Record Breaking Rainfall Inundates Scarsdale
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Library Pond overflowedWe drove around town on Friday September 28 after a record breaking 5.78 inches of rain inundated the Village.
The severity of the downpour caused an early school dismissal. Fortunately those with cars in the high school lot were warned early enough to remove their cars from the lot before the entire expanse along Brewster Road merged into a vast pond.
Scarsdale High School became lakefront property.
The rainfall swelled library pond and the benches and pergola that usually surround the pond were submerged by rising waters.
At George Field, the seven acre retention pond filled up as planned, but it was not sufficient to ward off the flooding of the adjacent roadway on Oxford Road.
The seven acre retention pond at George Field filled up but could not stop the flooding of Oxford Road
Just up the hill next to the water tower on Garden Road – at a site where developers have proposed eight homes - there was more ponding.
Cars submerged on Boulevard
And further south on Boulevard near Sprague Road we found these cars submerged in deep water.
Around noon that same day, a house fire on Graham Road further diverted rescue crews who were busy assisting drivers trapped in their cars and redirecting traffic from flooded areas.
Firefighters were able to save a house on Graham Road.
The Bronx River Parkway flooded and was closed, and the deluge caused the shutdown of the New York Subway system and Metro North, trapping many in the city with no way to get back to Scarsdale.
Culverts and streams overflowed their banks and many residents reported flooding in their basements.
And last – a friend shared this frightening scene from Central Park Avenue near the Alamo Theater.
Flooding on Central Park Avenue
It was a high stress day for the Village. With 100 year storms coming annually, stormwater management is paramount.
What Does Preservation Mean?
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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What's left of 42 Mamaroneck RoadWe’ve been driving up and down Mamaroneck Road and noting what’s going on at 40 Mamaroneck Road.
There, in April 2021 the Committee for Historic Preservation denied an application to take down the 7,000 square foot house, built in 1916.
However developer Shlomo Freidfertig who purchased the house and the 2.83 acre property, subsequently filed an application to lop off a portion of the house and some accessory buildings on the site in order to subdivide the property and build a second house there.
There was loud outcry from neighbors who cited an agreement with the former owners not to develop the lot between their two houses. In addition, they argued that this was historic property where the Battle of White Plains in the Revolutionary War was fought. However Freidfertig prevailed and the site has been in disarray for several years.
Now a renovation of the “preserved house” has begun – and from what we can see there is not much left of it. Take a look at the former house and the work in progress.
The original home at 40 Mamaroneck Road
The saga raises the issue of enforcement of the laws regarding properties deemed worthy of preservation. We emailed the Scarsdale Building Department to inquire but received no response.
40-42 Mamaroneck Road now
Adopters Desperately Needed as NYC Cat Crisis Overwhelms Local Shelters and Rescue Groups
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- Written by: David Weissman
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Throughout the five boroughs of New York City, a cat crisis is unfolding on the streets and within the walls of its animal shelters. With the city facing unprecedented numbers of dumped and surrendered pets, the municipal shelter - Animal Care Centers of New York - recently announced that its doors would be closed to cat surrenders and strays due to extreme overcrowding at all three of its facilities.
This crisis didn’t happen overnight. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the city to pause its TNR (trap, neuter, release) programs, a crucial endeavor for controlling the stray cat population. This halt aimed to safeguard the health of volunteers but inadvertently contributed to a surge in the outdoor cat population and countless kittens left vulnerable on the streets. Adding to the challenge, a scarcity of veterinary services coupled with inflation has escalated the costs of pet care. For many devoted cat parents, the financial strain became unbearable, leading to the heartbreaking decision of abandoning their beloved companions.
Now, small rescue organizations who have even less resources than the city shelters are carrying the burden of finding homes for thousands of homeless cats and kittens. Their efforts are being stretched to the limit, with hundreds of requests flooding in every day for assistance with newly abandoned cats and newly born litters of kittens.
Becky Wisdom, the dedicated founder of Greenpoint Cats, a nonprofit rescue organization in Brooklyn, along with volunteer David Weissman, both former Scarsdale residents, are asking for help to find “forever” homes for the many cats and kittens currently in foster homes By opening your heart and home to a cat in need, you are helping save a life. To learn more about available cats and kittens for adoption email [email protected] or visit greenpointcats.org/adopt.
Picutred here are a few of the many cats available for adoption.
600 Shoppers Attend the UJA Trunk Show
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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We spotted quite a few locals at the UJA Hamptons Trunk Show on August 3rd on the grounds of the Bridgehampton Historical Society Museum. There were approximately 50 vendors with 600 attendees who shopped for jewelry, clothing, art, accessories and even leaather and furs. A good time was had by all.... despite the heat!
Sasha Engelmann Zaro and Lois Robbins- Zaro selling SPF protected bathing suits from her line Watskin
Natalie Barth, Judy Goodman, Heidi Lurensky, Vicki Warner, Wendy Shenfeld and Staci Barber
Stacey Lowenberg, Ceci Elfenbaum, and Maryssa Brenner.
Susan Friedman (second to left), Jackie Friedman Brogadir, Erica Friedman
Jane Alpert and her daughters Heidi and Natalie.
Photo Credit: Michael Priest Photography
Kindergarten Cutoff Date Moved Back in Connecticut: What Does It Mean for Scarsdale?
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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A change in the law regarding the minimum age for entry into Kindergarten in Connecticut will likely have little impact here.
In June, the Connecticut legislature passed a bill that rolled back the cutoff date to enter Kindergarten from January 1 to September 1. Now children must be five years old by September 1 to enter kindergarten for that school year. Before this, four year-olds could enter the system.
In New York State the cutoff date remains at December 31 and four year-olds are permitted to start school in September. However in Scarsdale many parents with children whose birthdays are in the second half of the year voluntarily choose to delay entry into Kindergarten and keep their children in nursery school of an additional year. These kids are then 5 ½ or even 6 by the time they begin school. The financial burden of educating these kids is assumed by the family for an additional year.
Parents choose this option because they feel their four year-olds when be at an academic and social disadvantage if they are in the same class with children who are an entire year older.
There are potential disadvantages to the date change. For those in need in Connecticut, the change in the cutoff date will mean that children will be unable to benefit from services offered by the school system before the age of five.
We asked Scarsdale’s Assistant Superintendent Edgar McIntosh for his thoughts on the issue along with data on how many Kindergarten eligible children are held back for an additional year of preschool. He was unable to provide the stats at this time but shared the following on the issue.
He said, “As far as I know, there are no talks at the NY state level to change from the current cut-off.
From my perspective (both in my current role and as a former Kindergarten teacher) I feel strongly that it is our responsibility as educators to meet students where they are developmentally, including academic level and social-emotional development. Each child's profile is unique and we strive to create learning environments that support, inspire, and appropriately challenge all learners. We welcome and encourage students to join our wonderful Kindergarten classes as they are eligible.
I do share some of the concerns expressed in the article about what it would mean to some families to change the date and delay opportunities to benefit from the special education services within the elementary school setting, and/or for those students just plain ready to move on from preschool. The additional financial burden could also be a concern for families. I understand that CT is taking it on a case-by-case basis and will be making exceptions.”
(Photo Credit: Steven Schnur)
