-Lutz Feldmann
2nd- xxxxxxxxxx
3rd-xxxxxxxxxx
Wheelbarrow Race (Teams of two, boys and girls mixed)
1st Heat: 7 yrs old and under
1st- Ally Cole and Olivia Garvey
2nd- Thomas Mykijewycz and Kaiden Keany
3rd- xxxxxxxxxxxx
2nd Heat: 8,9,10 yr olds
1st- Ellen Chang and Sophia Vuu
2nd- Johan Schuerlein and Patrick Haggerty
3rd – Elizabeth Abramov and Lillian Peterson
3rd Heat: 11 yr old and older
1st- Ben Maibrunn and Miles Mancini
2nd-Maggie Harrington and Grace Horne
3rd- Elle Peterson and Angela Peterson
Potato Sack Race/ Girls
1st Heat: Girls 6 and under
1st- Ada Grace Fischesser
2nd- Anika Pandit
3rd- Lilly Wilson, Mary Kate Coccia
2nd Heat: Girls, 7 and 8 yr olds
1st- Olivia Garvey
2nd- Elizabeth Abramov
3rd- Ellen Chang
3rd Heat: Girls, 9 and 10 yr olds
1st- Sophia Vuu
2nd- Lillian Peterson
3rd- Eliza Krause
4th Heat: Girls, 11yr old and older
1st- Ella Peterson
2nd- Grace Horne
3rd- Caroline Mykijewycz
Potato Sack Race/Boys
1st Heat: Boys, 6 yrs and under
1st- CJ Coccia
2nd- Max Panzer
3rd- Leo Pollaro
2nd Heat: Boys, 7 and 8 yrs old
1st- John Harrington
2nd- Johan Schuerlein
3rd- Collin
3rd Heat: Boys, 9 and 10 yrs old
1st- George Zhang
2nd- Ben Maibrunn
3rd- Patrick Haggerty
4th Heat: Boys, 11 yrs old and older
1st- Miles Mancini
2nd- Rohan Pandit
3rd- xxxxxx
Three Legged Race (Teams of Two, Boys and Girls Mixed)
1st Heat: 6 and under
1st- Kaiben Keany and Anika Pandit
2nd- Mary Coccia and Max Panzer
3rd- Kai Feldmann and James Haggerty
3nd Heat: 7 and 8 yr olds
1st- John Harrington and Luke Harrington
2nd- Thomas Mykijewycz and Johan Schuerlein
3rd- Ally Cole and Olivia Garvey
4th Heat: 9 and 10 yr olds
1st- Ben Maibrunn and Lincoln Robinson
2nd- Juna Feldmann and Alisha Kumar
3rd- Lillian Peterson and Elizabeth Abramov
Egg Toss
1st- Ari Maibrunn and Shane Kelly
2nd- Olivia Bryant and Sam Bryant
Trustees Discuss Funds for Fields and Potential Change in Management of Local Election
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Are female student athletes being treated equally to male athletes in Scarsdale? The answer is a resounding “NO” from girls who have been playing softball on subpar fields for years while the boys played on well- maintained fields that include extras like dugouts and a scoreboard.
The situation has gotten worse, not better over the years, as more and more clay and drying agent were dumped on the softball fields in an effort to keep them playable.
According to a memo from the Recreation Department, “Through years of continuously adding clay and drying agent to maximize field usage, our infield elevations are substantially higher than the grass outfields. Additionally, a lip has formed along the arch between the clay infield and grass outfield, creating a fishbowl effect not suitable for sheeting of water into the outfields during rain events. Furthermore, the subsurface has been compacted to a point that
impedes drainage.”
The schools made a hasty attempt to improve the situation by doing some work on a school-owned baseball field at Greenacres and dedicating it in early June. However, the softball players quickly realized that this field was flawed and inadequate.
Improving the Village-owned fields was the subject of a work session of the Village Board on June 27, 2023, when trustees considered a proposal to renovate four fields at an estimated cost of $50,000 per field. The department proposed “surveying the infields, removal of existing sod
and clay from the infields as well as an 8-foot perimeter of sod around the clay arch, tilling sub soils to aid in drainage, addition of new clay and sod, building new pitcher’s mounds, and regrading the infield to promote drainage into grass outfields.”
Superintendent Brian Gray recommended work be done on:
Crossway Filed 2 – a baseball field closest to the Crossway Firehouse
Supply Field 2 – a softball field next to the parking lot used by the Varsity Girls Softball team.
Crossway 1 – a baseball field closest to the parking lot
Hyatt Field 2 – a softball field at Hyatt Park
There are plans afoot for a comprehensive field study to be done with the cooperation of the schools and the village next year, so trustees discussed whether this interim measure should be taken.
Trustee Jeremy Gans explained, “Since the renovations will not completely strip the field, this will improve them in a material way for the short to medium term. It will get rid of the pitch and some of the compactness. It isn’t a long-term solution.”
Mayor Justin Arest said, “The field study is good but it won’t fix our fields There is a conflict between making them usable now and their long term life. Would it be helpful to add two more fields to this plan and spread out the play?”
Deputy Mayor Whitestone concurred. He said, “I believe we should address the worst fields in the near term. The perfect should not be the enemy of the good.”
Ultimately the trustees agreed to ask Gray to get bids to remediate these four fields in addition to two more fields, Crossway 3 and Supply 2.
Trustees discussed the timing and said that the goal would be to complete the work by April 2024. Hopefully the fields will not need to be closed in the fall as Scarsdale Travel Softball uses them for their program. Gray estimated that it would take two months to get the bids and six to eight weeks to do the work.
During Public Comments Michelle Sterling said, “I am the mother of a varsity girls softball player. The field is pathetic. It is the worst field in the division. Everyone slides on the rocks. The girls are looking at Dean Field where the boys play vs. Supply Field where they play. There is incredible inequity. Please prioritize Supply Field as it is the only field for our Varsity girls and get it ready for April.”
Joe Guarino said he is the parent of a rising middle schooler and a Board member of travel softball. He said, “Supply Field is the only game in town for us. When we think about the program for girls – everything happens at Supply Field while the boys have many fields to play on. There is certainly an equity discussion needed. It is concerning if we have to close the fields in the fall as we play then. You realize how limited softball in Scarsdale is now.”
Becky Bach from Scarsdale Travel Softball said, “After it rains parents come out with rakes to take the water off the field. In the spring we shrink our program due to limited field space. There are only three fields that are village-school owned. If we closed the fields in the fall – we have already had our tryouts.”
Village Election
Trustees then considered a proposal by Village Clerk Taylor Emmanuel to turn over the management of Village elections to the Westchester County Board of Elections. Scarsdale is one of only four villages in the county that supervises its own election of Village Mayor, Trustees and Village Justice. This election is held in March and there has also been discussion of moving the date to November so that the election could be held at the same time as the local, state and national vote.
Emanuel was clear about her recommendation. She said, “It is not that I cant’ do it (here) – but I recommend that we turn it over to the BOE.”
The advantage is there would be cost savings of $8-$14,000, depending on if the election is contested, and any election challenges would be handled by county officials.
Also – the Village already pays the county $18,000 a year to run the November elections.
There is however a potential downside to losing local control of the elections. She outlined, “Petitions to appear on the village ballot would have to be submitted to the BOE directly. Parties and candidates would need to coordinate with the BOE on Campaign Financial Statements and related election documents. The Village would have no responsibility or assume any liability for any of this paperwork; nor would the Village retain any of it. Voters applying for absentee ballots would apply directly to the County Board of Elections. Additionally, all official results after the close of the polls would be determined and announced by the County and posted on their website by the next business day.”
For a contested election, if the results were not received until the following day, the Village would need to change their custom of celebrating the new Mayor and Board on election night after the closing of the polls.
In order for the change to be enacted, it would require a “permissive referendum,” which Village Clerk Taylor Emanuel outlined as follows: “The board must adopt a local law or resolution transferring the election to the county and I will then need to notice this legislative act and wait to see if a valid petition is filed requiring that the question of transferring the elections to the county appear on a ballot. Alternatively, the village board on its own motion may send the question directly to the voters.”
Discussing the timing of the election trustees agreed that it would be better to leave it in March. If it is moved to election day in November, Trustees feared it would be overshadowed by state and national elections and become partisan.
The Board took no action on this at the work session but said it would be discussed further in September.
SVAC Seniors to the Rescue
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- Written by Vivian Zweig
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*This article contains images of fake injuries that some readers may find disturbing or unsettling
A tone blared across the loudspeakers of the SVAC headquarters: Motor vehicle accident; mass casualties. Anxious glances were exchanged among the senior options students as they rushed to the scene, accompanied by flashing red and blue lights.
Each year, seniors are required to complete a six-week unpaid internship to graduate, and some choose to participate in SVAC’s senior options certification program. As a part of the program, students learn anatomy and physiology, practice skills, and go on calls with licensed EMTs and Paramedics. The program is organized by David Raizen, the President of SVAC, who wanted to provide Scarsdale students with the opportunity to build a medical background. This year’s course was taught by Jude Valerioti, the president of Eastchester Volunteer Ambulance Corps (EVAC).
The students participated in a final surprise “farewell” event, where they responded to a mock bus accident at Crossway Field. Alex Vetrone stated that “We got the dispatch in the ambulance house… and to our surprise, there was a staged bus crash with our parents playing all the victims.” As a part of the event, the students had to triage and coordinate how to transport each patient to the hospital. The aspiring EMTs were able to get most of the patients into the ambulance, although Vetrone is “…not sure if Maya’s dad was ever found. He was under the school bus and might still be there actually.”
The program received high praise from many of its participants, who learned not only how to manage medical emergencies but also how to interact with patients. According to Amelia Liu, “I learned that interacting with patients requires a lot of people skills, and that you have to be really good at interacting with all different kinds of patients. Sometimes it’s really easy… you just take them to the hospital. But other times, they might not be behaving rationally.” Liu went on to give an example: “You might get a patient who really needs to go to the hospital, but they refuse to go. So, you have to be really good at knowing how to convince them and how to talk to certain people in the right way.” Ultimately, the common sentiment among the program’s participants is that as an EMT, you must do your best to help your patients make the best decisions about their lives.
Liu went on to recommend the course to others because she “Will probably practice these skills throughout [her] life, even though [she’s] not looking into a medical career.” SVAC runs year-long certification programs that require no prior medical experience. Those interested in becoming certified EMTs should visit the SVAC website to explore their offered programs!
The Farmers' Market is Back in the Dale
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Scarsdale Farmers’ Market is now open, every Sunday in Scarsdale Village. Find fresh artisanal foods, every Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm on Chase Road and Spencer Place in the Village.
We found farm fresh produce, fresh fish, olive oil, pickles and olives, coffee, sour dough bagels, fresh breads and more. Here’s a list of some of the vendors that will frequent the market plus photos of the delicacies that were available last week.
3x3 Kitchen
McGrath Chese
Alpacatrax
Newgate Farms
American Pride Seafood
Norwich Meadow Farms
Simple Fine Food
Cano Coffee
SOVA Organic
Croatian Confections
Wave Hill Breads
Dr. Pickle
Stop by this Sunday from 9 am to 1 pm to support the market.
Scarsdale Stands Against Gun Violence
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Dressed in orange t-shirts, Mom Against Gun Violence along with Village Trustees and Managers, public safety officers, state Senator Shelly Mayer and supporters gathered at Village Hall on the first Friday in June for National Gun Violence Day. With 120 people a day killed due to gun violence, the group is calling for “an end to gun violence in all of its forms, including domestic violence, suicide, and city gun violence.”
In Scarsdale the group was led by Pat Collela who passed away in May. So in addition to recognizing the mission of the organization, the ceremony remembered Pat as well. Her husband, daughter and family members attended.
Mayor Justin Arest opened the ceremony saying, “This is a different year for the village recognizing national gun violence awareness day, as well as wear orange weekend. We often take some of the best community volunteers for granted and that is because of how effective and organized they are in their various causes. And in this one, like clockwork, the board would not only recognize the important day and cause at our meetings but we would also have orange T-shirt’s and ribbons. Again, this dais different. And that’s because Ms. Pat Colella is not with us. But I am so appreciative that her friends and family are here to support this cause and I and the board and village are proud to stand with them; to stand together against gun violence and remember a tireless advocate and volunteer. “
Randy Whitestone, Justin Arest and Kelly Rogers
He noted the startling statistics:
“In 2021, the most recent year for which complete data is available, 48,830 people died from gun-related injuries in the U.S., according to the CDC. That figure includes gun murders at 43% and gun suicides at 54%, along with three less common types of gun-related deaths tracked by the CDC which fall in the other category: those that were accidental, those that involved law enforcement and those whose circumstances could not be determined. These which are categorized as “Other” account for the remaining 3%. The total excludes deaths in which gunshot injuries played a contributing, but not principal, role. “
He said, “This is an American problem. This shouldn’t be a political issue. Public safety, saving lives, is hopefully the priority of every government at every level of this nation. I wish we could all collectively work together and keep politics out of this. Scarsdale is proud to make our voices heard in making our nation safer.”
Trustee Randy Whitestone rememberd Pat Collela saying, “We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Pat and her commitment to this and other important causes. Having known her for 20 years, since our daughters played softball together on a team she coached I saw in action that when she was passionate about something she devoted herself completely to it -- with diplomacy, a smile, and real determination. She was the definition of a caring community volunteer, whether it was doing outreach for the Congregational Church, coaching softball, or being the face and voice of the local chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense. We are here to carry on her commitment to gun safety and will continue this tradition in years to come in her honor.”
Reverend Kelly Rogers of Scarsdale Congregational Church said, “We lift up the victims of gun violence today. We continue this work and we are Pat’s hands s and feet….It takes a community to do work like this. We will be back on the first Friday in June until this ends.”
After the ceremony at Scarsdale Village Hall, the group continued to the Westchester County Center where they were joined on the steps by Westchester Sorority members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Social Action Team and Westchester Gun Sense Candidates:
Victoria Presser
Jeremiah Frei-Pearson
J. Williams Johnson
Ximena Francella
NY Assemblywoman Maryjane Shimsky
Along with:
Moms Demand Action Volunteers and Leaders
Survivor Mom- Nadine Mckenzie
Katherine Schowalter
Amy Stern
Maggie O'Donovan Bolton
Fiona Noyes
Julia Prober
Sara Kober
Shelli Katz
Deborah Maher
Patricia Rosen
Lonnie Philo
Maryellen Chomsky
