Scarsdale's Team John Returns to Long Island Sound for 21st Year Supporting Cancer Research
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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The team will swim in memory of John NeedhamOn Saturday, July 25, a team based out of the Scarsdale Town Pool will once again join hundreds of swimmers, volunteers, and supporters for the Swim Across America Long Island Sound Swim, continuing a tradition that has spanned more than two decades.
Team John, named in memory of Scarsdale resident and fellow swimmer John Needham, has participated in the Swim Across America event for more than 20 years, raising money to support innovative cancer research. During that time, the team has collectively raised more than $2 million, helping fund promising research and clinical trials at leading institutions, including Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Columbia University, and other local beneficiaries. To date in 2026, Team John has raised over $130,000, which ranks in the Top 5 team totals nationwide.
While the annual swim is a physical challenge—the 10-kilometer course stretches more than six miles across the Long Island Sound—the mission has always been much bigger than the distance.
Over the years, members of the team have seen firsthand how Swim Across America-funded research has changed lives. One particularly meaningful story involves Adrienne Skinner, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer more than a decade ago. After becoming connected with Swim Across America, she later benefited from a groundbreaking immunotherapy treatment and is now cancer-free. Today, she remains an active supporter of the organization and a powerful reminder of why the event continues to matter.
Each summer, Team John brings together swimmers, kayakers, volunteers, donors, cancer survivors, and families who share a common goal: accelerating the search for better treatments and, ultimately, cures for cancer. Team John members for 2026 include current or former Scarsdale residents Patrick Bates, Eldad Blaustein, Diane Calderon, Jack Callahan, Tim Callahan, Elissa Elkowitz, Josh Glantz, Noah Glantz, Robert Goodman, Razy Hirschberg, Joe Kaufman, Teresa Maldonado, Dan Needham, Jeannine Palermo, Doug Rachlin, Miles Rubin, Justine Smith, Howard Weinberg, Duncan Wilson and Michael Zeller.
As the team prepares for another year in the water, community members are invited to support the effort by making a donation or learning more about the event.
To support Team John, visit here.
Every dollar raised helps advance cancer research and brings hope to patients and families whose lives depend on the next breakthrough.
Compass, Cross Insurance, Berkshire Hathaway and IHM Salute The Grads
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Here are congratulations to graduates from Berkshire Hathaway, Cross Insurance of Scarsdale and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Scarsdale.
Mamaroneck Bests Scarsdale Flag Football Team at Section Finals
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- Written by: Dave Taber
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Senior Talia Arovas (#14) reaches in to strip the flag from a Mamaroneck ball carrier.The Scarsdale High School Varsity Girls Flag Football Team reached the NYPHSAA Class A Section 1 championship game on Friday, May 23rd, facing Mamaroneck at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, NY.
Freshman Emme Sanders (#27) leaps to evade a pair of Mamaroneck defenders.
The Raiders were well prepared for their biggest game of the season and the defense was very solid against a strong Mamaroneck team. In a steady rain throughout the game, the Tigers eventually pulled ahead 13-0, but Scarsdale got back into striking distance when senior Leah Brown broke free for a 70-plus yard touchdown run. The Raiders were unable to add to the score, however, and fell to the Tigers 13-7. Mamaroneck advances to the NYSPHSAA state playoffs while the Raiders end their season as Section 1 finalists.
Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of the Game. To see more game photos and/or download photos, please visit https://www.shotsofthegame.com/
Junior quarterback Reese Newman (#18) sets up to launch a deep pass in the rain.
Senior Mia De Genaro (#22) closes in on a Mamaroneck ball carrier.
De Genaro (#22), left, and Arovas (#14), right, work together to pull the flag on a Mamaroneck runner.
Senior Gia Asen (#2) looks to break away from a Mamaroneck defender.
Arovas (#14) and Newman (#18) converge on the Mamaroneck quarterback.
Senior Leah Brown (#9) gets rolling on what would become a 70-plus yard touchdown run.
The Scarsdale bench erupts as Brown crosses the goal line.
Brown (#9), far left, and De Genaro (#22), far right, close in on a Mamaroneck ball carrier.
Sanders (#27) works to break free from Mamaroneck defenders.
Senior Oonagh Walsh (#16) follows through on a punt.
Arovas (#14) lunges to pull the flag on a Mamaroneck ball carrier.
Three Scarsdale Raider Sprinters Take Home Westchester County Championships
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- Written by: Jack Capobianco
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Scarsdale runners broke a century old school record at the Westchester County Championships for track and field on May 15-16, 2026. It was a successful performance for the Raiders overall, with the boys finishing in second place in the county and the girls taking home third. In addition to great team results, three Scarsdale Raider sprinters took home county championships for being the fastest in their individual events.
Labrowne Brown became the Westchester County champion in the boys 100 meter run. After running 10.87 seconds in the preliminary round, Brown calmly advanced to finals where he ran 10.83 seconds in the 100 meter dash. This mark was fast enough for first overall in the county as Brown won the race. The results broke a school record which has not been topped since 1940. Brown's time of 10.83 seconds made him 17th in New York State.
If one 100 meter champion was not good enough, Alice Nicassio followed up Labrowne Brown’s impressive victory with a county championship of her own. After Nicassio ran 12.52 seconds in the prelims, coming in with the second fastest time in the race, Nicassio successfully earned her spot in the 100 meter finals. Then, after finishing second in the finals, Nicassio flipped the script and came in first, finishing with a time of 12.39 seconds to become Scarsdale's second county champion of the day. This time was 0.12 seconds faster than the second place finisher, who in the prelims defeated Nicassio. Alice’s personal record in this event, which is 12.28 seconds, is second fastest in Scarsdale history for this event.
Finally, senior Jake Saxon was Scarsdale’s final county champion as an individual in the 110 meter hurdle event on Friday. After smashing the preliminary round; with a time of 14.99 Saxon earned his spot in the championship race. After finishing first in the prelims, Saxon also finished first overall in the finals and earned a personal record with an overall time of 14.65 seconds, making him 11th in NY State.
It was an amazing couple days for the Scarsdale sprinters as well as an extraordinary two days for the track and field team as a whole. Much of the team earned personal records and these performances are indicative of where the team is headed. This season's Westchester County Championships marked the best that Scarsdale has ever performed at a county championship in track.
Alice Nicassio sets a record.
Scarsdale Schools Bond, Budget and Board of Education Vote on Tuesday – Here’s What You Need to Know
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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With a contested school board election, a large bond referendum and the approval of the 2026-27 school budget all on the ballot on Tuesday May 19, your email inbox and mailbox have been flooded with messaging, postcards and mailers in the past few weeks.
In case you have not been following the back and forth, you may want to review the facts before you go to vote at Scarsdale Middle School from 7 am to 9 pm on Tuesday.
What’s in the bond? Who would you like to see on the school board, and what will the school budget fund? And if you’re wondering how much it will cost you, use the tax calculator below to determine your tab for the bond.
Here are links to candidate interviews, endorsement letters, a virtual candidates forum, information about the budget and the bond and more.
Candidate Interviews
An Interview with Erica German
Click here
An Interview with Omer Wiczyk
Click here
An Interview with Kevin Ziegler
Click here
Your Letters
Letters in Support of the SBNC Slate
Click here
Letters in Support of Omer Wiczyk and Kevin Ziegler
Click here and here
Letters in Support of Erica German
Click here
Watch a virtual Candidates Forum
School Budget Information
Information on the 2026-27 Proposed School Budget
Click here
School Board Member Statements on the Proposed School Budget ($197mm)
Click here
PTA Statements
Click here
School Bond
What’s in the Bond:
Click here
Board Statements on Proposed School Bond
Click here
Bond Tax Calculator
Click here
