Mayor's Report
As we gather this evening, I want to take a moment to recognize that August holds a number of important observances and celebrations. August 7 is Purple Heart Day, when we honor those who have been wounded or killed in combat in service to our country. Today, August 12 is International Youth Day, which celebrates the creativity, energy, and contributions of young people around the world. August 26 is Women's Equality Day, a reminder of the ongoing work toward equity and opportunity. It is also a season when our community is especially active, with neighbors filling our parks, families enjoying our downtown, and volunteers giving their time and energy to causes that matter. This past weekend's Farmers Market was a perfect example. It was wonderful to see Chase Park and our Village Center full of children and families, enjoying the best of Scarsdale together. My thanks to the Scarsdale Business Alliance for all of their efforts in collaborating with the Village to make Destination Scarsdale a success. And a quick reminder that this Thursday, August 14, at 8 PM in Chase Park will be the final installment of the Westchester Band for this season. I encourage all residents to come out and enjoy this great community tradition.
That spirit of giving is front and center in our collaboration with Feeding Westchester. My sincere thanks to Christine Sciandra in the Manager's Office and Bob Kaczmarek, Assistant Superintendent of PRC, as well as Deputy Mayor Gruenberg for leading the Village's efforts in this important partnership. Through the generosity of our residents, the Village collected 3,400 pounds of food, enough to provide approximately 2,833 meals for those in need. Their dedication, along with the kindness of those who contributed, reflects the very best of Scarsdale and shows how much we can accomplish when we work together.
I want to take a moment to recognize Treasurer Ann Scaglione, who will soon depart to become Comptroller for the Town of Cortlandt. When Ann joined the Village, she succeeded a beloved Village Treasurer and inherited systems in need of modernization. From the start, she brought energy, persistence, and expertise, tackling the challenges with focus and determination. Ann introduced meaningful improvements to our operations and moved us toward a truly digital and even more transparent budget process. Her work has strengthened the Village's financial foundation, making our practices more efficient, more accessible, and more responsive to our residents. While there is always more work ahead, Ann's contributions have been significant. We thank her for her dedication and service to Scarsdale and wish her every success in this next chapter, along with a shorter commute.
I also want to thank Charles Hessler, who will be leaving us to serve as Irvington's next Village Administrator this fall. I think we have all seen Charles grow in this role. He has served at a time when we needed significant information technology upgrades, including enhancements to our cyber security systems, and he handled those challenges with diligence and steady leadership. He embraced the demands of the job, navigated change thoughtfully, and made a real impact on the way we work. I have no doubt he will be an excellent administrator for Irvington, and we wish him the very best.
To Christine, Bob, Dara, Ann, and Charles, thank you. Your efforts, leadership, and service have strengthened our community, and we are truly grateful.
Before we close, I also want to acknowledge that we continue to receive concerns and complaints about wireless coverage in the Village, particularly with Verizon Wireless. While some improvements have been attempted over the past few years, the results have been limited and, frankly, disappointing. Our conversations with the carrier remain ongoing, but in the meantime the Village Manager is working with the Technology Advisory Council to explore independent resources that can evaluate our service, assess what has and has not been done, and help identify possible solutions. Unfortunately, there has not been a quick solution but we continue to work on this and will continue to keep the community informed as this work progresses.
Village Manager's Report
First, I want to thank Assistant Manager Charles Hessler for being an incredible member of my team in the Manager's Office. He has always approached tasks thoroughly and thoughtfully, and he consistently embraces challenges—especially when it came to taking on roles in other departments. He has served as Deputy Clerk, Planning Board Secretary, and most notably, IT Project Manager.
Charles is not afraid to ask difficult questions, and he always approaches problem-solving in a collaborative way. He is a great sounding board for ideas and is always looking for ways to make improvements. Charles, you are an outstanding Assistant Manager, and I know that you will be an incredible Village Administrator. Good luck on this next stage of your career, and know that your Scarsdale family is rooting for you.
I also wanted to provide an update on Scarsdale Central Taxi. Taxi service is not provided by the Village of Scarsdale, but we have been working closely with Central Taxi to ensure that it remains a transportation option for the community. The Village issued a press release on Friday notifying the public of a hopefully temporary change in service from Central Taxi.
Although there is currently a more limited number of drivers available, we have been updated today that service is still being maintained. Central Taxi can be reached at 914-723-0016. As we receive more information, the Village will continue to update our website at scarsdale.com/taxi.
Lastly, beginning tomorrow, August 13, Wayside Lane will be closed between Post Road and Locust Avenue to allow for construction of a pedestrian improvement project. The road is anticipated to reopen on Friday, August 15, weather permitting.
As the Mayor mentioned in his recently published letter to the community, this project includes an extension of the existing sidewalk on Wayside Lane, connecting it to Post Road. This improvement will create a safer experience for pedestrians, especially students. Work will continue over the next two weeks.