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Written by: Matthew Martin

Published: 06 July 2022

Created: 06 July 2022

Last Updated: 06 July 2022

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The Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association held its 94th Annual 4th of July parade throughout the streets of Arthur Manor and the ceremony and picnic in Davis Park on a beautiful and sun filled Monday morning, July 4th. This annual neighborhood association celebration started in 1928!

The parade marchers began gathering at the corner of Bell and Sprague Roads at 9:15 am on Monday morning to compete in the various categories of parade and float participants. Before the parade the judges carefully reviewed and ranked the individual and group marchers in categories such as most patriotic costume, stroller, tricycles, and of course the floats.

At 9:45 am, a special Scarsdale Police Department escort led the parade, accompanied by Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 (founded on Sprague Road in 1893) together with all of the marchers, including Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron and Trustees Jonathan Lewis and Randy Whitestone, from Bell and Sprague Roads, down Sprague Road to Lyons Road and then on to Davis Park.

The parade ended at Davis Park where the traditional 4th of July ceremony was held before the flagpole at the north end of the park.

The ceremony began with the raising of the flag by Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1’s color guard. Long time Arthur Manor resident Richard Gast sang the National Anthem, followed by the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. The crowd 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 Jane Veron addressed the crowd on the importance of July 4th and the relevance of this special day for all residents. Village Trustee Randy Whitestone spoke on the significance of Scarsdale’s role in the American Revolution. Trustee Jonathan Lewis and former Trustee Matt Callaghan were also in attendance together with Arthur Manor’s own Uncle Sam (played perfectly, as always, by Teegan Lee).

Former Arthur Manor President Al Stuart then conducted the awards ceremony for the day’s marchers and other parade participants announcing winners in categories such as floats, bicycles, and tricycles. 2022.

The Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association’s July 4th parade and picnic was sponsored by its own members and the awards for the 2022 field events were provided by local merchants such as Bagel Power and Big Top Toys on Weaver Street, Bronx River Books on Spencer Place, Carvel on Mill Road, Happy Days Pizza on Post Road, Italian Village Pizza at the Golden Horseshoe, Martine’s on East Parkway, Pizzarelli’s on Depot Place, Scarsdale Pastry Center on Weaver Street, Trader Joes in Eastchester, Via Forno on Garth Road and Scarsdale Pizza Station on Scarsdale Avenue. 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 walked to the other end of Davis Park for the annual field events including the 50 yard dash, parent-child relay, three-legged race, potato sack and wheel-barrow races, and Arthur Manor’s all-time favorite annual “egg toss” - first appearing at Arthur Manor’s July 4th picnic in 1944! This year the games were expertly conducted by Arthur Manor residents Andrew Krause and Sam Bryant. (A list of the winning field event participants also follows below).

Shannon and Sean Cover won the egg toss, with second place to Louis and Liam Mancini and third place to Barbara and Robert Carpenter. Congratulations all those who participated in the 2022 egg toss event!

Hosting the event was Arthur Manor Neighborhood Association President, Matt Martin.

This annual event in Arthur Manor is made possible through the collective efforts of the Arthur Manor volunteer residents including the Marcus, Roche, Porco, 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 also encourages all of its residents to start practicing now for the July 4th, 2023 egg toss.

Arthur Manor 4th of July Celebration Parade Winners, July 4, 2022

Marchers in Patriotic Costumes
1st place: “Spirit of 76 Trombones”, Grace Horne, Stella Bower, Sophia Elliott,
2nd place: “Team 4 Star”, Lily and George Fradkin
3rd place: “Team Birthday”, Lily and Mia Tamuro
Honorable Mention: “Ruth Bader Ginsburg Collar”, Ashani Shah

Scooters
1st place: Bobby Carlton
2nd place: Penny Stuart
3rd place: The Haggerty Kids
Honorable Mention: Max Amato

Bicycles
1st place: Malula Schuerlein
2nd place: Zoe Zeng
3rd place: Henry Delucin
Honorable Mention: Grace Piekarski and Leila Capossela

Tricycles
1st place: Cole Capossela

Carriages and Strollers
1st place: Miles Koppel
2nd place: Super Ruby, Ruby Kirsch
3rd place: Joshua Koppel
Honorable Mention: Mia Amato

Floats
1st place: “ET, 40th Anniversary””, Jack and Sloane Callaghan
2nd place: “Powering Ahead”, Porter Nathanson Families
3rd place: “Spirit of 76 Trombones”, Horne, Elliot & Bower Families
Honorable Mentions: “Discover Space Shuttle”, Ferjack-Seely, and
“Mister Softee”, Bandsma Family

Arthur Manor 4th of July Celebration Field Events, July 4, 2022

Dash
1st Heat: 5 yrs. Old and under, boys and girls together
1st- James Hagerty
2nd- Max Panzer
3rd-Jack Callaghan
2nd Heat: 6 and 7 old, boys and girls together
1st- Johan Schuerlein
2nd- Will Steinhaus
3rd – Rory Delucia
3rd Heat: 8,9,10 year old, girls
1st- Mila Lundy
2nd- Grace Piekarski
3rd- Ellen Chang
4th Heat: 8,9,10 year old, boys
1st- Pierce Bower
2nd- Anthony Sannicandro
3rd- Nicholas Kimmel
5th Heat: 11 yr old and older, girls
1st- Zoe Zheng
2nd- Riku Oba
3rd- Arya Goyal
6th Heat: 11 yr old and older, boys
1st-xxxxxxx (no competitors)
2nd- xxxxxxxxxx
3rd-xxxxxxxxxx

01/24 

   

Wheelbarrow Race (Teams of two, boys and girls mixed)
1st Heat: 7 yrs old and under
1st- Rory Delucia and Shea Piekarski
2nd- Kiely Piekarski and Penny Stuart
3rd- Malula Schuerlein and Finn Mancini
2nd Heat: 8,9,10 yr olds
1st- Kiely Piekarski and Grace Piekarski
2nd- Pierce Bower and Patrick Hagerty
3rd – Grace Horne and Stella Bower
3rd Heat: 11 yr old and older
1st- Olivia Elliot and Avery Bower
2nd- Zoe Sheng and Arya Goyal
3rd- Riku Oba and Mila Lundy

Potato Sack Race/ Girls
1st Heat: Girls 6 and under
1st- Rory Delucia
2nd- Olivia Garvey
3rd- Kiely Piekarski
2nd Heat: Girls, 7 and 8 yr olds
1st- Grace Piekarski
2nd- Grace Lundy
3rd- Alisa Schul
3rd Heat: Girls, 9 and 10 yr olds
1st- Sophia Vuu
2nd- Lily Tamura
3rd- Ellen Chang
4th Heat: Girls, 11yr old and older
1st- Zoe Zheng
2nd- Riku Oba
3rd- Olivia Elliott

Potato Sack Race/Boys
1st Heat: Boys, 6 yrs and under
1st- Timothy Hagerty
2nd- James Hagerty
3rd- Kaiden Keany
2nd Heat: Boys, 7 and 8 yrs old
1st- Johan Schuerlein
2nd- Pierce Bower
3rd- Vishnu Sridhar
3rd Heat: Boys, 9 and 10 yrs old
1st- Ben Maibrunn
2nd- Miles Mancini
3rd- Anthony Sannicandro
4th Heat: Boys, 11 yrs old and older
1st- Ari Maibrunn
2nd- Liam Mancini
3rd- Selo Adege

Parent and Child Relay
1st Heat: Children 5 and under
1st- Shea Piekarski
2nd- James Hagerty
3rd- Jack Callaghan
2nd Heat: Children 6,7,8 yrs old
1st- Grace Piekarski
2nd- Johan Schuerlein
3rd- Kiley Piekarski
3rd Heat: Children 9 and 10 yrs old
1st- Ben Maibrunn
2nd- Patrick Hagerty
3rd- Ellen Chang
4th Heat: Children 11 and older
1st- Elena Sannicandro
2nd- Elliot Zheng
3rd- Zoe Zheng

Three Legged Race (Teams of Two, Boys and Girls Mixed)
1st Heat: 6 and under
1st- Kiely Piekarski and Rory Delucia
2nd- Kaiden Keany and Shiv Goyal
3rd- Eliza Krause and Natalie Bates
2nd Heat: 7 and 8 yr olds
1st- Grace Piekarski and Aila Delucia
2nd- Will Steinhaus and Vishnu Sridhar
3rd- Pierce Bower and Johan Schuerlein
3rd Heat: 9 and 10 yr olds
1st- Grace Horne and Sophia Elliott
2nd- Rohan Pandit and Nicholas Kimmel
3rd- Sophia Vuu and Lily Tamura
4th Heat: 11 yr olds and older
1st- Ari Maibrunn and Liam Mancini
2nd- Zoe Zheng and Arya Goyal
3rd- Olivia Elliott and Avery Bower

Egg Toss
1st- Shannon Cover and Sean Cover
2nd- Louis Mancini and Liam Mancini
3rd- Barbara Carpenter and Robert Carpenter

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 23 June 2022

Created: 23 June 2022

Last Updated: 26 June 2022

Hits: 4138

In a joyous celebration, a moving up ceremony for members of the Greenacres Class of 2022 was held in the new multipurpose room of the school on June 22, 2022. The space was decorated with a large Greenacres sign made of green and white ballo0ns, behind bright green chairs.

The class had weathered two years of construction, the trials of remote learning and social distancing during COVID and navigated a host of unusual circumstances during their tenure at the school. So it was lovely to see their smiling faces as parents, grandparents and teachers lauded their success.

Fifth graders filed in and started with the school song, followed by welcoming remarks from Principal Sharon Hill. She called the students flexible, creative, optimistic, and resilient and said, “We are extremely proud of you.” She said the students have a “solid foundation for future pursuits,” and “are ready to take the next steps,” using their “critical thinking and problem solving” skills. She advised them to “achieve your very best, make good choices, to be curious, patient, to exercise empathy and kindness,” and said, “the doors of Scarsdale Middle School will be open wide.”

Each student was named individually and stood to loud applause.

Dr. Blackhurst, Mr. Missett and Mr. Orengo, who are music teachers at the school formed a trio to perform “In My Life” by the Beatles, and then Assistant Principal Sharon De Lorenzo continued a long tradition of acknowledging families whose last child was leaving Greenacres.

After a spirited performance of “Rise Up” by the fifth graders, a video montage of the class through the years was shown, with cameos from each graduating student, saying phrases such as, “I am powerful, I am unique, I am adventurous, I am creative, I am intelligent, I am incredible, I am imaginative, I am friendly, I am awesome.” It was a show of confidence from students on their way to a new school and a new stage in their development.

Benjamin Pearson and Mercedes Rodriguez Lecuona An announcement was made about a gift of tulip bulbs and plants to be given to the school by the fifth grade class.

Awards were granted in the name of Paulie Jimenez to those who went above and beyond in being inclusive and kind. This year the awards went to Benjamin Pearson and Mercedes Rodriguez Lecuona and they came to the front to be applauded.

With that, the class filed out and received a gift of an SMS sweatshirt, which most put on immediately on the cool cloudy day. Families and friends posed in front of the large Greenacres sign and there were smiles all around.

01/16 

   

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 June 2022

Created: 16 June 2022

Last Updated: 16 June 2022

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(Here are comments delivered by Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron at the June 14, 2022 meeting of the Village Board.)
Good evening, Scarsdale. It is good to be back. Many thanks to Deputy Mayor Whitestone for presiding while I was sick. I missed catching you up on Village matters so my comments tonight might be a tad longer.

Our Board just completed the first ever two-part weekend retreat where we collectively reviewed the Village strategic and financial planning framework and associated goals and objectives. Our regular outreach informs our thinking, and we articulated priorities that best captured the needs of our community. Staff will be reviewing our recommended initiatives to give us feedback on operational practicalities and limitations, and we will set timing accordingly.

A couple weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Village staff department head meeting (thank you, Rob, for inviting me). It is vitally important for elected officials and residents to have a window into staff’s daily workload and stressors. We must always understand that we ask staff not only to deliver upon day-to-day responsibilities but also to partner with us on key strategic initiatives. In the end, we are team who must work together to provide service excellence for residents, and with finite resources, we must carefully set priorities. Please know that the Village Board and staff are moving at a rapid pace to address your needs.

Over the next several weeks, the Board will bring to the public, work sessions that feature key priorities. Projects continue to heat up in the Quality of Life, Infrastructure/Municipal Services/Sustainability and Public Safety Pillars, and our special assignments are at the intersection of all three. Economic Development and Land Use is also moving ahead, but we do not yet have projects that are work session ready. We anticipate discussions on sensitive drainage areas and historic preservation code, but both of these matters still reside with staff.

Here’s what’s happening right now:

Our Noise Law
Earlier this evening, we began the complex discussion around noise ordinances. Scarsdale is approximately 6 square miles, and we live together in close proximity. While we enjoy many benefits from our densely situated community neighborhoods and easy commute to NYC, we also experience some of the discomforts. Over the years, residents have noted an increase in noise created by construction activities, property maintenance, equipment, social gatherings and animals. With more residents working from home and an increase in outdoor activity, there has been a heightened sensitivity to noise matters. The Board has begun the process to reexamine our Noise Level Law and enforcement mechanisms. We expect to continue these discussions over the next few months.

Pool Complex Study
Thank you, Scarsdale, for your active engagement in the pool complex study. We have been thrilled with your responsiveness, but we still want to hear from more of you. To date, we have received 1,114 online survey responses, 691 from the mailed control, and sizable in person engagements at both the pool and Scarsdale Music Festival. The online survey closes on this Friday, June 17, and we eagerly await a report based on your feedback. We expect the consultants to synthesize your input and share it with the community later this summer. From there, they will develop three alternative proposals with the associated economics. It is truly exciting that together we will shape the future of our beloved asset as we set its course for the next many decades.

Village Center Mobility Study
Our consultants took the public through an interactive mobility activity during our second work session tonight. We hired FHI Studio for their innovative, creative thinking and they offered proposals that stretched our imaginations. We had a great session, envisioning the possibilities and wrestling with the practical realities. We look forward to piloting opportunities, getting community feedback, and iterating, before we make significant hardscape investments.

Little League Lights and Fields
As you know, the Planning Board delivered its report to the Village Board, and now the Board is in the process of determining what additional information is needed in order to prepare for the next work session. We hope to provide a list of data needs shortly. We will keep the public apprised of next steps. The field lights discussion underscored what the community already knows. There is often a shortage of playable fields, and we struggle to meet the demand. We are hoping to partner with the schools to examine the gaps together.

Budget Input
We promised during budget discussions that we would not wait until the peak of budget season to address several open items. We plan to reconvene on leaf vacuuming this summer, and in the early fall, when our PRC department has a reprieve from managing the pool, we will take another look at recreation fees. At our next work session on June 21, we will reflect on the budget process, identifying areas for improvement for the next budget cycle.

Public Safety
I am eager to share the very positive news that both Houses of the NYS Legislature passed the law that will permit local governments to reduce maximum speed limits to 25 mph. We have been calling for this change, and our colleagues at the State level delivered. We are incredibly grateful to our own Assemblymember Paulin along with our Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and our soon to be State Senator Mayer who helped get this legislation over the finish line. Research shows that lowering the speed limit by five mph improves safety outcomes for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. We will begin planning now as the legislation will soon be sent to the Governor for executive action.

Mayor’s Council
As you can see, the Board has advanced many strategic priorities and more will be queued up for the fall. As we dive into the details, we have seen that many issues have a long history that often takes time to uncover. To retain institutional knowledge and ensure continuity, we are creating a Mayor’s Council comprised of former Mayors and Deputy Mayors. I have asked former Deputy Mayor Arest to chair the group that will meet quarterly. We want to benefit from prior experience and accelerate the learning curve.

As we all know, June is a very busy month. I have represented Scarsdale at many ceremonies and want to give a shout out to our Parks Recreation and Conservation staff who received multiple awards at the Westchester Recreation and Parks Society and to the Scarsdale PD who will be celebrating officer achievements and welcoming new recruits later this week. On June 22, we will be honoring all of our volunteers who do vital work for the Village on Boards and Councils.

June is also a month to reflect on our goals of diversity and inclusion. I want to acknowledge Juneteenth Independence Day, celebrated on the 19th of June. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, Juneteenth is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the US. The day commemorates the anniversary date when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free. We recognize this important moment in history, honor this celebration of resilience, and vow to build a better future for all.

June is also PRIDE month, a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. The monthlong set of festivities is anchored in values of self-affirmation, acceptance, and equality. On June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village and catalyzed a revolt. No longer were people willing to accept the brutal treatment of the gay community. The first PRIDE march was held one year later in 1970 in NYC and has grown to be a major global effort. Tonight, the Village Board wears the symbolic rainbow, reflecting the many groups in this community, to show that Scarsdale stands united.

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Published: 07 June 2022

Created: 07 June 2022

Last Updated: 08 June 2022

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With only one week remaining of Senior Options and graduation in fewer than three, the end of the Class of 2022’s time in Scarsdale has all but arrived. However, before the graduation rehearsal and the official ceremony, there was one final opportunity for the class to gather at the school together.

Dubbed “Senior Transition Day,” the graduating class came into school on Monday June 6 for a relaxed day of college preparation workshops, a high school reflection session and the distribution and signing of yearbooks under a festive backdrop with posters and food scattered around the Brewster Road entrance of the high school. The Brewster Raod entrance was taken over by the Class of 2022

A panel of SHS graduates who are now in college opened the day, with a question-and-answer workshop to address students’ biggest concerns about the transition to college. Seniors asked, “What is one thing you wish you knew going into college?” “Do you feel as if Scarsdale prepared you well for the workload you receive?” and “How do I calm some of my biggest anxieties about starting anew?”

A panel of college students gave advice to the graduating classAfter the insightful session, the auditorium projector displayed a montage of many SHS teachers and staff members giving words of wisdom and congratulating the graduating class.

The grade was then split up into their dean groups for reflections on their high school experiences. Seniors were tasked with writing pieces of advice for the incoming freshman class. Some of the advice was profound, such as, “Find what you enjoy learning and do not be scared to use teachers apart from class time as valuable resources.” Others were a bit less serious, such as the suggestion to “start weightlifting earlier.” Regardless, the pieces of guidance had a sense of irony to them as they apply to both SHS’s incoming freshmen as well as next year’s college freshman (as in, this year’s seniors’ advice is applicable to their own lives too).

Students then had the opportunity to write surprise letters to teachers or staff members who had a positive impact on their high school experience. Subsequently, students were returned letters they wrote to their future selves in eighth and ninth grades. Some were disappointed with what they wrote to themselves, feeling that they should have been more creative.

Once the deans dismissed their respective students, the seniors headed to the Brewster entrance to receive their own yearbooks and sign each other’s. It was a scene straight from a movie: people emotionally going up to close and distant friends for what could be their final ever meaningful interaction. Heartfelt messages were written, comedic comments made, and everything in between. Whether it be a joke from a classmate not known well on a personal level to paragraph from long-standing best friends, the yearbooks were littered with meaningful quotes and the emotion in the room was tangible. Seniors signed yearbooks for over an hour

Refreshments, food, and dessert were offered during the yearbook signing portion, though most students spent over an hour signing and reminiscing before even noticing the lunch and sweets on offer. Signs adorning pictures of students at their elementary schools were on display near the entrance, giving students the opportunity to see how they as individuals, and as friend groups, have evolved.

Senior Transition Day is not given much attention because, with prom a couple of weeks before and graduation a handful of weeks after, why would it? Nonetheless, it is a valuable day when students get to reconnect in school one final time and share messages with their classmates in a meaningful way. The warm, sunny backdrop for the day was fitting for the bright experience.