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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 30 June 2026

Created: 30 June 2026

Last Updated: 30 June 2026

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Trustees and Rec Department Personnel held a ribbon cutting for new tennis courts at Crosssway Field on June 26, 2026Construction of three new all-weather tennis courts at Crossway Field is complete, and the courts are officially open for play. The Village Board and staff marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday June 26, to commemorate this exciting addition to the community.

The project included three newly constructed all weather tennis courts. There are still two har-tru courts adjacent to the new courts. The eold all-weather courts are currently being used for pickleball programming.

Plans originally called for the construction of 6 pickleball courts as well. What happened to them? Assistant Village Manager Ruby Tower explained, “During this past budget season, the Board decided to advance the construction of the new tennis courts specifically, but the other aspects of the proposed plans from the field study are going to be further evaluated through a design and engineering process. The Village recently put out an RFP for design and engineering services for Winston and Crossway and are in the process of reviewing firms. “

Enjoy the new tennis courts. Click here for additional information regarding tennis rules, permits, and court reservations.

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Written by: Sharon Higgins

Published: 02 June 2026

Created: 02 June 2026

Last Updated: 07 July 2026

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Decked out in Raider RedYou couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful evening as members of the Scarsdale High School Class of 2026 and their dates stepped onto the red carpet on Thursday, May 28, to begin one of the most anticipated nights of the year, Prom Night. The event took place at Scarsdale High School in the long parking lot adjacent to Dean Field, which was transformed into a festive red-carpet venue for the occasion. Families, friends, and well-wishers gathered behind velvet ropes lining the red carpet, creating a glamorous Hollywood-style atmosphere as students arrived in their finest attire and posed for photos before heading off to celebrate the evening together.

Greeting students at the end of the red carpet and overseeing the evening’s logistics was SHS Assistant Vice Principal Dr. Chris Griffin. Dr. Griffin noted that the tradition of seniors and their dates walking the red carpet stretches back at least as long as his tenure at Scarsdale High School, now more than 14 years. Former PTA President Michelle Lichtenberg, who attended this year’s red carpet, told us that the tradition began in June 2003 as a way to channel positive pre-prom behavior. Griffin was thrilled by the large turnout of parents, relatives, and friends who came to cheer on the students and remarked that he was especially impressed by the respectful and positive atmosphere created by the crowd.

Dr. Griffin also expressed his gratitude to the many staff members who helped make the evening possible. He thanked teachers Benjamin Sawyer and Lauren Barton, along with school social worker Lauren Pomerantz, for their work organizing students and coordinating the many details involved in Prom Night. He also recognized the efforts of the custodial staff, whose hard work transformed the space for the event, as well as the Security and Safety Monitors who helped manage the crowds and bus departures to ensure a safe and orderly evening.

Among parents watching from the sidelines, one topic of conversation stood out: fashion. This year many of the girls wore solid color shimmering gowns in reds, blues and yellows. Others noted all the sparkle. One mother observed that the girls were “all in,” with many dresses featuring sequins, paillettes, shimmer, and dazzling embellishments in a wide range of colors. The young men were equally sharp in classic tuxedos and tailored suits, creating a striking display of style as they made their way down the carpet.

One parent shared a humorous observation about changing prom traditions. After noticing that her son’s tie and pocket square did not match his date’s dress, she asked why they had not coordinated their outfits. She was surprised to learn that because the pair were not officially dating, matching accessories simply were not part of the plan, a reminder that prom etiquette continues to evolve with each generation.

As the crowd gradually dispersed and the coach buses departed for the Glen Island Harbour Club, excitement filled the air for the memorable evening ahead. Reflecting on the occasion, Dr. Griffin offered a simple message to the seniors: “The weather is gorgeous and I hope the kids have a wonderful safe weekend and remember to make good decisions.”

With the red carpet rolled away and another memorable prom night behind them, the evening marked not only a celebration of friendship and tradition, but also one of the final milestones for the Class of 2026 as they prepare to close out their high school journey and look toward the next chapter ahead.

The glamour and excitement of the evening are captured in the photo gallery below, featuring many of the memorable red-carpet moments that made this year's prom such a special occasion for the Class of 2026.

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Email us your photos to add to the prom photo gallery - at [email protected].

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 28 May 2026

Created: 28 May 2026

Last Updated: 28 May 2026

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SHS Student Dylan LembergThe following letter was written by Harriet Sobol and sent to the Scarsdale Board of Education and Scarsdale Superintendent:

Dear Members of the Board of Education, Superintendent and recently elected Members of the Board,

Sometimes, chaotic and upsetting events offer opportunity. After watching the comments at the BOE May meeting about the scourge of antisemitism, I think that now is a time for opportunity in our beloved schools, where my son and daughter were students, and my son, joyfully, worked in the District's A/V Department.

A month ago, I was lucky enough to attend a conference about Civics in Schools, directed by Joan Weber, under the auspices of Long Island University. Two of the presenters, Dylan Lemberg and Oliver Kaiden, attend Scarsdale High School. Their presentation could have been professional but it wasn't. It was by two stunning Scarsdale students. Dylan Lemberg, the founder of New York Student Engaged Citizenship, and his partner, Oliver Kaiden.

Dylan Lemberg also spoke at the BOE May meeting, suggesting that civil discourse skills might be an answer for what is going on in our high school now. Rather than eliminating conversation about highly political and/or sensitive and emotional subjects, why not train all students in Civil Discourse. The subject would benefit the students all their lives

Oliver and Dylan have created an organization with materials that support how to train teachers and students in the subject. They have marketed their product to educators and legislators . How lucky we are to have homegrown creative members of our community. Go to their Web site which is, https://www.ny-sec.org/ look at the materials, https://www.ny-sec.org/materials, talk to Oliver and Dylan, and consider taking advantage of it.

My experience with Alternative School meetings is that some of the students have been taught civil discourse by teachers mentoring it. Talk to them too.

Sometimes gold is found in your backyard.

With respect,
Harriet Sobol
50 Popham Road Scarsdale

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 20 May 2026

Created: 20 May 2026

Last Updated: 20 May 2026

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School Board Members and Administrators joined by Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler following the vote announcement.Earnest campaigns for two seats on the Scarsdale School Board with three candidates on the ballot, had Scarsdale buzzing over the last few weeks. There were lawn signs, postcards, emails, Instagram posts and handshakes with voters at the train station and at a host of public events.

The two candidates nominated by the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee, Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler, ran as a Alissa Baum with District Clerk Honore Adams who worked a 16 hour day in the hot gym supervising the election.team. The names Kevin and Omer were splashed across the Village, promising a “fresh perspective”. The two benefitted from a well-orchestrated campaign backed by supporters of the non-partisan process. Candidate Erica German was also well known around town. A longtime resident with 17 years of volunteer experience in the schools, she is currently President of the Scarsdale PT Council and has a network of friends and volunteers who assisted her to get out the vote. German, who is a psychiatrist, touted her listening skills, leadership and experience.

Also on the ballot was a $197 mm annual school budget along with a $101.7 mm bond resolution, the largest in Scarsdale’s history. The school administration and the school board spent months garnering support for the budget and the bond also with mailers, emails, school tours, work sessions and even an appearance at the Sunday Farmer’s Market.

The combined campaigns brought out record numbers of voters on Tuesday May 19, 2026 – some to vote for the candidates and others who were keen on supporting additions to Fox Meadow School and Edgewood Elementary School. Others were eager to have a large new turf field at Scarsdale Middle School that will accommodate additional playing time. Recent antisemitic incidents and discord about the elementary school math curriculum also drove some out to vote, though it was not clear how views on these issues impacted their decision to vote for one candidate or another or up or down on the budget or the bond.

There was a steady stream of voters all day – assisted by traffic guards to help with parking. At times the line to vote extended out of the gym, down the hall and into the Scarsdale Middle School breezeway. It looked like an unusual number of teens and first-time voters were in line as well.

The line to vote extended outside into the SMS breezeway.

The poll was scheduled to close at 9 pm – but at 8:50 a long line snaked out the door of the middle school. So the doors did not close until everyone who was on the line before 9 pm voted, and therefore the vote count got off to a late start.

Assembled in the steamy gym were the candidates, their families, their campaign teams, school administrators, the school board, and friends along with the poll workers. District Clerk Honore Adams who supervised the election maintained her cool – though she had been in the hot gym since 7 am. She was assisted by a team of poll workers and vote counters and Alissa Baum, who served as the Chair for the Budget and Bond Vote and Board Elections.

Superintendents Lennon, Rauschenbach and Patrick looked hopeful as polls closed.There were over 200 mail-in ballots that could not be opened and counted until the polls closed after 9 pm, and since they were counted by hand, it proved to be a long wait in the overheated gym until the outcome of the election was known. Board members joked that if the bond passed, this gym would be air conditioned, maybe in time for the next election.

Finally – around 10:40 pm, Baum and Adams announced the results, with the school budget passing with a 77.2% approval, the bond with 71.6% voter approval and the two Board seats won by Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk, the two candidates who were nominated by the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee.

Here are the numbers:

2026-27 School Budget: $197 mm

2,840 votes total
2,193 yes votes
77.2% approval

 2026 School Bond: $101.7 mm

2,835 votes total
2,030 yes votes
71.6% approval

School Board Election

Erica German 1,494 votes
Kevin Ziegler 1,641 votes
Omer Wiczyk 1,632 votes

Though the overall vote count did not exceed the 4,153 mail in vote count in 2020 during COVID, it was a robust turn out and both the bond and school board votes spurred community engagement. The 7 percentage point disparity in the approval rating for the budget and the bond may indicate some reluctance about the ambitious spending plan.

After the announcement, pleased administrators and board members lined up for a photo, much relieved that their efforts were endorsed by Scarsdale voters and happy to exit the steamy gym into the cool night air.

Commenting on the outcome, Erica German said, "First, I’m very pleased that the proposed budget and bond were approved by robust margins. I deeply appreciate all of the hard work our PTA and PTC Executive Committees, PTA Presidents, and Budget Study Chairs did over many months to support the proposed budget and bond.

While the outcome of the election was not what I had hoped for, I am enormously grateful for the support I received from so many members of the community. I am also deeply thankful for the incredible work of my campaign team and for the unwavering support of my husband, Jon, and our children.

I congratulate Omer and Kevin on their election. Going forward, I will continue to do all that I can to support District leadership and our schools on behalf of Scarsdale students and the community at large."

Following the election, Omer Wiczyk said, "I am extremely grateful to the Scarsdale community for the trust and confidence they've placed in me through this election. Throughout this campaign, I had the opportunity to connect with so many thoughtful and engaged residents, parents, educators, and students, and those conversations reinforced how deeply our community cares about its schools and children.

As a parent of two children in the school system, I am elated that Kevin Ziegler was elected to the Board of Education. Kevin is thoughtful, hardworking, and deeply committed to this community, and I know he is going to be a wonderful Board member. I am thrilled that he will be my colleague.

I want to thank the School Board Nominating Committee for its confidence in us, as well as the many incredible volunteers and supporters who dedicated so much time and energy throughout this process.

I also want to thank Erica German for her years of service to the community and for running a thoughtful campaign. Running for public office requires a significant commitment of time and energy, and I appreciate her willingness to be part of the process and engage on issues important to our schools and community.

I know that my obligation to listen carefully to the community does not stop with this election. I look forward to continuing to engage with parents, students, educators, and administrators, and to working collaboratively with my fellow Board members to help ensure that Scarsdale’s schools continue to provide an outstanding educational experience while supporting the well-being and growth of every student."

Kevin Ziegler said this: "I am honored by this opportunity to represent our entire community at the Board of Education at an important time. Through this campaign we engaged with residents across Scarsdale, taking careful note of what is on our neighbors' minds, for now and the future. The effort has provided extra preparation for the work of our school board, in support of our children's education, and it will continue throughout my term. I am appreciative of Scarsdale's non-partisan tradition, and the thorough process and time investment of the School Board Nominating Committee, as well as for the tireless work of our campaign team. I would like to extend gratitude to Amber Yusuf and Robert Klein at the conclusion of their board service, as well as to Erica German for her dedicated volunteerism in our community."

Jennifer Zola, Co-Chair of the School Board Nominating Committee offered her perspective, “There is a lot of support in town for the same thing: excellent schools. People just have different ideas of what it takes to attain that at this time as evidenced by the public discussion as well as the contest for school trustee seats with three candidates seeking election. I remain optimistic that the 70+% approval voting for the budget and bond reflect that common goal in Scarsdale's "main industry": our students' education.”

Campaign materials for the candidates, the budget and the bond.Campaign and community volunteer Diane Greenwald said, “I am thrilled the budget and the extraordinary bond referendum passed, showing our community’s commitment to stewardship of our children's education today and tomorrow. By supporting well-considered and needed capital investment into the District, we share our values and will leave Scarsdale better than we found it.

I am also pleased the community supported the SBNC nominees Kevin Ziegler and Omer Wiczyk for School Board, who each earned the confidence of the nominating committee and the community. I wish them good luck representing us on the Board, with curiosity, integrity, competence, and compassion.

For me, a low point I hope will not return is bullet voting -- giving up the right to vote for two candidates to increase the chances of one. Bullet voting is a strategy used in dire or extreme situations, not for our civil election between service-minded, decent Scarsdale neighbors. I am disheartened by this tactic that does not reflect the spirit of this contest.

Erica German stood with her family before the results were announced.This has been a uniquely divisive year and it’s time for healing and for rebuilding trust in our neighbors, leaders, and institutions. Even while we challenge norms and seek improvements, I hope we always do this with both reason and respect for the full, glorious spectrum of residents and views.

I wish to thank the Board of Ed challenger and long-time resident, Erica German, for her laudable service to Scarsdale’s school community and trust she has more to give. She is a dedicated volunteer and I hope she finds important ways to use her abundant talents and experience for the greater good.”

Announcing the vote, School Superintendent Andrew Patrick wrote:

“We are incredibly grateful to our community for showing up to weigh in on these enormously impactful decisions. Voter turnout was nearly four times greater than last year’s. This speaks both to the importance of what was on the ballot, as well as to the commitment of the many volunteers, including our PTAs, the PTC, and Maroon & White, who worked tirelessly to provide information about the budget and bond to the community so our residents could make informed decisions. We also want to acknowledge and thank the members of the Capital Projects Steering Committee who volunteered a tremendous amount of time to help shape the bond program. Their input resulted in a collection of critical projects that will enable us to continue to provide our students with environments that promote learning and growth now and into the future.

While the budget process was once again challenging and didn’t include everything we hoped for, we are grateful to our community for their input during the process, and strong community support of our students through the adoption of this budget... This budget will allow our schools to continue to reach the high standards we expect for our students while staying within the tax cap. We look forward to continuing to provide an exceptional educational experience for our students in keeping with our strategic plan priorities, Learning, Living, Leading.”

Ms. Suzie Hahn, President of the Scarsdale Board of Education echoed Dr. Patrick’s gratitude:

“On behalf of the Board, thank you to the community for your support of our schools and our students,” Ms. Hahn said. “I would also like to thank District Clerk Honore Adams, Chair Alissa Baum, all of the poll workers who volunteered their time, and the Scarsdale Middle School staff for ensuring everything ran smoothly. Congratulations to Kevin and Omer on their election to the School Board. I look forward to serving with them and the rest of the Board in the coming year.”

Ballots had to be collected and stored after the election.