Dear Neighbors,

Even months into my term as president, I continue to be blown away by the hard work, thorough analysis, and insightful recommendations that so many of our committees have delivered through their reports this year. Just last weekend, as I reached for my Scarsdale Inquirer, I noticed not one but two front page mentions of the work done by Scarsdale Forum committees.

The top story of all was an article on the report recommending next steps for the Freightway project, put together by the Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale and Downtown Revitalization Committee, and submitted as the organization's formal comment during the village's public comment period. Underneath that was the terrific news that the board of trustees has voted to participate in the New York Climate Smart Communities matching grant program, with a mention of our Climate Resilience Committee's recommendation that the village take this important step.

As you know, our programs are high quality and thought-provoking, but if you've never dug in with the work of one of our committees, you're not getting the full picture of the role the Scarsdale Forum plays in our community. You can join a committee any time through our website or by stopping by one of the meetings listed below.

Tim Foley

President, Scarsdale Forum 



Downtown Revitalization

 The Downtown Revitalization Committee and the Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale Committee released a joint report last month on the village's Freightway Site Development proposals. Concurring with Scarsdale Mayor Marc Samwic k, who put the project on pause, the committees stated that there are too many unaddressed issues to move forward with selecting a final candidate for the project.

Of particular concern to the Downtown Revitalization Committee was how a new development, which might contain retail and other commercial interests, would coordinate with the existing village center, as well as the physical connectivity between the two spaces. Committee members also were highly concerned about arrangements for interim parking for merchants, employees, shoppers, and commuters during the construction process.

In addition, the committee is moving forward with exploring the re-imagining of Boniface Circle, and meeting with potential landscape and public space designers for preliminary input on how to approach the project in phases and related costs.

For more details, email Susan Douglass, at susanudouglass@gmail.com.

     

Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale

Scarsdale Village trustees and staff are wrapping up their work on the 2020-21 tentative budget. Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale members have been attending budget work sessions and briefings; the last session is scheduled for  Wednesday, March 4 . The plan will be filed on Friday, March 20 and a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, April 14 . The committee will meet this month and begin drafting its report commenting on the proposal, and welcomes other Scarsdale Forum members to join its discussions. If you're interested in sharing your thoughts or contributing to the group's efforts, email  Anne Hintermeister at ahintermeister@gmail.com .

     

Scarsdale Foundation Scholarship Application Process Now Open 

Students who are graduating from Scarsdale High School, or have lived in Scarsdale during high school and have completed their first, second, or third year of college, are invited to apply to the Scarsdale Foundation for tuition assistance. For the 2019-2020 academic year, the foundation awarded need-based grants totaling $124,500 to 29 students attending private and state-supported colleges and universities.

Applications for the 2020-2021 academic year should be submitted online via the  Scarsdale Foundation website (select "College Scholarships" link) no later than  Monday, June 1 . 

For more information, contact Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs Anne Lyons or BK Munguia at  scarsdalefoundationscholarship@gmail.com . Please note "Scarsdale Foundation Scholarship Inquiry" in the subject line of your email. Please note that t he Scarsdale Foundation  is independent from, and not affiliated with, the Scarsdale Forum.

Summer Art Festival Coming

To Scarsdale

After two years of planning, the Scarsdale Arts Council will host the Scarsdale Summer Art Festival 2020 from mid-July through the first part of August.

The festival will feature a high-quality, juried art show, an exhibition of student art, and a variety of other events to be announced shortly. Local artists, as well as those from surrounding counties and states, will be invited to submit proposals for works in a variety of media to be showcased via a special prospectus that also will be distributed widely in the community.

The festival will be made possible through the work of many volunteers, primarily docents who will serve on-site, assisting attendees in navigating the exhibits and managing exhibition spaces in the village center. If you are interested in lending a hand, contact Ed Morgan, president of the Scarsdale Arts Council at eamlaw@optonline.net.