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Published: 08 February 2013

Created: 08 February 2013

Last Updated: 08 February 2013

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It could be another big one! The Village is warning residents to expect 12-18 inches of snow by tomorrow, February 9.  All I can say is I hope the wind does not kick up. Many of us have still not made repairs to the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy – so another storm is not welcome here! And I don't know about you, but we have already worn out our welcome at our friends with generators.

The weather service has named this tempest Winter Storm Nemo, but forecasters warn there's nothing cute about it.

Be prepared: stock your refrigerator and get out your candles. Anyone who has a car parked on the street should move it now as the Village wants all streets cleared so that snow can be plowed.

If you have storm related news, or photos, share them with Scarsdale10583 readers. Either email us at scarsdalecomments@gmail.com or post comments below.

Here's the notice we just received from Scarsdale Village:

The Village Administration has been monitoring the weather reports and preparing for the forecasted snow storm accordingly. It is likely by Saturday morning 12-18 inches may have accumulated in the Village. Snow removal efforts by the Village Department of Public Works will continue through the weekend until all the roads are cleared. Calling to report road conditions is not necessary; however, please call the Police Department at 722-1200 to report any downed trees or power lines. In addition, if power outages occur, please call Con Edison immediately to report your outage in order to get your electricity restoration in the cue. The Con Ed Customer Service number is 1-800-752-6633 (1-800-75-CON ED)

Private property Snow Removal:
Please remind your snow removal contractors to be mindful when plowing driveways and not leave snow on the public roadways. It is best, whenever possible, to shovel/plow the snow onto lawns and adjacent property, never into the street. The Village snow plows are working quickly and cannot avoid plowing the snow back across the 5,300 driveways in the Village, so if snow is plowed back across your driveway(s) please shovel it back out to the sides of your driveway, not into the street.

Parking
Residents may park their vehicles in the Freightway Garage from 3pm today and must be removed by midnight Sunday.

There are no other changes in the parking regulations. Overnight parking is prohibited on all streets in the Village. If at all possible please do not park on the street during the snowfall. Vehicles parked on the street prolong the snow removal process.

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Published: 06 February 2013

Created: 06 February 2013

Last Updated: 06 February 2013

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Adventurous, bold, resilient, curious, determined, smart, creative, passionate, resourceful, brave. That is how a graduate of The Girls Center (TGC) defined herself, and that is how Scarsdale's Tina Henderson, founder and creator, hopes each participant will emerge from The Girls Center. The Girls Center will open its doors, March 7th and hold workshops from 3:30-5pm every Thursday afternoon at The Scarsdale Woman's Club on Drake Road. Girls in seventh through ninth grades are welcome.

Henderson addressed a group at the Scarsdale Library last week and outlined the history of The Girls Center, including her background as a long time middle school teacher of adolescent girls and the lessons she's learned from Carol Gilligan, the premier authority on women's development. Gilligan was Henderson's professor and mentor in graduate school. Henderson discussed research findings that "girls are seriously impacted in their tween years," which Gilligan refers to as the edge of adolescence. This time span is often ignored, partly because girls seem to lose their voices at this point in their lives.

She went on to point out that while there is no doubt that we have made significant strides in the development of teenage girls, there is still a great need for continued growth and understanding. The fact that the world has changed significantly since the women's movement is notable. Girls are now bombarded by unrealistic images in the media, obsessed with facebook, texting, twitter, instagram, reality television and inappropriate clothing.

After many years of teaching, she observed one girl after another struggle through these difficult teenage years with questions of identity and self worth. She watched girls act out, become "mean girls," do poorly in school ( particularly in math and science) and sometimes go silent, losing their wonderful and enthusiastic younger girl voice. Many girls were expressing real forms of anxiety and looking for a safe place to turn. Many girls were feeling pressure to be perfect. Something essential was missing from these young girls lives. Regardless of a girl's socioeconomic background, there is a universal pressure to measure up to others, to please others, and to conform to the absurd images of society and the media. By the time girls get to high school, things start to make sense; however, often it is too late. Some girls have already become bullies, imposed self-inflicted harm, starved themselves, or just spent too many days uncertain about who they are.

Henderson wanted to provide some help. She had an idea to create a safe, comfortable and creative environment where girls could express themselves authentically and organically, honestly and openly, to gain a healthier sense of self. The Girls Center was formed.  Henderson addressed a group at the Scarsdale Library last week and outlined the history of The Girls Center, which is a new and exciting program sponsored and supported by Scarsdale & Edgemont Family Counseling.

Together with Laurie Albanese, a writer and English teacher, Henderson created a curriculum supported by Gilligan's and Rachel Simmon's work. The weekly workshops were organized around themes involving female adolescent needs like identity, relationships, communication and body image. All were taught and practiced at The Girls Center through the lens of creativity. Specific projects included yoga, role playing, self portrait making, poetry writing and other forms of self expression, infused with plenty of good old fashion talking and relating. Henderson says this spring TGC plans to add an art show, a poetry slam, an Open Mic Night and perhaps participate in more activism.

Girls from last year are the biggest advocates and supporters of The Girls Center. Their testimonials speak volumes: "The Girls Center made me more open and more sure of myself." " I feel like a somebody, not a nobody." " This is a great, fun, club that helps with your confidence." And " I realized that other girls go through a lot that I go through."

To sign up for this spring's semester please call Scarsdale & Edgemont Family Counseling at 914-723-3281. There is a nominal fee for ten workshops and there are a few spots left. This is a special opportunity for your girls. Don't pass up the chance!

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Published: 29 January 2013

Created: 29 January 2013

Last Updated: 30 January 2013

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The Scarsdale Adult School is celebrating its 75th year and registration is now open for the spring/summer semester. 75th anniversary catalogs should be arriving by mail shortly. At more than fifteen convenient local venues, new and returning faculty will be teaching enriching day and evening courses to adults seeking to satisfy their intellectual curiosity, learn new skills, and enjoy scholarly rapport with other members of the community. This semester at SAS includes a wide range of humanities classes on art, architecture, economics, film, history, literature, music appreciation, religion and writing. It boasts hard to beat prices for all its recreational classes in dance, fitness, and games.

New this semester are many options for parent/child and entire families. The catalog has even more computer-related, home and garden, and personal organization classes in its skill enhancement course selection, along with unique courses in arts and crafts, cooking, photography, foreign languages, music, finance, and self-improvement. Health and wellness courses on nutrition, spirituality, and stress reduction round out the curriculum.

Come One, Come All to the SAS Art Show:

To inaugurate a year of festivities in recognition of Scarsdale Adult School's 75th Anniversary, SAS will be hosting its first ever teacher/student art show. For the entire month of February, artwork submitted by SAS instructors and their students will be on display at the Scarsdale Public Library.

In honor of SAS instructors and students and to celebrate the start of many commemorative activities yet to come, SAS will begin the art show with an opening reception, free to the public, on Tuesday, Feb. 5th at 7 pm, in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Public Library. Join fellow SAS fans and enjoy the beginning of a year of special events!

Receive the latest news on course changes or additions to the printed catalog by subscribing to the Scarsdale Adult School monthly newsletter. If you have not been receiving monthly e-blasts, go to the SAS website and click on the yellow and green "Subscribe to Newsletter icon near the bottom of the home page.

To enroll for classes and view all SAS offerings, visit www.ScarsdaleAdultSchool.org. Call (914) 723-2325 with any questions.

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Published: 23 January 2013

Created: 23 January 2013

Last Updated: 24 January 2013

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Though residents continued to make noise about decreased noise requirements for permanent standby generators, the Scarsdale Village Trustees passed resolutions clearing the way for the installation of louder standby generators at their meeting on January 22, 2013.

The trials of Hurricane Sandy increased public pressure for revisions of the former Village Code that had a highly restrictive clause preventing residents on smaller lots from legally installing standby generators. After residents were without power during the storm, some for as long as twelve days, residents called for the passage of new provisions that were already in the works. Since 2011, the Planning Board held four hearings on the new law, and the Village Board another five, seeking to strike a compromise between those who object to noise and their neighbors who wanted an alternative source of energy during storm emergencies.

They passed two resolutions, the first prescribing the setbacks from the rear and side yards for permanent standby generators, detailing when they could be used and the times of day they could be run for weekly maintenance.

Here are the new setback requirements by zone:

Rear Lot Line:
AA-1 District: 15 feet
A-1 District: 10 feet
A-2, A-2a or A3 Districts: five feet
A-4, A-5 Districts; 3 feet

Side Lot Line:
AA-1 District: 20 feet
A-1, A-2 or A-2a Districts: 10 feet
A3 District: five feet
A-4, A-5 Districts; 3 feet

(To determine your district, see the instructions below*)

The generators can only be used during an electrical power outage and maintenance can take place from Monday – Friday between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between 10 am and 5 pm. All permanent standby generators must have an electrically operated auto-transfer switch.

The local law governing noise was also amended to allow the standby generators to emit 70 decibels of noise as measured 23 feet from the unit except for generators on smaller lots in the A3, A4 and A5 districts which can measure 66 decibels when measured at 23 feet. This last provision was modified from 65 decibels to 66 when Trustee Brodsky learned that a popular and affordable generator made by Generac ran at 66 decibels.

The new code did not pass without discussion. Lisa Runyon from Brown Road said she lives on a small lot and the noise from a generator three doors away kept her awake during the storm. She asked the Board to require those on small lots to purchase quieter brands and to turn off the generators between 11 pm and 7 am to allow their neighbors to sleep. However, Karen Brew from Ferncliff Road took the opposite stance, urging the Trustees not to discriminate against those on smaller lots. She said during power outages, "we need to have our minimal needs met" and said, "I feel that in these situations, noise is the least of the concerns."

Trustee Harrison made an eleventh hour attempt to propose an amendment to the law to require screening on three sides of the generator, a proposal that had been discussed and rejected at the Law Committee meeting. The amendment failed to be seconded. He also spoke out of turn and rambled on about generators, refusing to comply with the Mayor and follow procedures. Trustee Steves supported the measures but said, "I will vote yes because it is the best law we could put forward and balance concerns of all the neighbors. We will not provide a quiet community in the event of the storm. There will be noise; however it appears that the community wants these (generators) without restrictions. This is a time when the community should be considerate of their neighbors. People have rights to do things but they have neighbors as well."

According to Tom Monahan of Yost & Campbell, "The change in the law in Scarsdale brings the town in line with other municipalities and will allow many residents to take charge of their own power needs , a comforting thought in light of the ever increasing threat of storms and power outages we all face." Monahan, who is president of Yost & Campbell has been installing HVAC systems for 74 years and is now an authorized Power Pro Generac dealer based in Mt. Vernon.

*Here's how to determine the district of your house and setback requirements:
1. Go to to www.scarsdale.com, the Scarsdale Village website;
2. About half way down the home page is the section titled "Interactive";
3. In the Interactive box, click the link to "Online Property Inquiry";
4. The next screen contains a pull down box containing street names in the Village database. Find the street name about being inquired about and click on that street name;
5. The next screen contains a pull down box containing numbered street addresses for that street and the user should click on the specific address being inquired about;
6. The next screen will contain the information contained in the Village database about this property, including what zone it is in, assessment information, tax information and permit information back to when the house was originally built.