Friends of the Scarsdale Library Gala Raises Record $130,000 at “Casino Royale” Evening
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- Written by: Daniela Retelny
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The community’s enduring enthusiasm for the Scarsdale Library was on full display on Friday, April 17, as more than 250 guests gathered at Beach Point Club in Mamaroneck for the 2026 Friends of the Scarsdale Library Gala, themed “Casino Royale.”
From the moment guests arrived, they were transported into a festive and elegant setting shaped by the creative vision of event producer Sabine Poisson. Drawing on her design expertise, Sabine led the aesthetic direction of the evening, transforming the waterfront venue into an immersive “Casino Royale” experience. From the overall room design and layout to the refined decorative details, her work set the tone for a sophisticated and cohesive atmosphere that carried throughout the night.
Working closely alongside her, gala co-chair Allison Commeau of Confetti by Allison oversaw the planning and execution of the event, ensuring that every element came together seamlessly and that guests experienced the evening exactly as envisioned.
The night featured signature cocktails, passed hors d’oeuvres, and a lavish buffet overlooking Long Island Sound. Guests tried their luck at blackjack and craps tables while enthusiastically supporting the library’s mission.
Beyond the décor and entertainment, the event delivered strong engagement from attendees. Guests participated in a robust silent auction featuring sought-after items from local businesses and national brands, while balloon pops and raffle prizes added an extra layer of excitement.
The gala was not only a vibrant social gathering but also a record-breaking success. Thanks to the generosity of attendees, sponsors, and donors, the event raised an impressive $130,000 in support of the Scarsdale Library.
Notably, the evening welcomed many newer residents attending for the first time, signaling a growing and engaged next generation of supporters eager to connect with and contribute to the community.
Gala co-chairs Daniela Retelny Blum, Toby Milstein Schulman, Liza Brush, and Allison Commeau brought a fresh vision to the event, balancing elegance, energy, and purpose.
The evening also served as a reminder of the library’s evolution. Sixteen years ago, when plans were first developed to reimagine and expand the Scarsdale Library, questions arose about the role of libraries in an increasingly digital world. The vision, however, extended far beyond books—a vibrant, multigenerational community hub. Although the newly constructed library’s opening was delayed by the pandemic until May 2021, it has since been fully embraced, with packed programs, active study spaces, and a steady calendar of events.
That momentum continues today, driven in large part by the Friends of the Scarsdale Library. Funds raised support key initiatives including the Makerspace, museum passes, and year-round programming for residents of all ages.
In recent years, leadership of both the Library Board and the Friends has transitioned to a new generation of stewards, who continue to expand programming, maintain the facility, and build on the library’s success.
Reflecting on the evening, the co-chairs shared:
“What a way to spend a Friday night. We are deeply grateful for your presence at the Friends of the Scarsdale Library Gala. Bringing together more than 250 members of the FOSL community—both long-standing supporters and new faces—made for an unforgettable evening.
Thanks to your generosity, we are thrilled to have surpassed previous fundraising records. Every contribution—through attendance, sponsorships, auction bids, raffle participation, and balloon pops—helps us enhance our programs and ensures the library remains a vibrant hub for our community.”
Proceeds from the gala will enable the Friends of the Scarsdale Library to continue supporting the programs and resources that make the library an essential part of community life.
The Friends of the Scarsdale Library would like to extend their sincere thank you to their headline sponsors whose support made the evening possible:
Double‑07 Headline Sponsor:
- The Angela Retelny Team at Compass
Royal Casino Entertainment Sponsor:
- NewYork-Presbyterian
Vesper Martini Cocktail Sponsors:
- Cheryl and Philip Milstein
- Toby and Judah Schulman
High-Roller Sponsors:
- Anonymous
- Breaking Solutions
- Marichal and Aman Gupta
- PURE Insurance
- Tiah & Chris Gotfredson
- Shoreline Painting
- The Scarsdale Hub
They would also like to thank all of the gala's sponsors and the many local and national businesses that contributed to the silent auction and balloon raffle, as well as Mark Jessamy Photography for capturing the evening.
For more information about the Friends of the Scarsdale Library or to make a donation, please visit https://www.scarsdalelibrary.org/connect/friends. If you would like to get involved with the Friends, please email foslpresident@gmail.com.
Pep Rally at Scarsdale High School
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- Written by: Rebecca Ludwig
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On Friday, April 17th, the Scarsdale High School had their Spring Pep Rally, celebrating student athletes and hosted by Maroon and White! It included entertainment from each of the spring sports teams, along with some extra surprises. What a perfect way to celebrate the warm weather! Here are a few of the highlights:
The track team participated in a wacky relay with fun props, including fairy wings, shark masks, and pool floats. They ran at lightning speed!
-Boys lacrosse played a very close game of tug-of-war.
Tug of War
-Girls lacrosse played musical chairs, with a twist. The game ended in a Prom-posal to the winning girl!
-The boys tennis team caused everyone to laugh during their comedy show!
-Some SHS teachers played a silly game of wig-snatching. Each teacher wore a colorful wig, and the goal was to grab the wigs off of the other teachers.
Musical Chairs
-The Girls Flag Football team, who are the current New York State champs, showed off their dancing skills!
The Pep Rally is an amazing tradition at SHS, where students enjoy a break from their classes to show their school spirit. How fun!
The Kids Playbook: Find the Right Programs for Your Kids: Free
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Aditya BansalOur area has so many great options for kids’ activities and after school programs that it’s often difficult to know what to choose. Sports, dance, language, music, ceramics, art you name it, what’s best for your child?
Now a local parent has built a free website to help you sort through the choices and identify the best fit for your kids.
The Kids Playbook is a free tool built by a Scarsdale parent Aditya Bansal to help local families find the right after-school activities. Tell it your child's age and what they already do - it asks a few questions and recommends specific programs nearby, across sports, arts, music, STEM, and more. It covers 1000+ programs within 30 minutes of 10583. No sign-up needed to try it.
Bansal explained, “I moved to Scarsdale in 2021 with my wife and two kids, who currently go to Greenville Elementary. My background is in technology and data science - I did my PhD at Purdue University and worked at IBM Research in Yorktown Heights before co-founding Kinetic, a tech company that helps reduce workplace injuries in frontline workforces.
Like most parents here, I kept asking the same question to local parents every season - "anyone know a good activity for my 9-year-old near 10583?" In this new world of AI and screens, I find myself constantly thinking about how to make sure my kids get exposed to the full range of life skills alongside academics - music, martial arts, sports, arts, and more. There's so much worth exploring, but finding the right fit takes real effort.
Frustrated by the back-and-forth, I built The Kids Playbook thekidsplaybook.com - a free tool that asks a few simple questions about your child and recommends specific after-school programs nearby that actually fit them. Not a generic list, but a personalized mix based on age, what they already do, and what might be missing. The tool currently covers 1,000+ programs across lower Westchester - sports, arts, music, STEM, and more. It is free to use, there is no sign-up needed and programs do not pay to be included.”
Give it a try here: thekidsplaybook.com.
Raider Recap: Raiders Sports Fling into Spring - from Flag Football to Frisbee
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- Written by: Jack Capobianco
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After opening up the spring season on March 9th, the Scarsdale Raiders spring sports teams opened up game action last week and fared well during competition. After having numerous scrimmages in preparation for the season as well as hard fought practices, the Raiders are ready for the regular season where they hope to bring home championships. We got it all in the first ‘Raider recap’ of the spring season.
Boys Lacrosse:
The boys lacrosse team opened up the season 2-0 after winning their first two games in close fashion. Tuesday March 24th was the team's home opener at Butler field and after a back and forth game, the Raiders pulled out a 9-8 win against Mahopac. A go-ahead goal by senior Charlie Starr with 1:25 to go in the game helped the Raiders earn a victory in the first game of the season. Then, two nights later, the Raiders took on John Jay-Cross River over at John Jay and played to a 6-4 victory. Sophomore Shane Kelly had a strong game for the Raiders scoring three of the six Raiders goals. Boys Lacrosse will resume after break with a big game against Pelham and the team hopes to return to the section championship this spring, falling just short last year.
Girls Lacrosse:
The Girls Lacrosse team opened the 2026 regular season with two games this past week, one against Mamaroneck where the Raiders lost 19-10 and one against Ursuline in which the Raiders fell by the score of 17-8. Both matches were at home. The ‘Ders will look to wipe away the 0-2 start when they take on Rye and Ketcham after the break.
Flag Football:
Coming off their triumphant state championship victory last spring, the Girls Flag Football began this season with a back-to-back with a 2-0 start. On Wednesday March 25th, the girls matched up against a talented New Rochelle team at SHS and the Raiders walked away with a narrow 7-0 win. Then on Friday March 27th, the Raiders took on Maria Regina, also at SHS, and played to a big 36-14 win. After spring break, the Raiders will continue their four game homestand on Friday April 10 when they will meet Tappan Zee, who won the Class Be Section Championship in 2025.
Baseball:
The Raiders Baseball team is hoping to carry their success from the ‘25 season into the 2026 campaign. Last year marked the first time since 2006 that the Raiders brought home a league championship and it was also the first time since 2018 that the ‘Ders won a playoff game. The baseball team opened their season this past Friday March 27th with their home opener at Dean Field against Arlington. Unfortunately, the Raiders fell to the Admirals 3-0 in an offensive slug fest. After break, the Raiders will return with a three-game week with games against John Jay-East Fishkill, Eastchester and Hastings.
Softball:
The Raiders Softball team began the 2026 season with a rivalry game against Mamaroneck. Decidingly, the Raiders lost 9-2 but despite the loss, junior Hannah Stockton was named a Lohud softball player of the week. Next week, the Raiders have matches against Eastchester, New Rochelle and Ossining. The Raiders home opener will take place on Thursday April 9th against New Ro at Supply Field in Heathcote, the home field of the softball team.
Track and Field:
Track and Field will begin race competition next week with back-to-back meets hosted at Scarsdale High School. On Tuesday April 7th, the Raiders have a dual meet at the SHS track. Then, Sunday April 12th will mark the second annual Scarsdale Invitational, with events starting at 10AM. This will be a big meet with twelve schools across Westchester and Rockland counties expected to attend.
Boys Tennis:
The Varsity A Boys Tennis team swept their first match of the season 6-0 against John Jay and will return to action on April 7th against Horace Greeley. The Raiders fell to Greeley in last season's section championship match. Varsity B will take on Eastchester and New Rochelle next week.
Boys Golf:
The Boys Golf team will look to defend their crown as section champions in 2026. They won three straight section championships (2023, 2024 and 2025) and will look to win their fourth in a row as they return to the course this spring.
Girls Golf:
The Girls Golf team enters the 2026 season with aspirations to repeat 2025 results when they won the section championship and then brought home a state championship. They return to the golf course in 2026 with desires of continued success and dominance.
Ultimate Frisbee:
The ultimate frisbee team returns in 2026 after a “rebuilding” year in 2025, in which the team played in the state tournament. This year the team, whose roster doubled over last season, will compete in matches throughout the season and two tournaments which will take place in May.
Three SHS Students Help White Plains Hockey Team Capture State Championship
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- Written by: Jack Capobianco
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The White Plains Plainsmen 16U hockey team won the state championship on March 21-22, 2026 in Amherst, New York.
On their way to the state final, the Plainsmen had a big 2-1 win in the semi-final against the Watertown Wolves on Sunday morning. Then, in the state final that Sunday afternoon the Plainsmen had a dramatic 3-2 victory over the Rochester Aces.
Against Rochester, the score stood at 2-2 going into the dying seconds of the third period. With 1.5 seconds left in regulation time, White Plains Junior Chris Larosa picked up a loose puck in front of the net and scored to give the Plainsmen a 3-2 lead and an eventual victory. The state championship game came down to the final seconds and White Plains won it with 1.5 seconds left in the game. Absolute craziness!
This championship win was a testament to the hard-work, dedication, determination, commitment and character of the players, coaches and even supporters of the team. This win was big for the entire community and White Plains Plainsmen organization. This is a moment that will never be forgotten amongst the players, coaches, parents and the entire organization.
The team includes players from around Southern Westchester. Most of the players on the team are students at White Plains High School, while some attend Pleasantville and Dobbs Ferry and all play for their schools respective varsity teams.
SHS juniors Sebastion Oades, Jack Capobianco and Max HarrisonSHS juniors Sebastion Oades, Max Harrison and Jack Capobianco play on this team and also played on Scarsdale's varsity hockey team this past winter, Early on, they played together with the Scarsdale Youth Hockey Association. This season, they all decided to play on White Plains and quickly became instant members of the team. This past tournament and throughout the season, they have played on the same line together and have come to be known as the “Scarsdale” line.
Along with the three players on the team that go to SHS the team's head coach Chris Mignardi works for the town of Scarsdale. His son, Vincent is a goalie on the team.
Mignardi was the head coach and the team consisted of three assistant coaches who all have an unwavering love for the sport and the Plainsmen organization.
Following their state championship victory Sunday night in Buffalo, the team traveled back to Westchester where they were honored on Monday evening at Ebersole Ice Rink in White Plains. White Plains Mayor Justin Brasch was in attendance as well as many athletes, coaches and parents for the end of year family skate.
Mayor Brasch said a few words and then the championship banner for the 16U team was raised to the rafters where it will be etched into history. The banners for the 10U and 12U HVHL championships were also raised along with the 16U team that won the state championship.
During Mayor Brasch’s speech, he declared March 23rd as Plainsmen Hockey Day. It was a nice ceremony and a great opportunity for the state championship winning team along with the other championship winning teams to get honored and recognized.
Head Coach Chris Mignardi (pictured far left) with assistant coaches Dan Fendler (picture second to the right) and Walter Pozo (far right) with White Plains varsity hockey coach Howie Rubenstein
The win will be a moment that will never be forgotten.
