Calling All Students, Parents and Grandparents

October is the month many high school seniors are filling out applications for early decision to the college of their choice.  Students consider many factors, one of those factors should be the college's safety record.

A very helpful site is a government website that tracks all robberies, sexual offenses (forcible and non-forcible), burglaries, and assaults. A very cool extra is that you can get the name, address and phone number of the local security officer on campus. Students and parents should program the phone number on your phone.

http://ope.ed.gov/security/Index.aspxhttp://ope.ed.gov/security/Index.aspx

When you get to the web site, click on the right side column under "get data for one institution/campus."

Under "Institution City" type in the town your school is located and hit "search".
Click on the college you are considering and you will see the crime statistics for 2008 -2010.

Edgemont student, Lauren Spierer, has brought this issue to the forefront of our minds.

Discovery Playground Opens in Edgemont

The Greenburgh Nature Center opened their new Discovery Playground. The playground has been designed for children ages two thru twelve. The structures were made of natural materials. The Greenburgh Nature Center is located at 99 Dromore Road. Membership is not required to visit the playground, outdoor animal exhibits or the hiking trails.

You can find more information at  http://greenburghnaturecenter.org/

Edgemont Loses Another Business

The sad news is that the Sprainbrook Nursery, located at 448 Underhill Road in Edgemont is going out of business. Unless Al Krautter, the owner of the business can find another buyer for the nursery, the property will be sold for development. Under the current zoning, six one-family homes could be built on the four acre plot of land.

The Sprainbrook Nursery has always added a personal charm to the community. It differs from the Home Depot style of plant and flower sales. Sales people are more knowledgeable about different varieties of plantings.

If the property is sold for home development, it will be once again another change in the character of the neighborhood.

The new homes would be in the Edgemont School District.

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.