Shahar Azani from the Israeli Consulate Urges Support for Israel
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The UJA Federation of New York and Westchester Jewish Council hosted a briefing on Israel featuring Shahar Azani, the Consul for Media and Public Affairs for the Consulate General of Israel in New York at Temple Israel Center in White Plains on August 14. The goal of the event was to update local residents on the current crisis in Israel and to inform them about how they can get involved. Azani provided insight on the war in Israel and delivered a moving presentation on why the public should assist Israelis in fighting for their country.
Azani spoke about the importance of supporting the Israeli people, the atrocities committed against the Jewish population and how American Jews can assist those affected by the war. "In times when the sky closes, and planes cannot make their way to Israel, everyone who is able to make his way to Israel, to hug an Israeli, to visit the women soldiers, to show support, to spread the support, it means a lot," said Shahar. He informed the crowd that if they have an opinion, they shouldn't hesitate to share it through social media. He believes it is crucial to spread awareness of the war and inform others of the events taking place in Israel. According to Azani, educating others on the topic increases the number of people who will support the cause. He preached about the power of standing together as a Jewish community to take down the enemy, otherwise known as Hamas. "Together is how we stand as Israelis in Israel, together is how we stand as Jews, as a Jewish community, here and in Israel. Together we are facing these challenges, stronger than ever before, in our joy, and in our grief, and in our belief that this is our home, and we are there to stay." Azani's speech presented the idea that the more unified the Jewish population is, the easier it will be to rise above the enemy. He stated, "we are a united people, stronger than ever before to face our enemies, sending a clear-cut message: we are in our home to stay."
The night was also sponsored by the UJA who manages the Israel Emergency Fund. As the world's largest local philanthropy, the UJA Federation strives to make a difference in lives of Israeli citizens who are struggling to cope with the war that has plagued their country. Statistics show that the Israel Emergency Fund has moved more than 65,000 kids to safe play areas and has cared for more than 60,000 elderly people this past month. Martine Fleishman, a member of the UJA Federation of New York's executive committee, commented, "today when there is a crisis that requires that we take responsibility, that we do something, we are there, and Westchester is there, standing in solidarity for our brothers and sisters, and offering real help."
Living in Israel During Operation Protection Edge
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- Written by Sarah Schuman
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I will start off by saying that I am not writing this piece as a journalist. I am writing this personal commentary to share what I have seen since I moved to Jerusalem last year to pursue a career in photojournalism. As you are all aware, there is a war occurring here in Israel, which the Israeli's call "Operation Protective Edge". It began on July 8, 2014, but for me it really started when three teens, Naftali Frenkel, Eyal Yifrah, and Gilad Sha'ar, were kidnapped on June 12, 2014.
When the three boys were first kidnapped, I, like many others, believed that they would come back alive. For 18 days people from all over the world were coming together and praying for the safe return of these three innocent teenagers. Jews from many backgrounds came together to pray that these boys would return home. The night we heard the news that the boys had been killed, I was celebrating my birthday with a group of friends. What started off as a joyous celebration with laughter, tons of food, and confetti --that I'm still finding around my house -- came to a sudden halt. The music and chatter stopped immediately. Everyone was silent and the environment became rather eerie. No one wanted to break the silence, as it seemed wrong. For 18 days these boys were on our minds and the hope that they would be reunited with their families kept us strong. But then we found out they were not only kidnapped, but also murdered. Although we didn't know it at the time, it was Hamas that was responsible for the killing of these three harmless teenage boys.
What happened next was tragic. An innocent Muslim boy, Mohammed Abu Khdeir, was murdered in retaliation. This is when the violence, by the Muslim population, started in the Jerusalem streets. It was dangerous to go downtown due to the rioting. Everyone became very cautious about where they walked and which buses they took. A short time later, the war officially began.
Living in Jerusalem, I have not heard the sirens that go off in the south. These alarms, or alerts that Hamas has fired a rocket at Israel, have gone off multiple times a day every single day for the past month south of here. I have been lucky that I've only heard it a few times. The first time I heard the siren I was terrified. I was sitting on the couch eating a bowl of cereal after a long day. I was enjoying the peace and quiet in my apartment when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise overhead. I froze as my only previous experience with the sirens took place last summer during a military drill. I could hear people outside running into their homes and closing their doors as they knew they had only 90 seconds to find cover after the siren goes off. I jumped off the couch and ran into my roommate's room, as her room is the "safe room" in the apartment, and quickly closed the door behind me. I started to shake as I attempted to close the window and shut the doors. I was alone, curled up on the floor shaking, and worrying that the rocket would hit somewhere close by. I prayed that everyone would be okay. 
The Iron Dome is Israel's defense system and has been preventing many of the rockets from hitting civilians. The first time I heard the Iron Dome, I was in a park with a friend where we took her cousins to play. We heard loud booms in the distance, and we knew that meant that a missile had been fired at us. We were far away from the attack, so the sirens did not go off. My friend and I gathered her cousins as we were scared that there would be more rockets and that the siren might go off. We wanted to make sure that we were back in the house and not in an open space if they hit. Now when I hear the Iron Dome I don't get nervous. I view it as a sign that a rocket has been intercepted and that no one is hurt.
All my conversations with American family and friends since the conflict began have been quite similar. Everyone asked me if I was okay and told me to come back to New York. Some even told me to call, email, or text them at the end of everyday to make sure I was still breathing. My mom called every few days to check in and offered advice on how to stay safe. She told me to avoid buses and take taxis instead. What she doesn't know is that the buses are much safer than the taxis, as many taxis have Muslim drivers, so there have been a few attempted kidnappings. Friends in Jerusalem and around Israel called each other frequently to check in. I spoke to some friends daily to make sure we had all made it home at night. Each night I felt a nervous tinge in the pit of my stomach until I knew that all was well.
For the past month, the war has constantly been on our minds. In the beginning, whenever I had a free moment, I would check my phone for updates. But now we are all accustomed to living through this sad time. What started out as a frightening experience has become a way of life.
Reading the papers here, it is difficult to identify what really happened and separate personal agendas from news reporting. But I do know that recently, both Hamas and Israel have been observing a ceasefire while negotiations are taking place in Egypt. The tension in the air has slightly eased. The situation for Israelis as well as for the people living in Gaza is terrible. Both sides have suffered tremendously and one cannot compare whose suffering is greater. I do hope that this will all be over soon and that those who have been directly affected by the fighting can start to piece their lives back together.
Photos and text by Sarah Schuman. See more of Sarah's photos at www.sarahschuman.com and email her at: sarah.schuman@gmail.com.
Junior League Recruitment Coffees
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) invites women living or working in Eastchester, Greenburgh, Scarsdale and White Plains to its semi-annual "Recruiting Coffees" at historic Wayside Cottage on Thursday, September 18, 2014, 8pm and Friday, September 19, 9:30am. Joining the JLCW provides opportunities for volunteers to impact their community in a meaningful way and foster life-long friendships and professional relationships with fellow volunteers and members of the community in which they serve. RSVP to joinjlcw@gmail.com by September 17.
Junior League of Central Westchester Informational Coffees
Thursday, September 18, 2014, 8pm and Friday, September 19, 2014, 9:30am
Wayside Cottage
1039 Post Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583
(914) 723-6130
jlcentralwestchester.org
Free
Fly With WIZO (Women's International Zionist Organization)
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Support Israel and get an amazing workout at Flybarre in Scarsdale on Sunday August 10th, when WIZO Westchester (Women's International Zionist Organization) presents Flying for Israel. The event will support Israel at this critical time.
The event will be held on Sunday August 10th, at 11:30 am at Flybarre, 828 Scarsdale Avenue, Scarsdale.
CLICK HERE T0 SIGN UP or call Sarit at 212-751-6461.
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WIZO, The Women's International Zionist Organization, is a worldwide non-profit organization that operates over 800 social welfare projects in Israel. Next to the Israeli government, WIZO is one of the largest providers of social welfare services. WIZO improves the lives of women, children and the elderly living in Israel.
Goodbye Old House, Hello New House
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- Written by Jamie Kayam
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Does it seem like more houses are getting demolished in Scarsdale than usual? Ever wonder what the process entails, who's swinging the proverbial wrecking ball and who's designing the new homes built in their place?
There can be some very good reasons to replace an older home. It's fairly common for age-related wear and tear to bring a property's value and attraction down, prompting developers and enterprising buyers to invest in new house construction, and smaller homes on larger lots can offer the potential of untapped value. Sometimes a current owner may just want a new house.
The details on this subject can seem endless, so to start, this article focuses mostly on the process of building a new home in Scarsdale. We hope it offers some clarifying perspectives for our neighbors.
Risk and Reward
Right now, the real estate market in Scarsdale is hot. Many listings move into contract fast and every month there are new homes scheduled for construction. But that wasn't always the case; the economics of turning a dime can get tricky:
One particular project in Greenacres took a developer nearly six years to conclude; a property was purchased and demolished in 2006 for $1,181,000 million, built new and listed for sale in 2010 at $3,150,000 and stood vacant until it sold in late 2012 for $2,235,000. Holding the house for six years cost about $210k in property taxes, and the reduced price was $915k less than the intended sale price. That would have left a balance of $844k to develop the property. If new construction cost 700k, that would leave a profit of $144k — over a six year period that's about $24k per year.
Yet developers continue to see dollar signs all over our town. In June this year a listed property in Heathcote was aggressively bid on by multiple parties, and in just 2 weeks went to contract above asking price — by a developer. The buyer stated he intends to keep his new purchase as a rental home for clients while he completes multiple other projects in Scarsdale.
Demolition to Construction
What does it take to get a new house built? I spoke with Liz Marrinan, Scarsdale's Village Planner, to get a broad overview of the entire process. Here are the simplified steps from demolition to new construction:
- Submit an application for demolition to the Committee of Historic Preservation (CHP). The CHP is tasked with reviewing all demolition requests that involve over 50% of a structure. A review is conducted of a home's historical significance and can potentially be denied a permit for a tear down. But, if approved, start polishing your wrecking ball!
- Hold on, there are a few exceptions — in some cases, the Planning Board must conduct a review of your application as well. They'll get involved if your property is located on designated wetlands or is one of Scarsdale's rare flag lots (these are houses located behind other houses with long driveways).
- Submit your new home designs to the Board of Architectural Reviews (BAR). The BAR requires that new construction plans are submitted by a licensed architect, and will be reviewed for aesthetic qualities and adherence to design regulations. Once approved, it's time to proceed to step 4, but don't worry, the BAR will meet with you again for landscaping design before you can move in.
- Submit your plans to the Building Department and the Engineering Department. First, Engineering will need to review and approve your plans for a stormwater permit, and then a building permit can be issued.
- Congratulations, you may now pass Go! But hold on, your project will be subjected to multiple inspections by the Building Department as you progress. So make sure you run a tight ship and comply with all regulations.
House Design 
One of the most intimate aspects of new home construction involves presenting the design for approval.
I spoke with Jack Scott Miller, Chairman of Scarsdale's Board of Architectural Review, to get some additional insight into how the BAR conducts the process.
For full disclosure, please note that I'm an alternative member of the BAR (an active substitute), so I sometimes sit on the BAR and assist in conducting design reviews.
Jack referred me to the BAR's official mandate, which states: "The purpose of this chapter to preserve and promote the character and appearances and conserve the property values of the village."
The BAR tries its best to hold the line on quality designs as changes in the architectural landscape persist, but developers and property owners are tenaciously lobbying for what they want as well.
A huge part of BAR public hearings are neighbor's concerns. Residents often appear at meetings in groups, prepared to express their opposition to proposed projects. Complaints range from home designs being too large and driveways too long to new designs that contrast with the theme of a particular block and driveways that meet the road too close to other existing driveways.
Neighbors also bring complaints about rainwater running off from new home sites onto their properties, resulting in flooding issues, but that concern is dealt with by the Engineering Department.
Building Permit and Inspections:
To gain better insight into the actual process of building a new house, I reached out to Scarsdale's Building Department Director, Nunzio Pietrosanti. We discussed some of his experiences and concerns as new projects come into his office for oversight.
Under ideal circumstances, a project application is processed in about four weeks if all paperwork is in order and there's a minimum backlog of submissions at the office. Sometimes processing can take up to eight weeks. The Building Department tries to work closely with everyone who's submitting a project, and I found Nunzio's openness to be a reflection of the department's efforts to be accessible and user-friendly.
There are typically two types of entities who come to the department to get a project started; property developers who bring years of experience navigating the process and individual property owners trying their hand at house building for the first time. Applications with errors can get rejected, so if you're going it alone, consulting with professionals and taking the time to study village regulations can help expedite a complicated process.
The Building Department has a busy schedule. The process of inspecting a new house as it's being constructed can require up to 15 on-site inspections over a period of about a year, and there are currently 2 inspectors on staff to accommodate all reviews. Larger houses can take even longer.
Inspections range from analyzing foundations and load-bearing structures to plumbing and natural gas lines, as well as coordination with Con Edison for electrical lines, and conformity to approved design specifications. Additionally, the Engineering Department gets involved in the inspection of storm drain installations, as well as approving soil erosion and sediment control measures in order to issue a stormwater permit.
It's a delicate dance between developers, inspectors and third-party specialists all trying to meet deadlines and expectations of safety and quality.
Ready to move in?
In addition to all of the professionals employed by the village, there's also the team that's going to actually build your new house.
If you've ever marveled at how complicated a small bathroom renovation can get, just imagine the details involved with a house. And don't forget to include the bathrooms.
To start, you'll need a land surveyor, architect, foreman, foundation builder, craftsmen, bricklayers and masons, plumbers, electricians, roofers, asphalt pavers, and you're definitely going to need a landscape designer. Which direction will your house face, how will the sun shine on it? Solar panels or geothermal heating, or both? How many zones for the central A/C and radiators? Lighting fixtures, faucets, door knobs, dumpsters, port-a-potties, marble or granite — can we move in yet?
The details can seem endless, and there's an enormous amount of talent and skill involved. Considering it all, it's impressive to watch these houses go up in just one year.
