Fallen Branch from Historic Tree Causes Blackout in Scarsdale Village
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On Friday July 18 at around 3:00 PM a huge limb--now visibly hollowed--broke off a towering black oak and fell onto Autenreith Road, blocking traffic and causing a blackout on both sides of the street. A resident says, “It was a miracle no one was hurt on this heavily traveled side street where motorists speed in and out of downtown 24/7 and pedestrians walk without sidewalks. I phoned Con Ed and Scarsdale Police(SPD) who told me that the Department of Public Works(DPW) had already been informed. The mammoth front loader from the Scarsdale Highway Department arrived quickly. They chain sawed and cleared the debris in a couple of hours.”
She continued, “Fortunately, while the impact tripped the transformer near my driveway Con Ed was able to restore power as soon as the road was cleared. Neighbors are grateful to SPD, DPW and Con Ed.”
But what about this 300 year-old tree that was the subject of a preservation campaign after a developer filed plans to renovate a home on the property?
In August 2024, neighbors rallied to save the tree which they say is among the oldest in Scarsdale. Plans to renovate a home at 21 Autenreith Road would put the roots of the tree in peril and they called in Jennifer Bernstein, CEO of the New York Botanical Garden to see they tree who said, “Mature trees like this beautiful black oak provide critical environmental services including oxygen, shade, stormwater mitigation, and wildlife habitat. Scarsdale is a part of the Bronx River watershed, and like all communities within the watershed, the treatment Scarsdale affords its mature trees has ramifications beyond its borders. NYBG strives to educate our surrounding communities that healthy trees and healthy yards contribute to a healthy river and ecosystem.”
Sadly after all this effort, the large branch that fell posed risks to residents, the landscape and the infrastructure. What to do now?
There's speculation about what the Village can or will do about the tree, which is near the road but may not be entirely within the right of way. Will they send in an arborist to evaluate it? Is the rest of the tree healthy enough to stand? The developer of the property, 21 Autenrieth, appears to have halted work recently and rumors have it that they are trying to sell before finishing their renovation. So for now, the fate of one of Scarsdale’s oldest trees hangs in the balance.
Jennifer Bernstein, CEO of the NYBG with Bill Roberts in August 2024.
Scarsdale's Assistant Village Manager Appointed Village Administrator for Irvington
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Scarsdale’s Assistant Village Manager Charles Hessler has been selected to be the new Village Administrator of the Village of Irvington, effective October 18, 2025.
Hessler was selected after an extensive search and will be responsible for the daily operations of the Village and Village Departments, including oversight of 65 full-time employees and 70 part-time employees.
Hessler came to Scarsdale in April 2023 and had prior experience as the Confidential Secretary to the Village Manager of Ardsley and as a Senior Institutional Reporting Analyst, Pace University.
He received a Master of Public Administration, State and Local Management, from American University and a Bachelor of Arts from Dickinson College. He is also President of the Westchester Municipal Administrators Association.
Commenting on his new role, Hessler explained, “Effective October 18, 2025, I will become the Village Administrator for the Village of Irvington, succeeding Larry Schopfer, who is retiring after a total of 33 years of service as both Village Clerk-Treasurer and Village Administrator.
Subject to the approval, direction, and control of the Board of Trustees, I will be responsible enforcing Village's local laws and codes in a fair and consistent manner. I will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Village and its departments, while working collaboratively with staff to ensure high-quality municipal services.
As Budget Officer, I will be responsible for preparing the annual operating and capital budgets, managing the procurement process, and making sure that spending stays within the approved budget. Part of the job includes reviewing and auditing vouchers and helping the Board stay informed about the Village's financial condition and future needs.
I'll keep the Board and Village staff updated on new laws and available grants from the county, state, and federal government. I will prepare resolutions, ordinances, and local laws in consultation with the Board of Trustees and department heads. Lastly, I will recommend actions and initiatives that promote the health, safety, and welfare of residents and/or improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Village operations.
Another key part of the role is making sure residents are informed about Village projects and services and responding to their questions and concerns quickly. I'll also take on other tasks as assigned by the Board of Trustees.”
Commenting on Hessler’s departure, Scarsdale Village Manager Alex Marshall said, “Although we will miss working with him, we are incredibly proud and excited for Assistant Manager Hessler to take this next step in his career. He has been a great asset to Scarsdale and I know he will excel in this new leadership role with the Village of Irvington. We are also fortunate that Assistant Village Manager Hessler will be with us until the end of the summer to help with the transition. I will be working closely with our Personnel Administrator to coordinate the next steps in filling this key role in my office.”
Greenburgh Police Rescue Over 30 People During Intense Storm on July 14
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Route 119 as it passes under Knollwood Road.Intense rainfall on the night of July 14, 2025 put many local residents in peril.
The Greenburgh Police department sent us these dramatic photos of the flooding and officers in the process of rescuing local residents.
A review of the incidents showed that the Greenburgh Police rescued thirty plus adults and child from cars and homes between 6 pm and 10 pm. Some were trapped in cars while others were in flooding basement apartments.
See these photos of officers wearing rescue equipment and utilizing special operations vehicles to save those at risk.
However, Scarsdale was spared from the worst of the storm. According to Village Managers, Scarsdale received only 2.02 inches of rain, while just a few miles north in White Plains, they were inundated with 5 inches during the same period. However, the Bronx River Parkway did close - and remained flooded the following morning.
The Bronx River Parkway remained flooded, July 15, 2025
The intersection of Hayes and Lamont in Elmsford.
Knollwood Road in the vicinity of Westchester Community College.
State Senator Shelley B. Mayer's Statement on Supreme Court Rulings
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"I am profoundly disappointed, deeply worried, and entirely unsurprised by the Trump-appointed Supreme Court's recent decisions in Trump v. CASA, Medina v. Planned Parenthood Southern Atlantic, and Mahmoud v. Taylor. These decisions reflect a dangerous disregard for the rule of law and civil rights of Americans, and will have serious consequences for our democracy.
"Most troubling, in Trump v. CASA, the Supreme Court took an axe to nationwide injunctions –– which have been a key tool for litigants trying to block illegal and unconstitutional acts by the Trump Administration. Birth right citizenship is unambiguously provided for in the 14th amendment of the US Constitution, but the Court’s decision will allow the Trump Administration’s executive order denying citizenship to certain people born in the US to temporarily go into effect in parts of the country, while litigation continues. This decision will only embolden the Trump Administration to continue taking executive action, without regard for our laws and Constitution.
"The Court’s decision in Medina v. Planned Parenthood only furthers the assault on reproductive healthcare and rights across the country right now. Millions of Americans, particularly low-income women of color, may lose access to vital and potentially lifesaving health care through Planned Parenthood as a result. As we predicted after Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, restriction of reproductive care did not, and will not, stop at abortion care. This is not about reproductive healthcare. This is about controlling women and low-income individuals, and denying them their basic rights and dignity."
"And in Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Court has allowed parents to withdraw their children from class when the reading lessons include LGBTQ+ characters. This ruling undermines the role of public education, to educate students about our diverse society and not to favor any particular faith. It is important for children to be exposed to people of varying beliefs, orientations, and backgrounds to foster empathy and respect for all individuals. I am deeply worried about the implications of this decision for New York State schools which aim to provide an inclusive education to all children.
"Americans should be alarmed by the dangerous and irresponsible disregard for justice shown again and again by the highest court. These three cases will have severe and real effects on the everyday lives of Americans. As we have done in the past, New York will stand by those being disenfranchised. We will not remain silent in the face of injustice."
SHS Principal Ken Bonamo Offers Thoughts on AI in Education at 2025 Graduation
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Andrea O'Gorman and Ken BonamoHere are remarks delivered by Scarsdale High School Principal Kenneth Bonamo at the graduation of the Class of 2025 on June 20, 2025.
Good evening President Hahn, Superintendent Patrick, fellow members of the faculty, parents and friends, and most especially the members of the Class of 2025.
Today is a special day that marks the culmination of your childhood education and the beginning of college and adulthood for you.
Your families and your teachers are filled with a deep hope that we have given you all that you need to succeed in these next stages, and we are filled with anticipation at what the future holds for you.
The resources that the Scarsdale community devotes to education have allowed us to provide you with an enriching and engaging experience that has developed in you a depth of critical and creative thinking, an appreciation for global interdependence, and a genuine love of learning.
These goals have guided our work as a faculty in designing the courses and learning activities that you’ve enjoyed during the past four years. The vantage point of graduation allows you to appreciate the impact of your work in developing your academic skills and fostering your growth as individuals.
This accomplishment also represents the hard work you have put into getting here.
You have excelled in athletic and extracurricular activities, developing the habits of mind of the different disciplines while 
nurturing your interests and relationships outside of the classroom.
And so you have completed your coursework and your exams and your Senior Options and have earned a seat at this very ceremony.
This is not by accident but instead through commitment and dedication to your goals.
It is so good to see all of you here to celebrate this moment that is filled with meaning, as it represents both the accomplishment of having graduated and the commencement of your adult lives. Let us pause here for a moment to appreciate the beauty and significance of this moment.
As we celebrate this milestone with you this evening and in light of what you have accomplished, we also look to the future, not only for its possibilities and opportunities but also for its questions and unknowns. In that vein, I ask you to think with me in the next few minutes about quite a daunting challenge we all face, that of artificial intelligence. AI presents incredible opportunities and innumerable questions to us as individuals and as a society.
I offer for your consideration a parallel between artificial intelligence and nuclear energy. The potential of nuclear energy for good has been overshadowed by its potential for destruction on a massive scale, and its critics invoke historical examples of that destruction to nullify any positive impacts it might have for society in terms of energy production.
In a similar way, the critics of AI point to its environmental impact and theft of intellectual property, to say nothing of its inaccuracies, to draw our attention away from its potential benefits, such as analyzing medical test results to find indicators of disease or writing computer code that allows programmers to tackle more complicated tasks.
I am sure that many of your teachers have been urging you to resist using artificial intelligence so that you have the full benefit of learning the knowledge and skills we aim to teach you. But it is not only because of the learning opportunities you might miss.
Our desire to keep AI separate from your education is not only because of a specific assignment or task but also because when you delegate the tasks of reading and writing and even thinking to a machine or an algorithm, you miss the opportunity to develop the judgment and the emotional intelligence that are the additional benefits of academic inquiry and intellectual engagement.
College professors and high-school teachers are struggling with serious questions about how to proceed, how to design educational experiences and learning objectives and assessment tools in the age of AI. How do we get students to read deeply and write competently and reason clearly with the distraction and easy escape of technology? If AI can produce a decent or better quality literary response essay or even now a fully cited research paper, are those tasks still valid today as worthy of our time for you to write them and for us to grade them? If they are, how do we protect them from being invalidated by AI—and is that even possible? And if they aren’t worth our effort, then what is?
Intellectual engagement with history, for example, requires perspective-taking of an unfamiliar person from an unfamiliar time and place, and that experience of developing empathy and understanding enhances our ability to engage with others in our lives. Depriving people of education has been the hallmark of repression in the past, and I worry what might happen if we end up depriving ourselves of education because of the temptation this technology presents. Education bestows on us the gift of the ability to think which then gives us the freedom and the power to lead independent and productive lives.
So the decision about this will be left to all of us, and you as the next generation, and just as with nuclear energy or plastics or automobiles or any other human product where both the costs and the benefits are significant and significantly at odds with each other, the answers are unlikely to be unequivocal, unchallenged, or final. This new product is with us, and we must make sense of it. The decision is ours—and will increasingly become yours to make.
And so we know that change is the only constant. How ironic that is, but it is also quite true. To make sense of all this—the world around you at the moment of your high-school graduation—I urge you to find a through line of humanity, and perhaps to begin by thinking of non sibi, of selfless service. Think about your educational journey here in Scarsdale. For some of you it started 13 years ago, or maybe 12, or maybe 7 years ago, or maybe in ninth grade, or maybe this past September.
Think about that journey and think about the time that you or someone you know did a good deed, did something good or nice or thoughtful for you or for someone else. Think of how it made you feel to give someone the gift of your kindness, or to observe someone being kind, or even to be lucky enough to be the recipient of such a gift, and remember that this is what makes us human. Our need for empathy and respect and kindness is universal.
Finally, and in light of that humanity, I also urge you to build a legacy of love.
The key to your success in taking advantage of the many opportunities and meeting the many challenges that lie ahead will be to infuse love into your work, your relationships, and your self-regard.
Love is an active ingredient of our intelligence.
Knowledge is not acquired information like a computer stores data.
Rather, it involves an intentional engagement with whatever the information might be about.
Intelligence requires a dialogue with the world, and a state of flow is when we are fully immersed in the exchange.
Love is what invites us into that connection.
If you look around this field, you see your family and friends who demonstrated love in supporting you.
You see your teachers who loved teaching and guiding you.
And most importantly, you should look at yourselves and love what you see—an intelligent, curious, responsible person, poised to continue learning in order to take on the challenges of life and of our society.
I wish you all a wonderful graduation day and health and happiness in the future. Congratulations to you all!
