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Written by Judie Dweck

Published: 01 April 2019

Created: 01 April 2019

Last Updated: 01 April 2019

Hits: 6701

Westchester County’s dining options include many steakhouses and many pubs. If you can’t decide between a steakhouse and a pub, your answer is a visit to the new Hurley’s Steakhouse and Pub in New Rochelle. On busy Division Street a home furnishing store has been completely gutted and transformed into a tastefully decorated new place to dine – Hurley’s Steakhouse and Pub. Owned by Paul Hurley, a seasoned restauranteur, the charming Mr. Hurley grew up in Dublin where he trained as a bartender and restauranteur. Upon coming to New York, he used his skills to open many restaurants in city hall, midtown and uptown Manhattan locations. Hurley said, “New Rochelle needed a spot like Hurley’s. With its opening in November, New York City came to New Rochelle. Our goal for the restaurant is to keep our guests happy and have them make many return visits. A very important quality of a restauranteur is the ability to talk to everyone. It is a hospitality industry. The best part of the business is when a guest enjoys the experience and returns often. If I were dining here I would like to share a table with my family. I would start with lobster bisque or baked clams followed by one of our Irish dishes or a sirloin steak.”

The restaurant’s design is the work of Hurley’s talented wife Finola, who works behind the scenes. The pub area has a large well stocked marble bar and several high tables. Charming bar related artwork lines the walls. You can order from the regular menu here or enjoy snacks from the pub grub selections. They include Buffalo wings, cheeseburger sliders, colossal shrimp skewers and mozzarella sticks, to name a few choices. The main dining room boasts a glowing stone fireplace surrounded by comfortable leather chairs. Brick and dark wood and tufted brown leather banquettes give a warm cozy feel to the dining room. Care is even evident in the rest rooms. The ladies room walls are lined with photos of movies leading men and the men’s room has photos of actresses. Upon entering these areas a smile is sure to come to your face.

Executive Chef Manuel Balcon, who worked with Hurley in the city, heads the kitchen. I was seated at a white linen clad table and was graciously served by waiters Mario and Ruben. Tuna tartare arrived as a combination of ripe cubes of avocado and very fresh tuna marinated and tossed with white and black sesame seeds. The generous mound of goodness was garnished with sesame topped cucumber slices. Next, the popular baked clams were small, whole and tender with a well flavored crumb topping. Fresh lemon and a buttery sauce added to the plate, nice for dipping. Future beginning might include crab cake, sizzling Canadian bacon or char grilled sizzling oysters or perhaps the very popular lobster bisque. For a lighter start, a classic Cobb, Caesar or iceberg wedge salad or a lovely arugula salad with beets, goat cheese, pistachios and a raspberry walnut vinaigrette are good starters.

The steak and chop board offers prime fillet, tomahawk ribeye, New York Sirloin, porterhouse, veal chop, rack of lamb and short ribs. We savored the prime fillet. It arrived as ordered black and blue with a sprig of herbs as a garnish. There were typical steakhouse sides of creamed spinach, and hash browns. We ordered Brussels sprouts, quartered and tossed with bacon and drizzled with honey. The honey added a nice flavor. We also enjoyed a selection of wild mushrooms and onions. A variety of sauces are offered with your steak, but I prefer mine unadorned.

With Hurley’s background beginning in Ireland, some Irish traditional fare is offered here, as well. Would I try Shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, or bangers and mash? It was chicken pot pie that I chose. The individual oval casserole was chock full of white meat chunks of chicken, carrots, celery and potatoes in a creamy sauce. Topped with house made puff pastry it was very satisfying.

Weekends offer nice options at Hurley’s. Try the Sunday brunch from 11- 4. Some choices are lobster omelet, eggs benedict, corned beef hash, challah French toast and a Hurley burger. Paul Hurley indicates that,” Sundays are made for prime time Sunday roast. They offer roast prime rib of beef with horseradish cream, mashed potatoes and vegetables with natural beef au jus.

Monday through Fridays offer a prix fixe lunch, a good value with choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert. If you enjoy an early dinner during the week, take advantage of the early bird special dinners. If sandwiches are your desire, try a selections from the sandwich board, each served with French fries. Roasted chicken club, salmon BLT, prime rib dip, and corned beef on rye are some choices. Hurley’s extensive and ambitious menu seems to offer something for everyone. Popular entrees of grilled salmon, surf and turf shrimp fra diavolo, seafood towers and a variety of burgers are possibilities, as well.

Desserts of key lime pie, cheesecake, chocolate mousse are among the many desserts.

For a dining experience including steaks and chops, pub fare and Irish specialties and much more served with Irish hospitality in a beautiful warm setting, pay a visit to Hurley’s Steakhouse and Pub in nearby New Rochelle.

Hurley’s Steakhouse and Pub
15 Division Street
New Rochelle, NY
(94) 738-6000

Recipe:
Hurley’s Steakhouse and Pub Tuna Tartare (serves 2)

Ingredients:

300 grams sushi grade tuna in small cubes
4 green onions, finely chopped
2 Tbsps. toasted sesame seeds
Seaweed salad, recipe below
1 avocado finely chopped
Handful chopped cilantro leaves
Juice of 1 lime, fresh
Pinch salt and pepper

For the sauce
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. grated ginger
2 spring onions, chopped
2 Tbsps. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. each of sesame oil, rice vinegar and honey

Directions:
Add the cubed tuna, green onions and sesame seeds to the bowl of sauce and mix together. In a separate bowl place avocado, cilantro, lime juice and salt and pepper. Garnish with seaweed salad (recipe follows) and toasted sesame seeds.
Seaweed Salad:
Ingredients:

1/2 ounce dry mixed seaweed
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
½ Tbsp. sesame oil
½ Tbsp. soy sauce
½ Tbsp. sugar
Salt to taste
½ Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
½ scallion finely chopped

Directions:
Place seaweed in bowl with cold water. Soak for 5 minutes and drain of excess water. Whisk together remaining ingredients and toss with seaweed. Place on top of the tuna tartare.

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Written by Judie Dweck

Published: 15 April 2019

Created: 15 April 2019

Last Updated: 15 April 2019

Hits: 8127

The Taco Project with locations in Yonkers and Tarrytown has just arrived in Bronxville on Pondfield Road, which formerly housed Still Meadow and Scarborough Fair. Mexican restaurants have become very popular, each having their own unique appeal. Owned by partners and lifelong friends, Nick Mesce, Carmelo Milio and Sebastian Aliberti, with whom I had the pleasure of chatting, I discovered that The Taco Project has a delightful buzz about it. With very fresh ingredients, high quality and reasonable prices, Aliberti said, “We offer a contemporary twist of Tex-Mex food We love to create a unique menu as well as a friendly vibe. We are a boutique type of spot, California inspired and experimental. Our personality is behind our restaurant. We are a fast and casual spot that is hip for young and old and we bring “spunk” to our contemporary menu. To be successful, a restaurant owner must be humble and treat their staff well. We treat our staff like family. We are always open to improvement. Although we are quick and casual, we never lose our attention to detail. With Chef Alfonso Vivar heading the kitchen, and the three partners keeping an eye on the dining room, Bronxville’s Taco Project is quick to become a favorite spot to enjoy Mexican style food in a contemporary manner.

The bright and cheerful corner space is simply decorated with a Mexican flair. A white brick wall boasts a mural exploding with color. The limited seating is mostly counters and stools. You place your order at the counter which displays the full menu, and be seated. Your Taco Project logo tee shirt and sneaker clad wait staff will bring your order to you from the open kitchen in the rear of the restaurant. Intricate Spanish tiles, and lots of Mexican inspired art work line the walls and a painting of Frida Kahlo watches over the guests. Upon my lunch time visit, every seat was occupied and a long line of people were leaving with takeout orders. The sun was shining through the many windows as we anticipated our tasting.

Each dish arrived on a paper lined metal tray. Crisp, freshly prepared corn tortilla chips accompanied a dish of smoothly textured guacamole. Taco Project salsa was prepared with chunks of fresh tomatoes mingled with its juices and spices. It was a light and refreshing. Corn on the cob arrived as Mexican corn brushed with cotija cheese, cayenne pepper, and mayonnaise. Sweet and spicy, it was a joy to demolish every last bit of corn off the cob. Another starter worth trying are the sidewinder fries. These fan shaped slices of potatoes are dipped in a craft beer batter and fried to a golden brown. With chipotle aioli, jalapeno ketchup and Mexican blue cheese, this starter is one of those dishes where you can’t eat just one.

On to the tacos. Hard to resist were the short rib tacos. The tender shreds of braised short ribs were garnished with a homemade mole sauce and topped with a julienne of radish, fresh cilantro, and caramelized onions. Generously wrapped in a corn tortilla it was a perfect choice. Also scrumptious was the shrimp taco. Here, a tempura batter encased each shrimp. Fresh mango, cilantro, radish and tomatillo sauce completed this tangy combination. Atlantic cod was the filling for the fish taco, either sautéed or battered. We enjoyed the sautéed chunks of fish, combined with a red cabbage slaw, guacamole, cilantro and radish. Other taco choices, served two to an order, on soft yellow corn tortillas or hard shell, for an additional cost, are free range chicken, steak with chimichurri and guacamole, crumbled Mexican chorizo, braised pork belly with pineapple salsa, classic ground beef, and veggie with black beans, smoked corn and jicama among its ingredients. Specials are added to the taco menu regularly and may include salmon, or pulled pork.

Burritos here are filled to order in a flour tortilla and served with rice and beans, cojita cheese and sour cream. Add steak, chicken, fish or vegetables to customize your burrito. A flour tortilla “bowl” is your serving dish for a burrito bowl. This can be filled with your choice of ingredients. Quesadillas can be ordered with fillings of your choice, as well. Even the salads here are unique. Try smoked corn and field greens with a jalapeno cilantro vinaigrette or honey habanero chicken salad with free range chicken and mixed greens.

The Taco Project is a spot where you should make every effort to leave room for dessert. Of the three choices, I sampled a delicious housemade flan with caramel sauce and fresh whipped cream. It was more like a wedge of cake, rather than a pudding. A coconut tres leches cake was also a homemade treat. The portions are large, so be prepared to share. Next visit perhaps I will end my meal with their homemade churros. Jarritos, Mexican sodas are offered in many flavors. Beer and wines are available and housemade sangria with fruit are some beverage choices. We chose the house made agua frescas. The hibiscus variety was rich and the classic horchata, the cinnamon infused rice drink was most refreshing.

As the logo of The Taco Project suggests, “Live Love and eat Tacos”. If the tacos are prepared at The Taco Project, you are certainly going to enjoy them, as well as other menu choices. Visit The Taco Project where a feeling of youth and joy permeate the atmosphere.

The Taco Project
65 Pondfield Road
Bronxville
(914) 356-8226

Recipe:

Taco Project Guacamole and Chips

3 ripe Haas avocados
2 Tbsps. fresh lemon juice
1 small red onion, diced
2 Tbsps. minced cilantro
1 tsp kosher salt
½ jalapeno, diced
Place all ingredients in a bowl. Mash until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve with lightly salted yellow corn tortilla chips, homemade if possible.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 26 March 2019

Created: 26 March 2019

Last Updated: 03 April 2019

Hits: 4838

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (the “League”) thanks members of the Board of Education (the “Board”) and District Administration (the “Administration”) for participating in a panel at the League’s General Membership Meeting and School Budget Information Session and addressing questions on the Proposed School Budget 2019-20 (the “Budget”) on March 4, 2019 at Village Hall.

The following statement reflects the consensus of League members at a Consensus Meeting held immediately following the Information Session.

Position

The League supports the Scarsdale School District Proposed Budget for 2019-20 and recommends that the community vote “yes” to approve the proposed Budget on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at Scarsdale Middle School. The League offers its comments and recommendations regarding certain budgetary items as well as the budget process, which we hope will be considered as the Budget is revised and finalized.

Budget Overview and Noteworthy Features

The proposed Budget is $160,782,597, with a budget-to-budget increase of 1.86% ($2,933,190) and a tax levy growth of 2.27%. Per the District, the estimated tax increase for an average assessed property valued at $1,595,700 would be: $422 for Scarsdale residents (representing a 1.77% increase) and $1,259 for Mamaroneck residents (representing a 5.88% increase).

According to the District, the Budget accomplishes:
- The advancement of high-quality teaching and learning consistent with SET 2.0
- Support of teaching and learning initiatives in advancement of SET 2.0, including STEAM implementation.
- Staffing levels consistent with historical philosophies and community expectations
- Enhanced Safety, Security and Emergency management; and
- Additional air conditioning units to cool learning spaces on high heat days
- Facilities improvements and upgrades.

The proposed Budget increases staffing at the high school to 158.0 FTE, an actual budget increase of 3.0 FTE; including 1.0 FTE combined STEAM/ Math position, 1.0 FTE Science position and 1.0 FTE Special Education position. District-wide, the proposed staffing reflects a 2.0 FTE net increase from 2018-19. This includes 1.0 FTE, which was a transfer from SMS to a district-wide assignment, as well as 1.0 FTE Psychologist.
Commendations

The League acknowledges, with appreciation, the substantial time and effort that goes into developing the proposed Budget and thanks the Administration and Board for their additional effort spent in preparing for our March 4 Information Session. The League would especially like to commend the panel -- the impressive team -- at this year’s Information Session for their candid dialogue. The information provided and the panel’s responsiveness to the League conversation and questions at the meeting was well-received and much appreciated.

The League commends the Administration for making the Budget Book available early in the budget development process. The Budget Book allows a comprehensive view of the myriad components of the Budget and through this tool there is an enhanced understanding of the Budget itself. The League further commends the Administration for adding the League questions and Administration answers to the District website; we believe that this is a valuable resource for the community.

Comments and Recommendations

General

While the League appreciates the Board’s efforts to manage the impact of tax increases on residents, we are aware that educational needs are constantly changing and therefore the League seeks to ensure that our school budgets not only maintain but also continuously enhance Scarsdale education. The League notes, with some concern, that overall, the 2017-18 and 2018-19 budgets, as well as the current proposed Budget represent very tight budgeting practices. The League continues to encourage the District to consider unforeseen expenditures and unpredictable cost increases in their budget planning process.

Security

The 2019-20 Budget line for Security is $1,294,031, which is an increase of $824,418 over the current year, 2018-19. Included in this Budget line is $805,407 specifically for visitor management and building safety personnel. The League acknowledges that the evaluation and implementation of security at Scarsdale Schools is an ongoing process, however, we hope through this process and in the implementation of enhanced security measures, that the District is able to mindfully maintain the warmth and community feeling that is an essential aspect of our schools. The League strongly recommends that the Board engage in increased outreach to solicit broader community feedback in order to understand how the community at large views and understands the complex issue of school safety and increased security measures. The League believes that there is much benefit to proactively obtaining more nuanced and qualitative community feedback in order to determine values and priorities, particularly with regard to such complex issues.

In addition to community outreach, the League requests that benchmarking information and other research be made public to educate and contextualize additional Budget funding in the area of security. The League hopes that through this information, the community will have the opportunity to better understand how similar schools in Westchester and beyond have approached increased security. Further, by viewing District recommendations within the context of benchmarking and research, the community would be able to understand which measures have been considered and found to be most appropriate and effective for districts like Scarsdale. The League hopes that the goal of implemented security measures is that these measures not only incorporate best practices but also reflect and connect to the values of the entire Scarsdale community. The League further recommends that the District Safety Committee continuously seeks and receives input from local law enforcement as well as the community at large.

Staffing and Class Size

The League notes that a Scarsdale education has long been regarded as a leader amongst its peers and we recommend that the District continue to aspire to educational leadership. The League notes that the District continues to support the elementary class size policy and the Middle School house structure. The League also notes the District’s commitment to High School student choice. However, the League recommends that the District ensure that there is adequate personnel to protect student choice at the high school. The League notes that this effort requires focus on many levels. The League values a high school where teachers have time for students -- to support the social, emotional and academic -- where there is small class size, and where students have flexibility both in and outside of the classroom for learning opportunities and support. To create and promote these opportunities for students, the League acknowledges the importance of protecting class load and scheduling for teachers and guidance counselors as well as preserving class size.

The League believes that the inherent flexibility required to meet student needs and the ability to reassess student needs are essential components of a Scarsdale education and that both are time and labor intensive for teachers and guidance counselors. Furthermore, the League believes that individualized instruction and the opportunity for student research are hallmarks of a Scarsdale education and make Scarsdale an educational leader.

In addition, and in light of the conversation on student social/ emotional issues at the high school, the League is concerned about the increased student per dean/ guidance counselor ratio at the high school and we ask the Administration to look more closely at the trend. The League notes that classroom teachers are the first line of defense in regard to observing student social/ emotional issues and a teacher’s ability to detect and address problems or refer the student to a counselor may be impeded by an increased student per dean/ guidance counselor ratio.

The League recommends that the Administration and Board continue to reflect on and provide appropriate staffing to protect the academic well-being of the high school. The League believes that staffing should be reflective of an underlying high school culture that supports academic choice, allows each student to forge a personal connection to an educator and provides a safe, healthy environment in which students can develop and grow.

Leadership

The League values Scarsdale Schools’ educational leadership. The preservation of educational leadership requires a strong and proactive commitment to continuously enhance our educational program, K - 12, while keeping the community informed. As such, the League recommends that the Administration and Board provide clear and concise explanations of Budget decisions, in addition to a broad overview of what is physically needed at the building level so that our community will have the ability to make informed decisions on Budget priorities. In addition, the League believes that the Strategic Plan is critical to maintaining and enhancing Scarsdale educational excellence as it creates a path forward for the Administration and Board. It also provides an opportunity to inform the community of future plans so that they are given context for District-recommended Budget choices. The League recommends that any Strategic Plan long-range financial proposal include vision and future development not just for capital improvement, but as well for programmatic and curricular investment.

With regard to the current strategic planning process, the League strongly recommends that the Board proactively solicit broad community input to better take the temperature of the community and to develop a full understanding of views on the variety of complex issues that face the District.

The League notes that our education system is what attracts people to Scarsdale, thus it is imperative that Scarsdale sustain its position as a leader in public education. The League appreciates that our new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Edgar McIntosh, is doing a listening tour in the community, as he shared at our Information Session. We encourage and support his taking the time to learn, understand and know the community. The League encourages continued public presentations of initiatives, both for curriculum and facilities, that include benchmarking data and research, so that the community can better understand and know the type of curricular innovation that is taking place at other comparable public and private schools. The League supports and encourages the District’s pursuit of forward-looking curricular initiatives and program enhancements that continue to provide opportunities and environments that stimulate innovation and educational excellence for both students and teachers.

Plant and Capital Improvements

The League notes that Plant Improvements are budgeted at $1,459,000, representing a 7.16% budget-to-budget decrease; Capital Improvements are currently budgeted at $1,085,000 representing a 16.54% budget-to-budget decrease from the 2018-19 budget. Given that several of our schools were built over a century ago, thoughtful facilities planning and capital improvement are of utmost importance. Our buildings must maintain and enhance student learning; and be safe, sustainable and flexible spaces able to support 21st century innovation and future programs.

Regarding District-wide air conditioning, the League looks forward to hearing about a sustainable, long-term plan and timeline for completing efforts to create safe, comfortable, learning-conducive environments for all Scarsdale students.

State Calculated Tax Levy Limit (the ‘tax cap’)

This year, the allowable tax levy growth under the New York State “Tax Cap” law is 2.94%, thus the current proposed Budget is .67% below the tax levy limit. The League notes that the proposed Budget is $967,017 below the tax cap. The League understands the desire to keep tax levy growth as low as possible; however, the League is concerned about being far below the tax cap with regard to planning for next year’s budget. If we are not spending up to the cap, our allowable levels for the following year are lowered. Furthermore, the League encourages the Board to be mindful about the upcoming legislation regarding the Tax Levy Limit Law.

Advocacy

The League reiterates our recommendation from the past several years that the Administration and Board take on a greater role in advocacy and leadership for our District. The League strongly recommends that the Administration and Board create a Legislative Advisory Committee in order to monitor the many legislative issues that currently affect Scarsdale Schools and public schools in general. Currently, there are opportunities for Scarsdale to advocate productively on issues including the Con Edison gas moratorium, the Tax Levy Limit Law and other legislation that directly impacts our community.

Board Process

In conclusion, the League recommends that the Board provide the community sufficient information and time necessary to view any Administration or Board member Budget recommendation within the larger context of District educational goals, a master facilities’ plan and through the lens of Scarsdale’s role as an educational leader. The League continues to recommend that the Board be more proactive and wide-reaching in soliciting input, feedback, and engaging in dialogue with various community members and groups in order to better and more fully understand the views of their constituents as well as broader community priorities. This may be achieved, for example, by Board coffees, focus groups, formal invitations to specific neighborhoods to attend certain Board meetings, etc.. The League believes that a more complete picture of community feedback, combined with relevant expert opinions and research, will serve to enhance Board decisions on complex issues and their implementation as well as facilitate community understanding and appreciation of Scarsdale Schools.

We thank all members of the Administration and Board for consideration of our statement. The League looks forward to the release of the Board’s final Budget iteration resulting from having considered community comments.

Sincerely,

Leah Dembitzer
School Budget Study Portfolio Chair
League of Women Voters
Scarsdale

Linda Doucette-Ashman
Co-President
League of Women Voters
Scarsdale

Janice Starr
Co-President
League of Women Voters
Scarsdale