Tuesday, Jul 02nd

PATRIOCRACYPOSTERThe Scarsdale Forum (formerly the TVCCEF) cordially invites the community to view the documentary film “Patriocracy” on Tuesday evening, July 26th in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Library at 7:30 p.m.

“Patriocracy” produced and directed by award-winning filmmaker, Brian Malone and executive producer Stephen Nemeth explores the extreme polarization in America that cripples the country’s ability to tackle its most serious problems. Whether it is the national debt, healthcare reform, the war on terror or illegal immigration, Americans are shouting at each other instead of listening to each other. An all star cast of senators, congressmen, journalists and academics offer their insights into the factors contributing to this current uncivil discourse in American politics. “Patriocracy” takes a non-partisan stance, urging viewers to educate themselves on the issues and the facts rather than falling prey to the rhetoric. To learn more, visit: www.patriocracymovie.com

Neil Bicknell, a former resident of Scarsdale for 32 years during which time he served as a village trustee and president of the TVCC, returns from Boulder, Colorado to moderate a discussion of the film. Bicknell is a volunteer advisor with respect to the film’s distribution which has not yet been released. Refreshments will be provided by the Forum’s Hospitality Committee.

This summer program is offered free of charge to the public and underwritten in part by a generous grant from the Irving J. Sloan Education Fund, made possible by the Liz Claiborne-Arthur Ortenberg Foundation. For more information, visit ( www.ScarsdaleForum.com ) or call (914-472-4053).

Volunteers Needed:
In other news from the library, the Friends of the Scarsdale Library is looking for volunteers to help sort the mountains of donated books they are receiving for the Annual Friends of the Library Book Sale coming this fall. Sorting takes place during the summer months to prepare for the big sale in September. They work in the lower level of the Library in July and in the Library’s Scott Room in August. There is no heavy lifting involved and you can spend as much or as little time as you wish. Kathy Steves will be available to instruct those of you have not done this before.

For more information contact Kathy at Steves10583@gmail.com.

 

 

icecreamYoung readers have a better chance then ever to get a sweet treat just for reading books. Scarsdale Haagen Dazs owner Steven Mandani has donated a record 100 $5.00 gift cards to the Scarsdale Public Library to be handed out in the Summer Reading Game.

Every time a child enrolled in the Summer Reading Game comes into the library to report a book they read, they get a raffle ticket for a gift card. 10 gift cards will be raffled off each week of the program. The more you read, the better your chances!

To sign up for the Scarsdale Public Library Summer Reading Game go to http://www.scarsdalelibrary.org/ and click on the Summer Reading Game icon.

Reading and ice cream: a perfect combination on a hot day.

 

 

books1The first “Finals Night” at the Scarsdale Public Library did not go as planned on Tuesday June 15, when a stink bomb was thrown into the library drop box around 7:00 pm. The odorous smell from the stink bomb got into the air conditioning system and took 30-45 minutes to permeate the library. Since concerned staff members were not able to locate the source of the smell they reported it to the fire department.

According to SHS Junior Zach Edelman who was studying at the library at the time, the stink bomb smelled like garlic and onions and the fumes were tolerable. However, once the report was made, emergency responders arrived in droves and forced everyone to leave the building and wait in the library plaza.  As a few people felt ill, the area was taped off and those who had been inside were told that they could not leave the scene until Hazmat workers and the Health Department could investigate.

Edelman reports that the stink bomb incident was treated as a full-scale emergency. In addition to police cars there were fire trucks, Hazmat workers sporting gas masks and even an emergency spill team. The students waited 20-30 minutes for officials to arrive and were told that depending on the findings of the Hzamat team, those who were inside the library may have to be decontaminated and showered off.

Parents of the students drove to the library to pick up their kids but found Olmstead Road closed and were also told to wait for the results of the investigation. While 20-30 students and library staff waited outside, the emergency team determined that the bomb did contain an irritant. Before releasing the group around 9:45 pm, they cautioned those that had been inside the library to call 911 if they felt any discomfort or symptoms.

The library had been scheduled to stay open until 11 pm on Tuesday to accommodate students studying for final exams. But rather than prepare for their tests, the students spent their evening trapped in yellow tape.

Elizabeth Bermel, Director of the Library contacted Scarsdale10583 to say that the library will stay open Wednesday night until 11 pm as originally planned for Final Night and snacks will be served.  She encourages students to come back and use the library to prepare for their tests.

 

books2For most Scarsdalians summer represents a time to relax and enjoy a more leisurely pace to life. For the Friends of the Scarsdale Library and their dedicated volunteers it means preparing for the annual library book fair.

Donations of gently used salable books are now in progress. Donations will be accepted until August 27th. For space reasons no books will be accepted after that date. Books may be left during library hours inside the gray service door to the right of the main entrance. Text books, out of date business and travel books and books that are badly damaged or high lighted are not considered saleable and should not be left.

The library book fair has grown in size each year and the job of sorting donations has grown accordingly. Interested volunteers should contact Kathy Steves at Steves10583@gmail.com or stop by the library’s main desk and they will direct you to the sorting area. The job requires only a brief training to get you started.

All funds raised by the book fair are returned to the library in the form of program support and the purchase of new items requested by the library staff.

 

librarybenchOn Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15, the Scarsdale Public Library will inaugurate “Finals Nights” and extend its hours for high school students studying for final exams. The Library will remain open to only high school students until 11:00pm; low-cost snacks will be available for purchase. All proceeds will help support future activities of the Scarsdale Public Library Teen Advisory Board.

“We have seen this service offered at other libraries with great success, and when we mentioned it to our own Teen Advisory Board, they said it would be a great benefit to Scarsdale students,” said Barbara Josselsohn, the President of the Scarsdale Library Board of Trustees. “We know how stressful finals can be, and we are very happy to give high school students some extra time at the library during Finals Week, where they will be able to study quietly, study in groups, and also take a break and enjoy a snack.”

“The teens have expressed a desire to use the Library to study alone and in groups, and the hours and shared space in the Library aren’t always ideal for these students,” said Library Director Beth Bermel. “We thought it would a great idea to just let them have the whole Library to themselves for a couple of hours when they really need it.”

“I am always overwhelmed by the amount of studying I have to do for finals,” Scarsdale high school junior, Greta Miconi, stated. “I look forward to having the Library’s finals nights this year because having a quiet place to go will definitely allow to me study more efficiently.”

 

 

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