Scarsdale Foundation Awards Volunteers Honor Roll
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In the absence of the annual Scarsdale Bowl dinner for the last two years due to the pandemic, Scarsdale Foundation has had to pivot in their fundraising efforts to raise money for scholarships. Without their biggest fundraising event and to recognize those who went above and beyond in the community, the foundation created the Volunteer Honor Roll.
The Scarsdale Foundation’s 2021 Volunteer Honor Roll is raising money for college scholarships for Scarsdale students that are in financial need for their sophomore, junior and senior years. So far, they have honored over 726 volunteers in our community and raised over $22,000. They hope to achieve their goal of $50,000 and 2021 honorees by the deadline on June 20th.
To honor someone who has made difference use this link and for $25/Honoree, you can make someone’s day. Your donation is tax deductible.
Some of the volunteers that the Scarsdale Foundation has honored so far this year include:
Daniel Rublin, a sophomore at Scarsdale High School, booked over 150 vaccine appointments for people all over New York State. He also created a Google Form for people who wanted to request assistance with booking an appointment.
Natalie Hu & Alexandra Simon, both sophomores
at Scarsdale High School, collected over 250 canned foods from all over Westchester and delivered them to Feeding Westchester. "It was a great experience as we were able to help people in our own community while spreading awareness about Operation Smile."
Sammy and Julia Fenigstein, a 9th & 8th grader at Scarsdale High and Middle Schools, baked over 1,000 cookies for the Columbia Presbyterian Hospital Emergency Room Staff.
Matthew Barotz, a sophomore at Scarsdale High School,
prepares food at the soup kitchen at St Bartholomew's Church, which he started as his mitzvah project in 7th grade.
Samantha Medvinsky, a 10th grader at Scarsdale High School, has been making and selling braided dog toys to raise money for Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF).
Dr. Carrie Lederman Barotz, a pediatric ophthalmologist, has been helping others make appointments for Covid vaccines since January 2021. “I recognized the stress related to making an appointment and all the unknowns early on, so I learned as much as possible about the process and have made over 100 appointments so far.”
Natalia Alarcon has volunteered as a bilingual consultant for The Acceleration Project since 2019, supporting small business owners who face different challenges and preparing them for recovery and growth. She has created trusted and lasting relationships with them in a wide variety of sectors, from security and construction to child care and hair salons. Natalia also volunteers for K.I.C.K, a non profit organization that spreads awareness about immigrant children and fundraises for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. She is also currently helping Nanuu Initiative, an organization in its conception phase, that will support underprivileged immigrant Latina women in the Bronx.
Dr. Erica German "I am a Scarsdale psychiatrist and I have spent 125 hours so far as a volunteer vaccinator at County Center, administering nearly 900 shots. I have also worked with other volunteers to help secure approximately 250 COVID vaccine appointments for Scarsdale schools faculty and staff, Department of Public Works, and town hall staff. At present, I am organizing an outreach initiative to help those who may have language or other barriers make vaccine appointments. As a physician, it's been an honor to vaccinate people directly and also to be able to motivate others to get Westchester vaccinated!"
Amy Nadasdi & her daughter, Lydia Doherty, passed in front of the Salvation Army during quarantine in 2020 and saw a line of over 100 people waiting for food that snaked all the way down Post Road towards Scarsdale. They reached out to the Salvation Army to understand the situation and vowed to help. They organized a food drive and Scarsdale responded in a huge way. They brought carloads of food over to the Salvation Army almost daily and helped out on “distribution day” sorting food into boxes, helping to distribute and carry boxes for families, and generally lending a hand where we could. "People chose to help, the kindness and generosity of this community overwhelmed us. We are so proud to live in Scarsdale and call the people of this community our neighbors and friends."
Kiki Hong and Angelene Huang are very active in volunteering and community service,
especially during lockdown last year. Kiki donated a large amount of PPE and funds to the Scarsdale Village and local hospitals as well as other communities in need. Angelene was the organizer of the American Chinese United Association ACUA event. She is part of the Chinese American community that donated PPE and funds to Westchester County and NY state. This event was awarded by the NY State Assembly as one of the biggest donors in the state.
Pam Frankel-Stein & Joan Taback Frankle are members of a team of bakers with Westchester Reform Temple’s weekly Cooking4Hope initiative, and they are also friends to homebound seniors. Since the pandemic raised awareness of, and increased, food insecurity in Westchester County, Pam and Joan, who are good pals themselves, have baked well over 4,000 treats. These sweets accompany the weekly bagged meals donated to neighboring communities and organizations in Westchester, including Hope Community Services in New Rochelle. Pam and Joan also volunteer for @DOROT Westchester, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to address the challenges of an aging population. So many Westchester seniors were isolating to stay healthy as the pandemic changed our world. Pam and Joan made, and continue to make, outreach calls to seniors both through DOROT and through the Caring Volunteer Community of Westchester Reform Temple. “Once we were social distancing at home, we had a lot of time on our hands and it felt so good to put this time to good use, connecting with others over the phone and providing home-baked treats to those who have struggled with food insecurity.”
Ready, Set, Go for Prom 2021: Promposals
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Brendan Schildkraut set up a tent in Kayla Singer’s backyard and made a sign that said, “Will you join me under the tent?” Friends were invited to celebrate.After much discussion, the Scarsdale High School prom is on. The original plan was to hold it in a tent on the grounds of Scarsdale High School. But to everyone's delight, the event was moved to Glen Island Harbour Club on Thursday night June 3, 2021 from 6 pm to 9 pm. Edgemont High School will also hold their prom at Glen Island, a few weeks later.
New this year, the prom is for seniors only. No underclassmen, no students from other schools or college students will be allowed to attend. This will limit the number of attendees to comply with COVID rules. As a result, many students paired up with friends from the class rather than dates who were younger, older or lived outside Scarsdale. Also this year there will be no red carpet event at the high school. This is usually held before prom goers board the buses for the big night. However, some will attend pre-prom events at Scarsdale homes where photos will be taken.
This year, instead of a bus, parents or guardians have been asked to drive students to and from New Rochelle and only one students is permitted per car.
And what about masks and vaccinations? All prom goers will need to be masked and provide either proof
Ethan Abraham asked Jordana Wiener to prom by dressing up his two dogs. A visit from the dogs is a common occurrence, but she was very surprised when they arrived wearing a suit and tutu. of a vaccination or a recent COVID-19 PCR test. Fashionable attendees will have masks that match their outfits, some crafted from their tailored dresses. Some even plan to wear masks that match their dates.
What’s in this year? Shoppers found that stores were low on inventory and many purchased their prom wear online. This year the fashion for girls is solid color dresses with lots of sequins in teal, royal blue, white, silver, gold and black, so attendees will sparkle as they dance the night away. For hair, the style is loose and wavy. Wrist corsages for girls and boutonnieres for boys remain the tradition.
All of these twists and turns did not stop students from making their promposals.
See a few creative asks here:
Signs have remained popular this year as displayed by Max Kushnick’s promposal to Sabrina Siegel.
Ella Blank promposed to Zac Schneider by spelling out prom in his driveway with candles. Zac loved the surprise and felt that his promposal was perfect.
Emmett Goldstein’s promposal to girlfriend Molly Bochner used a cute sign and a quick drive to her dance studio, Central Park Dance. He surprised her in the middle of her class and the other dancers watched in awe.
My View: Vote for Dugan and Resnick-Ault on Tuesday
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This is the opinion of Scarsdale10583 site founder Joanne Wallenstein:
Like many of you, I have been carefully considering who to vote for in the election for Scarsdale School Board on Tuesday May 18. However, unlike most of you, as editor of Scarsdale10583, I watched all of this year’s lengthy Board of Education meetings in their entirety. I came away with some general impressions that are top of mind as I weigh my options.
First, I was struck by the high degree of community involvement and passion. With many children experiencing remote learning and our school buildings closed, it was indeed a crisis and our educated and informed parents had insights to share.
But rather than welcome community involvement, my general impression was that the comments and emails to the Board were viewed as an annoyance. The Board strove to limit speaking time, offered pat responses to emails and refused to invite residents with relevant professional experience to participate in the restart process. What a shame! By inviting community participation, the Board could have built consensus and won the confidence of distressed parents.
Second, I was appalled to watch members of the Board of Education silence one of their own who wanted to make a statement. He was accused of “playing to the crowd and grandstanding.” The Board President barred him from speaking based on a decision about board protocol made in a closed meeting. Take a look at what happened here, beginning at 12:49 minutes into the board meeting October 5, 2020 meeting:
Sadly – in my experience – this was not the first time the Board of Education has reacted this way. A few years ago the administration and the board used similar tactics to squash input on the Greenacres Elementary School. When the building committee on which I served posed too many questions, the administration disbanded the committee. Unable to obtain historical records I filed a FOIL request to learn more about the state of the original building. I waited months for a response, and in the end, received reports that were so redacted that they were impossible to read. When I asked teachers questions about the mold that had plagued the building, I got a phone call from the head of the teachers union telling me not to speak to the faculty. It only served to raise my suspicions that something was being covered up.
Consequently, it was no surprise to me when high levels of lead and Legionella bacteria were detected in the district’s water supply this year, requiring the use of temporary lead filters on many district water sources. The district spent millions on repairs and built five cafeterias that the community had not requested. Yet funds were not available to replace lead pipes, address the dirt foundation underlying the Greenacres School or expand classrooms sized well below current standards.
Was I thanked by the community for attempting to get to the bottom of these environmental and structural issues? No, to the contrary, many in the community vilified me. I was attacked on social media and grew fearful of my neighbors. Since that time I have been reluctant to take a stand on community issues and elections.
However, this year we received many eloquent letters on the upcoming election that ultimately convinced me how to vote and have given me the courage to speak out. After considerable deliberation, I have decided to back the two candidates nominated by the School Board Nominating Committee. In the end, I think it’s important to remember that these candidates were selected by 30 community members who were democratically elected by you the voters. They are your representatives.
When considering the candidates, the committee put them through a process similar to a rigorous job search, speaking to their references, looking at their past experiences and interviewing the candidates themselves.
The SBNC represents the will of the community at large. In deliberating, they consider the current composition of the Board and what members with particular professional backgrounds and skills may be needed at this point in time. After lengthy discussions they selected Jim Dugan and Jessica Resnick Ault as the best people to serve the entire community.
Many of your letters to the site informed my thinking that a seasoned journalist and an experienced litigator would increase transparency and accountability.
Here are excerpts from just a few of the letters that we posted:
Jon Lemle
I hope the community will join me in voting for Jessica Ault-Resnick and Jim Dugan for the Board of Education. Embedded in everything the board undertakes is the responsibility of governance/oversight/accountability. Jessica’s professional training as an investigative reporter and Jim’s as a litigator provide them the foundation to excel in this role. They are both committed to greater transparency and collaboration with the community. They both have children currently in the school system, including the elementary level, which has been underrepresented on the board.
Felicia Block
To those that have sat in the room before me, thank you. To those that sat in that room with me, I am forever grateful for the time we shared and am honored to know you. And to those that sat in a virtual room this year, you had a difficult task and I appreciate you.
If you have not yet served on the SBNC, you may be surprised to see the amount of time I am giving to lift up the members of the SBNC. The reason is simple. I support the candidates that they have brought forward this year, because I know the time and care that was taken to select Jessica Resnick-Ault and Jim Dugan for election to the Scarsdale Board of Education by the SBNC.
Michelle Sterling
In times of challenge, we see the mettle of our leaders – hardship shines a light on them. Our elected SBNC members have nominated Jessica and Jim, two outstanding candidates who will make their voices heard in support of the best education for our children, and who have a clear understanding that they are our elected representatives. I urge you to vote for Jim and Jessica on May 18 for our Board of Education.
Jeremy Gans
An effective Board does not silence its own members when those members attempt to discuss issues brought to them by the 
community. The current Board did this on multiple occasions. An effective Board asks questions of its superintendent and the administration. And, most importantly, an effective Board finds ways to get to “yes.” An effective Board would have prioritized safety but also would have done what it needed to do to increase the amount of in-person school this year. Our peer districts found a way. We did not, due to a lack of leadership by Ms. Singer and others, at the Board level ….. Scarsdale parents, students and taxpayers deserve a School Board that listens to the community and serves all stakeholders to ensure our district is providing the best holistic educational experience possible. Jessica Resnick-Ault and Jim Dugan are the only two candidates in this race with the dedication, experience and skills to do so. Please vote for Jim and Jessica on Tuesday, May 18.
Diane Greenwald
In this year derailed by a global pandemic, some might wonder if the SBNC’s disregard for previous school board ‘experience’ is an overreaction to a contentious year. The pandemic is certainly not the fault of our schools and Alison Singer, now challenging to get her seat back, is claiming her board experience is critical.
Having served on the SBNC in the past, I imagine the committee deliberated carefully about all of the candidates. The decision seems neither a careless mistake nor is it simply reactionary to the Covid-crisis. SBNC should not ‘rubber stamp’ any candidate – and they didn’t. Instead, after weighing values, records, character, and skills, the SBNC offers two balanced and energetic nominees, Jim and Jessica.
The election will be held Tuesday May 18 from 7am to 9 pm at Scarsdale Congregational Church, 1 Heathcote Road, Scarsdale. Exercise your right to vote.
Bake Back America to Partner with DeCicco Family Market
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Bake Back America and DeCicco Family Markets in the Village are partnering in an exciting initiative to allow shoppers to support local businesses and families in need simultaneously, beginning this weekend.
The program will allow shoppers to add items to their cart or make a donation that will go directly to local food pantries. There will be a small refrigerator in the store that participants can help fill!
Bake Back America is a Scarsdale-based charity dedicated to spreading kindness and building bridges between communities. The organization has previously demonstrated the success of partnerships between local businesses and local non-profits. Earlier initiatives included Standing Room Only's preparation of 100 box lunches for the Mother's Day Celebration at Hope Family Services in New Rochelle.
The new partnership with Deciccos will serve as a model to other grocery store partnerships with food pantries, such as one in Los Angeles.
The kickoff event for the program is this weekend, and will include a bakesale in the DeCicco's parking lot. Any volunteers wishing to get involved in this or other Bake Back America efforts should email here.
Five Things to Do to Prepare for a Divorce
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Divorce Mediator and Attorney Lori Greene offers the following tips to those contemplating a divorce:
Divorce does not happen overnight. Marriages break down over time for many different reasons. One of the most common triggers is difficulty working through financial stress/pressure together, which can then lead to one or both spouses becoming depressed and wanting to escape. How do people escape? Sometimes they abuse drugs and alcohol, have extra-marital affairs, or work more and more, spending less quality time at home. All these practices destroy the marital bond and connectedness over time.
That is not to say people that wealthy people are immune from relationship breakdowns. Many of my divorce mediation clients are couples with substantial net worth, yet their marriages still deteriorated over time. Sometimes a spouse may fall victim to “mid-life crisis” and engage in activities that are destructive to the marriage. A lot of couples unhappily stick it out together until they hit the “empty nest” phase, like Bill and Melinda Gates, who are now separating after 27 years of marriage.
So how do you best prepare yourself, no matter what your age or financial situation may be, if you think you might be headed for divorce in the future? Below are 5 critical ways to get yourself ready:
1. Budget for Separating- Often in a marriage one person is much more knowledgeable about the family finances than the other. If finances aren’t your strong suit, take the time to educate yourself and become familiar with the monthly expenses/debts (as compared to the income flowing in). There are budget worksheets you can obtain from professionals in the divorce field that will help you figure out what you may be able to afford after separating from your spouse.
2. Know Your Assets and Debts- Cars, real estate, and retirement accounts are just a few examples of valuable assets that may have been acquired during your marriage. Learn the values of these assets, with the help of appraisers or other experts, to get a sense of your “net worth”. Keep in mind that the marital assets and debts would be split equitably (not necessarily equally) according to New York Law. A consultation with a knowledgeable family law attorney can provide insight about asset and debt distribution in your case.
3. Decide Who Moves Out- Once you are comfortable with the financial aspects of divorcing, start planning for the next step, like who will eventually move out. This can be one of the hardest decisions, especially when young children are involved. Before making a final decision regarding house sales and moving out it is a good idea to consult with a divorce lawyer. You will want to preserve your legal rights, protect your property interest, and limit any personal liability before moving out.
4. Work out a Parenting Plan- When children are involved, it is often helpful to work with a family therapist, divorce mediator, or other professional who can help you come up with a parenting plan that works for your situation. There is no “one size fits all” parenting arrangement. Most important is to be realistic, practical, and sensitive to the needs and interests of all involved, especially those of the children.
5. Find Positive Outlets to Reduce Stress- Going through divorce is an anxiety provoking time. People tend to retreat, isolate themselves from others, and can become depressed. The best way to stay healthy and connected is to confide in family, close friends, and others that you trust, and lean on them. Work out, meditate, or engage in activities that will make you stronger both physically and mentally.
Most important, the stress of going through the divorce will be reduced substantially if you plan and are prepared long before your spouse says: “I want a divorce.” Trust your intuition for warning signs, and educate yourself, so you can make thoughtful decisions that meet your needs and interests.
Greene says, “Yes, I am an attorney, but this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is legal information but should not be seen as legal advice. Consult with an attorney and a financial planner regarding your specific situation and goals.”
Lori Greene, JD, graduated cum laude from Brooklyn Law School and received her undergraduate degree, with distinction and high honors, from Tufts University. She is a certified mediator and an attorney, licensed to practice law in New York, with over 20 years of combined legal and business experience. Lori’s broad range of experience and skills include: complex family law matters, insurance coverage disputes, and commercial litigation cases, allowing her to skillfully assist clients in resolving all of their business and legal issues involved with divorce. Learn more here.
