Latimer Says Viral Spread is Aggressive, Calls on Parents to Support Hybrid Learning Model
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In response to rising COVID-19 infection rates in Westchester, County Executive George Latimer announced that he will now hold bi-weekly briefings. He said, “We are facing a second wave.” The number of active cases in Westchester has doubled over the past two weeks with 3,515 cases as of November 16 in Westchester.
He said, the positive rate was now between 3-4% and is “heading straight up.” And more people are becoming seriously ill as well. Latimer said that on November 16 there were 121 people in the hospital with COVID as compare to 47 two weeks ago. 17 people passed away in the past two weeks.
Even in Scarsdale, where the number of active cases fluctuated between 5 and 10 for many months, the map now shows 25 active cases.
According to Scarsdale Schools Superintendent Thomas Hagerman, as of November 16, the district has had 13 active cases this school year and 120 students and 22 staff members are now in quarantine. The school reports that these cases were due to community spread or contact from sports.
Latimer reported that Port Chester which was declared a Yellow Zone by the state last week, has now been declared an Orange Zone, further restricting activity and local business. Though schools remain open, there is a mandate to test sample groups of students and teachers each week to monitor the spread. Gatherings are limited to only 10 people indoors or outdoors and there is no longer indoor dining in restaurants.
The County Executive lost his patience with those who refused to comply with recommendations to wear masks and social distance, saying that these measures are required to save lives. As to those who complain about limitations on attendance at Houses of Worship, Latimer said, “These rules are not intended to limit freedom of religion – but to safeguard the community. Sacrifices are necessary to save lives. These restrictions are required so that we don’t lose any more people.”
In order to share information about the virus with populations that may not be aware of the risks, the county is going door to door with messaging, making robo calls and has produced a public service video. All communications are being produced in Spanish and English so that everyone can be informed.
Latimer also called for parents to understand that hybrid learning is the safest option for students and teachers. He said he has a weekly call with 40 county school superintendents and made the following statement emphasizing his support for hybrid learning models:
“As the identified rate of COVID-19 infection within Westchester County rises, we know that this creates significant challenges in our communities. School districts operating in a hybrid model, with six-foot social distancing protocols in place, are enabling students to engage in in-person learning within the school facility environment. The goal of the schools is to serve as many young people in their facilities, daily, as possible. We are also aware of the desire for some parents to have schools return to full, in person learning and bring all students back to school buildings. Unfortunately, with the rising cases of COVID-19 in our County, this is not possible at this time. Bringing more individuals into school buildings increases the density in schools and presents the possibility of significant risk of COVID-19 spread to students, staff and further risks community spread. Our health/safety protocols are working to reduce spread within our schools. Sacrificing six-foot social distancing seriously reduces the school’s ability to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The County has been working closely with local school superintendents to support the safety and mitigation efforts in our schools and communities and fully supports the hybrid models in our schools.”
COVID, COVID, COVID: Infection Rate on the Rise In Westchester
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Though the number of active infections in the Scarsdale Schools remains low, there are signs that COVID is on the uptick in Westchester County.
As of November 5, the NYS Department of Health reports 1 positive student at Fox Meadow Elementary School, 1 positive staff member at Edgewood Elementary School, and 4 students and 1 staff member positive at Scarsdale High School for a total of 7 cases district wide. However here were additional reports from the school district since November 5, so that case count may be higher.
According to the district, over 100 students are currently quarantined due to exposure to those who are positive, primarily from contacts outside school.
According to Westchester County, as of November 9 there were a total of 10 active cases in Scarsdale.
But countywide, the numbers are far more concerning. As of Monday November 9, County Executive George Latimer reported rising infections, hospitalizations and fatalities and announced that a “yellow zone” had been declared in Port Chester and parts of Rye Brook. Latimer said, we are “seeing a steady increase in the virus.”
Here are the numbers:
-Year to date there are 42,179 cases in Westchester County.
-There are currently 2,048 active cases of COVID in the county. This is dramatically higher than the summer months when, on August 8, there were only 442 active cases, almost one fifth of the current count.
On November 8, 6,606, people were tested and 225 came back positive – a 3.4% rate of infection, while on August 8 the infection rate was only 1.1%.
Year to date, there were a total of 908,000 tests given in the county, a count that does include multiple tests for some people.
As of November 6, 82 people were hospitalized as compared to 48 on November 1. The number of hospitalizations has doubled in just one week. Latimer said, “The trend line is moving in the wrong direction.”
In terms of deaths, Latimer reported “We have lost 1 person a day for the last 3 days. … But we only lost 7 people in July and only 4 people in August. In the month of October, 20 people passed away.”
Latimer concluded that more people are testing positive at a higher percentage though we have not reached the crisis levels experienced in March and April. He said, “The trend lines are concerning.”
He urged residents to wear masks and practice social distancing until a vaccine is available. He noted that colder weather would bring more indoor activities and the potential for the virus to spread further.
Latimer also discussed the Governor’s decision to declare a yellow zone in the Village of Port Chester and a portion of the Village of Rye Brook. According to Latimer, “The yellow zone designation is not a shutdown. It is a cautionary note to slow down due to an increase in the infection rate.
Here is what a yellow zone means as defined by Governor Cuomo:
-There is a limit of four people to a table at restaurants.
-Outside events are limited to 25 rather than 50 people.
-There are restrictions on the number of people who can attend services at houses of worship.
Latimer noted that Portchester borders Connecticut where there is also a rise in the infection rate. He said that rapid COVID testing has been ramped up in Port Chester to identify those who are positive before they spread the disease.
Early Voting Hours Extended
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Voters lined up at the Westchester County Board of Elections on Quarropas Street in White Plains on Monday morning October 26.Early voting began Saturday October 24 and business has been brisk at the polls. On Tuesday October 27, the Westchester County Board of Elections announced that they have extended voting hours, See below for hours.
Over the weekend, local voters turned out to vote in droves, waiting in line in Eastchester, Greenburgh and at the Westchester County Board of Elections in White Plains. The people we spoke to were eager to cast their votes early as they were unsure how long the wait would be on election day. Though some reported waiting more than two hours outside in the rain, by Monday afternoon the crowds had abated and we heard that the wait was just thirty minutes.
Early voting continues on the following schedule:
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020 from noon until 9 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 from noon until 9 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Saturday, Oct..31, 2020 from noon until 6 p.m.
(except Mt. Kisco Mem Complex 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 from noon until 6 p.m.
Here are Westchester voting locations – registered voters can vote anywhere in the county:
Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709
Dobbs Ferry Village Hall, 112 Main Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, White Plains, NY 10607
Veterans Memorial Building, 210 Halstead Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528
Pound Ridge Town House, 179 Westchester Avenue, Pound Ridge, NY 10576
Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Mt. Kisco Memorial Complex at Leonard Park, 1 Wallace Drive, Mt. Kisco, NY 10549
Mt. Pleasant Community Center, 125 Lozza Drive, Valhalla, NY 10595
Mt. Vernon City Hall, 1 Roosevelt Square, Mt. Vernon, NY 10550
New Rochelle City Hall Annex – 90 Beaufort Place, 90 Beaufort Place, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Joseph G. Caputo Community Center, 95 Broadway, Ossining, NY 10562
Peekskill Nutrition Center – Neighborhood Center, 4 Nelson Avenue, Peekskill, NY 10566
Somers Town House, 335 Route 202, Somers, NY 10589
Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601
Former Scarsdale Mayor Carolyn Stevens and Current Mayor Marc Samwick waiting to vote.
Grinton I. Will Library, 1500 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10710
Riverfront Library, One Larkin Center, Yonkers, NY 10701
Yorktown Cultural Center, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
Dr. Michael Traister waits his turn to cast his vote.
Who Should Receive the 2021 Scarsdale Bowl? Committee Seeks Recommendations for Honoree
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2020 Bowl Honorees Jon Mark and BK Munguia with Bowl Chair Nancy MichaelsThe 2021 Scarsdale Bowl Committee will begin working to select the 2021 recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl award at its meeting on December 13 and is seeking recommendations from the community for next year’s honoree.
The Scarsdale Bowl, under the sponsorship of the Scarsdale Foundation, has been awarded annually since 1943 to an individual (or in exceptional cases, to a married couple) who has given “unselfishly of their time, energy, and effort to the civic welfare of the community.” The founding donors of the Bowl believed that “many who serve generously and voluntarily, without office, honor, or publicity, are those deserving of having their names permanently inscribed on the Scarsdale Bowl.” The community celebration dinner is currently scheduled to be held on Thursday, April 22nd, 2021 at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase.
Randy Guggenheimer, President of the Scarsdale Foundation, announced that Nancy Michaels will once again serve as chair of this year’s Scarsdale Bowl Committee, and Abby Sroka will continue as the Secretary/Treasurer. Members of the Bowl Committee serve a staggered two-year term. The members of the newly-appointed class of 2022 are Sergi Flaster, Elyse Klayman, Michael Rosen, Svati Shashank, Scott Silberfein, Loretta Vickers, and Han Zou. The continuing class of 2021 is comprised of Matthew Martin, Dana Matsushita, Jeff Robelen, Andrea Seiden, Janice Starr, and Amber Yusuf. Jennifer Love, a Scarsdale Foundation trustee, will serve on the Committee as liaison.
The Scarsdale Bowl Dinner 2021, themed “Shine on Scarsdale,” will pay tribute to the 2021 recipient, as well as officially honor 2020 Bowl winners BK Munguia and Jonathan Mark because we were unable to gather as a community during the pandemic. The Committee is grateful that despite the dinner’s cancellation, the Scarsdale community has been generous, waiving ticket reimbursements and making donations toward the Foundation’s college scholarships, which are now more crucial than ever. The hope is that next year the community will be able to properly celebrate the spirit of volunteerism, central to the civic life of Scarsdale, and that another group of deserving students will benefit from the evening’s proceeds. In addition, the new Honor Roll will allow everyone to recognize the day-to-day volunteerism of friends and neighbors while generating more support for the Foundation’s projects.
The Bowl Committee welcomes community input for suggestions for the next Bowl honoree. Recommendations are requested by November 25th, but will be accepted any time before the December 13t meeting. Nominees must be Scarsdale residents who do not currently hold elective office. Any member of the Bowl Committee will gladly answer questions, and Chair Nancy Michaels may be reached at 725-8310 or at NancyMichaels311@gmail.com. Nominee recommendation forms may be accessed here.
Additional information about the Scarsdale Foundation and the Scarsdale Bowl may be found at www.scarsdalefoundation.org. Looking forward to being together next year!
Important Information for Scarsdale Voters
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November 3 is around the corner but there's still time to vote by absentee ballot. You also have the option of voting early in person or on election day. If you do plan to vote in person on election day, note at the bottom of this article that some of the Scarsdale voting locations have changed.
Below find detailed information on the three ways to vote in the General Election from the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale.
1) You have the option to vote by Absentee Ballot. Voters may choose "temporary illness" for fear of contracting Covid-19 as the reason for applying for an absentee ballot.
For information on voting by Absentee Ballot, please go to: https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/voting/absentee-ballots
Once you have completed your ballot, you may submit it via mail (include first class postage); you may also submit it in person at the Board of Elections (25 Quarropas Street, White Plains); or you could drop off your ballot in a secure, contactless drop box/drop bag at any Early Voting polling site or Election Day polling site (during voting hours): https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/images/stories/pdfs/2020absenteedrop.pdf
The Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, is currently open for longer hours to allow voters to request, pick up and drop off absentee ballots. Here are the extended hours for the Board of Elections:
Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, until 8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020, until 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct.24, 2020, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, until 8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020, until 8 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, 9 a.m to 2 p.m.
The last day to request an absentee ballot by mail, email, fax or through the online portal is October 27. The last day to request an absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections is November 2.
2) You may vote in person during the Early Voting period. Early Voting begins this Saturday, October 24 and runs through Sunday, November 1. Voters may vote at ANY Early Voting polling location in Westchester. Below, please find the voting hours and poll locations closest to Scarsdale:
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct.. 25, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Monday, Oct.. 26, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct.. 27, 2020 from noon until 8p.m.
Wednesday, Oct.. 28, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Thursday, Oct.. 29, 2020 from noon until 8 p.m.
Friday, Oct.. 30, 2020 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct.. 31, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020 from noon until 5 p.m.
Eastchester Public Library, 11 Oakridge Place, Eastchester, NY 10709
Mamaroneck Town Center, 740 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543
New Rochelle City Hall Annex – 90 Beaufort Place, 90 Beaufort Place, New Rochelle, NY 10801
Westchester County Board of Elections, 25 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601
For a full list of Early Voting locations, please go to: https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/voting/early-voting-2020
3) You may vote in person on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd, at your assigned polling location. To find your Election Day polling location, please visit this webpage: https://citizenparticipation.westchestergov.com/find-polling-place
Please note that your polling location may be different than past years. If you are voting on Election Day, it is very important to check your assigned polling place.
Here is a full list of Scarsdale's Election Day polling locations:
District #1 - Greenacres School - Multi-purpose Room, Sage Terrace Entrance
District #2 - Greenacres School - Multi-purpose Room, Sage Terrace Entrance
District #3 - Fox Meadow School – Gym, Chesterfield Road Entrance
District #4 - Fox Meadow School – Gym, Chesterfield Road Entrance
District #5 - Fox Meadow School – Gym, Chesterfield Road Entrance
District #6 - Scarsdale High School – Café, Entrance on Brewster Road
District #7 - Scarsdale High School – Café, Entrance on Brewster Road
District #8 - Edgewood School - Gym – Parking Lot Entrance
District #9 - Edgewood School - Gym – Parking Lot Entrance
District #10 - Edgewood School - Gym – Parking Lot Entrance
District #11 - Fox Meadow School – Gym, Chesterfield Road Entrance
District #12 - Fox Meadow School – Gym, Chesterfield Road Entrance
District #13 - Heathcote School – Gym, Palmer Avenue Entrance
District #14 - Heathcote School – Gym, Palmer Avenue Entrance
District #15 – Quaker Ridge School, Multi-Purpose Room, 125 Weaver Street
District #16 - Quaker Ridge School, Multi-Purpose Room, 125 Weaver StreetDistrict #17 - Heathcote School – Gym, Palmer Avenue Entrance
District #18 - Heathcote School – Gym, Palmer Avenue Entrance
District #19 – Greenacres School – Multipurpose Room, Sage Terrace Entrance
To find information specific to your ballot, VOTE 411 is an essential resource: https://www.vote411.org.
For voting questions, you may contact the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale, Voter Service at LWVSvoterservice@gmail.com.
