A Memorable Parade
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On Monday, May 31, hundreds of residents celebrated Memorial Day in the Village of Scarsdale. A glorious, sunny sky glowed above Scarsdale’s 2010 Memorial Day Parade as it wove through the streets of the Village. The Scarsdale High School band was heard throughout the parade playing festive pieces like God Bless America and drum cadences. Participants – from infants to the elderly – showed their spirit and patriotism as individual marching groups dressed in their respective uniforms and onlookers waved American flags. Scouts, Scarsdale Little League players, Veterans, Scarsdale Fire Fighters and Ambulance volunteers, and others marched in honor of America’s
fallen soldiers. Scarsdale fire trucks, including one from the 1940s, and ambulances trailed the marchers at the end of the parade.
After the parade, speakers reminded guests of the often forgotten significance of Memorial Day during a ceremony at Chase Park. Accomplished scouts were honored with awards during the ceremony. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin offered her thoughts, and Scarsdale Mayor Carolyn Stevens made the following remarks on the meaning of the day:
“Thank you to the American Legion for organizing today’s events – your efforts are truly appreciated.
As I look around at the crowd here today there is one face that is missing: Gene Rogliano. Gene organized the parade and these events for over 40 years and the community is grateful for the dedication he showed to community and to those fellow soldiers who died for their country. Gene made sure that we did not forget them and their sacrifice and we are better for it.
“Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer: we eat too much at barbeques; pools and beaches open; we can wear our pants and white shoes again; and we attend parties and parades.
But let us not forget the true purpose of this most solemn day –We gather today, just as we have gathered before, to remember and honor those who served, those who fought, and those who gave their last full measure of devotion for our country.
This tradition dates back to the Civil War. There are numerous stories of the origins of the this day. My personal favorite is the story of southern women who went to visit the graves of their fallen soldiers and saw the overgrown and bare graves of fallen northern soldiers and laid flowers on them as well. Waterloo, New York has been recognized as the official home of Decoration Day where a druggist closed his shop in 1866 and urged others in his town to do the same to adorn the graves of those who had died to preserve the Union. After World War I, Memorial Day was changed to include all who had died in America’s wars.
Whatever its origins, the true purpose of Memorial Day is to remember and honor the more than one million men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice- from Christopher Snider, a 12 year old boy who was killed 5 days before the Boston Massacre at the start of the Revolutionary War, to 28 year old Sgt. Edwin Rivera of Waterford, Connecticut who was killed in Afghanistan on May 28th, 2010 - all have died that we may be free. These men and women – sons and daughters, husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters – valued the life they had in this country but gave up their own lives to preserve it for us; revered freedom but sacrificed their own freedom that we may live free; gave up their pursuit of happiness that we might pursue ours.
As Lincoln dedicated a portion of the battlefield at Gettysburg as a cemetery for those who had died there, he stated in his speech, “that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. 
Let us too join in that resolve. Remember those who have died - maybe walk over to Boniface Circle and look at the names inscribed there or stop by the Memorial Garden by the pool with its plaques memorializing the role of Scardalians in our country’s conflicts; or the next time you see a game on Dean Field remember it is named for a young Scarsdale man who died in Vietnam. And honor them by being good citizens and do not take the freedoms that they paid for with their blood for granted – remember to vote in elections; inform yourself on the issues; make your voices heard and make sure that we do not send more of our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, to die in a cause less noble than their regard for their call to duty. And honor them by giving up some of your time to give back to your community and country. By serving in your own way you honor their service.
Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it as your own. Remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give. Most of all, remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled our nation and each one of us. “
Scarsdale Wins Award for Christie Place Development
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Here are remarks from Mayor Carolyn Stevens made at a joint meeting of the Village Trustees and Board of Education on May 27. Earlier this week I attended the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM) Annual meeting in Saratoga, New York. One of the reasons I attended was that Scarsdale was awarded First Place in the area of Economic Development for the Christie Place development. NYCOM found the project to be an innovative and creative. The project, as many of you know, involved a public/private partnership, that provided the Village with many benefits, including much needed parking, senior housing, and accessibility to transportation, while adding to the vitality of the Village center with retail on the first level and housing above. In addition, the development provides the Village with several streams of revenue. For all these reasons, the NYCOM board found the project to be a model of progressive and innovative problem solving. While I accepted the award at the dinner last Sunday, it really belongs to former Mayor Beverly Sved and the trustees who worked with her to create a better solution. I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention Abby Stillman – a resident who first raised the concept in conversations with Beverly and other board members as well as Doug Brout who had vision and perfect timing.
I learned a lot while at the conference on governmental issues but what I learned about our own government and staff was perhaps most interesting. There are a number of communities in the state with serious economic issues that threaten their very existence, while we are extremely well run and on sound financial footing. I found that this Village has produced a number of professionals in government who now occupy positions in a number of communities throughout the state. I learned how well respected our professional staff members are regarded among their peers and how well the staff informs the Board on issues and governmental principles, and how well we are kept a breast of the ‘best practices’ for governmental practices and processes. Sometimes when we are close to a situation and focused on how we can do things better we lose site of our well trained, dedicated and highly professional staff and the service they provide to our Village and its residents. That does not mean that we do not seek to constantly improve our practices and services but it does mean that we should acknowledge the high level of professionalism out staff provides. So I personally want to thank Al Gatta and all of the staff for their dedication to good government and for the high level of professionalism they bring to their positions.
I would also like to remind folks to patronize our farmer’s market that has moved out doors at Village Hall parking lot.
This weekend is Memorial Day. While I recognize for many this signals the beginning of summer, barbeques and the beach or pool, the day is about remembrance…remembrance of those who gave their lives and continue to give their lives today in Afghanistan and Iraq. Please take some time to remember why we have the day off. It is to pay tribute to those who are not here to share in our festivities but whose blood has made them possible. So come to our parade, sponsored by the American Legion on Monday and bring your children or grandchildren so that they might understand the meaning of the day, or visit our lovely memorial garden and learn the history of Scarsdalians’ contributions to the armed conflicts our nation. If nothing else, take some time out of your day to pay tribute and remember those who died so that we might enjoy our freedom.
Greenacres Spring Fling
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The Greenacres Association hosted their annual Spring Fling on Friday May 21 at Hitchcock Church. The well-attended event featured live music, dinner, drinks and good company. Greenacres residents young and old, newcomers and long-time residents all met, mingled and celebrated another year of sharing their community.
Lynne Clark, a Greenacres Resident and realtor at Houlihan Lawrence shared her perspective on Greenacres. The land we now call home was once owned by the Mohican Indians, who sold it to John Richbell in 1660. Richbell’s widow Anne later sold the acreage to Caleb Heathcote. Many of the homes that still stand today were built in the 1920’s when the Bronx River Parkway opened in 1924.
Clark then gave the group an update on the real estate market. In 2009 only 23 homes sold in Greenacres, a gradual decline from a high of 50 homes sold in 2004. As of May 19 this year, 8 homes have sold and 15 more are in contract, so it looks like we are seeing a turnaround. The average price for 2010 now stands at $1,437,500, which is way up from the 2009 average price of $1,100,000.
The evening was enjoyed by all. Thanks go to Lulu’s for supplying a delicious cake, for the trays of Baklava from Elia Taverna of Bronxville and to the Board and volunteers for putting together a festive event.
Scarsdale Adult School Offers Something for Everyone
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The Scarsdale Adult School has announced their class offerings for the 2010 summer season. There are a series of classes for college-aged young adults as well as a separate array of courses open to all adults.
Life Skills for College Students and Recent Graduates teaches young adults, 16+ years old how to manage living on their own. Subjects include Advocating for Yourself and Promoting Healthy Relationships, Auto Maintenance and Safe Driving Techniques, Managing Your Money, and Cooking 101 and Eating Healthfully.
The Adult School is offering many exercise classes, including Golf Level I and II, Body Sculpting, Gentle Yoga, and Tai Chi. Additionally, art classes include Art to Wear: Jewelry Beading and Painting With Pastels.
The school will continue their Italian speaking class this summer with Intermediate-Advanced Conversation and Grammar all' aperto. The class will consist of immersion in italian literature, culture, current events, conversation, and grammatical instruction.
To register, or for information on all course offerings, visit www.ScarsdaleAdultSchool.org. Questions? Call 723-2325.
Jim Maisano Announces Bid for NYS Supreme Court Justice
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Westchester County Legislator Jim Maisano announced on May 11 that he is running this November for New York State Supreme Court Justice for the 9th Judicial District includes Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange and Dutchess Counties. Maisano has served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators for the past 13 years representing New Rochelle and Pelham and currently serves as Minority Leader.
Maisano stated, “I have been committed to public service since I joined the Marine Corps in 1984 and continue to honor this commitment through my service as a County Legislator. I have deep respect for the powerful impact of the courts and judiciary on people’s lives. I look forward to bringing my skills and experience to the bench. My goal is to be a judge that exemplifies Thomas Jefferson’s important ideal that ‘the most sacred of the duties of a government is to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.’”
Throughout his service as a legislator, Maisano has also practiced law. In the past eight years, he has worked in the New York offices of two international law firms. He has been a counsel with Crowell & Moring LLP since 2007 practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, financial services and antitrust law. Maisano represents clients in a wide range of federal, state and local litigation and arbitration actions with cases dealing with business, real estate and financial institution issues. Before Crowell & Moring, he practiced commercial litigation, financial services, real estate, negligence and government relations at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney (2003-2007). He practiced law in New Rochelle as a sole practitioner in commercial litigation, real estate, negligence and criminal defense matters (1995-2003); with an insurance defense firm (1994-1995); and a commercial litigation firm (1992-1994). He was also a small claims court arbitrator in the New Rochelle City Court (1996-2003).
Maisano continued, “My experience in both small and large law firms, along with government and military service, provides me with a diverse and broad-based background. I am used to addressing real-world problems that people face every day, as well as litigating complex corporate business disputes. I will bring this lifetime of experience to the courtroom each day and be a firm, fair and empathetic judge.”
He was re-elected to his seventh term on the Board of Legislators in 2009. First elected in 1997, Maisano has held various leadership positions, including: Republican Minority Leader (2003, 2010); Republican Minority Whip (2002, 2008, 2009); Co-Chair, Rules Committee (2003); Chair, Public Works Committee (2000-2001); and Chair, Intergovernmental Relations Committee (2004-2005). He has also served on the Legislation, Environment, Families and Labor Committees.
Maisano served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1984 to 1988 during which time he received several awards and commendations. He worked as a landing support specialist in embarkation and logistics, trained and supervised other Marines and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant.
Maisano earned a B.A. in history and political science from City University of New York at Hunter College in 1989. In 1992, he received a J.D. from State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law, where he gave the student commencement speech. Maisano graduated from Iona Prep in New Rochelle in 1981.
He lives with his wife Jean and son Michael in New Rochelle with their dogs Oakley and Marlee. Jean works as a fund raising and communications consultant for nonprofit agencies in Westchester. The Maisano family attends Holy Name of Jesus Church in New Rochelle.
