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Written by Michele Braun

Published: 22 June 2016

Created: 22 June 2016

Last Updated: 22 June 2016

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This is a letter to Scarsdale10583 from Scarsdale resident Michele Braun:
I attended the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, June 14, and was appalled by the lack of consideration given to the substantive input provided by members of the Scarsdale community on the 2016 property tax revaluation performed by J.F. Ryan Associates, Inc. Mayor Jonathan Mark invited comments from the public and asked speakers to address policy and community-wide issues and not to grieve individual properties.

Many members of the community did exactly as requested: Scarsdale residents shared extensive, rigorous analyses of the revaluation model. They identified qualitative, quantitative, and governance problems with the revaluation, including, for instance that the model provided is not a good fit for the data, its results do not conform with evidence from the marketplace, it has not been validated despite the availability of widely accepted techniques, and adjusting "multipliers" were incorporated without revealing their source or rationale.

Residents asked Village leaders to correct the many problems in J. F. Ryan's work before implementing the reassessment. I heard this request from speakers disquieted by the quality of the revaluation and the governance process, whether or not they planned to challenge the revaluation of their properties.

Unfortunately, I also heard Mayor Mark dismiss Scarsdalians' requests to pause and address substantive concerns by repeating that they could file individual grievances. This response hardly met the community-wide value standard he himself had established in opening remarks. Similarly, I heard the Village Attorney, Wayne D. Esannason, opine that while this revaluation might have made some people unhappy, any changes would make other people unhappy. I can only conclude that he does not understand good analysis or logical reasoning. Neither Mayor Mark nor Mr. Esannanson addressed important community-wide or policy concerns about the J.F. Ryan revaluation or to raise the level of government and governance in Scarsdale.

I cannot assess whether J.F. Ryan met the provisions of his contract. His work, however, does not meet the "fairness of taxation" goal stated on page 6 of his June 1 report. The Scarsdale Trustees and mayor now need to meet the provisions of their social contract with the electorate: To assess the revaluation and the substantive comments from the public and decisively act to rescind the reassessment based on a flawed process and reinstate the assessments in place before this failed reevaluation.

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Written by Stacie M. Waldman

Published: 05 July 2016

Created: 05 July 2016

Last Updated: 06 July 2016

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When you walk in the door of The Bar Method in Scarsdale Village you begin to see why the studio has become the "it" spot for those looking for a challenging and results-oriented barre class with dynamic instructors.

Owner Sara Giller knows what it takes to keep those looking for a great barre workout engaged and coming back for class after class. She's a "hands on" instructor and encourages the same of her other teachers. During the class I sampled, every time I thought "this isn't so bad," Sara would saunter over with a big smile and witty comment before repositioning me by a centimeter or two- just enough to cause full body to shake and to realize that I have been doing barre incorrectly all these years at my gym. "A new client will see results to their body almost immediately," she said. "Not only will flexibility increase, but muscles they didn't know they had will surface."

Speaking of barre at the gym...there is no comparison between that and barre at The Bar Method. "The Bar Method requires intense teacher training on the part of the instructors. It is a supremely effective workout. We connect with our students and customize their experience based on their personal body limitations and level of fitness," Ms. Giller said. The floor is covered with luxurious carpet so your feet are comfortably padded as you raise up to your tippy toes for your thigh and calf workouts. You don't have to race to the barre to get a spot like at the gym and you're not so close to the person behind you that you smell their coffee breath. The equipment is clean and in top condition and every person in the room is readjusted throughout the workout in order to prevent injury and maximize the strengthening and lengthening of the muscles. The Bar Method is known for creating long, firm thighs, lifted seats, pulled-in abs, and toned arms and I could feel this after a single class (especially the day after).

As I recovered from the exhilarating one-hour class and as my shaking subsided, I noticed some unique things about the studio. The color scheme is purposeful (neutral, light, bright colors) and the windows are long and large allowing for the studio to be naturally sunlit. There's filtered water available and the locker room is welcoming. There are over 40 classes offered 7 days a week and most of the morning classes offer childcare in a cute and playful room next to the studio. Sara Giller assured me, "...the soreness is a sign of total body endurance and strength."

And what does Ms. Giller love most about having opened The Bar Method in Scarsdale? "I love everything about teaching a method that I believe in and I'm actually obsessed with. I watch people's bodies change in ways they didn't expect and for the better every single day. The results are fast and last and the workout never gets easy which is why people come back day after day." She added that, "...students in Scarsdale are competitive and they've done so many different classes elsewhere yet they are challenged here and I can promise they're never bored. I'm creative with my class design to keep them and their muscles guessing during their one-hour workout each time they're in the studio."

There are some new client specials right now so it's the perfect time to try The Bar Method. Parking is validated. Just take your time walking downstairs after the class. Your legs won't let you forget you just finished a barre class!

The Bar Method
7 Popham Road, 3rd Floor
Scarsdale
914-207-7798
www.barmethod.com

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 June 2016

Created: 15 June 2016

Last Updated: 15 June 2016

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Local residents were shaken this week after the murder of 49 innocent people on June 12th at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Many expressed a desire to do more than mourn these victims of gun violence and are looking for ways to advocate for a change in our country's gun laws.

Following the tragedy community leaders expressed their sorrow and outrage at the continuing gun violence in the country. The Interfaith Coalition Against Gun Violence (ICAGV), a group that was formed after the shootings in Newtown, CT, announced that they will hold a community-wide vigil at the Scarsdale Congregational Church, at 1 Heathcote Road on Monday, June 20, at 7 p.m.,, in memory of the victims of the Orlando shooting. They invite all Westchester residents, whether religious or not, to an ecumenical service of prayer, song, and words of hope and love. For more information, call (914) 723-2111.

Congressmen Eliot Engel, Scarsdale Synagogue's Rabbi Jeffrey Brown and Cantor Chanin Becker, and Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Leah Gunn Barret all shared their thoughts in emails to the community.

Congressman Engel advocated for sweeping changes to our country's gun laws and urged Congress to pass legislation to require background checks and limit gun trafficking. "It is long past time for the House Republicans to join Democrats and pass commonsense gun safety rules. We can have universal background checks that prevent domestic abusers and suspected terrorists from buying guns. We can stop the trafficking of weapons into our communities. And we can put an end to the free and easy availability of weapons of war designed only for one thing—killing people—without losing sight of the intent of the Second Amendment."

Engel encouraged his constituents to do more than keep the victims in their thoughts and prayers. He said, "As a nation, we must recognize that this terrible tragedy reflects three things: the worst mass shooting in American history, the deadliest terror attack on American soil since 9/11, and the most horrific single hate crime ever committed against the American LGBT community. It reminds us that the fight for LGBT equality is far from over. It reminds us that there are still those in this world fueled by hate and intolerance. And it reminds us that as Americans it is our duty to stand together in the face of that hatred, united as one nation, one people. We as Americans mourn any horrific loss of life, regardless creed, color, or sexual orientation. It's what makes us who we are".

Leah Gunn Barret, the Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence (NYAGV), called for restrictions on gun sales. Barrett said the shooting was a hate crime committed by an American-born male who was armed legally with a AR-15, which is an assault rifle designed by the military for the military. "We make it far too easy for angry, hate-filled individuals to legally obtain these highly lethal weapons that were designed to kill as many humans as quickly and efficiently as possible on the battlefield. Yet they have been used time after time to slaughter Americans in our schools, houses of worship, movie theaters, malls and nightclubs. Any shooting, whether it is deemed a mass shooting or not, is an act of terrorism to the person being shot, to their friends and family, and to their communities. When will we learn that motive is moot? It's the means that we need to restrict". Barret expressed her dismay about the country's failure to pass laws banning the sale of guns and ammunition and asked the public to act now. "We are sick and tired of writing these statements. This time, let's channel our anger to demand that our leaders immediately renew and strengthen the 1994 ban on military-style assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines that expired in 2004, and impose background checks on all firearms purchasers, including those on the Terrorist Watch List. Contact your legislators today."

In an email with the subject line, "Our Hearts Are Broken," Rabbi Jeffrey Brown and Cantor Chanin Becker of Scarsdale Synagogue noted that at the time of the shooting, the synagogue was studying torah for Shavout. "While some in our world might be consumed by hate, discrimination, and violence - Judaism propels us toward study, diversity, and peace". The Rabbis also commented on the timing of the attack on the gay community which occurred during Gay Pride month. "The fact that such devastation targeted a club popular with the gay community and occurred during Gay Pride month reminds us that despite the strides made toward equality, there is much to be done to address ongoing homophobia that was for too long acceptable in this nation. The attack is also further proof, as if any were needed, of the imperative to end the culture of gun violence that grips the nation." The synagogue offered their sincerest condolences and support to the grieving community.

Beyond offering condolences many are searching for a way to help the victims and prevent the occurrence of more tragedies from gun violence. One way to act is to sign a petition that encourages Congress to reinstitute the federal ban on assault weapons from MoveOn.org. The preamble to the petition says, "While it is true that people kill people, and that guns do not shoot themselves, it is also true that mass execution would not be possible without such high capacity weapons. How many people have to die before we ban those weapons?" To add your name to the petition please click here.