Scarsdale Bowl Winner Terry Singer Says Volunteering is a Wonderful Way to Meet Like-Minded Neighbors and Friends
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Terry Singer will be the recipient of Scarsdale’s highest volunteer award, the 2022 Scarsdale Bowl on Thursday night April 28 at Brae Burn Country Club. The entire community is invited to celebrate Terry, along with the 2020 honorees, Jon Mark and BK Munguia and the 2021 honoree Michelle Lichtenberg. Buy your tickets here.
Singer has volunteered in the Scarsdale Schools, the Scarsdale Adult School and at the library, where she was instrumental in the building of Scarsdale’s beautiful new library.
Below see her thoughts on volunteering and all the doors it has opened for her.
For those who don’t know you, tell us something about your family and educational and professional background?
Paul and I have been married for 38 years and lived in Manhattan until moving to Scarsdale in 1989. Our two children, Sarah and Lee, both graduated from SHS, and along with Lee's fiancé Mindy, they all live and work in NYC. I am fortunate to also have my mother Sylvia nearby in White Plains. My undergraduate alma mater is Cornell University, having attended the College of Human Ecology. I then went on to pursue a Master of Architecture degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
My professional career began in NYC, where I worked at several small and large architecture and interior design firms. I worked on various types of buildings, including brownstone renovations, and new apartment and office buildings. Some interesting projects include the restoration of several of the bridges in Central Park, the lobby space of the Chrysler Building, and a ferry terminal at Battery Park City to Hoboken. Since moving to Scarsdale, I have spent a good deal of time applying architectural skills toward community projects, having assisted in various capacities on improvements to the school facilities, Westchester Reform Temple's renovation and sanctuary addition, and the Scarsdale Public Library.
How did you first get involved in volunteer work?
A neighbor was the chairperson of the BAR. We met casually one afternoon while he was walking by our home, and when he heard about my architectural background he encouraged me to join the Board. That was in 1991, and how I originally engaged in local land use.
Several years later, while my daughter was a Heathcote kindergarten student, I was a class mother, and proceeded to get more involved with the PTA. I chaired the After School Clubs before becoming PTA President.
Among your early activities, what were some of the highlights of your work in the schools?
I have particularly fond memories of my Heathcote PTA experience. We had supportive and dedicated parents, teachers and administrators. One of the initiatives I am particularly enthusiastic about was our introduction of Learning to Look as a parent run program. It used to be a Scarsdale Teachers' Institute course and not all teachers had the time or inclination to enroll. This meant only some students were able to benefit from the program. While I was PTA President, we restructured the Learning to Look program so it would be run through the PTA. The program director adapted the lessons to be parent led, and with the amazing support of the parents, teachers and the administration, we transitioned the program to be taught in classrooms throughout the school. That was over 20 years ago, and I understand the program is still running successfully.
At SHS, my work with the PTA Scholarship Fund stands out. I had the opportunity to serve on and chair this committee for several years. Collaborating with compassionate parents who shared the goal of assisting graduating seniors with the financial burdens of their freshman year at college was especially meaningful to me. The SHS PTA Scholarship Fund paves the way for the Scarsdale Foundation, while they support our local students during their later years in college.
Tell us about your work with the Scarsdale Adult School?
The Scarsdale Adult School is extraordinary. Without having physical walls, the school is a community of committed life-long learners. My term on the Board began in 2012, and I became Co-chair in 2020, which was a few months into COVID-19 when people were mostly house bound. This was quite a challenge, as the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee, the Executive Director and staff, all had to envision how to meet our students' interest to continue attending classes. We met frequently on zoom, tried different virtual course offerings, and had to be both flexible and experimental. It was a true team effort, with Executive Director Jill Serling very much at the helm. Our goal was to offer students learning opportunities and a sense of connection while in pandemic isolation. We were able to develop an online platform, and many of our talented instructors adapted to this format. Local students continued to enroll, and we were able to reach out-of-town students as well. Now with COVID-19 restrictions opening up, we have started in-person classes, and look forward to bringing more people together again. It has been quite a two-year ride!
I have been fortunate to have a wonderful Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, Advisory Committee, and SAS staff. We continue to meet regularly for scheduled meetings and frequently in between to address any issues that arise during the constantly changing COVID-19 environment.
In your leadership roles, what has been your process for resolving conflicts of opinion?
Communication - so much can be resolved when people have an opportunity to express concerns, and when they are confident that their opinions are taken into serious consideration. Whether at a public forum like the BAR or at smaller Board meetings, an open dialogue is so important to enable understanding and acceptable compromises. This is critical to the process of resolving conflicts of opinion, it takes time and often multiple conversations, but it's very important.
Tell us about your role in envisioning, planning and building the Scarsdale Library. What, if anything, surprised you about the process?
I joined the library team as a Community Advisor, to assist the library Board through the programming and pre-schematic phase. As a Board member, I co-chaired the Building Committee, and it was during that time that we engaged an architect, constantly reviewed priorities, responded to designs, monitored the budget, and kept the Community and Village informed. Ultimately, the finalized designs were turned into construction documents followed by a bidding and construction phase. We attended biweekly meetings in the trailer in the library parking lot with the construction manager, the architect and the various contractors. It was many years in the making, but the end result is this wonderful library that residents from Scarsdale and our neighboring towns can benefit from.
The degree to which our Community rallied behind this project was stunning. There was a tremendous display of enthusiasm and commitment. The volunteerism, financial support, Village government and Library staff support all contributed to the success of the project. It is a testament to the uniqueness of our Community.
If you could look into a crystal ball, what are some of your hopes for Scarsdale for the next decade and beyond?
I hope to see the downtown continue to become more revitalized. Some of the recent enhancements, like the tent, the outdoor dining, and the public art, have been terrific. It would be wonderful to see these types of successes continue into the next decade. I am also enthusiastic about any improvements that can be done to our public outdoor spaces, like the pool and the pond adjacent to the library. Scarsdale has beautiful resources that we should continue to take full advantage of.
What would you say to those who have not yet volunteered to encourage them to jump in?
I suggest getting involved in areas that are of particular interest. I sought out involvements in areas related to education and continuous learning, architecture and land use. But there are organizations, boards and councils that contribute to our community across many spectrums. There is sure to be a rewarding volunteer opportunity, and as a bonus, it is a terrific way to meet wonderful like-minded neighbors and friends.
Celebrate Terry Singer along with Michelle Lichtenberg, Jon Mark and BK Munguia at the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner at Brae Burn Country Club on Thursday April 28. Click here to purchase your tickets.
SHS Prom Date Could Conflict with Playoff Schedules
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Parents and athletes are upset about a revision of the timing of the Scarsdale High School Prom that may cause conflicts for student athletes who qualify for the post season.
The Scarsdale High School Prom is customarily held on the Thursday after Memorial Day, which this year is June 2, 2022. And that is the date that was printed on the community calendar.
However, this date was changed to May 19, 2022 this past fall and many did not note the change. The issue is that teams like girls lacrosse. girls softball, boys tennis, track and field and boys lacrosse are scheduled to hold playoffs on May 19 and 20. Student athletes may not be able to participate in pre-prom parties, the red carpet event or post-prom fun the following day.
Requests were sent to Principal Kenneth Bonamo to change the date and he explained that though the earlier prom date is "less than ideal," the school made every effort to come up with a new solution, but "they were not sucessful."
He said that the school initially tried to secure June 2 at the Glen Island Harbour Club but it was not available. They also sought other venues but found that many were already booked.
Other available dates conflicted with school testing and obligations for senior options.
Last the administration realized that if they did change the date, they might cause conflicts for other students and vendors and concluded that "no one date would work equally well for every member of the senior class and their families." Therefore they decided to remain with May 19, 2022.
Principal Bonamo hopes that postseason games can be scheduled in the earlier part of the day to allow seniors to enjoy the prom. This has been done in the past with cooperation from other teams.
So mark your calendars and cross your fingers. The SHS Senior Prom will be held on Thursday May 19, 2022 at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle.
Trustee Randy Whitestone Looks Forward to Addressing Challenges in his Second Term
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When residents stop Village Trustee Randall Whitestone to share a concern or offer up a complaint, what is on their minds? We asked Whitestone what he hears from his neighbors and he explained, “People are around more, they notice their surroundings and want peace and enjoyment. Quality of life comments are big: people are talking about road conditions, pathways, pedestrian safety and flooding. With climate change we will face that even more. They also talk about the conditions of the fields, and noise and light pollution from outdoor lighting installed by neighbors.”
Fortunately for Scarsdale, Whitestone is currently serving his first two-year term as a Village Trustee and heads the “Quality of Life” Pillar of the strategic plan. He has a clear vision of the problems we face and a process for how to address these issues in his next two years as Village Trustee, a seat for which he is running unopposed on the Citizens Non-Partisan Party slate.
We sat down to discuss the state of the Village and Whitestone’s candidacy at Metro Diner on Friday February 18, where it looked like the Village was returning to life. It was a sign of the times that people were waiting for tables in a restaurant that was often half full during the past two years.
What has the Village Board accomplished during the last two years? Whitestone said, “We have re-engineered Village government.” He explained that when he started, the business of the Village was all done on paper, and there were huge stacks of paper everywhere. The Village had been run the same way for many years and the trustees realized it was time to update operations for the 21st century. They are currently in the process of moving all systems online, which will allow them to both operate more efficiently and gather data and analytics that they can use to make smart decisions down the line.
Another hallmark of his first term has been a big turnover in Village staff. Whitestone said Scarsdale was a part of the “great resignation,” and retirees and departures included Village Manager Steve Pappalardo, Village Clerk Donna Conkling, Village Treasurer Mary Lou McClure and Fire Chief Jim Seymour.
Trustees have been successful at recruiting new talent such as assessor Victoria Sirota, treasurer Ann Scaglione, assistant Village Manager Alex Marshall and promoting Rob Cole to Village Manager and most recently Chris Mytych to Fire Chief. These new appointees bring new perspectives on how the work can be done more efficiently and they are implementing better systems.
And new thinking will be vital as the Village faces some large infrastructure needs. Whitestone said that Village Managers and trustees will need to decide how to tackle a necessary upgrade or even replacement of the Scarsdale pool and replace portions of our water system that are over 100 years old. He also mentioned the need to focus on our storm water management system that contributes to some of the flooding we’ve experienced during recent storms. During his second term he looks forward to addressing traffic and pedestrian safety, including studies the Village commissioned for the village center and Sprague Road, as well as reorienting the budget process to put goals front and center and measure and benchmark progress.
Whitestone explained, that the board needs to analyze the Village’s financial capacity, staff capability and resident’s willingness to pay for the services they expect.
As part of the ongoing 2022-23 budget discussions, trustees have been discussing fund balance levels, our bond rating, managing cash balances and our capacity to take on more debt to finance some of this work.
Whatever the outcome, Whitestone said, “We can’t starve our long term needs for long.’
Of late, Board meetings have been calm and lacking in the controversy that marked previous times. We asked Whitestone why he thought Village business had quieted down. He explained, “We have a board that asks questions, probes and invites public participation. Mayor Veron has invited comments and tries to be transparent. We spend the time necessary to listen and to analyze.”
The talk turned to affordable housing as Governor Kathy Hochul had just removed a controversial proposal to permit accessory dwelling units on single family lots from her budget. We asked Whitestone if he thought conversations about developing the Freightway Garage site into multi-family housing, retail and parking might be renewed in the next two years.
He said, “Freightway is over fifty years old. We do regular condition assessments to ensure that it is safe. It is an aging facility and perhaps there are better long term uses for the parking structure and the adjacent lot. I am in favor of continuing to think about it and asking our Village Planner for an analysis.” But in terms of priorities he said, “We have so much on our plate including the water system, the pool and even Village Hall” that we have to do what we have time to think about.”
We asked Whitestone for his views on historic preservation and he pointed out that the Reconnaissance Level Cultural Resources Survey of historic properties had not been updated since it was done in 2012. He said, “Perhaps it is time; it could be more comprehensive.” He said wistfully, “my grandparents were the first owners of a house built in Fox Meadow in 1928 and it’s still standing.”
Now that all Village Board meetings are available on ZOOM, how has this shift to hybrid meetings affected the process? He said, “I would rather see people in person but having the meetings available online makes them accessibile to more people. It’s a mixed bag, but net net it’s positive. We are investing in new equipment to improve the quality of the online experience.”
What else? Some projects don’t require years of consideration. Whitestone happily relayed that the trustees are considering building either four or eight pickleball courts at Crossway, opposite the Fire Station. He asked what I thought and I responded with an emphatic “Yes.”!
The Village election is scheduled for Tuesday March 15, 2022, from 6 am to 9 pm, with voting at the Scarsdale Library on Olmsted Road.
In Support of the SCNP Slate for Village Trustee: Election March 15, 2022
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These letters to the editor are written to support the SCNP slate of candidates, for election on Tuesday March 15, 2022 from 6 am to 9 pm at Scarsdale Library.
Dear Scarsdale Community,
We respectfully ask you to vote for Jeremy Gans, Kenneth Mazer, and Randall Whitestone for Village Trustee in the upcoming election on Tuesday, March 15th.
Jeremy Gans, a 15-year Scarsdale resident, serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Executive Committee of the Scarsdale Forum, and the Scarsdale High School PTA Scholarship Fund Committee. Previously, he was President of the Scarsdale Youth Soccer Club. Professionally, Jeremy is the President of JDJ Capital Management Company. Jeremy and his wife Lisa have three sons currently attending Scarsdale schools.
Ken Mazer has lived in Scarsdale for over 25 years. He has served on the Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years. During this time, Ken was a Lieutenant, and has also been elected as President. Ken also serves as Chairman of a grant-making foundation at UJA-Federation of New York, and previously was a board member of the New York Association of New Americans. Professionally, Ken is Vice President and co-founder of Global Textile Partners. He lives in Fox Meadow with his wife Melissa and has three children, all educated in Scarsdale schools.
Randall Whitestone, a 27-year Scarsdale resident, is nominated for a second term as Village Trustee. As Trustee, he has served as chair of the Quality of Life and Communications committees and a member of the special committee on the 2021 Village Manager search. Previously, he has served on the Scarsdale Forum; the Citizens Nominating Committee; the Scarsdale Procedure Committee; the Scarsdale Foundation Bowl Committee; and the Arthur Manor Association board. Professionally, Randy is head of media communications and public affairs for The D. E. Shaw Group. Randy and his wife Lisa have two children, both SHS graduates.
Honest and effective local government relies on capable people, like Jeremy, Ken, and Randy, who care about the community and are willing to commit their time, energy, and expertise to continue to improve Scarsdale. They have been selected by the Citizens’ Nominating Committee (CNC), comprised of 30 members of the community, elected to evaluate candidates for Village Trustee, Justice, and Mayor. The CNC welcomes and encourages any Scarsdale resident who would like to serve on the Board of Trustees to submit an application to the CNC for consideration. The CNC thoroughly evaluates each candidate, carefully considering relevant experience in community organizations, professional and educational background, and reference checks. While the process is transparent, the content of the CNC’s deliberations is kept confidential, for the sake of Candidates’ privacy, to encourage open and honest dialogue, and to foster greater resident participation. To learn more about the Non-partisan process, please visit: www.scarsdalecitizens.org.
Gans, Mazer and Whitestone have been nominated by the CNC for their character, temperament, extensive civic activities in Scarsdale, and their commitment to public service. The village election will be held on Tuesday, March 15, in the Scott Room at the Scarsdale Public Library. Please vote for Gans, Mazer, and Whitestone.
Respectfully,
Jared Stern and Omer Wiczyk
Co-Chairs, SCNP Campaign CommitteeTo the Editor:
I am writing to express my support of the Scarsdale Village Trustee candidates nominated by the Citizens’ Nominating Committee (CNC) – Randy Whitestone, Jeremy Gans and Ken Mazer.. I am a long term resident of the Village who raised our family here. I have participated on many civic committees over the past 20 years, have served as a member of the CNC and have been twice elected a Village Trustee.
The CNC has put forth a strong slate of candidates for voters’ consideration. They all have significant experience volunteering to better our community and have achieved success in these roles. They have diverse backgrounds that will complement each other as well as the current members of the Village Board. They will also add a variety of perspectives that will contribute to shaping the important issues facing village government. Background on the candidates, including their professional accomplishments and their prior service in the Village can be found on the Scarsdale Citizens’ Non-Partisan Party’s website, "www.ScarsdaleCitizens.org".
I am particularly acquainted with Randy Whitestone who I have known for more than 20 years. We served on the Scarsdale Forum’s Village Fiscal Affairs Committee where I learned of Randy’s professional skills and good judgment. As he has demonstrated in his first term as a Village Trustee, he is an astute analyst of village government and the services it provides. His thoughtful application of his analytic skills which reflect his career in finance and professional communications, has enhanced the effective governance of our village.
Since Randy joined the Village Board two years ago, I have watched with interest, and the perspective of a former Trustee, as he digs in on both strategic and tactical priorities for village government and brings a measured, balanced view to the issue at hand.
Randy Whitestone embodies and demonstrates the kind of leadership we need in these uncertain times. We are fortunate to be able to take advantage of his willingness to serve and dedicate his time and expertise on our behalf.
At the core of our great community’s long-term success are the talented and dedicated citizens who work tirelessly without financial reward for the greater good. Their commitment makes all of our lives better. While these candidates are running without challenge it is important for us to vote. Voting participation legitimatizes our democratic process. It also sends an important message of support to our candidates who dedicate a significant amount of time to maintain our high-quality Village government and the services it provides.
I encourage all of those registered to vote for Randy, Jeremy Gans and Ken Mazer – all excellent candidates -- and show our community’s support of our non-partisan system which has served us well for decades.
Please vote on March 15th at the Scarsdale Public Library.
Thank you.
Best,
Ken Rilander
Brite Avenue
(Photo Credit Mark Jessamy)
Madison Noelle Chappell Passes Away at Age 25
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A service for Madison Noelle Chappell of Scarsdale who passed away at the age of 25, will be held at Hitchcock Church on Wednesday February 16 at 2 pm.
Here is a statement from the Reverend Pete Jones at Hitchcock Church, sent out on February 7, 2022.
“It is with unimaginable sadness and with eternal hope in the resurrection that I share the following statement from the Chappell Family:
"It is with the deepest of sorrow that we share that our beloved Madison Noelle Chappell has gone on to be with the Lord this morning. Celebration of Life details to follow."
Madi was 25 years old. Please keep her parents (Robert & Nicole) and her brothers (Robby & Noah) in your prayers tonight and in the days to come.
Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.” -Revelation 14:3
You are welcome to join together with us here at Hitchcock as we celebrate the life of Madi Chappell next Wednesday, February 16, at 2pm.
For those seeking to make a donation in Madi's memory, please do so to the Eastchester Volunteer EMS Corp where Madi worked during high school and college (www.eastchesterems.com).
Chappell’s Linked In profile reads as follows:
Madison(Madi) Noelle Chappell was born in New York City, January 6, 1997. She lived in Harlem up until the age of 14, after which, she and her family moved to Scarsdale. She has two dogs, a boxer (Blaze, 6) and a dachshund (Bella, 2). She also has 10 fish. Madi has always dreamt of becoming a physician and graduated from Syracuse University with a B.S. in Psychology as well as completed all the necessary Pre-Medicine courses in 2019. She is proud that she was on the dean's list twice and was able to remain a full time student after being diagnosed with Metastatic Cervical Cancer in 2018, despite doctors telling her to drop out. She plans to apply to medical school in the coming years.
Over the summers during college, Madi volunteered as a research intern at Burke Neurological Institute in the Edward’s Brain Stimulation and Motor Control Laboratory. She assisted in clinical and therapeutic intervention with patients using various robotic assistive technologies. While volunteering at Burke Neurological Institute, she was also a Clinical Intern for the Restorative Neurology Robotics Clinic. There, she assisted Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists during therapy sessions using cutting edge technologies. She also assisted in the process of administering Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, and performed literature reviews and critiqued current rehabilitation devices for impairment reduction in neurological populations. The patient population consisted of those with neurological impairments caused by strokes, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and other neurological conditions.
Madi volunteers at Mount Sinai West in the Maternity Department. There, she makes rounds to all patients in two postpartum units, assists patients and families by retrieving medical supplies, assists nurses by delivering lab samples and picking up medications from the pharmacy for patients, and delivers birthday cakes to newborns and their families and sings Happy Birthday with them. Madi has been an EMS Volunteer since she was a senior in high school. She currently runs her clothing business, Be Decent Clothing.
