The LIttle Mermaid: On Stage this Weekend at Scarsdale High School
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- Written by: James McNally
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The stage is set and the audience is buzzing for Scarsdale High School's fall musical, The Little Mermaid. The cast of almost 30 students is excited to bring this classic Disney tale of under-the-sea love to their audiences.
Daniel Bornstein, a freshman who is playing the role of Sebastian the Crab, says "I had so much fun doing this show! To help me dive into the character and his Caribbean culture, I worked with Lyla Persad, a dialect coach, to help me hone my performance."
This year's show is especially important to the students and the school because it is the first Drama Club musical in the newly renovated auditorium. Last year, the Drama Club's production of Chicago: Teen Edition was performed at Iona Prep's Paul Verni Fine Arts Center, which was loaned to them for rehearsals and three performances.
James McNally, a sophomore who is playing Chef Louis, remembers, "It was really hard to take the bus to rehearsal every day, and it really hurt our efficiency, so it's really great to be in a theater that is in the school." The cast and crew, directed by Mrs. Barbara Malecki and musically director Dr. Michael Kumeresan, are so excited for you to see their show.
The Little Mermaid at Scarsdale High School performs Friday 11/21 and Saturday 11/22 at 7 PM, and Sunday 11/23 at 2 PM. Come join the cast under the sea!
Purchase your tickets here.
Scarsdale Scout Troop 4 Earns 158 Merit Badges and Welcomes New Scoutmaster
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Forty-one Scouts from Scarsdale Troop 4 earned 158 merit badges and 35 rank advancements at a Court of Honor held on November 9, 2025. Merit badges enable scouts to learn about the arts, business, civics, crafts, the outdoors, science, sports, trades, and future careers. At this Court of Honor, Scouts in Troop 4 earned the following merit badges: archery, architecture, art, astronomy, automotive maintenance basketry, camping, canoeing, chemistry, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in society, citizenship in the world, communication, cooking, electronics, emergency preparedness, entrepreneurship, environmental science, family life, fish and wildlife management, fingerprinting, first aid, forestry, game design, home repairs, law, lifesaving, kayaking, leatherwork, mammal study, movie making, nature, personal fitness, personal management, photography, pioneering, plumbing, pottery, programming, public speaking, radio, rifle shooting, robotics, rowing, scholarship, scuba diving, search and rescue, small boat sailing, sustainability, swimming, wood carving, and woodwork.
Awards
Christian Kirkendall-Rodríguez and Delfina Christian Kirkendall-Rodríguez earned the National Outdoor Award in Camping. The National 
Outdoor Award recognizes scouts who excel in outdoor participation; The camping award requires that scouts spend at least 25 nights in a tent sent up by the scout. In addition, scouts must earn the Camping Merit Badge, as well as two of the Cooking, First Aid and Pioneering Merit Badges. Christian earned the Gold designation, which is awarded to scouts who have spent at least 50 nights camping.
Delfina also earned the Mendel’s Minion Nova Award, a science award earned for exploring how genetic information affects your life every day. Anish Barnwal, Sienna Cioffi, Leah Emerson, Jayden Li, Sean Ma, Maximilian McMahon, Lucas Molosiu, Ellie Paek, Joshua Park, Tomi Rodríguez and Yihong Wu earned the Totin’ Chip. This certification grants a Scout the right to carry and use wood tools; scouts are required to demonstrate proper handling, care, and use of the pocketknife, ax, and saw.
New Scoutmaster
Troop 4 also welcomed new Scoutmaster Heather Kolb. Ms. Kolb has been an Assistant Scoutmaster at Troop 4 for three years and the Advancement Chair for eight years before that. Additionally, she is a merit badge counselor for citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, communication, cooking, family life, law, pets, and scuba diving. Previously, she was Cubmaster and had several other leadership roles in Scarsdale Cub Scout Pack 440. 
Troop 4 is enormously grateful to former Scoutmaster Ted Mazza who led the troop for five years. Under his leadership, not only did the troop survive the challenges posed by Covid, but it has also since thrived. He was also instrumental in establishing a girls’ troop within Troop 4 when Scout BSA opened to girls. Mr. Mazza is now Troop 4’s Committee Chair focusing on adult and youth leadership and special activities for the more advanced Scouts. He will continue to be a merit badge counselor for camping, cooking, digital technology, family life, hiking, personal fitness, programming, and reading.
Joining Troop 4
Any 6th – 11th grade student is invited to join Troop 4. You may contact Scoutmaster Heather Kolb.
Raiders Football Team Wins Halloween Game to Advance to the Semifinals
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- Written by: Dave Taber
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Sam Stahler (#88) celebrates after a key defensive stop.The Scarsdale High School Varsity Football Team hosted Clarkstown South on Halloween night in the opening round of the Section 1 Class AA playoffs. After a slow start, the Raiders found their rhythm on both sides of the ball, wearing down the Vikings with a strong running game and a dominant defensive effort.
Quarterback Patrick Simon (#11) led the way, scoring both of Scarsdale’s touchdowns as the Raiders earned a hard-fought 14–3 victory. The defense was outstanding, holding Clarkstown South to a single field goal and delivering key stops throughout the night to seal the win.
With the victory, Scarsdale advances to the semifinal round, where they’ll travel to face the top-seeded John Jay Patriots.
Photos by Dave Taber of Shots of the Game. To see more game photos and/or download photos, please visit https://www.shotsofthegame.com/
Chase Kantor (#1) pitches to Alex Krupkin (#15) on a sweep to the right.
Andre Duval (#41) powers forward for extra yards.
David Zhang (#75) prepares to block on a running play.
Alex Krupkin (#15) breaks free from a would-be tackler.
(#69) punts the ball downfield.
Lars Burrows (#19) and Colin Brennan (#42) combine to bring down a Clarkstown South runner.
Chase Kantor (#1) keeps the ball and fights for extra yardage.
Patrick Simon (#11) cuts past a defender for a big gain.
Joseph Pappalardo (#9) makes a leaping catch near the sideline.
Kojiro Hirata (#20) fields a punt before his long return
Nico Brenner (#8) stops a Clarkstown South receiver.
Keep Scarsdale Teens Safe on Halloween Weekend
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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“Halloweekend” or the weekend closest to Halloween (October 31st) has unfortunately become synonymous with alcohol and drug use by many Scarsdale teens. The Scarsdale Action for Youth, in partnership with its community partners, encourages you to help keep our teens and young adults safe this Halloween.
Teens as young as 12 years old use Halloweekend as a reason to experiment with alcohol, while older teens use it as an occasion to binge drink. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, 94% of underage drinking meets the criteria for binge drinking. While younger teens usually obtain alcohol from their homes, older teens often obtain large amounts of alcohol using Fake IDs.
Teens will often “pre-game” in small groups in homes with less supervision or more permissive parental attitudes, before heading to larger gatherings. During Halloweekend, intoxicated teens often roam Scarsdale neighborhood streets in the dark, further impacting their health and safety.
Underage drinking and drug use in any amount is dangerous and is not an expected part of growing up or a “right of passage.” Studies have shown that the early initiation of alcohol use increases a teen’s chances of developing drug and alcohol problem behaviors, including addiction, as they get older. There is no such thing as “responsible teen drinking.
Here's what parents can do:
-Talk to your teens about their Halloween plans and about the dangers of alcohol and drug use.
-Lock up any alcohol and drugs (including prescriptions) in your home.
-If you host a party, please make sure you provide proper ADULT supervision. Under New York’s Social Host Law, homeowners can be held legally responsible for any underage drinking or drug use on their property, and if someone gets injured, they can be held civilly liable.
-Consider hiring off-duty police officers to ensure your party does not grow beyond a size that you can supervise.
-Let your teens know they can contact you at any time, without consequence, if they or friends are using drugs or alcohol and need help.
-Please do not try to sober someone up with food or water. Food and water can cause choking.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Advise your teens to call 911 IMMEDIATELY if one of their friends is passed out or is unresponsive. Westchester County has a Good Samaritan law that protects teens from legal consequences if they are seeking help.
Apple Picking Fun Near Scarsdale: Farms for Everyone
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- Written by: Sharon Higgins
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Apple season is in full swing, and families in Scarsdale don’t have to travel far to enjoy a classic fall outing. Several nearby farms offer more than just apple picking, with activities ranging from pumpkin patches and hayrides to live music and farm fresh treats.
A community favorite is Wilkens Farm in Yorktown Heights, where one local resident shared that she and her family have been visiting for years. Beyond apple picking, Wilkens offers a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, and a country market stocked with fresh-baked donuts, pies, and local produce, making it a full-day experience for kids and adults alike.
Another Scarsdalian recommends nearby Outhouse Orchards in North Salem, which is especially convenient for Scarsdale residents looking for a shorter drive. Known for its wide variety of apples and scenic hillside views, Outhouse also features hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and plenty of seasonal food stands.
For families seeking more than just apple picking, many area farms also host live music on weekends, offer petting zoos, or feature craft vendors, turning a simple outing into a festive fall celebration. Whether you’re looking for a quick trip or an all-day adventure, the farms around Scarsdale provide plenty of ways to savor the season.
Here are several orchards within driving distance of Scarsdale that offer apple picking plus other seasonal attractions. Best to check each farm's website before going, since hours and offerings may change.
🍎 Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm
📍 1335 White Hill Rd, Yorktown Heights, NY
🚗 ~30 minutes from Scarsdale
🕐 Open Wed–Mon, 10 am–5 pm (closed Tuesdays)
A long-time favorite for many Scarsdale families, Wilkens offers apple and pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and a country market stocked with cider donuts, pies, and seasonal goods. It’s ideal for families with kids of all ages, since there’s plenty of variety from orchards for exploring to treats for winding down.
🍏 Outhouse Orchards
📍 139 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY
🚗 ~35 minutes from Scarsdale
🕐 Open daily, 9 am–5 pm
Close to home and easy to reach, Outhouse Orchards is popular for its wide variety of apples and hillside views. Families can also enjoy hayrides, a corn maze, and pumpkin picking. Great for families with school age kids, since the maze and hayrides add a bit of adventure.
🎶 Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard
📍 130 Hardscrabble Rd, North Salem, NY
🚗 ~35 minutes from Scarsdale (right next to Outhouse)
🕐 Farm store daily 9 am–6 pm; Fall Festival weekends in Sept & Oct
Known for its lively fall festivals, Harvest Moon pairs apple picking with hayrides, BBQ, live music, and plenty of photo-worthy spots. A perfect pick for families who want more of a festival atmosphere, older kids and teens will especially enjoy the food vendors and entertainment.
🎃 Dr. Davies Farm
📍 306 Route 304, Congers, NY
🚗 ~40 minutes from Scarsdale
🕐 Daily 10 am–5 pm; hayrides & corn maze on weekends/holidays
A family-run farm with a laid-back vibe, Dr. Davies offers apple picking daily and adds hayrides, a pumpkin patch, and a corn maze on weekends. It’s a good choice for young children, thanks to the simple, welcoming setup, while still offering enough variety for a fun family day trip.
Quick Picks:
Closest/easiest trip: Outhouse Orchards
Best for younger kids: Dr. Davies Farm
Best for teens or big family groups: Harvest Moon’s fall festivals
Classic all-around experience: Wilkens Farm
