A Mugging and a Warning About PCP
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The Eastchester Police have reported that a Scarsdale woman was robbed at knifepoint at 2 am on August 23 when she was walking from the Scarsdale Train Station to her apartment on Garth Road.
The 55 year-old woman exited the rear doors of a train at 2 am on 8/23 in Scarsdale and saw the man who later robbed her exit the front of the train. She walked home through Freightway Garage with a friend and then parted ways. As she continued to walk south on Garth Road the perpetrator walked past her and then turned around and asked her for a dollar. When she said she didn’t have a dollar, he opened up a chrome pocketknife and demanded her bag. At that point, the woman tried to run, but he grabbed her bag off her left shoulder and knocked her to the ground. He ran and she called the police saying that her bag, a copy of her passport, credit cards and $235 were taken.
The victim has a heart condition and was experiencing abdominal and chest pain so she was taken to White Plains Hospital. Police followed her to the hospital where she described her assailant as a young white male wearing black jeans, a sleeveless black tank top and a black baseball cap.
The matter is currently under investigation.
Greenburgh Police are reporting a surge in the use of PCP commonly known as angel dust. According to Chief Jospeh DeCarlo, police are finding marijuana dipped in PCP laced embalming fluid. In addition they are seeing cigarettes or tea leaves soaked in PCP.
When the marijuana or cigarette laced with PCP is smoked, it quickly causes hallucinations, panic, and fear and can induce a psychotic 
state with symptoms that resemble schizophrenia. Some users report feelings of invulnerability and exaggerated strength. PCP users may become severely disoriented, violent or suicidal.
Although some buyers realize they are purchasing marijuana laced with PCP, police believe that some do not know the marijuana they are buying is “Wet” (laced with PCP.
DeCarlo says that this year numerous officers were injured in confrontations with people under the influence of this drug. Though none were seriously injured, he is trying to head off any future problems.
If you are aware of any drug dealing in your neighborhood police ask that you call the police force’s non-emergency number 682-5300. Although identity of a caller adds credibility to a complaint, you may elect to remain anonymous, as they do not have caller ID on this number.
New Rochelle Resident Contract’s Westchester’s First 2012 Case of West Nile Virus
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Westchester County officials reported that a 28-year-old New Rochelle resident has contracted the county’s first case of West Nile Virus this year and is recovering at home after being hospitalized.
The County Department of Health conducted a local environmental assessment of the area around the resident’s home for signs of mosquito breeding activity. Residents in the area were advised to remove any standing water from their properties and several catch basins in the area were retreated with larvacide.
The Health Department prepared for the summer mosquito season by applying larvicide briquettes to street catch basins that held standing water on county and local roads in an effort to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as the West Nile virus. The county advises residents to do their part by taking personal protection measures and removing standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
So far this year, 22 positive mosquito batches were identified in Westchester, starting about a month ago. Last year at about this time, 26 positive mosquito batches had been found in the county, with the first batch identified in early August, In 2011, three human cases of West Nile virus were reported and there were no deaths.
However in New York City, officials have reported eight cases of West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease, four of those in Manhattan. In response to “rising activity” the city plans to spray a wide area of the Upper West Side on Friday morning 8/31 – from West 58th Street to West 97th Street. The Department of Health is urging people to stay inside during the spraying.
So far, Westchester has no plans to spray pesticides. “Despite a surge in West Nile Virus activity nationwide, so far mosquito activity in Westchester is on par with last year,’’ said Rick Morrissey, Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health. “The county health department conducted extensive mosquito prevention efforts again this year, larvaciding over 40,000 street catch basins. We will continue to monitor mosquito activity and recommend that residents are vigilant about removing standing water on their property.’’
West Nile Virus infection most often causes a mild or moderate flu-like illness, but can be more serious and potentially fatal in people 50 and older, and those with other health complications.
To help eliminate mosquito breeding grounds where you live:
- Get rid of all water-holding containers, especially old tires, cans, buckets, drums, wheelbarrows and bottles.
- Cover outdoor trash containers to keep rainwater from accumulating inside.
- Drill holes in the bottoms of recycling containers that are left outdoors.
- Clean roof gutters and remove standing water from flat roofs.
- Drain water in birdbaths, plant pots and drip trays twice a week.
- Sweep driveways after it rains so that they are free of puddles.
- Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. Keep them empty and covered if not in use; drain water that collects in pool covers.
To reduce your risk of mosquito bites:
- Avoid being outdoors in places and during times where and when mosquitoes are active and feeding.
- Use insect repellents with no more than 30% DEET, but use them sparingly and with care.
- Select the lowest concentration effective for the amount of time spent outdoors. Products with concentrations around 10% are effective for periods of approximately two hours.
- A concentration of 24% has been shown to provide an average of five hours of protection. DEET should not be applied more than once a day.
Products containing DEET are not recommended for use on children under 2 months of age. Carefully read and follow directions on the container and wash treated skin when mosquito exposure has ended. - Wear protective clothing such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts and socks when outdoors in areas and at times where and when mosquitoes are active.
- Make sure doors and windows have tight-fitting screens.
- Repair or replace screens that have tears or holes.
For more information on the department’s larviciding and West Nile virus prevention activities, call the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5000 or visit www.westchestergov.com/health .
Is the Game On or Off?
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The Town of Greenburgh is embroiled in another legal battle, this one surrounding the leasing of property on Dobbs Ferry Road, formerly occupied by Frank’s Nursery, to Game On 365 to build and operate a $6.9 million, 94,000 square foot, indoor sports facility. After much discussion of the terms of the lease, on Monday night August 14, the Greenburgh Town Board approved the 15-year lease, subject to a town-wide referendum on November 6th. The terms of the lease require Game On to pay the Town of Greenburgh $260,000 to $325,000, including payment for property taxes for the first four years of the deal and after that the rent will rise 1 percent annually. The lease also calls for the company to pay $125,000 for an environmental clean-up. But some contend that the remediation will be far more costly and cause Greenburgh to incur additional expense.
And why is a referendum necessary to approve the lease of town-owned land? According to Town Supervisor Paul 
Feiner, a referendum would allow residents to “partner” on this important decision and, “provide Town Board members with the opportunity to explain why we think the proposed lease is a good deal for the town.” It would also offer residents “the chance to hear both sides of the issue: from Game On and from House of Sports (which according to Feiner is leading the fight against the Game On application) and provide the Planning Board with feedback from thousands of residents.
However some argue that the Town does not have the right to lease land as Westchester County Code stipulates that the Towns must sell land acquired via tax foreclosure. This point is in dispute with the Town’s Attorney arguing that the Westchester County law requiring the land sale has been superseded by a NYS law enacted in 1993 called the Uniform Delinquent Tax Enforcement Act that “authorizes” the county to sell such properties but does not “preclude” as lease. Lewis argues that the 1993 law “supersedes any inconsistent general, special, or local law,” unless such local municipality “opted out” by adopting a local law and filing it with the State Board of Real Property Services no later than August 1, 1994.” Since Westchester did not opt out, Lewis argues that the County code is no longer valid and that Article 11 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law (RPTL) does not preclude the Town’s short term lease of surplus property to Game On 365, LLC or another entity.”
Representatives from The House of Sports , who already have approval to build a similar facility less than 3 miles
away off Route 9A in Ardsley, have also raised objections to the Game On lease. In an August 15th email to Scarsdale10583 they contend that, “This development is riddled with so many issues due to the Town’s actions ranging from a tainted RFP process, entering into a financially irresponsible deal at the expense of residents, the drafting of a lease lacking standard commercial terms and protections for the Town and lastly not realizing after 1½ years of work that the Town doesn’t even have the authority to lease the land and any such lease is illegal.”
They argue that Greenburgh is favoring Game On over the House of Sports and fear that the Town will again be tied up in litigation and use their tax dollars to foot the bill.
“The House of Sports is a family owned business that is making a very large investment in Greenburgh. We will be paying hundreds of thousands in taxes, hiring over a hundred employees and providing a fantastic asset to the community. All we have asked for is that the Town not favor one business over another. We are more than happy to compete on a level playing field. But it is very reasonable for us to demand that our tax dollars not be used to subsidize a competitor. The Town’s recent actions of favoring one business and disregarding the law will deter other new businesses from coming to Greenburgh."
They also call for Feiner to seek out a lawful use for the property.
“We would have no grounds to object to the Town’s actions if they were doing everything properly and legally. It is shameful for Feiner to blame a local business for his own errors in judgment, incompetence in execution and illegal actions. The likely litigation on the legality of the lease will take many years during which Game On will be unable to raise money (since the lease will be found to be null and void) and the Town will not be able to monetize this property. It’s time for Supervisor Feiner to look for a lawful use for this valuable town asset.”
A public discussion on the referendum, and a vote by the Town Board to schedule the referendum for November 6, will take place on Wednesday, August 29th at 7:30 PM at Greenburgh Town Hall.
Greenburgh Police Report: Drunks, Thieves and Mischief
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Drunk and Confused: On the afternoon of 8/17 police got a phone call from a Hartsdale woman who said she had lost her bag in the parking lot at Best Buy on Central Avenue. They found Irma Douglas, age 69, with a cup of alcohol and an empty bottle of wine nearby. She claimed she had gotten into an argument with her husband about money and was waiting for him to pick her up – however the officer knew that her husband died three years ago. This was the third time she called police in the course of a week. Police transported Douglas to White Plains Emergency Room for an evaluation.
On August 15, Douglas filed a report about her missing purse, containing personal papers, her passport, cell phone and $60 in cash.
Warring Neighbors: Michael Marom of South Healy Place in Scarsdale reported that someone had thrown an unknown liquid on the Styrofoam siding he was using to build his new house sometime between August 11 and August 15. He claimed the siding was damaged.
Thefts: An employee of TJ Maxx called police on the evening of August 15 when he caught a young woman stealing 10 handbags valued at $903.00. The woman, who was identified as Shanasia Simpson, age 18 of the Bronx, placed the ten bags in an aluminum-lined bag and left the store without paying for the goods. She was detained at the store, transported to police headquarters and charged with petit larceny and possession of burglar tools.
The manager of Walgreens on Central Avenue called police on 8/16 when she found that a customer had returned used items for store credit. Cans had been opened and refilled with water and used items filled a box of swabs. The store credited the customer $138 before realizing that the merchandise was used.
On Friday morning 8/17 police got a call from the owner of the BP Gas Station on Central Avenue to say that a woman had pumped $20.05 of gasoline into her sedan and driven off without paying. Police tracked the woman’s license plate number to a Fieldstone Drive apartment and found the woman who agreed to return to the station and pay the owner for the gas.
Damage: On Tallwood Drive in Hartsdale, a resident reported that someone had smashed her ceramic flowerpots overnight from 8/18 to 8/19. Police spoke to the neighbors and one admitted that his son had returned home drunk the prior night and smashed the woman’s flowerpots for no reason. The culprit was still asleep so police said they would follow-up.
Savannah Muirhead Born on the Hutch in Scarsdale
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Simone Thomas Muirhead of Mt. Vernon wasn’t expecting her baby for three weeks, but as a trained nurse, she was already prepared. Thomas works in the ICU at Montefiore Hospital but planned to deliver the baby at White Plains Hospital. Early on the morning of August 4th, 4:45 am to be exact, she woke up feeling some “discomfort” and called in sick to work. By 5:30 am the pain got worse and it felt like she was having contractions every fifteen minutes.
At that point, she told her husband that they had better head to the hospital – and as they left home she had the presence of mind to ask him to grab the suction bulb that she had bought a few days before.
Once in the car, things moved quickly. She felt the baby coming and asked her husband to drive quickly. Not wanting to get a ticket, he ignored her pleas to “floor it,” and stayed within the speed limit. But the baby was eager to make her entrance into the world and didn’t wait to get to White Plains. At the Weaver Street exit on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Scarsdale, Thomas felt the baby emerging and told her husband to pull over and call 911, which he did at 5:55 am.
By the time the police, SCARVAC paramedics and the fire department arrived at 6:01 am, Savannah Muirhead was already born. She came out crying and the couple used the suction bulb to clear her passages. They wrapped her up in the new robe that Thomas had purchased for her hospital stay and waited for help to arrive.
First to reach the car was a police officer who instructed them to turn off the car engine. The paramedics arrived and suctioned the baby again, wrapped her in foil to retain body heat and handed Thomas’s husband a scalpel to cut the umbilical cord. Next, mom and baby were transferred to an ambulance and taken to White Plains hospital where Muirhead gave birth to the placenta. The baby cried the whole way and once at the hospital weighed in at 5 pounds 2 ounces.
Today, Savannah Muirhead is at home with her very capable parents -- and though her birth certificate says she was born in White Plains, the truth is that she came into the world in Scarsdale.
And what about the car? How did it fare? No problem! Muirhead also had pads in the car to protect the upholstery so the Toyota came through the procedure beautifully as well.
Muirhead is grateful to all the emergency workers for their help and wishes to thank Scarsdale, New Rochelle and Westchester County police and firefighters and Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps for their assistance.
