Today's News

Details: Published: 19 January 2011; Created: 19 January 2011; Last Updated: 25 August 2021; Hits: 10155

duckpond The drama at Village Hall on Tuesday night January 18 was as good as primetime television at home. After many weeks the Historic Preservation Committee convened to consider an application for the demolition of the iconic home at One Duck Pond Road. The home has attracted considerable attention since it was put on the market several years ago due its size, age, style, site and prominence.

On Tuesday, prospective new owners went before the Committee accompanied by their lawyer, their architect, real estate brokers and the heirs to the estate of Francis Braxton, the longtime resident of the house who passed away. Several Heathcote neighbors also attended to back the application of David and Sherrie Matusz to take down the house.

Clearly the buyers anticipated that attaining a demolition permit would take some work as both the lawyer and the architect came prepared with considerable documentation on the home. The attorney Joel Sachs explained that he is currently the village attorney for Bedford and has expertise in the field of Municipal and Land Use Law. He also called on expert John Milnes Baker, author of a book titled “American House Styles,” to do an analysis of the home to determine if it was historical and provided the report to the Committee Members.

Sachs said that Baker concluded the following about the house on Duck Pond Road:

The house was a mish-mash of architectural styles
Most of the original house built in 1902 had been compromised by additions made in 1927
It has little to qualify it for historic preservation
Much of the house is in violation of current building and energy codes

Paul Benowitz of Benowitz Shah Architects in Rye also spoke and reassured the committee that he “has a sensitivity to older structures” and that “he has been involved with properties on the National Register.” He explained that the Village does not have the original plans for the house on file but he did find microfiche that showed that the home started out as cottage in 1902, and a left side addition was built in 1927. In this addition, 40% more space was added to the original house and at least 47% of the present house is not original. In his view, the home is a mixture of architectural styles, including arts and crafts, colonial revival, and shingle style.

Furthermore, according to Benowitz, the home has been on the market for two years and four months and has been vacant for over a year. There is single zone heating, the boiler is broken, there is flood damage in the basement and antiquated systems. Benowitz said that lally columns were added in the basement to shore up the house. In addition, much of the interior remodeling done to the home was inappropriate and the main staircases are not visible from the entry.

Even the descendents of Francis Braxton supported the demolition. Theron Huntting Worth, Braxton’s grandson and the executor of her estate was at the meeting with his mother, Merwin Braxton and said that they were both delighted that the Matusz’ wanted to buy it, and confirmed that the estate supports the demolition.

Ron Parlato, a builder who lives on Sherbrooke Road attested to the fact that he looked at the house with an eye toward restoring it and determined that it would be too costly to rebuild it. He favors the construction of a modern home for a family of today. Dr. Steven Nicholas and his wife spoke and said that the demolition had the support of many in the Heathcote Association. Charles Cohen, a neighbor at 11 Heathcote Road said, “today this property is an eyesore.”

With no more comments from the audience, committee members spoke on their views as to whether or not the home met the criteria outlined in Scarsdale Village Code for preservation.

The code is as follows:

In considering whether the building in question appears to be of substantial historic importance, the Committee shall consider if it:
Is a building that is at least 100 years of age;
Is a building of historic significance;
Is a building which was the location of an event of historic significance;
Is a building related to an historically important individual;
Is the work of an architect or engineer of significance;
Is a significant example of an important building style or period; or
Has been listed on the National or State Register of Historic Places.

Village historian Eric Rothschild, who serves as a non-voting member of the Historic Preservation Committee conveyed what he learned about the home’s historical significance. The homeowners were descendents of Robert Braxton, one of the wealthiest Americans in the 17th century. His son, Carter BraxtonChief Justice John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States. However, as these important historical figures did not live in the house, this would not qualify the home for preservation under the criteria that the “building is related to an historically important individual.” represented Virginia in the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. The occupants of the home were also descendents of

According to Village Code, the home may qualify for preservation if it “is a significant example of an DuckPondWinter important building style or period.” The committee’s architect believed that the home was an important example of Victorian shingle style homes, that were built only for a short period between 1880 and 1900. Since few shingle style houses were built inland, she felt that the house was “important and rare in Scarsdale.” She also said that the addition to the home had been designed by a prominent architect named Ackerman and contended that the house could be restored rather than demolished.

Lucas Meyer, the committee chair asked the architect if in her view the house is a significant example of this period?” to which she replied “yes.”

After more discussion, about whether or not the additions to the house would disqualify it for preservation, the economics of preserving a house in this condition, and the likelihood of finding buyers willing to restore it, Meyer and the committee decided that they needed more time to review the materials distributed by the lawyer and the architect. They moved to defer the decision for another month and will reconsider it at their next meeting.

So for now, the house on the Duck Pond stands empty. Whether it will be demolished, restored or sit idle remains to be seen.

Details: Published: 14 January 2011; Created: 14 January 2011; Last Updated: 15 January 2011; Hits: 9347

shovelsnow An angry Greenacres man gave police no choice but to arrest him when he continually harassed the sergeant on duty at the police dispatch trailer on Wednesday afternoon January 12. The trouble began earlier that day when Russ Kopp’s neighbor on Sage Terrace complained that he was throwing snow from his driveway onto her property. The neighbors have had words in the past. Police arrived and resolved the dispute but apparently Kopp was not satisfied.

In the afternoon Kopp went to the police dispatch trailer on Fenimore Road and wanted to file a new police report to supersede the report taken earlier in the day on the incident. The sergeant on duty told him that there was no basis for a revision of the report. Kopp became irate and continued to argue with the sergeant telling him was going “to give him one last chance or he was going to get him in trouble.” The sergeant, who was busy manning the dispatch station told Kopp to leave the trailer and Kopp responded by telling the officer that he was going home to get a video camera and he would come back to film the sergeant’s refusal to take his complaint.

Kopp then said, “Are you sure? I am giving you one last chance. Ever hear of Arnold Schwarzenegger – I’ll be back.”

Kopp left but returned to the trailer with his video camera around 2:45 pm. He found the trailer locked and repeatedly banged on the door and called the trailer with his cell phone in an attempt to gain entry. When he couldn’t get in, he started videotaping the sergeant through the window of the trailer. When the sergeant and another officer opened the door to the leave the trailer, Kopp put the video camera in their faces and the sergeant told Kopp he was under arrest. Kopp flailed his arms and legs in an effort to resist arrest, and the sergeant ended up with a broken wrist.

Kopp was arrested for obstruction of government administration and resisting arrest and was released on his own recognizance.

In an email to Scarsdale10583.com, Kopp's wife Robin defended her husband, saying, "We look forward to vindicating my husband's name and reputation in court. We are also in the process of filing a formal complaint with the Westchester County District Attorney's office against the Scarsdale Police Force and Sgt. Raysor for excessive police force and violating my husband's civil rights."

Details: Published: 05 January 2011; Created: 05 January 2011; Last Updated: 05 January 2011; Hits: 4288

hebrewhospital This just in from the Greenburgh Police: on Tuesday January 4, 2011 at 6:55 P.M., a 55 year-old female employee of the Hebrew Hospital Home, located at 55 Grasslands Road in the Town of Greenburgh reports being robbed at gunpoint as she was arriving for work. The woman had parked her car in the parking lot of the facility, and as she was getting out of her car two men accosted her. One of the men displayed a handgun and demanded cash. The suspects took money from the victim’s pocketbook and fled on foot in an unknown direction. She was not injured and described the suspects as two black males with Jamaican accents.

Greenburgh Police Detectives are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to contact them at (914) 682-5325. All calls will be kept confidential.

Details: Published: 12 January 2011; Created: 12 January 2011; Last Updated: 12 January 2011; Hits: 4452

diamond Car break-in at Scarsdale Library: In the ten minutes it took a Bronx woman to pick up a child at Scarsdale Library, someone broke the driver’s side window of the Toyota Highlander she was driving and stole her purse which contained $360 in cash as well as credit cards, keys, a passport, checkbook and the woman’s driver’s license. The incident occurred around 8:30 pm on the night of 1/3/11 when the car was parked directly across from the main entrance of the library. The following day Eastchester Police found the woman’s passport on the Post Road near Brook Street.

Scammed: A Ferncliff Road man was a victim of a Craig’s List scam. He posted some furniture he wanted to sell on Craig’s List and was contacted by a buyer in Florida during the first week in January. Though the price for the furniture was $325.50, the buyer sent two checks, each for $875.25 for a total of $1,750.50. The buyer told the Scarsdale man that $325.50 was for the furniture and the remaining $1,425.00 was to be sent by Western Union to another Florida man who would transport the furniture. The Scarsdale victim deposited the checks and wired $1,425.00 to Florida only to find out that the checks he deposited were fraudulent and bounced. The result? The victim lost $1,425.00 in the scam, as he could not recover the funds he sent via Western Union.

A Tunstall Road woman lost her Amex card on December 3, 2010 but did not realize she had misplaced it. When she received the statement there were $2,400 in unauthorized charges on the account.

Death: Michael Pape age 95 of Chesterfield Road died in his home on the night of January 5th, 2011. His home health aide was with him and alerted a relative.

Unwanted Guests: On New Year’s Eve police were called when a number of uninvited guests showed up at a River Road home. When police arrived, they found kids fleeing the area. Inside the house they found alcoholic drinks scattered throughout, and the young woman who lived at the house said that the uninvited visitors arrived with alcohol. In the upstairs bedroom they found a highly intoxicated girl and called her mother. Police found a bottle of Blanch d’Artangnan, and beer in the kitchen, the basement and at the front door. The inebriated girl was taken to White Plains Hospital and the resident was issued a summons.

Lost: A 39 year-old Brewster Road woman called police to report that her two carat diamond and platinum ring, valued at $40,000 was lost. She last saw the ring on December 8 in her dresser drawer. On December 11 she discovered that the ring was missing and her five year-old son told her that his two year-old brother had been playing with the ring in the bathroom and may have thrown it into the garbage. Her insurance company advised her to report the incident to the police.

A Fox Meadow Road woman reported losing her wallet on the morning of 1/3. She last remembered having it in the parking garage of 2 Overhill Road. Police advised her to cancel all of her credit cards.

A Greenacres man reported that his daughter was missing on the afternoon of 1/3. However, while he was speaking with the police, the girl called her dad and said she was at Scarsdale High School.

Found: A wallet containing cash and credit cards was found at La Renaissance in Scarsdale and turned over to police on 1/6. Police were unable to contact the owner of the wallet and held it for safekeeping.

Missing: A theft took place at a residential home on Foxhall Road sometime during the month of December and was reported to police on January 5, 2011. The Resident Manager of the home cashed a company check for $4,759.22 and was supposed to distribute the funds to the 8 residents of the house. The money was to be locked in the safe and given to the residents to spend on holiday gifts. Instead of distributing the money, the employee quit her job, cancelled her cell phones and left with the funds.

Disputes: At another residential home, Search for Change on the Post Road, police were called when two residents got into a fight on the evening of 1/4. One woman locked a guest of the other woman out of the house and the two had a dispute and called each other names. Police told the woman to refrain from fighting.

A Valley Road mother called police on the morning of 1/6 to help her with her 15 year-old son who was not listening. Police told the boy to abide by the family rules and also recommended they seek help from Scarsdale Family Counseling.

A resident at 1191 Post road was advised to keep the music down when the volume was annoying one of his neighbors on the evening of 1/8.

Flying Objects: The head custodian of the Quaker Ridge School called the police on the afternoon of 1/7 when kids were on school property were throwing snowballs at passing cars. The Police asked the kids to leave the area.

On the night of 1/7, a Horseguard Lane woman reported that someone in a silver mustang threw fireworks on her lawn and drove away.

Strange: A Bradford Road man came to police on 1/3 to report the receipt of a suspicious holiday card. The handwritten note on the card mentioned a family trip the Scarsdale man took to Puerto Rico two years ago as well as his son’s car. However, the Scarsdale man does not know the senders and was concerned.

A neighbor noticed that the front door of a Kensington Road was open on the morning of 1/9. Police came by, checked the house and contacted the homeowner who said she was having trouble securing the front door.

Accident: At midnight on 1/6 a Yonkers woman drove into a Con Edison pole on Walworth Avenue near Gilmore Court. The woman claimed that an animal ran in front of the car and when she swerved to avoid hitting it she drove her 2004 Honda into the utility pole.

Greenburgh Police:

A 2004 Honda Civic that had been stolen from 1001 South Central Avenue was recovered from the parking lot of 975 South Central Avenue on the afternoon of January 3rd. The car belongs to George Imrich of Hawthorne.

A woman who lives on Wildwood Road in Hartsdale called police on Tuesday afternoon January 4 when she found 8-9 kids playing with snowballs in front of her house. When they came onto her porch and looked into her front windows she became alarmed.

Details: Published: 22 December 2010; Created: 22 December 2010; Last Updated: 28 December 2010; Hits: 5475

snow2-26 It’s been another remarkable year in Scarsdale; and both the good and the bad have been chronicled on Scarsdale10583. With 2010 winding down, and 2011 in the offing, we thought it was a good time to look back on what happened here in the past year.

We started 2010 with news of a devastating earthquake in Haiti, and former Scarsdale resident Danielle Butin was quick to rally support from Scarsdale residents who contributed money, food, supplies and their time to AFYA, a relief organization she founded.

Our beautiful neighborhoods were not spared from the whims of Mother Nature. In February, a big snowstorm paralyzed the town and in March a powerful rain and windstorm swept through Scarsdale, knocking down hundreds of trees and power lines. A state of emergency was declared when the storm plunged thousands of residents into the dark leaving many without heat, electricity, or phone service for days. Crews from all over the country were brought in to restore power and in the end, Village Manager Al Gatta estimated that the storm cleanup had cost the village a bundle.

Scarsdale breeds good citizens, and this year, two extraordinary people were honored for their local achievements.

Bowl Winner Jackie Irwin

Jackie Irwin was awarded the Scarsdale Bowl in April in recognition of her years of voluntary service and former Fox Meadow School Principal Steve Frantz was honored by Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling at the Gourmet Galaxy in May.

Also in May, the Scarsdale School system celebrated 225 years of excellence and both Scarsdale and Edgemont experienced heated School Board elections, which posed a challenge to the candidates and the non-partisan system.

Summer brought additional woes to our area when hundreds of gallons of heating oil was spilled into the Bronx River in June and Crane's Pond in Edgemont grew a fluorescent green slick that covered the pond for the entire summer. Inadequate

A Green Slick on Crane's Pond

pumping stations caused the Village to impose watering restrictions resulting in a summer of scorched lawns.

Before school even opened in September, rumors about a student brawl during Labor Day weekend polarized Scarsdale, though all was forgotten when the Scarsdale Boys Varsity A Soccer team progressed to the state semi-finals with enthusiastic fans in attendance. The Scarsdale Raiders Football team’s winning season was also a source of great pride.

In other education news, New York State won a Race to the Top grant which some thought was actually a loss for Scarsdale. The League of Women Voters held a panel discussion to explore the establishment of a Scarsdale Schools Foundation and issued a long awaited report on the subject, but failed to come to consensus on forming a foundation in Scarsdale.

The Scarsdale Village Trustees considered enacting an historic preservation law to safeguard our treasures and contemplated how to bring more retailers into downtown Scarsdale. Controversial sessions were held to weigh a proposal for a $24 million underground indoor pool and a potential Village-wide tax revaluation to update assessments that date back to 1969.

In Heathcote, a new retail building was approved at the Five Corners in place of the gas station and dismayed

Proposed Retail Building for Heathcote Corners

residents watched the construction of nine new homes at Heathcote Manor on Weaver Street, behind a forbidding concrete wall. Meanwhile, a new restaurant promised on the site of the former Bistro Citron is still not open, and a roundabout to ease traffic at the Five Corners is currently being examined.

Residents were frightened as scores of coyotes moved into Village neighborhoods, haunting adults and children who had heard of coyote attacks in nearby Rye. By year end, the coyotes seemed to have vanished. Are they hibernating or have they been “relocated”?

Election season brought three Scarsdalians to the ballot, as Amy Paulin, Harry Wilson and Bob Cohen vied for public office and launched lively campaigns for our votes.

In a tragic turn of events, four members of the community committed suicide in the fall, leaving their perplexed friends and neighbors in mourning. Concerned residents gathered at a day of meetings to learn and share. In Edgemont, everyone was abuzz about the arrest of two 2010 grads for burglary and a drug bust in a home on a quiet, upscale street.

The Scarsdale Sidewalk Sale

Downtown Scarsdale was the site of many events including a first-time professional art show on Father’s Day weekend, a successful sidewalk sale in late July, the Scarsdale Concours in October and the Christmas tree lighting in December. Though the Village Board approved a resolution to place a Menorah in Chase Park, no one seems to be able to find it.

But residents were able to locate two abusive nannies and a speeding menace, both due to letters to Scarsdale10583. As the year moved forward, the site received more and more community input and became a portal for discussion.

We look forward to continuing to serve as a nexus for the community and thank you, our readers, for your support. We are also grateful to everyone who advertised on the site this year, and have listed the businesses and organizations below. You can help to keep the site vital by advertising your own service or business on Scarsdale10583 and patronizing our advertisers. When you do, please let them know you saw their ads on Scarsdale 10583.

Happy holidays to all!

Thank you to our 2010 advertisers: