Scarsdale Couple Busted by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor
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A Scarsdale doctor and his wife have been arrested by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York for conspiracy and illegal prescription sales during a six and half year period in which they sold over $77 million of painkillers. Moreover, a search of their home on Black Birch Lane yielded $600,000 in cash. If Scarsdale was surprised by the "pot" mom, imagine how Quaker Ridge neighbors feel about this foray into harder drugs and bigger time crime.
According to a press release from the prosecutor's office, Dr. Rogelio Lucas, age 77, and his wife Lydia Lucas, age 79, were arrested on the morning of June 9th outside their apartment at 215 West 95th Street in New York. The couple, who also owns a home at 15 Black Birch Lane in Scarsdale, were the subject of a long-term investigation. Prosecutors say that Dr. Lucas - who is a licensed internist - originally ran a regular medical practice where he treated elderly patients who were covered by Medicaid. But in 2009 he converted his business to a "a pill mill ...churning out tens of thousands of prescriptions for oxycodone in exchange for illegal cash payments."
Working out of his office at 215 West 101st Street Dr. Lucas wrote 45 to 50 prescriptions for oxycodone a day. Prosecutors say there was often a crowd in the waiting room, which prompted complaints from neighbors. Lucas relocated his office three times before landing at his current location.
The doctor allegedly wrote oxycodone prescriptions patients with no legitimate medical need for the pain medication. His wife Lydia assisted by collecting approximately $120 cash for each office visit. Since Jan. 2, 2009, the doctor wrote over 23,600 oxycodone prescriptions for approximately 3.1 million pills. The pills would have carried an estimated street value of $77 million on the black market.
In the course of the investigation, agents searched the Lucas' office, apartment in Manhattan and the home at 15 Black Birch Lane in Scarsdale. In Scarsdale, they discovered more than $600,000 in cash. They also seized medical and bank records.
For the year between June 2013 and July 2014, Dr. Lucas and his wife made approximately $500,000 in cash deposits into multiple bank accounts.
Lucas' business extended beyond the walls of his office to drug rings. Investigators believe multiple drug rings received oxycodone prescriptions from him. It is alleged that members of the drug ring recruited runners to visit the doctor's office and obtain prescriptions. These runners waited an hour or more to see the doctor, though some received preferential treatment and were moved to the head of the line. Though photo I.D. was required for patients, the doctor only performed "cursory examinations" and took no patient history. Investigators believe that the prescriptions received from the doctor were filled at pharmacies and the pills were turned over to the drug ring for distribution.
In a press release dated June 9, 2015, Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan said, "Dr. Lucas is charged with being one of the city's most prolific illegal prescribers of the black market's favorite pill - 30 mg oxycodone. Instead of healing, doctors who routinely sign orders for unneeded narcotic drugs endanger the health and welfare of the public. Corrupt doctors who exchange prescriptions for cash have stoked the epidemic of addiction gripping our region."
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated, "When Dr. Lucas first opened his medical practice on the Upper West Side, residents embraced the thought of having a family doctor in the neighborhood. But when Dr. Lucas' illegal medical practices pushed residents out of his office, he replaced them with drug traffickers; exchanging medically unnecessary prescriptions for cash. Law enforcement at all levels continues to investigate and arrest those responsible for enabling the opioid addict population by distributing heroin or diverted prescription pills throughout our communities."
"This doctor allegedly abused his position as a medical professional, profiting from the sale of prescriptions while fueling the supply of a highly addictive painkiller that has led to numerous overdose deaths," said Police Commissioner William J. Bratton. "Thanks to the efforts of the investigators involved in this case and our law enforcement partners, this organization will no longer distribute these pills into our communities."
Doctor Lucas was indicted for conspiracy in the 4th degree, and 37 counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance for allegedly selling prescriptions for oxycodone, a powerful opioid painkiller in exchange for cash over the course of six and a half years. His wife Lydia Lucas is change with a count of Conspiracy in the 4th degree and 37 counts of Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance.
The Lucases were arraigned in Manhattan Supreme Court before Justice Bonnie G. Wittner on Tuesday afternoon June 6th.The judge set bail at $1 million dollars and ordered the couple to turn in their passports.
The arrests are the result of a long-term investigation by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor's Prescription Drug Investigation Unit, the DEA New York Division's Tactical Diversion Squad (Group TDS-NY), the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and HRA. Assisting in the investigation were the New York State Health Department's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE), the Nassau County Police Department and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Group TDS-NY is comprised of agents and officers from the DEA, the NYPD, the Town of Orangetown Police Department and the Westchester County Police Department.
Though no pictures of the suspects were released, Erin Mulvey from the Drug Enforcement Agency forwarded the picture above of the cash seized from the Lucas home at 15 Black Birch Lane in Scarsdale.
Vaping Revisited
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When we published an article about "Vaping" (the use of electronic cigarettes) on Scarsdale10583 less than a year ago, no one knew if inhaling the vaporized liquid posed a health risk. And even though that question has not yet been answered, the CDC has found that teenagers are vaping more than they were a year ago. In fact, the Oxford Dictionaries' word of the year in 2014 was "vape."
What is vaping and why is it becoming trendy? (A quick review)
Vaping is using an electronic device (called a vape pen, e-hookah, hookah stick, hookah pipe, or e-pen) to heat a tobacco-free liquid (usually called e-liquid) for the purpose of inhaling and exhaling the vapor in a way that looks and feels similar to traditional smoking. The liquid is made up of water, glycerin, propylene glycol, and flavors, some with and some without nicotine. There are more than 7,000 flavors of the e-liquid on the market, including cotton candy, sensual vanilla, Cuban mojito, root beer float, and toffee latte. On one website, you can even purchase custom blended flavors.
Vaping proponents claim the liquid must be safe because these same ingredients are in other products we have all been using for years, such as salad dressing, asthma inhalers, and shampoo. Opponents claim that we have not determined whether the liquid ingredients are safe for inhalation even if they are deemed to be safe in food or shampoo. Teens are interested in vaping because it is odorless, it tastes good, the flavors are fun and varied, and they can play around with exhalation of the vapor. It is marketed as a healthy, safe, and an all-natural alternative to smoking.
Are Scarsdale teens vaping?
The short answer is "yes," although it is not known to what extent.
The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) is a self-administered questionnaire given annually to middle and high school students in public and private schools around the country. In 2014, data from 22,000 students was evaluated and revealed a three-fold increase in the use of electronic cigarettes between 2013-2014 (from 4.5% to 13.4%) among both middle school and high school students.
There were several comments on the previous vaping article we published (including some posted months after its original publication) from people claiming to be 15 and 16 year olds discussing the safety of vaping. (These comments are posted anonymously and may not be from Scarsdale readers.) JD wrote, "I'm only 15...is it bad that I want a vape stick? I'm not into the nicotine just the vape [vapor] itself. I've seen people do tricks and I think they are really cool. It's practically sugar water right?" JD, then wondered, "...would it be safe for me to own one?" Similarly, Jasper R commented that, "...it can only cause sickness if you have a lot of nic [nicotine]. I'm a user...and I am only 16 and I see no bad side to them if they can keep me away from smoking Mary Jane or cigs. So what is the real bad side?"
Vaping advocates and vendors contend that vaping is a safe, tobacco-free way to quit smoking traditional cigarettes rather than as a newly adopted habit of non-smoking teenagers. 'Your mom' commented that (s)he is working on getting another disposable hookah pen, and that "...they are the perfect way to keep yourself away from a drug more harming," again, indicating that teens aren't using vape pens as an alternative to smoking cigarettes. The comments also lead one to believe that teens may be misinformed about vaping. "Mother of two" wrote, "...all it is, is flavored water vapor. It can also hydrate you. And since it's water vapor there's nothing harmful to your lungs."
How do teens gain access to vape accessories and liquids?
The laws around vaping and selling vape supplies vary not just by state, but by county and even city and town. For example, whereas Westchester County requires that a person be a minimum of 18 years old to buy vaping products at a store, in New York City buyers must be at least 21. Both the devices and liquids are available at convenience stores as well.
Is vaping safe? Is it dangerous?
The jury is out on this one. Studies are currently being done to determine the safety profile of e-cigarettes. In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, Joe Nocera discussed the debate on vaping, specifically the safety or detrimental effects of nicotine. He quotes Mitch Zeller, head of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, who said, "When nicotine is attached to smoke particles, it will eventually kill. But the same drug in a patch...is such a safe medication that it doesn't even require a doctor's prescription." The Center for Tobacco Products, a division of the FDA is now conducting more than 50 studies on e-cigarettes and will soon have regulatory authority over their sale and use.
Opponents of vaping say that the use of "teen/kid marketed flavors" are encouraging young people to vape before side effects are known. They also claim it's relatively unregulated so quality control is virtually non-existent. Proponents say the ingredients and the lack of second hand smoke make it innocuous and claim that vaping helps people quit smoking cigarettes or helps them avoid starting to smoke at all. The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a study showing that a significant amount of formaldehyde is inhaled when vaping at 5.0 volts. However, this study was widely criticized because it is unlikely that anyone would vape at this voltage as it burns the coils and gives the nicotine a bad taste. Many experts haven't gone as far as to say that vaping is harmful to teens, but do say that it is still an unknown potential hazard to developing brains and bodies.
Another concern about vaping is that smokers can put whatever they want into electronic cigarettes and sometimes add controlled substances. E-pens can be used to covertly smoke illegal substances, and since it can be quite easy to purchase the cigarettes for long-term use, whether online or with the help of an 18 year old friend, it makes using illegal substances that much easier.
I tried vaping.
In between preschool drop off and pick up, I went to White Plains Vapor on Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains to learn more about vaping. Entering the store, I was engulfed by a haze in the atmosphere and found two people vaping. Michael, the owner, checked my ID with an app on his phone as he does with all people who look under 35 (I was flattered). To ensure the integrity of his business, Mike doesn't sell anything online. However, he told me that if kids want to vape, they'll use untraceable Amazon or other gift cards to purchase vaping devices and liquids online. Mike's angle is to sell vaping as a smoking alternative. "There's no tar, no smell, no ashes, no tobacco, it doesn't stain your teeth, there's no second hand smoke," he reported. "I smoked for 20 years and tried everything to quit; the patch, the gum, Wellbutrin...nothing worked until I tried vaping. I use liquid with the mid-range level of the nicotine," he added. Mike said he feels healthier and can climb stairs without becoming breathless. He has a wall of cigarette boxes with people's names on them and the date they replaced smoking with vaping. Mike thinks vaping is relatively benign, especially when compared to smoking traditional cigarettes. I asked him if he knows of any side effects and he mentioned that some people report dry mouth. He's safety conscious. "I always tell people that if they have kids, they need to keep the liquid and device high up." He was referring to an incident in upstate New York where a child drank the sweet e-liquid and died of nicotine poisoning.
At the tasting bar, I was served "pink bunny" e-liquid, which is marketed as "strawberry milk" to inhale while watching Saturday morning cartoons. All tasting samples are nicotine-free. I pressed the button on the device and inhaled the sweet vapor. I didn't cough and the vapor wasn't harsh to inhale or exhale. I could see immediately why teens would be vaping even if they weren't smokers. Mike assured me that whereas cigarettes have numerous cancer-causing ingredients, the atomized liquid of the vape-pen produces a simple and harmless vapor. Although Mike said his typical client is 35-50 years old, I can't imagine that "pink bunny" appeals to that age group.
As Mike's buddy who worked at the store blew a huge fog of vapor out of his mouth, I exited the store, happy to catch a breath of fresh air. I was not convinced that vaping is safe. A dull headache came on but I had no idea whether this was from vaping, breathing in the second-hand vapor or if I was dehydrated from an early morning run. Until the data proves that vaping is safe, teens should be made aware that inhaling unregulated ingredients isn't natural, and that vaping could become addictive.
Teaching Children the Value of Money
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Most parents don't want their kids to think that "money grows on trees," so to speak. So what and how do we teach our kids about money and at what age should we begin? How should we be teaching our children to use the money they earn, whether from the tooth fairy, as an allowance, or from generous grandparents?
Ron Lieber, an author and a NY Times columnist on the subject of money, recommends that parents offer their children three options:
Give your money to others less fortunate, (and as D.H. Lawrence wrote, "Money poisons you when you've got it and starves you when you haven't,")
Save your money for something they will want in the future unknown or even for college:
Spend it – and carefully choose how.
Lieber who is the author of "The Opposite of Spoiled," a guidebook for teaching your kids about money spoke at the Scarsdale Library on Monday May 11th, and enumerated on his advice to "give, save, or spend"
Lieber explained that he benefited from financial aid to pay for his college education and learned to work the system to his advantage. Upon graduating, he went to work for the Wall Street Journal where he wrote about "beating the system," and gave his readers money-saving tactics such as returning their wedding gifts for cash. He left a few years later for The New York Times and became a parent shortly thereafter. At the age of three, his daughter started asking questions about money, wondering why the family did not have a summer house and a basement full of toys. Parents began contacting him about his New York Times blog and invited him to their communities to speak to people with more and less money in order to work out their differences.
Lieber concluded that out that parents in the top 1% and the remaining 99% all have this in common: No one wants to raise a spoiled child. But what's the opposite of spoiled? he asked himself.
Mr. Lieber threw out a list of the attributes that most parents seek to instill in their children: modesty, curiosity, generosity, perseverance, prudence, grit, thrift, and patience.
Rather than avoid the conversation about money, he said, "What if we embraced the questions and used the answers to steer our kids on how to save and spend that lead to those attributes? Mr. Lieber thinks parents should promise their children to do a better job conversing about money than their parents did with them
"The business of the family, revenues and expenses, are part of the family dynamic," Mr. Lieber argued. "Instead of telling kids that questions about money are none of their business, why not honor their curiosity and ask why they want to know?" He suggested that kids may be confused or anxious about money and that parents should help them understand the important role that money plays in our lives.
According to Lieber, the basic foundation for being a fiscally responsible adult is giving, saving and spending. When thinking about the values that parents want to instill in their children, spending incorporates modesty, prudence, and thrift; saving helps one learn patience; giving helps one to learn gratitude, generosity, and graciousness. "Kids have the ability to understand this, even at the young age of 5 or 6," Mr. Lieber suggested. "Try to tell a personal story that your kids can relate to --like giving to a charity, financial aid you received at college, or buying your first car with the money you saved from babysitting."
He encouraged parents to give kids an allowance by the ages of five through seven, "...maybe a buck for every year they are." He suggested dividing it between three jars labeled "give, save, spend." He cautioned parents NOT to connect allowance to chores as chores are important for and should be expected of all kids, "...for their own benefit, believe it or not."
Mr. Lieber recommended that parents use the "want-need continuum" to keep their kids (and themselves!) in check. He used the example of rain boots. "On one end of the continuum you might have Hunter boots for $120 (an expensive luxury), and on the other end you could have Payless boots for $19.99 (perhaps not well-made, but practical). In the middle there are sturdy Land's End rain boots for around $60." Recognizing that teens want the brand named Hunter boots he asked the audience whether they would buy these for their teens. "On the one hand," he said, "you need rain boots to keep feet dry in the rain. On the other hand," he continued, "do you really need $120 rain boots, or would $60 quality rain boots suffice?" Mr. Lieber said that to teach your kids the value of money, you could give them the $60 you would probably spend on a pair of rain boots, and tell them to come up with the difference if they want to buy the Hunter boots.
Mr. Lieber said this will help kids understand why you'll spend money on one thing and not on another. Instead of fighting over the value of something, you can decide the reasonable amount to spend and let the child determine how much they feel something is worth. "Explain to them and define for them a want versus a need," Mr. Lieber added."
Lieber said that it is important to teach children the value of giving. He taught his own daughter about giving using beans – and placing different numbers of beans (representing X dollars) on pieces of paper that contained the names of the charities or organizations to which they gave. He asked his daughter if there was anything missing, and she thought that kids should have the opportunity to go to sleep away camp even if it wasn't affordable for their families. "So that first year we gave her 5 beans towards a camp scholarship fund," he said. "The next year she got 7, and so on. In this way, she contributed to giving as a family."
Mr. Lieber added that one of the best things parents can do for kids is to send them to sleep away camp. "It gets them away from technology and the stresses of the school year, both social and academic." He talked about a camp on an island in Maine that has no electricity or showers. The kids bathe in the lake. "But let's also make clear that this camp," added Mr. Lieber, "has quite a few kids from New Canaan, CT." They leave their comfortable houses and go summer after summer to this camp. "The fun they have is the fun they create, so they all need each other to create the fun," he said. "STUFF doesn't create fun. Companionship, teamwork, and things like that DO," he argued.
"Spending money on experiences is the best way to achieve happiness," Mr. Lieber suggested, "not on stuff." He used, as an example, a hard-working couple that took their kids to Four Seasons resorts all over the world. Although it was enjoyable for them, they also felt like they were limiting their children's experience to a very cloistered world. "If you're lucky enough to do that type of vacation," he said, "you should consider mixing it up with a different type of vacation. Or if you go super-luxe for your vacations, try doing it the local way for a bit. Take the bus, talk to the people who live there, and show your kids the reality of the way the rest of the world works."
Lastly, Mr. Lieber spoke about saving and how it is related to the ever-increasing cost of college. At age 17, it's very difficult for a child to understand the cost of tuition, and hard to calculate the pros and cons of going to a $100,000 state school versus a $250,000 private school. No studies have been done to show that attending the higher price-tag school will benefit a student more than the state school, but the debt and/or cost will be more than double for the private school.
Mr. Lieber wrapped up his talk by speaking of the "fun ratio," reminding parents that kids need to make mistakes with money because it's the best way to learn not to do it again. "We'd rather kids do it under our roof than in the real world. Remind them of things they spent money on before that didn't end up being a good value." A tangible lesson is the best lesson. Older children can actually take the dollars spent and divide it by the number of hours they spent playing with or using something to determine the so-called "fun ratio" and be reminded of it for their next financial decision.
Pick up a copy of "The Opposite of Spoiled" to learn more --and to feel good about the core values you are instilling in your kids.
Sidewalk Sale and Spring Fling at the Golden Horseshoe
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There will be fun, food and great bargains at the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center from Thursday though Sunday May 28-31. The Sidewalk Sale and Spring Fling will bring retailers outside to offer food and merchandise and there will be entertainment for the kids.
Kevin Allmashy of Chef's Table encourages you to stop by for carnival food – including popcorn, pretzels and fresh fruit smoothies. On Saturday he'll be grilling sausages and peppers on the sidewalk. Two new vendors will also be on site – Wallin and Wolf will be selling brand name shoes and handbags, and La Gravinese will be offering their line of jewelry. Kids can jump in the bouncy castle and enjoy ice cream, frozen yogurt and candy from All Good Things.
You'll find great food at the Golden Horseshoe this weekend and everyday. We stopped into a few of the restaurants and here is what we learned.
Business is hopping at All Good Things where warm weather has increased demand for ice cream. Owner Brian Levy told us that two new flavors are in the freezer: s'mores with graham cracker flavor, marshmallows and chocolate chips and cotton candy flavored ice cream. He also sells a full line of frozen yogurt and candy to please the most discerning customers. Colorful outdoor seating is now available – so stop by, pick your flavor and sit outside on the sidewalk to enjoy it. 914-472-1793
The sushi chef at Sakura is busy behind the bar creating custom special rolls that look and taste delicious. Among their specialties are the Fuji Roll with spicy tuna, crunch top and fresh tuna, the Mango Roll with shrimp, cucumber, avocado, carrot lettuce and of course mango and the Sakura Roll, filled with spicy yellowtail, salmon or tuna, and topped with salmon, avocado and tobiko. The food received raves from a family who was dining there this week. They said "the sushi is consistently the best, compares favorably to restaurants in Manhattan, the place is quiet and the staff is nice." 914-722-6522
Chef's Table is serving and delivering farm to table cuisine seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ingredients are organic and purchased from local farmers and fresh fish is purchased daily. All of the food is Certified Humane, non-GMO, and pesticide free. Some of the more popular entrees are seafood paella, black angus steak and NYS duck breast. For lunch there are chopped salads made to order with organic greens, Murray's chicken and seasonal vegetables. There's a full breakfast menu, a children's menu and fresh blended juices. In other words, there's something to please everyone, all at very reasonable prices. The restaurant is now celebrating its one-year anniversary and invites you to come by and sample the cuisine. www.ChefsTableNY.com. 914-725-1062
Italian Village has been a mainstay in Scarsdale for as long as we can remember. Their pizza, baked calzone, pastas and chicken parmesan are family favorites – along with a full range of salads, appetizers and soups. You can even take home a pint of their tomato or meat sauce and serve it with your own pasta for dinner. If you're serving a crowd, check out their catering menu. Trays of chicken, ziti, lasagna, pasta and salad are available in small, medium and large trays to feed large parties at home. They are open everyday from 10 am to 10 pm. 914-472-4400
Residents Draft Petition to Save Greenacres School
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When neighbors learned that Greenacres School could be torn down and replaced with a larger building on Greenacres Field they were alarmed for many reasons.
Why? Greenacres is the oldest school in Scarsdale and some residents want to preserve a piece of history. The field is the only remaining play space in Greenacres, after George Field was converted into a retention pond to alleviate flooding, and people who live around the field value the open expanse of green.
A group of concerned residents joined together to draft a petition and it now has 270 signatures. Here is a comment from Greenacres resident Meredith Gantcher --and find the text of the petition below:
From Meredith Gantcher:
"Seven years ago our family moved from the Upper West Side to Scarsdale. We specifically limited our search to Greenacres because I fell in love with the tree-lined streets with classic Tudors and brick center hall Colonials, the intimacy of the neighborhood, and the idyllic public school. Most of all, I loved Greenacres field and playground because it was filled with families weekends and weekdays and had the vitality of a city park, but the beauty and open space of the suburbs.
On April 20th I attended the Board of Ed meeting in order to hear KD&G's report on their feasibility study for Greenacres School because I had heard rumors that one of the plans was to demolish the existing school and build a new one on the field. After hearing the presentation by KD&G and learning that the Board was seriously considering "Option C," to tear down Greenacres school and build a huge school complex with a "High School size gym to serve the entire Scarsdale community", I met with a group of 6 other neighbors who were equally shocked that the Board could actually propose destroying Greenacres Field – the heart and soul of our neighborhood. We quickly drafted a petition and began circulating the petition last Thursday and to date we have 270 signatures representing 200 distinct households in Greenacres, or approximately 20% of GA households.
Our goal is to send a loud message to the Board of Ed that while we are willing partners in enhancing our school and ensuring that our children receive the best education a public school can offer, we must be equally committed to preserving the unique character of our community."
Here is a copy of the petition:
Keep The Green In Greenacres
To: Scarsdale Board of Education and Greenacres Building Committee
I have reviewed the proposed plans for the Greenacres School presented by KG&D at the April 20, 2015 Scarsdale School Board Meeting. As a resident of Greenacres, I URGE the Board and Building Committee to eliminate "Option C," which involves demolishing the existing historic Greenacres School and destroying the Greenacres Field - the heart and soul of our community.
The Greenacres Field, which defines our neighborhood, functions as a village green in the most traditional sense; the field is our "town center," a beautiful, open green space that is filled with residents of our neighborhood weekdays and weekends; a place where toddlers, teens, parents and caregivers all meet and congregate.
I strongly object to pursuing "Option C" because this plan would:
• Eliminate the only large contiguous green space in Greenacres, making our neighborhood the ONLY neighborhood in Scarsdale without a large open field;
• Significantly reduce the overall green space in our already densely built neighborhood;
• Eliminate the black top (built with funds donated by Greenacres residents) that serves as a gathering point for the entire neighborhood, where children learn to ride their bicycles and teens play basketball;
• Significantly reduce the playground space for our youngest students and children. "Option C" would eliminate a separate playground and blacktop like the one currently used by K and 1st grade classes behind the existing school;
• Negatively impact community celebrations (such as the Annual Fourth of July celebration, Back to School Picnic and Greenacres Carnival);
• Ruin the aesthetic of our neighborhood by creating a High School- sized gym and two large parking lots.
Beyond altering the very character of our neighborhood via the destruction of the Greenacres Field, such a plan would also fail to solve the "Huntington Avenue problem," as children would still need to cross the street to reach a playing field. Moreover, the inclusion of a large High School-sized gym to serve "the entire Scarsdale community" would massively increase the traffic flow in our otherwise quiet streets.
As a member of this neighborhood, I am dedicated to improving our school and community. However, I am convinced that the demolition of the Greenacres School and resulting destruction of the Field is not the best solution. I forcefully urge the Board and Committee to focus on alternatives based on renovating, updating, and/or expanding the existing school. These approaches will be far less disruptive and damaging to the neighborhood and allow Greenacres to remain a vibrant community for the next 100 years.
If you wish to sign the petition, click here to access it.