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Published: 11 February 2013

Created: 11 February 2013

Last Updated: 11 February 2013

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To the Editor: On behalf of the Administrative Committee of the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee, we would like to congratulate the newly-elected members of the School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC). We thank all candidates who ran as well as everyone in the community who voted in the recent election, whether by mail-in ballot or in person. Your participation ensures a strong, contested election resulting in the election of the best representatives to evaluate prospective members of our School Board.

The Administrative Committee organizes and administers the SBNC election at significant expense. The cost of producing and mailing the brochure to every Scarsdale resident is not included in the School budget, the Village budget or any other source of public funds. These expenses are covered exclusively by contributions from citizens like you.

We really do need the individual financial support of members of the Community. Please consider a contribution to the election fund of the Administrative Committee. Donations can be made by Paypal (http://scarsdalesbnc.com/please-donate/) or by check payable to "SBNC Administrative Committee" and sent either to our post office box (PO Box 172H, Scarsdale 10583) or to our Treasurer, Peter Zurkow, at 6 Rectory Lane in Scarsdale.

Donations are used solely for running the SBNC election and do not benefit any individual candidate. It is through your support that we can continue to sustain this non-partisan system of robust and contested elections and elect members for the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Wayne Aaron and Josh Glantz
Co-Chairs SBNC Administrative Committee

Vivenne Braun and Angela Manson
Fundraising Co-Chairs SBNC Administrative Committee

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Published: 19 February 2013

Created: 19 February 2013

Last Updated: 19 February 2013

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To show their appreciation for the Library employees' hard work, dedication and support for the Scarsdale community during the post-Hurricane Sandy power outages, the Library Board treated them to lunch on January 14th.

(Pictured here) Back row: Aisha Bell, Deanna Schwam, Roberta Stein-Ham, Joan Bowen (Library Trustee), Terri Simon (Library Trustee), Stacey Brodsky (Village Trustee), Lori Gagliano, Barbara Josselsohn (Library Board President), Suzi Cassone; Seated: Ann-Marie Cutul, Sandy Selinka, Liliane Sherman   Credit: Michael Dardano Scarsdale Public Library is located at 54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale, NY, 10583. Phone: (914) 722-1300, www.scarsdalelibrary.org

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Published: 24 January 2013

Created: 24 January 2013

Last Updated: 24 January 2013

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The Scarsdale Citizen's Nominating Committee, the body that nominates candidates to run for the Scarsdale Citizen's Non-Partisan Party, has announced their slate of candidates for Mayor and Village Trustees for 2013.

Here is the line-up:

Mayor: Robert Steves, 2 Fairview Road
Trustee: Stacy Brodsky, 4 Burgess Road
Trustee: Thomas B. Martin, 262 Fox Meadow Road
Trustee: William Stern, 20 Rural Drive

Surprisingly, Trustee Robert Harrison, who is currently serving a two-year term on the Board was not on the list. See below for a statement from Harrison on why he decided not to run again.

Mayoral candidate Bob Steves is currently completing four years as a Scarsdale Village Trustee and has served as the Deputy Mayor, and Chair of the Finance and Municipal Services Committee. Steves works as the Assistant Treasurer of Fordham University and from 2000-2004 he was the Treasurer of CUNY. He has been a very active member of the Scarsdale community and served on the Scarsdale School Board and as School Board President. He also served on the boards of Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling Service, Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Plan (STEP) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary School of Religion; chaired the Scarsdale Bowl Committee and was president of the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, a rec coach and a Cub Scout leader. Steves and his wife Kathy have lived in Greenacres for 26 years and Kathy now serves as the President of the Greenacres Association and also runs the Friends of the Scarsdale Library Book Sale.

According to Jon Leslie, "Bob personifies what I think the Mayor of Scarsdale should be," and commenting on his nomination Steves said, "I am extremely appreciative of the nomination and am hopeful that I will be able to continue my service to the community as mayor and to continue to work with my extraordinary colleagues on the board."

Trustee Stacey Brodsky is completing her first two-year term on the Board and has now been nominated to run for a second term. In Scarsdale she has volunteered as a member of the Board of Architectural Review, the School Board Nominating Committee, as the President of the Heathcote PTA, on the Board of the Scarsdale Library, as Vice Chair of the Scarsdale Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol, on the Board of the League of Women Voters Scarsdale and as a member of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee.
She is a graduate of Vassar College and Hofstra School of Law where she graduated first in her class. She is also a certified teacher. She began her law career at Schulte Roth and Zabel and then worked at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York. She later was a partner at Lankler, Siffer and Wohl in New York. She is the mother of two daughters, Isabel and Nell, both graduates of Scarsdale High School and is married to David M. Brodsky.

We asked Brodsky to comment on her re-nomination and here is what she shared: "Of all of the volunteer roles I have had, I enjoy most the experience of serving as a Village trustee and I am very appreciative of having been nominated by the CNC as a candidate for a second term. For all of my first term, in addition to other assignments, I have chaired the Law Committee, where I have been responsible for handling the process by which new Village laws are considered and passed. During my chairmanship, the Village Board passed a new Fair and Affordable Housing law, substantially liberalized the generator law, and is well on the way in considering a more robust set of Historic Preservation laws. But the work of the Board is entirely collaborative and, additionally, one Board's work often builds upon extensive groundwork by a previous board, as was the case with the FAH law, and will be the case if and when we amend the preservation law. And that is among the aspects I really like about serving as a trustee. We strive to work together as a team to get the job done."

Also on the ballot are two men who will run for their first terms as Village Trustee:

Thomas B. Martin is a long-time Scarsdale resident who grew up here and has lived in the Village as an adult on Fox Meadow Road for 29 years. He has expertise in finance and owns Circle Advisers, a wealth management firm. He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Fordham University Law School. He is also an alumnus of Archbishop Stepinac High School and is Vice Chair of their Board of Trustees. He lives in Scarsdale with his wife Kathy and youngest child and has five grandsons.

William Stern is a 40-year Scarsdale resident was also nominated to run for Village Trustee. We asked him to introduce himself to our readers and here is what he said.

"My wife and I have lived in Scarsdale (currently in Quaker Ridge) for the past 40 years and have raised three children here. One of our daughters lives in Heathcote and also enjoys the benefits that Scarsdale has to offer. Living in Scarsdale has been a gift for my family in terms of its educational system, recreational facilities, safety and other amenities and services. The Board of Trustees has the responsibility to see that the town continues to offer these advantages to current and future generations. That is one of the main motivations for me to get involved.

Personally, I have a Bachelors (City College) and Masters (Columbia) degree in Electrical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Physics (Columbia). My expertise is in power generation, transmission and distribution as well as radio frequency , microwave
communication and generation, lasers, masers, atomic physics and quantum electrodynamics..

I run a medical device company which manufactures neurological ultrasound for the diagnosis of stroke and management of sickle cell disease. The company also manufactures a hospital hydrotherapy pool designed for women to labor in and give birth in.

I am a trustee of the Irish Jewish Museum in Dublin and have hobbies ranging from museums, book collecting, archaeology, and history including the study of other cultures around the world.

My hope is that I can contribute my expertise to the Board and help keep Scarsdale the amazing community it is."

Bob Harrison, who is serving his first term as Village Trustee, opted not to run for a second term. We reached out to Bob to learn more, and here is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to the members of the CNC about his decision and forwarded to Scarsdale10583:

To the Members of the Citizens Nominating Committee:

After much deep thought and conversation with my wife, Terri, family members and friends, I have decided not to have my nomination considered for a second two year term as a Village Trustee.

As I would move into my mid 70's with a second two year term and after 33 years of volunteer work in Scarsdale, I feel that I could not devote the time in good conscience to serve the community as a Village Trustee. Terri and I have a " bucket list " that includes extensive travel, spending more time with our four grandchildren (two in Scarsdale and two in Philly) and spending time at our newly purchased condo on the ocean in Hollywood, Florida.

Now that I am an outgoing trustee and not a potential nominee candidate, I can offer some thoughts on filling my position. I would urge the CNC to consider filling my open trustee position with a resident with strong financial background and business expertise and a commitment to Scarsdale and volunteer work. I have encouraged several residents to apply for a trustee position. ....

In conclusion, Terri and I will continue to live in Scarsdale and will be available for volunteer work but on a much reduced pace after I have attended over 3,000 Village and organizational volunteer meetings, Scarsdale charity events and youth sports coaching practices and games. ......

I thank the CNC of two years ago for giving me the opportunity and honor to listen, respect and serve the residents of our great Scarsdale Community as a Village Trustee.

Bob Harrison
65 Fox Meadow Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583

The election will be held on March 19, 2013 at Scarsdale Village Hall.