Ticks, Ticks, Ticks
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- Written by: Stacie M. Waldman
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It's officially "tick season." Soon after I started asking people in the Scarsdale area if they've ever found a tick attached to them, I realized that virtually everyone has experienced this gnarly phenomenon. Ticks are very common in the Hudson Valley and many species of ticks that live (and thrive) here are known for carrying tick-borne diseases that can be transmitted to humans. In fact, the CDC cites Lyme disease as "...the most rapidly emerging infections disease and the leading cause of insect-borne illnesses."
Joanne Wallenstein, the founder of www.scarsdale10583.com has had two attached ticks and she is pretty sure she got them both out in the Hamptons. "My aunt has a small, furry dog that probably sent them my way," she said. "In both instances, a few days after I cam home, I found a black dot that I couldn't peel off." My family and I just came back from a camping trip and we found several ticks on us of varying sizes. They can be as small as a speck of pepper and as large as a pencil eraser when they are engorged with your blood.
Here are the most common questions that came up about these nasty little arachnids along with their researched answers.
Why are ticks such a threat in our area?
Several species of ticks commonly found in our area can cause a host of diseases including Lyme disease, Powassan, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Colorado tick fever, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, tularemia, relapsing fever, and/or erlichiosis. The severity of these diseases ranges from mild to life threatening and even fatal. Some tick-borne diseases have the potential to lead to long-term neurological, cardiac, muscular, and eye issues that may not be treatable or curable. The Scarsdale/Southern Westchester area is wooded, has low lying grasslands, and is filled with front yards and back yards, all of which represent ticks' favorite spots to hang out and breed.
What should you do if you find a tick on yourself?
I spoke with Dr. Judy Stone, an experienced infectious disease doctor who has removed many ticks from herself and her husband. "There's a video on www.tickencounters.org that shows you how to properly remove a tick yourself with a pair of tweezers," she said. "It's no longer recommended that you burn it off or suffocate it with petroleum jelly," she added. Joanne Wallenstein preferred going to a dermatologist to have her ticks removed, but that requires getting an appointment with one, something that can take a while in this area unless you have a previous relationship. (They're busy with botox these days!) Joanne's doctor sent the ticks off to be tested for Lyme immediately. You can also send a tick off for testing on your own, according to Dr. Stone. The Tick Encounter Resource Center (TERC) will test your tick for various diseases for about $50 per tick. You can also send them a photo of the tick you found on you to start and they will tell you what kind of tick it is and how long it has been attached. This can help you gauge if you should have the tick tested or not. "If the tick was attached for less than 24 hours and you're asymptomatic, you do not need to go to the doctor," said Dr. Stone. "No treatment is necessary. However, 200 mg of doxycycline is effective for prophylaxis for Lyme (preventing you from getting the full blown disease) if taken within 2-3 days of the bite. It is not enough if you are symptomatic." Joanne took doxycycline both times for two weeks even though one of her ticks came back negative for carrying Lyme disease and she has remained asymptomatic. Remember, a Lyme positive tick newly attached (less than 24 hours) cannot transmit the disease so no treatment is necessary. Always kill the tick in alcohol and save it. Be sure to wash the area out well with soap and water.
What are signs and symptoms of a tick-borne disease in a person and how is it diagnosed?
These are variable since there are so many different diseases ticks in this area can transmit. The most common one, Lyme, is often identified by a bulls-eye rash but not always. If a person has been outside in woodsy or grassy areas and has any of the following symptoms, it's a good idea to see a doctor: rash lasting up to a few weeks (it can look like a bulls-eye or even just like hives, eczema, flea bites, or poison ivy and may or may not itch), flu like symptoms, a fever, weakness, headaches, or neurological symptoms like weakening of the facial muscles. Months or years later, a person can experience arthritis, numbness, concentration and memory issues, and difficulties with speech. Diagnosis of a tick-borne disease like Lyme is very difficult without a history of a tick bite. Serological tests can be run but are unreliable.
What can I do to protect myself and my kids from ticks?
The CDC recommends walking in the center of trails, bathing as soon as you come indoors and checking all people and pets for ticks, dressing in light clothing for hikes, wearing close-toed shoes and socks, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants tucked into socks if hiking. It is especially important to check behind their knees, on their scalp and neck, armpits and groin area, and anywhere that clothing puts pressure on their skin. Insect repellant that contains DEET (less than 30% is recommended for use on kids) is effective at repelling ticks but not at killing them and it is only effective on bare skin. Permethrin, on the other hand, kills ticks and can be used on clothes. Dr. Stone believes Permethrin treated clothes and shoes are the safest and most effective way to prevent ticks along with tick checks several times a day. "Treating clothes with Permethrin or buying pre-treated clothes is a good idea if you're going to be in tick-infested areas," she suggested. If you're worried about chemical exposure, TERC has a permethrin exposure calculator that will quell your fears immediately in terms of how little absorption occurs with Permethrin-treated clothes. (For example, a 125 lb. adult wearing a treated shirt, pair of pants, and socks would have to wear 1,817 of those items all at once to reach the EPA's daily dermal No Observable Effect level!) You can spray your yard but few sprays and techniques have been found to be effective at tick reduction.
What resources can I access for more information?
Tick Encounter Resource Center (TERC)
Westchester County Tick-borne Disease Info Line: 914-813-LYME
CDC
A Vibrant Holi Celebration in Aspen Park
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- Written by: Isabel Klein
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It only took a few minutes for Aspen Park to be engulfed in a vibrant cloud of colorful powder. On Sunday, June 14, Scarsdale High School students gathered at the park to celebrate Holi, the Hindu spring festival, or festival of colors, by throwing pink, blue, purple, red, orange, and yellow powder in the air and on each other. The festival is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and other places with a Hindu population, but recently has spread throughout the rest of the world to celebrate love and the coming of spring (this year, because of date changes due to some bad weather, the festival was more of a celebration of summer than spring.) The crowd was not large, and the vibe was intimate, yet the many small individual bursts of powdered color all globbed together into a mass of deep, dramatic chromaticity.
Organized by Scarsdale High School seniors Srishti Bose and Michaela Burger, the festival was a great and relaxed way for seniors to hang out with friends and celebrate the start of the famed and presumably great, "Summer Before College." "Holi was a lot of fun, and it was a great way to see lots of people from school before I graduate!" expressed senior Kara Schechtman. School-organized end-of-year events for seniors like Prom, Graduation, or Senior Transition Day can have a lot of surrounding pressure, but since this event did not have a goal of "student bonding," it just happened more naturally. "I was looking forward to Holi for a long time because I did it last year and had a lot of fun. It's such a great way to bond with classmates and do something out of the ordinary – throw powder at each other!" shared senior Caroline Kristof.
It was great to see everyone out together on the field, where participants chased their friends and threatened them with blobs of green or lounged on the hill admiring their stained bodies. There are few places where the goal is to get as dirty as you can -- but at Aspen Park on that warm summer day, a colorful mess was the only way to go.
Text: Isabel Klein
Photos: Isra Ameen
Prom Red Carpet Photo Gallery
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- Written by: Caroline Kristof
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The Scarsdale High School Senior Prom was a memorable experience for everyone. After months of preparation and hype, students came together in formal attire for the dance on June 4th. The day began at pre-pre prom, at around 3 P.M., where groups of students each gathered at various houses to take photos with family and friends. Next, came pre-prom at the high school, where all seniors and their dates accumulated at the high school for more pictures, and then a walk down the red carpet on to the Coach busses that took the students to prom at VIP Country Club in New Rochelle.
Tradition has it that senior girls wear long dresses while underclassman go short. Prom dresses were colorful this year - ranging from soft pastels to deep azure and bright red, oranges and greens. Hair styles featured updo's, many with elaborate curls.
Prom itself was a blast for everyone--between dancing, eating, taking pictures, and enjoying the nice weather and view from the balcony. Though there were many high school chaperones, they only added to the fun by chatting with students and even taking to the dance floor themselves. As the busses brought students back to the high school shortly after 11 P.M., many asked themselves: were the months of preparation and work for the night worth it? I think almost everyone would agree: yes!
Unfortunately, the prom wasn't all smooth sailing. Following the prom, one of the coach buses broke down en route to Scarsdale High School, delaying the return trip. When the other buses detoured to help out the stuck passengers, everyone was held up. Some continued the night at a post prom party at the Copacabana Club in New York City, where the club management was vigilant. Bouncers patted everyone down, inspected bags and purses and turned away a few who had too much to drink.
Here are a few quotes from the SHS Class of 2015:
SHS Senior Henry Kline
"Having been in government for all of high school, it was really great to see everyone enjoying themselves at a school event! I was able to spend time with all of my friends and it was amazing to see the whole grade come together."
SHS Senior Jon Greenberg
"I thought the prom was a success. It seemed that most people were having a really good time and the venue was nice. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves."
SHS Senior Isabel Klein
"Prom was, well, as fun as a high school dance can be. And honestly, it turned out it was pretty fun. There was nothing but good vibes at the dance and a kind of infectious positive spirit. The DJ was great about respecting song request and played a ton of great hits from our middle school and elementary school years , which got everyone excited. A highlight was when someone requested "Hava Nagila" and the whole grade danced the hora and even lifted some students up on chairs (only in Sacrsdale, right?!) I'm not sure if it was worth the hours of Hollywood star-like preparation, but it was definitely fun to dress up and just dance."
SHS Senior Alan Zhong
"Prom was a huge bar mitzvah in all seriousness; although I'm not sure if I'm impressed or disappointed with it. Part of prom is the buildup and with all the preparation and drama that went into it I can understand why some people might have been let down. But because I went last year I knew to keep my expectations low. "
SHS Senior Lindsay Kim
"I thought the venue was really beautiful and I really liked how we were able to go outside easily. I had a lot of fun. However, I didn't really like the DJ. He played a lot of rap songs/songs with just a beat that was hard to dance to."
SHS Senior Geoffrey Fitzgerald
"I thought the event went really well, and it was nice to see the entire Senior class together again. We have been out of school for a few weeks now, so it was nice to get to see everyone from classes, and to see everyone enjoying themselves."
JCC Celebrates 60 Years
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On May 14, 2015, The JCC of Mid-Westchester celebrated its 60th Anniversary at the JCC in Scarsdale. The night brought together many who wanted to show their support for the organization and applaud its importance to the local economy and the well being of generations of patrons. The comedian and TV personality, Judah Friedlander added his own sense of humor at the Bendheim Theatre, and even challenged the audience to rapid games of table tennis at the end of the evening. In addition to the camaraderie with old and new friends enjoying the evening, the JCC raised money for its scholarship funds for seniors and children. The Community Service Award Recipient was the Hudson Valley Bank Foundation in recognition of its varied work in Westchester. In the speeches made during the evening it became evident that The JCC is proud to serve the community in so many ways: From the young families who use its pre-school, dance programs, and camps to the adults who benefit from the fitness center, pool, and its many film and speaker series.
To see photos of the event, please visit www.jccmw.org or Facebook. The JCC is open seven days a week. For more information about the 250+ programs at the JCC in Scarsdale click here www.jccmw.org or call 914-472-3300.
Planning Board Recommends Changes to Village Code Regarding Gravel Surfaces
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The Scarsdale Planning Board considered proposed changes to the village code regarding gravel driveways and "impervious surfaces" as well as applications to divert a brook, merge two lots, make changes to the new condo building at 2-4 Weaver Street at their meeting on May 27th.
Gravel Surfaces and Lot Coverage:
The Planning Board considered new village code that would require gravel surfaces to be counted in the lot coverage calculation. There is currently a six month moratorium in place that requires gravel surfaces to be treated as impervious surfaces while the new code is studied. A consultant presented two drafts of a change to the village code. One change would update the use of the phrase "impervious surfaces", which at the moment does not include gravel to the allotment of ground coverage on a property. The other draft would remove the wording "impervious surfaces" from the code, and replace it with another term, which has yet to be determined. This change would also add gravel to the allotment of ground coverage allowed on a lot. The main difference between these two drafts is that the second draft would lead to "explanatory issues." In both cases, current homes that would be over the allotment of ground coverage due to the addition of gravel surfaces as impervious would be grandfathered, but any future changes to a property would count gravel surfaces as impervious.
Currently, code states that based on lot size, a homeowner has an allotment of ground coverage, some of which is designated to the house and any auxiliary buildings like a free standing garage. The balance of surfaces or structures that count in the ground coverage calculation could include a tennis court, a pool, patios, walkways, terraces, and of course, driveways. To create the proposed changes to Village code, the consultant reviewed properties with gravel driveways, currently about 10% of existing homes but 25% of future applications. The applications reviewed call for maximum allotment of ground coverage, which is why this is such a pertinent issue. The draft itself is a trivial matter, as either version will deem gravel to be an "impervious surface" or some complimentary term, into law. The Board made a recommendation to the Village consultant on the matter and appeared to favor the inclusion of gravel surfaces in lot coverage calculations.
This could have a far-reaching impact on future home development in Scarsdale, as including the gravel surface in the lot coverage calculation will limit the size of potential homes.
31 Paddington LLC:
The first item on the agenda was the creation of a culvert at 31 Paddington Road to divert the brook that currently runs through the property. The culvert would be 40 feet long and would be covered by grass. The Board, as well as residents in the area, had some concerns about the safety of the culvert, asking questions about the visibility into the culvert if children or other people climb in, and raising concerns about the flooding that routinely occurs on the property, and on adjacent properties. The Board asked if any safety measures could be taken to improve safety whereupon the idea of a "Trash Rack" on each end of the culvert was discussed. Again, concerns about safety arose, in the event that a person got through or under the trash rack at one end, and ended up inside the culvert. These concerns were also addressed, and the Board decided to hold over the final decision on this matter.
Lot Merger
Two Scarsdale residents applied to merge two lots at 257 Fox Meadow Road. The back lot does not have road access, and so the lots would be merged for tax purposes, and an additional building would not be permitted on the lot. The Board decided to allow the lot merger.
2 -4 Weaver Street
Stephen Oder T.I.C. proposed plans to add an auxiliary stairway at the southwest corner of the property, as the proposed renovations to the building would create a four-story building, and so would require this exit. The Board had been concerned about the safety procedures in the front story building, but the proposal seems to eradicate these concerns. The Board was, however, curious about the historical preservation of the building, as the property was originally the Tavern Building, but referrals to the Historical Preservation agreement drawn up by the former owners in the past certified that the proposed building on the property would comply with the agreement. The Board voted to approve the proposal.
