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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 August 2025

Created: 13 August 2025

Last Updated: 13 August 2025

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Plans for new equipment at Aspen ParkMayor Justin Arest opened the August 12, 2025 Village Board meeting by thanking the community for a successful food drive for Feeding Westchester. He reported that 3,400 pounds of food were donated which is enough to provide approximately 2,833 meals for those in need.

He thanked and praised two departing Village employees, Treasurer Ann Scaglione who will become Comptroller for the Town of Cortlandt and Assistant Village Manager Charles Hessler who is leaving to take the job of Village Administrator in Irvington.

He also discussed continuing gaps in wireless coverage in the Village and possible solutions.
See the Mayor’s full comments below.

Village Manager Alex Marshall thanked Assistant Village Manager Charles Hessler for being an incredible member of her team. She said,”He’s not afraid to ask difficult questions and always approaches problem solving in a collaborative way. He is a great sounding board for ideas and always looking for ways to make improvements.” She told Hessler, “I know you will be an incredible Village Manager.”

About Central Taxi, she said that there are still a limited number of drivers available and can still be reached at their phone number.

Public Comments

Elizabeth Lawrence of Walworth Avenue spoke about the sidewalks and urged the Board to do something about all the sidewalks in disrepair, especially the ones on Walworth Avenue.
She said, “It is an urgent situation. I have to walk on the street. If we don’t fix the sidewalks I am going to have to move.”

Marian Green, Chair of the Council on People with Disabilities said the consultants (PMG) found that sidewalk conditions are merely fair. But 35% are good, 20% are fair, 30% is poor and 12% are excellent. The only portion that are excellent are in the Village Center. I am optimistic that we are moving forward.

New Playgrounds for Willow and Aspen Parks

Good news for Scarsdale families. The trustees approved contracts to replace two dated Village-owned playgrounds with new climbing equipment, slides, catwalks and swings to delight children of all ages.

Equipment at both parks was outdated and broken and replacement parts of the existing equipment was no longer available. Willow Park at 37 Wayside Lane was built in 1999 and Aspen Park, at 7 Aspen Road was built in 1997.

Costs to replace the equipment has risen dramatically since the Village originally budgeted $40,000 for the replacement of Greenacres equipment years ago.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved $342,00 for each playground.

What’s the schedule? The Mayor said, “We're hoping no later than the spring for Aspen Park and fall for Willow Park, and if it can be done sooner, obviously, that that is the goal.”

See the renderings here and see more detailed drawings of what’s coming in the Village agenda packet here: 

Equipment Shed

Trustees approved a gift of $4,460 from the Scarsdale Youth Football Association to build a 10 x 10 equipment shed adjacent to the tennis courts at Crossway Field for storage of set-up equipment. Examples of essential football program equipment include pylons, tackling dummies, and blocking pads, among other items.

Minimum Age for Service

The Board held a public hearing on a code change regarding board and commission membership requirements. The proposed amendment would lower the minimum change for councils, committees and commission membership from age 21 to age 18. And it would allow one non-resident to be appointed to an advisory council provided that they live within the boundaries of the Scarsdale Union Free School District.

Mayor Arest explained that the proposal was made because an applicant for a council who was already participating was a non-resident.

Traffic Light Coming to Edgewood and Post Roads:

After several accidents, residents called for the installation of a traffic light at the intersection of Post and Edgewood Roads to allow pedestrians to safely cross Route 22. Since this is a state road, the light needs to be installed by the New York State Department of Transportation who needs to acquire Village property both in Fee and a Temporary Easement for the construction. At the Village Board meeting on Tuesday August 12, trustees agreed to accept $23,025.00 for a 274 square feet piece of land and grant a temporary easement for a total of 435 square feet. The land currently contains an asphalt path between Post Road and Windsor Lane. This pathway will continue to exist at the completion of the project.

See a detailed map of the area here:

Appointment to the Board of Architectural Review

Jason Young, who is currently an alternate on the BAR was appointed to be a full member.

Demolition of Sanitation Incinerator Building

The Board approved a resolution to spend $38,093 to demolish a non-operational sanitation incinerator building that was built in the 1930’s and is severely deteriorated. The contractor will perform a full scale asbestos and hazardous material removal.

Licensing for Tree Removal Contractors:

The Village is seeking to strengthen laws regarding tree removals by requiring all businesses performing tree cutting, pruning, or removal to obtain an annual license from the Village. Licensees would need to meet insurance requirements, hold a valid Westchester County Home Improvement Contractor’s License, and comply with specified operating standards. The law includes provisions for enforcement, penalties, and potential suspension or revocation of licenses for noncompliance.

Following the Work Session discussion, the draft legislation has been updated to incorporate several clarifications and enforcement enhancements, including:

-A definition of “pruning” to clarify the law’s applicability.
-Expanded license restrictions, barring issuance to revoked licensees, their affiliates, or
businesses in which they hold a 10% or greater interest.
-Explicit requirement to comply with the full Noise Code, not just specified hours.
-Revised hours of operation, prohibiting work before 8:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. on
weekdays, and entirely on weekends and legal holidays.
-An emergency provision allowing the Superintendent of Public Works to temporarily lift
hour restrictions after major storm events.
-A new requirement that all tree debris be removed daily and not placed in public rights-of-
way.
-Clarification that each instance of unlicensed work or missing decals constitutes a separate
offense.
-Increased penalties for business or corporate offenders, with higher fines for repeat
violations.
-Addition of appeal rights under Article 78 for suspended or revoked licenses.

The Board scheduled a public hearing on the proposed changes to the code for September 9, 2025.

Mayor’s Comments

As we gather this evening, I want to take a moment to recognize that August holds a number of important observances and celebrations. August 7 is Purple Heart Day, when we honor those who have been wounded or killed in combat in service to our country. Today, August 12 is International Youth Day, which celebrates the creativity, energy, and contributions of young people around the world. August 26 is Women’s Equality Day, a reminder of the ongoing work toward equity and opportunity. It is also a season when our community is especially active, with neighbors filling our parks, families enjoying our downtown, and volunteers giving their time and energy to causes that matter. This past weekend’s Farmers Market was a perfect example. It was wonderful to see Chase Park and our Village Center full of children and families, enjoying the best of Scarsdale together. My thanks to the Scarsdale Business Alliance for all of their efforts in collaborating with the Village to make Destination Scarsdale a success. And a quick reminder that this Thursday, August 14, at 8 PM in Chase Park will be the final installment of the Westchester Band for this season. I encourage all residents to come out and enjoy this great community tradition.

That spirit of giving is front and center in our collaboration with Feeding Westchester. My sincere thanks to Christine Sciandra in the Manager’s Office and Bob Kaczmarek, Assistant Superintendent of PRC, as well as Deputy Mayor Gruenberg for leading the Village’s efforts in this important partnership. Through the generosity of our residents, the Village collected 3,400 pounds of food, enough to provide approximately 2,833 meals for those in need. Their dedication, along with the kindness of those who contributed, reflects the very best of Scarsdale and shows how much we can accomplish when we work together.

I want to take a moment to recognize Treasurer Ann Scaglione, who will soon depart to become Comptroller for the Town of Cortlandt. When Ann joined the Village, she succeeded a beloved Village Treasurer and inherited systems in need of modernization. From the start, she brought energy, persistence, and expertise, tackling the challenges with focus and determination. Ann introduced meaningful improvements to our operations and moved us toward a truly digital and even more transparent budget process. Her work has strengthened the Village’s financial foundation, making our practices more efficient, more accessible, and more responsive to our residents. While there is always more work ahead, Ann’s contributions have been significant. We thank her for her dedication and service to Scarsdale and wish her every success in this next chapter, along with a shorter commute.

I also want to thank Charles Hessler, who will be leaving us to serve as Irvington’s next Village Administrator this fall. I think we have all seen Charles grow in this role. He has served at a time when we needed significant information technology upgrades, including enhancements to our cyber security systems, and he handled those challenges with diligence and steady leadership. He embraced the demands of the job, navigated change thoughtfully, and made a real impact on the way we work. I have no doubt he will be an excellent administrator for Irvington, and we wish him the very best.

To Christine, Bob, Dara, Ann, and Charles, thank you. Your efforts, leadership, and service have strengthened our community, and we are truly grateful.

Before we close, I also want to acknowledge that we continue to receive concerns and complaints about wireless coverage in the Village, particularly with Verizon Wireless. While some improvements have been attempted over the past few years, the results have been limited and, frankly, disappointing. Our conversations with the carrier remain ongoing, but in the meantime the Village Manager is working with the Technology Advisory Council to explore independent resources that can evaluate our service, assess what has and has not been done, and help identify possible solutions. Unfortunately, there has not been a quick solution but we continue to work on this and will continue to keep the community informed as this work progresses.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 06 August 2025

Created: 06 August 2025

Last Updated: 23 December 2025

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Here is an update from Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest sent to the community on August 6, 2025

Dear Scarsdale Community,
As we move through the final stretch of summer, I want to share several important updates about ongoing projects and events shaping our Village. Thank you, as always, for your continued engagement and support.

Yeonsoo Go Released
We are overjoyed to share that Yeonsoo “Soo” Go has been released from ICE custody and is now safely home with her mother. This outcome is the result of extraordinary advocacy, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to Assembly Member Amy Paulin and her Chief of Staff, Scarsdale resident Michelle Sterling, for their tireless work in securing Soo’s release. We also appreciate the efforts of Senator Schumer, Congressman Latimer, Congressman Lawler and their offices. We are also deeply grateful to our interfaith clergy for their advocacy and for coming together to help support the community. Thank you to the countless community members who showed their support. The outpouring of love was extraordinary and deeply moving. This is what Scarsdale is all about: standing together and supporting one another.

Pool Complex Project
With swimming top of mind for many this summer, residents have been asking about the status of the Pool Complex renovation. We’re pleased to share that the project continues to move forward. Given the scale and importance of this effort, the Village is proceeding methodically and thoughtfully to ensure we present the community with a comprehensive range of well- developed options.

Our architects, Lothrop Associates, have been hard at work this summer developing schematic designs and working with our owner’s representative, Hill International, on preliminary cost estimates. We have also re-engaged Ballard*King & Associates to provide updated operational cost projections to ensure transparency not only around construction costs but long-term operating expenses as well.

As previously shared, the Board made the decision last winter to advance planning for an indoor/outdoor facility to preserve full flexibility. Once schematic designs and cost analyses are complete, we will hold a public work session some time this fall to present the available options.

Community feedback will be essential in shaping the direction of the project. No final decisions have been made; the process is structured to keep all possibilities open, including indoor, outdoor, a combined facility, or closing the pool complex.

We will provide ample notice once the date and time of the work session is confirmed. I want to reiterate that resident input is critical to the direction of the project, so please be sure to sign up for Village notifications so you will be alerted to village board meetings. Once a direction is chosen, the Board and staff will carefully explore all value-engineering opportunities to ensure the project is executed with fiscal responsibility. As of now, the plan is for the current pool to remain open through the 2026 season, with renovations beginning afterward to minimize downtime for residents.

Public Safety Technology Update
As a reminder, the Village applied for a federal grant to support updated license plate readers, live-view cameras, and Drone as a First Responder technology through Flock Safety. We were notified in early July by Senator Gillibrand’s office that our application was not successful. At that time, Chief DelBene was asked to return to the Board with updated recommendations in September.

On Monday, August 4th, we received a memo from Chief DelBene regarding this matter. Based on his guidance and the absence of federal funding, the Village has canceled its contract with Flock Safety, as of this morning, August 6th. No monies have been expended nor any technology deployed in association with this project. The Police Department remains committed to evaluating technologies that support public safety and will continue its exploration of critical technology upgrades in the future. We always take community input seriously, especially regarding technology that may raise concerns for residents. Protecting privacy is a central part of every agreement we enter into, and we will continue to prioritize privacy safeguards in all public safety initiatives. At the same time, we remain deeply committed to ensuring our professionals have the tools they need to keep Scarsdale safe.

At present, there are no upcoming meetings scheduled on this matter. We will inform the community should a meeting on this topic be scheduled in the future. We thank everyone who participated in sharing their thoughts on this topic.

Feeding Westchester Food Drive – Thank You
We are proud to share that our recent collection drive for Feeding Westchester yielded 3,400 pounds of food which will help create 2,833 meals for our neighbors in need across Westchester County. Thank you to everyone who donated and supported this important initiative. Across Westchester County, countless families rely on the generosity of their neighbors to help put food on the table, and once again, Scarsdale residents stepped up. Special thanks go to the Scarsdale and White Plains Rotary Clubs, as well as the many neighborhood associations that organized local collection drives. Your kindness and commitment will make a meaningful impact in the lives of those facing food insecurity.

Library Pond Restoration Project
Design and planning work continues on the Library Pond Project. This effort will improve stormwater management and restore the natural beauty of the area surrounding the Scarsdale Public Library. The project is scheduled to be completed in September. Learn more about this project here.

Roadway Paving and Olmsted/Brewster Roads Sidewalk Updates
This season, the Village has undertaken the repaving of approximately 10.64 miles of roadway. As a frame of reference, Scarsdale has approximately 91 miles of roadways, 79 miles of which are owned and maintained by the Village, and the rest by the county and the state. We appreciate your patience as crews complete this important work to improve our infrastructure.

In addition to ongoing roadway paving, two new sidewalks are being installed to enhance pedestrian safety, particularly for students walking to and from the high school and the Library. Work is currently underway on Wayside Lane to connect the existing sidewalk at the High School parking lot entrance to Post Road, with completion expected within four weeks. Meanwhile, the Olmsted Road sidewalk, running from Post to Brewster in front of the Library’s campus, is nearing completion. This new path not only supports safe student travel and Library access but also offers a convenient connection to the scenic, rehabilitated Library Pond.

New Electric Sanitation Truck
The Department of Public Works has received a new electric garbage truck which is the first of its kind in Westchester County. This innovative addition will improve the efficiency of waste collection in our community while advancing our sustainability goals. We extend our sincere thanks to the DPW staff and the Village’s Conservation Advisory Council for their leadership and commitment in bringing this project to life. Their forward-thinking efforts continue to put Scarsdale at the forefront of sustainability and innovation in Westchester. There will be more on this addition in Scarsdale Official this Friday.

Village Treasurer Search
Our Village Treasurer, Ann Scaglione, has accepted the position of Comptroller for the Town of Cortlandt. Her last day with the Village will be August 22. We are grateful for her willingness to remain through the majority of the annual audit process and for her many contributions to Scarsdale during her tenure. Treasurer Scaglione brought meaningful improvements to the Treasurer’s Office, implementing new technologies that streamlined both payment collection and the annual budget process. This new role represents an exciting next chapter in her career, and we wish her continued success. Filling the Treasurer position remains a top priority, and the Village has circulated the job posting through local, regional, and national networks for government finance professionals.

Westchester Band Concerts — August 7th and August 14th at 8pm
Join us for the final two Westchester Band concerts under the stars on Thursday, August 7th and August 14th at 8:00 PM in Chase Park. Led by conductor Alan Hollander, the ensemble features professional, amateur, and talented student musicians performing an eclectic and uplifting program of light classics, show tunes, jazz, marches, and more. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a picnic in this relaxed, family-friendly setting. The concert will be held rain or shine, with Scarsdale Middle School as the alternate location in case of inclement weather. Come celebrate the end of summer with this beloved community tradition!

Stay Informed: Sign Up for Village Alerts
Stay connected with the latest Village news, updates, and emergency notifications by subscribing to Scarsdale Official. Sign up here to ensure you receive timely alerts on everything from traffic and weather to community meetings and special events.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership and support. Wishing everyone a safe and restful remainder of the summer. As always, feel free to email me at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Justin Arest
Mayor

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 27 July 2025

Created: 27 July 2025

Last Updated: 27 July 2025

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Here is an obituary and notice of a memorial service for Robert November:

Robert November, 89, of Scarsdale and Rye, NY, and Pawlet, VT. Graduate of Harvard College and CUNY Graduate Center, leaves sons Peter (Elana) and David (Nicole), and grandchildren Zachary, Lucas, Hadley, and George. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Eleanor Tripp November in 2019. Worked for over 20 years at The New York Times and helped steer changes in distributing news and information at the start of the computer era to adapt to new technologies for gathering, distributing, and archiving news. Continued similar work at The Bond Buyer and at the F.W. Dodge division of McGraw Hill. Tirelessly involved in community work as a parent, school board member, and board member of numerous other community groups from the 1970’s until his death. Along with his wife Eleanor, received the Scarsdale Bowl Award in 2001 in recognition of their extensive community service.

The memorial service will be held at 11:30 am on Sunday, August 3, 2025 in the auditorium of The Osborn senior living community, 101 Theall Rd, Rye, NY.

Contributions in Robert’s honor can be made to Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling, or to the Robert November Book Fund at Harvard College Libraries in Cambridge, MA.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 18 July 2025

Created: 18 July 2025

Last Updated: 10 September 2025

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Here is a statement from Representative George Latimer on the House Bill Rescinding Funding for Public Broadcasting, Life-Saving Foreign Aid

On July 18, 2025 Congressman George Latimer (NY-16) released the following statement after he voted against rescinding funding, that is already law, for public broadcasting and life-saving foreign aid:

“This rescissions package reflects the extreme and out-of-touch DOGE agenda. It slashes civilian aid to Ukraine and Eastern European allies, strips access to basic family planning for 48 million women worldwide and eliminates the U.S. contribution to UNICEF. It even eliminates funding for public broadcasting, jeopardizing PBS Kids, local public TV and radio, and the emergency alert systems communities rely on during natural disasters.

Republicans call these cuts ‘savings,’ but this is funding they voted for in the bipartisan Continuing Resolution. This isn’t about fiscal responsibility. It’s about imposing a harmful, ideological agenda at home and abroad. It is an agenda that will destroy America.”

The recissions bill pulls back $9 billion in funding Congress already voted on and President Trump signed into law this year. This package codifies cuts that Elon Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) recommended that will destroy the government and weaken U.S. power and standing in the world.

Video of Rep. Latimer recently speaking about the recissions bill on the House floor.