Seasoned Players and New Talent Shine on Scarsdale Tennis Team
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The season was off to a bright start for the Scarsdale Raiders Boys Tennis team who were 4-1 before their match against league rival Mamaroneck on April 18th. Though they are a young team that graduated nine seniors last year, new talent arrived from the freshman and sophomore classes to fill the spots on the team and Coach Jennifer Roane was calling it a "rebuilding year."
However, on Monday, when first singles player Luke Smith went out to warm up, he experienced pain in his shoulder and couldn't continue to play. He had played in a USTA match the previous weekend, and the shoulder did not feel right. Undefeated so far this season it was a big blow to Smith and the team that he was not able to compete in this important match. So, before the contest against Mamaroneck even began, Scarsdale had to forfeit first singles.
Mamaroneck then moved their first singles player 
Hope Crawford down to second singles where he met Scarsdale Junior Raf Schott. Hope and his brother Courage came to Mamaroneck from Ghana last year, and together won the Section 1 doubles titles and then took the state title as well. So Raf had a formidable opponent. Though he waged a tough fight, he lost the first set 0-6 to Courage but did manage to get three games off his opponent in the second set.
Senior Captain Zach Steinberg played a long match in third singles. He was also defeated 6-3, 6-2 and said his opponent was a great net player who surprised him by coming up to the net at least 60% of the time. Steinberg was also previously undefeated.
Things ultimately went better for the first doubles team of Harrison Peltz and Evan Josephs, both in their senior year. They started out badly, losing the first set without taking a single game but did not give up. In the second set they improved their communication, drove to the baseline and managed to keep their opponents away from the net. They took the second set 6-2 and then went into a super tiebreaker, winning 10-4 and taking the match.
Second doubles features a new team of sophomore Suhas Vennan and Junior Alan Chung. After 
losing the first set 6-1, they improved their consistency and mixed up their shots to come back in the second set, where they were initially down 5-1 but lost only 6-4. Suhas has a strong net game and the two work well on the court together.
The third doubles team includes the only freshman on the team, Gus Thompson. He is the youngest player on the team, but the tallest as well and has great wing span at the net. Gus and Junior Jonathan Schwartz pulled out a 6-3, 6-4 victory, by winning their serving games and driving to pass their opponents at the net. Fortunately their power along with their opponents' unforced errors added up to a win for the Raiders.
Though the team had already lost the match but the time the fourth doubles team fought it out, everyone stayed to watch seniors Jack Axelrod and Adam Kazan play out a long, long match. The two looked like they were truly enjoying the game –though it was a real cliffhanger. They won both sets narrowly, 7-5, 7-5, making the score for the match 3 for Scarsdale and 4 for Mamaroneck.
There's a long season ahead, with 14 regular matches followed by the playoffs. With 4-5 matches a week the team will have many opportunities to practice and win.
Panthers Look To Hit Their Stride
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The Edgemont Boys Varsity Tennis Team had a rocky start to the season, which began with a frustrating 5-2 loss to the Harrison Huskies on Wednesday April 6. Because they were on spring break, the team was missing a handful of starters. This meant different players had to fill the void left by vacationing team members. Junior Charlie Miner played first singles, and lost 6-1, 7-5. Miner was followed by regular third singles player Lenny Marlow, who stepped up and played second. Marlow's match was an absolute marathon that lasted over two hours and ended in a thrilling third set super tiebreak; unfortunately for Edgemont, Marlow fell just short losing 10-6 in the final set. Fourth doubles team Shane Englander and Ahmad Allen picked up the only doubles win for Edgemont. They battled back after losing the first set 6-0, and eventually won in a third set super tiebreak.
Team Record: 0-1.
The next match for the Panthers was their first league match against the Hastings Yellow Jackets on April 5. As expected, the Panthers dominated from top to bottom. Janoscar Kjellberg started it off with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 victory at first singles. Seniors Berber Jin and Krishna Saraf won their singles matches at second and third singles respectively. Miner and Jain took care of business at first doubles, as did Conway and Kaul at second. Englander and Shifren struggled early in the first set, falling behind 5-0; but they battled back to win 7 straight games and took the first set 7-5. They went on to pick up an easy second set victory, adding to the point tally for Edgemont. Hoesterey and Allen ended the match in a dominating fashion, winning fourth doubles 6-0, 6-0 in a match that lasted no more than 30 minutes.
Team Record: 1-1.
The Panthers' next opponent was one of the strongest teams in the section; the Mamaroneck Tigers on April 11. The Tigers returned a tandem of brothers, the Crawfords, who last year captured the first ever doubles state title for Mamaroneck. To the Panther's pleasant surprise, the brothers were not at the match for personal reasons. Despite this, Edgemont still knew this would be a tough match (Edgemont lost to Mamaroneck twice last year), and a tough match it was. Edgemont lost the match by a count of 6-1. The lone bright spot for the Panthers was a win by Sarvesh Kaul and Krishna Saraf at second doubles. When asked about the match, Kaul said, "Picking up the first set is always big. It gave us great confidence as we looked to close it out in the second set." Kaul and Saraf were able to finish it off in the second, winning by a final score of 6-3, 7-6.
Team Record: 1-2.
The Panthers will have to refocus for next week's matches that include league rivals Pleasantville and Keio, as well as a difficult non-league match vs. Scarsdale. When asked how the team should handle the loss to Mamaroneck, senior captain Aaditya Jain said, "We have to take it on the chin and use it as motivation to get better so that when we play them again at the end of the season, we can play up to their level".
The Panthers may be disappointed with how the season has started, but they have plenty of matches left to reestablish themselves as one of the top teams in Section 1.
Felicia Wong to Speak on Income Inequality at the LWVS Luncheon May 6
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The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Annual Membership Meeting at the Scarsdale Golf Club on Friday May 6, 2016 at 11:45 am, featuring Felicia Wong, President and CEO of the Roosevelt Institute, who will speak about The Impact of Economic Inequality in the 2016 Election and Society.
Before joining the Roosevelt Foundation, Ms. Wong worked at the Democracy Alliance, where she led the development and assessment of the organization's strategic investment portfolio. Previously, Ms. Wong ran operations and product development at a venture-funded education services company. Her public service includes a White House Fellowship in the Office of the Attorney General and a political appointment in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy.
Ms. Wong holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. Her doctoral dissertation on the role of race and framing in K-12 public education politics received the 2000 American Political Science Association award in Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.
Tickets are $ 40 if paid in advance and available online at lwvs.org, or by check payable to the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale in the amount of $40, mailed to Anne Lyons, 82 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583. Tickets may also be purchased at the door for $45.
In other news from the League:
On Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 10:00 am at the Village Hall 3rd Floor Meeting Room, The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale will hold its annual membership information session concerning the Village Budget. All LWVS members and the public are invited to learn more about the 2016-2017 Village budget with members of the Village Board and Administration. League members are invited to stay for the consensus meeting immediately following the general membership meeting. For more information contact Janice Starr at [email protected].
Two Scarsdale Students Chosen to Attend Students Inside Albany Conference
Zoe Ewing and Chloe Suzman, both juniors at Scarsdale High School, have been selected by the Scarsdale League of Women Voters to participate in the annual Students Inside Albany conference this coming May.
Students Inside Albany is an intensive four-day conference run by the New York State League of Women Voters Education Foundation. The program is designed to immerse students in the process by which public policy is proposed, enacted and changed in New York State and educate them as to how they can influence and affect this process. The conference will take place this year May 22-25, and will bring approximately 60 students from across the State to Albany to get a first-hand education about their state government. The highlight for most students is the opportunity to shadow their state representatives for an afternoon, with many students getting the opportunity to attend a session on the Chamber floor.
Ewing and Suzman were selected from among a pool of outstanding applicants in a competitive process open to students attending Scarsdale High School or residing in Scarsdale. All expenses of the students to attend the conference will be paid by the State League Education Foundation and the Scarsdale League of Women Voters.
For more information on state and local League youth programs, see www.lwvs.org/youth.html.
Zoning Board of Appeals Denies Application for a Flag Lot on Park Road
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After their application to create a flag lot on Park Road was turned down by the Scarsdale Planning Board in April, a Park Road family took their request to the Zoning Board of Appeals on April 6. Speaking for the Peterson family, attorney Lucia Chiocchio of Cuddy and Feder explained that the property already contains two homes, and that the family wished to divide the property for estate planning purposes. They were requesting variances to create a flag lot and for frontage requirements. Flag lots were outlawed by the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees in the late 1980's.
The 2.54 acre lot has a guest cottage built in 1914 and large home built in 1925 as well as a pool and a tennis court. Currently it is legal for related family members to live in both homes on the property.
The attorney said that the creation of the flag lot would not result in any changes to the neighborhood, the existing driveways would remain as is and the structures would remain in place. If the property were to be sold, the attorney said that any new construction would need to be approved by the appropriate village boards. She contended that due to the distinguishing factors about this case, permitting a flag lot here would not set a precedent for future applicants.
Owner Lynn Peterson also spoke, saying, "These are two quite storied houses ... the lot is already non-conforming in so many ways that we can't even count them.... So few of the homes in the neighborhood are compliant. We understand that flag lots are not allowed, but we already live on one. There would be no teardowns and there would never be more than two families on the property. If we can't do it we will be forced to sell. We think this would be good for our family but also good for Scarsdale."
Board of Appeals Chair Jeff Watiker, told the applicants, "Flag lots are illegal. The Board of Appeals has never found a way to grant a variance to allow for a flag lot.
The planning board turned it down. Why should our board override two other boards? If we granted the variances why would you get a better audience from the Planning Board to permit the subdivision?" Mary Lou Green asked, "What's to prevent you from living the way you are?"
Two neighbors spoke, saying that they had submitted a letter arguing that the subdivision would "affect the character of Park Road .... one of the very few places left in Scarsdale where there is open space." They continued, "Estate Planning can be achieved through wills." They said that any zoning designation would run with the land, after the sale of the property and permit the construction of two large homes, accessory structures and pools on both of the lots.
The Chair asked the neighbors if they would prefer a flag lot to a subdivision down the middle of the property, (even though that would require a variance as well.) Both said that they would prefer to see no changes at all. Also discussed was the option of creating a cul de sac to access both properties.
Ultimately, though the board members appeared to be sympathetic to the family's request, the application was turned down due to the law preventing flag lots in Scarsdale.
Jewish Film Festival Begins March 30
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This year the Westchester Jewish Film Festival at the Jacob Burns Film Center features 34 films from Israel and around the world—both documentaries and narratives—along with a rich slate of guests. Included is a special look at the films of the hilarious, uncompromising, and brilliant director Elaine May, who will come to the center on March 31. And don't miss the sensational Presenting Princess Shaw, which kicks things off on Opening Night.
Here are just a few of the films that will be shown:
If you loved Showtime's Homeland—which was the US adaptation of the sensational Israeli TV series Hatufim (Prisoners of War) —get ready to binge-watch all 12 episodes of Israel's latest hit TV political thriller. Fauda, which means "Chaos" in Arabic, was co-created by The Times of Israel's Middle East analyst Avi Issacharoff, whose deep knowledge of the region and internal conflict brings undeniable street cred to the unfolding stories. This critically acclaimed series follows undercover Israeli agents—a team of mista'arvim, Israeli soldiers who dress like Arabs to carry out a military operation—searching for a Hamas terrorist in the West Bank. We'll show the complete season in three separate programs.
What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy
"Imagine what it must be like to grow up as the child of a mass murderer." That's the first sentence spoken in David Evans' searing and provocative What Our Fathers Did: A Nazi Legacy. While researching the Nuremberg trials, eminent human rights lawyer Phillippe Sands came across Niklas Frank and Horst von Wächter, the sons of two high-ranking Nazi officials who were indicted as war criminals for their roles in World War II. Sands was astonished to learn that the younger men held diametrically opposed views about their fathers. As the three take an emotional journey through Europe, this powerful film explores those feelings, the complicated connection between the two sons, and the story of Sands' own grandfather, who escaped from the town where the fathers carried out mass killings. This unique view of the father-son relationship ultimately comes to difficult and unexpected conclusions.
The Midnight Orchestra uses humor and compassion to smash stereotypes about Jewish/Muslim relationships. It's the bittersweet story of Michael (played by Moroccan rising star Avishay Benazra), who went abroad as a child amid racial tensions spurred by the Yom Kippur War. Years later he returns to Casablanca to see his estranged and ailing father, who had been a famous Jewish musician. Michael is eventually tasked with giving his father a proper burial, which entails finding and bringing together the remaining members of his father's once renowned orchestra, and coming to terms with his own surprising family history.
The Jewish Film Festival includes 34 films from Israel and around the world and runs from March 30 – April 20 at the Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville. Shows sell out quickly – buy your tickets here today.
