Safety First Feiner

The Edgemont Council reported that sometime this summer, Town Supervisor Paul Feiner decided not to go ahead with plans to have a raised crosswalk installed on Edgemont Road by Crane Pond.  The raised crosswalk would slow the traffic and make it safe for pedestrians to cross the road to get to the pond.

After Edgemont Road was repaved a few years ago, The Greenburgh Police refused to allow the Public Works Department to repaint the crosswalk for safety concerns.  It seems that the Greenburgh Police feel that there are some site distance problems with a painted crosswalk.

Two years ago, the Town Board commissioned a design study and they recommended a "raised crosswalk" like the one on East Hartsdale Avenue by the Hartsdale Metro North station. That crosswalk was installed after a pedestrian was struck by a car at that location. Like East Hartsdale Avenue, Edgemont Road at this location has poor sight lines, a winding road and cars going too fast.

The money for the project was to come from the Town's recreational escrow fund. Both the Town's Planning Board and the parks recreational advisory board approved the use of the funds.

Mr. Feiner said the estimated cost of  $92,240 was $40,000 over budget and has changed his mind on approving the project.

It appears the project is on an indefinite hold. Since your on your own here, keep your eyes open and please drive carefully.

                   Above picture shows raised crosswalk on East Hartsdale Avenue

Crane Pond Duckweed Update

Have you noticed that Crane Pond is looking a lot better this week?  The cooler weather has caused the duckweed to stop growing.  As previously discussed in my August 23rd blog, Mike Nessler, from the Greenburgh Recreational Department said the cooler weather would clear the pond.  The pond ultimately needs to be dredged to prevent duckweed from growing. For the time being, the ducks seem happier.

Dog Days of Summer

The pool at the Anthony F. Veteran Park was dogs  only from 10am-2pm today.  Over 50 dogs were frolicking and having the time of their lives. It was like summer camp for them. This dog swim day is scheduled every year before the town empties  pools E and F for the summer. Proceeds from the $5.00 admission fee per dog went to the "Friends of East Rumbrook Dog Park" this year.

School Days Return -Seely School Celebrates 90th Anniversary

With the first day of school upon us, I thought I would look more into the history of the schools in Edgemont.
I was able to get some statistics from Barbara Buff's book "The History of Greenville/Edgemont." In 1922, the first section of the Seely school was built with eight rooms on one floor. The school's enrollment that fall was approximately sixty students. The school was officially known as the Edgemont school. Its name wasn't changed to Seely until 1954 when the present high school was built and was named Edgemont High School.

In 1925, registration for classes K-8 was ninety-four. Edgemont had 785 residents at that time. By 1929, the community had grown to 1,920 residents with 246 students attending the school and a teaching staff of fifteen. Shop and home economics classes were added that year as well as a kindergarten room, gym, and library. In 1931, the school added a second floor as well as an auditorium, and the expansion of a ninth grade curriculum. Students in 10th thru 12 grade had to choose either Bronxville, Yonkers or White Plains high school until the present high school was built.  By 1939, Edgemont had a population of about 3,500 with school enrollment of 457 with twenty six teachers on staff.

Classics on Central

Some cars make you stop and stare others may remind people of their youth.The Sunoco Gas Station at 858 Central Avenue (across from Scarsdale Ford) has been serving our community for over 20 years. It's owned by Mike Tatlian, who grew up in Edgemont and graduated the high school in 1983.

http://www.newyorkgasprices.com/Sunoco_Gas_Stations/Scarsdale/56344/index.aspx

Besides serving gas Mike specializes in repairing antique cars. Here are some photos of the 1956 Lincoln Continental and 1957 Chevy truck he has recently been working on.

The oldest car Mike has worked on is a 1932 Deuce Coup, like the car in "American Graffitti." Mike mainly works on Corvettes. The most valuable one was a 1967 Corvette Convertible, like the car from the Austin Powers movie. That one was valued over $100,000.

Support your local merchants and visit Mike's Sunoco on Central Avenue for all your car needs.

How Global Change Effects Us

If you have passed by Crane Pond on Edgemont Road recently, you've noticed the green blanket covering the water.  It's not algae as you might have thought but duckweed (a tiny plant). Duckweed is not hazardous to people or animals, but it is quite unsightly. The cause of this rapid growth of Duckweed is due to the warmer than usual temperatures this summer and past winter. The other causes are the increase in sediment level and the runoff of lawn chemicals into the pond. Duckweed also brings up the nutrient level in the pond which causes more Duckweed to grow.

According to Mike Nessler from the Greenburgh Recreational Department, the pond needs to be dredged. The last time this was done was in 1985. He estimates that three feet of sediment needs to be removed. The problem is the $75,000 cost to dredge the pond.  Recently this department  had a 7% decrease in funds and has had to layoff staff. An alternative to dredging would be to treat the pond chemically which would cost $2,700 per year. A proposal for the chemical treatment would need to be submitted to The Department of Conservation and it takes six to eight weeks to get an approval.

Two week ago, the town tried to remedy the problem by having  the Greenville Fire Department spray down the pond. By cooling the water temperature and oxygenating the water, the Greenville Fire Department was able to clear up 75% of the problem. But within two days,  the duckweed multiplied and the pond was back to it's ugly green slime.

Here's what Crane Pond looked like last fall.  Please call Town Supervisor Paul Feiner's office (914-993-1540) to express your thoughts.

Domed Stadium or Reservoir ?

There is a water reservoir on Ardsley Road between Warnke Lane and Fort Hill Road.  The playground at the elementary school I went to (Greenville School) overlooks the reservoir. The only thing is, when I was seven years old and saw this view:

I thought I lived near a domed stadium.  I guess as an adult you can tell the difference, but to a child's eye it's hard to see the difference.