Focus on Candle, Christmas Tree and Fireplace Safety

Other important ways to keep your loved ones and your homes safe this year include practicing candle, Christmas Tree and fireplace safety.

Candle Safety:

• Candles should be placed in a steady candle holder.
• Keep candles at least one foot away from anything that can burn.
• Remember to blow out all candles when leaving the room or going to bed.
• Consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell, and feel like real candles.

Christmas Tree Safety:

• For a fresh tree, cut two inches from the base of the trunk before placing it in the stand. Add water daily to keep the tree well hydrated.
• Trees should be placed at least three feet away from any heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, heat vents, or lights.
• Make sure the tree is not blocking an exit, such as a door or window.
• Ensure that decorative lights are in good working order and used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Fireplace Safety:

• Be certain the damper or flue is open before starting a fire. Keeping the damper or flue open until the fire is out will draw smoke out of the house.
• Use dry and well-aged wood. Wet or green wood causes more smoke and contributes to soot buildup in the chimney.
• Keep a glass or metal screen in front of your fireplace to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Make sure it is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Put ashes in a metal container with a lid. Place the container outside at least 10 feet from your home.

Boards, Councils and Committees Seeking Civic-Minded Residents

Scarsdale is a special community full of residents who volunteer in many areas, and our local government is no exception; by serving on our volunteer Boards, Councils and Committees, residents make positive contributions to Scarsdale’s quality of life. The Personnel Committee of the Village Board of Trustees asks residents who are interested in serving on Village Boards, Councils and Committees to submit their names for consideration. The Village seeks candidates who represent a broad range of experiences and backgrounds. New terms will begin April 7, 2025. Scarsdale residents may also recommend individuals to be considered for appointment. To apply, make a recommendation, or ask questions, email Personnel Committee members Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg [dgruenberg@scarsdale.gov], Trustee Jeremy Gans [jgans@scarsdale.gov], or Trustee Sameer Ahuja [sahuja@scarsdale.gov]. Taylor Emanuel of the Village Clerk’s Office is also available to assist by phone at 914-722-1175, or at temanuel@scarsdale.gov.

For more information on the various Boards, Councils, and Committees, including their areas of focus, click here. To review the guidelines for membership, terms of office, and member responsibilities for Scarsdale’s Citizen Boards, Councils, and Committees, click here. Applications may be submitted on or before February 16, 2025, either online or by mailing or hand-delivering a printed application addressed to Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg at Village Hall, 1001 Post Road, Scarsdale NY 10583.

You Should Be Alarmed: Effective Fire Protection is Free and Easily Available

There are three keys to fire safety: quick detection, fast notification and immediate intervention according to Scarsdale Fire Chief Christopher Mytych, who stresses that the first tenet, early detection, is in homeowners’ hands, but that SFD is here to help. Chief Mytych recommends that residents take part in the Home Fire Campaign, which offers free battery-operated smoke detector installation throughout a house of any size. All you have to do is register here to set up an appointment, and American Red Cross volunteers will show up with enough detectors to properly protect your house. Full story here.

Raizen, SVAC Honored for Community Paramedicine Program

At the 2024 Westchester County Public Health Awards Presentation Thursday, April 4, at the Scarsdale Public Library, long-time Scarsdalian David Raizen was honored for his 45 years of service to the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps. As SVAC’s president, Raizen led the way during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering testing and vaccinations, creating a robust community paramedicine program that continues to grow and set a high bar. He was given the Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Award for his “innovative leadership of a vital community resource.” To read more about Raizen, SVAC and community paramedicine, click here.

Destination Scarsdale: Mayor Announces New Business Initiative

Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest joined Westchester County Executive George Latimer during his weekly update on April 15, to reveal this joint initiative, meant to encourage people to spend time in town. The Scarsdale Business Alliance is also a partner, and there will be more details to come. Watch Mayor Arest’s portion of the press conference here or view the whole thing here.

Scouts Celebrated at Village Board Meeting

With the annual Memorial Day Parade canceled due to inclement weather, the Village invited leaders from Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts to share achievements that would have typically been celebrated on Memorial Day. Adelia Bandsma showcased her Hometown Heroes project, honoring veterans from Scarsdale with banners in the Village that she said she hopes bring “awareness to the numerous veterans in our community and their service to this country.” Mayor Justin Arest called it “truly a special gift to the Village.”

Eagle Scouts Zachary Finkel and Noah Millard were introduced by Scarsdale Scout Master Ted Mazza; Gold Award winners Charlotte Blotner and Kyra Montgomery were recognized by Scarsdale Edgemont Girl Scouts Volunteer Service Unit Manager Donna Maria Caro. Bandsma is soon to receive a Gold Award as well. The Village appreciates the Scout's positive impact on the community.

All Charged Up: SPD Introduces First All-Electric Car to Fleet

The Scarsdale Police Department welcomed a new vehicle to its fleet, a Ford Mustang Mach-e, which is the first all-electric vehicle for the department. The car has been designated SPD-1, replacing a 2010 Chevy Impala, which aged out, and joins several hybrid Ford Explorers in the modern fleet. SPD-1 will be used to patrol Scarsdale’s Village Center and driven by Officer Russel Schum. Police Chief Andrew Matturro will work with Department of Public Works Superintendent Jeff Coleman, Village Staff, and the Village Board to evaluate the new vehicle’s effectiveness and consider the potential to add more electric vehicles to the patrol fleet and the Parking Enforcement Unit.

Witness Stones Dedicated at Wayside Cottage

On June 7, the Junior League of Central Westchester, Dennis Culliton of the Witness Stones Project, genealogist and historian Teresa Vega, and faculty and students from Scarsdale High School unveiled the “stone” above and seven others, culminating months of effort. They had pooled their resources and their passion for social justice to begin uncovering one of the untold stories of Scarsdale’s Wayside Cottage. They learned that during the 18th Century, the Cottage’s owner Thomas Hadden enslaved Rose Heady, who bore him seven children, freeing Rose and their offspring upon his death, making them the first known free Black family in Westchester County. Many generations later, their descendants, including historian Teresa Vega, have carried on Rose’s legacy in the county. Click here for the full story.

Additional Renovations for Softball/Baseball Fields

With the successful renovation of four baseball and softball fields by Greenway Property Services, Inc., that allowed the Parks and Rec Department to open fields sooner and more often, in addition to reducing the amount of time spent preparing fields after rain, the Village Trustees approved three additional fields for resurfacing and repair. Crossway Field 2, Supply Field 1, and Hyatt Field 1 will receive a total of $194,500 worth of work to improve those fields as well. In addition, the Village and School District will announce a new date for the joint field study meeting and presentation as soon as possible.

Curbside Textile Recycling Program Comment end Available for Residents 

Westchester County has partnered with Helpsy to offer free curbside textile pickup to residents in the Village of Scarsdale. This program provides a convenient way for residents to keep textiles out of the waste stream. Residents can sign up online for curbside textile collections, which will take place weekly on Saturdays between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Helpsy accepts clothing, accessories, shoes, linens, blankets, curtains, and more. For more information, click here. Residents can sign up for pickup at https://www.helpsy.com/pickup or by calling Helpsy directly at 1-800-244-6350.

Police Chief Andrew Matturro Announces Retirement

The Village of Scarsdale announces the retirement of Police Chief Andrew Matturro, effective February 1, after over 36 years of dedicated service to our community. Chief Matturro has been a pillar of strength and leadership, guiding the Scarsdale Police Department with integrity, professionalism, and a steadfast commitment to public safety. We will soon be honoring Chief Matturro with a special feature highlighting his remarkable career and achievements. Stay tuned for this well-deserved celebration in the coming weeks.

Village to Begin Weekly Recycling Collection January 2

The Village of Scarsdale is proud to announce a significant enhancement to its recycling collection program. Beginning January 2, 2025, the Village will implement weekly collection of paper and commingled recycling, replacing the current every-other-week schedule. This change reflects Scarsdale’s commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency and meeting the needs of its residents. This improvement follows the Department of Public Works’ operational review of the Sanitation Division, completed in December 2023. The review examined trends over the past 20 years, highlighting a notable reduction in solid waste, paper and commingled recycling collected by the Department. The findings concluded that a shift to weekly recycling services would align operations with current demand and would enhance service delivery. View the study here.

What residents need to know:

• New Recycling Schedule: Weekly collection of both paper and comingled recycling begins January 02, 2025.
• Sanitation Calendars: The DPW has prepared four updated sanitation calendars to reflect changes to recycling routes. These calendars will be mailed to residents before the end of the year. Nearly all residents will continue to have the same garbage collection schedule as they do now.
• Route Adjustments: To optimize recycling operations the Monday/Thursday and Tuesday/Friday trash collection routes have been divided into two recycling routes.
• Collection routes and schedules are currently being finalized and will be shared with the public ahead of the January 2, 2025, kickoff date.

Overnight Parking Ban, Sidewalk Snow Removal

The Village Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to change the overnight street and public property parking ban start date from November 1 to December 1. There will be no overnight street parking from December 1 through March 31 between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. to allow Department of Public Works plows to perform necessary street-cleaning and emergency snow/ice removal operations. In addition, sidewalk snow removal is the responsibility of the homeowners and business owners who have a sidewalk bordering their property, per Village Code. The snow removal must take place within four hours of when the snow stops to fall or ice begins to form, with the exception of 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. If the snow or ice does freeze to the point where it cannot be removed without harming the pavement, the homeowner or business owner must throw down ashes, sand, sawdust or similar material and remove the snow/ice in a timely fashion thereafter.

Village Hall to Close the Following Days

• Tuesday, December 24, at 12:30 p.m.: Christmas Eve
• Wednesday, December 25: Christmas Day
• Tuesday, December 31, at 12:30 p.m.: New Year’s Eve
• Wednesday, January 1: New Year’s Day