The MAD Lab: Where Creativity Meets Connection
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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Designed and created on the 3D printer.Come and get inspired at the MAD Lab, a place where creativity meets connection! The Mad Lab (MAD for Make A Difference), is a brand new maker’s space at the Scarsdale Public Library where a variety of workshops are led by older kids teaching younger kids within the community.
According to Christine Boyer, retired Heathcote teacher and one of the founders of the MAD Lab, “The new maker’s space is sponsored in part by Scarsdale Action for Youth (SAY) and is designed to instill a sense of agency and pride in both the young teachers and their students while also boosting self-esteem and curiosity, all through a design lens and hands-on, highly engaging activities.” Ms. Boyer adds, “We've had students on our team from day one and while we are just getting started, we know this program has the potential to make a huge positive impact on the youth in the Scarsdale community.”
Hanging on a wall in the MAD Lab is a promotional sign that reminds visitors that:
-The arts can help to develop real-world skills like critical thinking, problem-solving. Motor skills, hand-eye coordination, spatial recognition, and communication.
-Creating something as a group develops personal connections while engaging minds in thought-provoking ways. It also promotes cooperation with others and sharing, which are necessary life skills.
-The arts “mingle” with feelings, emotions, and creativity. They can open a window to different people and cultures. They provide one of the most intensive ways to show human experience in an understandable way. Participating in the arts is an ideal way to build empathy and understanding, which can bring us together in a completely different way.
On a recent visit to the MAD Lab, all of these amazing attributes were on full display as Scarsdale High School Senior, Grant Lieberman taught a room full of young learners (including elementary, middle school, and high school students) how to make their very own 3-D printed creations and stop-motion animation. Mr. Lieberman engaged the students with an ease of an experienced professor but made room for the young learners to explore and create whatever their hearts desired.
All MAD Lab programming is brought to you in partnership with Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Services (SEFSC), Scarsdale Action Youth (SAY), the Scarsdale Public Library, and Design Education 4 Resilience. For more information on any Mad Lab workshop, contact Christine at MADLab.spl@gmail.com
To find out more about the MAD Lab or to sign up for one of their exciting workshops check out the Scarsdale Public Library’s website here.Scarsdale Public Library’s website here.
Getting set up for stop motion animation.
SHS Senior Grant Lieberman taught the class.
They've Got Talent! Halloween Window Painters at Work
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Though temperatures were nippy, the sun finally came out on Sunday October 15, to allow Scarsdale’s young artists to participate in the annual Halloween Window Painting Contest. We found kids in the Village, on Palmer Avenue and in the Golden Horseshow painting colorful and amusing window paintings with some creating masterpieces on the windows of Scarsdale’s store windows.
Some were themed to go with their local such as “Get Your Spooktacular Nails Done,” at the nail salon or “The Grossery Market” on the window of De Ciccos and Trick or Chopt Treat at Chopt in the Golden Horseshoe. Others referred to pop culture including Taylor Swift and Barbie, and some had a political references including Peace. There were skeletons, witches and pumpkins and some very impressive work by skilled painters.
Check out our gallery of Scarsdale’s artists at work here --- and add your photo to the gallery by emailing your image to scarsdalecomments@gmail.com.
Enterprising Teen Launches Fashion Line for Charity
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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An enterprising Scarsdale High School student has launched a fashion business that raises funds for charity. Sofia Feinstein, founder of UNI-T fashion has been taking design courses at Tufts, FIT and Scarsdale High School and designed sweatshirts, t-shirts and totes that are available online here. https://uni-tfashion.com/
All the profits from the sales are donated to three charities – HIAS, Steve’s Camp at Horizon Farms and INROADS. She says she was inspired by Newman's Own Food Company who also donates all the profits from their sales to charity.
Where does she produce her merchandise? Feinstein explained, “All of my designs are produced with Direct to Garment (DTG) Printing. This means that every order gets printed once the order comes in and I don't have to stock any inventory. I have several printers all over the US that print for me. The printer that has the fastest turnaround time gets my orders. They are all very good.”
About price points she says, “I try to price our products at a very reasonable price so people can support us. I have been encouraged to charge higher prices because this is for charity, but I want to be an affordable and comfortable casual clothing brand.”
And how much has she been able to donate? Feinstein said, “Roughly every three months I donate my profits to my charities. I started this for the period ending December 31, 2022 and have been making donations since then. If my ambassador program gains support, and I get some PR, I hope to have profits this year in excess of $15,000.”
This month the company received an added boost when Dreamwear, Inc. a leading fashion brand based in New York donated over 3500 items of new brand name, luxury clothing items to those in need. Sofia and her team of students are sorting these items and creating packages for donation to Steve's Camp and HIAS.
Feinstein explained, “I am building a brand that cares and gives every penny of profit to causes that matter. Dreamwear is already a leader in its category and their generosity is overwhelming and further validates that fashion can truly make a difference in the world. The quality and quantity of their donation will enable UNI-T and my partner charities to help a lot of people.”
Check out UNI-T fashions here https://uni-tfashion.com
I Am More Scarsdale Announces Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising Campaign
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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I Am More Scarsdale is excited to announce its 7th Annual "Breast Cancer Awareness" fundraising campaign, scheduled to run throughout the entire month of October. In partnership with White Plains Hospital, I Am More is dedicated to raising funds to provide mammograms and associated services to uninsured and underserved women in Westchester County.
The stark statistics reveal that 1 in 8 women in the United States will confront breast cancer during her lifetime. Recognizing cancer risks, adhering to regular screenings, and adopting a healthy lifestyle are essential measures women can take to mitigate their vulnerability.
Disparities in screening mammography and barriers to accessing breast cancer screening are most prevalent among racial/ethnic minority and low-income women. Consequently, due to delayed screening, these women face a higher risk of being diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer compared to the general population, leading to increased breast cancer mortality rates. One significant barrier to early detection is the financial burden associated with mammographic screening.
I Am More Scarsdale is committed to assisting women in Westchester County in obtaining screening mammograms to detect breast cancer at an early, treatable stage. Co-Founder Marcy Berman-Goldstein, a board certified Radiologist with specialized training in breast imaging underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery in 2018 due to suspicious pathology. Speaking about her motivation for this cause, she said, "Given my medical background, personal experience, and strong family history, I believe knowledge is the most powerful tool we can possess to help ourselves and others. We are thrilled to support White Plains Hospital to ensure that more women have access to screening mammograms."
Here's how you can contribute to this vital cause:
Visit I Am More Scarsdale (6 Spencer Place) throughout the month of October. With a $20 donation, you can "Spin the Wheel" for a chance to win two $250 gift cards and additional prizes throughout the month. Additionally, you will receive a scratch-off card for 10-30% off one regular-priced clothing item.
Please consider making an additional tax-deductible donation toward the below patient needs:
$50 – will help provide reliable transportation to cancer care appointments.
$100 – will offset the cost of a mammogram for a woman in need.
$250 – will provide a wig to a cancer patient undergoing active treatment.
Transportation: Many women lack access to reliable transportation, which often leads to rescheduled or missed appointments and deferred care, which results in poor prognosis and an inferior quality of life. Therefore, transportation assistance is vital in ensuring that these women can access essential treatments. Average cost: $50
Mammograms have been a cornerstone in the fight against breast cancer, contributing to a nearly 40% reduction in breast cancer mortality in the U.S. since 1990. Mammograms save lives! Average cost = $100
Wigs provide crucial support by helping cancer patients regain a sense of normalcy, confidence, and control over their appearance during a difficult period of treatment, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life. Average cost: $250
DONATE NOW: https://www.wphospital.org/iammore/
About I Am More Scarsdale:
I Am More Scarsdale, a women’s boutique in Scarsdale Village, is celebrating its six-year anniversary. I Am More’s mission is to empower women to make them feel confident, to support up-and-coming and women-owned businesses and designers, and to give back to local and women’s philanthropic organizations. I Am More operates as a philanthropic organization, with ownership foregoing a salary to donate profits to the organizations it supports. I Am More has been a recipient of the Best of Westchester awards for Best Women’s Empowerment Shopping, and owners, Marcy Berman-Goldstein and Abbey Solomon, have been recognized by the Westchester County Business Journal as powerful women leaders in 2018, 2019 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. www.iammorescarsdale.com.
About White Plains Hospital:
White Plains Hospital is a proud member of the Montefiore Health System, serving as its tertiary hub of advanced care in the Hudson Valley. The Hospital is a 292-bed not-for-profit health care organization with the primary mission of providing exceptional acute and preventive medical care to all people who live in, work in or visit Westchester County and its surrounding areas. White Plains Hospital has outpatient medical facilities across Westchester, including multispecialty practices in Armonk, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Rye Brook, Somers and Yorktown Heights; and Scarsdale Medical Group locations in Harrison and Scarsdale.
The Hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and in 2022, White Plains Hospital received a 5-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) — the highest distinction offered by that federal agency. In addition, the Hospital received its third Magnet® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a distinction held by only two percent of hospitals in the country. White Plains Hospital has consistently received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award from Healthgrades®, and in 2022 became the only Hospital in Westchester to be awarded with an A Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group for the 8th time.
https://www.wphospital.org/
The Postcard: A Detective Story That Grows Into An Exploration Of Family
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- Written by Harriet Sobol
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The following was written by Harriet Langsam Sobol, who will lead a class on The Postcard on September 13 at 1 pm at Scarsdale Library.
France, 2003. It was a surprise to twenty-four year old Anne Berest when her mother, Lélia, showed her an anonymous postcard that had arrived in the Christmas mail. On one side was a picture of the Opéra Garnier. On the other were four names. The list included Anne’s maternal great grandparents, Ephraïm, his wife, Emma, and two of their three children, Noémie and Jacques. The third child, Myriam ,was not included. Anne knew her grandmother but, didn’t know anything about her siblings. Myriam and Lilia rarely mentioned them, just as their Jewish heritage was not a topic of conversation in the home.
Anne and Lélia were nervous about who had sent the mysterious postcard and why. Was it some sort of a threat? There was an air of antisemitism in France. The postcard was put away and forgotten.
Ten years passed. On bed rest, because of her pregnancy, Anne was staying at her mother’s home. She became painfully aware that she knew little about her mother’s family. She felt the need to learn about them. Lélia, a retired professor, began to tell Anne the bits and pieces she knew about Anne’s great grandparents, and their children. She called it a “blended” story, made from facts and Lélia’s imagination where there were gaps.
The search for the senders and Anne’s family history begins.
The women work diligently, chasing down information from experts, government officials, legal sources, diaries, and letters. When they encounter unknown moments, they create them.
A story that begins nearly a century ago is contextualized by contemporary life. The mystery of the postcard drives their search but Anne and Leila’s story compels the action into today’s world. When Anne’s young daughter reports anti-Semitic remarks a schoolmate makes, and Anne is shamed at her first seder for her ignorance of Jewish culture, the reader is reminded of the relevancy of Anne’s quest.
Berest skillfully braids fact and fiction, past and present into a page-turner that starts as a detective story but grows into an exploration of family. The reader hurtles toward an inevitable ending compelled by the answers behind the postcard.
Anne and Lélia hire experts, a graphologist to interpret the handwriting on the postcard, a private detective to investigate who could have sent the postcard. When possibilities emerge, Anne and Lélia interview people who might have information about their mother’s aunts and uncle. They travel to Les Forges, the town where Ephraim and Emma were captured in 1942. They discover a letter from the mayor at the time that leads to clues of their fate.
We are deeply satisfied when Anne and Leila finally learn who wrote the postcard. But the excitement of the story is in the telling of it, the process of finding the the men and women who formed Lélia and Anne’s historical links to their ancestors’ past life.
Sobol will lead a discussion of the book at 1 pm on Wednesday September 13 at Westchester Reform Temple and a session with guest speaker Michael Reynolds, Editor-in-Chief of Europa Editions, who will talk about The Postcard and other Europa books on Wednesday, September 20th at one o’clock at Scarsdale Library. Registration is open for the classes on the Scarsdale Adult School’s website https://scarsdale.augusoft.net/.
