Latimer Calls for Detention Centers to be Closed
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From the outside, the building looked like an Amazon distribution center. But once he was able to peer through the windows, Congressman Latimer saw that there were people, not packaged goods, stored inside. That was the sobering reality Latimer confronted during a July 31 visit to the Delaney Detention Center in Newark with Bronx Congressman and colleague Ritchie Torres.
It took Latimer and Torres three weeks to get an appointment to visit the facility that is run by private contractor GEO and is one of the largest detention centers in the country, holding approximately 800 people. There Latimer found the detainees housed 9 to a room in triple bunkbeds. He saw them staring into their hands and sensed they had been “stripped of their humanity.”
Ironically, Delaney Hall was originally built to be used as a halfway house for recovering drug addicts. According to the NY Times, it was named for Geraldine Owen Delaney, known to some by her initials — which spell “God,” a nod to her work in the addiction recovery space — and known to others as “Mrs. D.” To her nieces and nephews, she was Gerry. Now those descendants are asking for the facility to be closed or for the name to be changed.
The day after Latimer’s visit, there was a death at Delaney Hall and the Attorney General of the State of New Jersey has announced an investigation into possible civil rights violations. Latimer said that when Congress goes back into session in August he plans to call for an investigation as well.
Latimer, who ran the Westchester County Prison System when he served as County Executive, said he does not believe in privatized prisons who do not have the same accountability as public facilities.
He also does not believe that mass detention centers are a solution to the countries immigration issues. In fact, he said, our country needs immigrants and needs workers. He said, “They are a part of the economic force of our area…. You go into restaurant kitchens, gardening businesses, and nursing homes and you meet lots of folks who are recent immigrants. They have work visas and they pay taxes… they are not the rapists, criminals and murderers that Kristi Noem and Markwayne Mullin would have you believe they are.
Many of these immigrants came to the United States seeking asylum from dangerous countries and now they are being picked up by masked ICE agents, without badges, and without the proper training to learn how to de-escalate conflict in the streets. These agents are handed billy clubs and told to go out and crack heads.”
People with dark skin and those from other countries are unfairly targeted. It’s racism. He said, “I think there is a way to have a strong economy and to work humanely together – and not create armed camps.”
He offered an ominous thought about the concept of people being rounded up without cause and shipped to detention centers…. “Who is to decide that other people won’t be housed there – who is to say that in the future we won’t be housed there for expressing our views?”
Here is Latimer speaking about detention centers on the floor of U.S. Congress:
Houlihan Lawrence Celebrates Community at the 2026 Scarsdale Sidewalk Sale
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Agents from the Scarsdale office, from left, Cindy Schwall, Wendy Alexander, Michael Levinson, Stacey Mayer, Linda Kermanshahchi and mascot, MinnieHoulihan Lawrence's Scarsdale office proudly participated in the 2026 Scarsdale Sidewalk Sale, held July 30 through August 1, joining residents, local businesses, and visitors for one of the Village's most anticipated summer traditions.
As the #1 real estate office in Scarsdale and Westchester County, Houlihan Lawrence believes that leadership is measured not only by market success, but by a commitment to community. Its agents have deep local roots and a longstanding tradition of community involvement, and the Scarsdale office is proud to support events that bring neighbors together and celebrate all that makes Scarsdale special.
Throughout the three-day event, Houlihan Lawrence welcomed hundreds of families and visitors to its booth with interactive activities including the Draw Your Dream House children's art contest, the Guess the Number of Keys in the Jar challenge, and a Prize Wheel featuring fun giveaways.
"The Scarsdale Sidewalk Sale is one of the community's signature events, and we're honored to be a part of it each year," said Vicki D'Agostino, Manager of Houlihan Lawrence's Scarsdale office. "Our office has always believed that real estate is about relationships. Events like this allow us to connect with our neighbors, support local businesses, and give back to the community that has supported us for generations. We are grateful to everyone who stopped by our booth and helped make the weekend such a success."
Houlihan Lawrence extends its sincere appreciation to Thoroughbred Title for sponsoring the Draw Your Dream House prizes, including gift certificates to Mimi's Gelato by Martine's, and to Prosperity Mortgage for donating the grand prize for the Guess the Number of Keys in the Jar contest. The office also recognizes the many Houlihan Lawrence agents and staff members whose enthusiasm and volunteer spirit helped create a welcoming experience for everyone who visited the booth.
About Houlihan Lawrence
Founded in 1888, Houlihan Lawrence is the leading residential real estate brokerage serving New York City's northern suburbs. With a legacy built on exceptional client service, local market expertise, and technological innovation, the company has earned a reputation as one of the region's most trusted real estate firms. Today, Houlihan Lawrence has 32 offices and more than 1,450 real estate professionals serving Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Columbia, Ulster and Orange counties in New York and Fairfield County in Connecticut. For more information, visit www.houlihanlawrence.com.
Chester Green Charged with the Death of his Mother Marian Green in Fox Meadow
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(Updated Wednesday July 8, 2026) The Scarsdale Police Department is now confirming what we all suspected.
Marian Green, age 71, of 43 Butler Road in Scarsdale was found dead in her home early Tuesday morning July 7, 2026. According to the report, “The victim’s 26-year-old son, Chester Green, was taken into custody by the Scarsdale Police Department at the scene and has been charged with Murder in the Second Degree. Chester Green was arraigned this afternoon (Wednesday July 8, 2026) at White Plains Hospital by the Honorable Erin McGoey, and remanded to the Westchester County Jail without bail. The charge is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.”
It is not clear when she died. An email from Westchester District Attorney Susan Cacace says, "As alleged in a felony complaint filed with the court, between July 5 and July 7, the defendant caused the death of his mother, 71-year-old Marian Green, at their Fox Meadow home by stabbing and beating her multiple times about her body with a sharp object and with a blunt instrument."
On Tuesday July 7, 2026, Scarsdale and Westchester County Police blocked off Butler Road between Hampton and Brewster Roads, set up a tent and appeared to be conducting a forensic investigation of the site.
The news came as Scarsdale was in the midst of cleaning up from a fierce summer storm on Saturday night July 4 when sixty mile per hour winds toppled trees, took down power lines and left hundreds in the dark. Streets and yards were strewn with sheared branches, and many were without power for days. If that wasn’t enough, on Tuesday morning there were reports of bears at Scarsdale Golf Club and on Tompkins Road, right near the police station.
With no information on what happened, an air of mystery surrounded the community. The street was closed for many hours as the investigation extended through the day and into the evening. 
A bear near the Police Department on Tuesday
On Wednesday July 8 people are remembering Green who was Chair of the Advisory Council for People with Disabilities and a tireless advocate for the disabled. She was well known around town because she attended many meetings of the Village Board where most recently she advocated for construction of concrete sidewalks, which were more accessible for the handicapped than the current asphalt walkways.
At a November 2025 meeting she urged the Trustees to move forward with the concrete sidewalks calling them an investment with an “immediate ROI and long term” impact. She urged the Board not to allow the project to become a slow, incremental “drip, drip, drip” process.”
As Scarsdale planned its new pool complex, Green was an advocate for making the new facility handicapped accessible. At a meeting in July 2024 she said, “We need handicapped parking, handicapped bathrooms, sinks and soaps, non-slip floors, Vehicles currently go through the Little School – that’s dangerous. The walk up from the pool is difficult. Will there be quiet space?”
At a recent meeting when the Village was discussing new parking meters, Green asked Trustees to allow the handicapped extra parking time so that they would not be given tickets so readily if they were slower in returning to their cars.
Green was effective at making change because she was always polite, respectful and volunteered with a smile.
For many years, Green was active on C.H.I.L.D., the PTC sponsored committee for Children Having Individual Learning Differences. In her later years, she parlayed her interest in helping those with challenges on the Scarsdale Village Advisory Council for People with Disabilities.
She lived in a split level home, next to the kindergarten playground at Fox Meadow School with her adult son and also frequently travelled to Florida to care for her elderly mother who lived there.
She was treasured by her fellow council members. Upon learning about her death, they sent the following statement to Scarsdale10583: "We are shocked and profoundly saddened by the sudden passing of our council chairperson and friend, Marian Green. She lived to serve and advocate throughout the village. This place we all call home is a better community because Marian chose to invest her skills and energy to make a difference in Scarsdale. She will forever be remembered as passionate, bright, kind, generous, creative and selfless. Our community has lost a unique gem with Marian’s passing. As her fellow Council on People with Disabilities committee members, we ask all who read this message to please pause for a moment today to remember Marian and her legacy of service."
Former Village Trustee Jeremy Wise, who served as the liaison to the Advisory Council for People with Disabilities said, "Marian’s untimely passing is a loss for the entire community. She should be remembered for her effective advocacy, exceptional kindness, generosity and commitment to the public good.
The community is reeling with the news that a murder took place on a quiet street where residents know each other’s names and look out for one another. Needless to say, it is a highly unusual occurrence. People we spoke to remembered the death of 20 year-old Bonnie Garland in 1977, Jean Harris’ murder of the Scarsdale Diet Doctor Harold Tarnower in 1980, and more recently, Robin Goldman, at the hands of her husband in 2016.
This time the victim is a woman who spent her life looking out for others.
Watch Green speak at a Village Board meeting here, nine minutes into the meeting:
Share your memories of Marian below.
Scarsdale Friends and Entrepreneurs Launch Chick Magnets
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Scarsdale residents and friends Laura Koch and Leslie Wank have taken their passion for Canasta well beyond a weekly game. Many of you may already know Laura – who taught over 1,200 people to play the game – and now has joined forces with Leslie Wank in a new venture. The two created a line of portable card game accessories, developed specifically for women who love to gather, relax, and play cards with friends (especially outdoors, where wind is always part of the game!).
Curious about what it took to launch this new line? We posed some questions to them about their entrepreneurial journey, and here is what they shared:
Tell us about yourselves - what did you do before you launched Chick Magnets?
What seems like a lifetime ago, we both launched our careers in finance. Collectively- commercial banking, investment banking, financial consulting and private equity. Let’s just say we know our way around a spreadsheet!
As Scarsdale residents, during our child rearing years, we applied our skill sets volunteering with local organizations. School PTAs, Scarsdale Youth Hockey, and Junior League of Central Westchester among them. Laura and I are both two-feet-in kind of gals, and these experiences were wholly immersive and exceptionally rewarding. Our goal: leave our posts with some measure of value added for the next at bat. Of course, we honed our own skills as well: in communication, organization, and sales & fundraising.
By the end of 2019, the last of our boys would soon leave the nest plus a global pandemic was on the horizon- the perfect storm to begin our new venture, Chick Magnets!
We would launch our product line in October 2024.
How did you become interested in Canasta?
Our friendship was built around games! We learned Mahjongg together in 2012 and played weekly for years. When Canasta began to grow in popularity, Laura learned the game and became so passionate about it that she eventually taught more than 1,200 people (including Leslie) how to play.
On those beautiful days and with an abundance of amazing venues in and near Westchester County, we took our game outdoors. We used phones, keys, salt shakers, a pen… anything to secure cards from blowing in the wind. Existing market attempts to address the issue- thick, weighted cards or magnetic cards- were neither practical nor a total solution. And so, the seeds of our new venture took root.
Describe your products - why are they unique?
We didn't set out to improve an existing card accessory. We started with a blank sheet of paper and designed an entirely new system for playing cards outdoors.
As card players, we were meticulous in considering the full landscape of addressable issues. We focused on Canasta since gameplay requires 108 cards, fanned and stacked card exposures, pick and discard piles, a second double deck at the ready, and a rotating card tray. If we could solve outdoor Canasta, most any card game would be covered.
We also aimed for a lightweight, portable, attractive, intuitive, and fun-to-use set. Our patented canasta traveler bundle weighs less than three pounds and is packaged in our signature "play nice" tote. Each component was designed for a specific purpose: our spinner tray offers a tight, stable rotation and incorporates a removable wind feature; our personal-sized boards and magnetic clicks allow players to secure cards with one hand; and our card set stores in a dual-purpose deck stand box.
In all, we worked with seven factories to deliver a novel product comprised of plastics, metals, and rare-earth materials made using a variety of tooling and manufacturing processes.
What went into developing the product? How did you find an industrial designer and where are the products manufactured?
As alluded to above, the development process was far more challenging than we ever imagined.
We started with homemade prototypes and initially worked with industrial design firms. Some of these firms were better suited to cloning existing Amazon products while others focused on long-term phased packages from branding and design to marketing swag. Our frugality saved us- all that spend may not have translated to a viable, manufacturable product.
Still, this phase was a necessary part of the learning process, during which we met our talented mechanical engineer. We used this time to tweak design elements and seek advice from fellow entrepreneurs. We would become deeply involved in every facet of every part of our business- production, compliance, import logistics, storage, website development, marketing, fulfillment. The process has been fascinating and we had cheerleaders along the way (even Customs Border Protection and DHL!).
Certainly there were hiccups, and our simple idea evolved into a multi-year project involving revisions, new prototypes and late-night problem-solving. One example: in 2022, new adult magnet safety rules were introduced to address serious injury from high-powered magnetic desk toys (swallowing linked to imitating tongue piercings). We scrapped one of our molds, resizing our magnetic clicks to ensure they were not a choking hazard.
How are you selling and distributing Chick Magnets?
We sell direct to consumer through our website, chickmagnets.co. We also attend pop-up events, charity fundraisers and Canasta tournaments where we have the opportunity to meet customers face-to-face and hear directly about their experiences with our product: It works! My favorite purchase! We play at the beach every week! I use it on our boat!
Our sales are almost entirely word-of-mouth, though we’ve also heard from customers that AI assistants such as Claude have sent them our way. We have had a few organic video reviews posted as well- on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook’s Not Your Mother’s Canasta.
By our first summer season, we shipped to over 100 zip codes across 17 states! Now in our second summer season, sales are beginning to hit a stride. We have many gift sales as well- perfect for the pool, lake, beach, boat or a card lover’s birthday!
Of course, we still have challenges ahead, but we’re proud of what we’ve built, grateful to have one another as partners, and thankful for the many people who encouraged us along the way.
At the Scarsdale Golf Club, a sign at the gym reads: "It doesn’t get easier, you just get better." It's an apt description of the entrepreneurial journey.
Learn more at www.chickmagnets.co.
Scarsdale Schools Honor Retiring Educators for 320 Years of Combined Service
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The Scarsdale Board of Education began their meeting on Monday, June 8th with a special ceremony to honor a distinguished group of retiring teachers, faculty members, and administrators. Superintendent Dr. Drew Patrick began the ceremony by sharing the district’s mission statement and praising the retirees for bringing the district’s mission to life through meaningful relationships with students and an unwavering commitment to education.
“This evening, we are recognizing a group of educators who together have served the district for 320 years. These remarkable individuals approach the work of teaching, learning, counseling, and leading as a mission and as a service to our community. Their talent, their decisions, their care, their curricula, and their passions brought the mission to life for students.”
Patrick thanked the retirees for their service and wished them well in the next chapter of their lives. "On behalf of a grateful Scarsdale community, I thank you all for your distinctive contributions to our students, to our schools, and to our community," he said. "Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement."
Assistant Superintendent Meghan Troy reflected on the profound influence the retirees have had on students, families, and colleagues throughout their careers.
"When I think about their collective and individual impact on our students and larger school community, it is truly remarkable," Troy said. "They have supported thousands of Scarsdale families over the years, and they have touched and altered the lives of the many students who sat in their classrooms or in their offices."
Drawing inspiration from the book Maybe, Troy connected its message of potential and purpose to the educators being honored.
"The Scarsdale school community has an answer to that first question of why you are here and what you, as an individual, have offered our children, our families, and your colleagues," she said before recognizing each retiree’s unique contributions.
The evening highlighted educators from across the district, including classroom teachers, administrators, counselors, coaches, and arts educators whose work helped shape students both inside and outside the classroom.
Closing the ceremony, Board of Education President Suzie Hahn expressed her gratitude for the retirees’ enduring legacy. "Throughout your careers, you have done far more than teach lessons," a board representative said. "You have encouraged, inspired, supported, and cared for generations of students. The impact you have made extends well beyond the classroom and will be felt for years to come."
The retirees were presented with commemorative gifts and received warm congratulations from district leaders, colleagues, and community members as they embark on a new chapter marked by opportunity, reflection, and well-earned retirement.
This year’s retirees include:
Julie Abbe
Cece Berger
Sarah Berger
Kathy de La Garza
Rochelle Hauge
Dina Hofstetter
Oren Iosepovici
Amy Kenney
Aimee Lepe
Kate Marshall
Enrique Orengo
Chris Pierro
Jeannette Pierro
Glenn Weill
Catherine Manin
Joshua Gaylord
John Van Cott
Meredythe Nowak
