Plant Native Trees on Tree Planting Day in Harwood Park
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On April 27, 2019 from 10AM to 4PM, the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks, in a collaboration with the Parks, Recreation and Conservation department, will hold Scarsdale’s 5th annual Trees for Tribs Community Planting Day at Harwood Park. The public is invited to sign up on the PRC’s portal on the Village website or just show up with garden gloves, sturdy waterproof footwear, and trowels. Children accompanied by adults are welcomed to participate and learn about nature. A small number of shovels and pitchforks will be provided. If you plan to stay for a while, bring your own filled water bottle, lunch and snacks.
Over the past four years, hundreds of volunteers have planted over 1,000 native, bare root trees and shrubs provided by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation under a grant written by FOSP. A slide show of the project area during our 2018 Community Planting Day event is available on the village website here:
The restoration of Harwood Park would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of village staff and community volunteers. FOSP is grateful to all for their commitment to open space preservation throughout the Village.
For residents interested in planting native species on their property, the following is a list of trees planted by FOSP project volunteers:
Red, Silver and Sugar Maple
Speckled Alder
Serviceberry
River Birch
E. Red Cedar
Black Gum
Red Oak
White Oak
Gray Birch
Toringo Crabapple
Poplar
Swamp White Oak
Blue Beech
Black Chokeberry
Buttonbush
Sweet Pepperbush
Silky and Grey Dogwood
Red osier and red twig Dogwood
Witch Hazel
Winterberry
Swamp Rose
Sandbar Willow
Elderberry
Arrowwood
Cranberry Viburnum
Bayberry
Nannyberry
Larry Smith of Scarsdale Apppointed to Board of Heathcare Trustees of NYS
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White Plains Hospital (WPH) Board of Directors Chairman Laurence Smith has been appointed to serve on the Board of the Healthcare Trustees of New York State (HTNYS), an affiliate of the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS).
Mr. Smith will serve as one of 25 trustees of HTNYS representing different types of hospitals, continuing care organizations, and health systems from all regions across the state. He and his fellow Board members will be responsible for providing guidance and oversight for the activities and programs of HTNYS that aim to strengthen the voluntary healthcare system through improved leadership and increased involvement by healthcare trustees.
“We’re thrilled that Larry is joining the HTNYS board. His knowledge of complex policy issues and his extraordinary leadership skills will be invaluable as we deal with major challenges to the healthcare system now and in the years ahead,” said Sue Ellen Wagner, Executive Director of HTNYS and Vice President of Community Health for HANYS.
The mission of HTNYS is to assist voluntary healthcare trustees through education, communications, and advocacy to promote the delivery of quality healthcare to all communities in a cost-effective manner. You can read more about the organization on their website.
Mr. Smith, of Scarsdale, New York, had a long and successful career in the investment management industry, serving as Head of Fixed Income and then Head of Asset Allocation for J.P. Morgan Investment Management, then Global Chief Investment Officer and US CEO of Credit Suisse Asset Management, followed by Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Third Wave Global, a global macro hedge fund advisory firm. He recently came out of retirement to join Horton Point as their Chief Investment Officer, and is an active investor for his family office.
He first joined the Hospital’s Board of Directors in 2004 and has served as a member of numerous committees, as well as Chair of the Finance Committee and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors. He was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2015. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
“Larry will bring a sincere passion for serving the community and a unique perspective of the healthcare environment to this role, said Susan Fox, President and CEO of White Plains Hospital. “He will quickly have a meaningful impact on healthcare leaders across New York,” she continued.
Scarsdale Citizens' Non-Partisan Party Triumphs in Village Election
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Rochelle Waldman, Jonathan Lewis, Seth Ross and Marc Samwick: Photo Credit Lisa Van GundyScarsdale has a new Mayor as well as three newly elected Village trustees. In an uncontested election, the candidates nominated by the Citizens Nominating Committee drew a larger than usual number of voters to the polls which demonstrated support for the candidates and Scarsdale’s non-partisan process.
Marc Samwick, who previously served two terms as Village Trustee was elected to serve a two year term as Mayor, with 434 votes. The three candidates for Village Trustee also received support at the polls with Jonathan Lewis getting 434 votes, Rochelle Waldman 427 votes and returning trustee Seth Ross 421 votes.
Lewis with 434 votes received more votes than any single candidate in an uncontested election in the last 18 years, per Village Clerk Donna Conkling.
A total of 457 votes were cast, with 19 write-in votes.
Commenting on the election, Marc Samwick said, “Seth, Rochelle, Jonathan and I are deeply grateful to the CNC for nominating us, to the campaign volunteers for working so diligently on our behalf, and, most importantly, to the voters of Scarsdale for entrusting us with the responsibility of public service. We look forward to being accessible and listening to our neighbors as we weigh the challenges and opportunities before us.”
One voter who attended the post-election reception at the Scarsdale Woman’s Club said, “There was a lot of excitement at the party this evening. Everyone is truly thrilled with the slate.”
ML Perlman, the Campaign Committee Chair for the Scarsdale Citizens Non Partisan Party said, "Two years ago, I chaired the nonpartisan campaign committee during the most contested election this community has seen in 20 years. It was during that time that I saw first-hand the unwavering value the nonpartisan process places on its commitment to nominating qualified leadership year to year. Both then and now, I was reminded by my mentors and longtime community residents that our campaigns are not about fanfare, political promises, or headlines. Whether in times of contest or in times of relative peace and quiet, we remain steady stewards of the core components of our system’s platform: judicious temperament, exceptional character, and the experience to govern wisely.
You do not hear nonpartisan candidates idealize slogans or disseminate promises of quick fixes because they understand that real challenges are complex and nuanced requiring a combination of sound policy development and implementation over time. The nonpartisan view extends many years ahead in its tireless commitment to a rigorous annual search for individuals to step up to serve on our Village Board with deliberate care and sound judgement. The result is a process that is well designed to service the needs of our community to solve problems and achieve progress.
I would like to extend my thanks to the 28 CNC resident volunteers who approached hundreds of potential candidates and provided invaluable due diligence research to present their endorsement of Marc, Jonathan, Seth, and Rochelle. Thank you to these four candidates who will generously donate their time and impressive capabilities in their respective roles on the Village Board.
I believe that the enjoyment we all share in the success and many virtues of our community certainly reflects the excellence in leadership of the countless individuals who volunteer throughout Scarsdale; past, present, and in the many years to come."
The new Board of Trustees with outgoing Mayor Dan Hochvert: Photo Credit: Lisa Van Gundy
Samwick addresses the crowd: Photo Credit Lisa Van Gundy
Scarsdale Cub Scouts Pack 440 Revs Up Engines at this year’s Pinewood Derby
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First graders Dylan and Ayden (with mom Suzanne) experienced their first Pinewood Derby. Photo courtesy of Midori Im.One of the highlights of the year for Cub Scouts is the Pinewood Derby, a tradition in scouting that dates back to the fifties. Scouts are tasked with cutting original designs out of a block of wood, while at the same time making it race-worthy on the track. The scouts have a chance to showcase their imagination, and this year was no exception.
On March 24th Pack 440’s boys and one female scout (you can guess below which car is hers) raced their cool designs by den (grade level group). Each scout that finished first in their den will then be eligible to participate in the race at the district level, to be held next Saturday in Crestwood. The most successful racers will end up at the national race.
More information about the Pinewood Derby and other scouting events hosted by Pack 440 can be obtained by contacting scarsdalecubs@gmail.com.
Ben with dad Noah. Ben was the fastest kindergartener this year. Photo courtesy of Midori Im.
9 year old Charlie took home the grand prize for the fastest vehicle in the pack, as well as having the best time in his den. Photo courtesy of Midori Im.
Sleek cars designed by experienced third graders at the gate.
Scouts and parents alike watch to see who crosses the finish line first. Photo courtesy of Midori Im.
Letter from Candidate for Scarsdale Mayor Marc Samwick
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The Village election is Tuesday March 19 from 6 am to 9 pm at Scarsdale Village Hall. Marc Samwick was selected by the Scarsdale Citizens Non-Partisan Party as their candidate for Mayor. Here is a letter to you about why he wants to serve:
It is an honor and a privilege to seek the approval of Scarsdale’s voters in tomorrow’s election to serve as Mayor in our village of over 18,000 residents. After serving four years as Trustee, from 2014 to 2018, and serving two of them as appointed Deputy Mayor, I humbly believe that I possess the experience, qualifications and leadership to be Mayor and successfully lead our outstanding community over the next two years.
My wife Cynthia and I have lived in Scarsdale for over 21 years. We have raised our three sons, Jason, Oliver and George, and built a full and meaningful life within the Scarsdale community. From youth sports to Heathcote PTA to after-school jobs scooping ice cream in the Golden Horseshoe to serving as Village Trustee, my family and I have been immersed in this wonderful community and rewarded with great friends and neighbors.
I was born in New Jersey and grew up in Westport, CT. I graduated from Union College in 1986, and received an MBA from Columbia Business School in 1997.
I have spent my professional career in the business world, eventually founding my own firm in White Plains where I am a real estate investor and developer throughout the tri-state area. Working with many different levels of municipal governments has provided me the opportunity to understand the roles, responsibilities and interests of staff, elected officials and the community at large. These experiences will greatly assist me in my role representing Scarsdale.
My volunteer positions outside of Village government include serving on the Scarsdale Little League Board (where I coached over 20 baseball teams), the Building Committee of the Scarsdale Public Library, the Finance Committee of Westchester Reform Temple, the Young Leadership Committee of United Jewish Federation, and president of a 72-unit homeowner association in Connecticut.
My track record as a Trustee offers clear examples of my work, my contemplative approach, and my dedication to listening and consensus building within the community, Village Board and staff. During my involvement in the expansion and renovation of our Library I spent a lot of time in the library to assess how it was being used and its physical limitations and opportunities. I worked closely with the Library Board, staff and Campaign Committee to encourage an appropriate scale that balanced budgetary realities with the recognition that this would be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to meaningfully enhance our library. I worked on numerous iterative scenarios proposed by the Library Board until there was confidence that we achieved minimum cost while maintaining a “build once” strategy. Once I was comfortable that the right balance had been struck, I became a forceful advocate and helped marshal support for the proposal within the community and the Board of Trustees.
I was very fortunate to play a modest role in the library project – a project that has clearly taken a village to accomplish. The results are a very exciting, right-sized project that is under construction. When completed, the new facility will be a model of community involvement and record-breaking resident generosity that will yield a twenty-first century modern library and community hub that will benefit our village for decades.
I’ve also been involved in the potential redevelopment of the Freightway Parking Garage. I worked closely with the Village Board and staff to form an ad hoc steering committee comprised of various village stakeholders, and to engage a consultant to solicit extensive community input and evaluate alternatives for the Freightway property. Freightway was built in 1972 and is in need of a major renovation, estimated to cost $2.3 million.
There are a number of factors that provide a real opportunity to utilize this critical village-owned site to bring vitality, parking flexibility and tax revenues into the village. First, there is a finite window of time before we have to invest meaningful funds to maintain the existing, aging structure. Second, we had a very successful transit-oriented development in Christie Place to use as a model – a site that was nearly built as a parking lot at a cost to taxpayers of millions of dollars, but was instead developed into a tax-paying residential, retail and parking structure that adds vitality to our village center. Third, we had the ability to meaningfully engage the community via a well thought-out collaborative process. In other words, the stars were aligning to take a project that had been talked about for decades and provide a thoughtful basis for a potential redevelopment that could bring the community tangible benefits over a long period of time.
While we are still in the very early stages of a potential redevelopment of the Freightway site, we recognized an opportunity to benefit our village and to develop an open and inclusive process to evaluate this critical village asset. If elected tomorrow, I will foster a transparent process that will consider community concerns, such as parking and school impacts, while seeking to maximize value to our community.
As I have shown repeatedly over the four years I served as a Trustee, I recognize and embrace a spirit of active listening, consensus building and teamwork. I believe that one of the most important things we can do as Mayor and Trustees is to listen. To that end, I plan to roll out a less formal way for the community to communicate with our elected officials. I will hold casual meetings open to all residents in less formal settings than our semi-monthly meetings at Village Hall. The intent is to provide more open and accessible communication so our elected officials can do a better job representing our residents to improve our outstanding community.
I welcome the opportunity to serve as Scarsdale’s Mayor and to continue to uphold the high standards of our community if elected on March 19.
