Scarsdale's In Crisis: Who's in Charge?
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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It’s now been four days since Scarsdale was hit by Sandy – and the truth is many of us were walloped. First there was the anticipation and preparation for the storm that began before the weekend. Then the wind roared into town and scared many of us silly. I know I spent the night running to and from the window – trying to look outside to see the action and then skittering away from the glass for fear I’d be speared by a flying tree. Monday night thousands lost their heat and light and nothing has been normal since. We’re cold, we’re displaced and we’re discombobulated.
Our normal routines are gone and plans are out the window. Everywhere we turn there are obstacles – broken trees, downed wires, yellow tape, gas lines, traffic, closures and cancellations.
And since many in the New York area are in far more dire straits than we are, power crews have been deployed to help the worst off first. No one has even provided an estimate of when repairmen will come to town. I sent a note to our local Con Edison representative hoping to get a timetable and received nothing back. Perhaps their communications system is out as well?
The silence from our local government is also deafening. I asked the Mayor for a comment on the storm and what residents could expect and days
later I received a terse reply that reiterated a few sentences from an email from the Village Manager. There was no mention of support for those who are cold, blocked in by wires and trees or without transportation. Additional emails to the Village from the neighborhood association about rescheduling Halloween trick or treating were also left unanswered.
Fortunately the generosity of Scarsdale residents is evident everywhere. Some have welcomed chilly neighbors to stay at their homes. Others are hosting dinner parties for friends and offering use of their showers and washing machines. Synagogues and the JCC have sent invitations to the community to stop by to warm up and use power outlets.
However, with 4,200 people without heat and temperatures dropping into the 30’s this weekend, more needs to be done. The Village needs to be more transparent and demonstrate some concern for the welfare of the residents:
- If anyone from the Village is meeting with Con Edison to advocate for Scarsdale let us know. Only scant details have been forwarded about prioritization of resources. If we are not going to have the heat back on for another ten days, advise residents to make whatever arrangements they can to leave home before the temperature dips below freezing, as is forecasted for Sunday.
- When progress is made, share that as well. A Scarsdale10583 reader just posted a comment on the site saying he saw four trucks on Weaver Street last night and Weaver is now open. Can the Village let us know as streets are reopened?
- A presidential election is to be held this coming Tuesday and many are wondering how we will vote. I tried to reach Village Hall today to find out what plans were being made, but with no phones and no email I found out nothing.
- And last, where is the love? The Village should make some gesture to show compassion. Hand out hot chocolate in the Village, offer a free hot meal, send vans to transport the elderly to the market or utilize Village-owned property to shelter those in need. These are just a few ideas of what could be done to ease the pain.
We’re facing perhaps the biggest crisis in the history of Scarsdale and it’s not clear who, if anyone, is leading the way.
Photos by Sarah Schuman
Sandy Slams Scardsale
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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At last report 80 trees have fallen on power lines in Scarsdale Village in the fiercest storm to hit the east coast in a lifetime. No official update is available from the Village but from a quick tour around town it was evident that damage was extensive and many major roads are blocked. Stunned residents were gathered in the streets surveying toppled and uprooted trees, crushed cars and devastation. While some felt fortunate that the howling winds, flying branches and trees had not severely damaged their homes other were not so lucky. Trees hit roofs, garages, and cars and it will take months to tally up the damage.
Scarsdale Village’s new communication system, Lightpath went down during the storm and severely compromised the ability of the police and firefighters to respond to resident’s calls. To compensate, the Village hooked up some old equipment. They still can receive 911 calls.
We checked the Con Edison outage map and see that thousands are without power in Scarsdale. Con Edison has not given any
estimate when restoration work will begin here. Crews will need to come to the area to deactivate the wires before Scarsdale’s Highway Department can remove trees from the wires and allow Con Edison and Verizon to make repairs. Given the extent of the damage in Westchester and throughout the area it is doubtful that they will arrive anytime soon.
In the meantime, here’s some information that may be helpful:
- The Bagel Store in Hartsdale is open
- Members of the Scarsdale Golf Club can use the club to take showers and access the internet
- Peppy’s Pizza in Yonkers is open
- Yoga Station in Hartsdale is open for Hatha at 6:15 tonight and invites you to come to class and charge your phone
- Westchester Reform Temple is open and asked that we relay the following message to their membership: If you need help because of a power failure or any damage to your home, email Yoel at yoel.magid@wrtemple.org. If your house is okay and you can host someone without electricity or whose home has been damaged, please let Yoel know as well.
Scarsdale10583 readers continue to send us photos of the storm and here they are for you. Please continue to check the site for updates and email us at scarsdalecomments@gmail.com with news, photos and information to share.
The Center@862 Hosts Open House
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On Sunday, October 21st, The Center@862 (also known as the Scarsdale Teen Center) welcomed the Scarsdale community to view its newly renovated space at 862 Scarsdale Avenue. Entertainment was provided by the jazz group “Twenty Questions” from Hoff- Barthelson Music School and Scarsdale High School’s a cappella group, “For Good Measure.”
DeCicco Marketplace, Imagine Candy, Lange’s of Scarsdale, La Renaissance Bakery, LuLu Cake Boutique, Patisserie Salzburg, Scarsdale Metro Restaurant, Scarsdale Pizza Station, Starbuck’s Coffee and Villa Roma donated the day’s refreshments.
Ellen Cohen of the Pampered Chef demonstrated her cooking products and provided a tasting of several delicious treats. Ms. 
Cohen donated fifteen percent of her sales at the event to The Center.
The Center’s next event is the Zombie Asylum Haunted House at Supply Field on October 26, 27, 28, 30 and 31st. For additional information, visit: www.scarsdaleteencenter.com .
We're Braced for the Storm ... Now Where Is It?
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So far there’s no sign of Sandy, at least in Scarsdale that is. It’s Monday morning and the refrigerator is stocked, the cars are gassed up and we’ve got extra water and extra cash. We’ve charged our phones, our laptops and bought batteries for flashlights. Candles and matches are handy and for those lucky enough to have a generator, it’s ready to go. Schools have been cancelled and the rumble of Metro North on the tracks has been silenced. Even the Bronx River Parkway has been closed in anticipation of rain. An evening visit from Yale’s tech innovation expert Tony Wagner to Scarsdale High School has been cancelled along with all classes at the Scarsdale Adult School. The Scarsdale Library, often a refuge for those without heat or power, is also closed today.
What’s open? We received a note from Char Daigle of the Yoga Station in Hartsdale to say that Vinyassa is on from 9:15-10:45am as well as the Donation-Based Hatha Yoga Class from 11:00 am-12:30 pm. Hungry? Gristedes at the Gold Horseshoe is open! If anything else is open around town, please let us know and we’ll post it. (email us at scarsdalecomments@gmail.com)
What to do today? Start cooking the food in your refrigerator or freezer that could go bad if we lose power. Eat the ice cream before it melts. Run your dishwasher and your washing machine while you can. Consider turning your heat up a few degrees to warm up the house in case your heat goes off later. Admire the beautiful fall leaves before they fall. Make some bets with your friends. Will Scarsdale’s new storm water retention basins at George Field and Cooper Green prevent flooding in the area? Will Sandy become a storm of the century or just the cause of another “slow” day in Scarsdale?
Most important, keep us posted on what’s happening. Send storm thoughts, photos and updates to scarsdalecomments@gmail.com throughout the days and nights and share them with the community.
Woodlands High School Student Accosted En Route to School
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Greenburgh Police are asking for your help to find a man who accosted a Woodlands High School student while he was en route to school on Tuesday morning October 23. The students was walking on a dirt road in a wooded area adjacent to Metropolis Country Club near Fair Street and Juniper Roads when he was accosted by a man who demanded the boy’s backpack and cell phone. When the boy refused to give them up, the man lifted his jack and displayed what appeared to be a black handgun. At that point the student handed over his things and ran.
The suspect is described as a male, black, age 25-35, 5’9”, 165 lbs., thin build, clean shaven with short dark hair. He was wearing a waist length, light green jacket, light color pants, and black boots.
The student returned to the area shortly after the incident and found his backpack and cell phone. No property was reported missing.
Greenburgh Police with the assistance of the Westchester County Police Department Aviation Unit and K- 9 Unit, members of the Greenburgh Police SWAT Team and Westchester County Police Emergency Services Unit searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. As a precaution, police placed area schools including Woodlands High School and Middle School, Maria Regina High School and the Solomon Schechter School on temporary lockdown. The previous day, Monday October 22, Solomon Schecter was closed due to a bomb threat.
The Greenburgh Police Detective Division is currently investigating the incident and asks anyone who witnessed it or has any relevant information to call the Detective Division at (914) 682-5325. All call will be kept confidential.
