Scarsdale Boys' Golf Team: Hungry for Redemption in 2023
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- Written by: Sajiv Mehta
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Thomas Kronenberg hits a putt in preparation for a match at Quaker Ridge Golf Club on Wednesday, 4/19The 2022 season came to a rather forgettable close for the SHS Boys’ Golf Team. After a 19-win, undefeated season in ‘21 in which the Raiders won the Section Title in dominating fashion, Scarsdale stumbled to a 3rd place finish at Fenway Golf Club, their home course, the very next year. It was a surprising end to a spring that dished out much individual success to Raiders. A record 13 boys from the team qualified for individual sectionals, 4 were all-section, and, senior captain Matthew Choe, qualified for the state tournament.
Due to this large amount of returning talent, only 4 spots were available on the varsity team this spring. After two nine-hole rounds, two players from last year’s team, Ryan Phillips and Matthew Steuerman, secured their places on the roster, and two underclassmen earned a spot as well. Leo Chu, a reclassed sophomore back from two years abroad in Taiwan, had a good showing at the tryouts, as did Reece Schneider, a freshman whose first-day score of 1-over 37 led the tryouts. With the roster set, the Raiders took full advantage of a week of Spring break to hone their games and came out firing in the first week of matches, shooting scores of 203, 201, 210, and 190. These matches all went down in the “Win column”, but they weren’t without some close calls.
On Tuesday 4/11, the Raiders were in the midst of a close match with John Jay Cross River. After the rounds were in and the scores were counted up, it seemed that the Raiders had lost – they had shot 201 to a score of 200 by John Jay. However, a few hours after the last putt was holed and the players had left, Scarsdale Coach Andy Verboys realized that a score had been miscounted – he had misheard one of the John Jay boys’ names and thus put down a 40 instead of a 43 for him. When the player’s true score had counted, the Raiders won, 201 to 203.
Despite the eventual result, a match that came down to the wire was a learning experience for the Raiders. Junior Justin Liu said, “Last year, we lost. So this year, we’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen, and today reminded us of that.” The motivation did its work just 2 days after the John Jay match, when the team fired a score of 190 at the back nine of Fenway Golf Club, a score that, according to Coach Verboys, is the lowest Scarsdale has ever gone on those specific nine holes. They were led by a 1-under 34 by Liu, who made an eagle on the final hole to break par for the first time in a high school match.
Sajiv Mehta hits a tee shot on the 15th hole at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Wednesday, 4/19.
This year, Scarsdale’s lineup is especially centered around the team’s upperclassmen. Indeed, several veteran juniors are all arguably in the running for the starting lineup and looking to make a deep postseason run. Justin Liu has been on Varsity since his freshman year and has had strong finishes each year since – he would have made Section 1’s team at the New York State Tournament in 2021 if it hadn’t been canceled due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Last spring, he qualified for the second round of the sectional tournament. Another strong junior is Cole Gerson, who is only in his second year of Varsity play but has already made a big impact. Last season, Gerson had a strong, consistent regular season, finishing the regular season with a scoring average good for tenth in the section. He, too, qualified for the second day of sectionals. Fellow junior Thomas Kronenberg is yet another regarded player, having earned all-section honors last May. Lastly, senior captain Choe is also looking to reload and repeat his success in 2022, when he won a one-hole playoff to secure the final spot on the state tournament team.
The Raiders have a record of excellence – they’ve won six section titles in the last ten years and three in the last four seasons. With a roster as remarkably deep as ever and a competitive fire that only seems to burn brighter in the face of setbacks, the Raiders likely won’t be satisfied with anything less than another title to further add to their history of prestige.
Justin Liu hits a tee shot in preparation for a match at Scarsdale Golf Club on Tuesday, 4/18And really, why should they be?
Author Sajiv Mehta is a junior at Scarsdale High School. He has been a member of the varsity boys' golf team for three years.
Sajiv Mehta hits a shot in preparation for a match at Scarsdale Golf Club on Tuesday, 4/18.
How Long Should a Demolition Take?
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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We received a copy of a letter from a disgruntled neighbor who lives on Fayette Road. He is complaining about a partially demolished home at 62 Franklin Road that he claims has been in this state for a month.
He said, “This picture is not of a damaged house from Iowa or Mississippi caused by a tornado. It is a house being demolished at the corner of Franklin Road and Crossway and has been sitting like this for a month." Either the owner of the property has abandoned the project or gone bust.”
He said he has tried to contact the Building Department and can’t get through. He suggested, “Why don’t you issue a hefty daily fine ($10,000 a day) and force the owner to act.”
We made some inquiries and were told that plans for a new house on the property had been approved and the builder would move forward shortly.
A 6,740 square foot new house on the property is currently listed for $3,995,000. You can see it here.
My Neighbor, My Hero, Ronny Hersch
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- Written by: Jessica Rosenberg
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Ronny Hersch and Rhonda Schnipper
Our neighbors. Some, we see every day. Some, we have never met. But in a Village of over 18,000 residents, how well can we really know each other?
There are many reasons why Rhonda Schnipper (right) is eager to acknowledge her neighbor and “forever friend” Ronny Hersch (left), who for the past 14 years has never missed an opportunity to help the community. From supporting the library, planning carnivals, organizing meal trains and coordinating graduation details, Rhonda describes Ronny as being, “quietly everywhere”, never holding back when it comes to giving of herself to help others.
Rhonda first met Ronny, whose husband grew up in Scarsdale, through Ronny’s sister-in-law when they were living in New York City. The two immediately connected, but their bond was solidified once they realized their homes in Quaker Ridge would be within walking distance of each other and that their children would be entering the same grade.
When we spoke, Rhonda had a hard time choosing just one anecdote to accurately convey Ronny’s commitment to the community over the past decade plus. How could Ronny’s never-ending support be best captured in one story?
Imagine this: A driveway packed with beach chairs. Teenagers and adults hunched over their computers and ipads trying their best to get something done amidst the backdrop of COVID, recurring Wi-Fi outages, and the general stress of this palpably tense time.
This was the scene unfolding outside of Ronny’s home when Rhonda drove by in the spring of 2020. Rhonda recalls seeing people walking in and out of Ronny’s house - which served as a de facto library - to use her printer. Ronny became the unofficial neighborhood office manager during this crazy time, as she offered access to her computer room, shared her Wi-Fi codes, and laid out snacks and refreshments for all the people camped out in her driveway, and even those parked in cars around the block!
She single-handedly made it possible for many to successfully work and learn remotely, despite the sporadic outages in Scarsdale.
During a time when we were advised to isolate ourselves in our homes, it is truly a special person who looks outwards for ways to help others. Rhonda sums it up beautifully when she says, “For 14 years I have personally witnessed that she (Ronny) will help anyone in her life. She is truly a blessing to our community."
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Scarsdale Forum Speaks Out on Hochul's Housing Compact
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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The Scarsdale Forum has added their voice to the rising tide of those who object to Governor Kathy Hochul’s housing compact, which is now being debated in Albany. The mandate to increase housing stock and allow the state to override local zoning code could have far-reaching effects on the Scarsdale landscape along with the schools, infrastructure, tax base, services, sustainability and zoning and planning.
Though officials from many Westchester municipalities signed a recent position paper from the Westchester Municipal Officers Association outlining the pitfalls of the plan, no one from Scarsdale spoke up or signed the letter. The Forum is urging Scarsdale to take a stand.
Forum President Susan Douglass said, "Governor Hochul's proposed Housing Compact legislation will have a substantial negative impact on Scarsdale from multiple perspectives -- zoning, downtown planning, education, municipal services, sustainability, and of course the budget and taxes, since there is insufficient funding tied to implementation of this program." She went on to note, "Thus far, officials from many communities in Westchester have spoken out against this proposal. Scarsdale would face particular challenges if the plan were to be implemented."
Quoting from the report, “Implementing Governor Hochul’s Housing Compact would require that large portions of Scarsdale which are currently zoned for single-family units be completely re-zoned to allow for multi-family housing. This would allow for heightened building skylines to be created along all roads in Scarsdale which are within a half mile of a train station or its platform. For example, envision the first half-mile of the south end of Fox Meadow Road. Currently, each lot on either side of this residential road is occupied by a single-family house. Under the Governor's plan, developers can be expected to buy these properties and line both sides of the road with apartment houses similar to those along Garth Road or in downtown Hartsdale. The same is true along Walworth Avenue in Greenacres. Because the multi-family units zone extends for one-half mile in all directions, the Overhill area and Old Scarsdale neighborhoods near the Village Center would also risk being redeveloped into apartment buildings or townhouses.”
The report outlines potential impacts and calls for action by both the Village Board and individual residents to voice their opposition.
Read the opening of the report below:
Introduction
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has included in her 2023 New York State budget a two-part proposal for a “Housing Compact” program, set to commence in January 2024, with the goal of increasing affordable housing.
The first component would require every village, city and town in the New York metropolitan area, including the Village of Scarsdale (the “Village”), to increase their housing stock by 3 percent in the next three years and by 3 percent every three years thereafter. Should Scarsdale not meet this goal, a new fast-track approval mechanism that allows for multi-family projects will be automatically triggered, and will override whatever local zoning, planning and land-use regulations are currently in place.
The 3 percent requirement for Scarsdale would translate into approximately 173 new housing units by the end of 2027 (based on the current 5,454 units ), and likewise around the same number of units every three years thereafter.
The second part of the housing compact is a Transit Oriented Development (TOD) initiative, and requires local planning and zoning law changes within a three-year window to facilitate the development of multi-family housing in areas near a rail station. The program requires a forced amendment to Village law adding a new section, “Density of residential dwellings near transit stations.” Under the TOD proposal, the area subject to the mandatory zoning and planning changes would encompass all developed land within a half-mile radius from a train station.
There are four tiers to the program, which are distinguished by the proximity of a transit station to New York City. Scarsdale is in Tier 1, along with the other communities that are no more than 15 miles from the New York City border. Being in Tier 1, Scarsdale would be required to change its zoning laws to meet or exceed the density requirement of 50 units per acre for all properties within a half-mile radius of a train station.
The TOD proposal mandates a zoning change, but not a building mandate. As a result, homeowners within a Tier 1 area would not be forced to increase the number of units on their property. However, developers would potentially incentivize owners to sell and develop larger multi-unit buildings on single-family zoned lots. A “worst case scenario” assumes every current property owner within Tier 1 sells, and their property is developed to the maximum units per acre within the half-mile radius of the train station. New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who represents Scarsdale, estimates that the number of units in Scarsdale and Hartsdale combined would be in the range of 10,000 units. State Senator Shelley Mayer, whose district now includes Scarsdale, posits the requisite number of units would be in the range of 13,000 units.
Should even one property within Tier 1 be converted from single-family to multi-family, it would forever change the landscape and fabric of the Scarsdale community, let alone if this proposal proliferates on the scale estimated.
The mandated local code changes would be exempt from any state environmental review, and the Village would be prohibited from imposing unreasonable provisions relating to lot coverage, open space, height, setbacks, floor area ratios or parking requirements.
In the event of a failure of the Village to comply with the State-mandated zoning change, the Village would nevertheless be required to permit the 50 units per acre density requirement as mandated by State law and must review any qualifying projects that could come to the Village pursuant to a process outlined in State law, with enforcement by the State Attorney General.
Major Conclusions And Recommendations
While the Committees agree that affordable housing is needed in Westchester County and throughout New York State, the Committees oppose the Governor’s Housing Compact proposal. The position of the Committees is that it is the incorrect way to effectuate increased housing in New York State, and it will create irreparable damage to local communities including Scarsdale.
This Report recommends that the Village take the following actions immediately:
1. Issue a formal resolution in opposition to the Housing Compact ; and
2. Encourage the Village Board of Trustees and the community to contact the Governor’s office, as well as Scarsdale’s State Senator Shelley Mayer and State Assemblymember Amy Paulin, to voice opposition to this proposal.
Why is Village Hall Closing Its Doors to Civic Group Meetings?
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Village Hall will no longer be available as a site for civic meetings. Myra Saul, who heads the Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee says that the group no longer has a place to meet. Here is her letter to the Mayor, dated March 17, 2022.
Dear Ms. Mayor:
Unhappily, I’ve been informed that Village Hall will no longer be available at night to hold meetings of Scarsdale civic groups in the near future. This includes the Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee, which has been meeting monthly at night at Village Hall for years. Village Hall is a central location and has plenty of parking. The Committee meets at night so as not to interfere with work schedules, especially those of Scarsdale’s elected state and county officials, who are our frequent guests.
I’ve also been informed that the firehouses will not be available to hold meetings of civic groups at night as well.
The Village Manager’s office has given me alternatives, which the Committee is exploring. Unfortunately, while the Committee is exploring these alternatives, each is unsatisfactory for various reasons.
In addition, this change in policy could appear to drive our committee to hold all of its meetings remotely. Our committee values in person meetings, just as the trustees do. They foster cohesiveness and easy communications, among other things.
Why is Village Hall closing to civic groups for their night meetings? I’ve been given no official reason, but I surmise the reason is cost. If that is the reason, why not just increase the fees?
Scarsdale prides itself on the depth and breadth of its volunteer and civic organizations. The closing of Village Hall to nightly meetings does not comport with that vision.
Please keep Village Hall open.
Thank you,
Myra Saul
Chair, Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee
