STEP Asks For Your Help to Transform Young Lives
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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This letter was sent to Scarsdale10583 by the Board of the Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Plan (STEP)
Dear Friends: For over half a century, our community has had the distinct privilege of supporting the Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Plan (STEP). Founded by Eric Rothschild in 1966, STEP has brought a diverse group of promising young men and women -- who face limited opportunities in their hometowns -- to live and learn in Scarsdale.
Applicants to the program go through a rigorous interview and selection process, and those who are chosen reside with a local family and attend Scarsdale High School for their junior and senior years. The program's ultimate goal is to help these talented students apply to, and then attend, a college of their choice – complete with an excellent financial aid package. This program is funded entirely by donations from the Scarsdale community. And we need your help now.
How better to explain the worth of this extraordinary program, than by giving you a sense of the students themselves? Our current STEP students are Fredrik Smith Jr. (SHS '19 – from Memphis, TN) and Zaria Cash (SHS '18 – also from Memphis, TN).
Zaria is an active member of the cheerleading squad and in addition to her regular classes she is taking an independent study course in Forensic Science. She is currently applying to a variety of competitive colleges and we cannot wait to see where she ends up! Zaria hopes to study nursing and work in the health care industry.
Fred just arrived this year and served as the manager of the SHS varsity football team. He hopes to participate in wrestling, track and field and play on the varsity football team next year as a senior. Fred excels in math and wants to study engineering in college.
To give you an even better idea of how these worthy students benefit from the program, here's a quick overview of our two most recent STEP graduates:
Robert Lee (SHS '15) was beloved at Scarsdale High School. He was an active member of many community service clubs and was a representative for the Student Government. He is currently enrolled at Vanderbilt University on a full scholarship and he was the recipient of the prestigious Ingram Scholarship. He plans to study abroad in New Zealand in the spring.
DonTavius Holmes (SHS '16) embraced all that Scarsdale High School had to offer and played both football and basketball while a student. He participated in Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development Program in Civics education and is now in his sophomore year at Emory's Oxford University where he is studying Business.
These success stories would not be imaginable without you as we rely on the generous donations of the Scarsdale community to help change make these "transformations" possible. By contributing to our program, you invest in the future and directly – and dramatically -- impact these young students' ability to succeed. Your tax-deductible gift to STEP helps defray the cost of transportation and education-related expenses for students while they are in Scarsdale. It also helps us find and recruit promising future scholars.
Please, help us change the world for the better with a tax-deductible donation through the website www.scarsdalestep.org or send a check to: STEP, PO Box 278, Scarsdale, NY 10583.
Heathcote Kids Sign Roof Rafter
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- Written by Laura Halligan
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Just before Christmas vacation Heathcote Elementary School students were given the opportunity to get involved with the school's new construction project. They were invited to sign a rafter that will be used in the new multipurpose room. The names of the current Heathcote students will forever be a part of the elementary school's new multipurpose room.
On December 20, Nancy Barbera, Project Executive from Savin Engineers and liaison to Heathcote Elementary, asked Heathcote students to sign a roof rafter that will be used to support the new multipurpose room. She came up with the unique idea to have their signatures be a "time capsule" of the project.
(Photo credit Laura Halligan)
Environmentalist to Speak on Effects of Pesticide Use on Lawns
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Patricia (Patti) Wood, a leading expert on the environment and related health issues, will address Forum members at their meeting on Thursday, December 14, 2017 in the Scott Room at the Scarsdale Library. Refreshments will be available at 7:30 pm and the meeting will begin at 8:00 pm. The program is open to the public..
Ms. Wood's presentation will focus on health concerns raised by the significant and growing use of pesticides by homeowners and landscapers in their quest for the "perfect" lawn. A growing body of science has linked exposure to these chemical toxins with a myriad of serious human health problems, harm to wildlife and their habitats and the degradation of our water supplies. As Ms. Wood will explain, pesticide-free, natural lawns are living ecosystems, capable of sequestering carbon in their biomass, recharging and filtering rainwater and pollutants, and cooling ambient temperatures. Advances in soil science and natural lawn care product development in the past few years can produce that weed-free, dense lush turf that can satisfy even the most ardent lover of lawns.
Ms. Wood is a founder and executive director of Grassroots Environmental Education, a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the relationship between environmental exposures and human health risks. Grassroots serves local and state governments, health care providers, school systems, community groups and other environmental groups and individuals nationwide.
She is the author of two books on health-related environmental issues The ChildSafe School and Helping to Heal; was a co-producer of Our Children at Risk, a thirty minute documentary film which explores the latest scientific research linking environmental toxins to children's health issues, and The BabySafe Project, a program designed to educate pregnant women about the potential risk to the developing fetus from exposures to wireless radiation; and was the co-creator of the web-based initiative, www.howgreenismytown.org which addresses climate change, sustainability and environmental health on a local level. Ms. Woods has received numerous awards from government entities and private organizations for her work on these issues.
A Visiting Scholar at Adelphi University, Ms. Wood lectures on the environment and related health issues in the College of Nursing and Public Health. Ms. Wood is also a guest lecturer at SUNY Stony Brook, Pace University and Hostos Community College.
Commenting on Ms. Wood's planned program Darlene Lefrancois-Haber Co-Chair, along with Michelle Sterling, of the Forum's Sustainability Committee, said "We are delighted that Patti Wood is bringing her expertise to the Forum. We look forward to the opportunity to learn from a leading proponent of environmentally healthy living and hope to see many of our members and others from our community at the presentation on December 14th."
Scarsdale Girls Basketball Team Triumphs Over Suffern
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- Written by Emmeline Berridge
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The Scarsdale Girl's Basketball team is used to blowing leads. Of the six games last season where the Raiders were leading into the third quarter, they won less than half. So during their game on December 18 against Suffern, when the score was tied at the half, it would have been easy for the team to accept an inevitable loss. The Raider lost to Suffern last season and it was an important test for this year's team.
"We have a solid group of veteran players. We just need to figure out where everyone fits, mesh in the way that we play, and get a few wins under our belt", said Senior Guard Audrey Shaev. The team returned all but three players from last year, losing Seniors Ashley Barletta, Emma Coleman, and Jordie Cohen. With a win, the team would differentiate itself from last year's roster. The Raiders lost their first two games of the season, one against the dominant section champions Ossining, and the other against an unfamiliar team from the New York City Catholic League.
A win against Suffern would provide a good basis to establish Scarsdale among Section 1 opponents. Going into the first quarter of the game, Senior Forward Lily Steckel emphasized the importance of consistency. "Usually we play well after we get on a roll, but for this game we wanted to make sure that we executed all 32 minutes." This attitude was evident in the first quarter, as Scarsdale went up early leading 15-7 going into the second. However, Scarsdale's lack of defensive intensity and inability to finish open shots allowed Suffern to tie the game at the half 20-20.
Coming into the third quarter, the girls' mentalities were altered. "We all wanted to win so badly, and we knew that if we didn't take advantage of the third quarter we would get blown out" said Sophomore Kayla Maroney. After a series of exciting runs by both teams, the score was 36-29 for Scarsdale going into the fourth. The team continued to capitalize on the efficiency of the veteran offense, led by Mancini, Steckel, and Shaev. The final score of the game was 52-37 Raiders. With this win, the team improved its record to 1-2.
On Wednesday 12/20 at 4:30 pm the girls will play Clarkstown North away and look to continue to prove themselves as a formidable opponent in league and section play. Support the Raiders at home on Friday 12/22 at 4:15 against Section rival North Rockland.
A Joyful Tree Lighting in Scarsdale Village
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- Written by Samantha Blieden
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As the skies darkened on Friday evening December first, Scarsdalians gathered in the village center to ring in the holiday season at the Light the Dale celebration. People of all ages had the opportunity to grab a hot dog from Walter's truck, sip hot chocolate courtesy of Lange's, browse the local stores that extended their hours, and listen to Christmas carols beautifully sung by some talented Hoff Barthelson students. Children even had the opportunity to make some festive crafts.
Excitement filled the air when Santa, himself, arrived in on a fire truck. Children quickly crowded around Santa to have the chance to meet him and take a photo.
Around 5:30, there was a drawing to select the name of a lucky kid to help Mayor Dan Hochvert turn on the Christmas tree lights. After a name was picked, the lights were turned on and the holiday season officially began.
Overall, Light the Dale was a huge success and set the tone for a joyful and celebratory holiday season in town.
Photos and text by Samantha Blieden.
