The 2016 Reval: We're All in this Together
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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This an opinion piece from site owner Joanne Wallenstein:
There's not much to be said about the 2016 revaluation that hasn't been said already –not once, but over and over and over again. And not just said .... but even screamed.
So I'll take this opportunity to say what hasn't been said and what badly needs to be conveyed.
Those who are unhappy with their assessments, about 19% of homeowners, seem to be looking for someone to blame. They are pointing fingers at the Village Assessor, the Village Attorney and the man who conducted the second revaluation, John F. Ryan. They are singling out the trustees and deriding the Mayor, even insinuating that the individuals on the Board of Trustees stood to gain from their revised assessments.
As Mayor Mark noted, many leading this angry charge have rarely come to Village Hall and few participate in Scarsdale's democratic, non-partisan system. Yet, now, believing they have been unjustly treated, they are storming village meetings and writing copious complaints. They seek to humiliate both village staffers and their neighbors and peers who have volunteered to serve the community. They speak out of turn, yell out from their seats, fail to respect time limits and lack respect for some of Scarsdale's finest, most intelligent public servants.
From where I sit, I see that our Mayor, who has lived in Scarsdale for most of his life and loves this town with all his heart, is being belittled and demeaned. The entire Board of Trustees, who have listened patiently and thoughtfully to residents' complaints, often appear surprised and taken aback by the tone of their constituency.
It is difficult to sit in the audience and watch this ugly campaign. No matter how unhappy you might be about the valuation of your property this time around, the Mayor and the trustees are our neighbors, our friends, and people who volunteer because they love our community.
I can't help but think back to June 2014 when after the first revaluation, a different group came to Village Hall to object to their new assessments. They were angry as well – but often opened their comments by thanking the Board for serving before bringing forth their complaints in a respectful fashion. These folks were persistent as well, and ultimately, the Board voted to conduct a second revaluation to address these perceived inequities. It had been 45 years since a reval had been done; changing the values of all properties in the village was bound to be traumatizing for a number of people, and in retrospect it doesn't seem shocking that it might take more than one attempt to get the job done as fairly as possible.
Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes there are unanticipated consequences of well-intentioned actions. This seems one of those times. Village Board members have expressed tremendous unhappiness with the outcome of the second reval. They are not failing to listen, or oblivious to the issues being raised (again and again) about the second reval. They have explored the available avenues for ameliorating residents' concerns. Short of another reval, authorized by the next board, or two boards from now, there is nothing that can be done on a village-wide level. This is as frustrating to the Mayor and trustees as it is to anyone who has been complaining.
So before you come to Village Hall and excoriate the leadership, or threaten a lawsuit because you want the people in charge to do something that they can't actually do, think about whom you are attacking. Your so-called enemies are really no different from yourselves, concerned educated, passionate residents who love Scarsdale as much as you do ... and the Village would need to use your own tax dollars to defend the suit!
It's time to stop hating them and shaming them for working on the community's behalf. If you care about Village government, become a part of the solution, and become instrumental in working through the problems from the inside.
New Program at the JCC Promises Better Balance for Seniors
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For seniors, the biggest challenge to maintaining an independent lifestyle is falling. In fact, falls are the fifth leading cause of death for adults aged 65 years and older. "One out of three older people falls each year. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention "Falling once doubles your chances of falling again."
Now, a unique new movement program focuses exclusively on this all-important issue. "Balance 'n Mobility" is the brainchild of Deirdre Pachon, who has been teaching exercise to seniors for over 30 years while continuously refining her skills and following the latest research. A certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor, Deirdre recognized that most senior fitness classes do not devote enough time, attention, and expertise to developing the skills that help prevent falls. Her program is already producing positive effects among her clients, as long as they follow her last crucial instruction: practice, practice, and practice some more!
Contrary to popular opinion, research shows that conventional walking is not the best way to protect against a fall. Instead, try what Deirdre calls "Pattern-Walking"--sequences of multi-directional step patterns that increase in complexity and repetition. For example, you may step wide then narrow across front and back while consistently traveling in a forward direction. These movement patterns are performed on a long mat roughly 4 feet wide by 20 feet long with a grid taped on top. When a new pattern is introduced numbers are placed on the mat. Once the pattern is memorized, the numbers are gradually taken away.
The classroom is set up using a circuit format so other more common balance exercises can be included, such as practicing heel-to-toe walking, single leg stand, and walking around or over obstacles. Members move from station to station, individually, paired, or in small groups, while repeating 2-3 sets of each balance exercise. With enough practice, confidence improves along with functional ability, mental agility, and lower body strength. Participants often report back to Deirdre and to each other which strategy they used to prevent a misstep. This process encourages social interaction and is mentally and physically engaging. The class is 75 minutes long and includes musical accompaniment. The programs are designed to slow down the aging process as it relates to balance and mobility. If you would like to see "Balance N Mobility" in action, you are welcome to observe at JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale NY. www.jccmw.org or contact Deirdre at dpachon@aol.com or by phone 914 260-3165.
Donations Now Being Accepted for the Friends of the Library Book Sale
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Are you looking to find a new home for your unwanted books? It's time to donate lightly used books for The Friends of the Scarsdale Library annual blockbuster sale, which kicks off Friday, September 9, 2016 with a Members Preview Night*. Volunteers are also welcome to help sort books and organize materials throughout the summer and during the sale.
Donations will be accepted through Friday, August 26, and should be left inside the gray door to the side of the Scarsdale Library entrance, 54 Olmsted Road, at Post Road/Route22, Scarsdale, NY.
Books should be in saleable condition. Damaged, moldy or dog-chewed books cannot be accepted; nor can textbooks, encyclopedias, magazines or VCR tapes.
The Book Sale offers more than 60,000 almost-new and out-of-print books, including bestsellers, classics, biographies, fiction, parenting, cooking, art, graphic novels, humor, travel, self-help, drama, religion, philosophy, poetry, history, political science, and business.
There is also a huge selection of children's books, plus DVDs, CDs, LPs, audiobooks and sheet music; and a trove of autographed copies.
Westchester County's premier book sale will begin with a Members' Preview on Friday, September 9, from 6-9 pm. *New members may join at the door that evening for $25. The sale will run through Sunday, September 18. New books are added to the sale daily. The full schedule will appear soon on the Annual Book Sale webpage at www.scarsdalelibrary.org.
For information about volunteering or more information about donations, please contact Kathy Steves, Book Sale Manager at (steves10583@gmail.com).
The Scarsdale Public Library is located at 54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583, Phone: (914) 722-1300.
Revised Proposal for the Library in the Works
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Proponents for a renovated and expanded library have been retooling their proposal and will present revised plans that will substantially reduce the required funding from the Village of Scarsdale. Library Board President Terri Simon and Library Director Elizabeth Bermel said they "listened carefully to feedback from the Village and comments from a report from the Scarsdale Forum." They "heard widespread enthusiasm for the design and growing understanding for doing this, but know that people are concerned about the cost. They are working on a response.
Simon said they had met with Dattner Architects to do some "value engineering" and find ways to economize while still realizing the programmatic achievements for the project. The two feel confident that with private funding they can deliver a project that does not "gut the plan."
Earlier this month the Municipal Services Committee of the Scarsdale Forum issued a report in support of a library renovation that asked for "economies and prioritization of design features," and a "fiscally tenable plan that would not present any imprudent risk to the Village and its taxpayers." They recommend the exploration of a range of design options and a cost-benefit analysis of each one. They note that Dattner's original report included a scaled back "Option B" offering a savings of $2 million. However, some of the elements that were eliminated were "intrinsic to programming and user needs and should not be considered expendable." They also stressed that project incorporate sustainable design, and that it be energy efficient and "healthful." The forum committee called for a third "hybrid" design choice. You can find the full report here:
Simon and Bermel said the committee is putting together a binder of materials to make available to the public that will include all source documents that were part of this decision making process along with an FAQ. They said they have "thoughtfully analyzed their decisions," and considered the forum's feedback. The binder will also include a sustainability analysis. Since this is a renovation, not a new building, it will not be LEED certified, but it will be "environmentally responsible."
In the meantime, an investigation of the subsurface is being conducted and an engineer is analyzing the building foundation so that there are no surprises during construction. They are also working on a study of traffic and parking.
Simon pointed out that time is of the essence, because construction and material costs continue to rise while the project is debated. Also, in order for the Library Board to meet its fundraising goal, they need the funding commitment from the Village.
They hope to present their revised plans to the Board of Trustees in the next few weeks.
Scarsdale Tennis Teams Compete for League Title
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The Scarsdale Womens' B2 Team advanced to the playoffs as the fourth placed team in the league with 17 points. Their first playoff match was against the top seeded team, Briarcliff which earned 27 points during the season. After beating Briarcliff they faced the Scarsdale B1 team in the finals. The B1 team ending the season in third place with 26 points and beat Chappaqua (who also earned 26 points) in the playoffs. In the final match it was Scarsdale vs. Scarsdale, with the B2 team winning 3 of the 5 matches. Three courts went to third set tie breakers.
Pictured Above:
Top Karen Friedman, Diane Loft, Karen Cohn, Elena Kanner, Lori Falow, Tammy Fine, Geralyn DellaCava, Yuko Onoda, Mayu Kojima, Geralyn DellaCava, Joanne Teoh, Michele Silberberg, (Captians) Lauren Haller, Alexa Froomberg and Sarah Roth, Missing: Florence Alkalay, Gail Behar, Erica Choset, Nancy Clarvit, Amy Cooper, Helyn Goldstein, Barbara Goodman, Lydia Hassan Jill Hyman, Renee Koevary, Susan Oh, Erika Radin and Shari Romano
