Pediatric Cancer Bikeathon Sunday May 22
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On Sunday, May 22, 2011, Pediatric Cancer Foundation and Westchester County Parks will co-sponsor a Bikeathon to benefit children with cancer. This special family fun event, entitled Pedal for Progress, will include food and drink, entertainment, and of course, cycling. Along with supporting a wonderful cause, all registrants will receive a t-shirt.
The Annual Bikeathon begins at the County Center in White Plains. The Bronx River Parkway will be closed to traffic and open for the Bikeathon from 10am until 1:30pm. Participants are encouraged to pre-register and get sponsors at www.pcfbike.org.
Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s mission is to cure childhood cancer. Since its establishment in 1970, members have worked diligently and raised significant funds to aid sick children and those doctors and researchers who treat them. Pediatric Cancer Foundation funds research, treatment, equipment and parent/patient care. Since their overhead is minimal, since 1970, nearly 90% of every dollar raised goes toward our cause. Pediatric Cancer Foundation receives no federal funding so they depend on the generosity of people like you. Last year, hundreds of people of all ages rode bicycles of all kinds while enjoying a fun day and supporting this worthy cause.
Cheryl Rosen, President of Pediatric Cancer Foundation, publicly thanks Pam Goldstein, Melanie Greenblatt, and Beth Nechamkin, Chairs of this year’s Pediatric Cancer Foundation Bikeathon in addition to event Advisor Jill Weisfeld and remarks, “There are bright rays of hope in pediatric cancer. The eradication of this devastating disease depends on groups such as Pediatric Cancer Foundation and the generosity of people in the community. We are particularly grateful to all of the volunteers for the Bikeathon for their tireless efforts in creating, organizing, promoting, and producing Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s 11th Annual Bikeathon. We hope that all our friends, family, co-workers and neighbors will cycle with us and/or make a pledge to support this worthy cause. Please register on-line at www.pcfbike.org and join us on May 22nd and together we can ride to end childhood cancer.”
Participants of all ages are welcome and cyclists begin anytime from 10am-1:00pm. The distance is six and one-half miles in each direction from the County Center in White Plains to Scarsdale Road in Yonkers. The Parkway will reopen to traffic at 1:50pm. Registration is $25 per person. Walk-in registration is $30 per person. To make a pledge, go to www.pcfbike.org or contact Nancy Frankel Joselson at 914-777-3127 for more information.
Local Artists to Display Work in Chase Park this Weekend
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Local artists will bring their work to Chase Park in downtown Scarsdale this weekend for the Scarsdale Art Association’s Outdoor Art Festival. The work will include oil, acrylic, watercolor and pastel painting, mixed media, photography, sculpture, and pottery.
Festival hours are Saturday, May 14, from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, May 15, from 11 am to 4 pm. There will be good music and light refreshments and a raffle at the end of the show on Sunday. The festival is free and everyone is welcome. Work by just a few of the 35 artists who are expected at the show is displayed here.
The Scarsdale Art Association has been active for 74 years in Scarsdale. They have 180 members who are mostly professional and many have their own shows as well. The Associations hosts seven shows a year, all free and open to the public. For further information, contact Robert Proctor, President, at robertproctor@optonline.net
Pictured at top: Work by Ed Schiffer
Drivers Beware
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Due to construction on the Popham Road Bridge, drivers who are entering Scarsdale from the bridge are no longer permitted to make a left turn onto East Parkway. Those wishing to turn left must proceed to Chase Road to turn left. Though there is a sign on the bridge, many residents are creatures of habit and fail to notice the new regulation.
In order to enforce the new traffic pattern, the Village has installed a video camera at the intersection and a policeman is posted, at-the-ready, to give tickets to those who fail to notice that they can no longer turn left.
A woman from Edgemont reported that she inadvertently made the left onto East Parkway on Monday morning and was swiftly pulled over and given a moving violation. She asked the policemen if others were confused and he replied, “Yes, lots!”
We asked Deputy Village Manager Steve Pappalardo about the new rule and why a traffic cop was not placed at the intersection to direct traffic, rather than having a policeman on the side dispensing tickets. Here is his response.
“It’s difficult during AM and PM rush hours to physically place an officer in that intersection to direct traffic. Although we do utilize this detail, it is a tight area and the officers need to be careful not to get in the way of traffic for their own personal safety.”
“We publicized the restriction at a televised Village Board meeting and the Scarsdale Inquirer and the bridge contractor installed the appropriate signs on April 14. There are “No Left Turn” signs for eastbound traffic on the southwest side of the bridge as you approach the intersection and another on the traffic signal pole adjacent to the light. We also have a small hand written sign adjacent to the traffic island on the north side of the intersection between the East Parkway north and southbound lanes. In addition, after reviewing the situation in the field yesterday, the Village will be painting pavement markings to read “No Left Turn” at the intersection and will replace the small hand written sign with a larger sign to match the one on the bridge.”
“We will also eliminate the 10 second red signal delay for westbound Popham traffic to allow for eastbound Popham motorists to make the left hand turn onto East Parkway. This was no longer needed since the left hand turn is prohibited.”
“Regarding enforcement, we have found it to be the best way to quickly achieve compliance which is ultimately our objective. From a traffic safety standpoint it is important that this left hand turning movement be eliminated and the turn occur at the Chase Road intersection. In observing the traffic movements yesterday afternoon, I was very pleased with the compliance and believe that motorists are more aware of the prohibition and that violations will diminish.”
Willow Park Party Draws a Crowd
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A glorious Spring Day drew plenty of families to the annual Willow Park Playground Party on Sunday, May 1. Hosted by the Fox Meadow and Old Scarsdale Neighborhood Associations, the yearly get-together is a great way for families to catch up, and meet people new to the area. Dozens of children spent the afternoon blowing bubbles, working on arts and crafts projects, and playing ball games, while the adults mingled and chatted. Around 70 people attended the party. Guests included Mayor Miriam Flisser, and trustees Kay Eisenman and Bob Harrison. Funds raised from the bake sale will help fund initiatives at the Scarsdale Teen Center.
Photos and text courtesy of Sarah Jane Silverton
Conservation Advisory Council Statement on Sale of Village Owned Land
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Here is a statement from the Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council that was read at the Scarsdale Village Planning Board meeting on April 14, 2011 during a discussion of the sale of Village owned land at 2-4 Weaver Street to developer Stephen Oder.
Good evening, I am Lena Crandall, speaking on behalf of the Village of Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council. We are concerned with the long-term impacts the current and future use of the subject property may have on open space, neighborhood character and storm water management given the proximity of the land in question to neighboring undeveloped village parcels, the Five Corners Village Center, and the Sheldrake River Watershed.
The CAC’s Open Space Report, which is available on the Village website highlights the often unrecognized value of undeveloped land. The parking lot area in question, together with the other Village-owned parcels along Weaver Street and the By-Pass create a greenspace buffer and natural entrance to the Five Corners. Equal consideration should be given to the resident-friendly opportunities at this crossroads to promote pedestrian safety, extend the New Rochelle Bike Route into Scarsdale, and beautify the area with landscaping designed to absorb storm water runoff.
Returning now to the driveway and parking lot, please take notice of the intrusion of asphalt over the boundary line and under the trees in lot 91. We are told this is to accommodate excess parking needs for the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corp. While this small, messy area may seem insignificant, it raises a number of red flags. If there is a demonstrated need for more Ambulance Corp parking; then an attractive, environmentally responsible solution should be determined after public hearings by the appropriate land use boards.
The Village-Wide Comprehensive Storm Water Management Plan details the importance of viewing all lands as being in a watershed. It is our understanding that there is a wet area located across the By-Pass, as well as continued flooding concerns downstream in the Village of Mamaroneck. Accordingly, this conservation council urges an analysis of the Draft Wetlands Map, prepared by Evans and Associates as well as the drainage patterns identified in the storm water study, in order to determine the relationship of these Village-owned lots to the local and regional wetlands and storm water systems. Given the recent development at Heathcote Manor, further studies may be warranted to protect the public.
In conclusion, it is the “big picture” of environmental considerations we ask you to include in your analysis of all village lands - all the time; but, this evening with particular focus on the public parcels located along Weaver Street. As the Village’s Conservation Advisory Council, we recommend that the Land Use Committee work together with staff
“...to give adequate consideration to ensure both the preservation of community character as described in the Village Comprehensive Plan and the protection of residents from the adverse environmental consequences our laws are designed to prevent.” Quote from the Scarsdale Forum’s [previously known as The Town and Village Civic Club Education Forum] Report of the Zoning and Planning Committee on Construction Project Approval Activities.
