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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 01 September 2014

Created: 01 September 2014

Last Updated: 01 September 2014

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The Scarsdale Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department in conjunction with Scarsdale independent sports organization and local neighborhood athletic associations will be sponsoring a fun filled day of youth sports activities for the community on Saturday, September 6th from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Crossway Field Complex. The jamboree is designed to educate and showcase the wide variety of youth sport options available in the community. There will be wide variety of sports, games, food, music, inflatable amusements and more. This event is free and open to all Scarsdale residents. For more information visit the Scarsdale Recreation website at www.scarsdale.com/recreation, or you may call the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department at 722-1160 with any questions.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 26 August 2014

Created: 26 August 2014

Last Updated: 04 September 2014

Hits: 8571

Whether you've got a toddler, a pre-teen or a college applicant in your house, now is the time to consider programs that will build skills, develop artistic, musical and athletic talents and enrich academic lives. The area is blessed with wonderful program opportunities for kids of all ages. Here are just a few of the quality programs in Westchester for your consideration:

Dance and Music:

Steffi Nossen School of Dance located in the nearby Music Conservatory of Westchester building offers classes for dancers ages 3 – adults in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip-Hop, and Moving Wheels & Heels for dancers with special needs. New this year are Tiny Dancers: classes for 12 – 36 months and caregiver, Adult classes for beginners and for experienced dancers, Contemporary Dance, and Improvisation/Composition. We have lots of performing opportunities for all ages and levels and most classes have live music accompaniment. Please visit us at www.steffinossen.org or 914-328-1900 for complete information.

Dance Cavise: Described in the New York Times as "setting higher standards in dance education", Dance Cavise offers all dance disciplines, at all levels, for all ages. In its 10,000 square foot facility, Broadway veteran Joe Cavise heads a staff of over twenty professionals from New York City and Westchester. The studio is known for its family-oriented and nurturing environment, while promoting strong technique in a non-recital oriented, education driven program. For more information, contact Dance Cavise Studios, 273 Halstead Avenue, Mamaroneck at (914) 381-5222, or visit www.dancecavise.com.

Over the Moon Music and More: Did you know that all children are musical? Have you ever wondered what you can do to nurture the musical growth of your child, regardless of your own musical ability? And did you know that there's a storefront location where you and your child can play musically together, right here in Scarsdale? Over the Moon Music and More offers Music Together®, the internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program, in a beautiful and comfortable space at 78 Garth Road, as well as in 5 other convenient locations in Westchester, including a new storefront in Pleasantville. Our classes--for children from birth through kindergarten age accompanied by an adult caregiver--are research based, experiential, and not performance oriented, but most of all, they're fun! Free demo classes are available. And we also offer our own Uke U., a mommy-and-me ukulele program for 3- to 6-year-old children and their caregivers. For class and demo class schedules, please visit www.overthemoonmusicandmore.com or call 914-722-2025.

Preschools and Religious Schools:

Kids' B.A.S.E. and The Little School continues to be an invaluable resource for the families of Scarsdale. This not-for-profit community organization encompasses two programs: Kids' B.A.S.E., which provides quality before and after school programming for youngsters in Kindergarten through fifth grade, and The Little School, a pre-school program for three and four year-olds, with the addition of a new toddler class offering morning and afternoon sessions. At Kids' B.A.S.E. a variety of enrichment programs are offered at different times throughout the year: tennis, golf, hip hop, Mad Science, Private Picassos, Animal Adventures, Kids R Cooking, Chess Chums and Legos with Block Stars. The Little School also offers enrichments at different times throughout the year: Kids R Cooking, Broadway Stars with Applause, Clay Works and Art with Private Picassos. . The Little School provides a high quality full day or half day preschool experience, and is accredited by NAEYC. In addition to our developmentally appropriate program led by highly qualified Head Teachers and Teaching Assistants, we offer weekly music, gym and creative movement classes, as well as monthly "Nature of Things" animal programs. Applications are available for the 2014-2015 school year. For more information or to request an application, please call 472 – 5409 or visit their website at www.kbls.org.

Congregation Kol Ami: The Early Childhood Program at Kol Ami is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and developmentally appropriate curriculum teaching and modeling Jewish values. We believe that children learn best through experiential play and provide for these rich experiences within warm, accepting, and nurturing surroundings. All of our Head Teachers have Masters Degrees in Early Childhood or related educational fields. We offer a wide range of programs for children (from 2 months to 5 years old) and their families. Our A Step Ahead! program for Fall 5 year olds provides full day pre-K learning until 4 pm. For more information, contact: Nan Blank, Early Childhood Program Director at njbtt@aol.com or call her 914-949-4717 x107

Shaarei Tikvah: If you are looking for a warm, creative environment where you and your children can all grow Jewishly, come to Shaarei Tikvah's Anna and Louis Shereff Religious School. Our weekday only, K-7 program provides a strong foundation in Hebrew language and prayer, with hands-on, experiential learning and innovative, 21st century programs that highlight Jewish values, holidays, Shabbat and Israel. Plus, families with their oldest child in pre-school are invited to attend High Holidays at Shaarei Tikvah free of charge. There will be warm and nurturing children's services on both days of Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. Telephone: 472-2013, Email: synagogue@shaareitikvah.org, Web: www.shaareitikvah.org

Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El takes pride in the creative and innovative programs of its religious school, its Mazel Tots® pre-school and its diverse adult education activities – all aimed at fostering a sense of ruach (Jewish spirit). The clergy and educators at Scarsdale Synagogue, one of Westchester's leading Reform Jewish congregations, strive to achieve a love of Jewish learning among their students, with particular emphasis on engendering and strengthening pride in being Jewish among children and their parents. They use 21st century technology to teach the relevance of the texts and traditions of Judaism, helping to make religious school engaging and fun. They also have crossover programming with active youth groups for all ages. The schools strongly reflect Scarsdale Synagogue's warm and welcoming approach to creating shared lives and real relationships. They invite members of the wider Westchester Jewish community, of all ages, to stop by and learn more about their commitment to lifelong Jewish learning. Contacts are: Rabbi Wendy Pein, Director of Congregational Learning, 914-725-5175, ext. 121 (RabbiPein@sstte.org); Jody Glassman, Director, Early Childhood Program at914-725-5175, ext. 119 (mazeltotssstte@gmail.com) or Roberta Aronovitch, Executive Director, at 914-725-5175, ext. 116 (roberta@sstte.org).

College Application Services:

Uniquely U. guarantees that its 3-step writing process will guide you to collect, connect, and convey your unique self-defining narrative, empowering you to envision, then actualize, your personal, academic and professional calling. FIND YOUR NARRATIVE; WRITE YOUR FUTURE! Free consultation. Full application package or by the hour. Services include: core essay / personal statement, custom formatted activity sheets / resumes, short answer, "perfect match" template, help with any / all other application essays (long and short) for law-, medical-, MBA-, graduate-, boarding-school and transfer students, teacher recommendation work-ups, college visit / interview prep, waitlist letters, online and long-distance sessions, read-overs, expertise with college-bound ADD/LD students. Contact: Maxene Fabe Mulford , College Essay Consultants, 55 Riverside Avenue, Stamford, CT 06905, www.uuessay.com • 1-866-UUESSAY -Cell: 203.219.7653

The JCC Academic Center offers a series of classes, lectures and workshops designed to help students through the entire college application process. The Center's fall schedule includes a wide array of programs including College Interview Essentials, a workshop to teach students critical interview skills to help them in both the college interview process and beyond; College Application Essay Writing workshop which focuses on writing the personal essay for college admissions, exploring what makes each student unique and working to craft a narrative to best portray one's self in college application essays; PSAT Boot Camp, which teaches students how to attack the test's critical reading, math and writing skills sections; ACT and SAT Diagnostic Tests to help students determine which test is best for them, a Common App/Activities Resume Workshop; SAT and ACT Prep classes; a lecture, Organizing and Time Management for Academic Success, Stress Management Workshops, Speed Reading and more. The very popular Inside the Admissions Office program, featuring a panel discussion among deans and directors of admissions from a variety of colleges and universities, will take place on Monday, October 6, 7:30-9:00pm.

For dates, fees and other information click here, or contact Lisa Itzkowitz, Director, JCC Academic Center at 914-472-3300, ext. 275; itzkowitzl@jccmw.org. Pre-registration is required for all Academic Center lectures and workshops. Let us know that you read about the JCC Academic Center on Scarsdale10583.com and receive 10% off any Fall 2014 JCC Academic Center program.

Sports:

Backyard Sports Prep Basketball is now accepting registrations for all 3rd-9th graders to participate in our Fall Basketball League. The program takes place at Purchase College on Sundays. For more information go to: www.byardsports.com or call Danny Bernstein at 914-304-4052.

Tae Kwon Do: Grandmaster Bruce and Master Susan Chung have been teaching Tae Kwon Do for 21 years. Children have loads of fun in their supercharged classes designed to build strength, stamina, coordination, and flexibility. Parents are thrilled to see their children gain confidence, self-esteem, and focus. Their Gym-Mini Kick-it Program offers Mommy and Me classes for 1-3 year olds and Open Gym for 1 to 5 year olds. They also offer Adult Tae Kwon Do and Fitness Programs. Call anytime for a free trial class or to sign up for fall classes. Bruce Chung's Tae Kwon Do, 250 Halstead Avenue, Harrison, NY 10528, 914-835-0665 www.brucechung.com.

Chelsea Piers Connecticut: Our 400,000 sq.-ft. cutting-edge sports complex provides world-class facilities, expert instruction and the most exciting sports curriculum available – all under one roof. Sports facilities include: two ice rinks, an Olympic-sized pool, a Splash Zone water park, 12 squash courts, 7 tennis courts, baseball/softball and gymnastics training centers, a Field House with a 100-yard indoor turf field for soccer, lacrosse and field hockey, Aacer Maplewood basketball and volleyball courts, a preschool and child care center, a pro shop, a cafe and a restaurant.

Fall programs include a wide range of sports classes for children ages 4 months to 18 years, Chelsea Piers Athletic Club competitive teams and Adult Leagues in basketball, ice hockey, soccer and volleyball. Memberships are available for families, single adults and youth, and members will soon have access to a 65,000 sq.-ft. state-of-the-art fitness center and clubhouse, scheduled to open late fall of 2014. Chelsea Piers Connecticut also offers a wide range of birthday party options, including Splash Zone and Adventure Center (Trampoline & Rock Climbing) parties. Chelsea Piers is also a popular spot for sports-themed Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Contact Chelsea Piers by phone at 203.989.1000, email at: info@chelseapiersct.com or visit www.chelseapiersct.com.

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Education at the JCC of Mid-Westchester: Feeding the Minds and Bodies. Pre-school learners all benefit from the full service nursery schools, fitness and sports facilities and professional teaching staff throughout the JCC .... a year round indoor pool, fitness programs, arts programs and Special needs programs. The JCC's Summer Art Center (SAC), a one of a kind program that provides a non-competitive, nurturing and flexible environment for all children with a passion for the Arts, continues throughout the year! Classes are all taught by professional artists and teachers and offers high quality instruction in Fine Arts, Dance, Theatre and Music. This year we have added a brand new dance studio for our ever-popular Dance programs. The Dance School provides extensive programs for pre-schoolers, teens, and adults. Theatre School teaches Musical Theatre performance. Contact Julie Dorfman at the JCC for a tour: dorfmanj@jccmw.org or 914-472-3300 or visit the web at www.jccmw.org.

Parties:

LIFE The Place To Be, Westchester's ultimate party destination. 29,000 square feet of fun and excitement, featuring Arcade/Video games, Rock climbing, Laser Tag, Mini Bowling, Huge Soft Play Structure and more! LIFE's Birthday Party Packages are all inclusive. Make LIFE simple, Let LIFE do it all! www.lifetheplacetobe.com.

Arts:

Clay Art Center at 40 Beech Street in Port Chester offers weekly youth and teen classes after school and on the weekend at home in Port Chester and in their White Plains Satellite classroom in partnership with ArtsWestchester. Adult and family classes are also available including Friday night Cladies Nights, Mommy & Me and Saturday Drop-in Clay Classes. Participants have fun and get their hand dirty. www.clayartcenter.org

Digital Arts Experience: The Digital Arts Experience, located at 170 Hamilton Avenue in White Plains, is launching a number of new and exciting classes, while bringing back all of the popular programs from last year. Classes are available for ages 6 and up and include Lego Robotics, 2D & 3D animation, 3D Printing, Computer Programming for all ages and skill levels, Digital Music Classes, and much, much more. The DAE is also launching our exciting new mobile computer lab, which will bring 99% of the classes offered at The DAE to you! Programs run after school, Monday through Friday starting at 4:00 PM and on Saturdays all day. For more information visit thedae.com.

Jacob Burns Film Center: This fall, the JBFC Theater is screening two family films: Patema Inverted on Sept. 13, 14, 20, 21 and Disney's Bears on Oct. 5. At the Media Arts Lab, the JBFC is offering courses and weekend workshops for students of all ages. There is also a free Media Maker Festival for all ages at the Media Arts Lab on Sat. Oct 25 from 10am-1pm. Experience hands-on projects from stop-motion animation and light-painting to iPhone photography lessons and a visual scavenger hunt challenge. For more information visit burnsfilmcenter.org or call 914.773.7663. Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road, Pleasantville, 10570, Media Arts Lab, 405 Manville Road, Pleasantville, 10570.

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Written by: Jocelyn Kenner

Published: 18 August 2014

Created: 18 August 2014

Last Updated: 19 August 2014

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Our youngest child is starting college this fall and there is no shortage of articles explaining how parents can successfully transition into being "Empty Nesters". I confess that I have eagerly devoured each article and feel better equipped for this new stage of life and all of the emotions and changes that accompany it.

Recently one of my long-time clients (I will call her Liz) asked me a personal question that stopped me dead in my tracks.... Liz asked, "what will you do with your children's bedrooms now that they are out of the house?" Wait - no article had advised me on that aspect! I told Liz I needed to think that through and get back to her. While pondering this tough question I came to the conclusion that there is no canned answer, or "correct approach" to dealing with bedrooms vacated by beloved offspring and filled with a lifetime of memories and belongings. Each family needs to find a solution that is unique to them and works for their needs.

As a Professional Organizer, I help clients establish organizing solutions that enable then to live comfortably in their homes; these solutions are customized to my clients' particular needs. So while one client is thrilled to finally have all her t-shirts stored in a drawer since they used to live in a pile on the floor, another client whose t-shirts always lived in a drawer now wants them categorized by color and sleeve length so she can locate an appropriate shirt at a glance.

The next time I saw Liz I happily reported that I had an answer to her question. I reminded her that my answer is unique to me and may not fit another family's need or situation. I explained my approach. Afterwards it occurred to me that since none of the articles on being an empty nester dealt with this question I should share my perspective with the hope of lending insight to others who are at this stage.

DISCLAIMER: If you are short on space, or the departing child shared a room with a younger sibling then the ideas described below are not helpful and a different approach needs to be considered. Conversely, if you have an abundance of space and you are perfectly content to keep your child's room as is, then my advice is moot.

College Undergraduate:

When your child is an undergraduate at an out-of-town college, I say keep his room as is until he finishes his undergraduate education. Most undergrads come home for holidays and summer breaks. Returning to a familiar bedroom filled with personal belongings is quite comforting, especially during this transient time of life that often involves living in tiny, shared spaces. That said, it is perfectly reasonable to insist that the room be left clean and organized while he is away so it can be used for overnight guests, or as an office, workout, or hobby space for a parent, etc.

College Graduate:

Once your child has graduated from college and is living away from home, now is an appropriate time to consider redecorating and/or repurposing her bedroom. I do feel it is important to engage your adult child in a conversation about the impending changes to his room. While she is old enough to understand that her room should be utilized and enjoyed by other members of the family, it demonstrates a sense of respect and sensitivity to involve her in the changes. The dialogue between parent and child becomes essential so a happy compromise can be agreed on by all. Set time aside to go through the room together to decide what stays and what goes and where/how items will donated or handed-down.* There may be sentimental items (stuffed animals, books, trophies, etc.) that she would like to have boxed up and kept in long term storage (attic, rented storage unit, etc.), or moved to her current home. I recommend having a small, designated space in the room for your adult child to store some clothes and toiletries so that when she visits she has a home base with a few necessities on hand. I also suggest identifying a small bookcase or shelf in the redesigned room to store and/or display some of her treasured childhood items for her perusing (framed photos or photo albums, high school diploma and yearbook, souvenirs from a favorite trip, etc.). These small gestures go a long way in anchoring and valuing her place in the family, acknowledging her former bedroom, and welcoming her back to "the nest."

*Never throw out your adult child's belongings without consulting her first. What appears to you to be trash could be treasured by your child. If she lives far away, consider a Skype session or FaceTime. You could also box-up everything in the room with the expectation that she will go through it the next time she visits. It's okay to put a deadline on how long you will keep the boxes before they are donated, discarded, or moved to a storage unit that SHE will pay for. Be reasonable with the deadline, but do stick to it and remind your adult child periodically of the impending deadline. This can be a very motivating tactic.

So as our son departs for his freshman year in college he will leave behind a clean bedroom, but one that is entirely his. I may use it as my temporary yoga and meditation room, we will see..... As for our daughter, she begins a graduate program this fall and continues to live away from home. We will slowly and cooperatively make some modifications to her bedroom. Replacing her single bed with a spacious queen-sized bed seems to get a universal thumbs up. I could take over some of her closet space so I no longer need to climb the folding stairs to the attic to store my out of season clothes. That's it for now because as all the articles on empty nesting have advised, this is not the time to be making any drastic changes in my life. Now is my opportunity to focus on myself, enjoy time spent with my husband and friends, and a chance to pursue my passions and hobbies. Frankly, changing her bedroom is low on my list of interests at this point.

Jocelyn is a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization). Jocelyn has been helping Westchester residents organize their homes for the past seven years. Jocelyn is skilled at identifying her clients needs and implementing personalized, useful, and painless ways to manage the contents of their homes. A mother of two grown children who have left the nest, Jocelyn lives in Scarsdale, NY with her husband and three cats. Jocelyn can be reached at Jocelyn@kenner.org or www.seeyourwayclear.com.

Jocelyn will be presenting a workshop through the Scarsdale Adult School, "The Ten Commandments for Organizing Your Home", on Wednesday, September 17th at 7:30 PM. Click here to learn more and sign up. 

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 10 August 2014

Created: 10 August 2014

Last Updated: 10 August 2014

Hits: 6087

Beth El Synagogue Center has announce that it's USY (United Synagogue Youth), chapter has been recognized by the national board, as Chapter of the Year. USY plays an integral role in the lives of many of Westchester's teens. It provides them with a sense of leadership, accomplishment, spirituality, and most of all, friendship. Beth El USYers have gone above and beyond in the past year, engaging other teens to join the chapter and adding to the prominence of USY in the community. Some of the activities include: coordinating teen Shabbat experiences, reaching out to the larger Westchester/Rockland community through social action projects, attending USY Summer Programs (like USY on Wheels and USY Israel Pilgrimage) and more. "I am so excited that our chapter, along with their inspirational USY Advisor, Bekkah Gold, has been recognized as Koach USY's Chapter of the Year. Even our youngest teens have stepped up to take on leadership roles," said Executive Director, Erica Leventhal. She added, "We have long known that the teen years represent a critical period of identity development on the journey to adulthood. When young people engage in effective Jewish learning experiences as adolescents, they are more likely to choose to live vibrant spiritual lives as adults."

Beth El Synagogue Center continues to explore creative approaches to ongoing year-round Jewish learning experiences, leadership programs, service and civic engagement, and laying the foundation for lifelong friendships. Chapter President Adam Burton added, "This past year, Beth El USY revamped its programming and has attracted many teens who are excited about becoming more involved in USY and the Beth El Community. I think that this award truly attests to the progress we've achieved this year and how bright the future is for our chapter."

Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle is an active, thriving community that provides a wide range of religious, educational, social and community activities for all ages, allowing congregants engage our Jewish heritage and explore all aspects of Jewish life. Visit their website here.