SBNC Joint Committee Proposes Changes to the Non-Partisan Resolution
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The Joint Committee of the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee is proposing amendments to its non-partisan resolution to improve the election process. Each year, the Joint Committee convenes to consider whether to make changes to its Resolution after the SBNC election. This year’s amendments are substantial.
All Scarsdale residents are invited to a public meeting to discuss these changes on Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm in the Boynton Room of The Scarsdale Congregational Church (1 Heathcote Rd). SBNC candidates are also encouraged to attend this meeting to learn more about how the SBNC works.
After receiving public comment on the changes to the Resolution, the Joint Committee will finalize the language for its proposed amendments by December 15, 2011. The election to vote on the amendments, and to vote in this year’s SBNC members, will be on Tuesday, January 17, 2012 in the Scarsdale Middle School auditorium lobby from 7:00am-10:00am and from 2:00pm to 9:00pm.
Copies of the proposed amendments are available on the SBNC website at: http://scarsdalesbnc.com/press/ . Hard copies are also available at the Reference Desk of the Scarsdale Library and in the brochure racks in the lobby of Village Hall. Here is a summary:
- Candidate petitions shall now contain a statement certified by the prospective candidate that neither they nor anyone working on behalf of their campaign will assist in the completion or handle a mail-in ballot other than their own.
- Morning voting hours shall be extended for an additional 30 minutes, concluding at 10:00 AM rather than 9:30 AM.
- Procedures for utilizing mail-in ballots are being clarified to prevent potential confusion in tabulating election results and abuse of the mail-in ballot process, as follows:
- A voter using a mail-in ballot will be required to sign their name on the seal of the envelope and print their name and address on the outside of envelope.
- The mail-in ballot will contain a statement saying that by signing the seal of the mail-in ballot envelope (see above), the voter is certifying that they are eligible to vote and have not and will not vote in the election except by this mail-in ballot.
- Mail-in ballots submitted other than in accordance with the new procedures will be invalid and shall not be counted.
- No person other than a member of a voter’s own household may be permitted to have contact with a voter’s mail-in ballot prior to mailing.
- The Administrative Committee shall compare the names of voters submitting mail-in ballots to those voting in person to ensure that such persons do not vote more than once.
- Envelopes containing properly completed mail-in ballots shall be discarded prior to tabulation of election results to improve voter privacy.
- Procedures for filling vacancies occurring on the SBNC before the petition deadline for the next SNBC election are being clarified. Vacancies shall be filled for the balance of any unexpired term by the person(s) who receives the next highest number of votes in an SBNC election after those who were elected to fill the first two positions. If there is no such person(s), the position(s) shall remain vacant until the next election.
- The Chair of the Administrative Committee shall be elected by a majority of the then-serving members of the Joint Committee if neither the Chair of the Administrative Committee or the outgoing Vice Chair of the Administrative Committee are available.
- One of the criteria for a qualified voter is being clarified to insert the words “United States” in front of the word “citizen”.
Pictured Above: Jyoti Ruta -Chair of the SBNC, Michael Pollack and Nan Berke, Co-chairs of the Administrative Committee of the SBNC.
Partisan Politics and U.S. Foreign Policy at the Scarsdale Forum
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The Scarsdale Forum cordially invites the public to its second Sunday Speaker Series program of the 2011-12 season on December 11th at the Scarsdale Woman’s Club, 37 Drake Road at 3 P.M. Kenneth I. Juster will discuss “The Impact of Partisan Politics on U.S. Foreign Policy: What has changed and Why.” Juster has over 30 years of experience in law, business, finance, and government. Currently a partner and managing director at the global private equity firm Warburg Pincus, Juster spent many years in public service. As the United States Under Secretary of Commerce from 2001-2005, he was in charge of the Bureau of Industry and Security which oversaw issues at the intersection of business and national security. From 1992-1993, Juster was Acting Counselor of the United States Department of State. He served as Deputy and Senior Adviser to Deputy Secretary of State Lawrence S. Eagleburger from 1989-1992. Juster was one of the key American government officials involved in establishing and managing U.S. assistance programs to Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. He was also involved in policy matters relating to China, Japan, Latin America, Israel, and the Persian Gulf. A graduate of Scarsdale High School, Juster was a recipient of its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2007.
Refreshments will be served where the audience will have an opportunity to meet Juster following his talk. All are welcome.
The Sunday Speaker Series programs are open to the public, free of charge and are underwritten in part by a generous grant from the Irving J. Sloan Education Fund, made possible by the Liz Claiborne-Arthur Ortenberg Foundation.
For more information, visit (www.ScarsdaleForum.com), call (914-723-2829) or e-mail (office@scarsdaleforum.com).
Volunteers Needed for the First AFYA Sortathon
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On Saturday November 12, Afya Foundation is hosting a 16-hour Sortathon, during which hundreds of supply boxes housing vitally needed medical and humanitarian supplies, will be sorted, packed, and readied for immediate shipment to Africa and Haiti. Hundreds of students along with local community groups are expected to attend. Individuals and teams (families, friends, co-workers and community groups) are invited to sign up for a 2-hour shift at a special website www.sortathon.afyafoundation.org . Throughout the day volunteers will be entertained with great live music and informative presentations.
The event will be held at Afya Foundation, 140 Saw Mill River Road, Yonkers, NY 10701
Here is a schedule of speakers and entertainers who will be on hand from 8 am to midnight to keep it lively while the packers pack:
Schedule of Presentations and Performances:
- 8:00 am – 10:00 am – Mane Kadang (Musical Entertainment)
- 10:15 am – 10:45 am – Taranah Shirazian, MD (Speaker)
- 11:00 am – 11:15 am – Jacques Sebisaho (Speaker)
- 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Boku (Musical Entertainment)
- 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm – Lorraine Cashin (Speaker)
- 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm – DJ Sammy (Musical Entertainment)
- 3:20 – 3:30 – Jordana, Nathan and Jay (Speakers)
- 3:45 pm – 4:00 pm – Gideon Herscher (Speaker)
- 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Dedication to John Cleaver Kelly (Tribute)
- 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm – Same Old Explosion (Musical Entertainment)
- 10:00 pm – 12:00 am – Active Bird Community (Musical Entertainment)
The Afya Foundation, well known for acting efficiently and expediently in the face of natural disaster by sending medical and humanitarian supplies to nations-in-need, is inviting everyone to help with this first 16-hour Sortathon.
For more information, contact Danielle Butin at 914.920.5081 or by email at: danielle.butin@afyafoundation.org
Survey Responses Are In: Restaurants Wanted Downtown
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The people have spoken! We received a healthy response to our survey about what you would like to see downtown – what kinds of stores, restaurants and businesses to fill the empty storefronts in the village.
From the 94 respondents and additional comments here is what we learned:
91% would like to see more restaurants downtown; of those who want more dining option, 80% prefer moderately-priced eateries
Response was mixed about the kinds of restaurants you would like to see: Italian and Mexican came out on top, followed by Indian, Spanish and Japanese in that order.
Others wrote in, “gourmet, healthy gourmet, family friendly, deli, and Greek and Middle Eastern. Responses to a question about a gourmet grocer were split with 45% saying no, and 49% responding yes.
On the question of clothing stores, 72% said no they did not want another clothing store, however to the question about a shoe store, 47% answered yes and 46% answered no. Residents did not favor another gift store, with 53% answering no to the question, “Would you like to have a gift store downtown.” However, a new bookstore would be welcomed as 54% answered yes to the question about adding a bookstore to the mix.
Last, 53% indicated that they would like a shoe repair shop, 41% said yes to a shipping center, 22% a copy shop and other suggestions included a kitchenware shop, sporting goods store, a bar, home furnishings, prepared food, and chain restaurants.
Here is a sampling of comments we received:
-When moving to Scarsdale we noticed how the downtown area by Hartsdale train station has a lot more inviting dining options than the downtown Scarsdale area. I agree that eateries seem to be a big draw - like Garth Road - however, why are there so many Asian restaurants in one tiny spot? Our family is already a fan of the frozen yogurt spot on Garth Road because it's organic, but why aren't there more healthy eating options?
-We certainly do not need another jewelry store! I agree with all about the need for more restaurants and cafe's. Rhodadendron was a great store, I found lots of gifts there, another store like that and a great shoe store would be good. Also, how about another designer consignment store like Roundabout, those types of stores are now doing really well.
-Family- friendly place to take kids -- but isn't a kids place and isn't pizza --like Harry's Burrito's in Larchmont.
-More restaurants. A Pain Quotidien and a good take-out place for when you get off the train and need to get dinner on the table fast.
-I would also like to see a nice casual cafe where you can go and get a salad or soup!
-I'd love to see Le Pain Quotidien or something like it. We need a casual place for lunch where it's not terribly crowded or rushed.
-Restaurants, a coffee or sandwich place with a cafe feel where you can sit and feel part of a village, a dessert place... Just give us a reason to go there and stroll! I love Chat, but we could use 10 more like it.
Additional suggestions were numerous and below are a few from Scarsdale10583 readers:
- Upscale craft gallery
- Pizza parlor
- Bagel store
- Burger joint
- A place to watch sports
- Movie theatre
- Smoothie store
- A bookstore with a coffee shop
- Apple store
Junior League Recycling Event
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The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) will hold an educational event on Sunday, November 6 from 2 - 5 PM to publicize changes in the recycling regulations at three locations: ShopRite at the Midway Shopping Center on Central Avenue, the Stop & Shop in White Plains on Westchester Avenue across from The Container Store, and at the ShopRite in White Plains City Center. The theme for this event is “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle for a Greener Generation”.
A poster contest was held earlier this month among the JLCW service area schools, grades K through 8. The contest 
allowed the children to get involved in community service while building awareness on caring for our environment. The winning posters will be on display at the event locations. Laptop Lunches has donated prizes for contest winners and are providing some reusable products for sale at the event.
Here are some tips about Westchester’s new recycling law:
- Don't mix your recyclables in with your garbage or they will not be picked up and you'll receive a red Oops! sticker.
- Keep glass, plastics, metal and paper (including newspaper, magazines, catalogs and junk mail) out of your garbage.
- Look for the triangular chasing arrows symbol on your plastics, and recycle all that are coded with any number from 1 through 7 in the center. Make sure to rinse off the containers before putting them in the recycling bin.
- You can now recycle plastic carry out bags along with other acceptable plastic materials at most stores. Check your local stores for details.
- Practice good habits in public as well, and put your recyclables in recycling containers rather than trash cans.
Additional specifics on recycling and latest news can be obtained from the Westchester County Government website at www.westchestergov.com/recycling or at the Westchester County Recycling HelpLine number (914-813-5420).
Make recycling a priority and make a difference in our environment. This event is being planned by the “Let's Save the Earth” committee, and will be staffed by volunteers from JLCW. For further information, call 914.723.6130 or email JLCW@verizon.net.
