Scarsdale Man Files Water Quality Claim .... But Who Will Pay the Damages?
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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While some Scarsdale residents are alarmed enough about our water supply to drink only bottled water, one Scarsdale man is taking his concerns much further.
Steven Blau, an attorney for Jeffrey Levin of Scarsdale, has filed a federal complaint charging that Westchester's Water District #1 violated a 2006 EPA ruling requiring them to treat this area's water supply with ultra-violet light by 2012. The treatment would prevent contamination of the water supply by cryptosporidium. He also claims that the water district misled customers by failing to disclose the full terms of a 2015 consent order with the EPA over its failure to meet federal drinking water standards. According to Blau his client may have gotten sick from the water when he "experienced symptoms consistent with these organisms."
Since the county failed to build the plant, the EPA settlement now requires the water district to include notifications in water bills advising users that the water supply could contain high levels of cryptosporidium that may cause a threat to the elderly, children and those with compromised immune systems.
There's no question that the county failed to comply with the EPA order. However, there is also no proof that the water supply is dangerous. According to the Scarsdale Village website, the Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2015 shows that, "Importantly, although the water supply is not presently subject to ultra-violet treatment, ongoing routine testing has not detected any Cryptosporidium exceedance in Scarsdale drinking water. Such testing will continue through completion of the necessary treatment facility upgrades."
Westchester County has implemented a Cryptosporidium action plan, which includes weekly monitoring of water taken from the Kensico Reservoir for the presence of cryptosporidium. The results are posted on the County's website weekly, and can be found here:
In addition, the EPA settlement requires notification in water bills, so all affected customers should be aware of the issue.
We spoke to Blau to ask what he hoped to accomplish with the lawsuit and he said, "Several things ... Avoid another Flint Michigan or Milwaukee, achieve recognition of the problem and try to get relief in the water bill while the water is not in compliance. We want to get a discount to the consumer."
However, it should be noted that one of the reasons that the County failed to comply with the original order was that they claimed that they did not have the funds.
In order to pay for the treatment plant and extensive upgrades to Scarsdale's sanitary sewer lines, the Village of Scarsdale now bills residents a sewer rent fee on their water bills. These funds, along with the fees for water usage are being used to fund the new treatment plant. According to Scarsdale's Deputy Village Manager Robert Cole, "Fees collected by Scarsdale fund both local and county infrastructure needs. Whenever the county pays a penalty associated with compliance or facility construction, the fee/penalty is passed on to water users through rates or taxes."
So even if Blau and Levin were successful with their lawsuit, the cost of the penalty would, in the end, be paid by these same water customers.
Announcing the Third Scarsdale Literary Salon
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- Written by: Preeti Singh
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"All things pass...Perhaps the passage of time is a kind of healing, or a kind of salvation granted equally to all people." ― Mizuki Nomura, Book Girl and the Suicidal Mime
The theme for the Third Scarsdale Literary Salon is Time! You are invited to an evening of books, authors, music and wine at the Scott Room at The Scarsdale Library on May 26th, 2016 from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm.
Finding Mr Rightstein by Nancy Kelton is a memoir of her journey - with all the love, hope, sadness and loss that life brings with it, and that time may heal.
The prolific Steve Lewis will read a few of his 'Time' related poems..including Floaters and others on turning 70.
In On the Rocks by Rebecca Marks, Dana Cohen retires from her twenty-two year career as a NYPD detective, and increasingly relies on her drinking as her life becomes more complicated. Then her estranged husband comes back into her life - with flowers, promises and a murder he claims he did not commit.
In Will's War by Lynn Lowin, one ordinary April morning, Will Bradford leaves his unhappy Connecticut home in the 21st century and finds himself in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. The year is 1861 when talk of Civil War is everywhere.
One of the endeavors of The Scarsdale Salon is also to encourage young artists. This Salon will feature Roshita Anandani, a 13 year-old at the Scarsdale Middle School, who will play some well-known favorites on her guitar.
Elementary Carnivals Inside and Out
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Cold drizzly weather posed challenges for parents organizing the carnivals at all five elementary schools this past Saturday, May 7 ... but the show must go on and it did. The carnivals were set up inside and outside with large inflatables on fields and activities and entertainment
At Edgewood the theme this year was "Namaste," which is a respectful form of greeting in Hindu custom. Indian dancers, decorations, and food brought the theme to life.
Fox Meadow Though their parents were wearing down coats, brave kids entered the dunk tank in bathing suits and hit the water on a very chilly day.
At the Fox's Wild West Saloon there were bumper cars, a woman on stilts, face painting, a guitar player, jumping castles and more.
At Greenacres the carnival had an "Over the Rainbow" theme in keeping with this year's school play, the "Wizard of Oz."
A magic show in the gym was a hit with parents and kids and it was a great day for celebrating family, friends, and the omnipresent cotton candy.
At Heathcote the theme was the blacktop circus, under the Heathcote Big Top with rides, games and circus performances.
At Quaker Ridge this year school Principal Dr. Gill participated in the dunk tank and the students had a great time trying to dunk him. There was a professional face painter. The carnival was mostly indoors because of the weather but kids and parents still had a great time. There were lots of inflatables and the theme was the Olympics.
Carnival Fun Raises Funds for Charity
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Scarsdale High School hosted its annual carnival on April 15th-16th. In addition to fun rides and games, the carnival also featured many booths set up by Scarsdale High School's various clubs and organizations. The proceeds these clubs made at the carnival have been donated to charity. One of the charities the SHS government has chosen to donate to is the Paulie Strong Foundation. The Paulie Strong Foundation is a charity that works to raise awareness and fund research to end childhood cancer. Another charity the students chose to donate to was the Michael Ludwig Foundation, a charity whose aim is to improve awareness, detection, and treatment of congenital heart conditions in youths. Lastly SHS students also donated some of their proceeds to the Service Women's Action Network, whose mission is to aid and empower women in the military.
Photos and text by Justin Cooper
Hyatt Playground News and Community Planting Day
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Hyatt Playground will be closed beginning Sunday night May1 through Thursday May 5 while the Village completes the final stages of construction. They will paint the basketball court and walkways and residents are asked to avoid using the playground area until the paint dries.
On Friday May 13 there will be a grand opening celebration of the Hyatt Playground from 6 to 8 pm with a DJ, balloon animals, face painting, cotton candy and ice cream. The event is free and everyone is invited to attend.
Community Planting Day
On Saturday May 14 from 10 am to 4 pm the village will celebrate Arbor Day and Earth Day with a community planting day at Harwood Park.
In conjunction with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation "Trees for Tribs Program," the Village of Scarsdale and the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks have secured an additional 250 native trees and shrubs for this 11-acre park along the South Fox Meadow Brook, part of the Bronx River watershed system that feeds into the East River and the Long Island Sound. Planting day is part of a comprehensive watershed restoration project designed to preserve and protect the sensitive watershed ecosystems, water quality, tree canopy and wildlife.
They are asking for your help to plant 250 
native trees and shrubs. All individuals, families, youth groups, civic groups and businesses are welcome to take part in the 2nd Annual Community Planting Day event. This is your chance to participate in the conservation of our natural environment. Naturalists from the Weinberg Nature Center will be on hand to provide educational activities for children.
Location: Along Fox Meadow Brook in the Brewster Road-Harwood Wetland (meet at the north end of the Scarsdale High School gravel parking lot).
Pre-registration is required (In person at the Village Hall Recreation Department or online at www.scarsdale.com/recreation). For more information, visit www.scarsdale.com/recreation.
