Arts and Entertainment

Details: Written by Stacie M. Waldman; Published: 01 June 2016; Created: 01 June 2016; Last Updated: 02 June 2016; Hits: 10430

Sherry Saturno Produced the docomentary film "Human Investment."

There are lots of people in our community who have made careers out of investing money, but what drives some people towards a career focused on investing in other people? Human investment jobs are challenging, often require a higher degree, and sometimes lack the gratification we all seek in a job and a career. All of us depend on people who chose a profession that centers around helping others- social workers, educators, nurses and doctors for example. Local social worker and now award-winning film maker Sherry Saturno created and produced a short, educational film about what motivates these professionals to dedicate themselves to the humanity of care, including working with the elderly and the sick.

Sherry Saturno, LCSW, DCSW is the Director of Social Services at Sprain Brook Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scarsdale. She is a Diplomate in Clinical Social Work and holds Master's degrees from Columbia and Long Island Universities. She completed a national Palliative and End of Life Care Fellowship at New York University Silver School of Social Work, a certification in Aging Studies at Boston University's Center for Aging, Disability Education, and Research, and is a Stanford Certified Project Manager. "Human Investment" won the 2016 national award for Best Documentary Film via the National Association of Social Workers.

I had a chance to speak with Ms. Saturno and learn more about human investment, her experiences as a social worker with the elderly and the sick, and her important film.

What motivated you to create this film?
I was inspired to create this film to explore what motivates professionals to invest themselves in the humanity of care. Human Investment tells a unique story. Social workers, nurses, physicians, and educators are all heroes in a million different ways, and the work they do often goes unnoticed. I wanted to highlight how caring and supportive these professionals are, and why their work speaks volumes about the humanity of care. Working with an elderly population has shown me what courage really is and helped me recognize that all any of us have is the present moment.

As people continue to live longer, the burden on the younger generations to help the older will continue to increase. Tell me more about this and the type of discussion your film is generating because of this.

Physician David Horning touches upon that concept in the film when he questions the value society places on a life at age eighty as opposed to age twenty. Adults are caught between caring for their children and their elderly parents, and making difficult decisions about allocating financial resources for both. This issue will only increase exponentially as the senior population in the United States dramatically surges in our lifetime and we need to keep the discussion in progress.

Please talk a bit about "elder hood" and this little talked about stage of life. Why is it important to acknowledge?
I think it is important to acknowledge elder hood and redefine aging. Our ability to live longer, healthier lives is a great achievement but there is so much fear around aging. What if we were to change that perspective and view each year as a gift? Elders can lead a life of connection, engagement, possibility and expansion. We can accomplish this by spending time with people of different generations who have divergent points of view. Having friends of all ages connects us in an empathetic manner. We don't stop growing and learning just because we are getting older. There is so much valuable wisdom that elders can impart on a younger generation, just as seniors can benefit from being open to new ideas from people younger than them.

Why do people choose careers in human investment? Why SHOULD people consider careers in human investment?
People choose careers in human investment usually because they have an affinity for helping others and want to make a difference in others' lives. People should consider these careers if they feel strongly about connecting with others in a meaningful way. These bonds may form in difficult times such as family crises or serious illnesses and can have a lasting impact. This type of work brings comfort and support to people who have outlived their families, are alone, and have no one to advocate for them. It is an indescribably important role for a humane and just society.

I was intrigued to see your interview with Michael Cohen, the "Must Have Play" founder who builds playgrounds and community spaces. He talked about the benefit that certain playground designs can have for older adults to help combat social isolation. Do you see this trend happening around Westchester at all?

Westchester County has abundant services geared towards elders, including physical activities, arts and continuing education. I think the trend for outdoor community spaces targeting seniors will continue to grow. Meanwhile, there are many ways for seniors to remain engaged in the local community. Terrific Tuesdays, for example, is a program in Scarsdale that includes trips, lectures, and social gatherings during the week for seniors ages 60 and up.

The Scarsdale Public Library is hosting a community screening of Human Investment on Sunday, December 18, 2016, from 2pm-4pm.

Or, catch the film on your own time using this link:

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 24 May 2016; Created: 24 May 2016; Last Updated: 24 May 2016; Hits: 5635

The new span is actually two four lane bridges.

We ran into Andrew O'Rourke, the Public Outreach Administrator for the new Tappan Zee Bridge at the Heathcote STEAM fair on Saturday. He was filled with fascinating facts about the construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge, which is now 65% complete. Though for a while it didn't look like much was happening at the site, O'Rourke explained that 22% of the project was built below the water. But now that the foundation piles are in place, work on the two side-by-side bridges is moving swiftly.

"Palisades," the second belvedere, emphasizes the geography of Rockland County

To date, over 5,000 people have been involved in the work which is a design/build project comprised of modular units, most delivered via water on the river beneath the bridge. Another interesting fact to note is that all of the materials used on the bridge are from American sources, with the stone used for the concrete coming right from Rockland County. The total cost for the bridge will be $3.9 billion for a bridge that is scheduled to last 100 years. The original bridge opened in 1956 and was built at a cost of $80 million. It only lasted 60 years because, at the time, the Korean War put a strain on resources and light steel was used. The brackish water surrounding the water caused it to weather and age.

The new twin bridges will each have

This belvedere includes a parabolic mirror reflecting the NYC skyline

four full 12-foot wide travel lanes, which are wider than the existing traffic lanes. One side will include a 25-foot shoulder for express bus service and the other will have a 12-foot shoulder that will include four lanes for bikers, joggers and walkers. Though the new bridge will not transport trains at the outset, it can accommodate a rail bridge in the 40-foot gap between the two bridges when the time is right.

"Painter's Point" frames the scenic view

Most intriguing are six scenic overlooks, or belvederes that are each 60 feet long and 24 feet wide. This will allow bikers and walkers to enjoy the view along the 3.1 mile span. Each overlook is themed to relate to the history and culture of Westchester and Rockland. The belvedere overlooking Nyack is called "Fish and Ship," relating to Nyack's history as a fishing and ship building town.

Another lookout will include a parabolic, stainless steel mirror which will be tilted to give viewers a look at the New York City skyline. "Painters Point" includes a 14 by 20 foot copper frame, framing the view of the shoreline and Hook Mountain. The project includes a translucent glass greeting area with a café and amphitheater to shelter visitors and provide a venue for information and lectures.

Plans call for the completion of the northern roadway by the summer of 2017. At that point, all traffic will be diverted to temporary eight-lane configuration while the old bridge is taken down and the southern bridge is completed. The entire project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2018.

Learn more about the new bridge at www.newnybridge.com.

Details: Written by Joanne Wallenstein; Published: 11 May 2016; Created: 11 May 2016; Last Updated: 11 May 2016; Hits: 4773

cartons 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: lawn-clippings

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."

Details: Written by Justin Barlow; Published: 18 May 2016; Created: 18 May 2016; Last Updated: 19 May 2016; Hits: 3669

Freshman Andrew Bernstein shields the ball from his opposition

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 winds up for a shot

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.

Junior William Cabrera sprints to receive a pass

"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.

Details: Published: 05 May 2016; Created: 05 May 2016; Last Updated: 05 May 2016; Hits: 4676

scarsdalesynagogue 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.