A New Look for Scarsdale
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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What words come to mind when you think of Scarsdale? Excellence, stability, classic, volunteerism, small town, charming, historic and traditional were just some of the descriptors that emerged from recent focus groups of residents conducted by the Village’s Advisory Council of Communications (ACC).
They did this research as a part of a rebranding process, to update and unify the Village’s graphic look on communications, the Village website, signage, buildings, vehicles and other entities. On March 29, 2022, Dara Gruenberg, Chair of the Advisory Council of Communications presented a progress report at a work session of the Village Board.
The Village’s current seal, which includes a native American and a pilgrim, looked dated and was not consistently used as an identifier. Furthermore, Gruenberg explained, "The ACC discovered that what had evolved over time was that the Village was using it’s seal as the logo but they actually don't have an official logo. Why this is an important point is because a seal and a logo are very different things….a seal is used in a legal capacity whereas a logo is a visual representation of brand. Therefore, it became even clearer that the Village needed to develop a visual identity for Scarsdale that is intentional and also represents who we are today.”
In order to formulate a new look, the Advisory Council on Communications harnessed the talents of their twelve members and other residents and undertook a professional branding process which included research and focus groups to inform the design process.
The results of this year-long endeavor, were unveiled at a meeting in Village Hall on March 29, 2022, and on the Village website on March 30, 2022.
Gruenberg explained the process. The committee called on Village Historian Jordan Copeland to analyze Village history and the evolution of its identity. They looked at other municipalities to review their branding and held focus group with different constituencies.
Based on this feedback, designers Kerry Hayes and Diane Greenwald developed three concepts which the committee considered and then selected the logo above. It features the village color palate – blue, gray and maroon, an illustration of the cupola atop the Harwood Building and the year of Scarsdale’s founding. According to Gruenberg, “The design combines classic and modern typefaces to look retro, idyllic and nostalgic and connect to good elements from the past.” The logo has been incorporated into a seal and two logo designs so that it can be adapted for a variety of uses.
However, implementing this design will take time and the ACC is currently working on creating an inventory of all branded items that will need to be updated. There are budget constraints and they want to do this methodically.
Village Branding lacked a consistent look.
Gruenberg reported that this is not the only work of the Council.
They have redesigned the Village website to make it more visually appealing and user friendly to navigate. In 2021 they developed evergreen video content for the Village website featuring interviews with department heads. These will help residents get to know who runs the Village and make them more approachable.
Other initiatives include developing communications plans for targeted issues, improving the registration process on the recreation department platform, developing a social media policy and supporting initiatives to bring business to the Village Center.
Most impressive, all of this work is being done by volunteers, at no cost to taxpayers.
Kudos to the team for a fresh new identity for Scarsdale.
You're Invited to the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner: Thursday April 28, 2022
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Nancy Michaels, Chair of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee sent this letter inviting you to attend the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner on Thursday April 28 to be held for the first time at Brae Burn Country Club.
Dear Scarsdale Community,
We hope many of you will attend the SCARSDALE FOUNDATION BOWL DINNER on Thursday, April 28th where we will celebrate honorees BK Munguia and Jon Mark (2019), Michelle Lichtenberg (2020), and Terry Singer (2021) at Brae Burn Country Club.
There are no paper invitations this year so please use this link to visit the Scarsdale Foundation website to purchase your tickets.
Nancy Michaels and Michelle Lichtenberg
Separately, please consider recognizing friends and neighbors who have volunteered in our community by placing them on the Scarsdale Foundation Volunteer Honor Roll. It’s a great way to show gratitude to all our community volunteers and those named will receive an email certificate and will be recognized in local print and online media, and, of course, at the Bowl Dinner.
All the money raised at the dinner, and via the Honor Roll, will help the Scarsdale Foundation reach its goal of providing $150,000 in need-based scholarships for Scarsdale college students in their sophomore, junior, and senior years in college.
Volunteerism is the backbone of the Scarsdale community, and what makes our village a wonderful and unique place to live. We look forward to celebrating our extraordinary volunteers together at our celebration on April 28th. We hope to see you there. Shine on Scarsdale!
Jon Mark and BK Munguia
Nancy Michaels
Scarsdale Bowl Chair, 2020-2022
Terry Singer and Nancy Michaels
SVAC to Offer EMT Training to the National Guard to Meet Shortage of Healthcare Workers
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On Friday, February 11, Westchester County Executive George Latimer presented a proclamation to SVAC for its efforts in providing COVID-19 testing and vaccinations to Westchester residents,A classroom full of men and women in camouflage fatigues may not appear to be a typical Scarsdale EMT class, but their drive to volunteer and make a difference in the community certainly is.
Eighteen men and women from New York’s National Guard are being trained as Emergency Medical Technicians by the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps. With little to no medical training, they have embraced the intensive 180-hour program that will culminate in a three-year certification as a New York State EMT.
They come to SVAC by way of Governor Kathy Hochul who ordered the training to help with the shortage of healthcare workers. The Department of Health asked nine EMS training centers across New York to assist with training 400 soldiers and airmen.
“There is a real need for EMTs and paramedics in our area and we couldn’t be prouder to have been selected for this important mission,” said SVAC President David Raizen. “To get through all 180 hours in five weeks is ambitious. Their accomplishment is a testament to our armed services in general, and the dedication of these eighteen men and women in particular.”
In initially announcing the partnership, Governor Hochul said, “The Department of Health and our New York National Guard have been working side-by-side to fight this pandemic since Day 1, and I am proud to see this innovative plan between the two agencies come to fruition. When times get tough, New Yorkers put their heads together and find solutions.”
This training builds on SVAC’s overall response to COVID-19 over the last two years. On Friday, February 11, Westchester County Executive George Latimer presented a proclamation to SVAC for its efforts in providing COVID-19 testing and vaccinations to Westchester residents, as well as the launch of its community paramedicine program that has reduced rehospitalization among its patients.
But key to all of SVAC’s success is having qualified EMTs and paramedics to care for patients.
“I have no doubt these soldiers and airmen will use the skills SVAC has imparted to them in their work with the Guard,” said Raizen. “Hopefully, they catch the ‘EMS bug’ and we can welcome them on one of our ambulances.”
The students will complete their coursework on March 1st, and sit for the New York State EMT exam shortly thereafter.
Photo Credit: Jon Thaler. See more photos here.
Paulin Passes Bill Requiring Airports to Provide Information to Help Human Trafficking Victims
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Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Scarsdale) announced that her bill (A.9169/S.8262) has passed in the New York State Assembly which requires all airports of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which are JFK International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, New York Stewart, and Teterboro airports, to provide information on support services for human trafficking victims. It will now proceed to the New York State Senate where it is sponsored by Senator Anna Kaplan.
The bill requires the airports to have informational cards or signs available in public restrooms. Such items would contain information on services for trafficking victims as well as the national human trafficking hotline number.
“Since trafficking networks often rely on air travel to transport victims, we are including airports in our efforts to help these victims,” said Assemblymember Paulin. “For some victims, the information they will see in an airport restroom may be the only opportunity to learn about services available to them. Ideally a victim will take a card or a photo of a sign and call the hotline for help either on the spot or at a later time.”
Human trafficking is a global phenomenon that generates $150 billion in annual profits. In 2021, an estimated 25 million people were trafficked. Airports are known hubs used to traffic victims both internationally and domestically, and as a result they are an ideal location to provide information about victim services. This information will inform victims, as well as other travelers, about the availability of services.
Pursuant to the bill, the posters and cards must include information on human trafficking services and must prominently display the national human trafficking hotline number. Many victims are heavily supervised and controlled while in transit, preventing them from safely seeking help or finding resources for fear of retaliation. By having the victim services informational signs or cards posted in all restrooms, victims will have easy access to the information.
“Through this legislation, airports can assume a more prominent role in responding to and preventing human trafficking,” said Assemblymember Paulin. “It will also afford victims a resource to help escape their capture.”
This bill is the latest in a host of legislation authored and passed by Assemblymember Paulin designed to strengthen New York’s laws against human trafficking. In 2014 she passed a law ensuring that human trafficking victims who are 16 and 17 years old will be treated as victims instead of criminals and get the services they need (Ch. 402 of 2014). In 2015 she passed the landmark “Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act” to increase the accountability of buyers and traffickers, providing law enforcement with additional tools to identify traffickers, and providing victims recourse to recover damages from their traffickers (Ch. 368 of 2015). In 2016 she passed a law requiring hospitals to establish written policies and procedures for the identification, assessment, and treatment or referral of suspected human trafficking victims (Ch. 408 of 2016).
In 2018 Assemblymember Paulin passed several anti-trafficking laws, including the End Child Sex Trafficking Act, which eliminated the requirement for proof of force, fraud, or coercion in order to prosecute an individual for the class B violent felony of sex trafficking of a minor (Ch. 189 of 2018). Another law she passed in 2018 requires lodging facilities to provide information about services for human trafficking victims on cards in public areas, including in their public restrooms and guest rooms (Ch. 190 of 2018). She also passed a 2018 law which allows any county to move an action pending in a local criminal court to a human trafficking intervention court (Ch. 191 of 2018).
Anita S. Teekah, Esq., Senior Director, Safe Horizon Anti-Trafficking Program, said "Safe Horizon's Anti-Trafficking Program is grateful to Assemblymember Paulin for her steadfast and unwavering support of victims and survivors of human trafficking. Her recently passed bill will provide valuable and life-saving information to victims in transit during their trafficking and will hopefully connect victims to the services they critically need as they self-empower after escaping trafficking."
Nancy Downing, Executive Director, Covenant House New York, said “Trafficking victims, especially those trafficked from abroad, may find themselves in airports confused and scared with no idea of who to trust. Seeing posted information on how to get help could be their chance at freedom. Awareness of the realities of human trafficking and how to access services needs to be far reaching and we applaud Assemblymember Paulin's efforts to have this information posted in heavily populated New York airports.”
Dorchen A. Leidholdt, Esq., Director, Sanctuary for Families, said “Sanctuary for Families, the largest provider of holistic, dedicated services to gender violence survivors—including human trafficking survivors—in New York State, commends Assemblywoman Amy Paulin for her long-standing leadership in the fight to prevent and combat human trafficking. We applaud her success in securing the support of the New York State Assembly of a bill that requires airports to publicize information on support services for human trafficking victims. Providing this information to victims, and those in a position to assist them, in the very destinations in which they are being transported for purposes of sex and labor trafficking will prevent exploitation and save lives.”
“We must continue to extend protection, services, and assistance to victims, while also strengthening laws which hold those that enslave and exploit children through the commercial sex trade accountable,” said Assemblymember Paulin. “I am grateful to my colleagues in the Assembly for passing this bill and now look to my Senate colleagues to do the same. It’s critical that we help victims escape lives of abuse and exploitation at the hands of their predatory traffickers.”
Scarsdale Historical Society and Scarsdale Library Look Back on Black History in Scarsdale
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To celebrate Black History Month and display the beautiful new reference room at Scarsdale Library, the Scarsdale Historical Society and the Scarsdale Library joined forces to create an exhibit on the history of blacks in Scarsdale. Leslie Chang from the Scarsdale Historical Society introduced the exhibit in a video presentation available on Facebook live.
The exhibit uses original documents, photographs, newspaper articles and letters to shed light on slavery in the 1700’s and 1800’s and then jumps to cover two visits to Scarsdale from Martin Luther King in the 1960’s.
Local History Librarian Dan Glauber explained many of the records documenting slaves in Scarsdale and Associate Village Historian Jordan Copeland reviewed photos and history of the black community on Saxon Woods Road and also explained the mythology of the underground railroad in Scarsdale
The exhibit shows details of King’s 1965 visit to the home of Jon Marqusee on Kensington Road in Fox Meadow followed by a benefit for Abbot House. Also shown are photos of a march attended by 2,000 people in Scarsdale after the assassination of Martin Luther King on April 4, 1968. At the time, the Scarsdale Clergy Club organized a memorial march and 2,000 people turned out to walk from Butler Field to Chase Park in silence. At the time of King’s funeral, flags were lowered to half mast, schools were closed and Village businesses also shut their doors.
Jordan Copeland reviews the history of the black community on Saxon Woods Road.
The virtual tour of the exhibit given by members of the Scarsdale Historical Society and Library staff was presented on Facebook live at 7 pm on Tuesday February 8, 2022. The video is available on demand and brings these historic documents to life. If you haven’t had a chance to tour Scarsdale’s new library, be sure to see the library and the exhibit.
