More Flooding on the Bronx River Parkway
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For the second time this week heavy rain has caused the Bronx River parkway to close. Today, Friday March 11, the Parkway is flooded from the split with the Sprain Brook Parkway all the way up to Virginia Road in White Plains. Over 2.8 inches of rain fell on Thursday night into Friday morning causing extensive flooding. On Monday March 7 three inches of rain fell the previous night and caused the Bronx River to overflow and spill onto the roadway.These photos are taken from the overpass at Greenacrs Avenue where both the north and the south sides of the parkway are flooded.
According the Westchester County Police nothing can be done to alleviate the flooding. They are 
simply waiting for Mother Nature to take its course and waiting for the water to recede. A spokesman for the County Safety Department claimed that inadequate storm drains are just part of the problem and Scarsdale's Deputy Village Manager Stephen Pappalardo agrees. The Bronx River is filled with silt and therefore has limited capacity to capture excess water. Dredging the river to remove the silt is an environmental concern as it would upset the ecological system and wildlife. In addition, with increased development there is reduced impervious surfaces in the areas above the river, further exacerbating the flooding.
In the meantime, traffic is sure to be snarled in Westchester on Friday as drivers will need to avoid the flooded parkways and take alternative routes.
Fraud, Identity Theft and a Pedestrian Hit from the 10583 Police
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Fraud: Chase Bank on Palmer Avenue was the scene of another fraud attempt this week. On the afternoon of 2/24 a 6’5” man in a long black coat, carrying a Louie Vuitton bag approached a teller at the bank with a withdrawal slip for $3,500. The teller asked for identification and the man presented a Texas driver’s license and a Capitol One Visa. When the teller checked the account she found there were numerous alerts and also noted that the license looked “funny.” She asked the man to have a seat while she verified the account, but instead he left the branch.
When police arrived they found that the license was fraudulent and the account had been flagged because someone had called Chase Customer Service several times that day about the account.
Police contacted the man whose name was listed on the account in Tomball, Texas and it turned out that he had not authorized any withdrawals. Police canvassed the area but were not able to find the man.
An unidentified person withdrew funds from the Chase account of a Ridgecrest East couple between January 20 and February 18. All told, $23,000 was taken from the account to pay bills and credit card debts. Another $8,408 was spent on a fraudulent Macy’s account set up in the couple’s name.
Bad Check: the manager of Rothmans reported that a man had purchased $729.08 in clothing on 12/24/10 and his check had bounced. The store attempted to contact the man, Ken Levy of Mt. Kisco,, but his number was not in service. The store also emailed the man several times and though Levy said he would call, he never did. Police attempted to contact Levy on 2/24 but were unsuccessful but on 2/25 they got in touch and Levy agreed to pay the monies owed.
Stolen: A Lee Road man reported the theft of his $1,200 Batavus cycle and child seat from the Scarsdale Train Station where it was locked on February 17th. The lock and chain were gone as well but he found his helmet nearby.
Lost: On 2/25 an Aspen Road woman reported losing a $12,500 diamond ring inside her home sometime between 2/18-2/25.
A Marjory Lane man reported the lost of a 14K gold bracelet valued at $100.00 on East Parkway. He said it was lost sometime between 2/18 and 2/23 and is engraved with the words “Leon Z Mener, Love-Mom and Dad.”
Arrested: Tyson Tinsley, age 23 of Mount Vernon was arrested on a bench warrant in Mount Vernon and transferred to Scarsdale at 2 am on 2/24. After a conversation with Judge Galloway Tinsley was released pending a 3/2 court date.
Locked out: The ex-husband of a Brite Avenue woman came to police headquarters on 2/25 to inquire about his rights to enter the home of his ex-wife. Police advised him to speak to his attorney.
Solicitors: A Vernon Road resident reported a suspicious car and solicitors on the street on the morning of 2/26. Police stopped the solicitors who were trying to sign people up for home heating oil contracts. As they did not have a permit they were given a warning.
Intruders? At 2:19 am on 2/27, a Sycamore Road woman called police to say that she heard someone attempting to open her front door. Police went to the home and searched the area but found no suspects. Shortly thereafter, at 3 am police found a 2010 Jeep parked on Bansom Road and questioned the driver. The man admitted that he had just left his girlfriend on Sycamore Road and he was admonished by police and released.
Sewage: Cayuga Road residents called police to report that a sewer had backed up into their basement on the evening of 2/27. Police called the Highway Department to respond.
Gas leak: In response to a gas leak on 2/27, police had to enter a Murray Hill Road home while the homeowners were away. Police got in through an unlocked rear sliding door and found the master bedroom in disarray. They got in touch with the homeowner who was in Florida and he was not concerned.
Accident: A Post Road woman who was attempting to cross Post Road at 7:40 am on 2/25 was hit by a car driven by a New Rochelle man. The victim, Jessica Crockett complained of pain in her legs and right hand and was taken to White Plains hospital by SVAC for treatment. She stated that the accident was not the fault of the driver.
Damage: Luigi Vippolis parked his 2009 BMW 328I in the Freightway lot on the morning of 2/25. When he returned at 8 pm that night he found that the fenders were scratched and the front right tire and both rear tires were slashed. There were no witnesses.
A Burglary, A Con Woman and A Dishonest Babysitter
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Burglary on Grand Park: a houseguest who was staying at 11 Grand Park Avenue returned to the house at 9 pm on February 15 and discovered that someone had entered the house through a rear basement door and pried open an interior door that leads to the first floor of the house. Many items were missing. As the owner is away, the guest provided a partial list of what was taken from the home, which included liquor, two laptop computers, two flat screen televisions and an iPod.
Con Artist: A woman who claimed to be Amanda M. King of California made two fraudulent withdrawals of $3,000 each from the Chase Bank on Palmer Avenue on February 15. The teller and assistant manager of the bank questioned the woman about what she was doing in Scarsdale and scrutinized her identification, but as she was able to give the correct account password and had knowledge of the last four transactions on the account, they gave her the funds.
However, later that day, the Scarsdale Chase Branch Manager got a call informing her that after leaving Scarsdale, the same woman then travelled to the Chase Bank on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains and attempted to make another cash withdrawal. It turned out the California driver’s license number was fraudulent and that she was not Amanda King. She was actually Dorothy Hogue of the Bronx and she was arrested for identity theft, possession of forged instruments, forgery and grand larceny.
Served: Sahit Muja of Saxon Woods Road called police on the evening of February 15 to complain that a man was trying to get into his house. Police went to the home and spoke to the alleged intruder who identified himself as Thomas Roskin. Mr. Roskin explained that he was at the home to serve divorce papers to Mr. Muja. However, when police scanned Roskin’s driver’s license number they found that he was on federal probation for securities fraud. Police attempted to contact Roskin’s parole officer but were unable to get in touch with him. Despite Roskin’s status, he was found to be a legitimate process server and police let Muja know that Roskin was there to serve legal papers. Muja is well known in town due to the giant snow sculpture he recently built in his front yard.
Inside Job: A Popham Road man came to police on February 15 to report that $350 had been taken from an envelope in his bedroom. As he suspected that his babysitter was taking the cash, he replaced the money and monitored the draw with an in-home video camera. The tape showed the sitter taking another$20 and when he confronted her she admitted to stealing the money and promised to pay it back. On February 17, the man received a text message from the sitter that said that the baby’s car seat and a gift were outside the apartment. The man found the car seat, three pocketbooks and a letter promising to pay back the funds. The man wanted to document the incident with police.
Lisa Glaser of Pomona, NY reported that her credit card was stolen while she was at work at Harwood Court sometime after February 9th. Citicard notified her that fraudulent charges had been made on the card at Best Buy, the Getty station and Buy Buy Baby.
Arrest: Francisco Rivera, age 57, who had an outstanding bench warrant in Scarsdale was arrested in Yonkers at 1 am on 2/16. Yonkers police notified the Scarsdale Police who drove to Yonkers, transported Rivera to Scarsdale and booked him. He was released on $300 bail pending an appearance.
Threats: A Madison Road woman received a death threat via a text message on her phone on February 16. She made contact with the woman at the number from which the message was sent and the woman knew nothing about it. Police called the woman whose number was the origin of the threatening text. She said that Verizon told her she was the victim of “phone spoofing.”
A Brite Avenue woman called to report that her ex-husband had entered her home without her permission on the night of February 15. The man entered the home through the garage and put his children to bed.
Animals: On February 15 a Brookby Road woman reported that a neighborhood dog keeps going on her lawn. As she does not know whom the dog belongs to, she wanted to file a report.
A coyote was reported on the lawn of a Horseguard Lane home on the morning of 2/16 and another coyote was spotted on Harvest Drive at 7:24 am on 2/17.
Smokin’:On the morning of February 18, Fred Goldberg, the Assistant Principal of SHS called the police to report that students were outside smoking marijuana on Harcourt Road. By the time police arrived, the kids were gone.
Accidents: A 17 year-old boy lost control of his car when it hit an ice patch on the afternoon of February 14. The boy was driving west on Harcourt Road when the car went into a skid and hit a wire that supports a telephone post. Since the support wire was broken, Con Edison was notified.
A young woman from Larchmont ran her 2008 Jeep into a fence at 2 Broadmoor Road on the afternoon of February 15. She said she swerved to avoid a truck that was travelling north on Griffen Road. She was issued a summons for “failing to operate (the car) in a safe manner to avoid collision.”
Scarsdale Police Arrest Drunk Drivers
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Randolph Ramrup age 35 of the Bronx was caught driving 50 mph on the Post Road at 2:15 am on February 19. Police chased him and he initially resisted police but later pulled over onto the sidewalk at the intersection of Burgess and Post Roads. Police smelled alcohol on Ramrup’s breath and he claimed he had left his driver’s license at the bar. He failed the sobriety tests and was found to have an elevated BAC. Ramrup was placed under arrest and his car was parked in the high school lot. He was booked for speeding and driving while intoxicated and released.
The following night Ramrup came into headquarters to report that his wallet was taken from his car while it was parked in front of Scarsdale High School. He claimed that when he returned for the car the next day, his coach wallet, driver’s license, debit card and student id were missing, though it should be noted that the previous night Ramrup claimed he did not have his license.
At 4:30 am, police spotted a Honda on the Post Road with no rear plate light. They stopped the car on Fenimore Road and smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath. The man admitted that he had just left the Misky Bar in White Plains where he drank four beers. The man only had a Mexican driver’s license that identified him as Rene Gonzalez, age 26 of Dobbs Ferry Road, Scarsdale. Police conducted a DMV check and found that Gonzalez had been suspended five times by the DMV. Gonzales was arrested and booked for driving while intoxicated, driving without a license and for inadequate lights on his car. He was released on $400 cash bail.
Shortly after midnight on 2/20 police stopped a speeding driver on the Post Road. They found that the driver appeared drunk and the car smelled of marijuana. The man admitted to drinking a beer and smoking a joint before he left the bar. He failed sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. A search of his car revealed a bag of marijuana. Eric Stapen, age 32 of Popham Road, Scarsdale was arrested for driving while intoxicated, speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and possession of marijuana.
Minutes later, at 5 am, police stopped the driver of a speeding Acura at Post and Sherbrooke Roads and smelled alcohol on his breath. The driver identified himself as Gersson D. Jimenez of New Rochelle and admitted that he had just left the Cabo Bar in White Plains where had had consumed mixed drinks and beer. The man had no license and said that his license had been revoked. There was a half full bottle of beer on the console and a drunk passenger in the front seat. The driver was found to be inebriated and his car was impounded. He was arrested for speeding, driving without a license, driving while intoxicated, and carrying an open alcohol container in the car.
Slipped: An 84-year old Overlook Road man slipped on the ice in Scarsdale Village around noon on 12/18. He fell on Spencer Place and possibly broke some ribs. He was taken to Westchester Medical Center by SVAC. A 76 year-old woman from Inverness Road tripped on Spencer Place on the morning of 2/19, injuring her right hand and knee. She was also taken to White Plains Hospital by SVAC.
On the afternoon of 2/18 Ronald Walter, the property manager for the Wilgrin Parking lot on Palmer Avenue reported that a truck drove over a parking island and knocked down a tree. There were not witnesses.
Wind Damage: A large tree branch fell on two cars parked in the lot at the Scarsdale library on the afternoon of 2/19. A Toyota and a Mazda were trapped under the branch and the Highway Department had to cut the branch to free the cars. Though no damage was done to the Mazda, the roof, hood and fender of the Toyota were damaged.
At 3:20 am on 2/19, a large tree fell on Jefferson Road and knocked down the power line.
High winds caused a large tree branch to fall on a car travelling on Heathcote Road on the afternoon of 2/19. The branch broke the windshield of a car that belonged to George Telonis of Boulder Brook Road.
A water main broke at 4 am on 2/22 on Saxon Woods Road near the intersection of Black Birch Lane. Water pouring from the broken pipe froze on the road causing hazardous, icy conditions. Highway workers shut down the road and workers from the water department were summoned.
Status Update on Principal John Klemme
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John Klemme, Principal of Scarsdale High School has been out of school due to health issues. Many of you have inquired about his status and how the high school is handling his absence. We asked School Superintendant Michael McGill for an update, and here is the information he shared with us.
How long has Mr. Klemme been out? John has been on sick leave since just before the December holiday.
Is Mr. Klemme on disability? The principals' association contract and district policies provide for sick leave, which is normally used up before disability kicks in.
How is the school managing without him? In terms of how we're operating with only three positions for the short term: everyone — including department heads and district office personnel — can pick up some slack for a limited period of time. There's no way to put a hard and fast limit on what that "limited period" is — probably it's several months -- certainly not years. The longer the school goes on without the four positions, (principal plus three assistant principals) however, the more the jobs of those who are doing the backfilling will slip and/or we'll see slippage in the gains made possible by the new assistant principal position over the last two plus years. Predictably, we'll then be back to slower response times, less followup to problems, more kids falling through cracks, less pro-activity, fewer efforts to improve program -- like the 9th grade transition.
What does his prolonged absence tell us about the need for three assistant principals at Scarsdale High School? The third assistant principal position was added for several reasons. Among them: faculty and school leaders expressed concern about delays in followup on student behavior issues and leadership's inability to devote adequate followup and support for a range of other matters involving kids and families. Also, the existing leadership staff were so heavily focused on daily operations, they couldn't be adequately proactive in addressing longer term concerns or school improvement efforts.
The position has enabled school leaders to attend to student behavior issues more rapidly and in more depth, as well as to anticipate problems in the making. That's both improved effectiveness of service and to some degree reduced the incidence of difficulties. It's also given leadership more time and to address a whole range of related student-parent-teacher problems that don't involve discipline, technically speaking. Additionally, it's helped assure adequate support for special education services, which one of the assistants has to coordinate. The mandated requirements in this area have increased significantly over the past decade.
The time saved, plus time originally planned to increase proactivity, has resulted in the much improved ninth grade transition process, a leadership development program for current department chairs, a coherent school-wide focus on developing critical and creative thinking, appropriate support and followup for the Advanced Topics program, and most recently, effective leadership for a review of the behavioral code following the problems last fall — among many other efforts.
The issue isn't whether the school can run without this kind of support; for years it operated without the position and got along. Rather, it's whether the traditional level of service would meet today's student/parent/teacher expectations and needs, as well as state-mandated requirements. The people in leadership positions can only do what they can do in a day that ordinarily begins around 7 and ends somewhere around or after 5, with many nights out. If we take one of the positions away, the remaining people will still put in the time; they just won't be able to cover the same amount of ground.
When is Mr. Klemme expected to reach a decision about returning to work? I'm in communication with John about his situation, and we're working together to reach the best decisions about the future. Although I can't put a deadline on this process, I think we both agree that it would be best to reach a resolution in the nearer term, rather than letting matters slide on through the spring.
