Lacrosse Team Begins Playoffs With Two Dominating Wins
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All eyes are on the Scarsdale Boy's Lacrosse team who have high hopes for success in the playoffs. After an up and down regular season where the Raiders won their first 7 games, lost their next 4, and then won their final 5 games of the regular season. On Monday 5/16 the Scarsdale Boy's Lacrosse team played Clarkstown North at home in their first playoff game. They were coming off a five game winning streak in which they dominated theiropponents and felt confident about their ability to win.
The game opened with 6 goals in the early minutes, 2 for Clarkstown and 4 for Scarsdale; 2 goals from Junior William Cabrera 1 for Junior Captain Cooper Schneider, and 1 from Freshman Andrew Bernstein. Cabrera persevered and scored another 2 goals in the first quarter. With 5 minutes left in the first quarter to go, Clarkstown was able to score ending the quarter 6-3 with a three goal lead for the Raiders.
Senior Captain, Elliot Graham, set the tone for the second quarter by scoring 2 goals early on, followed by another 2 goals by Cabrera. Another goal came for the Raiders scored by Sophomore David Love to make it 11-3. Clarkstown struggled to come back but Cabrera and Elliot Graham countered their attempts to make it 13-5 at the end of the half. Schneider added his second with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, Graham and Sophomore Robert Rolfe followed to make it 16-5 and Cabrera added another to end the quarter.
In the final quarter Love scored again with under 5 minutes. The game ended with a last second goal by junior, Adman Schwall scoring his first Varsity goal of the season ending the game 19-5.
Speaking about the game Senior Captain Andre Cutrim stated, "Coming into playoffs with such strong momentum was very helpful, we put the game away early as we were up by 8 at the half. Now we have to focus on staying consistent, and not getting complacent after a few good performances. " The Raiders aim to make a deep playoff run, citing their exceptional talent and strong record in the regular season as indications of their ability to succeed in their upcoming games.
After lifting themselves out of their mid-season losing streak, the Raiders have been consistent and ambitious. Junior William Cabrera added to Cutrim's statements by stating, "after our first round playoff game, we now know what we are capable of doing when we work as a team, no matter what the competition, we can run with any team in our section". The Raiders hope that their hard work and passion will translate to wins on the field. "The competition is only going to get harder from here so we are excited to see how far we can get in the playoffs," elaborated Cabrera. Cabrera also hopes that the underclassmen on the team will contribute to successes.
"Having some more young guys really makes the team more of a family while also pushing some of the older guys to work harder."
The Raiders continued their winning streak in a playoff game against Suffern 17 to 9 on Wednesday 5/18 away at Suffern giving them the confidence they need ito make a strong run in the play-offs this season.
Recycling News: Wax Cartons to be Recycled, Village to Propose Grasscycling
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Cartons with wax lining such as milk and juice cartons can now be recycled with plastic, glass and cans that are collected by the Village.
Village residents should now put all paper containers that have waxy linings such as milk cartons, juice containers, and soup cartons in their recycling bins along with their plastics, glass, and cans. The County has announced that their recycling center, where all of Scarsdale's recyclables are taken, now has the ability to recycle these wax cartons. The facility has new screening equipment to enhance their cardboard and paper recycling capabilities. The new equipment requires less hand-sorting of paper recyclables, which allowed for the redeployment of personnel to hand-sort beverage containers. These cartons should not be included with paper and cardboard recyclables.
Grasscycling: 
The Sustainability Committee of the Village of Scarsdale made a recommendation to the Village Board concerning curbside grass pick-up at their meeting on May 10. The committee recommends that residents practice grass cycling, which is the process of leaving grass clippings on the lawn when it is mowed, rather than collecting and bagging them.
They believe that leaving the clippings on the lawn is a win-win process as it encourages healthier turf growth, retains and adds moisture to the lawn, may reduce watering needs and eliminates the need for bagging and transporting cuttings to the recycling center thus reducing emissions and our carbon footprint.
The Village has practiced grasscycling in village parks and fields for years with no complaints and the Sustainability Committee is asking the asking the Village to end their practice of picking up grass clippings and hauling them to the recycling center.
During the discussion, Benny Salanitro who heads Scarsdale's Department of Public Works reported that the DPW picks up an average of 1,540 tons of organic yard waste, with about half of that, or 770 tons of lawn clippings. If grass clipping pick up were eliminated the DPW would still need to pick up tree branches and other organic waste. Though the collection route would not be eliminated, it would take less time.
His concern about eliminating the pick up of grass clippings is that residents and landscapers might dispose of them in waterways, catch basins and in other inappropriate locations. Salanitro believes, but cannot prove, that curbside pick-up of grass clippings has "reduced the incidence of such illegal dumping," and if pick up were eliminated illegal dumping might increase.
After some discussion, Trustees directed Village staff to draft a resolution to discontinue pick-up of grass clippings, do public outreach and hold a public hearing to assess residents' views on the matter.
Trustee Carl Finger noted, "It's not a question of whether it's a good idea .... it's simply a matter of perception."
Movie Screening: Making a Killing Guns, Greed and the NRA
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The Interfaith Coalition Against Gun Violence will be screening the movie Making a Killing Guns, Greed and the NRA on Wednesday May 4th at 7:00pm at The Scarsdale Congregational Church's Boynton Room. Following the film there will be a discussion with Leah Gunn Barrett, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence. The film is free and there is parking across from the church.
Scarsdale Congregational Church
1 Heathcote Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
For more information, call (914) 723-2111
Local Synagogue Offers Alternative Payment Plan
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Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El (SSTTE), a reform Jewish congregation with nearly 400 member families has announced the launch of an innovative financial partnership; The Congregation is replacing dues with a pledge commitment plan. SSTTE is offering this non-dues-based membership program to all of its current members, former members and unaffiliated Jewish households.
The announcement of the new financial structure was made on April, 12th, 2016 by Donna Vitale Ruskin, president of the synagogue. The new financial structure – known as a "pledge commitment model" – will be implemented for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. Beginning in July, members, former members, and prospective Jewish members in the Westchester community will be able to continue their membership or join the synagogue by making an annual financial pledge. This annual pledge will be a self-selected amount that will reflect the member's chosen level of financial support for the synagogue. In the past, similar to the vast majority of other synagogues nationwide, members were billed a fixed amount for their dues. Ms Vitale Ruskin explained the reason for the financial structure change and states, "This significant change comes at the end of more than two-and-a-half years of intensive research and engagement, including with UJA-New York. Our clergy, staff, and lay leadership became fundamentally convinced that a fixed dues model was out of alignment with the values of our community. Our board of trustees is as deeply committed to inclusion as it is to fiscal responsibility. Through a series of forums and community conversations, the membership was involved in shaping the decision to adopt the pledge commitment model."
Furthermore Scarsdale Synagogue's senior Rabbi Jeffrey C. Brown gave his insight in regards to the new financial structure and stated, "This new financial initiative is also about reaffirming who and what our congregation is really about. A fixed-dues model suggests that the synagogue operates on a fee for service basis and we are simply not comfortable with that. We don't think of our worship – on the High Holidays or on Shabbat – as being akin to a sporting event or Broadway show. We aspire instead to strengthen the network of collaborative relationships with our members. We are all partners in building and sustaining a Scarsdale Synagogue community that is open to everyone, with the expectation that members will financially support our congregation in a way that reflects both their financial ability and their sense of investment in the future of our communal life." The Synagogue is hopeful that replacing the dues with this new pledge commitment plan will not only allow their own members to be more comfortable with their donations but also draw in new members into their community.
For further information, please contact Roberta Aronovitch, Executive Director, at 914-725-5175 or send an email to [email protected]
Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El is located at 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583. www.sstte.org
3-on-3 Adult Basketball Tournament Raises Over $45K
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Backyards Sports Cares held its Fourth Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament fundraiser on the campus of Iona Preparatory School in New Rochelle, NY this past Saturday, April 16th.
More than $45,000 was raised at the tournament, which attracted hundreds of basketball enthusiasts, devotees and fans. The proceeds from the event will support BYSC's successful sports programs serving kids from under-served communities and those with special needs.
In a day complimented by great food and lots of fun, NCAA champion and collegiate basketball coach Dereck Whittenburg was on hand taking part in photographs, signing autographs and serving up sagely advice to the players. All the same time, the Westchester Knicks City Dancers took everyone through their latest dance moves while the day was highlighted by an "All Star Game" in which special needs children participated. The Star Kidz, All Starz! inspired the crowd with its rousing rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner."
Backyard Sports Cares founder and Executive Director, Danny Bernstein, stressed how the funds raised by the tournament are used to directly fund programs to help children. "The monies raised will enable young athletes to participate in a number of programs, including 'Friday Night Tennis,' a weekend summer camp for kids from Mount Vernon as well as covering travel fees for children who otherwise would never be able to participate in a Travel Soccer program," Bernstein said. "It has just been a truly great day."
Adult Basketball Tournament Champions and Trophy winners:
Open - most competitive: BYS Team 1
35 years+ - Barron's Ballers
Adult Recreation: White Plains Finest
High School – grade 9 –12: Pelham Team
