All Things Green at Sustainable Scarsdale Day
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All aspects of green living and sustainability were on display at Sustainable Scarsdale Day on Saturday May 5. There were electric cars, ecologically responsible home products, new technologies to power your home, gardens to grow your own and more.
Here are just a few of the activities that took place at the event, which was sponsored by the Scarsdale Forum, Scarsdale Village and the Scarsdale Schools:
Tours of the Middle School vegetable garden were given by teachers Cara Forray and Meredith Rivellini and Kaleidoscope Garden Design. The garden is tended by students in all grades who dig, plant, water and weed to cultivate their crops.
From the high school, vegetables and plants were on sale, and for each plant purchased, another was donated to the large garden on the Post Road side of Scarsdale High School.
Annabelle Stanley of the Scarsdale-Edgemont Girl Scouts held a bake sale to raise funds to install a large sustainable border of 
native perennials and shrubs around the pond at the Scarsdale library. These plants will help to control flooding and will attract butterflies and dragon flies. The planting plan was drawn by landscape designer Beverly Isis. To fund the project, Stanley received a grant from the Scarsdale Friends of the Parks and raised the rest. She will receive a Silver Award for the project. Planting will take place this Saturday May 12 at Scarsdale Library Pond and volunteers are needed.
As part of the new Love ‘Em and Leave “Em leaf mulching initiative, landscaper Anthony Vulpone demonstrated how leaves could be mulched or ground in place, and returned to the lawn to feed it. In just a 
few minutes, a mountain of leaves was shredded, and became compost, a rich organic resource for the ground.
Three electric cars, the Nissan Leaf hatchback, the Tesla Roadster and the Chevy Volt were on display to demonstrate how drivers could eliminate fuel use, tailpipe pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Junior League of Central Westchester demonstrated their efforts to organize volunteers to clean-up debris and invasive vines along the Bronx River.
Eva from the Green Design Expo on Central Avenue displayed an array of sustainable building materials for the home and shared a sample of an earth friendly all surface cleaner made with parsley.
Lunch was provided by Lange’s as well as Andy’s Pure Food who supplied an impressive array of veggie dishes including kale salad, roasted butternut squash and quinoa.
And Middle School students who were part of the One Million Bones club demonstrated how they were making “bones” out of 
toilet paper and art paste that will be sent to the mall in Washington D.C. to represent those who died in genocides in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Funds from this initiative will be used to build schools in these countries in an effort to educate children and create a sustainable economy.
Pictured here are Hannah Fuehrer, Sabrina Knaack and Sarah Kurien. Nakul Srinivas and James Xu are also involved in the effort. Learn more at onemillionbones.org .
The day ended with a joyful concert by Tom Chapin and friends who sang “whole grain” songs from their album “Give Peas A Chance”, about locally grown foods, gardening, recycling and the food chain. Clever lyrics such as “a berry shipped from Chile,” and ”buy your food from a local dude,” kept everyone in the audience from toddlers to grandparents amused.
Announcing Greenacres' 100th Birthday Bash
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The year 2012 is the hundredth anniversary of some momentous historical events …. the Titanic collided with an iceberg and sunk on April 15, 1912, Paramount Pictures was founded and released the first Sara Bernhardt film in the U.S., and Greenacres was born in Scarsdale. That’s why the Greenacres Association is planning a Centennial Celebration at Scarsdale Golf Club on Saturday night June 2nd. This will be no ordinary neighborhood get-together. The evening will feature cocktails, dinner and dancing to tunes spun by a D.J.
You’ll have a chance to greet your neighbors and look back at Greenacres’ illustrious past and colorful residents.
Here are a few trivia items to whet your appetite for what’s to come on June 2:
Who Built Scarsdale’s First Swimming Pool?
The first pool in Scarsdale was not built in Heathcote. In fact, it was at 80 Garden Road at the home of Mrs. Bevor-Webb. And who was Mrs. 
Bevor-Webb? None other than the wife of the captain of J. P. Morgan’s yacht Corsair. She later became J.P. Morgan’s mistress and he bought her 8 acres on Garden Road and built her a home and a “rock garden having a concealed system of water pipes available at will for the purpose of filling the basins and supplying the fountains in the rock garden.” The home is still there today.
Where is the fountain on Fountain Terrace?
Developer Robert Farley built the Italianate fountain pictured above along the Bronx River in front of the “Tea House” in the early 20th century. Unfortunately, the fountain disappeared with the Bronx River Parkway was improved in 1974.
Learn more about your neighborhood at the gala celebration on June 2, 2012. Your invitation should have already arrived in the mail. Use the R.S.V.P. card to reserve your place or go to greenacres10583.com to sign-up.
Is a Drought on the Horizon?
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A quick look at your lawn will reveal that April showers are sorely needed. The soil is already dry and a brush fire broke out on the trail behind the Scarsdale High School tennis courts on Thursday April 12. When fire fighters arrived they found a decayed tree on fire. They were able to extinguish the flames at the base, but smoke was emanating from the tree up to 30 feet off the ground. As a result, the highway department was called in to take the tree down.
Was the lack of rain the culprit? Scarsdale10583 got in touch with the Scarsdale Water Department to ask them some questions about our water supply, and here is what we learned from Steve Mastromarino:
How are the water levels at the reservoirs compared to this time last year?
According to NYC the reservoir level is at 90.9%, Last year it at this time it was 97.1% See current reservoir levels in the illustration below and visit the NYC website to learn more.
How is Scarsdale's pumping capacity?
We will begin the Reeves Newsome Water Supply Station renovations, -- so being careful of water use during this time is not only wise but prudent.
Do you think we are headed for drought conditions and watering restrictions?
The Village Trustees will discuss a resolution for that situation at the next Board meeting on April 24th 2012, but without rain I can’t see where they wouldn’t recommend restrictions.
Is there anything residents can do now to conserve?
- Limit the time that lawn irrigation systems are in use
- Remember the peek water demand time is from 2am -8am. If lawn watering can be done outside those critical times the demand should be able to be met.
- Watering 2-3 days a week, rather than everyday will help the demand on the system
- Reduce watering in each zone from 20 to 10 minutes to reduce demand.
- Repair any internal or external water leaks on their property.
- Report any water leaks that are noticed so repairs can be done quickly
Saved or Razed?
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The same week that preservationist made their report on proposed historic properties in Scarsdale, The Historic Preservation Committee of Scarsdale met to consider whether to preserve or permit the demolition of a list of local properties. Following the April 17 meeting, the Board cleared the way for the demolition of the following homes:
- 10 Ogden Road
- 9 Stonehouse Road
- 16 Cambridge Road
- 50 Brookby Road
They held over a decision on 9 Hamilton Road, (pictured at top) a home that was listed as a candidate for landmark designation status in the report. The house was built in in 1921 and originally owned by Ida F. Ruggiero. Why is it remarkable? According to the report, “Although relatively small in scale, 9 Hamilton Road is a picturesque and whimsical example of Mediterranean-inspired residential design with its stuccoed façade, Spanish-tile roof, and arched loggia. The massing is especially well conceived as different masses, each clad in Spanish tile, build up to a hip-roof tower-like level.”
Another home, 50 Brookby Road could not be saved, despite the sentiments of residents who live on the street. The current home on the site was sold in August, 2011 for $1,225,000 and developers are already advertising a rendering of a large colonial to replace it at, $3,675,000.
Here are excerpts from Munghia's comments about preserving 50 Brookby Road:
- Many of the older homes on Brookby and Quentin, including 50 and 54 Brookby Road, constitute a neighborhood representative of the earliest suburban development in Scarsdale.
- Both the Scarsdale Housing Committee and the Federal Housing Commission welcomed the new development of affordable housing to be built by Brookby, Inc. in what is now our neighborhood on Brookby Road and the surrounding streets. It is my belief based on documents at the Building Department and this article that 54 Brookby Road was the model home that visitors were encouraged to examine during the course of its building in 1935.
- This application is the first step in a larger plan by the current owners. Their application to demolish two lovely older homes which embody the
history and architecture of our neighborhood is an effort to redraw the property lines and build three new houses where there are now two.
A Rendering of a Proposed New Home at 50 Brookby Road - The criteria articulated in Sections 182-5 of the Village Code are guidelines for determining the historical significance of a building. I maintain that the collective history of the buildings surrounding the building in question should be considered by the Committee as well. Our homes are the realization of a New Deal initiative—providing affordable homes to a nation of struggling young families in the newly built suburban developments throughout the country.
Overriding her objections, the Board voted to permit demolition of 50 Brookby Road. While Scarsdale Village Trustees mull over what can be done with the preservationists recommendations, and what code changes, if any, will be made, houses continue to disappear at a rapid pace.
Israeli Educators Visit Scarsdale
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Twelve educators from Jerusalem who are participants in a global exchange organized by the JCC on the Hudson visited Fox Meadow Elementary School on Wednesday, March 28. They spent time in the kindergarten and first grade classes and were interviewed by the students. Liat Hidekel-Cohen, an English teacher at Pola Ben-Gurion, enjoyed talking to the kindergarteners who asked her questions about where she lives, what she does, how many languages she speaks and if she has a dog. They were eager to learn about her life in Israel and what her students are like. The first graders prepared interview questions and took notes, just like professional reporters! Etty Rosen, a computer teacher at Yehuda Halevi, was asked if her school had animals. She showed the class her school's website which has photos of students playing with rabbits during recess time.
The Israeli teachers had the opportunity to see Public Service Announcements produced by the fifth graders on topics like water 
conservation, bullying and pollution, as well as technology projects that are being developed by the younger students. After their visit at Fox Meadow the group met with Susan Taylor, Director of Scarsdale Teacher’s Institute and Joan Weber, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel and Administrative Services to discuss current issues in education in the U.S. and in Israel.
Photo Credit: Victoria Free Presser
