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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 25 March 2024

Created: 25 March 2024

Last Updated: 26 March 2024

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Former Scarsdale Mayor Jane Veron is the winner of the 2024 Scarsdale Bowl. She will be honored at the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club on Thursday night April 11, 2024 and the entire community is encouraged to attend the celebration. In advance of the dinner, we asked her to reflect on her life in Scarsdale, her volunteer ventures and her two years as Mayor. See what she shared below.

How long have you lived in Scarsdale …. and why do you enjoying living here?

I moved to Scarsdale 26 years ago, with two little girls, just one and three. Like most of our friends and neighbors, Andrew and I chose Scarsdale for the excellent schools, proximity to the city, attractive village center, and stunning amenities including the Scarsdale pool, library and myriad recreation fields. What I know now is what makes Scarsdale truly special is the community.

What were some of your earliest ventures into volunteer work?

When I moved to Scarsdale with preschoolers, I wanted to replicate the city experience of making new friends at the playground. Yet, when I sought out our neighborhood playground, I was surprised to learn that we didn’t have one in Fox Meadow. I had just gone on leave of absence from my corporate job, and always needing to feel productive, I decided to take on the playground project. I found my way to the Scarsdale Recreation Department, revitalized the defunct Fox Meadow Neighborhood Association, and after a year of work, built Willow Playground behind the Girl Scout House. With a resurrected neighborhood association, I decided to take on the overgrown triangle on Harcourt and Church and with the help of local landscape architect Elaine Yellen, we converted it into a gorgeous garden than continues to delight today. My next venture was securing a four way stop sign by the high school at Olmsted and Brewster. I regularly wonder how it hadn’t been so before we started the arduous multi year effort. At around that time, I became the preschool family representative on the school bond issue committee, became a member of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee, was appointed Chair of the Advisory Council on Youth for the Village, and joined the Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling board. Of course, once my children entered the school system, I became an active member of the Fox Meadow PTA, leading multiple committees. Once I joined the executive committee, I lobbied for enhanced school security, leading a piloted buzzer system for school entry.

What did those roles teach you about volunteering, as opposed to your work in for profit ventures?

I have told the story about returning to my business school reunion after moving to Scarsdale and telling my sectionmates that I secured a four way stop sign at a dangerous intersection adjacent to our high school. I was responding to the repeated question, “how is your career progressing?” and my answer puzzled most. I had left private sector jobs as a management consulting and as a marketing executive at a Fortune 500 company, and instead of apologizing for my career break, I was exceedingly proud of the ability to make lasting, measurable impact in the community in which I lived. Different from my private sector roles, I could see the immediate payoff of my hard work and the tangible difference I made.

Tell us about some of your most significant roles in service in Scarsdale.

I have had the privilege to serve as Chair of the Planning Board, Chair of SNAP, and President of the League of Women Voters before serving on the Village Board. On the Planning Board, in addition to our regular land use responsibilities, we developed the update to the Village Center Comprehensive Plan, proposed zoning changes to attract restaurants to Scarsdale (It certainly worked!), successfully recommended adoption of bulky house, upzoning, tree preservation, stormwater, and affordable housing legislation. During my tenure on SNAP, we designed the new FAR guidelines, conducted forums on Christie Place development, Indian Point, and IKEA and held candidate debates during contested elections. During my tenure on the League, we grew membership and outreach and ensured careful evaluation of the Village and School budgets, election systems, government services consolidation, tree laws, education foundations, planning and zoning, and sustainability initiatives.

In my role as CEO of The Acceleration Project (although we get hired throughout the country), we donated countless hours of service to the Scarsdale local economy. We conceived of and launched the Shop the ‘Dale/Dine the ‘Dale branding campaign. Along with community volunteers, we built Light the ‘Dale, the hugely successful holiday celebration, and welcomed a farmers market, bringing Farmers in the ‘Dale. We also initiated Wing the ‘Dale, establishing a partnership with SHS AP students for public art. We also worked with the business community to attract relevant tenants and enable a smooth transition to Scarsdale.

When I was elected to the Village Board, I led several significant initiatives. I conceived of the Advisory Committee on Communications which led to our upgraded website, eblast communications to residents, and an official newsletter. I played an integral role in getting the bond passed to enable the library expansion and renovation. I continued Village Center revitalization efforts and worked with land use boards to address stormwater and coverage issues. I also supported sustainability efforts including the LED light installations, food scrap program, and streamlining solar panel approvals.

Thinking back on your two years as Mayor – what were some of the highlights of the job? What was most memorable?

It was very important to me to lead the community out of the dark days of COVID into a time of hope and possibility. We had endured devastating loss, and I wanted to rebuild our community spirit. I also wanted to reinvest in the future of Scarsdale. I kicked off the pool effort to reimagine this great community asset, the same way we did for our glorious library. We struck a deal with the Girl Scouts and reopened the Betty Taubert House. I wanted to capitalize on the great success of COVID measures that enabled a revitalization of our Village Center. We passed legislation to permit outdoor dining and enhanced the Dine the ‘Dale tent with extensive programming. We hired a firm to address chronic traffic and safety matters and devise placemaking. We had also deferred investment in infrastructure and it showed. We had a disproportionate number of roads in poor and fair condition, a water and sewer system requiring frequent emergency repairs, and a public works fleet that couldn’t handle operating demands. We needed to change our approach and the board allocated funds to make fiscally prudent long term investments. During my tenure as Mayor, I was also determined to bolster our relationship with the schools particularly around matters of recreation and public safety. We worked together to address field needs and provide equity for girls softball. Working with our Advisory Council on Technology, we finally got to the finish line in a deal with Verizon to close the telecom gap around the Scarsdale High School and Fox Meadow School. It was an unprecedented time of uncertainty. We navigated new norms and left the Village much stronger.

What did you find was the biggest challenges of the job?

So much to do, so little time! But isn’t that always the case.

You were very ambitious about proposing new initiatives. Did you sometimes find that it was difficult to move the needle?

Yes, I had very ambitious goals for our Village government. I set a strategic plan and partnered with my fellow trustees and department heads for shared responsibility of oversight of the pillars of government: Quality of Life, Infrastructure and Municipal Services, Public Safety, and Economic Development and Land Use. During my tenure, we made substantial progress in each area, and we institutionalized many advances through budgeting and legislation. Residents would likely note the significant improvement to our roads, the closure of our telecom gap near the high school, investment in our public works fleet, the kickoff of the pool project, the proposal for safety and placemaking enhancements in our village center, and an enhanced investment strategy. Behind the scenes, we led the transformation to 21st century governance excellence, gaining the GMOA budget certification, securing the police department CALEA gold standard, upgrading technology and cyber security, digitizing records, bringing to closure outstanding union contracts, and enhancing personnel training.

Was it difficult to find qualified residents to fill all the volunteer roles needed in Village government?

Scarsdale is filled with enormously talented and caring individuals, yet many feel uncomfortable raising a hand to get involved. We’re apprehensive about the unknown, and many of us need encouragement. When I was Personnel Chair, I tripled the number of applications for Boards and Councils, simply by making a personal ask of friends and neighbors. There is an assumption that you need to have prior knowledge to get involved, but we learn on the job. Say yes to something small, and allow one thing to lead to another. I have found Scarsdale to be incredibly inclusive and supportive.

Looking forward, what are some of the challenges facing Scarsdale in the years to come?

Scarsdale is an incredible place to live, work, and play, and we are enormously lucky to be members of this community. Yet, it remains very expensive to sustain our Village and schools. With few alternative revenue sources, property taxes will continue to fund the majority of our infrastructure and future investments. I loved being a part of our innovative public private partnership to renovate and expand our library. We will need to continue to find creative ways to invest in our assets, sustain our legacy and prepare for our future.

What are you up to now?

I’m still super busy. I thought I would have more leisure time, but instead, I have gotten involved in new activities. I joined the Federal government’s Investment Capital Advisory Council for the SBA, am leading a task force at the County level, and am driving catalytic growth at my nonprofit The Acceleration Project, now a national force that enables underserved small business owners to generate income and wealth for their families and communities. I also remain committed to Scarsdale and have stayed deeply involved in our economic development efforts.

Why would you encourage residents to get involved in volunteer positions for the schools or the Village?

There is truly nothing better. You work with the best and brightest, develop enduring friendships, learn more than you could imagine, and make a lasting impact on the place you call home.

You can learn more and purchase tickets for this special evening here:

Also, this year, whether you attend the dinner or not, you can send congratulations to Jane by way of a digital journal. It's super-easy: Just a matter of typing in a message here.  (The ads are all priced at $100, no matter the length of your message.) There will also be a raffle 
for the first time with several terrific prizes, and again, you can participate whether you attend the event or not.

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Written by Wendy MacMillan

Published: 04 April 2024

Created: 04 April 2024

Last Updated: 04 April 2024

Hits: 1160

When we think back to our days in high school, I’m sure we can all remember cramming the night before a big exam surrounded by flashcards and hi-lighters…but how much of the crammed information do you actually remember? And did the multiple choice tests you took feel meaningful or applicable to the real world? In his Education Report at the BOE meeting on Monday, March 25th, Assistant Superintendent Edgar McIntosh outlined the district’s work to create more opportunities for Performance Based Assessments which offer students a more purposeful and material way to test one’s knowledge. Since many missed the late night report, we reached out to Dr. McIntosh who shared a summary of his presentation notes describing the importance of Performance Based Assessments and how they are used in classrooms.

Here is the presentation (Slides 12 - 32) and what he said:

“Performance Based Assessments (PBAs) are important tools used to evaluate the essential skills and dispositions that are difficult to measure in a standard testing format.

Performance-based assessments require students to demonstrate the ability to appropriately apply their skills and knowledge, demonstrate or model their proficiency, and work from clear and transparent assessment criteria, with opportunities for students to reflect on their performance and learn from it.

This type of assessment demonstrates a depth of understanding of what is learned and the developing skills of the learner. One of the most celebrated parts of PBAs is that learning can occur during the actual assessment.

Since Scarsdale has been working on the development, design, and pilot of PBAs for several years many of them are already integrated into the assessments practice across disciplines and levels, some core to certain courses, and some of them represent a movement from past assessments. NY State has also begun expanding its science tests to include PBA elements in their yearly assessments.”

(During the presentation, he highlighted PBAs in writing and weather science at the elementary level, engineering and public communication at the middle level, and design and world languages at the high school)

McIntosh explained: “As we think about this important assessment work, we think it’s important that we are always checking back and measuring what is important---that we are checking for depth over the speed of coverage- and flexible understanding over rote memory.

The Next Generation Standards do a good job of articulating this, and the value of developing the knowledge, skills, and practices that will lead our students to becoming critical thinkers.

For example, when considering students' mathematical understanding, we know that developing fluency and conceptual understanding is more important than rote memorization and overreliance on an algorithm.

This was illustrated beautifully in a fifth-grade classroom recently when students were practicing the division by fractions. Some students were familiar with the trick “Keep, Change, Flip”-meaning, keep the number, change division to multiplication, and flip the numerator with the denominator. By doing this, the class easily divided 6 divided by ⅓ and came up with 18. The question then becomes, why does it work? Some predicted that dividing by a fraction would result in a smaller number. At this point, the teacher invited students to model why the answer 18 was correct. She provided number lines, strips of paper, and time for them to describe, disagree, and demonstrate why 18 was correct and why the trick worked. Interestingly, it wasn't the speediest of mathematicians who came up with the clearest model.

And like PBAs, so much is about asking the right questions, and allowing the space, resources, and time for students to demonstrate and defend their thinking and learning.

This leads me to another important point. We must be using the pedagogy, resources, and tools that will get us to the outcomes we want for students.

For example, we have specifically chosen science materials and progressions from Smithsonian and Science 21 because they are aligned with the practices reflected in the Next Generation Science Standards and include experiential opportunities for students.

Also, we chose Reveal Math because it was one of the products that prioritized the important mathematical practices in Next Generation Standards in Math.

For those who have seen past educational reports dedicated to curricular changes, the rationale for this change was outlined, including a description of a rigorous and collaborative process to choose this research-based math resource.

We celebrate the increase reported in student discourse in math while recognizing that every change requires teachers, administrators, and coordinators to develop together and continue to use professional opportunities and structures, like program improvement days to adapt curriculum responsively and professional workshops to refine our instructional practices.

I look forward to sharing meaningful metrics, reflecting the values we’ve described in an upcoming education report.

Teaching to the test is not a bad thing if the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices we value are embedded in the daily learning opportunities and the assessment. In other words, high-quality pedagogy and curriculum are our best test prep for high-quality assessments.

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out that our colleagues- the educators in the arts, physical education, performance, and music have been engaging in performance assessments all along. Application, demonstration, criteria for success, and reflection.

And that we have courses that center creation, demonstration, and research, rely on PBAs- and nurture the dispositions and skills our students will thrive with. A rich collection developed over time, with a robust representation of STEM courses.

-Digital Logic
-Electrical Engineering
-Computer Science 922 (Application Based)
-AT Linear Algebra
-Science Research
-Entrepreneurship
-Public Speaking
-Design Build
-Robotics
-Expressive Communication

Beyond these courses, we look to continue to expand PBAs across the grades and disciplines. We know they measure critical thinking, problem-solving, and power skills, and encourage iterative, and active learning. They are particularly useful in subjects where practical skills, collaboration, and creativity are paramount.

A quick look at the profile of the graduate- and you’ll see many of the outcomes we desire for our students are brought about by instruction and curriculum that value it--and assessments that measure it."

See here for the Education Report.

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 13 March 2024

Created: 13 March 2024

Last Updated: 17 March 2024

Hits: 3298

The Eye Gallery has moved to a stunning and expansive new location on Boniface Circle, just around the corner from the original store. Seven months in the making, the light-filled space now includes over 3,000 square feet of display space, exam rooms and an inviting room for events and meetings downstairs.

We stopped in for a visit on Wednesday and Dr. Michael Rosen proudly took us on a tour of the next generation of the original Eye Gallery established by his father and partner Jay Rosen in 1979. Before we began, he offered us coffee from a professional espresso and cappuccino maker at the ready.

Dr. Rosen’s inspiration for his new flagship Eye Gallery was an experiential one, offering clientele and staff an exclusive, luxurious environment with a bright and energetic vibe. He commissioned artist Jillian Whelan of Coloring Wheelz for the artwork seen throughout the gallery. Rosen said, “We have been rapidly expanding over the past several years and were at max capacity. It was time for a larger space. We doubled our footprint in Scarsdale Village and completed the renaissance of Boniface Circle.” He explained that the new entry, large windows and welcoming store was designed by architect Len Brandes.

The new Eye Gallery offers clientele and patients his trademark extraordinary eye care and customer service, coupled with the latest in optical technology. From Digital High Definition Glasses, Blue Light Coating to prestigious Shamir custom lenses. Medically, Dr. Rosen has invested in the latest in diagnostic equipment, for highly accurate examinations and early detection of eye diseases. Making Eye Gallery an all inclusive destination for the ultimate in eye care.

For clientele with a discerning eye, Eye Gallery has the largest over 3,000 pairs of designer frames and sunglasses, including coveted designers such as, Barton Perreira, Jacques Marie Mage, Chanel, Celine, Chrome Hearts and Ahlem along with handmade frames from around the world!

Commenting on the news, Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest said, “I’m thrilled to welcome the Rosens and their team to their new, beautiful and expanded location on Boniface Circle, right in the heart of Scarsdale’s Village Center. This is an exciting milestone for Eye Gallery, a Scarsdale institution and one of the most recognizable storefronts in the Village for 45 years. We are grateful for their long-standing commitment to the Village and know they will continue to serve the Scarsdale community well in their new home for many years to come.

Longtime local business owner and Boniface Circle resident Ken Giddon, Founder Rothmans and Co-President Board of Directors, Scarsdale Business Alliance said “On behalf of the Board of the Scarsdale Business Alliance, it is my pleasure to welcome Eye Gallery to their new location on Boniface Circle. Eye Gallery has been a tremendous service to Village residents for many, many years, and the new larger (and beautiful) space gives them the opportunity to expand and extend their offerings. Thanks to their new landlord at Scarsdale Improvement for putting this deal together and continuing to improve the Village.”

Rosen displays state of the art equipment in the new exam rooms.Vice President, Scarsdale Improvement Corporation, D. J. Petta concurred, “Scarsdale Improvement Corporation is thrilled to welcome Eye Gallery to Boniface Circle. Dr. Michael Rosen has enhanced the Village with his new space and the opportunity for expansion helped us complete our Boniface Circle renovation. We are excited and proud to be a part of Eye Gallery’s milestone and longstanding success in the Village of Scarsdale.

Stop by to see the new store at 15 Boniface Circle and call (914) 472-2020 to schedule an eye exam for yourself or your children ages 7 and up. You’ll receive state of the art eye care and the latest in designer eye wear.

Eye Gallery of Scarsdale (formerly Scarsdale Eye Care) Established by Dr. Jay Rosen in 1979 opened as a small optometry practice in the heart of downtown Scarsdale, NY. Based on a philosophy of great personal care and customer service, the practice thrived in Scarsdale Village for many years. In 1998, Dr. Jay Rosen’s son, Dr. Michael Rosen, joined the practice. The business has evolved over time to meet new needs. In 2000, the Drs. Rosen doubled their space, becoming a recognizable presence in Scarsdale Village. Thanks to knowledgeable staff, customers and patients receive expert, comprehensive eye examinations, obtain eye disease detection and treatment, and have access to exclusive, high-end eyewear and sunglasses — all under one roof. In 2007, Eye Gallery opened a second location, this time in the downtown village of Chappaqua. The Eye Gallery is a place where art and science come together to provide you with a clear vision of well-being and personal style.

A finished lower level will allow Rosen to host events, pop-ups and experts.

Custom artwork by Jillian WheelanRosen's Dad Jay founded the original Eye Gallery in 1979.