Local Students Commended for Heroism in City Fire Rescue
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Two New Rochelle grads who are currently students at the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA were commended for alerting the occupants of a burning building and leading them to safety early on September 22.
Leonardo Tejeda, of New Rochelle and Thomas P. Veres, of Scarsdale along with Anthony V. Rode, of Lords Valley, PA were honored with certificates of appreciation from college President Davie Jane Gilmour and Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer.
"Penn College students make a difference in our communities every single day, but they aren't always recognized," Strickland said. "When we learned of this incident, we felt it was important to acknowledge this selfless act that made a huge impact – potentially lifesaving – on the community we share with Williamsport residents."
The three young men, who live together in the college's Campus View Apartments, had turned onto Grier Street while headed home from visiting friends on Memorial Avenue.
"As we were walking back to our dorm, I heard an alarm of some type," Tejeda said. "It was obvious it was not a car alarm, but a house alarm of some sort. I said, 'Do you guys hear that?' Anthony replied, 'Shut up, it's probably a burglar alarm going off.' As we got closer to the alarm, I looked up and saw a dark cloud and said, "No, look, that house is on fire.'"
Rode (son of a retired New York Police Department sergeant) went down the block, determined the nearest intersection and called 911.
"As Thomas and I waited for Anthony, we could hear the windows shattering from the heat coming from the fire," Tejeda said. "We started to yell to get the residents' attention, but nobody came out of the house." The commotion managed to alert the neighbors, but the three found it necessary to go inside the burning 512 Grier St. building to notify the tenants.
"Anthony tried to get the homeowner's attention from the first floor, Thomas and I ran up the stairs," he said. "As we were running upstairs, I noticed the door going to the third floor was on fire." The students knocked on second-floor doors, telling apartment occupants to get outside to safety. One of those residents was lying down and was not aware of the fire; the other was panicking and trying to grab valuables.
"We made sure no one else was in the second-floor apartment," Tejeda explained. "After doing so, Thomas kicked down the door on fire and we were yelling upstairs to see if anyone was up there, but there was no response. Thomas tried to go up the first step, but I pulled him back and told him we should wait for the fire department." Once they were satisfied that everyone was out of the house, the three went outside and were questioned by Penn College and Williamsport police.
College Police Chief Chris Miller joined in the presentation of certificates, held near Strickland's office in the Student and Administrative Services Center.
Tejeda is an architectural technology student, Veres is enrolled in building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration and Rode is a construction management major.
This article was picked up from the student newspaper.
Local Students To Climb the Ritz Tower To Support Gilda's Club
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Fourteen Scarsdale and Edgemont high schoolers will climb 41 flights at the Ritz Carlton to benefit Gilda's Club Westchester on Monday night October 7. The Ritz Carlton Westchester is the tallest building between Westchester and Boston and a total of 500 people, climbing individually or in teams are expected to climb to the top of the Ritz Tower.
Among the climbers will be 14 high school students from an Edgemont and Scarsdale team who have been touched by cancer and want to get the word out about support for teens at Gilda's Club Westchester. The group is comprised of 10th and 11th graders who have already raised over $2,100.
The Edgemont-Scarsdale Steps Ups are climbing to help sustain the important operations of Gilda's Club Westchester, as well as to have a meaningful and fun-filled evening. The team is currently in training: some are doing cardio at the local gym in anticipation while others are climbing the stairs instead of taking the elevator at Gilda's Club.
The team has gotten sponsors by advertising in the community and soliciting from family and friends, many of whom in turn decide to join the cause as well and get more sponsors. The team has raised over $2,100 with several individuals raising over $150.
Scarsdale/Edgemont students include:
David Scharf, 15, Edgemont HS
Zach Falk, 16, Edgemont HS
Hannah Litt, 15 Edgemont HS
Jessica Stern, 15, Edgemont HS
Jessie Rubin, 16, Edgemont HS
Melissa Polin, 16, Scarsdale HS
Jordanna Roman, 15, Scarsdale HS
Madeline Frankel, 15, Scarsdale HS
Gilda's Club Westchester Youth Committee: Pictured at top by row (front to back) and left to right.
1) Natasha Valk-Braunstein,
2) Olivia Iannotti, Billie Kolinsky, Elana Heisner, Jenna Stein, Jessica Stern, Madeline Frankel, Hannah Litt
3) Alexia Iuni, Ben Tait, Gabriela Colmenares, Aneri Suthar, Melissa Polin, Jade Brown, Jeremiah Finkelman-Mahoney, Gus Raynor
4) Stacey Zanoni (coordinator), Je'lyn Brown, Charlotte Mead, Jared Roseman, Sienna Barlow, Akeem Charles, David Scharf, Jessie Rubin, Lily Eslinger, Zach Falk, Kara Eslinger, Jacob Forchheimer,
Andrew Nicholson (co-coordinator)
Teams and individuals may register for the event at the climb homepage: www.GildasStairClimb.org, or by calling the Gilda's Stair Climb office at: 914.813.2756.
Volunteers Needed For SBNC and Westchester Community Partners
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Volunteers are needed to serve on the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee and as mentors for Westchester students. Details are below:
The School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) is an elected group of 30 members who identify, propose and nominate qualified candidates to run for the Scarsdale Board of Education. The 30 voting members represent each of the five elementary school neighborhoods. Each year ten new members are elected to serve a three-year term on the SBNC.
Please help to maintain our excellent Scarsdale schools and serve our community by volunteering to run for the SBNC.
To become a candidate, complete a biographical form and submit it, with a candidate petition with signatures from ten residents in your elementary school district, by November 19, 2013 to the SBNC Administrative Committee, P.O. Box 172H, Scarsdale, NY 10583. These forms can be downloaded from www.scarsdalesbnc.com, where further information on the process can also be found. The forms are also available at the Scarsdale Library and Village Hall.
If you are interested in becoming a candidate or have questions, please visit the SBNC's website at www.scarsdalesbnc.com. Also, feel free to contact the SBNC Administrative Committee Co-chairs: Janet Korins at janet.korins@verizon.net or Jyoti Ruta at jyoti.ruta@gmail.com.
Adult and Teen Volunteers Needed to Serve as Mentors
One Mentor, One Child, One Book at a Time --You can make a difference in the life of a child. For just one hour each week, read with a student in Mt. Vernon, White Plains, Yonkers or Elmsford and experience the big impact that this small commitment will make. Whether it is during the school day or after school, we have children that need your help. For more information please contact Randee Ginsberg at rginsberg@jcy-wcp.com. It's easy. It's fun. It's worthwhile. It makes a difference!
Sponsored by JCY Westchester Community Partners
914-423-5009
9/11 Remembered at the JCC
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Over 1,000 people participated in honoring the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, a federally recognized observance, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Mid-Westchester, in conjunction with UJA Federation of New York, presented A Day of Chesed (kindness), Service and Remembrance on Sunday, September 15.
Although the Day paid tribute to police, firefighters and military personnel who sacrificed their lives to rescue 9/11 victims and fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, there was an affirmation of the future as JCC Board of Directors and UJA Board member Karen Spar Kasner (of Scarsdale) cut the ribbon of the eponymous Karen Spar Kasner Play Center, a state of the art playground.
Officials attending the ceremony included County Executive Rob Astorino; New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson; Assemblywoman Amy Paulin and New York State Senator (NYS) Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
There were over 20 agencies represented at this day of service, including, letter writing to children at Hadassah Hospital in Israel, a blood drive, bone marrow registration, pet rescue adoption, clothing drives, food collections. Over 160 teen volunteers helped in many projects, including running a car wash which raised over $500 for bone marrow donor registration, and some children ran a lemonade stand raising money for Sunrise Day Camp. The rooms were overflowing with seniors from the community who were treated to a luncheon. AJC and WJC board member Mark Reisman said, "I was moved to be in the presence of so many people of all ages and backgrounds enthusiastically taking part in the Mid-Westchester JCC's Day of Chesed. Coming on the heels of Yom Kippur and springing from the ashes of a horrific national tragedy, the Day of Chesed, helped me translate contemplation and sadness into inspiration and positive action. Congratulations to all whom sponsored and participated in this terrific day!"
The JCC serves over 20,000 individuals annually with programs such as our well-known dance program, senior activities, day camps, adult programs, community-wide events, pre-schools, special needs programs and scholarships.
Teal Ribbons Adorn Scarsdale Village to Promote Awareness of the Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
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If you noticed the teal ribbons adorning the trees in Scarsdale Village here's the story behind the campaign. Long time Scarsdale resident Pip Cacciato arranged for the ribbons to be placed in Scarsdale to promote awareness of the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer. Her sister, Gail McNeil fought the disease for almost eleven years after her diagnosis with stage III cancer.
According to Pip, her sister Gail was fastidious about her healthcare and went to her gynecologist on three separate occasions complaining of classic symptoms; however, her doctor dismissed these symptoms as merely the onset of middle age. On December 23, 1997 Gail was diagnosed with Stage IIIC ovarian cancer. There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and during her battle with the disease Gail realized that no enough was being done to publicize the symptoms of ovarian cancer. She wanted to spare others what she and her family endured.
She laid the foundation for Turn The Towns Teal®, now a national campaign to promote awareness of ovarian cancer and its silent symptoms. Volunteers tie ribbons throughout town centers and hand out symptom cards during the month of September which is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. She set forth certain guidelines for the campaign including the requirement that ribbons be put up in the beginning of September and taken down at the end of the month. She also required that volunteers receive written approval from their towns for placement of the ribbons. She started this campaign in 2007 at which time 40 towns in New Jersey participated. In 2012, there were registrants from 36 states.
In 2009 Gail's husband trademarked the name Turn The Towns Teal®, and Turn the Towns Teal, Inc. was formed. Subsequently the trademark was assigned to the new corporation which was later granted 501 (c)(3) status as a non-profit organization. Today, the campaign is being carried forward by The MacNeil Family and a group of dedicated volunteers.
Here are the symptoms and risk factors for ovarian cancer:
Potential Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer
- Pelvic or abdominal pain or discomfort
- Vague but persistent gastrointestinal upsets such as gas, nausea and indigestion
- Frequency and/or urgency of urination in the absence of an infection
- Unexplained changes in bowel habits
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Pelvic and/or abdominal swelling, bloating and/or feeling of fullness
- Ongoing unusual fatigue
- Menstrual changes
- Pain during sex
- Back pain
Risk Factors Linked to Ovarian Cancer
- Genetic predisposition
- Personal or family history of breast, ovarian or colon cancer
- Increasing age
- Undesired infertility
