Public Briefings on the Proposed FY 21-22 Operating and Capital Budgets
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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The Village of Scarsdale will present overviews of the proposed FY 2021-22 Operating and Capital Budgets, as follows:
Wednesday, February 24, 2021, at 5:00 PM: Operating Budget Wednesday, March 03, 2021, at 5:00 PM: Capital Budget
Because of budget impacts and future uncertainties in connection with the pandemic, the annual budget process started a month earlier than usual. Highlights to-date include:
• At the outset, we were faced with the prospect of a 4.87% increase to the tax levy. Thus far, we have whittled that down to a less than 3.5% increase, but our work is not done.
• Having started with a budget gap in excess of $4.2M on First Pass, the Fourth Pass gap was $1.43M and we continue to make progress in reducing it.
• On the revenue side, parking fees and fines have sharply declined. Meanwhile, sales tax and revenues attached to property sales and building improvements are holding up well in response to increased property sales, as people look for homes outside of New York City, and refinances, as property owners take advantage of historically low interest rates.
The Village Board and staff have worked hard to develop the proposed FY 2021-22 budget and there remain difficult choices ahead.
All Scarsdale residents are encouraged to attend and participate in the FY 2021-22 Budget Briefings being held via Zoom on the dates provided above.
Food Scrap Recycling is a Win for Scarsdale
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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This letter was written by Melinda Witmer and sent to the Scarsdale Food Scrap Recycling Committee and also submitted to Scarsdale10583.com for publication.
I just want to say thank you to the team that makes this all happen. I am a late comer to composting and the Scarsdale program made it super easy for us. We quickly became very dedicated to it and between our efforts to recycle and compost, our trash bags are virtually nothing every week.
It is a program that I admire about Scarsdale very much and often remark that the Scarsdale dump is a town treasure!
Just wanted to share my gratitude. I read recently that composting was at the top of the list of the best things we can do for the environment and I am so happy that Scarsdale made it so easy for us to get on the wagon.
Thank you!
Melinda Witmer
54 Park Road
The Scarsdale Food Scrap Recycling Program is a great way that all of us in Scarsdale can do our part for the environment. To sign up, please email [email protected].
Scarsdale Knitting Enthusiast Discovers Little Red Dress Knit in the Shanghai Ghetto During the Holocaust
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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For years, Greenacres resident and knitter Tanya Singer has been fascinated by the significance of handknit items during the Holocaust, and how they helped women to resist, remember, and renew their lives after the atrocities of World War II.
Her research has uncovered a series of impactful items – including a little red dress knit in the Shanghai Ghetto during the Holocaust. Timed to coincide with the 78th anniversary of the Japanese seizing control of the Shanghai Ghetto in February 1943, Singer is now sharing the story of the dress through her passion project Knitting Hope, which launches online today.
The little red dress is one of many objects knitter, teacher and writer Tanya Singer identified through years of research, the culmination of which is “Knitting Hope” – a project which shares the ways in which knitting helped women to resist, remember and renew their lives after World War II. The piece makes its debut on Modern Daily Knitting on February 8, 2021 in recognition of the 78th anniversary of the Japanese seizing control of the Shanghai Ghetto in February 1943.
“Many aspects of Jewish material culture have been recognized for their sustaining power: art, writing, music, and recipes all played important roles in resistance, remembrance and renewal after the war. It’s time to recognize the significance of knitting in our history,” Singer said. “I hope to share more stories like Judy’s, in collaboration with contemporary knit and crochet designers, in the years to come.”
Born in the Shanghai Ghetto after her family fled Germany in 1939, Judy Fleischer Kolb donated her little red dress for the 2009 opening of the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Kolb’s story is told in detail in the Knitting Hope piece, which invites each of us into the story of Kolb and her family, who were among 20,000+ refugees who fled to Shanghai, the last safe harbor in the world.
As an homage to the endurance of this piece of clothing, the “Knitting Hope” piece will include a link to a contemporary little red dress knitting pattern by designer Melissa Shinsato, available for purchase on the knitting website Ravelry.
Kolb, a former nurse and museum volunteer, uses her dress to urge children to have courage and to “realize their heroes are right in front of them.” Kolb continues, “I’m so happy my dress can bring hope to others. I only wish I could share the impact of the little red dress with my family who made my life so special.”
To foster community around this inspirational dress, Singer will also host a multi-week Facebook Knit Along series accessible via the “Knitting Hope” page 
Front view of the modern little red dress; Credit: Gale Zucker.beginning on February 8.
The group, which is comprised of women who have been touched by the moving story, will have the opportunity to meet Kolb, Singer and Shinsato as they knit the dress step-by-step.
Pictured at top: Judy Fleischer Kolb, pictured in the little red dress, with her mother Carla in Shanghai, circa 1940. Photo credit: Illinois Holocaust Museum: in memory of Cantor Leopold Fleisher and his family.
Scarsdale Resident Tanya Singer
SBA Seeks Contributions for Permanent Dining Tent in the Village
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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From June through December 2020, in an effort to support Scarsdale Village and our local merchants during the global pandemic, the SBA organized and executed the Dine the ‘Dale tent initiative, which involved leasing and installing a 2,500 square foot tent on Spencer Place along with picnic tables placed under and adjacent to the tent. This initiative was a huge success, creating a safe destination for multi-generational community members to gather, dine and socialize, while bringing vitality to our downtown center and supporting local businesses, including 27 participating restaurants.
The SBA thanks its past donors for their incredible generosity and is seeking community support from individuals and corporate sponsors for their next major initiative: to purchase and maintain the 2021 Dine the ‘Dale tent area on Spencer Place.
As a result of the initiative’s overwhelming success, the SBA is seeking funding to purchase and maintain the tent area again this year, and for future usage as well. The tent will be installed by April 1st and will remain up through August, with the possibility of being extended through November, similar to last year. In addition to being a safe place to gather and dine, the SBA hopes to offer programming during the late afternoon and evenings from local businesses, non-profit organizations and service providers.
The SBA is a non-profit organization, dedicated to supporting the Village of Scarsdale and its local businesses. The SBA works with local merchants, government, property owners, real estate corporations, community members and other local groups to help make Scarsdale a thriving village.
Like all other businesses, the SBA suffered financially in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many merchant members were unable to pay their annual dues, and free provisional memberships were given to all 10583 businesses in order for the SBA to offer its assistance and services to its local businesses. In addition, SBA’s annual fundraising events were cancelled.
The SBA is extremely thankful and grateful to Scarsdale Improvement, the lead sponsor of this initiative.
Please consider supporting the SBA as we continue to reimagine outdoor usage of space, making our Village center a destination and supporting our local merchants.
SBA Community Donor Levels: $1000 Leader, $500 Benefactor, $250 Friend, $100 Patron, $50 Supporter (Name will be recognized on the SBA website and in the Scarsdale Inquirer and Scarsdale10583 thank you ads).
SBA Corporate Sponsor Levels: $10,000 Presenting Sponsor (limit 4), $5,000 Platinum Sponsor, $2,500 Gold Sponsor, $1,000 Silver Sponsor (Name/logo will be recognized on the SBA Website and social media platforms, included in the Scarsdale Inquirer and Scarsdale10583 thank you ads, and logo printed on sponsor signage. Presenting Sponsor logos will be affixed to the tent).
Corporate Sponsorship must be confirmed prior to March 1st, 2021 to be included in onsite signage.
The SBA is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization. Contributions to 501(c)(6) organizations may be deductible as a business expense; however, contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes as charitable contributions. Please consult your tax advisor.
Donate Now:
Press Contact: Marcy Berman-Goldstein ([email protected]; 917-940-3944)
Metro North Shutdown, State of Emergency Declared, Orlena Continues!
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(Updated at 3 PM) As the weatherman predicted, it definitely is snowing. Will we get a foot or even more? Your guess is as good as ours.
Here's what you need to know:
-Due to the snowstorm, Metro North is shut down. The last train for Westchester left Grand Central at 3 pm.
-At 1:30 pm, County Executive George Latimer declared a State of Emergency, which reads, "A local state of Emergency is hereby declared in the County of Westchester beginning at one o’clock p.m. on the first day of February 2021, and ending at one o’clock p.m. on the fourth day of February 2021. This State of Emergency shall be in effect for a period of time not to exceed seventy-two hours."
-Vaccination sites at the Westchester County Center and the Westchester County Health Clinic are closed today, Monday February 1 and tomorrow Tuesday, February 2, 2021.
What else:
-Garbage pick-up is on.
-Food scrap pick-up is on.
-School is cancelled.
-The Board of Education meeting, scheduled for tonight, February 1, 2020, is cancelled.
-Scarsdale Village Hall is closed.
The Recycling Center is closed.
-The JCC of Mid-Westchester is closed.
Winds are expected to pick-up and power lines could be affected.
If your power goes off, report it to ConEd either by phone at 1-800-752-6633 or online. Also, review the Con Ed Outage Map for service restoration estimates.
- Village Board Reviews Finances, Library Matters and More at January 26, 2021 Meeting
- Michelle Lichtenberg to Receive the 2021 Scarsdale Bowl
- Assemblywoman Amy Paulin Comments on Passage of Legislation to Extend Protection from Eviction and Foreclosure During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Police Ask For Your Help to Find Suspect Exhibiting Lewd Behavior
