Bronxville, Scarsdale and surroundings

Liza Brecker writes in a journal during a Young Writer’s Workshop in Scarsdale March 20, 2010. A group of 45 writers, including some that are nationally recognized, volunteered to teach over 500 participants at the event, which was held at the Scarsdale Middle School. Read more about this event online here at Lohud.com

The Scarsdale Teen Center—serving youth in the village and Edgemont section of Greenburgh— is looking for participants for it’s talent show next month.

Auditions will be on:
-Wednesday, April 7, 5 to 8 p.m.
-Thursday, April 8, 4 to 6 p.m.
-Friday, April 9, 3 to 6 p.m.
-Saturday, April 10, 12 to 2 p.m.

The prizes are a $100 American Express Gift card for first place, a $50 American Express Gift card for second place and a $25 American Express Gift card for third place.

For more information and to register online, visit: http://www.scarsdaleteencenter.com/teentalentshow.htm

The Community Talent Show will be on Saturday, April 24 at 6 p.m.

Citibabes Scarsdale is alerting parents of its upcoming camp:

For busy moms who need a break during the upcoming Spring Break, let Citibabes child development specialists take over for a few hours. The Spring Break mini-camp includes crafts, music and play time.

The details:
-from Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2
-for children ages 2 to 4
-from 9:45 to 11:00 a.m.
-costs: for members is $35 per day, $90 for three days, $125 for five days; non-members is $42 per day

Citibabes Scarsdale is at 7 Popham Road.  For more information or to take a virtual tour of clubs, visit www.citibabes.com.

The spring like weather made for a wonderful run for the Bronxville girls track team during practice at the school.

Bronxville village manager Harry Porr III said the county finished repairing the Palmer Avenue bridge over the Bronx River between Bronxville and Yonkers last week, opening it to pedestrians for the first time since August when a car ran into the railing.

The bridge looking toward Yonkers. The cones and barriers have come down, leaving the sidewalk open to pedestrians.

The bridge looking toward Bronxville, now open to foot traffic.

For months, pedestrians walking along the bridge had to take to the road because the sidewalk was blocked off. People had complained that the delayed work put the public at risk.

Neither municipality was able to do the work because the bridge is under county jurisdiction. County workers couldn’t do the work over the winter because of weather conditions.

“I’m thrilled,” said Marjorie Jones, 69, of Yonkers, who lives in apartments on the Yonkers side that overlook the river. Her only concern was for the plants she had placed along the grass portions of the sidewalk, and she said the repair crews were careful in clearing the debris and rebuilding the bridge and left the garden intact.

“I thought the men who were here (doing the repairs) were wonderful and very respectful.”

Jones said she was one of a handful of apartment dwellers in the area who plant greenery and flowers along the bridge as a public service. The group calls itself the Garrett Park Association, and Jones was out yesterday pruning winter-killed vegetation and doing some impromptu weeding. The plants she’s placed along the bridge are in memory of friends and family, she said, including her father, Stuart Gelb.

Here’s an alert from Bronxville PD:

“We have received several reports today of a coyote roaming the village. Sightings were reported on Avon Road as well as the HighRoad and Masterton Road.

Below are some safety tips when dealing with coyotes:

• Fence pet and animal enclosures completely, if possible include a top.

• Keep cats and small dogs indoors. When walking small dogs, always keep them on a leash.

• Coyotes are most active dusk to dawn. Avoid walking pets after dark.

• Bring along pepper spray or a stick in case a coyote gets aggressive. Screaming or yelling and waving arms sometimes won’t work on coyotes that have lost their fear of humans.

• Any pet smaller than 45 pounds should never be left outside past 4 p.m.

• Feed pets indoors. Eliminate potential food and water sources such as fallen fruit or vegetables and standing water.

• Store trash in covered, heavy-duty containers.

• Keep yards free of potential hiding places. Remove thick brush and weeds. Enclose the bottoms of porches and decks.

• If you encounter a coyote that behaves aggressively, you have probably gotten too close to its prey or its family. Try to scare the coyote by yelling and waving your arms. Throw rocks, sticks or other objects. Do not turn away and run.

•  Do not feed coyotes. Doing so can make them less afraid of humans and potentially more dangerous

If you observe a coyote, please contact the police department at  337-0500.”

Who says you can’t be fashionable and on the cutting edge of technology? Not Abbey Liebman, who recently wowed attendees of a fashion show with her design for a solar-powered dress.

Liebman, a graduating senior at Cornell University and a native of Scarsdale, debuted the dress on the runway at the 26th annual Cornell Design League Fashion Show in Ithaca. The show featured the works of student designers but, perhaps, none as unique as Liebman’s.

The light pink dress, part of the student’s own Abbey Rachel fashion line, features thin, flexible solar panels capable of charging small electronic devices, including cellphones and iPods. Devices would be plugged in to a USB charger located in the waist of the garment.

“I’m always on a phone or some type of small electronic device and it’s so frustrating when you’re on the go and have to find an outlet,” Liebman, 21, said this afternoon. “This technology is perfect for people in the newer generation that are always using these devices.”

It took Liebman about eight months to complete the dress with the help of one of her professors. The wires in the dress are completely insulated so there’s no risk of a shock, she said, and the 12 solar panels on the dress would retain a charge so it would work even during less sunny days.

Right now, Liebman said, the dress is just a prototype and issues such as wash-ability and cost are still being worked out. But Liebman’s goal is to expand her clothing line and one day market this concept.

Good luck, Abbey!

(Photos: Abbey Liebman, top right, by Abbey Liebman. A model wears a solar-powered dress designed by Liebman. Photo by Tina C.)

Calling all students, parents, teachers and school administrators! We want to publish more news from your schools in our Sunday Review Press Express, but we need your help.
We’re seeking not only photos and news, as we already publish in the Thursday Express, but regular contributors who would be willing to write short stories about school programs, district issues, classroom activities — anything you want the community to know about what’s happening in your school district.
We’d like to hear from students, parents and those of you who work in the schools.
If you’re interested, please contact Laurel Babcock at 914-694-3501 or lbabcock@lohud.com.

Eastchester’s Sign Review committee meeting scheduled for April  6 has been moved to April 13.

The town recreation department finished its Eastchester Instructional Basketballe League on March 13 with games at the Eastchester High gym. Some 400 children in fourth- through eighth-grade participated.

Here’s how the action was discribed by the town:

“In an exciting game in the Junior Boys league (grades 5-6), team Connecticut narrowly beat team Kansas, 31 to 28.  Jordan Gunther scored 11 points for Connecticut, while Steve Galgano scored 17 and Johnny Arcidiacono scored 9 for Kansas.

(Junior boys team, photo courtesy of Eastchester Parks and Rec)