State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to Speak In Scarsdale on Thursday
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New York State Comptroller, Thomas Di Napoli, will speak at 11:45 Thursday morning at the luncheon following the League of Women Voters of Westchester Annual Convention at the Scarsdale Woman's Club, 37 Drake Road, Scarsdale, NY. There will be a Q&A from the floor after his presentation.
Comptroller DiNapoli has been in office since 2007, has reorganized the Office of the Comptroller, and has pushed for increased transparency and financial accountability, through exercising his office's responsibility for auditing the operations of all state and local government agencies, reviewing New York state and city budgets, approving state contracts and administering the state's payroll and central accounting system.
The Comptroller is also the sole trustee of the State pension fund, safeguarding the interests of over one million members, retirees and beneficiaries.
The League invites all community members to attend. There will also be a presentation from Diana Kasdan, Counsel to the Democracy Project of the Brennan Center for Justice at approximately 1pm.
Luncheon tickets are $40 and may be purchased at the door of the Scarsdale Woman's Club.
Former Mayor Miriam Flisser to Run for County Board of Legislators
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Former Scarsdale Mayor Miriam Levitt Flisser will run for Westchester County Legislature in November. At the Westchester Republican Party convention on May 30, Flisser received the nomination to run for the 5th district seat that includes Scarsdale, most of White Plains and a part of Harrison.
She was nominated by Scarsdale Republican Party Chairman Steve Fuchs and seconded by White Plains Republican Chair Brian Maloney.
A resident of Scarsdale for 38 years, Flisser was a Village Trustee for four years and served as Fire Commissioner and Police Commissioner. A pediatrician with a practice in Bronxville, she is married to Harvey Flisser, who was a teacher at the Middle School for 25 years. Their 3 adult children are all graduates of the Scarsdale school system.
In her nomination acceptance speech, she said:
I am honored to accept your nomination as the Republican Nominee for the 5th District; Scarsdale, White Plains and West Harrison, in the Westchester County Legislature.
As a pediatrician, and Chief of Staff at Lawrence Hospital, I have served thousands of families across our County. I understand their needs and their frustrations with our government agencies. As Scarsdale's Mayor, Police Commissioner, and Fire Commissioner I have deep executive and legislative experience – most importantly in developing and sticking to a budget that at once serves our citizens' needs, and also shows fiscal restraint and responsibility. I look forward to bringing all of these experiences to focus on key issues:
- Supporting the drive to keep our taxes down.
- Encouraging development and job growth
- Fighting to maintain local control over zoning decisions.
I am also looking forward to this campaign on a more personal level. I came this this country as a young child from war-torn Europe. The Country, this State, and this great County gave me the opportunity to succeed, professionally, and personally. Winning this seat and serving will allow me to express my gratitude, through public service, to the voters and citizens of our great County, where I have lived, worked, and raised my family, for 38 years.
Democrat Bill Ryan has held the seat for eight terms and was also the Chairman of the Westchester County Board of 
Legislators. He made a failed bid this year to get the Democratic nomination for County Executive to run against Republican nominee Rob Astorino. The party chose New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson and Ryan announced he would not seek another term on the Board of Legislators.
Flisser will run against the Democratic nominee for the 5th district, White Plains City Councilman Ben Boykin. The salary for the position is $49,000 per year.
Mark Bezos Presented with Open Door Award at Gourmet Galaxy
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The Gourmet Galaxy at Westchester Country Club on May 1 was perhaps the largest galaxy in recent memory. In fact, there were so many guests that additional dining tables had to be set up in another room to accommodate everyone. This year's honoree, Mark Bezos, drew a crowd including family, well wishers and fellow volunteer firefighters. Bezos' brother Jeff of Amazon fame was also on hand to toast Mark who is now a Senior VP at the Robin Hood Foundation. After cocktails, an impressive silent auction and live auction Steven Goldman, President of Scarsdale & Edgemont Family Counseling welcomed the crowd, saying "You make the world a better place to live ... You guys rock!"
He introduced Bezos and presented him with the Open Door Award. He greeted the Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company 2 that Mark captains and said, "if there's a fire here we are all in good shape ... but if there's a fire elsewhere, we're in trouble."
Mark credited his wife Lisa with her tenacity in bringing him to live in Scarsdale and for getting him involved 
with the firefighters. He told the group that after he sold his ad agency he was contemplating his next step and considered staying home for a year. Then an opportunity arose at the Robin Hood Foundation. Trying to decide whether or not to take the position he asked Lisa what she thought and she said, "Mark, I married you for better or for worse, but not for lunch!"
In his remarks he thanked the wide network of community volunteers including coaches, members of the Junior League, SVAC members, PTA members, and told them that they "receive the reward of making a difference, large or small." He lauded SFCS for their peer leadership program in the schools, for their parenting groups and work with community seniors.
He closed by saying, "thank you for inspiring me to do more."
Commenting on the evening, SFCS Board Member Angela Manson said, ""The Gourmet Galaxy was a huge success and we sold a record 350 tickets to a capacity crowd. Mark Bezos embodies the spirit of "The Open Door Award" with his acts of helping people in need, both as Captain of Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company 2 and as SVP at The Robin Hood Foundation. Mark's captivating speech about the importance of volunteerism was extremely well received by audience members from school and village service organizations, Scarsdale volunteer fire companies, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the Junior League of Central Westchester. I'm thrilled he accepted my invitation to become the SFCS honoree!"
Take a look at our photo gallery of galaxy guests:
Chaperone Goes Berserk on Bat Mitzvah Bus
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An out-of-control bus chaperone went berserk on a bus full of 12 and 13 year-old boys on Saturday night May 19 while they were en route from a Bat Mitzvah in Manhattan to Edgemont High School. According to witnesses, the chaperone, who is the brother of the Bat Mitzvah hosts, got angry when a boy on the bus threw a "projectile object" – probably an M&M or a gum ball toward the front of the bus. The chaperone then unleashed a spate of expletives at the pre-teenage boys and threatened them with "death." According to a parent who met the bus at the school, the man appeared to be drunk and displayed the M&M that had been tossed. The parent reported that the "boys were visibly upset by the abusive and frightening experience."
One of the boys on the bus captured the chaperones shocking rant on his phone and you can click here to listen to it yourself. (audio file only)
Here is a transcript of what he said:
"Who did it? Do it again, you fuck, and you're fucked! The driver will kill you! He will kill you! One more time, you will die, you will bleed, out of your fucking nose! That's right I'm spitting in your fucking eye! Ever do that again and you will die, got it? DEATH! You fuck! You spoiled fuck! Spoiled fuck! Do it again, and you're dead. Did you learn your fucking lesson...ever again...fucking spoiled brat! That's right don't ever do it again and I know it was you, you cocky little shit. Death! It was an accident? You purposely threw it at our heads. Do you want these kids to die? You're first out this fucking door! Welcome to my WORLD! You fuck! How do you feel now? Like the piece of spoiled shit that you are...little piece of shit. Learn something boys? Fucking spoiled brats...all of you. Fucking throwing hard things at people who are driving the bus and saving your life?"
The following morning the parents of the Bat Mitzvah girl sent an email out to the parents of the boys on the bus. They claimed that the "counselor" needed to address "a serious safety issue that occurred when a projectile object was thrown at the front of the bus. ... given the late hour and the slick roads, ... the safety of the children could be compromised."
However, they failed to apologize for the man's inappropriate behavior saying only, "we are very sorry if any of your children were upset by what happened."
Parents were not appeased by the email and called the man's conduct "out of control and out of line." Another said that "given that he was still intoxicated and given his behavior/anger, (he) should never have been alone on the bus with a group of children."
Click here to listen to his rant.
A Magnificent Showhouse Opens in Scarsdale
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We got a sneak peak at the Designer Showhouse at one of Scarsdale's most magnificent homes at 2 Cooper Road at the corner of Cooper and Murray Hill Roads. The Showhouse features the work of leading designers from Westchester and New York who have transformed the 1915 mansion into a stunning collection of stylized rooms. Proceeds from the Showhouse will benefit Cerebral Palsy of Westchester.
Locals who have driven by the house for years will now have the chance to see what's inside and to view the work of some of our area's most talented interior decorators. The house is built on a grand scale and 25 rooms in all have been imaginatively redone. There are public rooms, sitting rooms, bedrooms, a breakfast room, a conservatory, a library, and even a second floor room with a bar, should you want to drink without descending the grand staircase. A third floor "attic" with full height ceilings includes even more room for sleeping and relaxing.
The house will be open from Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 to Sunday, June 9th. A Gala Preview Cocktail Party was held on Wednesday, May 1st, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.-- see photo below.
Showhouse hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Mondays. Children under six, infants, strollers, and pets are not admitted in the Showhouse. For more information please contact Kristen Harris at (914) 937-3800 ext. 353 or ext. 209 or visit their website here.
Here are photos of a few of the newly decorated rooms, but I suggest you go to get the full effect yourself.
Debra Gottlieb of Fine Lines Interiors in Armonk has reimagined the 22 x 22 dining room as the scene of a wedding 
party. Crowned with a multi-tiered butter cream cake the whimsical room includes something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue – the "blue" is the richly draped turquoise curtains and the "old" includes a photo taken at Gottlieb's own wedding. Don't miss the bride's bouquet, silk pumps, cameo motif and pastel macaroons in this elegantly-staged set. Click here to see more of Gottlieb's work.
We were also taken with Kim Freeman's jewel box of a breakfast room. Painted in shades of azure blue, the décor features Knoll Brno chairs covered in turquoise silk, 
surrounding a traditional pine table. Freeman clearly has a knack for mixing the traditional with the modern. Visit Freeman's website here.
Another featured designer is Rachel Laxer who hails from Scarsdale. Her sunroom on the landing of the grand 
stairway extends over the home's port cochere and features windows on three sides. Using glass, wood, leather, fur and a taupe and cream palate she created a contemporary hideaway to rest on the journey upstairs. Learn more about Laxer at her website.
Debra Funt, who lives and works in Scarsdale performed magic, transforming a bare attic room that was originally used as a dormitory for household help into a welcoming guest room. Pictured here, before and after, Funt lined the walls in complementary gray and chartreuse wallpapers , painted and carpeted the floors, brought in lighting, photographs, paintings and even a Lucite sculpture to fill the dormer. The crisp linens looked so inviting that I wanted to stop for a nap. Be sure to make the trip to the third floor when you tour the Showhouse and 
check out Debra's work here.
This precious pink and green creation would make some little girl very happy. Furnished with a vanity and adorned in silk and roses this fanciful child's space was created by Manhattan's Rooms by ZoyaB.
See the work of 25 of America's top designers and decorative artists and tour this historic 1915 mansion at the Showhouse at 2 Cooper Road in Scarsdale.
Visit the website for details. 
