Forum Focus
July 2020




Message to Our Membership
Dear members:

Summer has arrived to brighten our new reality. Meanwhile, we remain resilient as we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July and our nation's independence with the sights and sounds of virtual fireworks.
 
Even though summertime and much else may not be quite the same, the Scarsdale Forum is in session. We will still be hosting timely and thought-provoking programs this coming fall, winter, and spring, and our committees will continue to meet, discuss, and lay the groundwork for future reports on issues of interest to the community.
Please enjoy the summer safely, be well, and happy Independence Day to all!

Sincerely,
Madelaine Eppenstein
Notes from the Board of Diretors
During its June 11, 2020 meeting, t he Board of Directors approved board positions for the coming year including committee chairs. Now is an excellent time to join a group or groups working on the topics that most interest you. To learn more about joining our committees visit https://www.scarsdaleforum.com/Committees/join. New committee members are welcome – no prior experience with any topic is required:
Assessment Revaluation – Steve Pass
Climate Resilience – Tim Foley, Darlene LeFrancois Haber
Communications – Jill Spielberg, Alexandra Tagami Vargo
County Fiscal Affairs – Richard Pinto
Developmen t – Ed Morgan
Downtown Revitalization – Susan Douglass
Education – Barry Meiselman
Fiscal Affairs Scarsdale – Anne Hintermeister
Hospitality – Eugenie Rosenthal
Intergovernmental Relations – Carlos Ramirez
Membership – Gabrielle R. Wise
Municipal Services – Madelaine Eppenstein
Policy – Eric Jaffe, Jon Mark
Program and Speaker Series – Dara Gruenberg, Alexandra Tagami Vargo
Recreation – Jeremy Gans
Scarsdale Electoral Process – Eli Mattioli
Special Events – Linda Blair
Sustainability – Darlene LeFrancois Haber
Zoning and Planning – Jill Spielberg
 
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2020 .
The next membership meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2020 .
The next Sunday Speaker Series event is scheduled for October 18, 2020.
Committee Updates
Downtown Revitalization
Members are continuing to advance the revitalization of downtown Scarsdale through the restoration of Boniface Circle, as recommended in prior committee reports dating to 2017, beginning with a landscape beautification project this summer supported by the Village, Friends of the Scarsdale Parks, Inc. and private donations. If you'd like to receive more information, email Chair Susan Douglass at susanudouglass@gmail.com.

Education
Several topics will be considered during the summer, focusing on eLearning experiences over the past several months and the school district's plans for the future. Specifically, how did students' achievements in learning and progress compare between 2019/2020 and the previous academic year? What are the plans for getting student academic performance and growth to meet normally expected goals, considering different school structure options next year? What objective criteria and technologies will be used to accomplish/confirm academic performance and growth in 2020/2021? If you are interested in sharing your thoughts or contributing to the group's efforts, email Chair Barry Meiselman at barwest2@aol.com.

Municipal Services
The committee plan for this summer is to review safety concerns over the increase in roadside pedestrian and bicycle traffic in the Village, the reduction in some services, and other issues arising in the context of budget constraints, state and local pandemic-related restrictions, and the pivot to remote workplace activity and eLearning since March 2020. To participate in the group's work, email Chair Madelaine Eppenstein at meppenstein@eppenstein.com.


 Scarsdale Forum Inc.

Scarsdale Forum Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to community education through discussion and analysis of issues relevant to Scarsdale residents. Since 1904, it has contributed meaningfully to village affairs through written reports, public speaker events and committee discussions. Membership is available to all Scarsdale and Mamaroneck Strip residents, regardless of citizenship status. 

Forum Focus generally is distributed to Scarsdale Forum members in the first week of each month. Story ideas should be sent to communications@scarsdaleforum.com one week prior to be included in the coming issue.

Media Contact
Jill Spielberg