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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 February 2026

Created: 16 February 2026

Last Updated: 16 February 2026

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Scarsdale resident Tim Foley calls himself a “compulsive volunteer,” and when you read what he has already done you’ll be impressed that he is now stepping up to serve on the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees. See why he believes that collaboration and civic engagement will lead to even greater community spirit and what he hopes to accomplish in the next few years.

How long have you lived in Scarsdale and what do you most value about the community?

My family moved to Scarsdale almost 13 years ago. My son was two years old at the time, and now he’s a 10th grader at Scarsdale High. My daughter is a 5th grader at Fox Meadow, and she’s never lived anywhere else. The time has certainly flown, but our whole family considers ourselves so very blessed and grateful for terrific education both kids have received through the schools. We also love the quintessential Scarsdale traditions like summertime at the pool, the Halloween window painting in the fall, the tree lighting in the winter, and the return of the farmer’s market and bicycle Sundays on the Bronx River Parkway in the spring.

But when I talk to other people about what it’s like to live in Scarsdale, I can’t say enough about the kindness that is front and center, the generosity of spirit, and the dedication of so many residents filled with “Non Sibi” zeal that give so freely of their time to volunteer and to engage deeply in the life of the village. We talk all the time about declining participation in clubs, civic institutions, and volunteerism over the decades. There are a lot of reasons for that. The hours we’re working to provide for our families are never-ending and ever-expanding, parents feel even more peer pressure than in previous generations to be deeply involved in their children’s learning, development, and interests, and there’s the bombardments of distraction coming in steady supply from our phones, to say nothing of virtually instantaneous access to nearly every TV show and movie ever made, wherever you are.

It is really remarkable in the face of all of that Scarsdale can boast such deeply involved volunteers who regularly contribute to the PTA, to Friends of the Library, to little league, to the Scarsdale Historical Society, to the Forum or the League of Women Voters, to SVAC, to their church or temple, and dozens of other opportunities. This is the true strength of our village, and I’m so grateful to have so many extraordinary, thoughtful, and dedicated people in my and my family’s lives.

Tell us about your career in public service and your volunteer positions.

I myself am a compulsive volunteer, always looking for ways that I can plug in and help. I was President of the Scarsdale Forum in 2019-2020, where I was focused on bringing in new members, starting up a new Climate Resilience Committee, and still making sure the Forum put together the programs our community expects while also publishing a number of thoughtful and well-researched reports on local issues. This year, I’m serving as Secretary of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee, First Vice President of the Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee, and Chair of the County Fiscal Affairs Committee for the Scarsdale Forum. I’ve also served on the Planning Board, the Advisory Council of Human Relations, the Procedure Committee, the Citizens Nominating Committee, and even as a basketball coach for Fox Meadow Elementary School -- which is hysterical to anyone who saw what little game I had in middle school and high school.

As most folks know, I had the good fortune to work for a few years for our own Assemblymember Amy Paulin. I had the privilege to not only watch her in action as quite literally the most prolific and successful bill-passer in the Assembly but also someone who is always grounded in the needs of her constituents. While there, I got to work with her on an amazingly diverse array of projects initiatives, including coordinating the work of 33 local governments and school districts in Westchester, Suffolk, and Nassau Counties to challenge the IRS regulations disallowing the use of charitable funds to offer relief for taxpayers straining with the new cap on the State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction at the federal level; supporting local community efforts to respond to the problematic response by Con Edison to the March 2018 nor’easters; and advocating for adequate funding for the Metro-North Railroad in the MTA capital plan. Prior to working for Amy, I had spent the better part of a decade working in labor politics in seven states and the District Columbia, with a deep background on policies related to healthcare, preventing gun violence, and climate sustainability.

For the past six years, I’ve been the CEO of the Building and Realty Institute, a non-profit trade association 80 years young with dues paying members including homebuilders, developers, remodelers, landlords, co-op and condo boards, property managing agents, and a host of other small businesses in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, coming together for networking, advocacy, education, and training. With my time at the BRI, I’ve developed subject matter expertise on housing policy, infrastructure needs in Westchester, economic development, and clean energy.

Why do you want to join the Scarsdale Village Board at this time?

I’ve obviously had a professional and personal interest in public service throughout most of my career, but I think there are a few factors that make now an ideal time for me to step up and make a stronger commitment to serve this village I call home.

First, I have a compulsion to always be asking “What can I do to help?” and there are no shortage of issues that we’re currently dealing with in our village governance that could use a thoughtful, helping hand.

Second, many of those same issues relate to infrastructure, planning, capital projects, and trying to maximize the amount of outside funding from the state, the federal government, and other sources to ensure we’re being fiscally responsible and sustainable with the property taxes we pay. These are the same topics I’ve both observed and worked on in other cities, towns, and villages around Westchester, especially over the last 5 to 7 years, so I would bring some perspective as to how other communities have successfully or not so successfully dealt with the same topics.

Finally, I have a strong admiration for Mayor Arest, Deputy Mayor Gruenberg and the Trustees currently serving on the board, to say nothing of the terrific service my running mates Ron and Scott provided our community during their tenures on the School Board. I am incredibly excited to potentially work with this specific group of unbelievably talented, dedicated, and thoughtful people, and even more excited about what we can deliver for our friends and neighbors throughout Scarsdale by working together.

What skills and experience will you bring to enhance the Board?

I am something of a nerd’s nerd when it comes to attention to detail around budgets and policy. As Chair of the County Fiscal Affairs Forum for many years, I have spent a lot of time going line by line through the county budget and finding ways to distill what was happening under the hood, the economic context, and what some of the policy choices laid out in the document were in a way that helped the committee both make thoughtful recommendations and lay out our analysis in a clear, concise, accessible way in the Forum’s reports. I bring that focus on the details into everything I do, and would hope to do the same on the Board of Trustees.

Second, as mentioned, I have also spent a lot of time working with municipal governments across Westchester -- sometimes as an advocate, sometimes as a resource with subject matter expertise -- and could help bring the perspective of what’s worked where and why on some of the issues that are likely to come up for our village during the next couple of years.

Third, wherever I’ve gone and whatever I’ve done, my inclination has been to invite people into the process and encourage them to take ownership of the questions and solutions in a way that yields better results. Time and again, my instinct has been to form multi-stakeholder coalitions, campaigns, and discussions to bring in the perspectives of lots of different people and create a space for dialogue. I’ve usually found that the trickier or more controversial the problem is, the more important it is to create a process where many voices have been heard and feel ownership in the solution. Sometimes consensus isn’t possible, and a choice must be made even if not everyone is 100% sold on the idea, but I don’t think I’ve ever found it to be anything but rewarding to take the time to really listen and understand where people are coming from.

Finally, I think I bring a lot of integrity and even joy into whatever volunteer endeavor I’ve thrown myself into. I really get energized by learning from and interacting with new neighbors and volunteers, and that makes me even more dedicated to putting in the time to connect with people across the village to communicate about what we’re doing in the village and to strongly encourage them to engage in the process.

The Board has approved a major project to replace and enhance the Scarsdale Pool complex. Please share your thoughts on this.

The Scarsdale Pool is a true gem of a community institution. My family and I are regulars there throughout the summer months, including for the theme days and the fireworks and concert around the 4th of July. But it’s no secret that the decline of the physical conditions was getting both more rapid and more noticeable each year. There was also the related problem that the summer-only operating model was so limited as to become increasingly financially unsustainable in the long-term. There were a lot of different opinions as to what we should do next, and I think the volunteers of the Pool Committee conducted a lengthy, thorough and painstakingly fair process to arrive at a solution. Honestly, the plan they’ve come up with really blew me away, not just from the thoughtfulness of the redesign, but that the expansion of the facility into an indoor/outdoor pool is the option that was most likely to solve both the capital needs of today and the operating needs of tomorrow at the same time. I was particularly taken by Trustee Kofman’s point that, “For an additional 35% investment, the Village gains a 350% increase in use (50 vs. 14 weeks) for a facility that will serve the community for many decades.”

The challenge now will be making sure that the village successfully manages the project to remain on-time, on-budget, environmentally-friendly, and set our facility up for success for the families of Scarsdale for many generations to come.

At the same time, the School District is close to proposing a $98.6 mm bond. What are your views on the proposal, the timing and how it will impact Scarsdale taxpayers?

I have not yet finished my own research and review on the school bond; I learned a lot during the most recent Scarsdale Forum membership meeting on the topic and look forward to further analysis from the PT Council, the League, and the Forum on the latest iteration.

But I think the underlying trend prompting this bond proposal is one I’m very focused on. For both the schools and the village (and the county too, for that matter), we are dealing with an ongoing challenge of buildings and infrastructure that in many cases are decades if not a hundred years old that must now deal with circumstances that they simply weren’t designed for. Village roads, sewer, and other facilities need investment and in some cases modernization to deal with fifty- and hundred-year storms that now seem to come twice a year, just as the school district must grapple with surging heat that now regularly overlaps with the beginning and end of the school year in a way that would have seemed far-fetched twenty-five years ago. Clearly we’re going to need to spend a lot of time, concern, and investment over the next few years to ensure our infrastructure is up to the job, and we can continue to deliver the services and necessities our residents rely on.

I believe we can mitigate some of the effect on our taxpayers through careful planning, but I’m also aware the timing is not always in our control. As any homeowner can tell you, if the pipes are going to leak or burst, they’re generally not going to wait for the best time in your family budget cycle. It’s certainly also true that delayed and deferred repair and investments are likely to bring their own additional costs and eventually reach a crisis point if delayed for too long.

In addition to being careful and considerate with our property taxes and debt burden -- and the village currently has a sterling reputation on both which will provide us some flexibility in the future -- I think the answer will be in focusing on more revenue diversification, including aggressively pursuing state and federal grants, and leveraging economic growth to grow the tax base beyond the property taxes our current residents pay. As a non-profit executive who has to watch every dollar, I've always found the only thing better than having a great idea that leads to a high-performing program to make real progress, is having that same idea while also finding outside funding to pay for it.

In the spring of 2025, the Village proposed the purchase of new police equipment including cameras, LPR’s and drones to improve surveillance and tracking. What are your views on the need for the equipment and the reaction from residents?

As I understand it, that initiative was put on pause when it became clear the village would not be getting a federal grant to fund that technology. I personally think this was for the best, as it was clear that many in the village felt that we needed a much larger community discussion around privacy, data protection and promises made by the technology provider that they might not be able to be keep. We clearly needed more time to discuss the inherent tradeoffs. There is always a delicate balance between community security and individual privacy even in the best of times. These are not the best of times--I think there is a lot of justifiable concern about the intrusion of technology, surveillance, and data-gathering into our personal lives across the board at this moment.

Thankfully, the available data bears out that Scarsdale continues to be incredibly safe, with burglaries, larcenies, and other property crime modestly declining from already low levels in the past year. Moreover, the men and women of the Scarsdale Police Department continue to achieve recognition for their professionalism and the quality of the service they provide, which suggests we have plenty of time to have those conversations in the future, if we find it necessary.

The Mayor recently announced that the Village will move forward with exploration of the development of the Freightway site. Please share your thoughts on this.
The Freightway garage is another example of public property that is showing its age, is operating at reduced capacity because of disrepair, costs the taxpayers quite a lot just to stave off the further degradation of the property, and clearly does not come close to providing the tax benefits that other villages like Pelham and Pleasantville have been able to achieve through their conversion of underutilized and declining parking structures into mixed-use transit-oriented development. Other communities have found that these types of projects, if well-designed, bring in surplus property tax revenue, even accounting for the services provided to those new residents, that can help fund all the other needs of the village including capital investments without that cost being born only by existing residents. There’s really no sustainable status quo for the Freightway as it exists today; it’s just a question of whether we can come up with something better and more responsive to our finances and community needs.

The underlying problem is not new, but the approach signaled by the Board of Trustees is. The most successful of these public-private adaptive reuse projects that have happened in the last 7-10 years in Westchester have all had community planning take place well before a developer or architect ever puts pen to paper on a concept. The Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) process that the Mayor announced is a much better way of approaching the questions that so many have raised with regard to potential impacts to traffic, roads, school population, environmental impact, and property taxes. Importantly, that process will allow Scarsdale to decide for ourselves what the answers ought to be, and then make it clear that any development proposal will have to match what we’ve asked for to even be considered. Having worked with a number of developers, that approach is very likely going to be preferable to them as well -- what they lose in terms of autonomy and control, they’ll gain back in terms of costs and efficiency, particularly in determining whether they think they can provide what we want at the outset, rather than after they’ve already sunk time, money, and frustration into a proposal that never moves forward.

I’m very encouraged by the leadership and vision demonstrated by the Mayor and Trustees on choosing this path forward that centers the community’s needs and hopes for the future. These conversations won’t always be easy, but I’m very optimistic that they will set us on a path that will increasingly feel like progress for current and future residents of Scarsdale.

What challenges do you anticipate the Village might encounter during your term?

There’s no question that each year brings its own challenges to our financial picture. I think you could talk to five different economists and come away with five different answers as to what our regional and national economic picture will look like at the end of 2026. Come what may, the job of the Board of Trustees is to make the best informed decisions it can when it comes to funding the services our residents rely on and deserve in a balanced and fiscally responsible way, while making the investments we need to improve our infrastructure and our capability. As I’ve said, I think it’s only prudent to look at how we’re diversifying our revenue, including through state and federal sources, economic activity, and ensuring anything that does happen on the Freightway site in the future is net-positive to the village finances.

I also think not just protecting but fostering the spirit of civic engagement is a critical challenge for this moment -- and also a huge opportunity through the events of America 250 / Scarsdale 325. Scarsdale has always done a remarkable job through our nonpartisan system of governance in encouraging our residents to come together to tackle our problems throughout the years. But when we’re at our best, we’re also encouraging our young people to begin to see the role that they can play in making their community a better place, and to believe in the “non sibi” values that we profess. I think it’s important for the Trustees to take this moment, when our national politics has become so nasty, divisive, counter-productive, and regressive, to demonstrate there is a better way to pragmatically solve problems and make life better for our friends, family, and neighbors, and to invite the next generation in to be part of that work.

I’ve talked a lot already about our infrastructure challenges. I’d also like to see us focused not just on the challenges of now but on the long-term planning to preserve our sense of community and quality of life well into the future, and that includes continuing to show real leadership in experimenting with programs that will make us even more energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable, and responsible stewards of our village in a park for the enjoyment of all who call it home, in this generation and for many more to come.

Anything you wish to add?

I am really and truly honored to be nominated for the position of Trustee. Having served on the CNC and the Procedure Committee in the past, I know how extensive the efforts are to vet the candidates thoroughly and make sure they’re putting forward candidates with the right temperament, values, experience, and judgement -- and it’s all done by volunteers with a million other demands on their time! I am also honored and humbled to be running on a slate with Ron and Scott -- two men who I have such incredible respect for given their record of leadership and public service.

But the most important thing I want to add is that I love this community and I love the opportunity to help Scarsdale’s residents grow, prosper, and be even more deeply involved in making our home the wonderful place it is. If you see me around town, please flag me down -- I’d love to get to know you better and hear your ideas on how we can keep Scarsdale moving forward.

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Written by: Bill Doescher

Published: 12 February 2026

Created: 12 February 2026

Last Updated: 12 February 2026

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Margaret Kampmeier, Ani Gregorian Resnick and Una Tone perform at the New Choral Society Chamber ConcertDespite all kinds of scarry warnings about the very cold weather in the area from the local radio and television stations, the evening of Chamber Music hosted by the New Choral Society on Saturday evening, February 7, in the sanctuary of the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church at 6 Greenacres, went on as scheduled.

The professional music of many varieties kept everybody warm.

The 11 seasoned musicians for the 11 pieces from the New Choral Society orchestra, some music teachers in their own right, showed-up and so did Dr. John T. King, NCS Artistic Director who founded NCS in 1994, Erica Westcott Kelly, Executive Director, and believe it or not, the sanctuary was nearly full. There’s no question that when NCS is performing, nothing will stop its devotees and strong supporters from coming out in droves. Sold out performances are the norm. This time, however, a few stayed home and some fur coats, hats, scarves, gloves and carpooling were the order of the evening.

Performances by the musicians in the approximately 90-minute performance included music by Brahms, Eric Ewazen, Louise Farrenc, Haydn, Johann Hummel, Massenet, Florence Price, Rossini, Vivaldi, and Alexander Zemlinsky. The talented musicians featured included Una Tone, Ani Gregorian Resnick, Kal Sugatski, Eliot Bailen, Peter Weitzner, Donna Elaine, Kathy Halvorson, Ben Fingland, Michael Green, Patrick Milando and Margaret Kampmeier. All were indeed great with some resonating a little more recognition from the audience, cold hands and feet or not.

Photo Credit Steven Schnur

Donna Elaine, Michael Green, and Ben Fingland perform at the New Choral Society Chamber Concert.

The audience seemed to pay special attention to Kampmeier, piano; Fingland, clarinet; Green, bassoon, and Tone, violin. When not playing in a number of combined pieces, Weitzner, double bass, handled the page-turning of the music for the pianist. The men wore black tie and the women selected their own look for the evening’s performances.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 03 February 2026

Created: 03 February 2026

Last Updated: 03 February 2026

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Former Scarsdale resident Al Berman at the top of Taipei101 in TaiwanMany of us watched Alex Honnold’s daredevil climb to the top of Taipei 101 on Netflix last week – but we bet you didn’t know that the Executive Producer of the show has roots in Scarsdale.

Al Berman, his wife Sherry and their three boys lived in Greenacres for 20 years, before moving west after their youngest son graduated. Since that time Sherry has been working as an attorney at Sony while Al continued to produce some of the most highly rated and groundbreaking show in television history.

Berman began his career in network news as the Executive Producer of shows including CBS This Morning, The Early Show and America Tonight, and traveled the world with Dan Rather for the CBS Evening News. He ran special events coverage from Ground Zero on 9/11 and was Executive Producer of The Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.

But he is probably best known for his work on live shows such as Survivor, The Apprentice and the Biggest Loser. Most recently, he made history by filming Free Solo star Alex Honnold, climbing Taipei 101, the 1,667 foot, 101 story skyscraper, in Taiwan, before a live audience on Sunday January 25, 2026.

Berman agreed to answer a few questions about this project, which terrified and amazed over six million viewers:

How did you get involved with the Taipei 101project?

It’s been a long journey beginning in 2008 with the French climber Alain Robert. I was hired to produce a live special for the FOX network. We traveled to Taipei 101 and got approval from the building. But, soon after, Robert climbed the New York Times building and was arrested. FOX canceled the program.

In 2013 National Geographic hired me to produce the special with a young Alex Honnold. That was before he became famous from the film Free Solo. Once again we traveled to Taipei and got all the permissions. But management changed and National Geographic decided to not take the risk.

In 2020 I was hired again to produce the special with Alex for the History Channel. But Covid put an end to that.
Then finally last year, Netflix gave it the green light.

Tell us about the logistics - how many people were involved? How many people did you bring over and how long were you in Taiwan? How were you able to position the cameramen?

We had around 170 people on the crew. About 125 from the US or UK and about 45 locals. I made 3 trips to Taiwan for a total of about 4 weeks.

Alex Honnold selected the cinematographers positioned on the building either hanging from ropes or on tripods in key areas. It was vital that he feel safe with the team around him. These were the best climber/shooters in the world. Interestingly, none had experience shooting live, but they were quick studies. And the images they got were stunning.

Were you nervous?

Everybody asks that. I was not at all nervous. I’ve done live programs my entire career.

Why do you think Alex is able to do this?

He has a singular passion for free soloing specifically and climbing in general. He trains exhaustively - both his body and his mind. He won’t climb until he is certain he is ready. In fact, if he had any doubts prior to the climb we would have canceled it.

Was this the most logistically challenging project in your career? What were some of your other biggest feats?

There’s never been a live program that has combined so many exquisitely talented people with divergent expertise. Climbers, shooters, riggers, transmission specialists, safety teams, sports reporters, set designers and more.

So this is certainly one highlight of many. A few years ago I produced Earth Live for National Geographic - 59 live cameras focused on wildlife on every continent except Antarctica. That was a biggie.

What will you work on next?

Stay tuned.

How long did you live in Scarsdale - when did you move to Los Angeles - and what do you miss?
We lived in Scarsdale 20 years. Raised our children there. When the youngest went off to college we moved to LA where most of our business was based. My wife Sherry is an entertainment attorney.

With the exception of the fires last year, life has been good for us in LA. What do we miss the most -our friends.

Thanks Al – we miss you too!

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 25 January 2026

Created: 25 January 2026

Last Updated: 25 January 2026

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Below find statements from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and State Senator Shelley Mayer on the ICE Killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin

"I am outraged and heartbroken by the killing of Alex Pretti in Minnesota, a tragedy that follows the horrific and unjust death of Renee Good. These incidents of ICE violence are devastating, and cannot be without consequence. No enforcement mandate can justify the taking of human life or the abuse of power by government agents.

Enough is enough. We cannot look away while ICE engages in conduct that results in death. This is a betrayal of the Constitution, the rule of law and of our shared humanity. We cannot accept flawed attempts at legal justification for illegal actions. There must be a full, fair, and independent investigation into these killings and into the broader pattern of unlawful ICE actions. We all have a responsibility to speak out, to protest peacefully, and to demand accountability. This cannot continue, and we must resist any system that treats human lives as expendable."

State Senator Shelley Mayer

“For the second time in a matter of weeks, an American was killed in our streets at the hands of federal ICE agents. I am deeply disturbed by the videos I saw, and I know others are as well. For the love and for the future of the United States, this armed invasion of an American state and city cannot continue. I call on the New York Republican members of Congress to urge Trump to withdraw ICE; and I demand an immediate, full, and transparent investigation by Minnesota law enforcement, including the full release of all video and evidence related to the incident. This cannot stand. ICE must leave Minnesota.”

Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest

"The killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis is a heartbreaking tragedy. Alex was a 37-year-old ICU nurse who dedicated his life to caring for veterans. My deepest condolences go out to his family, his colleagues at the VA Medical Center, and all who knew him.

This unnecessary loss of life demands a thorough, independent investigation that includes state and local law enforcement so the facts can be fully understood. Publicly available video and witness accounts raise serious questions about what happened, and the American people deserve access to all evidence and the full truth. If wrongdoing occurred, there must be accountability.

Federal law enforcement exists to protect Americans, not endanger them. Constitutional rights don't disappear during enforcement operations. When force is used, it must be justified and necessary. And Congress has a duty to provide rigorous oversight of federal enforcement practices to ensure transparency, consistency with constitutional protections, and public confidence in the rule of law."

Majority Democratic Caucus of the Westchester County Board of Legislators

"We are deeply disturbed by the latest killing of an American citizen in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents, a tragic incident that follows others in recent weeks. This pattern of violence by federal authorities in our communities cannot continue. The use of lethal force in these operations is unacceptable and a serious breach of public trust. Americans deserve to be protected, not targeted, by their own government.

We call for a thorough, immediate, and transparent independent investigation, with the full release of all video and evidence related to this incident. Federal actions that put residents at risk must be stopped.

Our thoughts are with grieving families and affected communities. We stand for accountability, justice, and the restoration of confidence in the institutions entrusted to safeguard the people of this country."

Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner

"A suggestion for every municipality: Fly our American flag at half-staff as an expression of mourning and protest of the tragic wrongful ICE killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. If we don’t speak out, we will lose our democracy. We are being warned. Democracy only works if people stay engaged, not numb. The American people can course correct. If enough flags around the nation are placed at half -staff our national leaders will notice."