A New Scoreboard at Supply Field and More from Village Hall

Exciting news for athletes of all ages in Scarsdale. At the June 27 meeting of the Village Board, the Village accepted gifts from Maroon and White and Travel Softball of $31,933 for a new electronic scoreboard and safety netting at Supply Field.

A memo from the Recreation Department says, “The proposed gift of a scoreboard and safety netting at Supply Field #2 will enhance the softball experience for not only players, but also spectators. The installation of safety netting along the driveway will provide a safer experience for spectators, as well as reduce potential damage from foul balls to vehicles parked in the adjacent parking lot. Finally, the safety netting will provide an opportunity for the parking lot be fully utilized during games without spectator fear of their vehicles being damaged.”

Amy Frank, President of Maroon and White who donated $23,393 for the scoreboard said, “We are excited to present a gift to the Village of a scoreboard to help to give Supply Field a facelift. The girls’ Varsity Softball team and travel softball will use it.

Michelle Sterling, who was instrumental in securing the funding thanked the Board and Maroon and White for “this amazing gift.” She said, “For 18 years we have not seen any improvements in Supply Field. This is awesome and an amazing start. A lot of money has gone into improvements at Dean Field, where the Boys’ Varsity Baseball Team plays, but there has been nothing at Supply Field. We appreciate this moment where we can think about what we can do to help girls’ sports. We appreciate the village looking at the fields and prioritizing Supply Field – and we appreciate the support of Travel Softball.”

Mayor Arest assured her that improvements at Supply Field would be prioritized and it would be ready for the April season.

Ella Hayes and Sammy Fenigstein co-captains of the softball team also thanked Board, saying, “It means a lot to us.” They asked the Board to, “get our infields and outfields ready for this season. They are hard and rocky.”

Joe Guarino, a passionate softball dad and an active member of Scarsdale’s travel softball programs, said “It's with Scarsdale Travel Softball that I've learned about some of the complex dynamics that exist between the village and the district in managing field usage. And some of the inequity that exists between softball and baseball in Scarsdale.” Field. Guarino called for the trustees and village leadership to bring long term change to Supply Field and create a more equitable experience for female softball athletes in Scarsdale.

Also on the agenda were public safety, a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Scarsdale Village Noise Ordinance and more.

Events

The Village of Scarsdale’s Annual Fireworks Spectacular will be hosted on Thursday, June 29 at the Scarsdale Pool at 9:15 PM. In addition to the fireworks, the Westchester Band will perform on the lawn at 7:30 PM. A $5.00 fee will be charged to all non-pool members entering the pool starting at 5:00 PM and beginning at 8:00 PM, all individuals entering the Pool Complex will be charged.

The Scarsdale Farmer’s Market is open every Sunday in the Scarsdale Village from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Members of the community are encouraged to visit the market to help support local farms and expand the selection of products offered.

Public Safety

SVAC: Following Mayor Arest’s opening comments, David Raizen, the President of the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SVAC), was invited to speak. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SVAC filed with the New York State Department of Health for community paramedicine authorization, becoming one of only three such programs in Westchester County. Community paramedicine is an emerging model of healthcare that allowed paramedics and emergency medical technicians to offer preventative services that improve access to care and reduce hospital readmittance. Raizen was proud to announce the approval of legislation that would allow community paramedicine to continue in Scarsdale. He emphasized Congressmember Amy Paulin’s critical role in the legislation’s approval, stating that she “…spearheaded, pushed, and represented us incredibly well.”

Cooperation with the School Board- Deputy Mayor Whitestone discussed cooperation between the Village Board and the School Board including “a better two-way information flow and institutionalized cooperation in place.” Through regular, continued meetings with the school district, Scarsdale’s public safety officials have provided the Village Board with a more robust understanding of the school district’s budgeting and other support needs.

Emergency Notifications -Mayor Arest announced that the Village has conducted extensive research into the town’s current communication tools. The exercise led to the execution of an agreement by the Village Manager and Everbridge, a communications organization. Everbridge’s Nixle application will be used by the Village to relay public safety information and other important announcements. Arest stated “It is imperative that residents sign up for the Everbridge system….” Every Scarsdale resident will receive a postcard that notifies residents of the new system and provides the link to register.

Lithium-Ion Batteries

In light of recent reports in the regional and national media of fires attributed to defective lithium-ion batteries, Village Manager Robert Cole relayed a few reminders from Scarsdale’s chief medic.

1. Purchase and use devices that are listed by a qualified testing laboratory.
2. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
3. Only use the battery that is designed for that specific device.
4. Pit batteries in the device right away upon purchase.
5. Only use the charge cord that came with device, not a second market charge cord.
6. Only charge a battery in a flat, dry area away from children, direct sunlight, liquids, and tripping hazards.
7. Do not continue to charge a battery after it is fully charged.
8. Keep batteries at room temperature when possible.
9. Store batteries away from anything that can catch fire.
Residents interested in recycling their lithium-ion batteries can do so by appointment at the Household Material Recovery Facility in Valhalla.

QR Codes for Village Bills

Village Treasurer Ann Scaglione is implementing QR codes for resident’s water and tax bills to enhance participation in online bill payment. Click here (https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-scan-a-qr-code/) to learn how to scan a QR code.

Public Hearing on Amendments to Noise Code

The Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees has been working to update the Noise Code and hosted a public hearing on the proposed changes. Scarsdale’s golf courses, particularly the Fenway Golf Club, came under fire. Resident Carol Silverman lives in vicinity of the Fenway Golf Club and stated that every weekend the club hosts parties that can be heard well past 10:00 PM, when they’re supposed to be shut down. Silverman asserted that the proposed code must address the club’s disturbance to the community. Resident Jordan Black shared similar concerns, pointing out that golf courses are exempt from all “normal hours” of restriction. Black described the course’s lawncare equipment as “jet engines” going off at 5:15 AM and that the issue has become so bad that he knows of residents considering moving away.

Resident Bob Harrison has been a 42-year resident of Scarsdale and has enjoyed the peace and tranquility of the town throughout his residence. Harrison pointed out that home sports courts are not explicitly regulated by the proposed noise code. According to Harrison, there’s no reason for a resident to have a loud, disturbing lacrosse sports court in the backyard.

Mayor Arest assured the speakers that the proposed noise code strives to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative standards. Arest stated that the Village Board is working to address the concerns raised during the hearing and that they will be considered during the revision process.

Agenda Items

The Village Board closed the evening by:
- Adopting a proposed local law concerning wireless telecommunications facilities.
- Accepting Marron and White’s gift of a scoreboard and safety netting for Supply Field.
- Announcing the appointment of Anne Moretti to the Council on People with Disabilities.
- Authorizing the execution of a memorandum of agreement with Scarsdale Union Free School District and Scarsdale-Edgemont Family Counseling Services for the 2023-24 Youth Services Project.