Crane Road Bridge Construction to Close BRP Scarsdale Exits for Two Years
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Just as we can see the end of the Popham Road Bridge construction project, which has snarled downtown traffic for years, another project is in the works that will impact shoppers, commuters and downtown businesses for the years to com.
The Crane Road Bridge, the part of the Bronx River Parkway that takes traffic both north and south of Scarsdale Village, straddling the Bronx River and the train tracks, is need of replacement. The original bridge was designed by Delano and Aldrich, one of New York’s premier architectural firms, who also designed Kykuit, the Rockefeller estate. Built in 1924, the County now says the Crane Road Bridge is “poor condition.” The current four-lane bridge will continue to be used while the County constructs a new bridge. just to the west of the current structure. The project will take 34 months to complete at a cost of $39,425,000, all funded by the County.
The new bridge will have sidewalks and a ramp that will give pedestrian’s access from the bridge to the path along the Bronx
Construction is due to begin this month and scheduled to last for 34 months, almost three years. Phase 1, the first 10 months of the project, will involve work underneath the bridge and will not impact traffic.
But here’s the kicker. Ten months from now, in March, 2013 both the north and south bound exits of the Bronx River Parkway at Crane Road are scheduled to be closed for two years during the construction of the new bridge. Cars travelling on the Bronx River Parkway in either direction will no longer be able to exit at Scarsdale Village. Cars travelling south on the parkway will need to access the Village via the Greenacres Avenue exit, and travel south on Fox Meadow Road. Though this is not an official detour, local residents may use this route which could greatly increase traffic along Fox Meadow Road. For access from the south, cars will need to exit at Harney Road and travel up Scarsdale Road or Garth Road…. again an inconvenience.
Furthermore, 17 of the parking spaces in the merchants’ parking lot next to the Scarsdale train station will become a staging area for the equipment needed to build the bridge. These parking spaces will no longer be available to the merchants who park there to free-up spots for customers. According to Assistant Village Manager Steve Pappalardo, merchants who currently park there will be given permits to park at designated Scarsdale resident permit spaces located on Scarsdale Avenue and Depot Place. This will reduce the number of spaces available to commuters.
The good news is that the Popham Road Bridge should be completed in December, 2012, before the Crane Road Bridge project forces the closure of the Bronx River Parkway exits. But it will be a long time before all of this work will be behind us. Learn more about the plans at the Westchester County website here:
Scarsdale Police Report: Burglar, Arrests, Car Break-ins and a Fake Diamond
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On Saturday evening at 7:53 pm, Scarsdale Police Officer Jospeh Serio spotted a man running from a Post Road home in Greenacres. He stopped the man and determined that the suspect had just committed a burglary. After investigating, police determined that the suspect, identified as Jose Vidal-Serrano of 205 West Post Road in White Plains, had entered a Post Road house through a window and taken jewelry from a second floor bedroom. At the time of the incident a resident was home.
Serrano, who is 23 years old was arrested and charged with burglary 2nd degree, possession of burglar’s tools, criminal possession of stolen 
property and petit larceny. He reported that he works at the Scarsdale Golf Club and was walking home when he decided to enter the Post Road home. He was released and given a May 2nd court date. However, when he failed to show up in court on Wednesday, police searched for him, found him and arrested him. He is now being held by police. This incident comes on the heels of a disturbing crime spree on Easter Sunday in Greenacres and also follows another burglary on Fairview Road which occurred while the residents were in the house. Police are investigating to see if they can link Serrano to any of the previous incidents.
Crash and DWI on Oxford Road: A drunk driver was arrested on Oxford Road in Greenacres at 11:30 pm on Tuesday night 4/24 after he drove his Jeep Grand Cherokee into a utility pole. Police found Peter Soc, age 38 of Yorktown Heights standing outside his car, which was severely damaged by the crash. It appeared that the driver’s head had hit the windshield as Soc’s forehead was cut and the windshield was broken.
Soc was unsteady on his feet and claimed that “a deer ran out in front of (the car) and (he) swerved to avoid it.” Police asked Soc if he had been drinking and he admitted to downing “three vodkas at a friend’s house.” Police called an ambulance and administered a sobriety test which Soc failed. Though he originally consented to blood tests he later retracted his consent, refused to have his blood tested and asked to contact his lawyer. He also admitted to a prior alcohol related conviction in New Jersey. After he was treated at Westchester Medical Center, Soc was brought back to Scarsdale Police headquarters where he was charged with DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. His car was towed and impounded.
Arrests: Brad Boonshaft, age 61 of North Bergen, NJ surrendered himself to Scarsdale Police on the morning of April 26. Boonshaft was ordered to come in after he allegedly sent 26 alarming and threatening text messages to a Scarsdale woman. The messages threatened to damage the woman’s business on or about April 21 or April 22. The victim was fearful and turned the evidence over to the police. Judge Arlene Katz issues a temporary order of protection for the woman on April 25 and Boonshaft was ordered to stay away from the victim.
A Scarsdale police officer spotted a man who was wanted for an outstanding warrant in Putnam County on Garth Road at 5 pm on 4/23. The officer stopped Daniel England, age 60 of East Post Road, Scarsdale, arrested him and called Putnam police who brought the warrant to Scarsdale. England is wanted for menacing and harassment.
Broken lock: Heathcote Road residents, who were burglarized on April 12 reported that a new lock on their front door had been broken. Police found scuff marks around the knob. The damage occurred when the residents were out between 7 pm on 4/26 and 2 am on 4/27.
Diamond? An Ossining woman reported that a diamond, valued at $9,406 had been swapped out of her ring and replaced with a glass substitute. The woman originally lost her grandmother’s diamond in December, 2011. Wilson & Son replaced the diamond and put it in the original setting and her parents delivered it to her in February , 2012. As the stone appeared to be shifting, she brought it into Wilson’s in Scarsdale in April, 2012 and the jeweler advised her that the stone was not a diamond, but a piece of glass. An investigation by the police has found that the diamond ring Wilson's provided in February differed substantially from the one the owner brought back in April. Since the diamond appears to have been swapped when the ring was in her possession, police advised her to contact her local police department.
Identity Theft: On 4/28, an Edgewood woman reported that someone attempted to open a credit card using her name, birth date and social security number and an address in Jamaica, Queens. The bank denied the applicant the card and notified the victim. A woman from Heathcote advised police of an unauthorized withdrawal of $19.95 from her TD Bank debit card on 4/17.
Water: Police got a call about water runoff into a basement at 2 Palmer Road on the afternoon of 4/26. When they arrived they found that a pool on Innes Road was being drained into the street. As a consequence, the building department issued a summons to the pool company that was draining the pool. However, it was later determined that the flooding at 2 Palmer Avenue was sewage back-up that was unrelated to the draining of the pool on Innes Road.
Damage to Scarsdale Synagogue: A large tree fell onto the roof of Scarsdale Synagogue on 4/27 and broke a skylight and damaged the temple. Glass from the skylight shattered and water that had accumulated on the roof drained into the first and second floors of the building. It appears that the tree belonged to the Village of Scarsdale.
Feuding Landlords: Soon to be divorced landlords of a home on Secor Road embroiled their tenant in a dispute over the rent. The wife, who owned the home was demanding rent payment from the tenants at the same time her almost ex-husband said that until the divorce was finalized payment should be made to his lawyer’s escrow account. Threatened with eviction, the tenant called police on 4/28.
Cars: A Griffen Road man reported that someone had vandalized his Cadillac Escalade overnight from 4/26 – 4/27 and taken an iPod out of the car. The sun roof was smashed and there was also a small crack in the driver’s side window.
Also that night on Griffen Road, the passenger window of another car was broken and a Tom Tom GPS was stolen.
Nearby, on Broadmoor Road the rear passenger window of a car was broken and a briefcase and gym bag were taken out and then dumped nearby.
Missing cell phone: On 4/23, an Edgewood mom reported that her daughter’s cell phone had been stolen while she was at Scarsdale Middle School.
A 2012 BMW that was parked in a parking lot at 45 Popham Road was entered on the afternoon of 4/23. A Garmin GPS and $40.00 in quarters were missing.
Play ball! A car window was broken when the car was parked at Scarsdale High School on the afternoon of 4/25. When the owner returned to the car around 5 pm she found that a rear window was broken and spectators told her a ball had gone through it.
Found: A set of car keys was found in the Freightway Garage on April 25 and turned over to police. Another key ring, this one holding a key for a Chevrolet ,was found on Brewster near Kingston Road on 4/26 and turned over to the police. 
This police report is sponsored by Scarsdale Security who does more than just security. Contact them about remote video for your home or business. Call 914-722-2200 or visit their website, http://scarsdalesecurity.com/
Bobcat Story Goes Viral
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Last week's story about the bobcat sighting on Scardale10583.com was picked up by Fox News and ABC news. Unfortunately neither network gave credit to the original source ... but we thought you would enjoy watching the video. Click here to see the story on Fox Five and click here to see the story on ABC news .
Richbell Road Resident Accuses Village Trustee of Trespassing and Improper Conduct
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Trouble continues to brew on Richbell Road where feuding neighbors have now embroiled a Village Trustee in their trouble. For years, Ruth and Sandor Frankel of 17 Richbell Road have voiced ongoing objections about a home built on a flag lot adjacent to their home at 15A Richbell Road by the Tretter family.
In 2008, the Frankels and another neighbor, the Rose’s, hired an attorney to object to the construction of a swimming pool at the Tretter home, citing lot coverage requirements, potential drainage issues and the irregular shape of the property. For their part, in the summer of 2010, the Tretters complained about Mrs. Frankel playing very loud music outside. At a June, 2011 Planning Board meeting, Sandor Frankel called the Tretter home “the 10,000 square foot MacMansion built in the back,” and complained about water issues in his basement.
The Frankels did not feel that the Scarsdale Building Department were enforcing Village code and they were also unhappy with the response they received from the personnel in the department. As a result, in February, 2012 Ruth Frankel submitted a petition with 200 signatures to the Village, lodging dissatisfaction with the Building Department.
On April 11, 2012, Sandor Frankel came before the Village Board to voice a complaint about drainage caused by the construction of the Tretter’s driveway. He again conveyed his dissatisfaction with the response from the Village, and suggested that their inaction could be retribution for the petition filed by his wife Ruth Frankel.
At the 4-11 meeting, Frankel told Trustees, “I am not here to address the dirt issue where we have been forced to swallow dirt during the construction. The Village gave me no protection. I am here to address the unilateral, unauthorized change in the topography of the Tretter’s driveway.” He explained, “This narrow neck of property has been the focus of controversy between the Tretter’s and the Rose’s since the Tretters began their construction project.”
He continued to claim that the grade of the Tretter’s driveway had been changed so that it now drains onto his property -- and also stated that a drainage pipe has been installed inches from his property that will cause the water to flow onto his land. He said that the Tretter’s project had caused “tens of thousands of dollars in damage to his garage,” and urged the Trustees to come to visit his home that night to view the exposed drainage pipe.
Possibly in response to these claims, on the morning of April 13, 2012, Trustee Robert Harrison went to the property to investigate. He was spotted by Ilyse Tretter on her property taking photos of her driveway. In a letter to Trustee Harrison that was also submitted to the Village Attorney, Mayor and Village Board on April 13, Tretter says, “As I orally stated to you when I caught you in the act, not only were you unauthorized to walk about our property uninvited, but we also believe that your conduct is inappropriate for a Village Trustee.” Tretter also objected to private conversations Harrison has had with the Frankels that she received via FOIL requests and said, “More to the point and regardless of your subjective motivations, it is improper for an individual Trustee to involve himself or herself personally in one homeowner’s dispute with another about a building project,” and added, “Obviously, it is highly irregular for you to trespass on our property to take pictures with your camera in the name of your personal fact-finding. Please recuse yourself from any further communications or actions regarding our property.”
Also, in the file from the Village was a hand-written note from Ruth Frankel, dated April 10 and received at Village Hall on April 11. In the note, Frankel asks for all copies of correspondence between Trustee Brodsky and “the Traders”, concerning the development at 15A Richbell Road. Frankel then says, “Because of this conflict of interest, Ms. Brodsky should not be allowed to have voted on this development issue.”
Village Manager quickly replied to Frankel. In a letter dated April 12, he says, “ It is assumed you mean Mr. and Mrs. Tretter who reside at 15A Richbell Road,” and lets Mrs. Frankel know that a search has turned up no files and there is no correspondence. He also says,” in regard to the allegation of the conflict of interest between Trustee Brodsky and Mr. and Mrs. Trader (sic.) there is no supportive documentation for me to consider looking further into the matter. As such it is taken as a mere assertion that is unsubstantiated. Therefore, until further information is provided there will be no follow-up.”
The correspondence and FOIL requests are on the agenda for the April 24 meeting of the Scarsdale Village Board of Trustees.
Bobcat Sighted in Scarsdale Backyard
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First it was coyotes, then burglars … now Scarsdale residents have another intruder in the area: A Greenacres mom who lives on the border of Scarsdale and White Plains reported two sightings of a bobcat in her yard this week. Here is a first-hand account of the incidents:
"The bobcat was spotted by two separate caregivers on Monday and Tuesday, (4/9 and 4/10) who both gave exact descriptions - small head with cat face and large body with long striped tail closer to the size of a dog and much, much larger than a house cat. It was first spotted on Monday at 2pm in my backyard, which is on the Scarsdale/ White Plains border in Greenacres. My 2 young kids were on the swing set and the cat was 15-20 feet away walking slowly then continued walking away towards Scarsdale. On Tuesday the cat was sighted at 3:30pm while the kids were again in the yard. My 2 year old kept yelling "cat, cat" until my mom realized she was pointing to the bobcat on my lawn, again only about 15 feet away and creeping slowly. I called the White Plains police first (border house) and they denied any similar reports and seemed completely uninterested in taking a report so I didn't pursue it with Scarsdale.”
The resident did not get a photo, but here is one picked up from the web:
The Westmoreland Sanctuary in Bedford has been tracking bobcats in Westchester for six years and has reported over 50 sightings. Nearly half were recorded in 2011 and they believe that the population is growing.
According to their site, “The average size of a bobcat is generally described to be twice that of a normal house cat. Average weight of individuals is 20 and 26 pounds for females and males, respectively. The fur is dense, short, and spotted, generally appearing reddish in the summer and grayish in the winter. They are usually solitary with exceptions during the breeding season and when females are rearing young.”
Are they dangerous? Bobcats are also discussed in local blog All About Armonk , where Adam Zorn of the Westmoreland Sanctuary, says,“Should the public know that there are bobcats in the area? Yes. Should the public be concerned about the well-being of pets and children? Not really. Their secretive and shy nature creates a highly improbable scenario in which anyone may come into direct contact with one of these animals. In very rare instances, wildlife (bobcats included) may pose a threat to humans when cornered, injured, or ill. These anomalies shouldn't be dismissed but also should not be cause for an unnecessary level of concern.”
