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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 25 February 2015

Created: 25 February 2015

Last Updated: 25 February 2015

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Gristedes is on its way out and a new enlarged Seasons market will open in its place at the Golden Horseshoe Shopping Center on Wilmot Road. This is just one of the changes that will come to the Golden Horseshoe where plans have been approved for an expansion, upgrade, and a redesign of the 50+ year-old shopping plaza that sits in both Scarsdale and New Rochelle.

In the next few weeks Gristedes will close its doors and the store will be cleared. Once the space is turned over to the managers, 12,000 square feet of space, adjacent to the post office will be remodeled into a state of the art market by Seasons. Seasons, who owns stores in Kew Gardens, Lawrence and NYC, will build a market to serve the community. Their selections will include fresh fruit and vegetables, sushi, fresh fish, prepared foods, dairy items and a bakery along with the kosher products and meats for observant shoppers. Prices for staples and other groceries will be competitive and Seasons hopes to serve as the neighborhood market for nearby residents. Pictured above is the Seasons store in Lawrence that will serve as a model for the new location.

Seasons General Manager David Gellman expects that construction on the new site will begin in late spring and will take several months. In the interim, the original Seasons will remain open until the new site is ready.

And that's not all...

Once Seasons moves, the section of the shopping center that includes Seasons and the liquor store Cheers will be demolished and replaced with a new 10,000 square foot store. In order to accommodate this expansion, the driveway to the shopping center will be rerouted closer to Wilmot Road – and the parking spaces in the lot that borders Wilmot Road will be moved to the center of the plaza. Managers hope to attract a new drugstore into this new location, especially since the pharmacy in Gristedes will be gone. The liquor store will move to another storefront in the Golden Horseshoe.

Another new building will be added near the Bank of America ATM in the parking lot. The 4,000 square foot building would be ideal for a coffee shop.

The area that now houses the deli section of Gristedes will be remodeled into two additional storefronts.

As part of the upgrade, the sidewalk along Wilmot Road will be expanded up the hill into New Rochelle. There will be new lighting and improvements to the sidewalks in the shopping center and landscaping to make the center friendly and attractive.

Parking will remain at 400 spots, with some behind the stores for employees and deliveries.

This new phase follows a series of improvements that have occurred since the opening of the original plaza in 1956. According to Property Manager Rob Fine, his grandfather, a New Rochelle resident, built the original store –now home to Seasons -- in the 1950's. A strip extending from that store was added in the 60's with the second wing built in the 1980's. The site has been a good one for decades due to the demographics of the local residents, its location across from the JCC of Mid-Westchester, easy access from the Bronx River and Hutchinson River Parkways and ample parking for shoppers.

With this expansion and improvement of the site, the management hopes to attract new retailers who will meet the needs of the community in the 21st century.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 17 February 2015

Created: 17 February 2015

Last Updated: 19 February 2015

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The Greenacres Elementary School community took a ride on the magic carpet to Agrabhah where its students performed Aladdin Jr. on February 7th and 8th. The PTA-sponsored activity showcased the impressive theatrical and musical talents of first through fifth graders. Despite the loss of three (out of 10) rehearsals due to several snow days, the students persevered and put on four terrific shows. While the show's production is left in the professionals of KJK Productions, it takes several dedicated parents to insure that it all comes together in two short weeks. Gwynn Hurshman, whose role was play head, has been working on Greenacres plays for eight years. "Every year I marvel at how these young kids with virtually no experience on stage manage to put on a top notch performance after two short weeks of rehearsals. It is a joy to watch the process from auditions, rehearsals, dress rehearsals and finally the performances in front of a packed gym. It is also a testament to our community that our Greenacres alum return to volunteer for the show they so fondly remember from their days on the Greenacres stage."

This year's performance was also meaningful to Greenacres because one of the key members of the KJK team was Delilah Chamlin, who herself is an alumna of Greenacres. Text by Midori, Photo credits: David Karp and Soo Kye.

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Written by: Lena Proctor and Hannah Wolloch

Published: 11 February 2015

Created: 11 February 2015

Last Updated: 11 February 2015

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This year, A-School students continued to prove there's lots of learning to do outside the classroom. Created in 1973, the internship program allows students to expand their knowledge of the outside world, take on responsibility, and get a perspective on the adult working world. The students may work in any type of environment they choose, from hospitals to big corporations to chocolate factories to elementary schools. Though the goal of the program is not to steer students in the direction of a future career, many do take the opportunity to follow their passions. Others use the experience as a way to learn more about fields in which they are interested

Throughout the month of January, all A-School classes are suspended to give kids time to attend their internships during the day. For every hour that students would normally be in class, an hour is added to the internship requirement. Kids who are lucky enough to have three to four A-School classes have those hours to fill, which allows some to venture into the city for work. Students with a lower number of classes, or a very complicated schedule, usually find jobs in Westchester. Still, with 11 hours or 25, internship turns out to be a very fulfilling learning experience for everyone involved.

At the beginning of the process, each student is assigned one of the five A-School teachers to be their mentor. The job of the mentors is essentially to keep the students on track, assign call-in days to discuss the experience, and carry out site visits to see what work the students have done. The mentors are also available for help and questions. "Venturing out into the real world is not an easy task, and it helps to know there is always someone you can go to for advice and guidance if things get confusing" explained Sara Calderon '16.

Although internship can be a fun and enjoyable experience, there are nerve-wracking and difficult parts of it as well. Sometimes students must learn to cooperate with scary bosses or are given assignments they fear they can't complete. Often times, working through these bumps in the road teaches professionalism and dedication, and makes for a richer experience.

"In the short month, it is incredible to think about all of the skills that I have developed," says one student. "Not only have I learned how to do my job, but I have also learned how to work and collaborate with people. Before January, it was hard for me to introduce myself, but now, after internship, I can comfortably start a conversation with pretty much anyone." The Internship program allows for students to step outside of their normal settings and comfort zones, which is why so many A-Schoolers learn valuable lessons about the "real world" that can't be taught in a classroom.

Here are two students talking about their various experiences with their internships this year:

Katie Frohman: For my last internship I worked with the corporate events team at NBC Universal. I helped out with making Super Bowl hospitality playlists which was really fun. I also helped to make, transport, and organize gift bags for an event with the CEO of Comcast and the CEO of NBCUniversal held in the Rainbow Room. At this event, I met a handful of famous people which made the night really memorable and fun for me. Additionally, I did some grunt work such as inventory, filing, and cross-checking guest lists. Although the commute was long and cold, it was all very much worth it because it learned a lot and had a great time with a great group of people.

Eliza Auchincloss: This year I worked at Afya, an organization that sorts medical supplies and donates them to countries in need. I definitely learned time management skills as I would have to jump from school to internship to home to getting my homework done. I also learned how sometimes sitting at a desk all day can be a little tedious, and social interaction is very nice. I loved the fact that it was more independent because I was able to pick and choose the things I was working on and it made me feel more like an adult.

A School Director and English teacher Howard Rodstein says that, "Devoting a month of school to hands-on, real life experience says a lot about the core of an A-School education. Because students have to develop a contract in the fall, live by that contract in January, and then reflect on what they have learned both in their journal and their internship self-evaluation, the experience is more than a one month interruption of school; rather, it teaches that schooling is not bound by four walls and a strictly academic education. Internship promotes the best kind of thinking, and learning to use one's mind well is the simple (and very complex) goal of an A-School education. Learning to function independently and interdependently is the key to success beyond high school."

A-School history teacher Jen Maxwell says, "I think the internship experience is invaluable. It gives students an opportunity to explore their passions by choosing their own internship sites. Dealing with adult work in the "real world" helps students to build maturity and confidence. I love hearing kids talk about how during internship, they learned to become more comfortable making phone calls, or navigating the city, or speaking with adults, or advocating for themselves. I also like to visit the students on-site. A kid who may be quiet or lack confidence in my history class, may be outgoing, dynamic and highly successful in an internship setting, even in a place that I find intimidating, like a high-end fashion design studio. This experience helps me to get to know students better, and often helps the kids to be more comfortable and successful when they return to the classroom in February."

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 03 February 2015

Created: 03 February 2015

Last Updated: 03 February 2015

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Over 30 contestants vied for prizes in the snowman contest run by the Scarsdale Recreation Department in the wake of Winter Storm Juno. Entrants built their snow sculptures and then posed for photos with their creations. The work was judged by the Recreation Department with prizes supplied by Imagine Candy in Scarsdale.

The Grand Prize went to the Schwartz Family for the "Best Overall" snow creation. Here are the winners: