Scarsdale Police Officer Charged with Assault
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The Westchester County District’s Attorneys Office has confirmed that Scarsdale Police Officer Dante Barrera, a resident of Elmsford, was charged with assault in the second degree, a class D felony, in Elmsford Village Court on December 2, 2022.
Barerra is charged with committing assault in Elmsford on the night October 14, 2022.
According to the complaint, “The defendant at the above date, time and place did strike the victim in the leg with a metal hammer causing extreme pain, swelling and bruising. The victim stated after being struck with the hammer by the defendant, she did lose consciousness due to the extreme pain. Victim later came to consciousness and discovered bruising on the left side of her face which was not there prior to her being struck with a hammer.”
A person is guilty of assault in the second degree when:
With the intent to cause physical injury to another person, he causes such injury to such person or to a third person by means of a deadly weapon or a dangerous instrument.
The defendant was arraigned in Elmsford Village Court before Judge Alphonse Naclerio on December 2, 2022. The attorney for the Westchester County Special Prosecutions Division asked for bail – “$20K cash, $40K bond, $50K partially secured bond at 10% - but the defendant was instead released on his own recognizance.” The court issued orders of protection for the victim and her family. The relationship between Barerra and the victim is unknown.
Barerra is suspended from the Scarsdale Police Department, however no specifics were provided about when his suspension began. According to a press release from the Scarsdale Police dated December 16, 2022, “On December 2, 2022, an off-duty Scarsdale Police Officer was arrested and charged with Assault 2nd Degree by the Village of Elmsford Police Department. The officer remains suspended pending the outcome of the criminal case. Inquiries relative to the arrest are to be directed to the Elmsford Police Department.”
We asked Scarsdale Village Manager Rob Cole for the Village’s policy on advising the public in a case involving a Village employee and he said, “Because of the privileged and confidential natures of active personnel matters and ongoing criminal investigations, public communication strategies are informed by the advice of counsel and the status of the matter being processed.”
We also asked Cole if the Village Police Commissioner, Trustee Jonathan Lewis, was advised about the suspension, and this is Cole’s response: “As Trustee Lewis explained, the chief reports directly to the village manager from a management and operational perspective, while the role of the chair of the public safety pillar, and police commissioner, is focused on strategic planning issues. As such, a report would not have been provided to him individually in his role as Police Commissioner. More generally, however, and in consultation with our labor counsel, the entire Village Board is provided privileged and confidential information about personnel matters when circumstances warrant."
Barrera is represented by attorney John D. Pappalardo who said, "Officer Barrera denies the allegations against him and we are confident that the criminal charges will be dismissed."
Barrera was inducted into the Scarsdale Police force in October 2020, and previously worked for Mt. Vernon Police for two years.
Remembering Ruth Stein
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STEIN--Ruth (Petschek), 97. Born April 30, 1925, Berlin, Germany - died November 15, 2022, London, England, where she moved after 65 years in Scarsdale, NY. Predeceased by her husband of 46 years, Walter Stein. Educated in the sciences (physics: A.B. ‘44; A.M. ‘46 Radcliffe College), she took a keen interest in the Decorative Arts & Crafts, most notably silversmithing and book-binding. Following the 1966 flood in Florence, Italy, she joined in the National Library's book restoration effort. While at home, she was a mainstay of the Scarsdale Women’s Club ‘Operation Bookshelf’ initiative, dedicated to salvaging, repairing and redistributing books around the world. Proficient in several languages, she maintained an inquiring mind and was known for her frank and engaging manner. She will be lovingly remembered by her five children, fifteen grandchildren, and her many relatives and friends.
The Quaker Ridge Turkey Bowl: Still Playing After All These Years
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Group Shot 2022: From left to right Josh Shandel, Ethan Zomback, Ray Grazie(back row), Robbie Birns, Max Warshaw(back row), Harry Roth, Ben Spiegelman, Ross Goldberg, Bryan Gertzog, Matt Jacobs (missing in photo David Spiro (had naming service for baby girl!) , Jeff Hassan, Matty Wolf) (Submitted by Neil Goldberg)
I used to bring my football to the kids Sunday soccer practices when they were in second grade, hoping to meet a few of the dads. It worked well and I went from playing catch to playing short games with the all the other Quaker Ridge dads.
Thanksgiving 2003 -Dads from left to right: Neil Goldberg, David Spiegelman, Gary Gertzog, Ken Grazie, Larry Zomback, Rick Spiro, Doug Birns, Rick Wolf, Andy Parets, Charlie Hassan, Kids from left to right: Jeff Hassan, Robbie Birns, Bryan Gertzog, Ross Goldberg, Matt Jacobs, David Spiro, Ray Grazie, , Harry Roth, Mike Parets and Ben Spiegelman
That year, we decided to play a real game on Thanksgiving Day and hired the coach for the kids after school program to supervise them so we could play while they had their own game. By the next Thanksgiving the kids were making their own teams and talking up the game for weeks before Thanksgiving. For the dads, it became a day to which we all looked forward.
Ben Spiegelman, a former Quarterback for the SHS Raider,s read to pass the ball
Now 22 years later, we are still playing a dads’ game side-by-side to a kids game and in all these years we only missed one game due to snow and one game during the pandemic. Our boys are now 30!
Some are married, one just had a daughter and they are all well into their careers, but we’ve been playing this game since we can remember and have no plans to stop.
The Dads at Thanksgiving 2021
Family Fun Day on November 25
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The Scarsdale Business Alliance in Partnership with Scarsdale Moms Announces its Second Family Fun Event, Townsgiving, and its Line-Up of Activities & Sponsors.
On Friday, November 25th, 2022, the Scarsdale Business Alliance (SBA) in partnership with Scarsdale Moms, will host its second family fun event, Townsgiving, presented by The Randi Culang Team and Wonder. The event will take place in the Dine the ‘Dale Tent in Scarsdale Village from 2-5pm. Join us for a festive afternoon full of music, family fun activities, food and drinks.
While this is a free community event, wristbands will be required for participation in kids’ crafts and activities ($35 in advance - $45 day of). Wristbands are available for purchase here. Wristband activities include multiple arts & crafts stations, chocolate turkey decorating, glitter tattoos, face paint, hair braiding and extensions, photo booth and frame decorating and more! Kids can also enjoy Dancing and DJ by Pizzazzles, and fire truck tours and fire safety tips by Scarsdale firefighters (no wristband required).
In addition to attending Townsgiving in the Dine the 'Dale Tent, don't forget to Shop the 'Dale and take advantage of Black Friday promotions and deals at merchants in the Village center and Scarsdale's other retail hubs.
Townsgiving will be donating a portion of proceeds to GrassRoots Grocery, formerly known as Mott Haven. This donation will help fund their mission to expand dignified access to healthy food to reach all neighbors in need. Join GrassRoots Grocery’s community action project to spread holiday cheer by creating holiday food boxes for children in need.
All food and beverages are pay-as-you-go. Pizzarellis will be selling Pizza by the slice, garlic knots and pasta bowls as well as beverages. Guests 21+ can enjoy cider sangria from Popojito, and great brews from Yeomiji. In order to purchase and consume alcohol, you must show ID to prove that you are over 21.
The SBA and Scarsdale Moms are thankful to all of the Townsgiving event sponsors for their generous support. Presenting Sponsors: The Randi Culang Team and Wonder; Supporting Sponsors: ever/body, Central Park Dance, Eye Gallery, Fenom Fitness, Yellow Acorn Montessori, Village Kids Pediatric Dentistry; Junior Sponsors: Camp Hillard, Great Stuff, I Am More Scarsdale, Hi Five Metro, ScentFluence, Songs for Seeds, Sparklicious; In-Kind Activity Sponsors: Chocolate Works, Faces by Wells, Hair Saloon & Cafe, Shake it Off, and Pizzazzles.
FREE PARKING is available in the lower two levels of the Christie Place Garage (64 East Parkway) as well as the Freightway Garage and adjacent outdoor parking lot (72 Freightway).
The SBA is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the Village of Scarsdale and its local businesses. For more information about the SBA: www.scarsdalebusinessalliance.com; Instagram @scarsdalebusiness.
The mission of Scarsdale Moms is to create a community around moms in Scarsdale, and to curate helpful resources and references that would be relevant to this community. Scarsdale Moms is an affiliate of The Local Moms Network. For more information about Scarsdale Moms: www.scarsdalemoms.com; Instagram @scarsdalemoms.
A Busy Week in Fox Meadow
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The Fox Meadow Neighborhood Association, headed by Janice Starr and Randi Culang had a busy week, hosting an Halloween event for children at Willow Park on Saturday October 29, trick or treating in Fox Meadow on Monday night October 31 followed by a neighborhood cocktail party on Wednesday November 2 at the Starr’s home.
Willow Park Playground, on Harcourt Road behind the Girl Scout House was developed by the neighborhood association almost 20 years ago and is a beautiful shaded playground for kids of all ages.
On Halloween, the neighborhood association set up a table on Shawnee Road and recruited new members, greeted neighbors and handed out hundreds of pieces of candy.
On Wednesday night November 2, Fox Meadow residents met Mayor Jane Veron, a resident of Fox Meadow herself, and enjoyed cocktails and company.
Photo credit Ira Starr.
