Music to Your Ears
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 5428
Free Organ Concert at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church: Nathan Laube will be performing a FREE organ concert in the sanctuary at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 15th at 4 PM, on the J. W. Walker pipe organ. The FREE concert is in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the installation of the instrument, considered one of the finest in the regional area. The 1 hour program will include some of the most famous music written for organ and is appropriate for the entire family. There will be a reception following the concert. All are welcome. Please reserve FREE tickets in advance by calling the office at (914) 723-3311.
A star among young classical musicians, concert organist Nathan Laube (age 27) has quickly earned a place among the organ world's elite performers. In addition to his busy performing schedule, Mr. Laube serves as Assistant Professor of Organ at The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Recent and upcoming performances by Mr. Laube include major venues spanning four continents. These include 
the Vienna Konzerthaus (Austria); the Berlin Philharmonie and the Dortmund Konzerthaus (Germany); the Sejong Center, Seoul (Korea); in the USA at Washington National Cathedral (DC), Walt Disney Concert Hall (CA), Verizon Hall (PA), The Kauffman Center's Helzberg Hall (MO), and Spivey Hall (GA). During his time as a student at the Curtis Institute, Nathan also served as an Assistant Organist at the Wannamaker Grand Court Organ at Macy's Department Store in downtown Philadelphia.
Westchester Symphonic Winds at Congregation Kol Ami
On Saturday, November 21st, at 8PM at Kol Ami the Westchester Symphonic Winds will be performing a concert to benefit the Kol Ami Music Fund. The concert will feature Cantor David Rosen and Musical Director Lenora Eve singing the songs of Irving Berlin and Trustee Rachel Eckhaus on the piccolo. The program will include works by Holst, Williams, Markowski, Porter and Sousa. Tickets are $36 for the concert and $50 for the concert and a dessert reception. Purchase tickets online or at the door. Visits www.nykolami.com for more information.
Photo Opps: Challah Make, Greenacres Memories and Cub Scouts
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4531
In a spirited show of community, more than 200 Westchester residents came together at the JCC of Mid-Westchester in Scarsdale for the Great Big Challah Make, kicking off The Shabbat Project. The event took place on Thursday, October 22, 2015. The Shabbat Project is an international initiative through which Jews of all walks of life — religious, secular, and traditional; young and old; from all corners of the globe — unite to experience Shabbat.
"Today, we are 'Keeping it Together' — the tagline of the Shabbat Project — as we bake challah with thousands of Jewish people worldwide," said Nicky Ziman of Scarsdale, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa. "Connections are being made between Jewish people, not only in Westchester, but throughout the Jewish world."
Scarsdale was one of 550 cities worldwide to participate in this initiative, which was launched in South Africa in 2013 with remarkable success. Nearly 70 percent of the country's 75,000 Jews kept Shabbat in full, most for the first time in their lives.
"The JCC was privileged to host the Great Big Challah Make and to add Westchester to this unifying global movement," said Liat Altman, the JCC of Mid-Westchester's director of adult programs. "In times of global uncertainty, we must keep our focus on celebrating our communal strengths and reinforcing what inspires us as Jews."
All participants — from first-timers to experienced challah bakers — received a bowl with ingredients for the traditional Jewish bread. Live screens placed around the room displayed instructions about kneading and braiding by Rebbetzin Faygie Bienenfeld of Young Israel of Harrison, who spoke about the mystical, time-honored, and important role that challah plays in the Jewish tradition.
"There was definitely a sense of connection this morning," said Pam Goldstein, associate director of the Westchester Jewish Council. "There was a connection as we learned about our heritage, a connection to the importance of ritual, and a connection to each other. We felt we had succeeded in our goal of building bridges of all kinds."
Upon braiding their challah, a lively horah was played and participants, hand in hand, danced throughout the room.
Greenacres Centennial:
In preparation for the celebration surrounding the school's 100th anniversary, alumni of Greenacres Elementary have been invited to contribute photos, artifacts, and memories. Susan Olswang Strumer, SHS '55, shared photos and mementos with the PTA. She is pictured here with Scarsdale Superintendent Thomas Hagerman and Greenacres Principal Sharon Hill. The culmination of the yearlong celebration is the Greenacres Centennial Diamond Jubilee on November 20th at Mulino's at Lake Isle. This will be followed by a scavenger hunt for families and friends of all ages, to be held at the school on November 29th, the school's actual birthday. More information can be found at greenacrespta.com.
Cub Scouts Practice Camping:
Earlier this month (Oct. 3rd) Scarsdale Cub Scouts Pack 440 offered its members and others in the community the opportunity to learn the basics of camping. Among the activities were how to pitch a tent, cook over a fire, and what to pack when camping. The demonstration was held at Chase Park. Over the course of the year the pack will do tent camping, cabin camping, and even camping out on the Intrepid. So making sure scouts (and families) are comfortable with camping is important in a boy's journey with the pack. More information about Pack 440 can be found here.
Author Jessica Lahey to Discuss: The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 5631
Scarsdale community members are invited to attend an enlightening presentation by Jessica Lahey --- writer, teacher, and journalist for the New York Times and The Atlantic. Ms. Lahey will discuss her new book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. The event is co-sponsored by the Scarsdale PT Council, Scarsdale High School PTA, Scarsdale Middle School PTA, and Scarsdale Public Library. The event will take place on Thursday October 29th at 7:30 p.m. in the Scarsdale Middle School auditorium. Ms. Lahey will be on-hand to sign copies of her book, which will be available for purchase.
In the tradition of Paul Tough's How Children Succeed and Wendy Mogel's The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, Lahey's book focuses on the critical school years when parents must learn to allow their children to experience the disappointment and frustration that occurs from life's inevitable problems so that they can grow up to be successful, resilient, and self-reliant adults. Ms. Lahey also exposes how the pressure to achieve academically is, in her words, "a crime against learning.' For many students, the fear of failure takes a long-term toll on their curiosity and desire to learn.
Prior to Ms. Lahey's presentation, the Scarsdale PT Council will hold a brief business meeting. The Scarsdale High School and Middle School PTAs will conduct meetings before the event at 7:15 p.m. For more information, please contact Scarsdale PT Council Programming Chairs, Jennifer Rossano ([email protected]) or Amy Cooper ([email protected]).
About Jessica Lahey
Jessica Lahey is an educator, writer and speaker. She writes the bi-weekly column "The Parent-Teacher Conference" for the New York Times, is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. Her new book is The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. For more information, visit www.jessicalahey.com
The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed
Thursday, October 29th, 2015, 7:30 p.m.
Scarsdale Middle School Auditorium
Myx Fitness and Chopt to Open at the Golden Horseshoe
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 22524
Two exciting new businesses have announced plans to open at the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center. A locally-owned exercise studio called Myx Fitness is now under construction in the spaces previously occupied by Physique 57 and the Golden Day Spa. Myx Fitness will offer a variety of classes in all fitness disciplines on a pay per class basis. There will be circuit training, body sculpting and power yoga – plus barre, band and box conditioning classes to name a few.
The new studio is a collaboration between Stefanie Rosenzweig of Armonk and Cindy Fisher of Scarsdale. The two have "dreamed of a fitness boutique where people could gather, on their own terms, to reach their personal bests - and have a great time doing it!"
The studio will use heart monitors to help clients monitor their workouts and a nutritionist will be consulting to offer advice on making changes to your diet while you work on improving your body through the classes.
The new studio is 2,900 square feet and will offer a spacious locker room and showers. Watch for their opening in November.
Next spring Chopt Creative Salad Company 
will open in a new building in the shopping center in front of the Bank of America auto-teller. Chopt, which offers cold and hot salads, grain salads, custom salads and even kids meals has more dressings that you can imagine. They have locations in Rye, Greenwich and Mt. Kisco as well as many sites in Manhattan. The location will feature counter service and indoor and outdoor seating. They will also allow you to pick up your food and drive.
Work continues on the new Seasons which will open in place of Gristedes. The 12,000 square foot market stock kosher foods and meats as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, sushi, prepared foods, breads, bakery and everything you need to stock your kitchen.
Belinda Miles Appointed President of WCC
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 5572
Dr. Belinda S. Miles will be inaugurated as the President of Westchester Community College on Friday October 2. She was appointed by The State University of New York Board of Trustees to start in her new position in January 2015. She replaced Dr. Joseph Hankin who has led the college since 1971 and is the nation's longest serving community college president. Miles was formerly Provost and Executive Vice President of Access, Learning, and Success at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C).
Miles has nearly three decades of experience in higher education, primarily at the community college level. At Access, Learning and Success at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) she oversaw four campuses and multiple extension sites in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs. The institution annually serves 48,000 students in a wide scope of career and transfer degree programs.
"I look forward to this opportunity to engage with students, faculty, staff, and the community to advance a comprehensive learning and success agenda. Together we will work to expand Westchester Community College's role in helping students achieve their academic and career goals," says Miles.
Details on attending the inauguration at 2 pm on Friday and watching it on a webcast are available here.
"It is an honor to approve Dr. Miles' appointment as the next president of Westchester Community College," says SUNY Board Chairman H. Carl McCall. "The SUNY community colleges were founded on providing unlimited access to quality, affordable higher education and job training to all New Yorkers, and Westchester Community College has done this with widespread success for nearly 70 years. I am confident that the college will continue to prosper under Dr. Miles' experienced leadership."
"Dr. Miles is a passionate leader with precisely the right balance of academic and leadership experience, and she shares in many of the core values expressed in our strategic plan for SUNY," says SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "I look forward to working with her as Westchester Community College and all of SUNY continues to increase access, completion, and success for students."
Westchester Community College Board of Trustees Chair David Swope says, "We look forward to working with Dr. Miles to usher in a new era here at the college. Her national standing as a leader in the field of community college administration, her awareness of the role of technology in higher education, and her knowledge of the changing role of community colleges will be important as we continue to expand our resources and add new educational offerings to the community."
The new president of Westchester Community College has had a distinguished career, primarily in the area of community college leadership. Her record as a passionate advocate for the promotion of community college accessibility, an administrator who challenged and supported students through high quality academic programs, and a leader focused on improving student success and completion outcomes, was built primarily in Cleveland, Ohio.
Originally from Queens, New York, she attended public schools including the City University of New York's York College, earning a B.A. in Political Science. She attained an M.A. in Educational Psychology and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Organization and Leadership Development from Columbia University Teachers College. She and her husband, Keith have relocated to Westchester County. Their son Gordon recently graduated from Tuskegee University with a B.S. in Engineering and is employed in this field.
Westchester Community College is more than just the county's largest educational institution. It is a living, breathing part of Westchester that goes beyond the influence of a typical college and affects the lives of all who enter its doors. Our faculty serve as a community of scholars for an increasingly diverse population of students; as the county has evolved, so has the institution, and our award-winning faculty members educate both new immigrants and longstanding members of the community. Our instructors serve a wide range of students from nearly 200 countries, ranging from teenagers to mature adults.
