A Joyful Chinese New Year Celebration in Scarsdale
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- Written by Claire He
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On February 28, over three hundred people came to the Scarsdale Library for a joyful Chinese New Year celebration to welcome the year of the Sheep. The well-attended event boasted a lively lion dance, eight group performances by Scarsdale Chinese families, several crafts and game tables, as well as refreshments at the end. Among the attendees were Scarsdale Mayor Mr. Robert Steves, Mayor Elect Mr. Jon Marks, Chief of Police Mr. Andrew Matturro and many other local residents.
This is the first-ever community-wide celebration co-sponsored by the Scarsdale Chinese Association and the Scarsdale Library. Chinese New Year has been celebrated at all of the elementary schools for the past few years. For this first village-wide celebration, residents from all five districts pooled resources and collaborated with success.
As the guests entered the library, they were greeted with bright red window decorations and warm smiles from the volunteers in traditional Chinese garb. Lanterns, New Year scrolls and craft tables lined the hallway leading to the Scott Room, instantly putting everyone into the festive holiday mood. Music, laughter and friendly chatter filled the room, which was decked out with bright decorations bearing good wishes for the New Year and a spring full of hope.
With a round of triumphant drum roll, the volunteer lion dance team kicked off the event with fanfare. The audience cheered as the lions crouched and jumped down the aisles. They enjoyed it even more when they recognized their neighbors and friends behind the lion costumes. The baby lions, played by young children, drew the biggest applause. After a brief welcome by the SCA current chair, a Scarsdale High School student discussed the origin of Chinese New Year traditions such as firecrackers and red envelopes, and answered questions from the audience. This was followed by two beautiful children's dances "Little Apple" and "Jasmine Flower", both by amateur troupes of elementary school students. The audience was deeply impressed by their professional choreography and costumes. Two Scarsdale middle schoolers performed a violin duet of the traditional Chinese folk song "Sweet Rice Balls", bringing back sweet childhood memories to many. The Scarsdale High School Mandarin class students, most of them of non-Chinese heritage, presented a play, "Three Little Pigs," in Chinese, which drew enthusiastic cheers and applause. A group of grandmothers in their sixties and seventies, looking radiant and fit in their red outfits, performed an energetic traditional dance that inspired all generations in the audience. The finale and high note were two fashion shows by a group of twenty Scarsdale moms, who all looked stunning as they modeled traditional Chinese costume (Han Fu) and mandarin dress (Qi Pao).
After the performances, adults and children lingered to resume the arts 
and crafts activities, play games and to sample delicious dumplings, spring rolls and scallion pancakes from Jade Spoon. They learned how to make an elaborate Chinese knot for decoration, a cute fluffy lamb with paper and cotton balls, and also perfected their chopstick skills and memory of the twelve horoscopes. Many stayed long after the programmed concluded, savoring the happy memories and catching up with friends and neighbors.
Mayor Bob Steves and wife Kathy said, "We very much enjoyed all of the performances and of course the food. But more importantly we appreciated the Scarsdale Chinese Association's effort to share its New Year celebration with the whole Scarsdale community."
The Scarsdale Chinese Association (SCA) was founded over 10 years ago by Chinese American families in Scarsdale to support each other and work together to contribute to the Scarsdale community. There are currently 250 members and the number continues to grow. SCA members commented: "Many SCA members have lived in Scarsdale for a long time and we love the town and the schools here. We may not have grown up here, but our children will. We value the traditions here and strive hard to make our adoptive community stronger. We celebrate Thanksgiving and other holidays as much as we celebrate Chinese New Year. Today's event is intended to bring everyone together and enrich the overall community. We are thrilled to see our neighbors embrace our culture and enjoy the activities so much. We would love to contribute as much as we can to bring the best of both worlds to Scarsdale, to help bridge and poise our next generation for a future of global economy."
Article by Claire He, Photos by Paula Whittlin
Famous Greek Kitchen
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On one of the recent "coldest nights of the year," we risked the ice and ventured out to Greenwich – near Byram- to sample a family-owned Greek restaurant that received raves from a friend. The hostess was happy to grant our request to be seated well away from the door, and we found ourselves in a cozy booth with white leather banquette seats, shielded from any wintery air that could find its way in through the front door.
The restaurant was warm as was our greeting from our waiter who offered us drinks and a nice overview of what should be ordered from the extensive menu. It turns out that Famous Greek Kitchen opened thirty-three years ago as a pizza and souvlaki house. The owner's children have taken the restaurant into new directions. Steve Karipides is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has expanded the menu way beyond pizza and souvlaki. His sisters Maria and Sophia are also involved and assure diners a good experience.
So what is there to eat? Lots --and many appealing choices from which to choose – both Greek, Italian 
and continental. The choice of appetizers had quite a few tempters so we went for a bunch of those and shared our main courses. Baked shrimp saganaki with tomato, feta and fresh herbs was irresistible: tangy, hot melted cheese and delectable seafood in a flavorful tomato sauce. On the night we were there they were offering this dish with lobster and scallops – making it even better. Zucchini pancakes with tzatziki was another special appetizer and the pancakes were light and not greasy and came with homemade cucumber and yogurt sauce. We downed that quickly too. Friends loved the Oktapodi, char-grilled octopus drizzled with red win marinade. Other good options are the dips – roasted bean, melitzanosalta (roasted eggplant,) hummus, skordalia (potato, beets and roasted garlic), tyrokafteri (feta and hot peppers) or a sampling of any three for $14.95.
When in Greece ... order the Greek salad – and we did that too. The Horiatiki salad – is a lettuce-less priced at $10.95 with chopped tomatoes, feta, cucumber, onion, olives and peppers tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. Even though we are suffering through the bleakest of winters, these vegetables tasted like they came from sunnier climes.
Though there are many Greek entress on the menu – including souvlaki platters, moussaka, pastitsio, grilled lamb chops and grilled fish, my husband got a whiff of steak from the grill and ordered a rib eye which was enough for three. It was grilled on the outside, juicy on the inside and served with creamy potatoes. Also on the menu were beef and lamb burgers and fresh made pizzas. I wanted to try the lemon-herb organic chicken and the rigatoni with creamy beef and lamb ragu, and a dollop of ricotta – that that will have to be on next visit.
We didn't have trouble getting in on a weeknight and heard weekends are busy but not impossible.
When we finished, I turned to the waiter and asked him why Greek food in the U.S. is better than Greek food in Greece ... and I meant it!
Check out Famous Greek Kitchen and let us know what you think in the comments sections below.
Famous Greek Kitchen
10 North Water Street
Greenwich, CT
203-531-6887
www.famousgreekkitchen.com
Israeli Journalist Ari Shavit Speaks in Scarsdale
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When I told a friend who is an expert on the Middle East that I was going to see Ari Shavit at a talk sponsored by the Jewish lobbyists AIPAC (America's Pro-Israel Lobby) she was puzzled. Why would AIPAC, a group that takes the position that Israel can do no wrong, fund a tour by author, peace-nick and occasional apologist Ari Shavit? It would seem more appropriate for AIPAC to showcase Prime Minister Netanyahu than a journalist who is known for reporting what happened in Israel, warts and all.
As I had just read Shavit's 464-page book, My Promised Land, I registered with AIPAC to go to see the man in person at a temple in Scarsdale. When I arrived I was surprised to find a packed parking lot and over 500 people in the audience. A professional staff from the lobbying group was greeting and wooing guests as they came in – and the session, which was billed as a talk by Shavit, began with a video and rallying cry for support from AIPAC.
When Shavit finally rose to the podium, he shared many of the conclusions he drew in his book. which is a history of Israel told through the eyes of the disparate groups that came to inhabit the promised land. In the book, he explores the stories of the early settlers, Zionists, "Oriental Jews" (from the Arab world), Orthodox, Russians, young and old. He includes controversial accounts of the settlers driving native residents from their homeland and taking territory by force.
On Thursday, he stressed the challenges faced by Israel, while seeking to reinforce points on which he was in agreement with AIPAC.
Shavit discussed the "cloud of danger" that hangs over Israel, saying, "How is it that people who have escaped Auschwitz are confronted with such fear? According to Shavit, Israel is the "only democracy that is existentially threatened."
In its fight for survival, Shavit points to two heroes:
The first is Israeli society itself, which he credits with being "rich, innovative, full of life, cohesive, and resilient."
The second hero is the Iron Dome that protects Israel from incoming missiles. He said, "The inventors should get the Nobel Peace Prize" because they have saved so many lives. The Iron Dome should be a symbol of how Israel should act. Violence did not bring stability." He called the Iron Dome "a symbol of the great American-Israeli bond," and said "we owe so much to Obama and Congress for their generous support."
He then went on to discuss the many forces that challenge Israel, saying that the Middle East is moving toward the 11th rather the 21st century. He declared those after decades, anti Semitism is back with "hate in Europe and hate in the Middle East."
His biggest fear is a nuclearized Iran. He believes that if Iran gets nuclear capabilities "the world order will collapse and endanger us all. Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey will all go nuclear and we will have a 21st century of nuclear terror." He called on leaders to "use diplomacy to stop this great threat."
He charged the Palestinians with "killing Israel from within," and said, "we cannot have a one-state solution." Dubbing Israel "a small lonely people," he called for a stronger alliance with the West. He said "power is not enough, we need justice on our side too."
He also decried the loss of commitment to Israel among younger Jews. He said, "People over 70 are committed to Israel, people over 50 are with Israel, but people under 30 are confused, lost and apathetic."
Is Shavit optimistic about the future of his country? He said, "No – we must combine realism with optimism and hope. We need a renewed Zionism that will inspire us in the 21st century." Asking for those in the room to support the country he said, "We will not have a future with you and you will not have a future without us."
He ended by posing three questions to which he provided the answers:
Why Israel? There is a moral imperative.
What's Israel? A vitality against the odds.
Will Israel? That's up to us.
In the Q& A that followed, Shavit was asked what he thought about Netanyahu's decision to bypass President Obama when accepting an invitation to address the U.S. Congress. He responded, "I will only express gratitude and will not criticize your president. We have to be grateful. When I am on foreign soil I do not criticize my prime minister. I am not a Netanyahu fan but he cares, he gets it."
About Obama and Congress he added, "I wish Washington would be more attentive to what Israelis say – we live in the Middle East." He continued, "America needs Israel as a strategic base and as a frontier of democracy. We are a 'California' in the Middle East."
Asked if there was any use negotiating with Iran, Shavit said, "As long as you know they are mobsters, carry a big stick and be very careful." Shavit advocated imposing strict economic sanctions on Iran to choke them off financially.
In response to a question about his controversial account of an attack and expulsion of Arabs in Lydda, Shavit said, "I described the tragedy. I did not say we are evil. I stand by our warriors. I don't think we are angels or demons ... we are human. Israel is an amazing human enterprise."
And what ultimately does Shavit see as the way to peace? He said, "We need to look for a creative solution. The right and the left have failed. We need to look for a third way. The settlements are weakening Israel. We need a new way forward."
So was Shavit "Pimping for AIPAC?" as Priscilla Read suggests in the Westchester Jewish Voice? I'm not sure. From what I read, Shavit's differences with AIPAC may be more in tone than in substance. Though Shavit does not agree with AIPAC on everything they both favor a nuclear-free Iran, sanctions against Israel's enemies, negotiations with the Palestinians and American assistance for a country that has survived against all odds. Together they make a strong argument for why American Jews need to stand up for Israel.
Deadline Approaching for School Board Applicants
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Candidates seeking nomination to the nonpartisan slate for election to the Scarsdale Board of Education must submit a biographical information form no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. Forms for PC or Mac users are available to download from the School Board Nominating Committee website. Completed forms should be sent via email to the SBNC Chair, Diane Baylor, at sbncchair@gmail.com.
All Scarsdale School District residents are welcome to propose names of qualified individuals to serve as trustees. A candidate must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a qualified voter, and a resident of the Scarsdale School District for at least one year prior to the May 19, 2015 school board election date.
The SBNC encourages all potential candidates to review the letter from Scarsdale Board of Education President Mary Beth Gose and the video of the presentation concerning school board service, both posted on the SBNC website. If interested, please contact the SBNC chair for additional information about the application process.
Greenacres Begins a Year of Celebrations
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Greenacres Elementary School will celebrate it's 100th year on On November 29, 2015. The school has planned a year of monthly celebrations leading up to the big day. On Thursday January 29, 2015 the school kicked off their centennial year with a show of school spirit by wearing green. Here are the pictures:
