Program about Scarsdale's Own Monuments Man at the Scarsdale Library
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What is actor/comedian Bill Murray's connection to Scarsdale? His character in the recent movie "The Monument's Men" was based on Robert Kelley Posey, a former Scarsdale resident, who as part of the Monuments Men group tracked down thousands of works of art looted by the Nazis. Posey's biggest discovery was the Ghent Altarpiece, also known as the "Adoration of the Lamb" the magnificent 15-Century Flemish masterpiece by the brothers Hubert and Jan Van Eyck.
On Tuesday, November 25, at 7:00 p.m., Paul Harris, Ph.D., an associate professor of political science at Auburn University in Alabama will discuss this fascinating Scarsdalian at the Scarsdale Public Library.
Harris specializes in post-war Germany and is currently working on a book on the U.S. Army Occupation of Germany between 1945-1949, Posey, an architect, was born in Morris, Alabama, in 1904 and moved to the New York area in 1929, eventually settling in Scarsdale in a house he designed on Black Birch Lane. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserves and entered active service in War World II. He was hand-picked to serve as a Monuments Man for General George Patton's Third Army.
Chanteuse Cyrille Aimee and More Great Programming at the Scarsdale Library
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November brings a wonderful free concert, book discussion, foreign film, author talk and lots more to Scarsdale. Check out these upcoming events and find even more at www.scarsdalelibrary.org.
The Friends of the Scarsdale Library will present a Swingin' Sunday concert with Cyrille Aimee on Sunday, Nov. 30th at 4:00 pm. Vocalist Cyrille Aimée was primarily raised in France by a French father and Dominican mother. As a curious child in Samois-sur-Seine, she would sneak out of her bedroom window to wander into the nearby gypsy encampments filled with those attending the annual Django Reinhardt Festival.
She quickly fell in love with gypsy music and way of life; years later she would sing on street corners with friends while traveling across Europe. While in the midst of one such odyssey, she found herself at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where she won first prize in the vocal competition - which included the financing of her first self-produced album.
She now happily tours the world with her band as well as in a duo setting with Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo. Aimée's talents also recently caught the attention of Stephen Sondheim, who cast her in an Encores Special Presentation at New York City's City Center in November 2013. She is often heard on Jonathan Schwartz's program on National Public Radio.
The New York Times referred to Aimée's major label debut in August 2014, as "a bravura turn, presented with a smile. Now you can see her – free in Scarsdale.
Rescuing Julia Twice: Thursday, Nov. 6th at 7:30 pm
Journalist Tina Traster knew "something wasn't right" when she and her husband adopted 
a six-month-old baby from a Siberian orphanage in 2003. She eventually discovered that her daughter suffered from Reactive Attachment Disorder, an affliction that affects a portion of children who are abused, neglected, or orphaned. In her moving memoir "Rescuing Julia Twice," Traster exposes the "dark underbelly" of the Russian adoption system and provides parents facing this disorder with valuable insight and information, as well as sharing her experience of learning what it truly means to be a mother.
Tina Traster is an author, award-winning journalist and blogger. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The New York Post, Redbook, Psychology Today, The Daily Beast, Everyday Health,Yahoo, The Journal News, Hudson Valley Magazine, etc. "Rescuing Julia Twice" has been featured on national and regional TV, on radio, and reviewed in Parents, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal,The Chicago Tribune, The New York Post, The Chronogram, and Booklist.
Nancy's Book Group Discussion: "The Other Typist"
Nancy Zachary, will lead a discussion of "The Other Typist" by Suzanne Rindell at the Scarsdale Public Library on Wednesday, November 19, at 1 p.m., with an evening session at 7:30 p.m. Rindell's novel takes place in the 1920s as women's social roles are changing. Rose Baker is prudish typist in a New York City Police Department precinct. Rose is like a high priestess taking confessions of criminals. But as soon as she leaves the interrogation room she is once again the weaker sex, best suited for filing and making coffee. When a glamorous new girl joins the typing pool, Rose falls under her spell and is drawn fully into a high-stakes social world. Soon Rose's fascination with the new girl turns into an obsession from which she may never recover.
Registration is required at the library's main desk or by calling 722-1300.
On December 17, Nancy's Book Group will discuss "Rise and Fall of Great Powers" by Tom Rachman.
Foreign Film: For a Woman
Description: In her mid-thirties, Anne still knows practically nothing of her family's past. After her mother's death, Anne discovers old photos and letters that convince her to take a closer look at her parents' life after the concentration camps of World War II. Her research reveals the existence of a mysterious uncle everyone seems intent on forgetting entirely. As she closes in on a discovery she didn't expect, her father grows ever more ill, and may take the family secret to his grave. In a journey that stretches from post-war France to the 1980s, Anne's destiny intertwines with her father's past until they form a single, unforgettable story.
Wednesday, Nov. 12th at 7:30 pm
Friday, Nov. 14th at 1:30 pm
France / 2013 / 110 minutes / French (English subtitles)
How Insects Affected World History : Topic of Talk at Scarsdale Library
Sarah Albee, author of "Bugged: How Insects Changed History" will discuss her book and the impact of little critters on people's lives throughout the centuries on Monday, November 17, at 7 p.m., at the Scarsdale Public Library. The program is for children in grades 3 and up. Registration is required at the library's website, www.scarsdalelibrary.org. "Bugged" is a combination of world history, social history, natural science, epidemiology, public health, conservation, and microbiology told with fun and informative graphics in an irreverent voice.
Author Andrew Solomon at Congregation Kol Ami
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Synaplex at Congregation Kol Ami on November 14 will feature Andrew Solomon, best-selling author of "Far From the Tree". Andrew Solomon is a writer and lecturer on psychology, politics, and the arts; winner of the National Book Award; and an activist in LGBT rights, mental health and the arts. His best-selling book, Far from the Tree, is a journey of generosity, acceptance and tolerance...and that love can transcend all prejudice. The New York Times hailed the book, writing, "It's a book everyone should read...there's no one who wouldn't be a more imaginative and understanding parent - or human being - for having done so... a wise and beautiful book." He lives with his husband and son in New York and London and is a dual national.
Congregation Kol Ami's Synaplex™ Initiative is a series of monthly Friday night events that explore the Jewish experience. Its flexible format includes music, dance, spiritual exploration, guest speakers, children's programming, films, ice-cream socials, and other activities.
The evening's schedule opens at 5:00 pm with Explorations in Jewish Music with our new Cantor, David Rosen our accompanist, Lenora Eve. Come and Join us as we unpack the magic of Kabbalat Shabbat. "Shiru Ladonai Shir Chadash-Sing a New Song unto God"---be one of the first people to preview and learn some of the exciting new melodies that will be introduced during our Friday night worship this year.
Following Explorations there is a get together with hors d'oeuvres in Kol Ami's main building. At 5:30 pm there is also Shabbat in the Woods, a service of story and song for families with young children (newborn - kindergarten) followed by free childcare and a light supper.
At the heart of Synaplex™ at Kol Ami are Friday night religious services ushering in the Sabbath at 6:15 pm in the main sanctuary. Religious services will be followed by dinner at 7:15p.m. After dinner, at 8:15 pm, while adults listen to the keynote speaker, young children have a choice of making sandwiches and snacks for a local homeless shelter, arts and crafts and Supervised Sports and Games with Coach Steve Stone, and/or attending the evenings Main Event, if age appropriate. The evening concludes with a festive Oneg at 9:30 pm.
Synaplex™ events are open to both temple members and non-members. All events are free with the exception of the dinner, which costs $25 for adults, $18 for children and teens, and free for children under 5. Reservations are necessary for dinner. For more information or to make a dinner reservation, please call Ilene Miller at 949-4717 ext. 115.
Beth Bermel Celebrates Five Years at Scarsdale Library
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Scarsdale Public Library Director Elizabeth Bermel was honored at a reception for current and past library trustees and village officials to mark her five years as library director. Michelle Lichtenberg, library board president, cited several highlights of Bermel's tenure including increased use of technology, expanded programs, community outreach, the five-year master plan and plans for a major interior realignment.
Pictured above from left are: David Irwin, former village trustee and library liaison; Lichtenberg; Joyce Hirsch, past library president; Bermel; Mayor Robert Steves; Stacey Brodsky, village trustee and library liaison; and Sara Werder, past library president. Missing, Barbara Josselsohn, past library president. Photo by Eric Levine.
Aakif Ahmad in Scarsdale On October 17
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Aakif K. Ahmad will speak on "Solving Gridlock: How to Turn Conflict into Cooperation and Find Breakthrough Solutions to America's Most Urgent Challenges" at the Scarsdale League of Women Voters Food for Thought Luncheon at Scarsdale Golf Club, 1 Club Way, Hartsdale, NY on Friday, October 17, 2014. Members of the community are invited to attend.
The luncheon will begin at 11:45 am. Tickets are $40 ($45 after October 13) and is payable in advance or at the door. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the League's website at www.lwvs.org and clicking on "Event Tickets" or writing a check made out to LWVS and mailing it to Anne Lyons, 82 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale, NY. Questions: please contact Anne Lyons, aulyons@gmail.com.
Aakif K. Ahmad is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, a national non-profit organization that facilitates consensus-based solutions on urgent and intractable issues confronting the United States. Mr. Aakif Ahmad will talk about why the Convergence approach works and what we can learn from it.
Mr. Ahmad is responsible for organizational and project strategy, finance and fund development, human resources, operations and external communications. He also leads the U.S.-Pakistan Leaders Forum, a multi-year project of Convergence, and its partner organizations, to promote improved U.S.-Pakistan relations by facilitating new leadership networks and incubating new partnerships between the two societies. Mr. Ahmad has spoken in many venues in the U.S. and overseas, and delivered a TEDx Talk on the principles of Convergence:
Convergence was founded in 2009 to offer an alternative approach to addressing urgent social and policy issues that were bogged down in disagreement and discord. Since its founding in 2009 Convergence has undertaken multi-year programs to identify solutions in the following four areas: K-12 education; Nutrition and wellness; Financing long-term supports and services for elderly and disabled; and US-Pakistan relations.
Mr. Ahmad earned a B.A. from Yale University in Ethics, Politics and Economics, and M.B.A from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
The Scarsdale League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization committed to promoting the informed and active participation of citizens in government. League members come together to study problems and advocate solutions, educating residents about issues that impact the community on the local, state and national levels, and evaluating responses by government on those issues. The League provides community members the opportunity to work collectively to effect positive change in the schools and village, to hear from civic and political leaders about pressing local, state and national concerns, and to meet and interact with a cross-generational group of interested, civic-minded individuals.
