What To Do With The Kids During February Break
- Details
- Hits: 5570
Still looking for an idea to keep the kids happy during February break? Here are a couple of Presidents’ Week camp ideas in Westchester and one in nearby Norwalk that you might not have heard about. Many of the programs offer daily options so don’t forget to ask if a whole week of camp is not what you’re after.
Also, if you don’t have plans to go to Vermont or Aspen to ski, and want to go locally, here are a few mountains that will keep the majority of kids (and parents) happy. Make sure you call or check websites before you go to get up-to-the-minute snow conditions.
Break Camps:
Beczak Environmental Education Center is holding a winter recess camp “Chillin’Out With Nature” centering on nature and environmental issues from 10:00 am-2:00 pm February 21-24 for ages 8-11. $200 for four-day program/$60 per day. 35 Alexander Street Yonkers, NY (914) 377-1900 www.beczak.org .
Stone Barn Center for Food and Agriculture offers a four-day farm experience including caring for plants and animals, egg collecting, harvesting in the greenhouse and tapping maple trees (think maple syrup!). Campers also explore Rockefeller State Park, make seasonal crafts and create farm-fresh snacks. 9 am-3 pm February 21-24. For children in grades 1-5. $288 members, $320 non-members. Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture 630 Bedford Rd., Pocantico Hills (914) 366-6200 www.stonebarnscenter.org .
Pottery on Hudson is running a winter break camp February 21-24. Each day the instructor will teach hand building and wheel throwing techniques. Both functional and sculptural techniques will be taught. Mornings (9 am-12 pm) are set aside for ages 6-9 with ages 10+ attending 1 pm-4 pm. $225 Pottery on Hudson 145 Palisade Street Dobbs Ferry (914) 478-2762 www.potteryonhudson.com .
Katonah Art Center runs a President’s Week camp February 21-25 with morning sessions (9:30 am-12:30 pm), afternoon sessions (12:45 pm-3:45 pm) and full day. There is also an extended day option (8:30 am-9:30 am). Half days ($335), full days ($560). Students will work with a variety of materials including clay, painting, drawing, computers, and arts and crafts. Katonah Art Center 131 Bedford Road Katonah, NY (914) 343-4843 www.katonahartcenter.com .
Pelham Art Center organizes an Art Makers Workshop February 20-24 for ages 4-10 from 9:30 am to 2 pm. Students will explore 3 different art activities with professional artists each day. Painting, drawing, mask making, tie dye, felting, collage, paper mache, clay, puppets and bookmaking are some of the activities. $338 for non-members/$304 for members. Also available on a per-day basis $77/$69. 155 Fifth Avenue Pelham, NY (914) 738-2525 www.pelhamartcenter.org .
In nearby Norwalk, The Maritime Aquarium hosts a Winter Vacation Adventures camp February 20-24 for ages 6-9 and a Jr. Marine Biologist camp for ages 9-12. The program is filled with age-appropriate crafts, experiments and animal encounters related to a different daily topic. Programs meet from 9:30 am-4:30 pm each day. In the Junior Marine Biologist program, students set up, stock, feed and maintain a group aquarium display of Long Island Sound marine life in a healthy, sustainable habitat. They use water chemistry meters to monitor water quality and grow brine shrimp to feed to the aquarium animals, and participate in squid and fish dissections. 10 North Water Street Norwalk, CT (203) 852-0700x2206 www.maritimeaquarium.org.
Local Ski Mountains
Mt. Peter, in nearby Warwick, New York, is offering free beginner lessons during Presidents’ Week. According to the 
website, they have tons of snow and make snow each night. The mountain is compact and it is easy to walk from the parking lot to the ski slopes. There is a glass walled building right next to the ski runs where non-skiers can relax and parents can watch their kids go up and down the mountain with tons of seating and picnic tables. 40 Ski Lane Warwick, NY (845) 986-4940 www.mtpeter.com .
Catamont, which straddles the Massachusetts/New York border, has 31 trails open and 4 lifts running (subject to change) and blows snow every night. Catamont offers a variety of programs to get kids out skiing including the 4th and 5th Graders Club, which was designed to encourage elementary school kids to put down the video controllers and get active. To cut down on costs, complete their online rental form and bring it to the ticket window to save $5 off equipment rental or package. State Route 23 East Hillsdale NY (518) 325-3200 www.catamontski .
Jiminy Peak is an easy drive for great local skiing. In addition to skiing and riding, Jiminy’s Mountain Coaster is one of only a handful in the entire nation and is the only one in the North East. Popular in Europe, the Coaster is 3,600 feet of twisting, turning fun through the woods with speeds up to 25 mph. They have been blowing snow every night, so conditions should be good. Like them on Facebook for ecoupons and special promotions. To make the whole ski trip experience easier, during holidays and weekends, Jiminy offers valet parking for stress-free drop off and parking. Also worth a visit for their great breakfasts and sugar house (very interesting) is Ioka Valley Farm www.iokavalleyfarm.com right down the road (413) 738-5915. Jiminy Peak l37 Corey Road Hancock, MA (413) 738-5500 www.JiminyPeak.com .
Butternut in Great Barrington offers something for everyone. In addition to skiing (22 trails open and 2 terrain parks) and riding, there is family-friendly tubing (2 hours for $18). After skiing go into Great Barring for some great pizza at Baba Louie’s (www.babalouiessourdoughpizzacompany.com) and ice cream at SoCoCreamery (www.sococreamery.com). Ski Butternut 380 State Road, Route 23 Great Barrington, MA (413) 528.2000 www.skibutternut.com.
Scarsdale Little League Announces Spring Season
- Details
- Hits: 4608
Registration for the spring season of Scarsdale Little League (SLL) is now open for in-house grade-based leagues as well as its newly-expanded slate of selective age based travel teams for players in grades 5-8. The largest independent sports organization in Scarsdale, SLL fields nearly 90 teams and 1,200 participants from K-8th grade.
Their in-house program is available to all players from Kindergarten through 8th grade. K-4 players will play in non-stratified leagues exclusively within their own grades. K-2 teams are organized by elementary school while 3rd and 4th grade teams will include a mix of players from different elementary schools. For the 2012 program, 5th and 6th grader will play together, separated into two stratified leagues, known as the Atlantic League (upper league), which requires tryouts, and the Pacific League. New age-based travel teams have been introduced this year; however all 5th and 6th graders seeking to play travel are required to play in the in-house leagues in order to maintain the integrity and competitiveness of the program. This year, 7th and 8th graders will play together in one non-stratified Junior League and travel players have the option to choose between programs.
Based on continued demand for more competitive outlets and more baseball SLL has expanded its travel league options.. Each travel team will be led by a professional coach and will play against teams that are primarily from Southern Westchester organized by the Westchester Baseball Association. While the teams’ age requirements generally have players of the same grade playing together, the rosters will be filled by merit within the age limitations rather than strict grade adherence. SLL will now field age-based teams for 11U (11 and under, as of April 30), 12U, 13U and possibly 14U depending upon demand.
SLL has expanded tryouts to give the players more time and opportunities with professional, unaffiliated evaluators. Tryouts for both the in-house leagues and travel teams will be held on March 11 and March 18 at the Underdome facility in Mount Vernon. Players interested in playing in the 5-6th grade Atlantic League or joining a travel team are required to attend both tryout sessions. More information about scheduling can be found at SLL’s new website at www.scarsdalelittleleague.com .
SLL is offering businesses and individuals the opportunity to sponsor teams and/or the League, with proceeds used principally to improve the conditions of the playing fields and enhance the program and facilities. Team Sponsorship offers the sponsor the following: company name on the back of team uniforms, a signed team photo at the end of the season, and an advertisement link on the SLL website. Team Sponsorship costs $250 for K-2nd grade team (Minor League) and $400 for 3-8th grade team (Major League), with a discount for multiple team sponsorship: 2 Minor League teams and 2 Major League teams for $1,200.
Look for more information on their newly-redesigned website at www.scarsdalelittleleague.com for scheduling, team communications, and other information throughout the regular season and playoffs.
Parents interested in managing, coaching, or simply volunteering to help out their player’s team can register with the league while registering their player on the website or sending an email to coaching@scarsdalelittleleague.com.
Given the rush into winter break, the SLL Board has decided to EXTEND REGULAR REGISTRATION until February 28th, with late registration running through March 9th (Tryouts scheduled for March 11). Sign up now on the SLL website at www.scarsdalelittleleague.com.
Announcing the Synagogue Soccer League
- Details
- Hits: 4468
The JCC of Mid-Westchester and Backyard Sports will partner in the launch of a new Synagogue Indoor Soccer League (SISL) for boys and girls, grades 4-8, this spring. "The premise of this new league is similar to the Jewish Basketball League (JBL) where teams are comprised of kids from surrounding synagogues", said Danny Bernstein, Founder and Owner of Backyard Sports. "This new league will give kids a chance to play soccer with their friends without the stress of tryouts and intense practice schedules.”
The teams will be divided by grade and gender and all games will be played indoors at Purchase College. The season will begin on Thursday, April 19 and will consist of 6 weeks of regular season play followed by playoffs . Game will be played between 7 and 9pm. All games are 6v6 including goalie and all games are officiated by trained, adult referees. The league is being promoted to area synagogues to encourage them to form their own teams, though independent teams are also welcome. Organizers hope to have ## teams involved this first season.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Backyard Sports on this new program", said John O'Brien, Director of Sports & Fitness at the JCC. "Our two organizations complement each other well. Backyard Sports was able to secure the indoor facilities at Purchase College, and also has a network of referees already in place. In addition, Danny is well-connected to the local sports community through Backyard Sports. We (the JCC) are marketing and administering the program and together we will be reaching out to synagogues for them to get involved by forming teams and participating in the league" O'Brien added.
Backyard Sports was founded in 2005 by Danny Bernstein of Scarsdale. Since then, Backyard Sports has been the leading provider of community team sports programs in Westchester County. Their unique approach combines the highest level of instruction with equal emphasis on human development skills.
The Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, a proud beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community by providing cultural, social, educational and recreational/fitness programs, human services and Jewish identity-building opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds. For more information contact John O'Brien, Director, Sports & Fitness/Facilities and the JCC of Mid-Westchester 472-3300, x329, obrienj@jccmw.org.
UJA Teens Feed the Homeless and Girls Scouts Fight Flu
- Details
- Hits: 4834
More than 160 Westchester teens came together at UJA-Federation of New York offices in White Plains to sort and pack donated food, enough to feed more than 2,000 homeless and underprivileged people in the area for a month. While these teen volunteers checked expiration dates, grouping and packing food by category, they experienced how together as a community they can make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
The teens were participating in UJA-Federation’s Families Feeding Families, a collaborative effort involving more than 31 Westchester synagogues, area Jewish Community Centers, teen groups, community organizations, and individuals. The donated food went to clients at Westchester Jewish Community Services and the food pantry run by the Bronx Jewish Community Council, both UJA-Federation beneficiary agencies.
Liz Schnitzer and Stephanie Tessler of Scarsdale and their daughters, Kate Schnitzer and Marlee Baumberg, chaired this effort.
“Families Feeding Families is the ultimate team effort of committed individuals, organizations, and synagogues working toward a common goal,” says Tessler. “It's amazing to see the kids at work during the afternoon of sorting and packing. They take such pride in the work they’re doing and in the knowledge that they’re making a difference for their neighbors in need.”
The food sorting and packing took place in conjunction with UJA-Federation’s Super Sunday phone-a-thon, a day on which volunteers and staff make more than 1,000 phone calls, raising funds to sustain the activities of more than 100 health, human-service, educational, and community agencies that change lives. For more information, please visit www.ujafedny.org.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scarsdale Girl Scout Hannah Cooperman has created a fun, hands-on curriculum to educate children about influenza. The curriculum teaches how to prevent, recognize, and treat the flu. Hannah created the program as a Girl Scout Gold Award project and trained fellow Scarsdale High School tenth graders Angela Chang, Helen Clapp, Julia Cotter, Veronica Dickson, Nicolai Ferraris , Marc Hersch, Brittany Kaplan, and Sophia Marques to implement the program, which was successfully piloted with White Plains Girl Scout Troop 8003 on Friday, January 27th. Organizations interested in the program should visit https://sites.google.com/site/gsflufighters/
Scarsdale Middle School’s Music Star Scores Honorable Mention in Statewide Contest
- Details
- Hits: 5972
Scarsdale middle school student Sam Rosner hears music everywhere. Car horns, cell phones and even symphonies wake him from his dreams wake at night. What Sam has is a gift. And when he puts his talent to work, as he often does, it's a gift that gives back.
“I can hear a dog bark and tell you what note it is,” explains the Scarsdale 8th-grader nonchalantly, as if having perfect pitch- which he has- is something just a bit extra than normal. Sam’s sporting a blue t-shirt and jeans on a freezing Tuesday afternoon when I caught up with him after school. He also has a soft cast on his wrist thanks to a basketball injury. “The best part about this award is that professionals really look and critique my work. I love the feedback. It was actually sort of a surprise that I got that far in the competition. I sort of just entered to see what it was like,” explains Sam about the award.
Sam’s healthy sense of self, one that is well beyond his years, perhaps comes from his confidence in his natural ability and a big support system.
As Sam’s mother, Carol recalls, she first noticed his musical ability when he was a toddler. A day after a Passover Seder, 2-year-old Sam was able to sing all the songs from the service in Hebrew, and on pitch. At first she thought he had an amazing memory but soon she started to see that the talent and passion was the music. As a young child Sam showed a love of music, conducting symphonies using his favorite musical toys.
As Carol tells it, the real breakthrough came when Sam was in the second grade. That year, Dace Aperans, who is now a music teacher at Quaker Ridge, was filling in at Heathcote where Sam attended school. She noticed something in Sam’s singing voice and told his parents that he should try out for the Met.
A bit overwhelmed by the prospect of having her 7-year-old son jump right into the deep end and try out for the New York Metropolitan Opera, Carol Rosner had him try out for some local theater instead. Sam loved it. He loved singing and he thrived on stage. So, when he was 8 he tried out for the Met. His first performance was the following season, a solo no less, at age 9.
For over three years Sam sung at the Metropolitan Opera. He had solos in War and Peace, The Magic Flute, and the full-length German version, Die Zauberflöte. He also sang the role of the shepherd in Tosca and other solos at a number of Met Opera fundraisers. At the Metropolitan Opera, Samuel performed in Carmen, La Gioconda, La Damnation de Faust, Pagliacci, Hansel and Gretel, and Macbeth. Sam was also a featured singer at Madison Square Garden, and one of a small group of soloists at a Mets game at CitiField.
“It was exhilarating and exhausting,” says Carol of Sam’s time at the Met. “We wouldn’t get home some nights until after midnight and Sam would go to school the next day.” But seeing her son excel in this type of environment was exciting too.
When Sam was 13, he had his Bobby Brady moment and his voice changed. He could no longer sing like he used to and couldn’t complete his last season at the Met. I asked his mother if this change crushed Sam. She said that as a parent she was worried about him as well, but according to her, Sam was upset for a grand total of about one day. He then picked himself up and moved on.
Sam got very involved in singing groups. The cantor at his temple suggested that he join the international HaZamir choir which lead to performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Sam also sang the American and Israeli National Anthems at the Friends of the Israel Defense Force gala. Last summer he performed in Colorado at the Crested Butte Music Festival in the adult chorus of Carmen. He is currently studying voice with a member of the faculty at Julliard.
A great voice and perfect pitch is lucky, but it’s more than that with Sam. The music is always with him. If he isn’t singing, or playing piano (which he’s mostly self-taught) he’s writing it down. He says he gets up in the middle of the night because he needs to write music. He says he’s obsessed with music. He listens to a lot of classical music, but his interests range from rock to Jewish music. He started composing at 8 but this is his first award in composing.
Dace Aperans, who first recommended Sam to audition for the Met, is a composer in her own right. She has become a family friend and brought the NYSSMA contest to Sam’s attention.
With the support and sponsorship of the Middle School’s music department chair, Dr. Constance Shelengian, Sam composed an atonal Toccata he wrote for the piano. He has composed two orchestral works, and most recently, a liturgical, choral piece.
You’d probably expect with all these accolades, that Sam would be a bit of what they call in the music world, a ‘divo.’ Sam is the furthest thing from it. Friendly, outgoing and kind with lots of friends, Dr. Shelengian says that he supports the other kids in chorus to sing and try new things with their voices and doesn’t hog the spotlight.
“It’s a big boost for our program to have Sam. He has expanded our range and he’s really their rock and their leader. “
Sam also uses his talent to help others. Carol says her son loves doing charitable things as it relates to music, be it the FDIF work he’s been involved in or even singing in nursing homes.
I asked Sam about musicians he admires and he replied, “There are a lot of artists I love to listen to, but I want to be my own person when it comes to music.”
I don’t think that’ll be a problem for Sam.
Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.
