What's New at the Westchester
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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I must have been on a shopping hiatus for the summer because I recently realized that I had not visited The Westchester in months. In need of a gift, I resigned myself to the $4 parking fee and ventured over. I was very surprised to find some very big new stores in place of some of the empty sites.
Restoration Hardware vacated their large space at the bottom of the escalator last year – and in its place is now a spacious culinary retailer, Sur La Table. All I can say is, look out Williams Sonoma. The store has everything you need for the kitchen – plus hundreds of gadgets and cooking utensils that you didn’t know you needed. In addition to all cookware and hardware, the store sells food – salsas, spices, oils and more.
What I found most impressive was their massive test kitchen that they are using to host a full schedule 
of cooking classes. The schedule this week includes a tapas party on Friday night, Halloween baking and Italian gnocchi on Saturday and the quintessential croissant on Sunday. There is a fee for the classes and the kitchen can also be used for private parties. Check out the class schedule here:
Moving from cookware to software, I found that Apple now has some competition at the mall. The Microsoft store in the Westchester is one of just 32 retail stores opening around the country. The store features a 
selection of Windows PCs, phones, and tablets as well as the Xbox and third-party apps and hardware. The opening is timely as Microsoft just released the Windows 8 operating systems (which many are reporting is difficult to navigate) as well as a new Surface RT tablet to rival the iPad. Whether or not either of these new releases will pose a real challenge to Apple is yet to be seen – but visit this lively new store and let us know what you think.
Last – you don’t usually go to the mall to buy a car, but now the Westchester has added its first auto dealer to the mix. Electric carmaker Tesla is now displaying their models in a location on the ground floor near the entrance to Nordstrom. The sleekly designed cars run on rechargeable batteries and range in price from $57,000 to $98,0000. The battery on the lower priced model will last for 160 miles while the larger battery can go 300 miles. Made in one plant in Fremont, CA there is a serious waiting list for the cars. The dealer reports that these eco-friendly cars are now in big demand, with 13,000 people on the waiting list. But don’t let that stop you from driving one. The dealer in the Westchester stocks demos in the mall’s parking lot and you can stop by and try one.
ERs, Urgent Care/Walk-in Clinics and 24-Hour Pharmacies: Where to Go When It Can’t Wait Until Morning
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I try to avoid doctors and hospitals at all costs, many times choosing a Band-Aid, Neosporin and a prayer versus visiting a medical facility. However, there are times when you have a medical problem that a Band-Aid just can’t right. In such cases, if your doctor’s office is closed, short of ringing your neighbor’s bell who happens to be an M.D., you basically have three options and 9-1-1. First, CVS has pioneered MinuteClinics. Staffed by nurse practioners (N.P.), the clinics can handle minor medical problems that just can’t wait. One step up from that are the urgent care facilities. Usually staffed by M.D.s or P.A.s, they offer care for conditions not necessating an ER, but more than MinuteClinic can tackle. Finally, there are ERs for severe life-threatening conditions. Depending on your location and situation, you can either drive to an ER or dial 9-1-1. I’ve included also information on where to take children after hours, as well as a listing of 24-hour pharmacies in the area. Don’t forget to check your health insurance coverage to learn about co-pays and deductibles now so you won’t have to stop and think about this when you are heading out the door.
Emergency Rooms (ER)
White Plains Hospital
41 East Post Road
White Plains, NY 10601
914-681-0600
http://www.wphospital.org/
White Plains Hospital unveiled its “Emergency Room of the Future” in January 2010, called the Flanzer Center for Emergencies and Critical Care. The center provides state-of-the-art emergency and critical care for more than 48,000 patients per year, making it the most active hospital emergency room in Westchester County. The ER department has a 30-Minute ER Promise (patients can be seen by a healthcare professional within 30 minutes of arrival).
Lawrence Hospital Center
55 Palmer Avenue,
Bronxville, NY 10708
(914) 787-1000
www.lawrencehealth.org
Just off the Bronx River Parkway, Lawrence has board-certified emergency medicine physicians who work solely in the emergency department and all of its ER physicians are trained in pediatric emergency care. The hospital offers a pediatrician onsite in the emergency department during the busiest times of the day and on weekends. In 2006, the hospital qualified as a NY State Department of Health designated stroke center. Last, the hospital’s emergency department was recently expanded and renovated. It now features three triage rooms, a prompt care facility, an admissions unit, and a new waiting and reception area.
Urgent Care and Walk-in Clinics
Doctors Express
Address: 359 North Central Avenue Hartsdale, NY 10530
Phone: 914-448-2273
Hours: Monday - Friday: 8 am- 8 pm
Saturday, Sunday: 8 am- 5 pm
http://www.doctorsexpress.com/
Doctors Express is part of a national network. The center provides our area with a state-of-the-art urgent care center that bridges the gap between primary care physicians and the emergency room, handling non life-threatening medical conditions. All patients are seen by an experienced doctor with an average wait time of approximately 15-25 minutes.
PM Pediatrics and Mount Sinai Pediatric Subspecialty Practice
620 East Boston Post Road
Mamaroneck, NY
Phone (914) 777-KIDS (5437)
Hours: Monday-Friday 5 pm-midnight weekends and holidays noon to midnight
Mount Sinai Pediatric Subspecialty Practice
Open Wednesdays, 8 am-1 pm
(914) 885-2525
PM Pediatrics offers a full spectrum of care, and the doctors and nurse practioners have the ability to diagnose and treat all but the most critical medical issues. Wait times average about 20 minutes. PM Pediatrics shares space with Mount Sinai Pediatric Subspecialty Practice on Wednesdays. The practice includes pediatric cardiology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric orthopaedics, and pediatric endocrinology
MinuteClinic
CVS Pharmacy #2432
375 White Plains Rd
Eastchester, NY, 10709-2826
Hours: Monday – Friday 9 am to 8 pm; Saturday 9 am to 5:30 pm; Sunday 10 am to 5:30 pm
Practitioners take a daily required lunch break from approximately 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm Monday – Friday and 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm Saturdays–Sundays.
MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics are staffed by nurse practitioners and physician assistants who provide treatment for common family illnesses and injuries, administer vaccinations, conduct physicals and wellness screenings, and offer monitoring for chronic conditions. Practitioners can diagnose, treat and write prescriptions for strep throat, bladder infections, pink eye and ear, nose and throat infections. Services also provided include sports and camp physicals, smoking cessation and TB testing.
White Plains Urgent Care
10 Chester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 448-1000
Hours: M-F 9 am-7 pm
Saturday/Sunday 9 am-3 pm
http://www.whiteplainsurgentcare.com/
White Plains Urgent Care is located just blocks away from White Plains Hospital and provides immediate medical care for illnesses that are not life threatening. The center provides many services including prescription and medication refills for travelers and patients unable to reach their primary care physicians. The clinic is staffed by board certified physicians in internal medicine and accepts appointments.
24-Hour Pharmacies
CVS Pharmacy452 Mamaroneck AveWhite Plains, NY 10605(914) 686-0226http://www.cvs.co`m
CVS Pharmacy
1310 Boston Post Road
Larchmont, NY 10538
(914) 833-3001
http://www.cvs.com
Walgreens
1230 Nepperhan Avenue
Yonkers, NY 10703
914-969-7944
http://www.walgreens.com
Scarsdale League of Women Voters Looks Forward to Another Active Year
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A group of Scarsdale’s most influential women met at a Bradford Road home on Monday, October first for the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale’s annual open house. The League functions as a community watchdog, evaluating and educating Scarsdale residents about major public policy issues impacting the community, both locally and on a national scale.
The League fosters open discussion on community issues, informs voters and hosts candidates’ debates. They study the Village and School budgets and monitor elections. In addition, they analyze and reach consensus on issues such as the Scarsdale’s Non-Partisan System, an educational foundation for the schools and the feasibility of a traffic roundabout at the Five Corners.
The meeting was lead by League President Mary Lou Cooper Green who invited the community to get involved and also highlighted some upcoming events:
On October 19th, the League will host their Food for Thought Luncheon featuring Susan Lerner of Common Cause. The event will be held at 11:45 at Scarsdale Golf Club.
On Thursday October 25, the League will host a candidate’s forum at Scarsdale Library at 7:30 pm. State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins will attend as well as Congressman Eliot Engel and two contenders for the congressional seat, Joseph McLaughlin and Jospeh Diaferia.
(Pictured at top: Kelly Berkel, Kit Rosenthal, Tracy Jaffe)
It's Not Too Late... Make Sure You're Registered to Vote on November 6th!
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The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale urges all eligible voters to vote in the upcoming general election. Following are three frequently asked questions about voting in the state of New York: 1. How can I tell if I am registered to vote?
Go to the New York State voter registration search and follow directions to verify your status. If you have any questions, you can go to the NY Board of Elections website.
You can also visit the Westchester County Board of Elections (BOE) on their website at http://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/ ; go to their office at 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601; or call them at (914) 995-5700.
2. How do I register to vote? When is the deadline?
If you need to register, click on this link to the voter registration form and instructions.
The last day to postmark a voter registration form is Friday, October 12! It must be received by the Westchester BOE by Wednesday, October 17. You can also register in person at the Westchester BOE (see address above). This must be done by Friday, October 12.
3. How do I get an absentee ballot? What’s the deadline for mailing an absentee ballot?
You can print a form for an absentee ballot application at the website listed above for the NYS Board of Elections. You can also pick up an application at the Westchester BOE or Scarsdale Village Hall. Please carefully read the deadlines for requesting and casting an absentee ballot as found on the application form. This application for an absentee ballot must be completed and mailed to the BOE and postmarked no later than Tuesday, October 30. If you have any questions regarding your absentee ballot, please contact the Westchester BOE - Absentee Ballots at 914-995-5285 or at their general number above.
Completed absentee ballots must be postmarked no later than Monday, November 5th and must be received no later than Tuesday, November 13, or personally delivered to the Westchester BOE by a person other than the voter no later than the close of polls on Election Day.
For more information about the League, about various local issues that the League has reviewed and additional deadlines and dates for the upcoming national, state, and local elections, visit the League's website at www.lwvs.org.
Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance Returns to the Village on Sunday, October 14
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The Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance, will return to Scarsdale Village on Sunday October 14. Now in its ninth year, the Concours will showcase a display of vintage automobiles and new models from leading area dealers. The Scarsdale Concours d’Elegance is Westchester’s premiere auto show and the second longest running Concours in the Eastern United States.
Evan Cygler, who founded the show nine years ago at the age of 15, will be passing the leadership for the event to Ben Hasson and Sam Fried, two upcoming members of the board, both aged 14. Hasson and Friedwill be receiving a special honor from Cygler in a dedication accompanying the awards ceremony as Cygler steps down from his position as Founder and CEO of the Concours. “This is a very special moment in the history of the show and we are proud to be “passing the torch” so to speak to the next generation to continue the tradition, said Ralph Della Cava, Trustee of the Scarsdale Concours. “Hasson and Fried, both freshmen at Scarsdale High School will sit on the board alongside their fathers, also new members of the board.
“It is with mixed emotions that I will be stepping down from my position with the Concours. It has been my passion and pride over the past nine years, but I am confident that Ben and Sam will continue the tradition,” said Cygler.
This year’s presenting sponsor will be The Pepe Auto Group. Additional sponsors for the 2012 show include Miller Motorcars, Ray Catena’s BMW of Westchester and Lexus of Larchmont, Chubb Collector Car Insurance, Advocate Brokerage, Real Living 5 Corners Real Estate, BlackRock, Equinox Fitness and Performance Flight.
Public viewing begins at 10:30 a.m. and will feature American and European automobiles. Viewing ends at 4:00 p.m. with final judging by an esteemed panel of judges from the automotive industry and an Awards Ceremony, followed by a champagne toast to the winners and a farewell toast to Cygler.
Each year, the event draws over 120 vintage and exotic car participants, hundreds of spectators and dozens of sponsors. The event has raised significant funds for charities across Westchester County. This year’s event will benefit White Plains Hospital, The Wounded Warriors through the Scarsdale Police Benevolent Society and Scarsdale & Edgemont Family Counseling Service.
Cygler and Denis O’Leary developed the concept in 2003 while students at Scarsdale High School in an effort to create a place to showcase unique and exotic cars- --both new and vintage—and to raise funds for area charities.
For more information visit www.scarsdaleconcours.org
