SHS Principal John Klemme Steps Down
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Ending months of uncertainty, Scarsdale High School Principal John Klemme announced that he will retire at the end of the school year. Klemme has been out of school dealing with health issues since before the Christmas break -- and until the March 8th announcement the community was wondering if and when he would be back. He plans to return to school after the April break and work until the end of the school year to complete his term as Principal.
In an email to his colleagues, Klemme said his years at Scarsdale were “the singular experience of my career in education,” and thanked his colleagues for their “commitment to the education of Scarsdale students,” calling the high school “a pioneer in preparing student for productive lives in the twenty-first century.”
Klemme came to Scarsdale in 1998 from Birmingham, Michigan where he was an English teacher and administrator. In an interview on Scarsdale10583 in 2009 he recalled his first impression of Scarsdale where he was “struck by the extraordinary achievement levels of the students and the strong support for education in the community at large. Klemme also recounted the story of President Clinton’s landing in a helicopter on the Scarsdale football field.
During Mr. Klemme’s years the school undertook some major curriculum shifts that were bitterly debated. The faculty and administration favored the adoption of Advanced Topics courses in the high school, in place of the highly structured AP program. They believed this move would give teachers more flexibility and the opportunity to teach certain areas in depth. Fearing that the AT courses would be viewed less favorably by colleges, some parents fought the faculty and Klemme on this move. Ultimately the AT program was adopted and has now been hailed as a success. Other changes to the ninth grade orientation process and curriculum were more universally accepted. In athletics, during Klemme’s tenure additional athletic teams were added to give more students the opportunity to play and funding was provided for extracurricular activities such as debate, mock trial and Model U.N. Klemme also oversaw a major expansion of the school as a wing of new classrooms and a large gymnasium were added in the early 90’s. This year, Klemme was excited about a student exchange with China and spoke about his own trip there during his graduation speech in 2010.
Disciplinary responsibility fell on Klemme’s shoulders and he was severely tried by student drinking at a 2003 homecoming dance. Several students were hospitalized and Klemme sought to suspend students who had been caught drinking or named by others. Parents fought the disciplinary actions and some said the student code of conduct was over reaching.
More recently, in the fall of 2010 several suicides in Scarsdale deeply affected the school community and posed mental health challenges to the faculty and the students. Klemme lead the school through these tough times and they undoubtedly affected him.
On a personal note, I must thank Mr. Klemme for supporting two of my children during their years at SHS. Both my son and younger daughter served on the student government and Mr. Klemme invited them to meetings, sought out their opinions and guided them in their education. Despite his many duties, he made the effort to get to know them and we are grateful for his care.
In his resignation letter he reports that next year he will return to the classroom where he will teach in Florida. We wish him the best of luck in his journey and thank him for his service to Scarsdale.
From the Scarsdale Police... a DWI, a Burglary and a Bird in the Wrong Place
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Drunk Driver Arrested: On the evening of March 4, police responded to an accident on Mamaroneck Road near Harvest Drive. They found a woman in a blue Audi with a flat front tire. They spoke to the driver who was sitting in the car with the motor running and found that she had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and a strong odor of alcohol on her breath. She admitted to drinking at a friend’s house earlier in the day and presented her license that identified her as Veronique Lauras of Crossway in Scarsdale. She was too drunk to complete the sobriety tests and was arrested and taken to headquarters. She was found to have a blood alcohol level of .28 and charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated. Her car was left in the Scarsdale Pool parking lot and her husband came to pick her up.
Burglary: On the evening of March 4, a Colonial Road man returned home to find that his front door had been kicked in and his home had been burglarized. The lock and doorframe of the front door were damaged and the master bedroom was entered. Drawers were opened and the contents were thrown on the floor. A laptop computer, jewelry, and credit cards were stolen.
Fight!: On the evening of 3/2 a feud broke out between two mechanics at the Shell Station on Scarsdale Avenue about their mechanical abilities. The fight began as a verbal argument but escalated into a pushing and shoving match. The station owner was able to break up the fight and separate the two men. Both agreed to go home for the day and though one man’s hand was scraped he refused medical attention.
Lost: The owner of the Beautiful Home Center on Popham Road reported that two gold rings that were on her
desk were gone on the afternoon of 3/3. Police searched the store and found the rings in the garbage can next to the woman’s desk.
A 16 year-old Meadow Road girl lost her purse after dining at the Southeast Asia Restaurant on Garth Road on March 4th. After leaving the restaurant at 7:30 pm she realized the purse was gone and retraced her steps, but the purse was nowhere to be found.
On March 4th, a resident of Search for Change on the Post Road complained that someone took $117.50 from her locked box, though $500, jewelry and cigarettes were still in the box. Search for Change is a group home and no other larcenies were reported.
Found: The owner of Gingerbread Kidz on Chase Road called police for help on the evening of March 4th when a bird was stuck in the store. Police were able to catch the bird and release it outside.
Car Break ins: A teacher at the Hoff Barthelson Music School left her purse in the car when it was parked at the school on the evening of March 2nd. When she returned to the car around 10 pm, the front passenger wide window of her 2008 Toyota Corolla was broken and her purse was missing. Also gone were the contents of her purse which included a credit card, checkbook, $100 dollar in cash, an Amex gift card, her cell phone and the keys to her apartment.
A Honda Civic that belonged to a 17 year-old girl was also vandalized that evening when it was parked in the Hoff Barthelson lot on School Lane. The car was damaged and the girl’s credit card, license, health insurance card, medicine and $7.00 in cash were taken. The girl reported that when she arrived at the school around 10 pm she saw a black man about 5’ 10” tall, wearing a black coat standing near the side entrance to the school.
Damaged: A Yonkers man was parked in his 2010 Mercedes C30 at Chase Road and Woodland Place at 10 pm on 2/28, when a large branch from a Village tree fell on his car, damaging the windshield and the front hood.
Vandalism: An empty beer bottle was thrown through the moon roof of a 2010 Honda Pilot when it was parked in the driveway of a Rodney Road home overnight from March 5-6. The bottle, which was found on the front passenger seat, caused $1,200 in damage to the car.
Noise: Police received a call about some noisy kids in Aspen Road Park at 11:45 pm on March 4th. Police asked the kids to leave the area and they complied. At 11:45 pm on March 5th, police received a complaint about a loud party on Franklin Road. Police knocked on the door and asked the homeowner to turn down the music. She agreed to and apologized for the inconvenience.
Identity Theft: A Stratton Road woman reported that on 2/25 someone wrote two fraudulent checks from her Bank of America account – one for $6,400 payable to Chase Bank and another for $1,500 payable to Citibank. The checks had the correct account and routing numbers but looked different than her real checks. The woman did not recognize the signature on the checks and Bank of America closed the account.
In addition, on March 4th a Heathcote Road man was called by Chase Bank to report that someone had presented a counterfeit check bearing his account number for payment. The check was made out for $4,796.28 payable to Thania Lliguichuzhca. The bank advised the man to cancel his account.
Harassed: A 26 year-old Axtell Drive woman reported being harassed by someone she friended on Facebook on March 1. Starting on March 2nd, she started to receive text messages and phone calls from the man that were sexual in nature. She asked him to stop contacting her but he persisted all day. Police contacted the man but his phone was off and advised the victim to “defriend” the man.
On March 3rd, a Brite Avenue woman came to police to report that a woman she had interviewed for a housekeeping position was calling her and sending unwanted text messages. The Scarsdale woman had decided not to hire the candidate and wanted the calls to stop. Police contacted the interviewee who denied sending the messages and claimed that her children might have been playing with her phone. Police told her to have no further contact with the Scarsdale woman.
An employee of the Scarsdale School District called police on March 4 to report that a man was calling the district several times a day to inquire about a substitute teacher who is no longer employed by the district. The man has been calling the school for years, asking for different people, and has also called school officials at home.
The grandfather of a Continental Road boy reported that two men were taking photographs of the boy as he got off the school bus on February 28. Since the boy’s mother is going through a divorce, he is concerned about the safety of his grandson.
A Fenimore Road man called police several times on 2/28 to reported that his ex-girlfriend was sitting in a car outside of his home. He first called at 8 pm, and then at 11:38 pm. At 11:30 pm on 3/1 he called police again to complain that someone was ringing his doorbell and harassing him.
A young man from Quentin Road called police on the afternoon of March 1 to complain that his father would not give him the car keys. Police spoke to the Dad who advised them that his son is not able to drive at this time.
Fraud, Identity Theft and a Pedestrian Hit from the 10583 Police
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Fraud: Chase Bank on Palmer Avenue was the scene of another fraud attempt this week. On the afternoon of 2/24 a 6’5” man in a long black coat, carrying a Louie Vuitton bag approached a teller at the bank with a withdrawal slip for $3,500. The teller asked for identification and the man presented a Texas driver’s license and a Capitol One Visa. When the teller checked the account she found there were numerous alerts and also noted that the license looked “funny.” She asked the man to have a seat while she verified the account, but instead he left the branch.
When police arrived they found that the license was fraudulent and the account had been flagged because someone had called Chase Customer Service several times that day about the account.
Police contacted the man whose name was listed on the account in Tomball, Texas and it turned out that he had not authorized any withdrawals. Police canvassed the area but were not able to find the man.
An unidentified person withdrew funds from the Chase account of a Ridgecrest East couple between January 20 and February 18. All told, $23,000 was taken from the account to pay bills and credit card debts. Another $8,408 was spent on a fraudulent Macy’s account set up in the couple’s name.
Bad Check: the manager of Rothmans reported that a man had purchased $729.08 in clothing on 12/24/10 and his check had bounced. The store attempted to contact the man, Ken Levy of Mt. Kisco,, but his number was not in service. The store also emailed the man several times and though Levy said he would call, he never did. Police attempted to contact Levy on 2/24 but were unsuccessful but on 2/25 they got in touch and Levy agreed to pay the monies owed.
Stolen: A Lee Road man reported the theft of his $1,200 Batavus cycle and child seat from the Scarsdale Train Station where it was locked on February 17th. The lock and chain were gone as well but he found his helmet nearby.
Lost: On 2/25 an Aspen Road woman reported losing a $12,500 diamond ring inside her home sometime between 2/18-2/25.
A Marjory Lane man reported the lost of a 14K gold bracelet valued at $100.00 on East Parkway. He said it was lost sometime between 2/18 and 2/23 and is engraved with the words “Leon Z Mener, Love-Mom and Dad.”
Arrested: Tyson Tinsley, age 23 of Mount Vernon was arrested on a bench warrant in Mount Vernon and transferred to Scarsdale at 2 am on 2/24. After a conversation with Judge Galloway Tinsley was released pending a 3/2 court date.
Locked out: The ex-husband of a Brite Avenue woman came to police headquarters on 2/25 to inquire about his rights to enter the home of his ex-wife. Police advised him to speak to his attorney.
Solicitors: A Vernon Road resident reported a suspicious car and solicitors on the street on the morning of 2/26. Police stopped the solicitors who were trying to sign people up for home heating oil contracts. As they did not have a permit they were given a warning.
Intruders? At 2:19 am on 2/27, a Sycamore Road woman called police to say that she heard someone attempting to open her front door. Police went to the home and searched the area but found no suspects. Shortly thereafter, at 3 am police found a 2010 Jeep parked on Bansom Road and questioned the driver. The man admitted that he had just left his girlfriend on Sycamore Road and he was admonished by police and released.
Sewage: Cayuga Road residents called police to report that a sewer had backed up into their basement on the evening of 2/27. Police called the Highway Department to respond.
Gas leak: In response to a gas leak on 2/27, police had to enter a Murray Hill Road home while the homeowners were away. Police got in through an unlocked rear sliding door and found the master bedroom in disarray. They got in touch with the homeowner who was in Florida and he was not concerned.
Accident: A Post Road woman who was attempting to cross Post Road at 7:40 am on 2/25 was hit by a car driven by a New Rochelle man. The victim, Jessica Crockett complained of pain in her legs and right hand and was taken to White Plains hospital by SVAC for treatment. She stated that the accident was not the fault of the driver.
Damage: Luigi Vippolis parked his 2009 BMW 328I in the Freightway lot on the morning of 2/25. When he returned at 8 pm that night he found that the fenders were scratched and the front right tire and both rear tires were slashed. There were no witnesses.
More Flooding on the Bronx River Parkway
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For the second time this week heavy rain has caused the Bronx River parkway to close. Today, Friday March 11, the Parkway is flooded from the split with the Sprain Brook Parkway all the way up to Virginia Road in White Plains. Over 2.8 inches of rain fell on Thursday night into Friday morning causing extensive flooding. On Monday March 7 three inches of rain fell the previous night and caused the Bronx River to overflow and spill onto the roadway.These photos are taken from the overpass at Greenacrs Avenue where both the north and the south sides of the parkway are flooded.
According the Westchester County Police nothing can be done to alleviate the flooding. They are 
simply waiting for Mother Nature to take its course and waiting for the water to recede. A spokesman for the County Safety Department claimed that inadequate storm drains are just part of the problem and Scarsdale's Deputy Village Manager Stephen Pappalardo agrees. The Bronx River is filled with silt and therefore has limited capacity to capture excess water. Dredging the river to remove the silt is an environmental concern as it would upset the ecological system and wildlife. In addition, with increased development there is reduced impervious surfaces in the areas above the river, further exacerbating the flooding.
In the meantime, traffic is sure to be snarled in Westchester on Friday as drivers will need to avoid the flooded parkways and take alternative routes.
Scarsdale Police Arrest Drunk Drivers
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Randolph Ramrup age 35 of the Bronx was caught driving 50 mph on the Post Road at 2:15 am on February 19. Police chased him and he initially resisted police but later pulled over onto the sidewalk at the intersection of Burgess and Post Roads. Police smelled alcohol on Ramrup’s breath and he claimed he had left his driver’s license at the bar. He failed the sobriety tests and was found to have an elevated BAC. Ramrup was placed under arrest and his car was parked in the high school lot. He was booked for speeding and driving while intoxicated and released.
The following night Ramrup came into headquarters to report that his wallet was taken from his car while it was parked in front of Scarsdale High School. He claimed that when he returned for the car the next day, his coach wallet, driver’s license, debit card and student id were missing, though it should be noted that the previous night Ramrup claimed he did not have his license.
At 4:30 am, police spotted a Honda on the Post Road with no rear plate light. They stopped the car on Fenimore Road and smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath. The man admitted that he had just left the Misky Bar in White Plains where he drank four beers. The man only had a Mexican driver’s license that identified him as Rene Gonzalez, age 26 of Dobbs Ferry Road, Scarsdale. Police conducted a DMV check and found that Gonzalez had been suspended five times by the DMV. Gonzales was arrested and booked for driving while intoxicated, driving without a license and for inadequate lights on his car. He was released on $400 cash bail.
Shortly after midnight on 2/20 police stopped a speeding driver on the Post Road. They found that the driver appeared drunk and the car smelled of marijuana. The man admitted to drinking a beer and smoking a joint before he left the bar. He failed sobriety tests and was placed under arrest. A search of his car revealed a bag of marijuana. Eric Stapen, age 32 of Popham Road, Scarsdale was arrested for driving while intoxicated, speeding, driving under the influence of drugs and possession of marijuana.
Minutes later, at 5 am, police stopped the driver of a speeding Acura at Post and Sherbrooke Roads and smelled alcohol on his breath. The driver identified himself as Gersson D. Jimenez of New Rochelle and admitted that he had just left the Cabo Bar in White Plains where had had consumed mixed drinks and beer. The man had no license and said that his license had been revoked. There was a half full bottle of beer on the console and a drunk passenger in the front seat. The driver was found to be inebriated and his car was impounded. He was arrested for speeding, driving without a license, driving while intoxicated, and carrying an open alcohol container in the car.
Slipped: An 84-year old Overlook Road man slipped on the ice in Scarsdale Village around noon on 12/18. He fell on Spencer Place and possibly broke some ribs. He was taken to Westchester Medical Center by SVAC. A 76 year-old woman from Inverness Road tripped on Spencer Place on the morning of 2/19, injuring her right hand and knee. She was also taken to White Plains Hospital by SVAC.
On the afternoon of 2/18 Ronald Walter, the property manager for the Wilgrin Parking lot on Palmer Avenue reported that a truck drove over a parking island and knocked down a tree. There were not witnesses.
Wind Damage: A large tree branch fell on two cars parked in the lot at the Scarsdale library on the afternoon of 2/19. A Toyota and a Mazda were trapped under the branch and the Highway Department had to cut the branch to free the cars. Though no damage was done to the Mazda, the roof, hood and fender of the Toyota were damaged.
At 3:20 am on 2/19, a large tree fell on Jefferson Road and knocked down the power line.
High winds caused a large tree branch to fall on a car travelling on Heathcote Road on the afternoon of 2/19. The branch broke the windshield of a car that belonged to George Telonis of Boulder Brook Road.
A water main broke at 4 am on 2/22 on Saxon Woods Road near the intersection of Black Birch Lane. Water pouring from the broken pipe froze on the road causing hazardous, icy conditions. Highway workers shut down the road and workers from the water department were summoned.
