Recycle Your Pumpkins—It’s Easy
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All those pumpkins and gourds that have been sitting on your front steps or that will decorate your Thanksgiving table can have another valuable use after the holidays--being turned into compost! There are several easy ways Scarsdale residents can recycle pumpkins and gourds:
• Place them in, on or next to your food scrap recycling bin (Need one? Email [email protected] or register here
• Bring them directly to the Food Scrap Drop-off Site at the Recycling Center, 110 Secor Road (Please put them on or in front of the wall behind the food scrap collection bins.)
• Place them with your yard waste or leaf pile
By sending our pumpkins and gourds to be composted, we are helping nature recycle her bounty and returning nutrients to our earth!
Scarsdale Democrats Urge You to Get Out and Vote
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The Scarsdale Democrats urge you to vote early or on election day. Here are letters from Scarsdale Democrats Michelle Lichtenberg, Myra Saul, Mark Lewis and BK Munguia.
This letter was written by Scarsdale’s Michelle Lichtenberg
Hi Friends,
Just because it’s an “off” election year, doesn't mean that this is not an important election. We need Democrats to show up at the polls and vote.
The Republicans are running a stealth campaign. They are not engaging with Democrats, for example, they refused to participate in debates. Instead, they are laser focused on turning out their base with scary arguments about critical race theory in the schools and the flights of immigrant children into Westchester airports during early morning hours. Of course, critical race theory is not an academic subject in our schools and the flights of immigrant children into Westchester to re-join their family is determined by federal authorities.
It is critical for us to get our fellow Democrats to vote. Many do not even know that there is an election. Please reach out to your neighbors and friends to encourage them to vote. And of course, exercise your right and privilege to VOTE.
Be sure to vote for the Democratic ticket – Row A all the way. Also be sure to flip your ballot over and vote yes on all the propositions on the ballot. There are five statewide propositions and one county proposition.
Want more information? Below is a letter from by Scarsdale Democratic Chair Myra Saul regarding Latimer, Idoni and Boykin and another letter from Mark Lewis and BK Munguia regarding judges and the propositions.
Here are three ways you can vote and support our Democratic candidates:
1.) Early voting locations and hours--Can be found at voteearlyny.org Voters can cast their ballots at any early voting location in the County. The closest are the Eastchester Library and the Board of Elections in White Plains.
2.) Voters must vote at their assigned polling place on election day. If the voter does not vote at the assigned location, THAT VOTE DOES NOT COUNT. To find out an assigned polling location, go to https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov
3.) Want to vote absentee? It is too late to send in a request. BUT, you may go in person to the Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, and ask for an absentee ballot, complete it and give it back to them in one transaction. Call the Board of Elections for more information about hours and days of operation--914-995-5700.
Got ideas or questions? I want to hear from you.
Let’s stay strong and VOTE,
Michelle Lichtenberg
Letter from Myra Saul
Elections are important at all levels of government, especially local elections where the winners directly affect residents’ quality of life. The Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee urges voters to cast their ballots for the entire Democratic slate of candidates on Row A.
Early voting started Saturday, October 23 and lasts through October 31. Any Westchester resident may vote at any early voting location in the county during the early voting period. For a complete list of early voting locations and hours, see the non-partisan site voteearlyny.org.
If you vote on Election Day, November 2, you must vote at your assigned polling location for your current address. Your vote will not be counted if you do not cast it at your assigned polling place on Election Day.
Vote for George Latimer for County Executive.
George Latimer
What a breath of fresh air! As compared to his predecessor, George Latimer understands that elected officials have a duty to actually govern, not grandstand with budget gimmicks and stalled projects. The Latimer administration exudes a competent, steady hand. Once one of the earliest sites of the pandemic, Westchester is now managing the pandemic with some of the highest vaccination rates in the country. County Executive Latimer stopped the privatization policy for county communal assets such as the Westchester County airport. He reinstituted surveillance of dangerous chemicals at the airport, which sits adjacent to the Kensico Reservoir. He does not believe in the Republican “starve the beast” mentality for government that inevitably shortchanges everyone in the county. All this with two successive cuts in county taxes!
Vote for Tim Idoni for County Clerk.
Tim Idoni is another elected official that is committed to doing his job for the benefit of the public. He is the master of administrative detail. With the help of technology, Idoni made a dramatic cut in personnel even as the workload of the office increased.
Vote for Ben Boykin for County Legislator.
Ben Boykin is currently our county legislator and deserves to be re-elected. He is also the chair of the county legislature. Working with the County Executive, Boykin and the County Board made sure that Westchester had sufficient protective equipment in the early stages of the pandemic. County Legislator Boykin, who has a financial background, is also mindful of costs to taxpayers.
Myra Saul
Ben Boykin
Chair, Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee
Letter from Mark Lewis and BK Munguia
To the Editor:
There is an important election this November! The Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee encourages all voters to cast their ballots for the Democratic ticket and “yes” on all five State Constitutional propositions and the one Westchester County proposition. To help educate voters, this letter will describe the credentials of each of the five Democratic judicial candidates and the propositions and why each deserves your vote.
Voters will have the opportunity to vote on five (5) State Supreme Court judges. The State Supreme Court is the state’s trial court with general jurisdiction, which means that judges hear a variety of civil and criminal cases.
The five Democratic candidates all are qualified to serve as Supreme Court judges, have the requisite judicial temperament and are pro-choice.
Justice Robert M. Berliner currently serves as a Supreme Court Justice and has served in this capacity since 2008.
Judge Christie L. D’Alessio is currently the town judge in neighboring Greenburgh. She is an Acting Justice in several other nearby areas as well. Judge D’Alessio is the current Principal Law Clerk for a Westchester County Court judge and previously served as an attorney in the Westchester County Attorney’s office.
Thomas R. Davis has practiced law for over 29 years, primarily as a litigator. He is a well-known advocate for the disabled community and has been involved with organizations to support the disabled community.
James L. Hyer is the current President of the Westchester Bar Association. He is a human rights advocate and is the Administrative Law Judge for the Westchester Human Rights Commission. He is a seasoned litigator. He is also the Corporation Counsel for the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County.
Judge Thomas Quinones is a City Court Judge in Yonkers. He previously served as a Support Magistrate in the Manhattan Family Court and as the Executive Associate General Counsel in the New York City Human Resources Administration, Office of Legal Affairs, Office of the General Counsel.
The Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee endorses the passage of all five New York State Constitutional propositions.
Proposition 1 amends the Apportionment and Redistricting Process. This proposition would change many of the technical details of this process. For example, incarcerated people must be counted as residents of their last place of residence, not their place of incarceration. Most significantly, the legislature’s vote to approve maps submitted by the Independent Redistricting Commission can change from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority.
Proposition 2 establishes the rights of New Yorkers to Clean Air, Clean Water and a Healthful Environment.
Proposition 3 eliminates the requirement to register to vote 10 days in advance of an election. Consequently, if passed, this proposition permits ‘same day as the election’ voter registration. The legislature will have to enact legislation for this to become law.
Proposition 4 authorizes “no excuse” absentee ballot voting.
Proposition 5 increases the jurisdiction of the New York Civil Court from $25,000 to $50,000.
The Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee also endorses the passage of the Westchester proposition which requires the County to create a new and comprehensive code of ethics and disclosure requirements.
Mark Lewis, Vice Chair
B. Kathleen Munguia, Vice President
Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee
Village Issues RFP for Traffic Calming Study
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With more people working from home, Scarsdale’s streets are abuzz with pedestrians, cyclists and even scooters. Everyone seems to be fighting for their fair share of the roadway, and some feel that our roads are becoming more perilous.
How can the Village improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and scooters? Do we need more sidewalks, bike lanes, warning lights and stop signs?
In response to concerns about dangerous intersections and crosswalks Village Trustees held a work session on October 5, 2021 to announce an RFP for a traffic study. Mayor Jane Veron announced that the Village will seeks out firms who can take a holistic approach to Village traffic and look for innovative and creative solutions for traffic calming.
The work was led by Village Planner Greg Cutler and Assistant Village Planner Rosie Dowd. They have defined the area of concern as the Village Center and roads leading out of the Village including Fox Meadow, Crane and Popham Roads. Due to a recent petition to improve safety on Sprague Road, it will be included in the study as well.
Cutler explained the goals of the study which are:
-Improved pedestrian and cyclist safety
-Analysis of crosswalks
-Implementation of micro-mobility like scooters and bikes
-Improved mobility for people for all ages and modes of transportation
-Improved ADA compliance
-Identification of opportunities to increase neighborhood connectivity.
-Analysis of traffic flow
-Parking study
The work should keep sustainability in mind and propose low maintenance solutions, sustainable elements and green infrastructure.
Other elements of the assignment include “Placemaking,” including:
-Evaluate design standards and branding
-Consider how best to implement streetscape improvements
-Consider most efficient uses of the public right of way.
-Identify way to activate public spaces through sidewalk café, public space programming and design improvement.
The firm will be tasked with gathering information by meeting with village staff, conducting site visits, reviewing existing report, conducting public outreach, collecting traffic data, analyzing previous accident report and creating a user friendly website to elicit public input.
Once all the data has been gathered, they will conduct an analysis of their findings and prepare recommendations for improvements. As an outcome of the work, the Village is requesting three conceptual improvement plans along with time estimates for immediate, intermediate and distant interventions.
Commenting on the RFP, Trustee Randy Whitestone said that federal transportation grants might be available to fund this work. He endorsed the use of consultants to find solutions to these problem and said he was pleased that Sprague Road is included. He hoped interim steps could be taken to improve conditions on Sprague Road, before the study comes out.
Trustee Crandall expressed concern about the upkeep and maintenance of any of these new initiatives saying that our Department of Public Works is already overburdened.
Trustee Ahuja asked that outreach include young residents who use the streets all day long. He said, “The kids are here all day.” He added, “I am proud that the Village staff is able to move this forward during a time of transition.”
Trustee Brew said that this project might influence the outcome of the Freightway Project as well.
Village Manager Rob Cole said that most errands in Scarsdale require a car and the Village “walk score” is poor. He hoped that this type of project would help to improve that.
Find Out Where to Vote Today
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Below is information from the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale on how to vote in the updoming election on November 2nd.
The November 2nd general election is fast approaching! Below is important information about the three ways voters can cast their ballots, information about the five state-wide proposals and the one county-wide proposal that will be on the ballots, the races on which Scarsdale residents will vote, and important dates to keep in mind.
There are three ways to vote in the November 2nd General Election: (1) by absentee ballot; (2) in person during Early Voting; and (3) in person on Election Day.
Voting by Absentee Ballot
All New York registered voters fearful of contracting Covid-19 may apply for, and vote by, absentee ballot using “temporary illness” as the reason for their absentee ballot request. The Westchester Board of Elections website details the variety of ways that you can apply for an absentee ballot, including through an online portal. The last day to postmark an application for an absentee ballot is October 18th, but voters are encouraged to apply NOW. Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 2nd and received by the Board of Elections by November 9th. [Please note that mailed absentee ballots without a postmark must be received by Wednesday, November 3rd to be counted]. Those not comfortable with the delivery of mail service but wishing to avoid the possibility of long lines at the polls may return their completed absentee ballots to drop boxes which will be stationed at the Board of Elections, early voting polling locations, and election day polling locations.
Voting in Person during Early Voting
Early voting will take place between October 23rd and 31st. Westchester voters can vote at any early polling site in the county. Be sure to check early voting locations and times. Westchester voters may also place absentee ballots in drop boxes at any early voting polling locations.
Voting in Person on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 2nd
Election Day is November 2nd, and you can vote only at your assigned polling location on November 2nd. You may also place your absentee ballot in the drop box at any Election Day polling location.
You can check your Election District or polling place here.
The Five State Proposals on the November 2nd Ballot
1. Amending the Apportionment and Redistricting Process
2. Right to Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Healthful Environment
3. Eliminating Ten-Day-Advance Voter Registration Requirement
4. Authorizing No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting
5. Increasing the Jurisdiction of the New York City Civil Court
The Westchester County Proposition on the November 2nd Ballot
1. Enacting a New Westchester County-Wide Code of Ethics
A full description of each state proposal and the question as it will appear on the ballot may be found at The League of Women Voters of New York State’s Voter Guide. The League of Women Voters of Westchester County has issued a statement supporting the County proposal.
Four Races on the Ballot
During the General Election, Scarsdale residents will also vote on four races:
1. Westchester County Clerk
2. Westchester County Executive
3. Westchester County Legislator District 5
4. NY Supreme Court Justice - 9th Judicial District
Important Dates To Calendar
● 10/18 (Monday): Last day for your absentee ballot application to be postmarked.
● 10/23 (Saturday): Early Voting Period begins. Voters may vote in person at any of the Early Voting polling locations.
● 10/31 (Sunday): Last day of Early Voting.
● 11/1 (Monday): Last day to apply in person for an absentee ballot.
● 11/2 (Tuesday): General Election Day: In-person voters must vote at their assigned polling location only.
● Last day for your absentee ballot to be postmarked. [Absentee ballots must be received by November 9th. Absentee ballots without a postmark must be received by November 3rd].
● Last day to deliver an absentee ballot in person to the Board of Elections.
Democracy is not a spectator sport! The League urges all voters to exercise their right to make their voices heard. Updates regarding voting can be found at www.lwvs.org/voter-information/. You may also visit the NYS League of Women Voters website at My.lwv.org/new-york-state.
If you have any questions regarding voting, contact the Scarsdale League of Women Voters, Voter Service chairs here.
Sincerely,
Lauren Hertzog Fields, Beatrice Sevcik, and Jessica Zellner
From Village Hall: Pool RFP Is a Go; Edgewood Residents Ask Village to Stop the Speeding on Sprague Road
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The Village Board approved a resolution to study the future of the Scarsdale Pool, granted a 2% increase to union employees who work in Village Hall and heard a plea from Edgewood residents to address speeding and dangerous drivers on Sprague Road at their meeting on September 28, 2021.
Pool Assessment, Community Outreach and Design Proposals
On the matter of the pool, the Village Board held a work session on September 21, 2021 to review a proposal by Lothrop Associates who was one of nine firms who responded to an RFP to explore options for the pool. After considerable review and interviews Lothrop was chosen unanimously to do a market study, community outreach and design three concepts for the next generation of the 50 year old facility.
As the Mayor said, “The Pool Complex is a community treasure and requires reinvestment. It was built over 50 years ago, and while it remains a beautiful site, the infrastructure that supports the pool complex hobbles along with obsolete parts, inefficient systems, and regular breakdowns. Our pool enterprise fund struggles to sustain itself with declining membership and increasing costs. If we do nothing, it will one day cease to operate.”
Trustee Arest said, “The pool has reached the end of its useful life.” Trustee Brew said, “Since the complex is not up to code, every time something breaks, it has to be brought up to code and it is complex. Though the pool is supposed to be self-funding, membership has gone down and we need to figure out what people would be willing to pay for.” Trustee Crandall said, “Any update to the pool will help people with disabilities who would like to use the pool. Seniors have voiced concerns about the steep entry. Having a public pool in our community is a tremendous asset.”
One resident, Bob Harrison, objected to the proposal. He called in to urge the trustees to hold off on a vote. He said, “I am concerned about the pool proposal. You have not given the residents the opportunity to tour the pool and enough time to consider the proposals. Don’t spend 
$114,000 on this now. I think it is too much. One of the pools they (Lothrop) designed was at a yacht club – that has nothing to do with what we need. This is overkill. We could use the $114,000 to address the problems at the pool. I don’t think you should approve this tonight. Give the community a few more weeks.”
The Board voted unanimously to approve the proposal.
Two Percent Increase for Union Employees
In other business, the Board of Trustees voted to grant a 2% pay increase to union employees who work in Village Hall. These employees did not receive an increase last year as the Village had enacted austerity measures due to the COVID crisis. The Mayor recognized their professionalism and the fact that the non-union employees had received a similar pay increase. These raises are not retroactive.
Elevator at Village Hall
Village Manager Robert Cole said that the elevator at Village Hall Elevator will be renovated and therefore out of service for about two months beginning on Wednesday September 29, 2021. He encouraged residents who need the elevator to contact staff by email. However, for those who require assistance at Village Hall, the first floor staff will call someone from an upper floor to come downstairs. The elevator repair is expected to cost $185,000 and was approved by the Village Board. The Village received a $50,000 CGD grant to defray some of the cost.
Taxi Licenses
Trustee Lewis read a resolution authorizing the licensing of 10 taxi licenses in the Village, down from 22 licenses before COVID. He said, “The Village has issued an average of 22 taxicab licenses over the past decade. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, only 10 taxicab licenses were issued in 2021, correlated to the considerable decrease in train ridership.”
He noted a drastic change in ridership on Metro North, which is down from 4,511 weekly riders in 2019 to 1,700 in 2020. This decrease in ridership will impact the need for taxi service.
Scarsdale Concours
The Trustees agreed to a resolution authorizing the Scarsdale Concours car show in Scarsdale Village on Sunday October 3, 2021.
Traffic on Sprague Road
During public comment, Elizabeth Bardt Pellerin of Madison Road and Edgewood neighbors came to the mic to present a petition with 138 signatures asking the Village to take additional steps to ameliorate speeding on Sprague Road. She noted “increasing noise and speed on Sprague Road” and said the road is narrow and visibility is limited by the incline and parked cars. She said that commercial and construction vehicles use the road to travel from Eastchester to New Rochelle and said many young families walk on Sprague Road to get to Davis Park. She said there are ten intersections but only two four way stops. She asked the trustees to implement all measures necessary to restore the residential nature of Sprague Road.
Matthew Martin, Edgewood Neighborhood Association President concurred. He said , “The Neighborhood Association is not endorsing any particular approach but asks that the board to do a study or analyze data.”
The Mayor and Village Manager both responded to the petitioners. Mayor Veron said that a study of traffic on Sprague Road is on the Board’s agenda and the Village is interviewing residents and addressing this issue. Village Manager Rob Cole said an extensive amount of work on Sprague has been done, but added, “we need to look at this differently and figure out how to address the elevated level of accidents. We would like to have a consultant come in and look at the entire area – not just at single intersections.” He invited anyone with concerns to stop by his office.”
Liaison Reports
Trustee Ahuja lauded the Recreation Department for a new program called the GRIT Ninja Obstacle Course for young children. It was very popular and will be offered again in the spring.
The Advisory Council on Communications is working on a redesign of the Scarsdale.com website and the Advisory Council on Technology is making progress on long term technology needs for the Village and is also consulting other municipalities.
Trustee Lewis said that Trustees met with other Village leaders to develop public safety processes and improve public safety. Trustees met with School Board leaders Karen Ceske and Amber Yusuf, School Superintendents Hagerman and Eric Rauschenbach, the police and David Raizen from the Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps.
Trustee Lena Crandall noted that the Village Board has received the Scarsdale Forum’s report with respect to marijuana sales. A meeting will be scheduled to review it.
Trustee Arest said that the Scarsdale Public Library is offering many programs and asked tha
t the public look at the offerings and participate.
Virtual Meetings: Per Governor Hochul’s order, the land use and planning boards will meet virtually going forward.
The White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded a grant to the DATF and Scarsdale Family Counseling Service for $125,000 to fight drug use and abuse among youth. The grant is renewable for five years for a total of $625,000, which is a big win for Scarsdale.
Coffee with the Mayor
Mayor Veron invited residents to “Coffee with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Village Manager” on Wednesday October 20 from 5:30 -7 pm in the dining tent in Scarsdale Village.
