Seniors Enjoy A Final Tradition, Outside
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- Written by Jamie Robelen
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The school year is ending on a high note for the SHS Class of 2021. On Wednesday, June 23, Scarsdale High School seniors came back to SHS one more time before graduation for Senior Day. Seniors attended a college panel made up of SHS alums, to prepare them for their freshman year of college, practiced for the graduation ceremony and met with their deans one final time. Finally, they congregated outside of the Brewster entrance of the school, where they received their yearbooks, their caps and gowns, and enjoyed lunch provided by senior parents.
On what was possibly the most beautiful day of the school year, the entire class of 2021 got to sign each other’s yearbooks and connect with their peers, many unmasked. They were also invited to reminisce on their time throughout the Scarsdale schools, with photo displays from each elementary school and the middle school up for all to see.
When asked what the biggest takeaway of the year was, SHS senior Emily Koevary offered this piece of wisdom: “you shouldn’t waste time being someone you’re not.” She went on to explain that over the past few months, she’s seen so many people start to express themselves in ways that they never had before. As the seniors didn’t get to participate in many typical Scarsdale traditions, they are especially grateful to be able to have this final one. When asked how she felt about graduating, senior Simran Ruta said that “it’s bittersweet, but I'm so happy that we get to have a real, full capacity graduation without masks. It’s like we came full circle.” Senior Dylan Hughson agreed, adding that “it’s pretty great, after this entire year, that we finally get one tradition, and it’s nice for them to give us a new tradition of decorating our caps.” Check out the gallery for pictures from the event.
Scarsdale Historical Society to Debut Film: Arthur Manor: A Historical Tour of Scarsdale’s First Suburban Community.
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Scarsdale Historical Society is pleased to announce the Zoom premiere of a new film, Arthur Manor: A Historical Tour of Scarsdale’s First Suburban Community. In 1891, the Arthur Manor Suburban Home Company began construction of a housing development that initiated Scarsdale’s transformation from a rural town of farms and estates to a modern suburb. This 20-minute film features Jordan Copeland, Scarsdale Historical Society board member and newly appointed Scarsdale Associate Village Historian, as he guides us through Arthur Manor to learn about the history of this unique community and how its growth impacted the nearby neighborhood of Edgewood. The film was directed and edited by Lesley Topping and is her second film in our series about Scarsdale’s remarkable neighborhoods.
The film will be shown via Zoom on Monday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m. and will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers. This event is presented by the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Public Library. Please register here.
The first film in this series, Path to a Scarsdale Community: Fox Meadow and the Butler Estate was co-produced and narrated by Barbara MacDonald, Scarsdale Village Historian and the Society’s Historian. It can be viewed here.
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. Learn more here:
Letter: Scarsdale Deserves a School Board that Listens to the Community
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Jeremy GansFollowing an incredibly difficult school year, it is clear that our community deserves change and fresh voices on the School Board. After vetting all four candidates in this year’s race, the School Board Nominating Committee nominated Jim Dugan and Jessica Resnick-Ault. They are clearly the best candidates and they deserve your vote. Jessica and Jim are diligent, extremely bright and have histories of advocating and otherwise engaging in school-related activities for the benefit of all of our schoolchildren.
I have read a number of letters in support of Ms. Singer saying that she deserves a second term because an effective Board needs continuity and experience in order to best function. Based on the community’s experience this year, do you believe that our current school board has functioned well? A well functioning school board listens to the community. The current Board did not. An effective Board understands that it represents the community that elected its members. Pamela Fuehrer, the current President of the Board stated that the School Board “represents the teachers and administration.” While a school board must, of course, consider the perspectives of teachers and administrators, the School Board does not “represent” the teachers. Teachers are represented by their union and are technically adverse to the Board during many negotiations. Ms. Singer, the current Vice President, did not correct this erroneous statement.
An effective Board does not silence its own members when those members attempt to discuss issues brought to them by the community. The current Board did this on multiple occasions. An effective Board asks questions of its superintendent and the administration. And, most importantly, an effective Board finds ways to get to “yes.” An effective Board would have prioritized safety but also would have done what it needed to do to increase the amount of in-person school this year. Our peer districts found a way. We did not, due to a lack of leadership by Ms. Singer and others, at the Board level.
Would a well-functioning Board remove itself from participation in the development of the crucial District Strategic Plan, that should be grounded in the Board’s vision for the community? This is a key responsibility of a school board under New York State and national school board policy. Yet our own Board, including Ms. Singer, evidently wanted no part of it.
In light of these failures, it should come as no surprise that Ms. Singer was not re-nominated by the School Board Nominating Committee.
Irin Israel deserves credit for his FOIL requests and the diagrams presented to the Board during the year. Mr. Israel will hopefully continue to be a voice for our children at meetings going forward. He is not, however, one of the two best candidates at this point in time.
Jessica Resnick-Ault and Jim Dugan did not wait for a once in a generation pandemic to advocate for our school children. They have been doing so for years and have the results to back it up. They may not be as active on social media and they may not yell at the administration at Board meetings. But they have effectively improved the educational experience for all Scarsdale students, something Mr. Israel cannot say.
Scarsdale parents, students and taxpayers deserve a School Board that listens to the community and serves all stakeholders to ensure our district is providing the best holistic educational experience possible. Jessica Resnick-Ault and Jim Dugan are the only two candidates in this race with the dedication, experience and skills to do so. Please vote for Jim and Jessica on Tuesday, May 18.
Jeremy Gans
45 Harvest Drive
The Best of the Best in Bar/Bat Mitzvah Vendors
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- Written by Stacie M. Waldman
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With all of the great news regarding low COVID positivity rates in our area paired with relatively high vaccination rates and the recent emergency use vaccine protocol granted for 12-15-year-olds, BAR AND BAT MITZVAHS ARE BACK!
My own daughter’s Bat Mitzvah is coming up June 5 and I admit I felt a bit nervous about the in-person part back in February when we made the decision to move forward. The celebration landscape was looking pretty glum which meant caterers and venues were all generally available as well as logo designers, swag companies, Hebrew tutors, photographers and videographers, DJs, and more. Now that parties are back in action, vendors report they have never been busier and everyone in the area wants their event NOW. Weddings, important birthdays, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, some that have been rescheduled 2,3, or 4 times are being postponed no longer. The moral of this story is: the ceremony is the “easy” part in terms of planning but if you’re scheduling a celebration, vendors are beginning to book out.
Luckily for us, we have some of the best vendors available locally who survived the slow year and are back in action. Here are some of our favorite purveyors of Bar/Bat Mitzvah “stuff” or services and a bit about what they can do for your family to make your child’s ceremony and celebration memorable and special.
Jennifer Rozbruch Design creates logos, branding, paper and printed goods for life cycle events that elevate any celebration. From invitations
to event graphics to branded swag, Jenny’s designs add a fresh, personal touch that delights guests at every step. Jenny works closely with her clients to create thoughtful, modern and beautiful designs tailored to each family and child being honored. In this way, she is able to create an ultra-personal expression of who they are and what they love – something that will be memorable on their special day as well as in years to come. www.jennyrozbruch.com
A key part of the big day is being sure to capture both the big, formal moments as well as the candid, small and unexpected moments on camera. Your daughter smiling up mom or dad after their speech, your son receiving his tallit, or your great aunt dancing the hora, Andi Schreiber Photography catches all of it with her modern, vibrant and engaging style. Andi puts her heart into every job and connects with clients in a special way that makes the experience enjoyable for all and she believes that every family deserves to have beautiful photographs to pass down for generations. www.andischreiberpix.com
A Bar or Bat Mitzvah isn’t complete without a video to remember it by. Jason Wasserman Video keeps clients happy when called upon to cover their feel-good events like Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and weddings in an unobtrusive way. "Jason was everywhere and nowhere at the same time,” said one client. “He was able to capture every moment in an inconspicuous way and I think it’s a true testament to his professionalism and experience
. And the shots he took were beautiful.” Another client said, “As a video editor myself, I could really appreciate the final piece where Jason timed the music to the shots. It's something we will truly treasure for a lifetime. He perfectly captured the day. And above all he was a pleasure to work with.” www.jasonwassermanvideo.com
What's a party without the swag? Remember the Time, NY will fully customize 
almost anything you can dream up with your child's logo on it. Your vision is their specialty and if you need help creating your vision, well, they do that, too. They'll personalize your child's celebration and help make the event memorable for your family and your guests long after the day is done. They'll sort and package swag so you can make virtual attendees feel included and they'll even deliver items to local venues. Remember the Time, NY also customizes swag for businesses, fundraisers, schools and special events. Instagram: @rememberthetimeny
Since 2001, Westchester Supertutor Jake Luxemburg has successfully educated hundreds of students with a “Hebrew School in the Home” 
approach and in private Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation. Lessons are one-on-one or in small group settings and take place either in the student’s home or on Zoom and he makes the learning fun with various games and interactive material. Each Bar/Bat Mitzvah service is customized based on the strengths of the student and includes family members, making the service personal and memorable. His approach is engaging with a combination of content, creativity, fun and a sense of humor. www.thesupertutors.com
The montage, in honor of the bar/bat mitzvah honoree, has become one of the most joyous parts any celebration. While many parties have had to be postponed due to COVID, montages themselves work well both live, in-person and virtually to bring everyone together and look back at the life of your child as she moves into Jewish adulthood. Rachel Klein, having been in TV production for 20 years, can build your family the perfect montage with photos, video and music capturing the best moments of your child’s life. From a review: “We laughed, we teared up, but what we loved the most was the expre
ssion on our guests’ faces as well as our daughter’s during the entire montage. Thanks Rachel!” Contact Rachel at Fotopeeps2021@gmail.com for more information.
Jenny Goldban Designs can create any type of branding for bar/bat mitzvahs and beyond. She can integrate your child’s hobbies, talents, colors, names, initials or anything else into her custom designs and can recommend how, where and when to order logo’d merchandise. She will work with you until you find the perfect logo, together, that captures your guest of honor and special event. Instagram @jennygoldbandesigns
Are you looking for an intimate and unforgettable Bar or Bat Mitzvah gift that brings distant friends and relatives together in a lasting way that is more sentimental and meaningful than the standard zoom call? Enter BOOMBOX GIFTS. A Boombox is a memory box filled with any combination of childhood photos and written messages of congratulations and love – all custom printed and beautifully designed onto premium 5x7 cards inside a gorgeous keepsake box. The best part – it’s created 100% virtually and allows you to include friends and family from all over the world without a single plane ticket or zoom link! Favorite client reviews? “It’s not just the best ever gift to receive…it’s the best gift ever to give.” “Team Boombox is there to ensure every detail has been taken care of…it’s like working with family.” www.boomboxgifts.com
Card My Yard is a premier yard greeting company that specializes in making your BIG day even BIGGER. They will customize a yard greeting for your Bar or Bat Mitzvah kid, making it completely personalized. Sports fan? They’ve got that covered. Dancer? They have that, too! Gamer? Bring it. Card My Yard will tailor the yard greeting to your child’s favorite everything, set it up and take it down. This is one of the most popular ways to throw your child a little “it’s all about you” love. And you'll have plenty of time for lots of great photos with it. www.cardmyyard.com
Support our local Bar and Bat Mitzvah specialists as they get back to work share your Bar/Bat Mitzvah plans and experiences in the comments section below.
Photo credit: Andi Schreiber Photography
Hindsight is 2020: A Visual Story of the Community's Creative Response to the Pandemic- Tuesday at 7:30 pm
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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HINDSIGHT is 20/20 is an art exhibition intended to present a visual story of our community’s creative response to the pandemic and how Scarsdalians have come together to support those within and outside our village during these extraordinary times. Curated by Lauren Bender, Andi Schreiber and Marnie Gelfman, this multidisciplinary exhibition features artists and contributors working in a range of media, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, photography, fiber and the written word.
We will celebrate this opening of the Library’s first post-renovation art exhibit with a 90-minute artist talk via Zoom on Tuesday, May 11 at 7:30 PM Eastern. Local artists and writers whose work is featured in the show will discuss creating art during Covid, and how the pandemic affected what they painted, photographed, designed and wrote.
A joint program between the Friends of the Scarsdale Library (FOSL) and the Scarsdale Library Board of Trustees, HINDSIGHT is 20/20 celebrates an all-female artist lineup. The brightly colored yarn artwork in front of the SPL, called Knit Together, by Tanya Singer and Sarah Divi and Simone Kestelman’s sculptures called The Keepers as well as her bed of ceramic Poppies have been enlivening the Library campus since this winter. The rest of the show features work by Sharon Draghi, Bonnie Jill Emanuel, Marnie Gelfman, Doreen Hendley, Renee Levine, Tracy McCarthy, Robyn Miller and Andi Schreiber.
