Fool Me Once.....
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You know the old adage, “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” In my case it could be rewritten, “Fool me five times, because you know I am a fool.”
In my latest tale of woe, my youngest daughter was intent on celebrating her nineteenth birthday with a party at our house. Due to her summer birthday, this was the first year she would be home to celebrate. She has always felt that her big day was not properly recognized in the dog days of summer.
My husband and I are willing hosts and enjoy throwing parties. We have fun planning menus, cooking unusual dishes and inviting friends to share our home. It only seemed fair to give my daughter equal time and honor her walk into adulthood with a nice soiree for her new group of college friends and her old set from Scarsdale.
Ever wary, my husband warned me over and over that this civilized evening of food and fun could easily degenerate from festivity to debauchery. Determined to prove him wrong I tried to negotiate the guest list with my daughter and got repeated assurances from her that the roster was limited to trustworthy friends and “good kids.” We even went as far as to order a big box of party favors, hoping to keep the kids occupied and out of trouble. Since some of her college friends would be driving from the city, Long Island and New Jersey, she asked if a few could stay over and I agreed to that as well.
In the days before the party, the heat dome converged on us and the trips to the party story, Costco and the bakery were more difficult that we had imagined. Hoisting $500 of groceries and soda in and out of the car in 100 degree heat was taxing. Though we planned to party outside, the oppressive heat caused us to move it indoors.
After a full day of cooking and set-up, the big night arrived. Early guests were polite; introducing themselves, shaking hands and thanking us for the invitation. A second wave of guests arrived and the house started to hum. My husband retreated to the patio to cook over 30 pounds of steak, chicken and shrimp, running in and out of the house to cool down. While the meat cooked, he doused himself under the hose and by the time the food was done he looked like he had run a marathon.
Despite the effort, we were happy to see 50 kids line up and load their plates. There seemed to be ample room to sit for dinner and as everyone ate I thought for once I had proved my husband wrong. This party was going well. We moved outside to sing happy birthday, light up sparklers and revel. The evening appeared to be a success.
However, little did we know, that while we were cleaning up in the kitchen, a big crowd of local friends had arrived through the basement door. We were so busy clearing tables, tossing cups and loading the dishwasher, that we didn’t hear the roar from downstairs until it was too late.
A rowdy group of teens was downstairs honoring a longtime tradition and playing a game I can’t mention on the site on our ping-pong table. There were sounds of screaming and sloshing…. sounds we recognized from the days our older son pulled the same stunt. By the time we asked my daughter to clear the basement it was trashed. My heart sunk when I saw the puddles, a trampled, filthy, wet rug, a sticky floor, and garbage everywhere.
In that one glance my happiness evaporated. A joyful night had turned into another disappointing display of bad manners. I was surprised all over again by the guests disregard for our home, and ultimately for us. Though I can’t be sure, it appeared that the culprits were the kids from Scarsdale, not the visitors who had travelled far to get here. I don’t know what other Scarsdale parents tolerate in their own basements, but I sure hope my daughter doesn’t act the way her guests did when she is invited to their houses.
It seems to me that parents in Scarsdale are pre-occupied with underage drinking… but shouldn’t they really be worried about behavior? What has become of manners? Isn’t it time we demanded some civility from our kids?
The author wishes to remain anonymous to protect her daughter's identity.
Fun on the Fourth at the Scarsdale Pool
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July 4th at the Scarsdale Pool It was a day for fun and game at the Scarsdale Pool on Monday July 4th. Under sunny skies kids enjoyed huge inflatables like the race car slide and the bouncy castle – while others played water basketball, tether ball and sprung off the high dive. Lifeguards were on hand to keep it safe and to paint kids faces and hands in patriotic colors. Elmo stopped by and was greeted with a smile by all. Take a look at our photo gallery of pics from the pool.
Photos by Lindsay LeBoyer
E Club Raising Funds for New Team Lockers
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The E Club, a group of dedicated parents, is raising funds to renovate the team locker rooms at Edgemont High School. Founded in 1950, this booster organization supports Edgemont athletic programs and fosters community spirit. Funding from the E Club helps Edgemont athletes be the best they can be when they train and compete.
The current team locker room is under-utilized and in desperate need of new lockers. The proposed new space will be lined with lockers that will adequately store the students’ athletic gear. The new space will be utilized by both the Edgemont student athletes and visiting teams. The E Club will provide partial funding for this capital improvement which will include 60 lockers at a cost of $300 each. The E Club has already pledged $6,000 and is looking for sponsors to complete this project. They are already about 2/3rds of the way there after a mass mailing went out last month to parents. Ideally they would like to complete the project before the school year begins in September. Community members interested in contributing can send in donations to Sheldon Glassman, E Club Membership, 9 Warnke Lane, Scarsdale, NY 10583. As a special incentive to contribute, there will be a plaque outside the locker room thanking families for their contributions to this project.
The E Club is also planning an evening of fun family entertainment at its second annual Family Mini Golf Night. Save the date for
Please visit E Club's informative website for news of their ongoing fundraising efforts and upcoming events. During the school year, the site also has weekly sports schedules and updates for all the junior and senior high school teams.
Free Summertime Playgroup at WRT
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Westchester Reform Temple Early Childhood Center (WRT ECC) is hosting a free Bagels & Babies program this summer. This informal playgroup is designed for moms, dads, caregivers and grandparents to have a cool place for their babies to play during the hot summer months. The drop-in program will take place 9:30– 10:30 AM on Mondays, July 11, 18, 25 and August 1, and on Wednesdays, July 6, 13, 20, 27, concluding on August 3.
“This special program is just one more way for us to help serve the families in our community,” says ECC Director, Susan Tolchin. “We are excited to have a safe, cool place for babies, parents, grandparents and caregivers to meet-up and play!” The program is sponsored by the Early Childhood Center and The PJ Library® at WRT.
Bagels & Babies is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. All sessions take place at Westchester Reform Temple Early Childhood Center’s Library at 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY. For more information, please call the Early Childhood Center office at 914-723-7727, visit www.wrtemple.org, or e-mail questions to Anna Stampfli at anna@joshstampfli.com.
Kids Learn Essential Safety Skills
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We all know it is important to teach and protect children from danger. First Responders and other safety professionals heeded the call for community volunteers from the Junior League of Central Westchester last week for the popular Safety Town camp program held for incoming Kindergarteners from this area. Scarsdale Synagogue-Tremont Temple hosted the event promoting early-childhood safety education.
Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SVAC), Scarsdale Fire Department, Scarsdale Police Department, a life guard and bus driver each spent a morning demonstrating basic safety procedures. Kids climbed inside the ambulance to learn about making a sling for a broken arm, using a blood pressure device and heart stethoscope, and sounded the sirens. Scarsdale Fire came with trucks and hoses, and the Smoke Trailer simulated a house fire and escape routes. The police discussed stranger safety and that guns are not toys! “Who do you call in an emergency,” asked the First Responders? The kid’s reply “911”!
This year an additional 18 children from the Family Services of Westchester Head Start program attended Safety Town with the cost 
generously underwritten by local businesses. Lead sponsors, Scarsdale Security Systems, Inc. and State Farm Insurance Vivian Lem, facilitated equipment and countless resources towards the kids. David Raizen, President, Scarsdale Security Systems Inc., commented “Safety and security are our business and it’s great to be part of this teachable moment with the kids.”
The Junior League of Central Westchester is an organization of women from Scarsdale, White Plains, Greenburgh and Eastchester addressing projects to the needs of the community. They provide training, leadership, funding and promote volunteering for life. The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to volunteerism.
Information provided by Angela Manson, licensed real estate salesperson with Prudential Centennial, Scarsdale. Manson volunteers with local civic organizations and often writes about the community. She welcomes and assists buyers and sellers in Scarsdale and neighboring communities. She may be reached at 914-420-9878 or amanson@prucentennial.com. Visit their website at: www.scarsdalebesthomes.com
