Breast Cancer Research Foundation Holds Hot Pink Luncheon
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The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s Fifth Annual Westchester Hot Pink Luncheon was held on Tuesday, November 29 at Brae Burn Country Club. With over 200 guests in attendance, the event raised nearly $240,000, making it the most successful Westchester Luncheon yet. The event was Co-Chaired by Ellen Brown, Debra Ezratty, Sheryl Kaye, Kim Meyers and Linda Plattus. Scarsdale’s Shelly Kivell, founder of the event was honored for her role as a community leader and her commitment to raising awareness. Shelly spoke about her dedication to breast cancer research, and the achievement of the Westchester community funding the first “Westchester Women’s” researcher, Lyndsay Harris, MD from Yale University School of Medicine.
BCRF Scientific Director Larry Norton, MD “interviewed” Dr. Harris on breast cancer research efforts impacting
patient care. Reflecting on what motivated the founding of BCRF, Dr. Norton emphasized that its mandate has always been the advancement of research to benefit patients.
Several topics were discussed with Dr. Harris, including research and technological advances that have led cancer research to shift away from organ-specific studies. Until very recently, the central treatment option for cancer patients was surgery, and therefore cancer research “silos” were organized into breast, lung, colon, and such. However, tremendous advances in the understanding of cancer cell biology have led scientists to observe the commonalities in what promotes the growth and spread of different cancers. Dr. Norton concluded that the aim is to develop new drugs effective against not just one, but several types of cancer.
The discussion also covered a fuller picture of “personalized,” or individualized, cancer care. Dr. Norton spoke about the newly gained information that has enabled scientists to develop therapies that target only cancer cells and spare healthy ones, which is a focus of Dr. Harris’s work.
Evelyn Lauder, the founder and chairman of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation recently passed away. She was remembered as a visionary and an inspiration who encouraged other’s to give by saying, “Endorphins flow when you write a check for charity.” Remembering Lauder, luncheon co-chair Kim Meyers said “Evelyn is the true honoree today.”
Wanted: Holiday Donations for the Troops
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David Kemp, the son of Barbara and Gil Kemp of Scarsdale, and his troops are back in Afghanistan. The Scarsdale Teen Center will be helping them by collecting items in a collection box for users to drop off their donations. Small gifts like socks, candy, gum, books, cds, dental floss, tooth brushes, dry fruit, snack bars and toys are some of the items on the list that they can give to children in the streets of Afghanistan. They will not accept cash or checks. There is a short turn around needed to get it to the troops on time for the holidays. The deadline for the donations is November 29th.
Drop in hours at the Teen Center for anyone who wants to drop off their items in the collection box can do so this Wednesday from 3 - 6, Friday and Saturday from 3 - 11pm. The Teen Center is at 862 Scarsdale Ave, Scarsdale.
For more information contact Eugenia Valliades at 914-722-8358.
Holiday Cheer
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The Scarsdale Woman's Club will host a Holiday Open House on Wednesday, November 30, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm. Enjoy the Club's annual celebration of the holidays and see Rowsley all decked out for the occasion. The Scarsdale Middle Schoool Jazz Band will give a special performance at 1:30 pm, and the Club's own Choral Singers will perform holiday songs at 3:15 pm. The always popular Holiday Thrift Boutique will feature "Treasurers from the Attic" and quality items to raise money for the Club's outreach programs. There will be special table displays, a pottery exhibit and sale, a display of decorated gift baskets bound for a Westchester nursing home, and sales of poinsettias and wreaths. Sample delicious punch, festive holiday cookies and tea sandwiches. The Scarsdale Woman's Club is located at 37 Drake Road, Scarsdale. Call 914-723-0024 for further information.
The Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) at Westchester Reform Temple are sponsoring their Annual Holiday Boutique on Thursday, December 1, 2011, from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm. The event will include over 35 specialty vendors displaying a range of enticing, one-of-a-kind items with varied price-points and a “cash for gold and any size sterling silver” table. For the first time, this year’s boutique will feature extended evening hours including a wine and cheese tasting sponsored by Vintology, Scarsdale, from 5:00 -7:00 pm.
There is no admission fee to this event, which is open to the public. Parking is also free. Checks and credit cards are accepted by most vendors. Westchester Reform Temple is located at 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale. For more information, please call 914-723-7727 or visit www.wrtemple.org .
The Lustgarten Foundation is holding a Girls Night Out holiday boutique on Thursdays December 8 from 7 – 9pm. The 
event will take place at Willow Ridge Country Club at 123 North Street in Harrison. The boutique will feature clothing, belts, purses, scarves, personalized gifts, candies and chocolates, wines, sake, a beauty bar and lots more. There will be a DJ and food and drinks and a raffle. The cost is $55 per person and you can register online at http://www.lustgarten.org/girlsnightout . Payment will also be accepted at the door.
Bet Am Shalom on Soundview Avenue in White Plains will host their 18th Annual Judaica Craft Show, featuring the finest in contemporary Judaica on Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 8:00 - 11:00pm and on Sunday, December 11, 2011 from 9:30am - 5:30pm. The entry fee is $8 or $7 with postcard or voucher. Learn more at: http://betamshalom.org/judaica_craft_show
Also attend a session on "Collecting Judaica,” a creative approach to starting &and building your own collection, on Tuesday, November 29 at 8:00 pm at Bet Am Shalom Synagogue. This session is free of charge.
Cheryl Rosen, President of Pediatric Cancer Foundation, credits Boutique Chairs Judith Elkins and Wendy Schimel with producing this successful event. “Although this boutique takes place on one day it takes an entire year to coordinate every last detail. Thank you Judi and Wendy as well as Boutique guests and vendors for helping us to…hold the hand of a child.”
STEP Honors Eric Rothschild at 45th Anniversary Celebration
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Forty-five and glowing certainly describes the atmosphere at the Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Program (STEP) anniversary celebration held on Saturday November 5th at the Scarsdale Women’s Club. Over two hundred people came out to honor this transformative Scarsdale program and its founder, Village Historian and beloved Scarsdale history teacher Eric Rothschild.
An assortment of community members, former students, and STEP family representatives came to the podium to laud the accomplishments of STEP’s founder, its graduates and its goals. Over the past 45 years, STEP has hosted 27 women and 22 men who have been given the opportunity to attend Scarsdale High School and live for two years with a local family. After graduating, they have gone on to a wide selection of college and universities, pursued a variety of careers and many have maintained their ties to Scarsdale.
The SHS a cappella group “For Good Measure” opened the evening’s formal program and was followed by a short video produced by SHS students, highlighting the STEP experience of David Bougard (SHS 2010) and the Hunersen family. New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin proclaimed Nov 5th as Eric Rothschild Day and remarked “STEP exemplifies public education at its best.”
First among the speakers was Jerylle Kemp, former STEP student (SHS 1968) who shared her experience of coming to Scarsdale from Atlanta to live with the Frye family. Kemp, who graduated from Yale and has a Wharton MBA and a law degree from Harvard said she came “looking for an academic challenge and sense of community.” She spoke of lifelong friendships as well as establishing a strong foundation for future endeavors. Kemp was so positive about her STEP experience that she encouraged her sister who also participated in the program.
The evening proceeded with SHS alum Steven Schnur kicking off tributes from what was titled Eric Rothchild’s Fan Club. Although Schnur spoke regrettably of never having experienced Rothschild in the classroom, they have since forged a relationship at their favorite haunt, The Scarsdale Library. Schnur praised Rothschild for “nurturing what is best within us.” Former student Tom Vogel spoke of Rothschild, “not as a caretaker; he’s a creator.” He urged students to “do your own research, put yourself in others’ shoes and go out of your comfort zone.” Another former student Lyndon Tretter described Rothschild like “Tom Sawyer getting kids to paint the fence; he made them believe it could be cool to study hard.”
Kimberly Harris (SHS 1988) spoke about the wonderful experience of being a STEP sister and Kelley Hamm, SHS acting co-principal said, “Eric nurtured STEP at its creation and has worked for many years sustaining it and maintaining contact with STEP alum. He has such pride and love of what they have accomplished. “
On behalf of the STEP Board and all its constituencies, STEP Senior Chair Liz Gruber made a presentation of a commemorative pen saying, “we are honored to be working with you to continue the mission of this exceptional organization that you are so passionate about. Following a standing ovation, Rothschild lauded the entire community saying, “We could have sat on our laurels and built a moat, but we didn’t. Instead we decided to share our educational and community resources by becoming one of the 30 communities with STEP-like programs in the U.S. Today Scarsdale has the only remaining program.” He wished STEP a happy birthday and said, “May you have many more.”
In addition to current STEP students Keith Martinez and Lisa Studway, the anniversary celebration welcomed Angela Kanish (SHS 85) and Darrian Mumphrey (SHS ’08). Kanish graduated from Ithaca College and has an MBA in Arts Administration from Binghamton University. She currently works for the San Diego Opera as Associate Director of Education. Mumphrey attends CUNY in the Bronx and is majoring in art education.
The STEP Benefit was chaired by Beth Ehrich Berkeley and Nina Ross. The Good Life Gourmet caterers worked generously with the organization providing food and staff to enhance this community event.
Article by Valerie Abrahams and Anna Decker. Photos by Gail Weisenfeld
(Pictured on top: STEP Chair Liz Gruber with Honoree Eric Rothschild)
What’s Jewish about Breast and Ovarian Cancer?
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On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 9:00 am, Westchester Reform Temple (WRT) will hold a free lecture titled, “What’s Jewish about Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer? Stay Informed for Yourself and Your Family.” The program will feature guest speakers Dr. Susan Klugman, Director of Clinical Services and Community Outreach for the Program for Jewish Genetic Health of Yeshiva University, and Rochelle L. Shoretz, Founder and Executive Director, Sharsheret.
Breast cancer affects 1 in 9 women in their lifetime and ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70. Approximately 10 percent of these cancers have a hereditary component. Scarsdale's Dr. Klugman will discuss the mutations in the specific genes and the increased risks for women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Ms. Shoretz will discuss the unique issues of Jewish women at risk of developing or diagnosed with breast cancer and the culturally-relevant support programs Sharsheret has developed to meet their needs.
This free, educational program is open to the community and co-sponsored by WRT’s Caring Community, Sharsheret and Yeshiva University’s Program for Jewish Genetic Health. A light breakfast with cancer-fighting foods will be served. Dr. Klugman is the Director of Reproductive Genetics at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She received her bachelor of science degree with honors from Cornell University and her medical degree from New York University, before completing residencies in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Genetics at Einstein and Montefiore Medical Center. In 1993, she founded the Larchmont Women’s Center, a faculty practice office.
Ms. Shoretz, a two-time breast cancer survivor, founded Sharsheret to connect young Jewish women fighting breast cancer following her own diagnosis at age 28. She is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women. A Centennial Scholar graduate of Barnard College and a Kent Scholar graduate of Columbia Law School, Ms. Shoretz served as a law clerk in 1999 to United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
RSVP is requested, but not required, to CaringCommunity@wrtemple.org. Westchester Reform Temple is located at 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY.
