SHS Science Students Present their Research
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- Written by Stacie M. Waldman
- Category: The Goods
On May 20th, 2014, more than 30 Scarsdale High School sophomores, juniors, and seniors exhibited their scientific research during poster presentations. In true scientific conference format, students presented their research to interested members of the community, parents, and other students and even answered some lofty "stump-the-student" questions. The lead faculty included Laura Estersohn, Nicole Pisano, and Beth Schoenbrun. David Frank ran the program at the student level.
I had chance to hear some students present their work. Gabe Dolsten, a sophomore, is researching breast cancer tumors and the potential use of chimeric antigen receptors as therapy for certain tumor types. Although scientists have been able to produce chimeric receptors to treat some cancers, they have not been able to do this for breast cancer. Mr. Dolsten hypothesized that targeting certain protein receptors with an existing monoclonal antibody would allow a person's body to produce an immune response and eliminate the protein found in many breast cancer cells. "I'm hoping to enter my research into some science competitions," said Mr. Dolsten, "and there's plenty of opportunity for me to do that through Scarsdale High School." He found his mentor with some help from his dad at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Signe Forsingdal presented a poster on best practices for sampling salamanders in streams. "Salamanders are indicators of stream health, and stream health is indicative of the overall ecological health of an area," she said. "In fact, a change in stream salamander populations indicates environmental stressors." In order for scientists to study change over time or determine a potential problem, they must be able to collect salamanders effectively and efficiently. The two current methods are: 1. A time-constrained survey, and 2. A quadrat-transect method. These techniques are both effective at sampling salamander populations. Ms. Forsingdal hopes to compare the two methods and report her findings in order to help scientists decide which method to use, allowing them to determine stream health more effectively.
The featured guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Myles Akabas, MD, PhD, a Professor from Albert Einstein whose primary interest is malaria research. In 1973 he graduated from SHS and went to Cornell. He told the room full of science students that he learned much of what he knows about science from playing sports. "Be open to new and unexpected opportunities," he told the group, "and find a mentor." He emphasized the importance of working hard and making the most of the best moments. "You're going to make embarrassing mistakes," he cautioned, "and you just need to move on. Don't let those moments define you." Most importantly, he said, was to "...guard your reputation for honesty and integrity. This is crucial for a scientist. And you need to be creative." He told students that they needed to be willing to ask the questions other people weren't asking and take risks. Dr. Akabas concluded by talking about his own research on malaria. As a killer of millions of people annually, mostly in developing countries, malaria is a major public health problem. Dr. Akabas works with purines in hopes of developing a novel antimalarial drug that kills the parasites directly.
David Frank, SHS class of 2015, then introduced the four senior student presenters: Archana Ram, Sam Huang, Brett Pogostin, and Cindy Du. Two of these presentations are discussed in detail below.
Sam Huang is working to design and produce novel gene therapy for brain diseases.His lab is one of two, worldwide, that conducts gene therapy clinical trials for Batten's Disease. Children with this disease develop severe symptoms at around age 2 and die by age 10 due to the lack of the CLN2 gene. "It's like having a trash can and not being able to empty it. Grey matter and neurons of these children continuously shrink," he said. Gene therapy works to replace defective CLN2 genes to the cells through a vector, namely a virus that is not pathogenic, has a low immune response, and carries long-term gene expression. However, clinical trials thus far have demonstrated only a small improvement for Batten patients using a viral vector. "My goal is to create a more efficient vector for gene delivery to the brain," he said. "This could have the potential to treat any brain related disease," he added. Mr. Huang plans to continue to test his vector using mice.
Cindy Du presented her research on the role of ACSL4 in androgen deprivation therapy resistant prostate cancer. Androgen deprivation therapy is currently used to treat prostate cancer. However, most cases develop resistance. Ms. Du is studying ACSL4 in her lab. "After several experiments, I hypothesized that ACSL4 may be a biomarker or a new target for pharmacologic therapies," she said. She also looked at MicroRNA in her lab to see if it would bind to ACLS4 in order to inhibit prostate cancer growth. "Unfortunately, it did not," she admitted, "and I concluded that the MicroRNAs studied do not appear to regulate ACSL4. However, there is the potential that microRNAs could be used as novel therapies and biomarkers."
The science research students thanked their faculty and the faculty thanked the students with coffee mugs, individualized for each student and their correlating research. Stay tuned for results of upcoming science competitions.
Former Deputy Mayor Sharon Lindsay Passes Away
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Category: The Goods
Former Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor of Scarsdale Sharon Lindsay passed away on May 21 at Westchester Medical Center. She was 65 years-old and died of complications from liver failure. A resident of Scarsdale for 33 years, Lindsay lived on Mamaroneck Road with her husband George. She raised two children here, Will and Kim, and was expecting her first grandchild in just two weeks.
Bright, classy, smart and eloquent, Lindsay was a vital member of the Scarsdale community with impressive professional credentials and a lengthy resume of community service. Lindsay graduated from Fordham with a BA in Political Science in 1970 and earned a law degree at Harvard Law School in 1973. She worked as a litigation attorney at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy and was the former head of litigation and dispute resolution at JPMorgan.
At the time of her death she was the President of the League of Women Voters of Westchester, and served in the past as a trustee of Fordham University, president of the Westchester Symphony Orchestra, president of the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, chair of the Scarsdale Board of Appeals, and trustee and deputy mayor of the Village of Scarsdale. She and her husband George were also longtime members of the Scarsdale Golf Club.
In 2011, when Lindsay failed to earn the nomination of the Scarsdale Citizen's Party for mayor she was drafted to be a write-in candidate to challenge the party's candidate, Miriam Flisser. The campaign galvanized voters, who showed out in record numbers to vote in the Village election. The vote was so contentious that police and poll watchers stood by in Village Hall. Ultimately Lindsay received 136 votes to Flisser's 798, but her campaign brought the Village's one-party system into question.
Speaking to Scarsdale10583 about the election in 2011, Lindsay said, "I was approached by a large number of unhappy residents who expressed a wish for a choice. That is the democratic way and is totally consistent with any election process at any level in our country."
Mayor Robert Steves who was a lifelong friend and colleague of Lindsay's said, "Sharon truly understood what it meant to be a member of a community. She gave to Scarsdale and Greenacres at the highest levels. Her intelligent approach to issues and her energy will be missed. All of Scarsdale should feel a sense of loss." Long-time friend Lynne B. Clark said, "Sharon Lindsay was a shining star in Scarsdale. She used her intelligence, legal expertise, charm, social grace and sense of humor to serve the community with excellence in many endeavors. People accepted her leadership gladly. Her large circle of friends will miss her." Michelle Lichtenberg who worked with Lindsay on the Greenacres Association and the League of Women Voters of Westchester and was also in a book group with Sharon said she will "miss Sharon's keen intelligence, wry sense of humor, infectious laughter and her shining light." Laura Fratt worked with Sharon on the Greenacres Board as well as the Board of the League of Women Voters of Westchester. She said, "Sharon always knew which questions to ask and was very much a people person. So gracious, too."
There will be a receiving line at Bennet's Funeral Home at 824 Scarsdale Avenue in Scarsdale on Friday May 23rd from 1-4 PM for friends to come and pay their respects to Sharon and her family. A memorial service will be planned for a future date. In lieu of flowers, the Lindsay family requests that memorial gifts be directed to Fordham University, Office of Development and University Relations, 888 Seventh Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10019, Attn: Stewardship. Donors are requested to note that gifts are made in the memory of Sharon Lindsay.
Construction Site Signs: Eyesores or Eye Candy
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Category: The Goods
We recently noticed that large printed signs are wrapping construction sites on Scarsdale streets. The signs are massive and picture the home that is currently under construction at the site. The detailed renderings and name of the construction site screen the work site and serve as large advertisements for the property.
We found this puzzling as Scarsdale has restrictive code about the posting of signs. How is it that these large, billboard-sized signs are permitted? We looked at Village code and were unable to find language that pertained to these new wraps so we asked Assistant Village Manager John Goodwin for an opinion, and here is what he shared:
"The Village does not currently require screening for construction sites in the Village. However, some construction sites have put up screening on the construction site fence on their own. The screening has generally reduced neighborhood complaints and has been viewed as a positive as they block the view of a construction site. The Village has received requests to be make it a requirement for construction sites. Some of these screens have included graphics such as renderings of the house being built. Although certain size advertisement signs are permitted, the Building Inspector is currently reviewing the Village Code to determine if the renderings and other graphics on the screens is a violation."
What do you think? Do these signs enhance or mar the landscape? Post your comments in the section below.
The Blight at the Five Corners
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Category: The Goods
We received the following letter and photos from resident Jon Thaler who has many questions about the unoccupied building on Palmer Avenue. Here is what he said:
The new building on Palmer Avenue at the Five Corners looks terrible; is the town still on it? In a town where homeowners are tediously monitored for construction approval, inspection and safety why has the town let this go unchecked – why are there are two standards?
Questions abound:
Does the developer have a Certificate of Occupancy for this unfinished building? If so, why?
The building looks nothing like the rendering that was approved by the Board of Architectural Review. Will the town compel them to complete the construction per the approved plans? Where are the trees and the awnings?
Will the wall surrounding the ramp to the underground parking have any decorative finish?
In a town where one cannot have any signage, are the cinder block and metal stud "Space Available" signs approved and built to code? They seem to impede flow on the public sidewalk and also appear to be a safety hazard during storms as they are not anchored to any structure. Thee signs are supported by cheap metal studs with sharp edges that look like they could injure pedestrians and could easily move on a windy day. The Village fines people for posting small cardboard signs to announce garage sales, but permits these? And did I remember to say that they are ugly?
Wouldn't it be easier to find a tenant if the building looked nice. Balduccis should be commended for all the work done on their side to improve the parking lot and entrance. Why can't the developer of One Palmer Avenue do the same?
Jon Thaler
Wynmor Road
Scarsdale
Spring Cleaning: Where to Donate Your Stuff
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- Written by Jocelyn Kenner
- Category: The Goods
Spring has finally sprung in Scarsdale! Along with the blossoming of flowers and trees and warm breezes that beckon us to open windows comes the desire to tackle some spring cleaning projects!
How's the guest room that you have been using to hide last minute "clean-ups" before guests arrive? Or the attic that has boxes of books and bags of clothes, including your son's baby clothes.....and he's 27? Should we talk about the basement where games, sporting equipment and holiday decorations are stored that have not been touched since the last time Halley's Comet made an appearance?
You see, you are not alone! Everyone has some cleaning out to do, and I know you can do it! Grab some large plastic bags, a marker and post-its, play some energizing music and you are ready for a spring cleaning project!
While some of what you clean out will end up in the trash, most can be recycled or repurposed. Remember that your trash could be someone else's treasure! Besides, donating is much healthier for the environment. Below are my top 10 favorite local places to donate.
My Top 10 Favorite Places to Donate (Click on the name for more information)
1. The Sharing Shelf: Donate gently used children's clothing (for ages 0-18) for distributing to children in need in Westchester County through social service agencies and teachers.
2. Furniture Sharehouse: Donate household furnishings for distributing to families in need in Westchester County.
3. Golden Shoestring: Drop off your clothes, jewelry, and housewares to the Larchmont location. Proceeds from this shop support community projects and help fund scholarships and community grants.
4. The Benefit Shop: Donate furniture and all sales go to fund local non-profits.
5. Humane Society: Drop off most household items to the new store in New Rochelle. Proceeds help provide individual loving care for lost, abandoned, injured, and mistreated animals.
6. Freecycle: A nonprofit movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns.
7. Habitat for Humanity: Drop off to ReStores in Mt. Vernon and New Rochelle used household goods and help others get back in homes.
8. Best Buy: Drop off large electronics and appliances - Best Buy is a proud partner of a voluntary program, begun in 2006 to help protect the ozone layer and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases through responsible appliance disposal.
9. Veteran's of America: They will pick-up from you and take most household items.
10. Good Will: Drop off most household items to locations throughout Westchester County (Mamaroneck, Eastchester, New Rochelle, Yorktown, Bedford Hills, Croton-on-Hudson, etc.)
Of course if tackling a spring cleaning project alone feels overwhelming, you can always ask a family member or friend to help. Or, contact a Professional Organizer (me!) to jump-start your progress and give you the push and encouragement you need! Let me know how your projects go, as well as your suggestions of favorite places to donate. Contact me at Jocelyn@kenner.org.
