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Written by Nan Berke

Published: 21 December 2015

Created: 21 December 2015

Last Updated: 22 December 2015

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At dusk on Sunday, December 20th over 100 people gathered on the grounds of The Scarsdale Congregational Church for a vigil for victims of gun violence. "This event was so meaningful because people of all faiths and ethnicities came together. The Bible, Talmud and Qur'an were all quoted making the same points against gun violence," said Suzanne Kelly a participant in the vigil.

Reverend Frances Wise Grenley, Senior Minister of the Scarsdale Congregational Church introduced the event organizers Pat Colella and Bonnie Mitchell, who are the Church's Co-Chairs of the Task Force to Address Gun Violence. Colella welcomed the crowd, explaining the event was being held in commemoration of the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook School shooting in Newtown, CT where 20 first graders and six teachers and staff were shot by a 20-year-old. Held in conjunction with the Newtown Foundation, Faiths United to End Gun Violence and Everytown Survivor Engagement Network, the vigil was one of many nationwide. "Today we are honoring the 90,000 Americans killed by gun violence since Sandy Hook," Colella explained. She went on to say that "each of us can make a difference...together we can make a difference." In particular, Colella urged attendees to write their NY State senator and the leadership of the State Senate to pass Nicholas's Law, which would require the safe storage of guns. The law is named in memory of Nicholas Naumkin, who was accidentally shot and killed when his friend took his father's pistol out of an unlocked drawer. For a list of other action items and information compiled by the Task Force, click here.

During the vigil, For Good Measure, the Scarsdale High School A Capella Group, sang Lift Every Voice and Sing. Rabbi Jonathon Blake, Senior Rabbi at Westchester Reform Temple played the guitar and led the group in singing Blowin' in the Wind and Assistant Cantor Amanda Kleinman from Westchester Reform Temple led in singing Let There be Peace of Earth.

In addition, Rabbi Jeffrey Brown of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanuel, Reverend Mark Snyder, the Senior Pastor of Scarsdale Community Baptist Church and Dr. Avi Javed of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society read passages supporting peace and non-violence from the Talmud, Bible and Qur'an, respectively.

Rabbi Jonathan Blake spoke on how gun violence is a religious issue. Blake noted that religious people have played a role in this debate on both sides of the issue. However, Blake feels there is a compelling case from our shared religious traditions to cherish human life and to save a life. Blake called for universal background checks, and a ban on the sale of high capacity weapons and ammunition, which he believes have no civilian purpose. He also advocated that gun trafficking should be classified as a federal crime and that current gun laws should be enforced, along with printing ID numbers on guns, promoting the development of smart guns (which can only be activated through the fingerprint of their owners) and mandatory videotaping of gun purchases.

"This year marks the first time the annual death toll by guns is greater than the death toll by motor vehicles," Rabbi Blake said. He went on to ask that we all demand change and not let a politically influential minority impede our ability to save lives. "Change is never impossible, " Blake concluded.

Scarsdale Mayor Jon Mark began his remarks by noting that our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms has given rise to an unanticipated problem in that today's semi automatic assault weapons and large-capacity magazines were never envisioned when the first ten amendments to the Constitution were adopted in 1791.

Mayor Mark went on to say that in early December, the US Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge to Highland Park, Illinois' ban on assault weapons. Some legal experts have interpreted this move as strengthening municipalities' rights to determine how best to protect their communities. Mark noted that a Scarsdale resident wrote him recently asking why Scarsdale does not adopt legislation similar to Highland Park? "That is a very good question, and one I have given much thought to", said Mark, who then promised that he would be exploring this issue with the Village Board in the weeks ahead.

For many, the emotional highpoint of the vigil was when the Rev Frances Wise Grenley of The Scarsdale Congregational Church lit 33 candles while the church bell tolled. Each candle represented 1,000 Americans killed by guns each year. Rev Grenley said, "Life is a sacred trust, and we are the guardians of that trust. We must ask ourselves, what kind of stewards of life are we? In our individual choices and our choices as a society, we must ask ourselves where our priorities lie. We mourn the lives that are destroyed by violence. May we be strengthened to do our part to move our nation toward a more peaceful, compassionate and just way of living together in this our common home."

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Written by Stacie M. Waldman

Published: 04 January 2016

Created: 04 January 2016

Last Updated: 06 January 2016

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A Yonkers woman got off to a rocky start to the new year when she drove her car into a store on the Post Road on Monday afternoon January 4 around 2 pm. After the driver hit the gas pedal instead of the brake, the 2012 BMW X3 hit a parked Jeep and then jumped the curb at the Vernon Hills Shopping Center and break through the front of American Eagle Outfitters. The front windows shattered and there was damage to the façade wall of the store. Fortunately no one was hurt. More details to come.

Photos by Stacie Waldman

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Written by Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 18 December 2015

Created: 18 December 2015

Last Updated: 18 December 2015

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In commemoration of the third anniversary of the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, as well as the 90,000 American victims of gun violence since Sandy Hook in December 2012, the Scarsdale Congregational Church, UCC, is joining the Newtown Foundation, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and Everytown Survivor Engagement Network in a Candlelight Vigil to End Gun Violence. The Vigil will start promptly at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 20, 2015, at the Scarsdale Congregational Church, at 1 Heathcote Road (cross street is Post Rd). Several clergy members will be present and the program will include readings, prayers and music.

Since the Sandy Hook shooting:
• According to EveryTown for Gun Safety, there have been over 150 school shootings, nearly one school shooting per week.
• There have been nearly a thousand mass shootings, defined as four or more people shot in the same incident.
• Approximately 240,000 Americans will have been killed or injured by guns.
Gun violence is particularly devastating to young people. This year is the year when gun violence passes motor vehicle accidents as the leading killer of young people under 26 years old. The Scarsdale Congregational Church-UCC Task Force to Address Gun Violence, which organized this Vigil, is examining ways that people can help to end gun violence. If you are interested in joining this effort, please leave a message for Pat Colella at 914-723-2111 or e-mail [email protected].

The SCC-UCC Task Force to Address Gun Violence Urges You to Act Now:
Here are some actions you can take to prevent gun violence:
1) Support Nicholas's Law:
Support passage of the Safe Storage Act, called "Nicholas' Law," which would require gun owners to safely store their firearms. See this petition from New Yorker's Against Gun Violence. Write to Senate leaders John Flanigan and Jeffrey Klein to urge them to take up the Senate version of the bill, S.2291, in the 2016 legislative session.

2) Join an Advocacy Group:
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence NYAGV. For a list of five things you can do to reduce gun violence click here.

3) Learn More about Gun Violence at these websites:

Faiths United Against Gun Violence - a diverse coalition of faith-based organizations united to confront gun violence.

States United Against Gun Violence – a 30-state gun violence prevention groups working to make communities safer through common sense laws and anti-violence education.

Americans for Responsible Solutions – an organization founded by Gabby Giffords and her husband to encourage elected officials to stand up for solutions to prevent gun violence and protect responsible gun ownership.

The Trace- a nonprofit media organization dedicated to expanding media coverage of guns in the U.S.

Campaign to Unload – a group of 50 organizations united to encourage institutional investors and pension fund managers to divest gun stocks.

Center for Gun Policy & Research at Johns Hopkins University – an academic organization engaged in scholarly research, policy analysis and agenda-setting public discourse related to gun violence prevention.

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence – a group of 47 national organizations working to secure freedom from gun violence through research, strategic engagement and effective policy advocacy.

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence – a national organization whose mission is to create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries.