Scarsdale Coalition Raises Awareness About Domestic Violence
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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(The following was submitted to Scarsdale10583 by the Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence) Readers may notice that the majority of public violence begins at home—from Sandy Hook to the recent shooting of two police officers in Boston. Making this connection to domestic violence, the FBI hosted its first Conference on Family Violence in 2003, and the then newly formed Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence was on hand.
Family violence crosses all socioeconomic groups, religions, races, and cultures. One in four women is a victim, and statistics on men as victims are rising as more come forward. We see, as the FBI has concluded, that domestic violence is now very much an issue of public safety.
The Coalition, a community initiative including Scarsdale Police, Board of Education, Middle and High School, Scarsdale/Edgemont Family Counseling, community members, and the student group, SHS's STAR (Students Terminating Abusive Relationships), has focused on increasing public awareness about teen dating violence. For a decade, the Coalition has partnered with SHS Youth Outreach Worker Lauren Pomerantz, LCSW, to educate teens about healthy vs. abusive dating behaviors in an annual ninth-grade program and in other initiatives.
In the coming year, the Coalition is working on broadening awareness and education for high school upperclassmen and their families, and for adults in the community. In our next community event we will partner with Assemblywoman Amy Paulin to present a panel discussion following a screening of the powerful film Audrie & Daisy on November 30 at 7 pm in the Scarsdale High School Little Theater.
There's much more to be done. We want graduating seniors and parents to be especially aware of dating violence at college. This is critical, ground-breaking work. Help us send our young adults into the world prepared for rewarding intimate relationships. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a perfect time to join our effort—please contact Lauren Pomerantz (914-721-2468), as we are recruiting volunteers.
Scarsdale Coalition on Family Violence
Penny Bauersfeld, Ann Cefola, David Kroenlein, Lauren Pomerantz and Susie Rush
Longtime Scarsdale Resident Betty Orteig Passes Away at 88
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Elizabeth "Betty" Murphy Orteig, a long-time Scarsdale resident, passed away at home on October 16 after a long illness. She was 88. Betty was born October 31, 1927 in Brooklyn to the late Judge Charles E. and Elizabeth (Sawyer) Murphy.
She attended Marymount College and had a successful career in retail fashion working for Bonwit Teller, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue. Betty was an active volunteer for the American Cancer Society and was an avid tennis player and golfer. She was an established member of both the Scarsdale Golf Club and Fox Meadow Tennis club where she made lifelong friends.
Betty is survived by her children George E. Orteig Jr. and his wife Kathleen of La Quinta, CA, Elise Hunnicutt and her husband John of New Canaan, CT and Celeste Russell of Cross River, NY and four grandchildren -- Melissa C. Welch, Lauren E. McGuiness and Devin and Kathryn Russell. She is also survived by her brother Thomas Sawyer Murphy of Rye, NY. Betty was predeceased by her loving husband George in 2002 and beloved son Raymond E. in 2014.
Remembering her mother, her daughter Elise said, "While in the end cancer took her away from us, we know she has gotten her wings and is smiling down on all of us who will treasure the great memories of her with friendship and love."
A Memorial Visitation will be held Thursday from 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the Edwin L. Bennett Funeral Home in Scarsdale. A Memorial Mass will be conducted on Friday, October 21 at 10:00 AM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church also in Scarsdale.
Instead of flowers, the family would recommend donations be made in Betty's name to either the American Cancer Society or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Where to Worship for the High Holidays
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The High Holidays are upon us with Rosh Hashanah beginning on Sunday night October 1 followed by Yom Kippur, which starts on Tuesday evening October 11. Many local synagogues welcome the public to worship, even if you are not a member. Here are their schedules:
Chabad of Scarsdale will hold services for the High Holidays at The Scarsdale Woman's Club, 37 Drake Road. The schedule is as follows:
Rosh Hashanah: Sunday, October 2: Light Candles at 6:17 pm/Evening Services: 7:00 pm
Monday, October 3; Morning Services: 9:30 am/Children's Program 10:30 am/Shofar sounding 11:00 am
Tuesday, October 4: Morning Services: 9:30 am/Children's Program 10:30 am/Shofar Sounding 11:00 am
Yom Kippur :
Tuesday, October 11: Light Candles/Fast Begins 6:03 pm/Kol Nidrei: 6:00 pm
Wednesday, October 12: Morning Services: 9:30 am/Children's Program: 10: 30 am/Yizkor: 11:30 am/Afternoon Service: 5:30 pm/Fast Ends: 7:00 pm
For more information or to RSVP contact Chabad of Scarsdale at 914.527.2077 or email info@chabadofscarsdale.com. Walk-ins are welcome and services are free of charge.
High Holy Days at Congregation Kol Ami:
Over 90 years old, Congregation Kol Ami is a White Plains Reform synagogue that welcomes a broad spectrum of backgrounds, ages and lifestyles. Kol Ami worship services integrate both traditional and contemporary practices. Services are led by Rabbi Shira Milgrom, Rabbi Tom Weiner and Cantor David Rosen.
You are invited to join the following services which are open to the public:
Rosh Hashanah Family Service : October 3, 3:15 pm – 4:00 pm, Reception following
Second Day Rosh Hashanah : October 4, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Reception following
Yom Kippur Afternoon Service (Schulman Chapel): October 12, 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Yom Kippur Family Service : October 12, 3:15 – 4:00 pm
Yom Kippur Memorial and Concluding Service: October 12, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
A limited number of High Holy Days tickets are available for purchase to other services. For more information call Jess Lorden, Executive Director at 914-949-4717 x 101. Visit www.nykolami.org, or 252 Soundview Avenue, White Plains, New York 10606.
Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El is a reform, inclusive temple located in the heart of Scarsdale at 2 Ogden Road. They invite you to visit the synagogue and congregation, join them for a service and learn more by contacting our Executive Director, Roberta Aronovitch at roberta@sstte.org. All of these services are open to the public:
Erev Rosh Hashanah: Sunday, October 2: 8:00 p.m. - Evening Service
First Day Rosh Hashanah, Monday, October 3: 2:30 p.m.
High Holy Day Family Experience
Blessing for new babies
Second Day Rosh Hashanah
Tuesday, October 4
10:00 a.m. - Morning Service, Main Sanctuary
10:00 a.m. - Religious School Family Service in Hershaft Lounge
Yom Kippur: Wednesday, October 12
1:30 p.m. - High Holy Day Family Experience
3:00 p.m. - Afternoon Service
4:45 pm - Yizkor followed by Neilah and Break Fast
Looking for holiday foods and tableware from local sources? Here are just a few links to consider:
Balduccis is offering a special Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur menu from September 20 to October 15. See what you can order here:
Matt Mill Culinary Productions in Port Chester also has a special holiday menu – learn more on their Facebook Page here:
Current Home in the Golden Horseshoe has a full selection of holiday items for a sweet new year.
La Dentelliere on East Parkway in Scarsdale will be open on Sunday October 2 from 10 am to 4 pm for table top items and holiday gifts.
Shanah Tovah!
Yoga for the Body, Yoga for the Mind
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- Written by Stacie M. Waldman
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In places like Scarsdale, the big gym atmosphere seems like it's rapidly becoming replaced with boutique studios for Pilates, biking, barre and yoga. This summer I took a break from my "big gym" due to a recurring injury and ran as my form of exercise. However, I'm not so keen on running and I've had to exercise some serious restraint in order not to purchase the "0.0 I hate running" car magnet so I knew I needed to pair it with some formal class that would fulfill me mentally, spiritually, and physically. And since I was running on the Bronx River Parkway Trail, I easily discovered Here&Now Yoga+Body on Garth Road.
From the moment you enter the Here&Now studio, the vibe, the equipment, the cleanliness, and the ambiance just feel good. The Here&Now mantra is "Strong Body. Present Mind." and both my mind and body felt blissfully satisfied after a Sunday 8 AM yoga class. I felt recharged and ready to enjoy my Sunday. Even my son noticed my yoga-induced contented-state by commenting, "Hey mom, you're so all relaxed." (And I had no glass of wine in hand at 9 AM.) But that didn't mean I didn't get a great body workout; I was definitely sore and stretched.
Owner, instructor, and Scarsdale local Jocelyn Koenig taught my yoga class. Jocelyn is living proof of the many benefits of yoga. She's a runner and she ran to the studio from her Greenacres home. She began practicing yoga more than 15 years ago by adding it to her daily running and fitness regimen in hopes of easing the daily stress she experienced as an Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx. She tried some classes and she was hooked. "I relished the physical challenge and opportunity to quiet the mind while moving on the mat," Jocelyn said. "As an added bonus, my running times improved along with my knee joint issues." As the mother of three young children, yoga for Jocelyn, "...continues to inspire within me a calm and centered presence. Through three pregnancies, yoga helped me to remain conditioned and strong and to rebuild my fitness level post-natally." Still, it takes more than that to actually open your own studio. "I wanted to open Here&Now to make a space for the community to practice, a place for people of all levels and all ages to have the opportunity to enjoy yoga and barre fitness that is creatively thoughtful and nurturing yet also strengthening and challenging for both the body and mind," Jocelyn said.
Here&Now attracts a great mix of people, both men and women, young and old, because of the wide variety of classes that are offered. There are yoga classes of all types and all levels, including stretch, restorative, vinyasa flow, and power. There are also barre fitness classes and fusion classes, which are a mix of barre, yoga and Pilates. No matter whether you have been practicing yoga and barre for years or are brand new, all enjoy the benefits. "Yoga strengthens the body, increases muscle tone and flexibility, helps to prevent injury, improves respiration and circulation and helps with weight reduction," she continued. "Yoga also improves focus, self-awareness and confidence which is why our kids' programs have become so popular. Older practitioners also benefit from better bone health and circulation."
The Here&Now teachers that work with Jocelyn have undergone hundreds of hours of training and ensure that students practice both yoga and barre with proper alignment. During my class on that Sunday morning, I realized that there were several poses that I had been practicing incorrectly at my mega-gym. Jocelyn and her teachers take the time to teach the poses so students get the most out of each class. At the larger gyms and big companies, teachers often have to adhere to a script but at Here&Now, Jocelyn states that it is important for "teachers to be creative, so classes are always engaging, never repetitive."
Here&Now keeps clients coming back by offering more than 30 classes per week. In addition, they offer special workshops taught by prominent instructors, like the Arm Balances&Inversions workshop on October 22nd with Miriam Wolf. Jocelyn also feels strongly about giving back to the community and is hosting a Candlelight Yoga class for all levels on November 19th at 7pm to benefit an orphanage in Haiti. All donations go directly to Project House of Hope.
Here&Now is currently offering a free second class with the purchase of a first class so you can give it a try.
hereandnowyogabody.com
138 Garth Road, Scarsdale NY 10583
info@hereandnowyogabody.com
914-725-5347
Conversation Paused on the Future of Greenacres School
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Has the conversation about the future of the Greenacres School come to a pause or a halt? In a September 29 email to the community, Superintendent of Schools Thomas Hagerman cited cost concerns about already-approved district projects and a polarized community as reasons to take a pause in the discussion about the future of the hundred year-old school. His email outlines some next steps but offers no timeline for a decision.
It was initially thought that the administration would make a recommendation for renovating or rebuilding the school by December 2016 in time for a community-wide vote a bond referendum in May 2017. However, as of now, there is no promise of a concrete proposal from the administration or a date to expect it.
When Dr. Hagerman announced his decision at the September 12, 2016 Board of Education meeting, some board members expressed a desire to have a discussion about the options so that the administration and board could take a leadership position and build community support for their proposal. But for now, the issue is off the board's agenda, precluding any input from Board of Education members and discouraging feedback from the community.
We asked a few community members what they thought about the pause and here is what they shared:
Rona Muntner:
"I hope that this pause allows the board to focus the decision on what is best for the children of Greenacres for the next 100 years."
Jon Kirsbergh:
"While I was initially taken aback by the announcement, I think Dr. Hagerman and the School Board made a responsible decision to take the time to re-focus the debate. Given the heated discussions that have surrounded the issue, I am hopeful the Board and Administration will use the time to explain to the community the goals it hopes to achieve with the project and how the various options under consideration do, or do not, achieve those goals. The Board and Administration are poised to take control of the process and are ready to lead the community toward a solution that provides for a facility that is in the best interests of the students of today and the future."
Xue Su:
"I think Dr. Hagerman and the school administration have made a wise decision to take a "pause" in the discussions about GA. Both the BoE and Dr. Hagerman have repeatedly expressed their commitment to upgrade GA school, but the funding to implement the plan needs to be approved by the whole village and it will set an example for the future upgrading of other school buildings in the district. I applaud the school administration enhancing communication with the community by sharing information through e-newsletter and I hope a well-designed final plan for the coming bond vote will be supported by the whole village."
What do you think? Use the comments section below to share your thoughts.
