Installing a Back-up Generator in Scarsdale? Here is What You Need to Know
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With the increasing frequency of local power outages there has been an uptick in interest among homeowners in the installation of automatic standby generators to power their homes during the 4-5 period it usually takes for Con Edison to restore electricity to Scarsdale.
However, recently residents who sought to install emergency generators spotted some issues with Village Code.
Regulations stipulate that the noise level of the generator measured from the nearest property line shall not exceed 55 decibels – but there are no generators available that meet this requirement. According to Salvatore Pace of Pace Electric in New Rochelle, the quietest generator on the market emits 62-65 decibels of sound.
Those who live on smaller lots may also find that the Village Code is too restrictive. According to the regulations, if the generator is placed outside the house, it must be placed in the backyard, set back twenty (20’) feet from the rear and side yard property lines.
Practically speaking, on a lot that measures 75 by 150 feet containing a 3,000 square foot home, the rear yard might be only 60 feet deep and 75 feet wide. If the generator needs to be 20 feet away from the side and rear property lines it could conceivably become the centerpiece of the backyard.
A meeting of the West Quaker Ridge and Middle Heathcote-Murray Hill Neighborhood Associations was held to discuss these issues, and as a consequence, Scarsdale Trustee Jon Mark announced that the Trustees Law Committee will review the code.
We asked Assistant Village Manager John Goodwin for some background on the code, and here is what we learned:
According to an email from Goodwin, “The Village's Local Law that pertains to permanent emergency generators, §310-7(S), limits the decibel level emitted from generators to 55 decibels as measured at the nearest property line and certified by an acoustical engineer. Thus, generators are permitted to emit more than 55 decibels at the unit itself, as long as the decibel level is decreased to 55 decibels at the nearest property line. Further, the Village law requires the use of appropriate sound-attenuating architectural materials and landscaped screening to minimize the visual and sound impact on adjacent properties. If after the permanent emergency generator is installed the decibel level is higher than 55 decibels, the Village requires additional sound-attenuating screening until the noise level can be certified by an acoustical engineer at 55 decibels.
When the Village was considering this law in 2006, staff researched and spoke with manufactures. The Village was assured that 55 decibels as measured from the nearest property line was achievable with the permanent emergency generators on the market as evidenced by the 100 building permits for permanent emergency generators issued since the law was adopted in late 2006.”
Have you installed a generator at your home or are you considering the installation of a generator? What do you think about the current regulations? Post your comments below.
Carolers to Serenade Shoppers in Scarsdale on Thursday Night
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The final evening of late night shopping in Scarsdale Village will be held on Thursday night December 22nd. Residents are encouraged to come down and enjoy free parking at all of the night meters. Hitchcock’s John King will be leading a group of Christmas carolers who will stroll the streets and serenade shoppers from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.
In addition, from 6:30 – 7:00 pm, flute players from Hoff and Hitchcock will offer holiday music in the lobby of the Harwood Building.
Stores will remain open until 8 pm to accommodate last minute holiday shoppers. Come to Scarsdale Village to shop and celebrate on Thursday night December 22nd.
This evening is sponsored by the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce.
Burglar Arrested and a DWI from the Greenburgh Police
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In response to a 911 call, police went to 4 Homewood Road in Hartsdale on the morning of November 28, 2011 at 10:00 am. The resident reported that he heard a loud crash at the back of the house and walked out onto the back deck. There he found a man dressed in black, attempting to pry open the basement door. When the suspect saw the resident he fled and got into a silver car.
A short time later, the City of Yonkers Police Department and the Village of Hastings Police Department apprehended a man for the burglary of a residence in Hastings. A follow-up investigation conducted by the Town of Greenburgh Police Detective Division in conjunction with the Hastings Police Department and Yonkers Police Department resulted in the arrest of Phillip Shand, age 24 of 134 Morningside Place, Yonkers for attempted burglary 2nd degree, a Class D felony in connection with this case.
Shand was arraigned and is currently remanded to the Westchester County Jail. He is scheduled to appear in Greenburgh Town Court on Tuesday,
Greenburgh Police received numerous complaints about aggressive solicitors going door to door for the NY Youth Club. At 5:30 pm on 11/13 a resident at Byway in Hartsdale complained that a solicitor from the NY Youth Club was pounding on the door and ringing the bell.
At 6 pm, a solicitor for the NY Youth Club went to a home on Evandale Road. When the resident said he was not interested, the solicitor said, “You can’t even give me a dollar?” and refused to leave the premises. The resident said he was going to call the police, and the solicitor invited him to “go ahead and call the cops.” When police stopped the man he denied doing anything and his supervisor stepped in an also threatened to sue the police.
At 6:23 pm that same night a Kingwood Road man called police when another solicitor, this one wearing a santa hat, became upset and irate when the man said he was busy. And at 8 p.m., police got a call from Withington Road about the same solicitor going door to door.
Missing truck: A Hartsdale man went to Scarsdale Ford on 12/1 to get his pick-up truck which had been serviced there. However, when he arrived, he found out that the truck was gone. It had been left in the lot and the manager had the keys, but the2008 truck, valued at $5,000, was nowhere to be found.
Missing girl: Castle Walk residents called police at 2:40 am on 12/2, when Caroline Ninganga, an 18 year-old girl who is staying with them failed to return to the house. The girl was last seen at 8 am the previous morning when she left for class at Westchester Community College. She usually returned by 9:30 pm and could not be reached on her cell phone.
Drunk: At 2 am on 12/3, a Scarsdale woman was arrested for DWI, driving while impaired by drugs and failure to obey a traffic device. She was stopped by the police on Old Army Road for speeding, and they determined that Victoria Abramov, age 30, of Grand Boulevard, Scarsdale was drunk and uncooperative. She also denied knowing the passenger in the car, Garfield Payne of the Bronx, thought Payne said they had known each other for over ten years. Payne had a glass pipe with crack cocaine residue and Abramov admitted that the pipe was hers and that she had been smoking crack. She was arrested and searched, and police found a bottle of hydrocordone pills, cutting pliers, a screwdriver, jewelry, coins and two pawn shop receipts. She was released on $250 bail.
Announcing the Scardale Community Support Council
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A new community resource has been formed to help in times of crisis. The group was established as a result of the open community meetings that were held last fall by Scarsdale and Edgemont Family Counseling to facilitate discussion, support and the exchange of information about the spate of suicides that touched Scarsdale at the time. The newly founded group called the Scarsdale Community Support Council includes representatives from the clergy, police, Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service, Scarsdale schools (mental health professionals, the administration, and the PTA), the Village Trustees, the senior community, the Scarsdale Forum and other civic organizations.
In times of need, the Scarsdale Community Support Council will serve to coordinate the community’s diverse resources in an efficient and comprehensive manner. They believe that by working together they can reach the greatest number of community members to provide social and emotional support in the event of a crisis.
According to Linda Hillman Chayes, who is the chair of the Council, “The Council began meeting last June with the goal of
providing a forum through which our various organizations can connect, sharing information and lessons learned, discussing how emerging needs can be identified, and formulating options for coordinated crisis response.”
“The mission of the Scarsdale Community Support Council is to establish a network of diverse community service providers who are able to act as an integrated whole to provide comprehensive, efficient crisis intervention, promoting the social and emotional well-being of our community.”
By fostering connections between community resources, the Council seeks to strengthen those resources and develop a collective capacity that serves our community well in good times and bad.
Scarsdale Holiday Gift Wish List and Downtown Shopping Events
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The holidays are upon us! Hannukah starts on December 20th with Christmas just five days later. To get you into the holiday spirit, the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring their annual Holiday Tree Lighting at 5:00 pm on Friday night December 2nd. Bring your children to see the tree, meet Santa and enjoy hot chocolate and s’mores, courtesy of Lange’s of Scarsdale.
This year, local retailers in the Village Center will stay open late for holiday shopping on Thursday nights December 8, 15 and 22, from 5:00 – 8:30 pm.
Here are a few novel gift ideas from local businesses for your consideration:
Backgammmon set from A&M Table in Colonial Village : Beautiful faux 
snakeskin or crocodile backgammon set with velvet interior that comes in its own travel case. Includes: chips, dice, and dice cups. Measures: 18 1/2 inches x 11 inches: Price: $150
A&M Table, 1495 Weaver Street, Scarsdale, 914-723-2462 Check them out on facebook :
Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Fig and Olive: Fig and Olive carries over 30 different types of extra virgin olive 
oil ranging from a fruity and delicate varietal from Chateau Leoube in Provence to a buttery Arbequina from Melgarejo in Andalucía, Spain, a green fruit olive oil from Marquez de Grinon, Spain, and a peppery Tuscan olive oil from Villa Lucia. The restaurant also sells a variety of infused olive oils , with truffle, basil, and lemon. Other products sold include aged vinegars and specialty olives and spreads. Prices range from $12-32. Click here to order online or stop by Fig and Olive in the Vernon Hills Shopping Center to pick up your holiday gifts.
Fig and Olive, 696 White Plains Road, Scarsdale (914)725-2900
This holiday season, give yourself the gift of fitness. Let Vadim Vilensky and his team of professional personal trainers finally help you achieve your fitness goals. At Vadim Fitness Studio, your personal trainer will create a workout program designed especially for you to optimize your results. Using innovative and cutting edge workout techniques, you and your trainer will work together to help you achieve a healthier, new and improved you. Start the New Year off right and click here to purchase a gift certificate from Vadim now!
Vadim Fitness Studio, 495 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, 914-725-9553 http://vadimstudio.com/
Add your products, services or business to the Scarsdale10583 Holiday Wish List – running now through Christmas. Ask about our FREE e-gift certificate program. Email us at scarsdalecomments@gmail.com or call 914-980-4803.
