Your Letters: In Support of Jeremy Gans and Jeremy Wise for Village Trustee
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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(This letter was written by Jeffrey Watiker)
Dear Editor,
I write in unconditional support of Jeremy Gans for re-election as Village Trustee. Given the commitment of time and energy required to serve on the Board of Trustees, I am appreciative of anyone willing to serve, especially for a second term. However, even among the talented persons who have served as Trustees, both currently and in the past, Jeremy truly stands out.
I was privileged to work closely with Jeremy for several years on the Scarsdale Board of Zoning Appeals and since that time I have continued to work closely with him in his capacity as the assigned Trustee liaison to the Village land use boards. He is hard-working, dedicated, a very good listener and a fast learner. He is detail oriented and yet also able to grasp the big picture. He is both a team player and a person will exercise independent judgment when the circumstances warrant. If re-elected, I have every confidence his presence on the Board will help assure that our Village government continues to operate efficiently and fairly.
Accordingly, I strongly encourage all Scarsdale residents to join me in voting for Jeremy on March 19th.
Jeffrey Watiker
8 Wynmor Road
(This letter was written by William and Cynthia Roberts)
To the Editor: Jeremy Wise, Candidate for Scarsdale Village Trustee
We are writing in enthusiastic support of Jeremy Wise for Village of Scarsdale Trustee.
I have known Jeremy since our shared childhood in New Rochelle, NY. Longtime residents of Scarsdale, Jeremy and his wife Randi Wise, have lived here for 33 years.
My wife, Cynthia, and I have lived in Scarsdale for 24 years and have followed many municipal issues closely. This has provided a picture of the myriad challenges that can face our Village Board. We have never been as excited about a potential Trustee as we are now.
Jeremy brings an unusually rich experience to the table as a potential Trustee.
After graduating from Columbia University and Boston College Law School, Jeremy has spent most of his more than 40-year career in public service. He just retired from his most recent role, having served for 23 years as General Counsel to a state appointed board responsible for overseeing the finances of Nassau County, NY.
In that role, he gained an intimate understanding of the intricacies of running a municipality. He worked closely with the state appointed board on labor relations, contracts, budgets, and multi-year financial plans. Jeremy was also responsible for compliance with regulations addressing such areas as personnel, ethics and access to public information.
Jeremy worked collaboratively with the elected officials and staff of a large municipality to ensure that the residents of Nassau County were well-served in a fiscally responsible manner.
These experiences make him particularly well suited to the responsibilities of Trustee in Scarsdale. He would work in a collaborative manner with the Mayor and other Trustees, as well as with the Village Manager and other full time staff of Scarsdale.
On a personal note Jeremy is an avid gardener, and he and his wife are dedicated hikers and swimmers who use the local facilities several times per week year-round. His energy is seemingly endless.
He has a gracious manner and a warm sense of humor. He and his wife, Randi, enjoyed raising their two children in Scarsdale and are now happily involved grandparents.
With his work experience and these personal qualities, Jeremy’s energy, wisdom and collaborative nature would make him an ideal Trustee to represent the interests and welfare of the residents of Scarsdale.
Sincerely,
William and Cynthia Roberts
15 Autenrieth Road
Candidate Jeremy Wise Brings a Wealth of Experience to Village Government
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale’s Jeremy Wise has been nominated by the Citizens Nominating Committee to run for Scarsdale Village Trustee. You can meet him at a candidate’s meet and greet at Scarsdale Library on Sunday March 10 from 12:30 – 2 pm. And remember to vote in the election on Tuesday, March 19 in the Scott Room at Scarsdale Public Library at 54 Olmsted Road. Voting hours will be from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
We asked him to answer a few questions and here is what he shared:
Tell how about yourself: How long have you lived in Scarsdale and why do you enjoy living here?
I have been a resident of Scarsdale for 33 years. I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to raise my children here and take advantage of all that the Village has offered to me and my family.
Tell us about your education and professional experience. What were some of the highlights of your career?
I have studied, written about, and worked in local government throughout my adult life. I graduated magna cum laude from Columbia where I was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. I majored in political science with an emphasis on local government. Shortly after graduating from college, I had an article entitled, “The Roles of the City Manager,” published in a nationally recognized magazine.
In the succeeding years, I worked primarily as an attorney in legal positions related to state or local government. For the past 23 years, I was the General Counsel of a New York State Authority that the State Legislature put in place to assist in Nassau County’s fiscal recovery.
During my 23 years at the Authority, I was involved in all matters related to the County’s fiscal health. These included its contracts, labor relations, budgets, and multi-year financial plans. I was also in charge of issuing billions of dollars of bonds on behalf of the County. As the chief legal officer of a State public authority, I was also responsible for compliance with numerous laws and regulations in areas such as freedom of information, ethics, and personnel.
Why did you decide to run for Village Trustee now?
Now that I have retired, I have more time to devote to community service and to share my experience in local government with the wider community.
What expertise do you hope to share with the Board of Trustees?
I have experience in almost every aspect of local government and the laws and regulations that apply to them. For example, I am familiar with budgeting, property tax challenges, debt issuance, contracting, and labor relations.
Based on your experiences as a resident, what are some of the challenges that are facing the Village?
The Village faces most of the same challenges as other government entities. These include law enforcement, tax caps, funding capital improvements, long term obligations to employees, land use and labor relations.
As a trustee, what would you like to work on?
I have a significant amount of experience in budgeting and borrowing for the provision of local services, so I suppose my input might be most valuable in those areas.
Regardless of what I work on, I will always consider myself an advocate for the residents and a knowledgeable liaison to the employees of the Village.
Dance, Music, Games and a Feast for the Year of the Dragon
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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It’s the Year of the Dragon and Scarsdale’s Chinese residents produced a beautiful event to mark the new year. Over 220 celebrants attended a Lunar New Year gala hosted by the Scarsdale Chinese Association at the Sonesta Hotel in White Plains on the evening of February 11.
There were dancers, instrumental performance, a choir, lively games of musical chairs, plus cash prizes for lucky raffle winners.
Performances mixed traditional Chinese dance with some Zumba and hip hop inspired numbers, giving the evening a contemporary feel. From toddlers to senior citizens, everyone appeared to be enjoying the music, the dance, the dinner and the fun.
Chief event planner Elaine Wang said, “The Chinese New Year Gala was very successful. During the Gala, everyone enjoyed the song and dance performances prepared by the Chinese residents of Scarsdale. The children and the mayor participated in fun games. Everyone also tasted the delicious dinner from The Best Sichuan. The New Year's party ended successfully in harmony with everyone exchanging new year blessings.”
Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest attended with Trustee Dara Gruenberg.
He said, “It is an honor to be here this evening representing the Board of Trustees with Trustee Dara Gruenberg. In this significant year, the year of the dragon, let us embrace the dragon’s courage and vitality. May the coming months be marked by prosperity, health, and harmony for you and your loved ones. Together, let’s weave these blessings into the fabric of our wonderful community, building a future as bright and enduring as the spirit of the dragon itself.
Happy New Year, and may the Year of the Dragon bring joy and success to all!”
Also leading the event were Abby Zhou, Michael Wu, Stephanie Yu Panpan, Jing Lu, Vivan Lin and Stella Zhang.
Gas, Water and Sewer Lines to Be Replaced: Traffic Diversions Ahead
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Gas and stormwater pipe replacements will continue to cause traffic woes in the year to come. This week the Village announced more plans to replace gas, water and sewer lines which will cause roads to be closed and excavated and traffic to be diverted. So be aware of these upcoming projects:
The work begins this week on Spencer Place in Scarsdale Village where a gas main will be replaced, causing lane closures and blocking parking spaces. Here’s the details on this project:
Spencer Place
On February 28 Con Edison will begin the replacement of a 200-foot length section of vintage 4” diameter steel gas main including several customer service lines along Spencer Place between Boniface Circle and Harwood Court in the Village Center. During this work, traffic will be able to continue through Spencer Place with some restricted parking and partial lane closures. The anticipated timeline for road excavation and utility replacement will be approximately two weeks, followed by an additional week of restoration, weather permitting. This project will occur between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.
As work progresses, there will be restrictions on street parking adjacent to the work zone. Police personnel will also be on site for the duration of the project to further assist with traffic control.
Any questions or concerns about this project should be directed to Con Edison’s Supervisor Santos Ramos at 1-929-637-4102, or by e-mail at RamosS@coned.com. You may also contact Con Edison’s Westchester Regional & Community Affairs Office at 1-914-925-6361, or by e- mail at dl-WestchesterRCA@coned.com.
Crossway
Another major project is planned for Crossway, where the water main will be replaced from Weaver Street to Mamaroneck Road. The project is expected to take six months, beginning in March and extending through November.
Fenimore and Fox Meadow Road
Fox Meadow and Greenacres residents, who have lived through traffic disruptions caused by the Con Edison gas line replacement since 2021 will be subject to even more road closures, this time at one of Scarsdale’s biggest intersections where Fenimore Road meets Fox Meadow Road.
It turns out that as a part of the gas line replacement project, Con Edison has determined that they need the Village of Scarsdale to relocate the water main under the intersection to a lower depth to make room for the new Con Edison gas main. Also to be replaced and relocated is the sewer main. Depending on its condition it will be replaced or relined at a minimum.
At the Village Board meeting on February 27, 2024, the Board approved a memo of understanding with Con Edison to relocate the water and sewer lines along with a professional service agreement with Woodard and Curran for the design of the relocation of the water main and sewer to allow the installation of a 36” gas main.
Timing for the project has not been given as yet.
Scarsdale Families Celebrate the Lunar New Year
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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A Lunar New Year feastDelicious food, fireworks, and festive decorations…these are only a few of the ways that people around the world celebrate the Lunar New Year. The joyful holiday, celebrated by millions of people from a variety of different cultures, marks the start of a new year based on the lunar calendar. For many Asian cultures, the 2024 Lunar New Year falls on February 10th and will be recognized as the year of the wood dragon. Each year, the Lunar calendar is represented by one of the twelve zodiac animals and this year’s wood dragon is believed to be a symbol of power, prosperity, evolution, and improvement.
The Lunar New Year, one of the most important holidays for many Asian and South Asian cultures, is celebrated for a number of days starting on Lunar New Year’s Eve and culminating 16 days later with the Lantern Festival. From cleaning their houses to get rid of inauspicious spirits, to cooking up lots of traditional dishes, there are many ways families right here in Scarsdale are preparing for, and celebrating this significant time.
Fox Meadow mom and local realtor, To-dao Tran Casey celebrates the holiday with her family by “indulging in a big family dinner, complete with dumplings (a sign of prosperity), and of course longevity noodles. Besides the mandarin oranges (symbolizing good luck and wealth), my kids favorite tradition is the red envelopes containing money, wishing them a safe and peaceful year.” Ms. Casey includes a recipe for her delicious longevity noodles in her monthly newsletter.
Another Fox Meadow mom Serina Lee and her family usually celebrate the new year with extended family on Jan 1, eating traditional foods, bowing to elders and getting money envelopes. Lunar New Year sometimes falls on a school night, so we usually keep it simple and celebrate with a traditional meal including dishes like Dduk Mandoo Guk (rice cake dumpling soup) and Kalbi Jjim (braised short ribs).
Cindy Yau loves all the festivities leading up to this major holiday and says it reminds her of the cheerfulness of Christmas, “It is such a festive time 
Tangyuan: a traditional dish for the Lantern Festivalwith many of the traditional markets adorned with red decorations and bustling with people.” Dressed in red to represent cheerfulness and happiness, Ms. Yau usually celebrates Lunar New Year’s Eve with extended family and a big, customary feast. She and her family cook many specific dishes like fish (which symbolizes abundance) and homemade dumplings shaped like golden nuggets. Ms. Yau explained that it is tradition to have leftover food to ensure a surplus for the rest of the year. It is also tradition to let young kids stay up as late as possible in a symbolic gesture of giving their parents a longer life. In addition to staying up past their bedtimes, Ms. Yau said children look forward to receiving red envelopes with money from their elders to wish them good luck in the new year.
Tina Lin also cooks an abundance of traditional dishes like fish, dumplings, and a buffet of sweet treats to share with family on Lunar New Year’s Eve. As she thoughtfully took the time to explain, “Most traditional foods for Chinese New Year are consumed because they are homophones of something auspicious. Fish (“yu” in Chinese) is pronounced like the word for surplus, so eating fish will lead to a year of abundance. Fish has to be served with its head and tail because you want good luck from beginning to end. Some of the fish is also saved to be eaten on New Year’s Day, so you have “extra” in the new year. Lettuce sounds like “growing fortune,” so I usually make lettuce cups. Oyster is a homophone for “good things.” Sweet and sour dishes are popular for New Year’s because sour sounds like “grandchild”…and the grandparents always want more grandchildren! A black moss that is used in a Buddhist vegetarian dish often eaten during the New Year is a homophone for “wealth.” Other traditional foods are considered good luck because of how they are shaped. Dumplings look like little money bags or ingots of gold. Scallops and clams look like coins. Circular and round foods symbolize harmony. Fried round sesame balls filled with a sweet red bean or lotus root paste are popular. Many new year cakes are steamed in round tins. Turnip cake is a savory cake made of white radish, which sounds like “good luck.” New Year Sweet Rice Cake (“Nian gao”) is a steamed sticky sweet cake made with glutinous rice and brown sugar, and represents progress and growth (sounds like an idiom re: advancing to higher places).”
Homemade Pineapple CakesMs. Lin’s extended family usually gathers at her house for a delicious feast set atop a table decorated with red and gold place settings. She then hosts her side of the family for the Lantern Festival, which marks the first full moon and the end of the Lunar New Year celebrations. While many Asian and Chinese communities celebrate this holiday by lighting lanterns, performing lion dances, and setting off fireworks, the Lins prefer to focus on their time together as a family and sharing delicious food. For the Lantern Festival, Ms. Lin is always sure to make tangyuan, a customary dish of glutinous white rice filled with a sweet paste and in a sweet syrup. Lin explains that the round shape of the rice balls is symbolic of family harmony. She also treats her loved ones to homemade pineapple cakes and explains that pineapple cakes are a Taiwanese specialty with pineapples symbolizing luck and prosperity.
If you and your family would like to partake in a Chinese New Year celebration, join the Scarsdale Chinese Association at their Spring Festival Gala on Sunday February 11th.
