Omicron Variant Found in Westchester, COVID Counts Up In Scarsdale
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4150
In light of rising COVID counts, County Executive George Latimer declared a state of emergency in Westchester on Monday December 6 and announced the first Omicron case in the county on Tuesday December 7. His statement says, ““Earlier this afternoon we were informed that there is a confirmed case of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in Westchester County. The positive case is in a 13-year-old Westchester County resident. We are concerned about this discovery and are closely monitoring the situation. With the new variant circulating, the best way we can protect our families and ourselves is by being vaccinated, and by getting a booster shot if you are eligible.
“Additionally, I have officially signed the State of Emergency Executive Order for Westchester County. I am taking this action to combat the Delta and Omicron COVID variants. There is currently a public health threat, I know it has been many months, I know you are tired but we – together - must take action to be better prepared to fight COVID and the new variants.”
In local news, COVID counts are on the rise in the Scarsdale Schools as well, but so far, no serious illness has been reported. In the period from Friday December 3 to Monday December 6, 11 new cases were reported in the Scarsdale School District, 4 staff members and 7 students. Since the beginning of the school year in September there have been 62 cases reported, half of those in the past 4 to 5 weeks.
According to Assistant Superintendent Eric Rauschenbach here are the latest COVID stats:
-Over the past week the numbers have increased to 26.6 cases per 1,000 daily, which puts Scarsdale into the highest CDC rate for transmission.
-Scarsdale is at a 1.32% infection rate which has not been seen since our last major spike last winter.
-The positivity rate in Scarsdale is 3.7%.
Asked about the latest cases, Rauschenbach said, “There are a mixture of symptomatic and asymptomatic cases, none of which have been severe and no one has been hospitalized.” The new cases occurred with 50% in the unvaccinated and 50% as breakthroughs in vaccinated people.
Asked to explain quarantine rules, Rauschenbach referred listeners to an FAQ page on the district's student services web page.
Rauschenbach said that the district would reinstitute snack after the winter break on January 3, 2022 and that more details will be sent to parents.
He also shared the fact that the gym at Heathcote Elementary School is not in use because it was built without mechanical fresh air exchange. Physical education classes are now being held outside, in a multipurpose room in pods and non-traditional spaces. Funding for the ventilation work were part of the 2018 bond and bids for the work will be presented at the next board meeting. The work is expected to be done this summer.
Commenting on this information, Diana Cohen of 1 Heathcote Road and the mother of a six year old said, “About the pandemic –it is getting better not worse…. The death rate in the county is zero. It’s much, much better than where we were last year. “ Cohen asked for more information about PE classes at Heathcote. She said, “Why can’t they crack a window in the gym? What else can we be doing? Why are we planning for this now? Why didn’t we take care of this in the summer? If we can’t have a PE program, maybe we should have a different special.”
Also in COVID news, Rauschenbach shared that there will be eleven performances including band and choral concerts in the schools between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Without clear guidance from the Department of Health and the state, the district has set a policy to allow 50% capacity in the auditoriums, filling every other seat. He said there was a miscommunication to middle school parents that said that two parents per student could attend each performance.
There was considerable discussion about increasing capacity by allowing more density from vaccinated parents.
Dr. Hagerman said that the district will reach out to parents again in January to ask for vaccination counts. Once they have that data they can reconsider district policies.
Holiday Crime Prevention Tips from the Scarsdale Police
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1753
The Scarsdale Police Department, in partnership with the community, want you to help make the Village a safe place to live, work and visit. The Scarsdale Police Department makes the following recommendations to residents to assist in preventing home burglaries and other crimes during the upcoming holiday season:
• Make your home appear occupied. Leave lights or televisions on timers when you are out.
• Use motion sensing exterior lighting and keep the perimeter of your home well lighted. The smallest light may be a deterrent to prowlers.
• Consider investing in a camera surveillance system – and advertise that your home is protected by video surveillance.
• Make your home more difficult to enter by increasing exterior security.
• Always turn your alarm system on when you are away. This includes second-story alarm sensors.
• Keep all exterior doors locked, using deadbolt locks. Keep your garage door closed and locked.
• Always lock your vehicle whether it is parked on the street or in your driveway. Do not leave valuables or your keys in the vehicle when it’s unattended.
• Don't allow daily deliveries of mail, packages or other items to build up while you are away. Arrange with the Post Office to hold your mail, or arrange for a friend or neighbor to collect them regularly.
• Be an observant neighbor. Immediately notify the police of any suspicious activity in your neighborhood. Be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.
Three SHS Female Athletes Sign Letters of Intent to Play College Sports
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 2354
Three Scarsdale High School senior female were celebrated at “Signing Day” on Monday November 15, when they signed letters of intent to play college sports. The event was held at the Scarsdale Athletic Department.
Pictured above are Olivia Franco, Sedna Gandhi and Haley Matusz.
Olivia Franco began lacrosse in second grade! She joined a travel lacrosse team in 7th grade. Olivia began the rigorous recruiting process in high school . But, due to COVID restrictions the recruiting process became very hard because there were no tournaments to play. Therefore, she had to adjust and attended many lacrosse showcases and used film to send to coaches to get recruited. She is going to her top choice for lacrosse at Catholic University of America, ranked 6th in the country for D3 lacrosse .
Sedna Gandhi has been fencing for seven years, has won multiple national and international medals, trained with the Olympic epee fencing team, and won gold at the national championship and Junior Olympics this past summer. Additionally, she will be traveling to Estonia later this week and Spain next month representing Team USA . Sedna signed her NLI for Notre Dame to attend in the fall of 2022.
Haley Matusz has played lacrosse for nine years and on several travel teams throughout her career completing her travel season with Sound Lacrosse. Haley is so grateful for all the bonds and memories made through her recruiting and lacrosse journey. Haley signed her NLI to play D1 lacrosse for Boston University next Fall. She’s so excited to join warm and welcoming community at BU!! So blessed!
Express Your Gratitude for Scarsdale’s Volunteers
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1438
The Scarsdale Foundation Honor Roll list is now live on the Foundation’s newly relaunched website.
Scarsdale is a community full of volunteers whose dedication shines in every area of civic life. You can thank community volunteers by naming them to the Scarsdale Foundation Volunteer Honor Roll.
The Honor Roll will support The Scarsdale Foundation, which provides need-based scholarships for college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, reach a critical fundraising goal of $150,000. As a community that values education, we should give every Scarsdale student a chance to succeed beyond their time in Scarsdale schools.
All Scarsdale volunteers are eligible to be part of the Honor Roll, including former residents. For $25 per volunteer, you can honor as many volunteers as you choose, such as neighbors and friends who coach sports, help at our schools, cook for the homeless, serve on local boards, committees, and more! It is a way to acknowledge those who serve in the more prominent ways and the quieter ways as well.
All members of the Honor Roll will be contacted and recognized in print, online, and at the Scarsdale Foundation Bowl Dinner at Brae Burn Country Club on April 28, 2022. Save the date!
The Scarsdale Foundation and Bowl Committee Seek Recommendations for 2022 Honoree
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 1214
Despite the pandemic, The Scarsdale Foundation and Scarsdale Bowl Committee have been active during the past year, and the community has been extremely supportive and generous.
The 2021 Scarsdale Bowl Committee will begin working to select the 2022 recipient of the Scarsdale Bowl award at its initial meeting on December 12th and is seeking recommendations from the community for next year’s honoree by November 25 but nominations will be accepted up until December 12. Nominees must be Scarsdale residents who do not currently hold an elective office. Click here to access the nominee recommendation form.
Any member of the Bowl Committee will gladly answer questions. Contact Chair Nancy Michaels at 914-725-8310 or at NancyMichaels311@gmail.com.
Guidelines for Nominations
The Scarsdale Bowl, under the sponsorship of the Scarsdale Foundation, has been awarded annually since 1943 to an individual (or in exceptional cases, to a married couple) who has given “unselfishly of their time, energy, and effort to the civic welfare of the community.” The founding donors of the Bowl believed that “many who serve generously and voluntarily, without office, honor, or publicity, are those deserving of having their names permanently inscribed on the Scarsdale Bowl.”
Annual Bowl Dinner – SAVE THE DATE!
The community celebration dinner is currently scheduled to be held in-person on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase.
The Scarsdale Bowl Dinner 2022, themed “Shine on Scarsdale,” will pay tribute to the newest Bowl honoree, as well as recognize 2020 winners BK Munguia and Jonathan Mark, and 2021 recipient Michelle Lichtenberg since we were unable to gather in person during Covid. The Committee is grateful that despite the dinner’s cancellation, the Scarsdale community has been generous, making donations toward the Foundation’s college scholarships, which are more crucial than ever. The hope is that next year the community will be able to properly celebrate the spirit of volunteerism, central to the civic life of Scarsdale, and that another group of deserving students will benefit from the evening’s proceeds. In addition, the Honor Roll will again allow everyone to recognize the day-to-day volunteerism of friends and neighbors while generating more support for the Foundation’s projects.
2022 Bowl Committee
Michelle Lichtenberg, President of the Scarsdale Foundation, announced that Nancy Michaels will once again serve as chair of this year’s Scarsdale Bowl Committee, and Abby Sroka will continue as the Secretary/Treasurer. Members of the Bowl Committee serve a staggered two-year term. The members of the newly-appointed class of 2023 are Becky Bach, Sara Farnsworth, Adam Hellegers, Eric Lichtenstein, Margot Milberg, Erika Rublin, and Beverly Thornhill. The continuing class of 2022 is comprised of Sergi Flaster, Michael Rosen, Svati Shashank, Scott Silberfein, Loretta Vickers, and Han Zou. Jennifer Love, a Scarsdale Foundation trustee, will serve on the Committee as the liaison for the second year.
The Scarsdale Foundation Honor Roll Update
In 2021, nearly a thousand individuals were named to The Scarsdale Foundation Honor Roll by their friends, neighbors, and family for volunteerism, raising close to $30,000. The Honor Roll was a wonderful way to celebrate all the volunteers in our village who make a difference. Thanks to the Scarsdale community’s generosity and partnership, these funds can now be distributed as college scholarships for deserving Scarsdale students in need.
Additional information about The Scarsdale Foundation and the Scarsdale Bowl may be found at www.scarsdalefoundation.org. We are looking forward to being together next year!
