Volunteers Provide Robes to Patients at Jansen Hospital
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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In the past year Jansen Hospice's Volunteer Coordinator, Laura Hanlon, initiated a lap robe program whereby homemade and purchased blankets sourced from Jansen volunteers are donated to hospice patients in community nursing homes. The blankets are coined "lap robes" because they are perfectly sized to keep someone warm when they are sitting down or resting in a wheelchair.
Laura started the lap robe program after Tuckahoe resident, Valerie Schneer, asked if she could donate handmade blankets to the organization. Valerie feels it's important to give back, and finds crocheting therapeutic: "I lost a close friend of mine a couple years ago. He was the love of my life. I always made stuff for him and took care of him. I miss doing that and wanted to continue the tradition. It helps me cope with my loss." The lap robe program has attracted support from several Jansen volunteers who knit and crochet blankets for the cause. Bobbe Kastner volunteered for the lap robe program as soon as she heard about it. "I've been knitting forever. I have tons of yarn lying around the house and have all sorts of colors to make the lap robes interesting and unique. It doesn't even feel like work; it's simply something I like to do."
Valerie has personal experience with a family member who passed while on hospice care and understands its importance. She said good hospice care allows family members to make meaningful gestures, like creating conversation or holding hands - the things that give hospice patients a reason to live. Valerie believes the lap robes have the same effect. "Giving lap robes to hospice patients lets them know someone is thinking about them. They're not cut off from the world; people know they exist." In fact, Valerie received a letter from a hospice patient's daughter that included a picture of her mother with her new lap robe. The daughter wanted Valerie to know what a positive impact she had on her mother's well being.
Cynthia Rouff is another lap robe volunteer who donates blankets she finds in consignment shops, and also volunteers for Jansen in other capacities, including visiting hospice patients and their families. The support she offers not only helps hospice patients, but their family members as well. "I was looking after a man on hospice care, and after he passed, I sat with his wife and daughter all afternoon. They were so sad. His wife started telling me all about her husband - how they met, and stories about their life together. Talking to me helped the wife feel better. By the time I left, I knew I had done a good deed."
The lap robe volunteers give their heart and soul to the program and represent ways Jansen supports hospice patients outside of face-to-face visitations. The beautiful lap robes the volunteers provide and hope each one offers hospice patients with warmth, color, and a reminder that they aren't alone.
If you are interested in volunteering for the lap robe program, please contact Laura Hanlon at 914-787-6158.
Narrow Escape for Pedestrian on Normandy Lane
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On Monday September 14 around 11 am, a large tree branch broke off a very old tree lining Normandy Lane, falling directly onto a BMW that was parked on the street. A woman who was walking her dog on the street at the time, heard a loud crack and ran behind the car to avoid being hit, just before the branch fell. The car took the brunt of the fall, however the woman was badly shaken, bruised and scraped by the tree branches, but otherwise unharmed. Scarsdale Police responded immediately and sent an ambulance to examine and release the woman before she drove home with her husband. In addition, the Village sent a tree cutting crew to clear the tree branch from the street. The Department of Public Works returned the next day to cut down the tree and another tree across the street that was also deemed to be dangerous. The car was damaged.
Photo Opp: The First Day of School
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Though the thermometer is reading summer, a quirk in the calendar caused schools to open before Labor Day this year, bringing the vacation to an abrupt stop. The heat and humidity is tough on kids and teachers, as many classrooms have no air conditioning. According to one mom, hallways were so hot at Greenacres, it felt more like hot yoga than an elementary school.
Despite the heat, kids smiled as they set off to school, some for their first time!
Back to School Photos Part 2
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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We received many more photos of your beautiful children on the first day of school and wanted to share them with you. Thanks to everyone who participated. See below for the photo gallery.
Scarsdale Youth Basketball - Parents Meeting
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Annual Meeting and Parents Meeting for 2015-2016 tryouts: Scarsdale Youth Basketball ("SYB") will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at 8:00 pm in the Scarsdale Middle School Auditorium. This meeting is open to all parents of boys and girls in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 who wish to try out for the 2015-16 basketball season. Parents of 5th graders, as well as any child new to the program, are strongly encouraged to attend. Information about the tryout process and the upcoming season will be shared at the meeting.
SYB is a travel basketball program whose teams play in the Tri-County Basketball League (TCBL). Tryouts for Scarsdale's teams will begin on Wednesday, September 16, 2015. SYB is a not-for-profit corporation that has received approval from Scarsdale Parks, Recreation and Conservation to operate an independent sports organization in Scarsdale. Tryouts are open to all girls and boys in grades 5, 6, 7, and 8 who live or attend school in Scarsdale. An e-mail detailing tryout information will be sent later in the month. You may also visit SYB's website at scarsdaleyouthbasketball.org or contact SYB board president Jon Libman at jblibman@mac.com.
