Saturday November 15 at 2 pm
Don't miss the soulful sounds of acoustic guitar as award-winning musician Tal Naccarato offers both original songs and some of the traditional blues repertoire in a concert sure to leave you humming along. Revisit the great blues and folk masters of the Americana tradition and the Woodstock era such as Happy Traum, Dave Van Ronk, Phil Ochs, and many more while learning some of the fascinating history of the genre. Take a moment and enjoy the flair of this old school cool style of music.

About the presenter

Italo ‘Tal’ Naccarato is a composer, songwriter, teaching artist and instrumentalist born in the medieval mountain village of Fiumefreddo Bruzio in Calabria, Italy and raised in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. His stylized original work, highlighting a deep appreciation for traditional Folk and Americana Roots music, is steeped heavily in Rock and Blues and includes his original classical guitar inspired compositions, performed with a 'bluesy swing’. He has been interviewed for Guitar International Magazine and has been recognized for his work by the Long Island Blues Society and the Blue Foundation in Memphis. Tal performs extensively in the Hudson Valley.

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Sunday November 16, 2:30-4:30 pm

What are the tastes, colors, and sounds of home? What does home mean as a family, a neighborhood, a flag, or Earth itself? How does home manifest in the heart?

The Scarsdale Public Library and the Hoff-Barthelson Music School invite you to ponder these questions and enjoy an afternoon of poetry and jazz! The event will showcase members of the Scarsdale Library's Poetry Community and the Hoff-Barthelson Music School Adult Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Ed Palermo, as poets and musicians work together to explore these rich themes.

Refreshments will be served.

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Tuesday November 18, 6-7:30 pm

Join local filmmaker and historian Jon Scott Bennett for a fascinating look into a true tale from Westchester history!

In the second half of the 19th century a strange, unkempt man dressed head to toe in leather began traveling the roads of New York and Connecticut, and the people of the region immediately took notice. Despite his rough appearance, the wanderer was quite gentle and communities often looked out for his visits. The traveler hardly spoke, only ever engaging in conversation in broken English (though he could speak fluent French) to ask for food, water, and tobacco. Local fascination grew as it was realized the circuit he followed repeated every 34 days. Yet his name, origins, and reasons for wandering were never fully explained. This created an air of mystery around the figure who has come to be known as “The Leatherman”.

We'll screen the documentary and host Mr. Bennett for questions and answers regarding the history of Westchester and The Leatherman as well as the filmmaking process. Don't miss this deep dive into a unique moment in local history.

About the presenter

Jon Scott Bennett is a documentary filmmaker and local historian. He has been fascinated with history his entire life; reading books, attending lectures, viewing films, and visiting preserved sites like Gettysburg, Saratoga, Antietam, and Forts Montgomery and Clinton since he was a young boy. The Leatherman was produced as part of his undergraduate studies in history. Other local history projects include documentaries on The Pound Ridge Massacre in 1644 and the Peekskill Riots in 1949.

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Mark your calendars: on Friday, November 21, Temple Emanu-El’s Streicker Cultural Center will host what promises to be the world’s largest Shabbat dinner, welcoming 3,000 guests to the North Javits Center in New York City. Dubbed The Big Shabbat, this landmark event aims to break the current Guinness World Record—set in Berlin—and make history right here in New York.

More than just a numbers game, The Big Shabbat is a bold response to a powerful moment in Jewish life. Since the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, there has been a remarkable resurgence of Jewish connection, identity, and community. Backed by a $500,000 grant from UJA-Federation of New York, this event is a creative and joyful expression of that renewed spirit.

“This is about more than setting a record,” organizers emphasize. “It’s about reclaiming Shabbat as a sacred space—for everyone.” Regardless of one’s political views or background, participants are invited to rediscover the meaning of Shabbat: a weekly pause, a moment of connection, and a celebration of community and belonging.

Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased individually.

And if recent demand is any indication—The Great Nosh sold out in just four days and left 2,000 people on a waitlist— The Big Shabbat is expected to fill up fast.

Please review the attached flyer for more information. Tickets go on sale in August. I will send the link as soon as I get it. And, send this along to anyone you feel wants to break a record!