Fire and Ice: Scarsdale Fire Chief Explains Why It Was So Hard to Put Out the Flames at 72 Mamaroneck Road
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Subzero temperatures, gusty winds, frozen hydrants and a large old home resulted in Scarsdale’s largest home fire in recent memory. Scarsdale Fire Chief Jim Seymour, who battled the fire with 80 firefighters from all over Westchester, said this was the biggest home fire he ever encountered – and said that frozen water lines, broken hydrants and hidden nooks and crannies in the 8,000 square foot Tudor-style home made fighting the fire extremely challenging.
Police received the call about a fire at 72 Mamaroneck Road just before 1 am on January 21. When the police arrived they learned that one family member was still in the house and police and the homeowner went into the house and were able to escort a 13 year-old boy out from a third floor bedroom.
The first firemen arrived at the scene in just 3 minutes, located the fire in the living room and quickly stretched their hoses inside. They found the fire next to the first floor fireplace and knocked down that blaze. However, using thermal imaging they quickly learned that the entire basement was in flames.
By then, crews from Hartsdale and Greenburgh had arrived and the men found heavy fire in the basement and also saw that the fire had moved up a wall of sheet rock next to the chimney, climbing all the way to the attic of the house.
At this point, Seymour said they determined that the fire had spread to all four levels of the house and sent men to the basement, first, second and third floors to fight it. The house had many knee walls and concealed spaces that made it difficult to find the fire. They attempted to stop it from inside the house until 2 or 2:30 am when it was determined that conditions were rapidly deteriorating. Due to the thick smoke and dangerous conditions, Seymour ordered the 16 to 25 firefighters who were inside to get out of the building.
After 2 pm, the firefighters attempted to stop the fire from outside the house. But frozen water lines and hydrants diminished their success. The men were eventually able to find a working hydrant with water from another source at the end of the Murray Hill Extension. They strung 1,500 feet of hose from that hydrant to the house.
Seymour said that fighting the fire from outside was difficult because they were “chasing it blindly,” unable to see the source of the flames until they eventually leapt out of the third floor windows and roof.
Scarsdale Fire Chief Jim Seymour
The first team of eight firefighters from Scarsdale were joined by teams from all over the county. Seymour said they had 70-80 people all together, including career and volunteer firefighters who were cycled through due to the freezing cold, fatigue and icy conditions. The team realized they needed a bus to warm the freezing crews, and a school bus arrived from Buchanan and Beeline provided a bus as well. Yonkers sent a mini-bus and the Fairview Fire Department produced a 15 passenger bus, which all proved useful during the long night. Firefighters also warmed up in ambulances dispatched by the Scarsdale Village Ambulance Corps. They were unable to secure a Scarsdale school bus.
The fire was not under control until 9 am the following morning – and was not declared over until 4:30 pm that afternoon.
Many firefighters slipped or inhaled excessive amounts of smoke but refused treatment, but three were evaluated by SVAC and sent to the hospital. They were treated and released later in the day. There were no serious injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Westchester Causes and Origins team and Seymour believes it began in the living room fireplace. He said the family did report lighting a fire in the fireplace the night of the fire.
What can we do to prevent a tragedy like this one? Seymour said it was good that the house was armed with smoke alarms which detected the fire and woke the family. He advised residents to have their chimneys cleaned and fireplaces checked annually and to have an agreed upon meeting place outside the house in case fire does break out.
Seymour does not believe that the house at 72 Mamaroneck Road can be salvaged but says that’s up to the insurance company. The family left without any personal belongings and even the cars they had parked in front of the house are now encased in ice.
Photos courtesy of the Scarsdale Fire Department.
Get in the Game: Scarsdale Invites Residents to Apply for Boards and Councils
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- Written by Laura Halligan
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It’s that time of year again. The Scarsdale Board of Trustees’ Personnel Committee is making its annual appeal for residents to apply for open positions on Scarsdale boards, councils and committees. While vacancies occur from time to time throughout each year, most volunteers begin their terms in early April.
Putting Ideas to Work
The village boards and councils provide residents with real opportunity to take an active role in shaping Scarsdale government policies and programs. Working with village staff and trustees, these volunteer groups consider important civil matters such as property assessments, architectural preservation, local cable television programming, sustainability, technology and recreation.
Some boards, councils and committees are “decision making” bodies that independently review resident applications and requests for approval or revision (such as the Scarsdale Committee for Historic Preservation), while others are “advisory” in nature, and review issues referred by the board of trustees and provide advice to assist in creating policy (like the Scarsdale Advisory Council on People With Disabilities). Ad hoc committees, dealing with timely issues such as food scrap recycling or LED streetlights, research and review specific matters to provide actionable recommendations to the village board.
To offer residents with additional information about Scarsdale boards, councils and committees, village administrators, with assistance from the newly minted Advisory Council on Communications, recently launched a revised and expanded “Volunteer Opportunities” section of scarsdale.com. Click here to volunteer.
Residents now can access general information about each body, such as meeting schedules and time commitment. Expanded descriptions for specific groups, lists of current members, and relevant documentation also are available. In addition, interested individuals can apply online to join the board, council or committee of their choice. All residents are invited to review the information and consider putting their ideas to work for the Scarsdale community.
My Two Cents
For years, our local government has benefitted from the efforts of resident volunteers in creating plans and programs for the village. Those with a strong interest in civic affairs should add their voices to conversations about Scarsdale’s future. Community input is what makes government effective, responsive and inclusive in resolving problems, addressing current needs, expanding successful programs, and preparing for what lies ahead. And, getting in the game does more good than playing armchair quarterback. Check out how you can make a difference.
The Basics
When applying for membership on Scarsdale’s boards, councils and committees, applicants should consider the following criteria:
Residency
Scarsdale boards, councils and committees are comprised of village residents. While comments from those outside the community may be sought as needed, actions recommended or taken by these groups should ultimately reflect the views of Scarsdale residents.
Professional or Business Affiliation
In some cases, specific professional skills and/or training are required by Scarsdale Village law or deemed desirable by the Scarsdale Board of Trustees for the successful fulfillment of some board, council or committee charters.
Civic Interest and Involvement
Many members of the village boards, councils and committees are appointed due to demonstrated interest in Scarsdale affairs. Since the overriding purpose of these bodies is to assure the continuation of high community standards, it is appropriate that members be those residents who have shown a willingness and initiative to work in support of this objective.
Specialized Knowledge
Certain boards, councils and committees benefit by having one or more members with specialized knowledge. Individuals with specific industry or work expertise are encouraged to apply for membership in groups where they can have the most impact (e.g., those with real estate experience would be suited for the Scarsdale Town Board of Assessment Review).
Esurance Donates Car to Scarsdale Police Department
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Esurance has donated a car to the Scarsdale Police Department to be used for undercover police operations. This vehicle will assist the Scarsdale Police Department in undercover patrols and crime prevention operations. The car is covered so that it will not be recognized when used for surveillance and undercover operations.
Pictured above from left to right are esurance Senior SIU Major Case Investigator Michael Sepanara, Officer Michael Coyne who accepted the donation on behalf of the police department and esurance SIU Investigator John Ferris.
The Scarsdale Police Department would like to thank esurance for this generous donation.
Edgewood's Joyous Centennial Celebration
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- Written by Alexandra Wilson
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Edgewood School’s 100-year celebration on Monday January 7, 2018 was an uplifting event that concluded with the long-anticipated time opening of the time capsule. Students, parents, teachers and alumni gathered in the gym as MC and School Principal Dr. Scott Houseknecht used slides, songs and interviews to reflect on the school’s 100 years. Meanwhile, Assistant Principal William Yang livened the audience as he acted as a newscaster, moving through the crowd to interview different audience members.
Throughout the presentation, the audience saw how much Edgewood has changed since its founding in 1919. The school’s physical appearance was quite different; as Edgewood alumnus and Princeton emeritus professor Carl Schorske remembers, the building used to be surrounded by a beautiful apple orchard. He spent recess picking and eating apples. The building was also physically smaller, and before the expansion it was so overcrowded that the school secretary remembers three portable classrooms were brought in to accommodate all of the students.
There was no PTA until Edgewood’s 10th year, making this the PTA’s 90th anniversary. In the 1940s, the student-athletes wore black and gold, but they began wearing the current blue uniforms by the 50th anniversary. On that same anniversary, former Edgewood teacher Helen Holtz presented a 600- page book handwritten book depicting the history of Scarsdale. On the 75th anniversary, art teacher Helen Pasternak orchestrated a project to create a set of murals that tell the history of Edgewood school. Once the project was complete, Pasternak wrapped it in black paper and put a bow on the center before she unwrapped it and revealed it to the school on the anniversary. This was also the year that the school created the time capsule that was opened 25 years later at the assembly on Monday. The school also had an 88th celebration, where Schorske came in to speak to the kids.
On Monday, many Edgewood alumni were present as faculty and residents shared heartwarming stories from the 
Debbie Franco chats with her first grade teacher Alice Gaskinschool’s past. Current Edgewood students interviewed former teachers and alumni before the assembly began to hear about their lives at Edgewood. Susie Edwards Kelly, whose children are the fourth generation in her family to attend told the children that her parents met at Edgewood when they went there as children. Former teacher Ruth Friendly, who will celebrate her 95th birthday in February was there with her son, former Village Mayor Jon Mark. We met former first grade teacher Alice Gaskin, former third grade teacher Margaret O’Farrell and alumni Debra Franco – or Debra McCann as she was known as a student. The oldest former student in attendance was James Conlan, who was born in 1936 and attended Edgewood School from 1941-48. The Conlans’ have five generations in the Edgewood community and three at Edgewood Elementary School.
The audience welcomed Nancy Nemlich, who retired as Edgewood’s school secretary eight years ago. Ms. Nemlich began working at the school in 1966, where she also served as the sole lunch supervisor for the 8 to 10 kids who stayed in school for lunch. Her contributions to the school were so appreciated that upon her retirement the administration named the stage after her,.
While there was much reflection and nostalgia, the students were most excited about the time capsule that was about to be opened. The capsule that was created for the 75th anniversary was only meant to be the size of a laptop, but it swelled to the size of a kitchen table with the students’ many contributions. In fact, at the time, each class was given a shoe box to fill and these many boxes were hidden in the wall of the school. In 2005, the school underwent construction and in the process the place where the time capsule was hidden was revealed. Much to the students’ chagrin in 2005, they were no permitted to 
Former teacher Ruth Friendly is interviewed by current Edgewood students.open the capsule. However, they still wanted to contribute to the capsule, so they made cards for future students to read in fourteen years. At the celebration on Monday, the audience heard excerpts of the letters, in which past students spoke about their life in school and current events from 2005.
Before opening the capsule, Dr. Houseknecht warned the kids that the items in it may be decayed, and that they should not feel disappointed if they were. Dramatic music began to play, and he opened the capsule slowly... a student wearing a white wig popped out, claiming he had been in the capsule for years, which caused an eruption of laughter in the kids’ section. The students were then thrilled to find that the many boxes within the capsule were intact. The scene was somewhat anticlimactic because the boxes in the capsule were not opened during the assembly. A class plans on opening them and analyzing the contents later. However, the students were still pleased to see a photo album and drawings from former students, and they look forward to seeing what is inside the well-preserved boxes.
This event, along with a series of celebrations to mark the school’s 100th anniversary, were organized by the school's administration in cooperation with PTA Co-Presidents Heedan Chung and Susie Smith. Heedan made short remarks about her time at the 60th anniversary as a 4th grader and shared a photo of moms dressed up as flappers from a musical revue called Edgewoodmania.
An adult Edgewood chorus will start on January 10 at 7:30 pm. Anyone interested should email edgewoodschoolpta@gmail.com.
PTA Presidents Heedan Chung and Susie Smith
Flywheel Charity Ride Honors Doctor Slain in Pittsburgh
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A former Scarsdale resident wanted to do more than mourn one of the victims of the tragic shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on Saturday October 27. Leslie Berkowitz decided to organize a charity ride at the Flywheel Studio in Scarsdale to honor Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, who was the husband of one of her oldest friends, Miri Rabinowitz. Berkowitz knew Dr. Rabinowitz since he and Miri met in Pittsburgh in the early ’90’s.
Berkowitz learned that Jerry had arrived at synagogue early on Saturday morning 10/27 as he did every Saturday, to set up for a Torah study session. When he heard gunshots, he ran out of the safety of the Rabbi’s study, to offer help to those who might be wounded and in need of care. Jerry’s immediate decision to risk his own safety resulted in his death; he was gunned down in the hallway, by a murderer who entered the synagogue shouting, “All Jews must die”. However, no one that knew Jerry was surprised to hear that he had run towards the shots; not only was he a physician, who had practiced Family Medicine for over 30 years in Pittsburgh, he was a kind and compassionate man, whose greatest accomplishments were the relationships he developed and cherished, with family, friends and patients.
Why a charity ride? Jerry was an avid cyclist. After diagnosing one of his patients with multiple sclerosis many years ago, he made a commitment to raise money to search for a cure, by riding in the annual 150 mile, 2-day, MS ride. Since 1996, Jerry completed 21 of 22 rides, raising over $16,000 for the MS Society.
Berkowtiz saw the headlines that there were multiple fatalities in the Tree of Life Synagogue when she finished her usual Saturday 9:30 Flywheel class. Fearing the worst she shared her concern that friends Miri and Jerry Rabinowitz, were members of a Congregation which rented space in that Synagogue. Berkowtiz was overwhelmed with the kindness and compassion of everyone she spoke to that morning, and decided to honor Jerry with a ride at the studio.
Twenty riders joined Berkowtiz at the studio on December 9 wearing bow ties (Jerry's signature look). Fly Wheel’s Eve Bondareva led them with a playlist of hits by Bruce Springsteen, The Stones, the Bee Gees, Paul Simon, and Billy Joel (just to name a few). The energy was high and they raised $3,150 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in Jerry's honor.
To donate to the Multiple Sclerosis Society in Jerry's name, please click here and follow the instructions on the MS Society website.
