Scarsdale Students Then and Now: 2011-2024
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- Written by Steven Schnur
- Hits: 1876
Maxine, Daisy, Billie, and Samantha (2024)Photographer and resident Steven Schnur has come full circle with his photographs of a Heathcote kindergarten class in 2011-12. Now 13 years later Schnur re-assembled the group in advance of their high school graduation to document them before they head off into the world.
Samantha, Maxine, Billie, and Drew (2017)
Schnur explained, “Thirteen years ago (2011-12) I spent a year photographing a kindergarten class at Heathcote. That year ended in a photo exhibit that including large portraits of each of the 19 students. Five years later, the now 5th graders met me in the Heathcote art room for a quick reunion and distribution of many of the photos I had taken of them. Another seven years passed and then eleven days ago, on June 3rd, 12 of the students (now graduating seniors) reunited in the SHS breezeway where I asked them to pose with the portraits I had taken of them in kindergarten. Present also was their kindergarten teacher, Sharon De Lorenzo, now assistant principal at Greenacres School, and Alice Yugovich, their Heathcote art teacher (now retired).
Harley and Taj 2017
Lana 2017
Kindergarten Class 2012
Reunion five years later, January 2017.I assembled a small collection of photos from the first reunion and the one last week to send to all the parents. I include those below along with my note to them. None of this could have happened without the invaluable help of Amber Yusuf, former school board president and mother of Taj Grewal, one of the kindergartners.”
Graduating high school seniors, 6/3/2024.
Here is Schnur’s note to the parents of the students: “I can’t thank you enough for helping to make today’s reunion a reality. I’m still smiling at the discovery of these beautiful teens. They were such photogenic kindergartners and have become equally arresting young adults. The photos below tell a little of the story beginning with the fifth grade reunion in January 2017, followed by today’s gathering and ending with a few distant memories dating back to 2012. Thank you for allowing me to capture a little bit of their enchanted lives.
With gratitude,
Steve
Billie
Bora
Jasper
Maya
Samantha
Taj
Kenneth
Rick and Jasper
Alice Yugovich, Amber Yusef and Sharon De Lorenzo
One of the last photos of the Heathcote project.
Billie
Daisy
Maxine
Harley
Maya
Students' gift of self-portraits in 2012, assembled by Ms. Yugovich.
A selection of the original 2012 kindergarten photos are on permanent display outside the District Offices at the high school.
Preserving The Local History of Scarsdale
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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From paper to digitized images to microfilm and back to paper, Scarsdale’s rich history is being preserved for future generations.
Scarsdale Local History Librarian Dan Glauber reached out last week to let us know that he is now using the content of Scarsdale10583 to continue to archive the history of the Village.
We paid him a visit and learned that images of back issues of the Scarsdale Inquirer, from 1901 through 1977, are available to view online via the Hudson River Valley Heritage website. The Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Library worked together on this digitization project, providing full-text searchable access to three quarters of a century of Scarsdale History. Issues of the newspaper, from the next 26 years, from 1978 through January 2024 are preserved on microfilm which is available at the library.
After the Inquirer ceased publication in January 2024, Glauber turned to Scarsdale10583 to continue to preserve a record of Scarsdale's History. Each week he saves articles from Scarsdale10583 as PDFs and also prints out color copies that are now kept in a binder and available to view. The individual PDFs will be combined into larger files encompassing periods of 6 months or a year. These larger PDFs will then be accessible in the Library and will be full-text searchable.
We’re proud to be part of the local codex and happy that Glauber’s project will ensure a permanent record of the goings on of the “Dale.
(Pictured above: Local History Librarian Dan Glauber displays PDF's from weekly issues of Scarsdale10583)
New Downtown Scarsdale Film Premieres at Library, Now Available to Stream Online
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Taxi sign: Peter Blier of Central Taxi with the company’s vintage business sign c. 1960’s.The Scarsdale Historical Society premiered its newest documentary, The Village: A History of Downtown Scarsdale, with two screenings at the Scarsdale Public Library on Tuesday, May 14th. This half-hour film explores how Scarsdale’s business district grew from a train depot and a few wooden buildings into today’s iconic Tudor Revival-style commercial center. The film is now available to stream online here.
People of all ages and backgrounds were united by their passion for village history, and were interested to learn more about the development of Scarsdale’s iconic downtown center. Each screening was followed by a Q&A session, allowing the audience to share thoughts and ask the film participants questions.
Panelist Peter Blier, the General Manager of Central Taxi who has worked there for 45 years, delighted the audience with some of his best taxi ride stories. His appearance in the film is also a highlight, with his knack for storytelling and passion for Central Taxi’s history. The company, among downtown Scarsdale’s oldest businesses, dates back to the horse and buggy days of 1912. It began in White Plains and has been in its current location since 1925.
This is the tenth film created by the Scarsdale Historical Society with filmmaker Lesley Topping. The premiere events have drawn such crowds that they hosted two back-to-back screenings to accommodate the attendees. The full series of films on the history and neighborhoods of Scarsdale can be viewed here.
The event was co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Historical Society, the Scarsdale Public Library and the Scarsdale Business Alliance.
About the Scarsdale Historical Society
The Scarsdale Historical Society exists to discover, preserve and disseminate historical information, as well as inspire others to learn about and contribute to the history of Scarsdale and the Central Mid-Westchester Region. The Scarsdale Historical Society accepts grant applications for projects that meet its mission, particularly those that will inspire others to learn about the history of Scarsdale and the surrounding communities. Learn more at www.scarsdalehistoricalsociety.org.
Q&A session: The film screening’s Q&A panel with (Left to right) Randy Guggenheimer (President, Scarsdale Historical Society), Peter Blier from Central Taxi, Lesley Topping (filmmaker), Leslie Chang (Associate Village Historian) and Jordan Copeland (Village Historian).
A Celebration of Food from Around the World at the JCCMW Spring Benefit
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Guest speakers Danielle Colen, Liz Rueven, Leah Koenig, Beejhy Barhany, and Shannon Sarna.The JCC Mid-Westchester (JCCMW) celebrated Jewish foods and traditions from around the world at their annual Spring Benefit on Wednesday, May 22. Westchester chef and writer, Danielle Rehfeld Colen, introduced Beejhy Barhany, owner/chef of Ethiopian-Jewish Tsion Café, Leah Koenig, chef and author of Portico: Cooking and Feasting in Rome’s Jewish Kitchen, and Liz Reuven, founder/editor of Kosher Like Me. The chefs/authors discussed their passion for food and their culinary journeys with the host of the evening, Shannon Sarna, cookbook author and founding editor of The Nosher. Attendees then enjoyed a specially curated dinner comprised of a tasting menu inspired by each of the evening’s guest chefs.
JCCMW CEO, Elise Dowell, with teen honorees Ethan Klein, Lexie Klein, and Bailey Goldberg.
The JCCMW honored three teen leaders—Bailey Goldberg, Ethan Klein, and Lexie Klein— recognizing their hard work and dedication to projects and efforts that helped strengthen the Westchester community and the organization’s mission. “Bailey, Ethan, and Lexie are the light our community needs right now. They are our future and each has made our community richer,” said Elise Dowell, CEO of JCCMW. “They represent the very best of Westchester and the Jewish community and it gives us great pleasure to celebrate them this year.”
Bailey Goldberg serves as the volunteer coordinator of the JCCMW Sunday Funday program. Her exceptional leadership skills have helped to ensure that all children have an equal opportunity to develop relationships and social skills.
Ethan Klein, in addition to volunteering with the Sunday Funday program, developed a new, inclusive program, FUNdamentals of Golf, where he worked with elementary school children of all abilities to improve their coordination, critical thinking, communication, self-control, and confidence—all while learning the foundations of golf.
Lexie Klein is a JCCMW gymnastics coach and mentor who has positively impacted many young gymnasts. Her love of the JCC is contagious, her passion for the sport has been inspirational, and her dedication has served to strengthen the program on many levels.
JCCMW Senior Director of Jewish Engagement and Care Services, Rabbi Dahlia Bernstein
The JCCMW Spring Benefit was an evening of community, appreciation, and celebration attended by many friends, partners, government representatives, and organizations who support the JCC’s mission and the important work they do. If you were unable to attend, but would like to support the work of the JCC, simply visit jccmw.org/donate. If you would like to learn more about the JCCMW, visit jccmw.org.
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, County Executive George Latimer, and WJC CEO Elliot Forchheimer with JCC Board President Rachel Moseley and Elise Dowell
The JCC Mid-Westchester is a nonprofit organization that supports the community by offering outstanding recreational, cultural, educational, and human services programming to all people regardless of age, background, religion, gender identification, or sexual orientation. Programs are grounded in Jewish values and are open to all! The JCCMW enriches families, connects friends, strengthens community, and helps people lead joyful lives.
Spring Benefit Guests
New Choral Society Ends 30th Season With Magical Performance of Elijah
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- Written by Bill Doescher
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The New Choral Society Chorus and Orchestra perform at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church (Photo Credit: Tony Allen Photography)On Sunday afternoon May 5 the New Choral Society (NCS), under the professional direction of Dr. John T. King, Artistic Director and Conductor, concluded its 30th anniversary season with an “over the top performance” of Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah. 
Dr. John T. King with soloists Katherine Whyte, Rebecca Ringle Kamarei, Jonghyun Park, and Kenneth OvertonYou couldn’t have been better served had you been at the Metropolitan Opera or Carnegie Hall in New York City. But you didn’t need to be because the professional music performed was right there in your own neighborhood or nearby from a short distance from a Westchester town.
It was rainy and damp outside as the audience took their seats inside for the 4 p.m. performance in the Sanctuary of the Hitchcock Presbyterian Church on Greenacres Avenue in Scarsdale. Once inside, they warmed-up quickly to the spectacular, magical and highly professional performance of Elijah.
There wasn’t an empty seat in a sellout as even the balcony was jammed with NCS’ music devotees.
A Cohesive Performance
Everybody played an important musical and stand-up role in this cohesive performance: Dr. King, the soloists, choral singers numbering 43, a larger orchestra of 26 players than typical, and Eleanora LaSalle, a 12-year-old seventh grader at the Edgemont Junior and Senior High School in Scarsdale and youth soloist from the Westchester Children’s Chorus, who came out of the audience from her first pew seat with her father and brother, to shine in her first performance ever with the pros from the Metropolitan Opera and other such important and highly recognized musical houses around the world.
Not to be undone, Emera LaSalle, a soprano and Eleanora’s mother, and Giselle Vagnini, an alto, came out of their singing positions to join soloists Katherine Whyte, a soprano, and Rebecca Ringle Kamarei, a mezzo-soprano, up front for a quartet rendition of “Holy Is God.”
All the fantastic soloists never missed a beat, and were poised, and excellent, including baritone Kenneth Overton as Elijah, who performed without music several times while using hand-and-arm motions to help make a point during his solos, and eventually drew the most applause, and tenor Jonghyun Park, who appeared courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera.
Soloists Eleanora and Emera LaSalle with Conductor Dr. John T. King
NCS’ 31st Season Starts in October
The NCS’s 31st season will open on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at 4 p.m. with renditions of W.A. Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, and J.S. Bach’s Magnificat.
Tickets will be available in the summer. Dr. King will be starting his 31st year as the director and conductor.
