Community Lauds Scarsdale Bowl Recipient Susie Rush
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 6652
In accepting the community's highest award for public service, on April 13, 2016, Susie Rush recalled that when she moved to Scarsdale in 1995, a partner at her law firm told her she'd never fit in. Twenty one years later, it's clear that he underestimated Rush and Scarsdale, where she not only "fit in," but became a model citizen. Though typical Bowl recipients are former mayors, trustees or school board members, Rush has not taken on those roles, but has served the community in her own unique way; by taking on leadership positions in the PTA, the PT Council, the League of Women Voters, the SBNC, the Teen Center, the Scarsdale Foundation and more.
In accepting the Scarsdale Bowl at the Fountainhead in New Rochelle, the modest Rush shined the light back on the community, saying the people she met here are "intelligent, thoughtful, passionate and dedicated, who bring distinctive backgrounds and perspectives to every discussion." She thanked her husband for giving her "the space and the support" to do whatever she wanted or needed to do and her two boys, David and Jonathan "for taking the time from school to be here tonight, adding, "Now I know how to get you both down here at the same time – I just have to get the Scarsdale Bowl."
Discussing volunteerism in Scarsdale, Rush continued, "There is something very special about the collection of people who live here, who make Scarsdale unique in a way that isn't obvious from reading the paper. It's an indescribable quality that you can fully understand only by working alongside one another, studying an issue, listening to each other, engaging in discussion, trying to come to agreement. When one of my sons asked me early on why I volunteered, I told him it was important to give back to the community we live in. But I know I've received much more than I've given."
What about fitting in? Rush said, "I don't know whether my former law firm partner would say I fit in here after all. Who knows what 'fit in' means anyway. But I will say to anyone who lives here, regardless of how long you've lived here, how old you are or where you come from, if you embrace Scarsdale and its opportunities to serve, it will embrace you back and you, and we, will be better for it."
Her son David, a doctoral candidate in mathematics at MIT said, "When I was growing up people used to say your parents must be so proud of you. I was blissfully unaware of all my mother did for the community, and how proud we should be of her." He remembered second grade when he rode his bike to school and his mother walked beside him everyday. At the end of each day he came out to find his mom there to pick him up in the car. One day it occurred to him that he didn't know what happened to his bike. He realized that Susie rode the half-mile home on the tiny bike each day so that David could ride to school. He said, "She is exactly the kind of person you want to have in your corner. She's brutally honest in private but goes out and defends you in public." He concluded by saying, "We are so glad to see that the community has recognized her for all she has done. We've seen it day and day out."
Susie juggled her commitments to the community with her job as legislative analyst for State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, who credits Rush with being the "person behind the legislation." Calling Rush a "pit bull with a sweet demeanor," she complimented Rush for being meticulous and organized while turning complicated ideas into law." Saying Rush was instrumental in getting many of (Paulin's) laws passed, she said, "We make a great team .... Susie's skills complement my skills." The two recently worked on a domestic violence/gun control law and Paulin said that Rush won over the Republicans and the FBI to get it passed.
Her friend Lauren Meyers remembered Susie's reaction after 9/11, when Rush was the President of the Quaker Ridge PTA. Meyers said that while everyone was busy looking after themselves and their own families, Rush was calling those who needed help and reaching out to the community to see what she could do. About her friend Susie she said, "She never accepts credit, she sees the trees while we trip over the leaves and she empowers other people to make a difference."
Evelyn Stock, who heads the Scarsdale Foundation, the group that administers the Scarsdale Bowl, said. "When I first saw Susie speak supporting the renovation of the
Quaker Ridge School my reaction was, "Wow, how did Scarsdale get so lucky." Stock told the room that the Foundation supports need based scholarship for SHS graduates, sends kids in need to the Scarsdale Day Camp and has given help to SVAC, SFSC, the Teen Center and more. She extolled the health benefits of volunteerism and encouraged the audience to reach out to their neighbors and invite them to join their volunteer activities. She said, "The future of Scarsdale is in your hands. Start tomorrow."
Michelle Lichtenberg, Chair of the Scarsdale Bowl, thanked the Foundation, the Bowl Committee, (named below), former Bowl recipients and all the people "who are deeply involved in the tradition of volunteerism, who make substantial efforts on behalf of our schools, our village government, civic, recreational, religious, and social service organizations." Michelle remembered meeting Susie in 2001 when Susie was the President of the Quaker Ridge PTA and Michelle was the incoming President of the SHS PTA. The first Tuesday of school was 9/11 followed by the anthrax scare. Michelle said that Susie "was a beacon of calm and sensibility, truly grace under fire.... always clear-sighted and a thoughtful problem solver she was a pleasure to work with."
The event was attended by a wide swath of the community, local lawmakers, former Village Manager Al Gatta, former schools superintendent Michael McGill, the staff of Amy Paulin's Office and many others who have worked with Susie in her various roles. There was an overwhelming feeling of pride in the room for a gracious, savvy and exemplary woman who has already done so much for others and will hopefully continue to participate in the years to come.
Pictured above: the Scarsdale Bowl Committee: Michelle Lichtenberg (Chair). Evelyn Stock, Robert Jeremiah, Felicia Block, Beth Ehrich Berkeley, Jonathan Bradlow, Kay Eisenman, Fran Galloway, Susan Hochvert, Gary Katz, Janet Korins, Anne Lyons, Eli Mattioli, Jay Musoff, Michael Pollac, Jyoti Ruta and Jane Veron.
Village Trustees and Justice Sworn Into Office
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 3313
The Scarsdale Village Trustees and Village Justice were sworn into office at Scarsdale Village Hall at noon on Monday April 4. Village Justice Joaquin Alemany and Village Trustees Deb Pekarek, Marc Samwick, and Jane Veron all took the oath of office from Village Clerk Donna Conkling. Pekarek and Samwick return for their second two-year terms, while Veron will begin her first term of office.
See the photos here:
Greenacres Got Talent
- Details
- Written by Toni DiMartino
- Hits: 5016
The Greenacres School Annual Talent Show took place on Friday, March 4. The free, fun family night also featured a lively dance party. There were more than 25 solo and group acts featuring kindergarten through fifth grade students. According to one mom, "It was a really wonderful night. If anyone of the kids were nervous, it certainly didn't show. They all did a terrific job."
Accolades for Scarsdale Village Trustee David Lee
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4674
Trustee David Lee marked four years as Village Trustee at his final meeting on March 22. Following an early dinner to celebrate their service, the trustees convened at Village Hall and gave Trustee Lee his due. Many remarked on Lee's keen insight, patience and ability to see all sides of an issue as well as his quiet way of examining questions and bringing the Board to consensus.
Here are excerpts from the trustees' and publics' comments:
Matt Callaghan said, "David Lee has a gift of getting to the point of the matter, both orally and in writing and in bringing the group to consensus. I thank you for that."
Carl Finger thanked Lee for taking "an interest in facilitating my participation on the board." He continued saying, "He showed me the ropes and helped me to hit the ground running. I found your comments to be mind altering in a good way and to see things from a perspective I had not thought of ... and to regret speaking before you."
Deb Pekarek said, "With a twinkle in his eye, an ability to see all sides of an issue, he weighs each idea to discern the most compelling resolution. He listens attentively. He asks questions that get to the heart of a matter and provides unique depth to our conversations. He respectively incorporates opposite views. David is a great neighbor too; biking to the train station and attending multiple meetings in one evening." She concluded, "It was an honor to work with you. You are a patient and gentle man."
Marc Samwick credited Lee with an "Open and inquisitive mind." He said Lee is "Deliberative and unbiased with every issue and listens intently. He thinks in a deeply contemplative way that yields a balanced and fair approach. I learned a lot from you."
Bill Stern said, "Board resolutions are not decided overnight. They require great insight into unintended consequences. David has a sharp mind. He looks at all the issues. Sometimes he changes my view. He has a tremendous legal mind. He is very insightful and looks at the residents' interests. He will be sorely missed."
Mayor Jon Mark: "David – It has been a pleasure serving with you, a fellow Scarsdale High School graduate, on this Board. After a somewhat rocky take off that involved your surviving one of your first Board assignments, the reading of a resolution to euthanize geese that were visiting the Library Pond – a solution the board was persuaded not to pursue – your career as Trustee took flight.
Your work on land use issues, your liaison work with various Boards and Councils and your vetting of my Mayor's comments all evidenced your commitment to the Village, your analytic skills and sense of balance and fairness.
Throughout your term you maintained an unflappable nature, heard residents out and approached the Staff and your colleagues on the Board with thoughtfulness and consideration.
I thank you for your diligent contribution to the Board and the Village over the past four years. It is my hope that you will continue to find time in the future to volunteer your valuable skills to the town in which we grew up.
Former Trustee Kay Eisenman said: "My first order of business is to tear up a speech I had written for Deb Pekarek. David Lee is an excellent and dedicated individual. with a quiet calm demeanor. He grasps athe issues and teases apart the salient points of any problem. He quickly get to the core of any issue." She continued, "You are fair and balanced, with great skills. You recognize there is not an immediate solution to every problem. You have the patience to seek high ground and therefore lasting results. Thank you David. You are one of those dedicated people who believe in all work and no pay."
Former Mayor Bob Steves also lauded David Lee, calling him a "Thoughtful individual who has added much to this village. David is an example of the quality of individuals this village has been able to attract to manage it. If people had more insight into the quality of the people who serve, there would not be cynicism and negativity around government. I urge the community to better understand the people who serve here. When we have the opportunity to work with people like David we should appreciate it."
Scarsdale10583 also thanks Trustee Lee who is always open to questions and is responsive with requests for information. He helped the board navigate controversial issues such as the tax revaluations, the Monte Nido proposal and the proposed resolution on gravel surfaces, always with a calm, measured and reasonable approach. We hope he continues to be involved in Village Government.
For his part, Trustee Lee had kind words about the contributions of each member of the Village Board which you can view on the Village Website.
Pekarek, Samwick and Veron Elected to Serve as Village Trustees
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 7670
The candidates, friends and families waited until 11:30 pm on Tuesday night to find out the results of a most unusual election in Scarsdale. The contest brought long lines of voters to Village Hall and delays in processing caused some to wait more than half an hour to vote and voting hours to be extended beyond the 9 pm deadline.
In the end, Deb Pekarek and Marc Samwick, two trustees who had served first terms were re-elected and Jane Veron was chosen to serve her first term as Village Trustee. Also elected was Village Justice Joaquin Alemany.
Here are the counts - including votes on the absentee ballots:
Village Trustee (3 Positions)
Deb Pekarek 334
Marc Samwick 407
Jane Veron 498
Village Justice
Joaquin Alemany 554
A total of 684 voters came to Village Hall and another 50 absentee ballots were received. Though Seth Ross, received the nomination for Village Trustee from the Citizen's Non-Partisan Party, due to a paperwork problem his name did not appear on the ballot and he lost his bid for the job, receiving 179 votes. Considering that Pekarek's name had to be written-in on the ballot, she received an impressive number of votes.
Why the high turnout? Most years, the election brings out fewer than 250 voters as the candidates that are selected by the CNC run in an uncontested election. In 2015 when Mayor Jon Mark was elected, only 210 votes were cast. However this year, the ballot for Village Trustee had two pre-printed names and a blank space for a write-in vote. The Village Clerk opted not to use electronic voting machines due to the expense, leaving election officials to spend hours hand-counting the paper ballots.
In January, many were surprised when first term trustee Deb Pekarek was not re-nominated by the Citizen's Nominating Committee to serve a second term. A few weeks later the Village Clerk announced that due to a failure to file the necessary paperwork before the February 16 deadline, Seth Ross, who was nominated by the Scarsdale Citizens' Nominating Committee (CNC) to serve as Scarsdale Village Trustee would not appear on the printed ballot.
That left the election in play when voters 
were given a choice of whose name to write-in in the open spot. Many felt that Pekarek should have been selected by the CNC and decided to give her their vote for a second term. Others backed the CNC nominee Seth Ross. The overall tone of the election was civil. Some candidates sent emails reminding friends to vote and campaigned in public venues but there was no rancor. In fact many who attended a reception at the Scarsdale Woman's Club following the election voiced support for all the candidates – and when the results were announced many asked Ross to consider the position again next year.
Commenting on the results, Jane Veron said, "I am honored and appreciate everyone's support. I am excited to serve." Deb Pekarek said, "I am thrilled to be able to serve. Now we can all get back to work. The turnout was robust and I want to express a heartfelt thanks to everyone who voted. I hope to see Seth return next year. He would be a wonderful member of any board and I hope he will continue to be involved in Village activities." Marc Samwick said, I am proud to be able to serve a second term and continue to work on issues we began and challenges that face the Village."
The final counts from the Village Clerk also show many miscellaneous votes:
Here they are:
Village Trustee:
Bob Harrison 6
Robert Berg 3
Mark Roth 2
Douglas Ulene 1
Farley Baker 1
Neil Kanner 1
Mona Longman 1
Jeff Koswalski 1
Kathy Steves 1
Chris Martin 1
Thomas Martin 1
Ross Theal 1
John Bensche 1
Donald Trump 1
Village Justice:
Deborah Pekarek 3
Jeffrey Levin 2
John Leslie 1
Jack Shemtab 1
Marianne Kaplan 1
Note to those who wish to comment: Please make constructive comments, refrain from being derisive and include your name and street address. Thank you.
