50 High School Girls Learn How to Engage in the Political Process
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- Written by Leah Dembitzer
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On Thursday, April 27, the League of Women Voters Westchester hosted its annual Running and Winning workshop at Reid Castle at Manhattanville College. Forty *female elected officials from throughout Westchester met with 50 *female high school students from our county.
Running and Winning is a unique and inspirational workshop, the purpose of which is to inspire and encourage young women to run for political office. In addition to supporting the students’ aspirations to serve in public office and develop their leadership potential, another purpose of the program is to help our government institutions increase gender parity.
Elissa Ruback and Leah Dembitzer chaired the event for a second year. Dembitzer commented: “Running and Winning is a unique and meaningful opportunity meant to inspire and educate young women with interests in politics and advocacy. A connective theme highlighted by many of our attending elected officials was to encourage young women to use their voices and to be change-makers. We are so proud to bring this special event to students and grateful to elected officials who told their stories to inspire the next generation of leaders."
The young *women who participated (the League employs an inclusive definition of “woman” and “female” and welcomes all people who identify as such) were selected by their school administrators and faculty to participate in this program. The program agenda included both learning from elected officials’ experiences and practical applications of public policy.
After a welcome and breakfast, the students and elected officials heard brief remarks from several elected officials from different levels of government, including: NYS Senator Shelley Mayer; County Legislator, Margaret Cunzio; Mount Vernon City Council President, Danielle Browne; White Plains City Councilmember, Jenn Puja; Yonkers Councilmember, Shanae Williams; County Legislator, Catherine Parker; County Legislator, Jewel Williams Johnson; Yonkers City Council President, Lakisha Collins-Bellamy; and Tuckahoe Mayor, Omayra Andino.
In these remarks, the officials spoke of their journey to elected office. Senator Mayer spoke about spending many years working in low-visibility positions to support elected officials and the importance of being the leader of public policy campaigns. She encouraged the students to make change by being the person whose voice is heard, emphasizing that when you’re the elected official, you are the one who truly influences change.
Legislator Cunzio said that she was privileged to speak to the students and emphasized that for many years, she had been working in the background of a male-dominated field. Cunzio connected her career in politics to her experience as a volunteer firefighter. Although she is the sole woman among her male coworkers, she runs into burning buildings to provide a critical service to her community. The whole room broke into applause upon hearing her story. Cunzio also spoke of the importance of being true to your own voice, and that sometimes you may be the only one in the room on one side of an issue.
Councilmember Puja told a story about her childhood and a 5th-grade teacher who told her that “girls like you give other girls a bad name,” since she asked so many questions. Now, she is the youngest council member elected to White Plains City Council and she is the advocate and voice for the Westchester-Putnam Central Labor Body, where she serves as its director.
Councilmember Williams spoke about her road to elected office and all the people who underestimated her and told her “No.” She persevered, even when those with more power discouraged her, and is now the first Jamaican-born American elected to the Yonkers City Council and currently the youngest council member. Both she and Yonkers City Council President, Lakisha Collins-Bellamy, spoke about the importance of the candidate petition to get onto the ballot – to get more signatures than you need since signatures may be challenged.
Collins-Bellamy also spoke about the importance of education in opening doors for young women. She was born in Yonkers to teenage parents; people told her parents that she would be a statistic and that she wouldn’t graduate from high school. Collins-Bellamy went on to college, the first in her family, and then onto law school. She is the first woman of color to be elected as President of the Yonkers City Council.
Mayor Andino spoke about getting pregnant at the age of 18 as she was about to follow her brother to Cornell. She said her mother told her, “Don’t let this define you.” Andino spoke of her journey to elected office as a woman of color in a community that is primarily white. When she was first elected to the Tuckahoe Board of Trustees, she was the only woman of color on an all-white, all-male Board of Trustees. Now, she says, there are five women serving on the Tuckahoe Board.
Following the speeches, the students participated in three rounds of casual interviews with various elected officials who rotated throughout the room. After the morning sessions, the students worked on mock campaigns, with each student in a given group taking part as either: a candidate, campaign manager, speechwriter, publicity/communications chair, or fundraising/development chair. Potential issues offered by the League for campaign platforms included: organizing a Mental Health Community Center, organizing an Immigrant Support and Resources Center, and supporting a Plastics Ban. The majority of student groups chose to run with the Mental Health Community Center as their issue, discussing the prevalence of mental health issues for young people. The students’ campaigns conveyed that the collective mental health of women/girls in their generation has been influenced by many factors including pandemic isolation, frequent school shootings, and challenges to a woman’s right to choose. Some groups also shared their support for an Immigrant Center, citing their own experiences as first or second-generation immigrants and the need to support and value immigrants in our communities.
Here are some comments from the students who participated in the program:
Running and Winning 2023 was sponsored by the League of Women Voters Education Fund, the Westchester Community Foundation, the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, the Westchester Library System, the Business Council of Westchester, Manhattanville College, and the American Association of University Women.
*LWVW uses an inclusive definition of female.
Five Tips From a Professional Organizer
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- Written by Midori Im
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When spring rolls around, many things come to mind, such as baseball, gardening, and enjoying the outdoors after a confining winter. Perhaps top of the list for many is spring cleaning. While it’s not something that we look upon with pleasure, we still have to get it done. I recently sought tips on how to tackle spring cleaning from Stephanie Naccari, a professional home organizer since 2016 in lower Westchester, whose motto (and business name) is, simply put, “Get It Done.”
Here’s what she shared:
The $64,000 question…is there a trick to making spring cleaning more enjoyable?
Have realistic expectations. I think sometimes people don’t realize that it can be a very emotional journey. To help make it more enjoyable I suggest starting small and working your way around the house. Chip at it a little at a time - try a drawer, then move up to a small closet. When you get into rooms, break the room up into sections and try tackling a wall or one corner of the room at a time. This way you will feel a sense of accomplishment by addressing it piecemeal.
When tackling a big project, do you have a recommended plan of attack?
Follow four or five steps - all essential - but the way the steps are followed varies according to the organizer. And this would apply whether the project is big or small.
First - take everything out
Second - Categorize all items
Third - Purge (all at once, per category)
Fourth - Strategizing placement of the category in the room/closet
Fifth - Measure, purchase products to optimize space and create systems, implementation and label
What is the biggest mistake people make?
There are actually two that come to mind. One is not being realistic about the time it will take to declutter and organize your space. The second is buying product before you are ready.
What’s the best way to store winter clothing?
I like clear plastic close topped bins, labeled, of course. I recommend storing the bins in a temperature controlled room. However, if that is not an option, get a very good dehumidifier.
Best space saver?
The best space saving hack is try going vertical. Use the walls - add shelves or hooks depending on what you need to make room for in the space. Keep an eye out for “negative space” availability. If you still don’t have enough room, it may be time to do another round of decluttering.
What’s your favorite tool to help with organization?
I’d have to say my label maker. I am a big promoter of labeling. There are many reasons why psychologically it helps with the overall maintenance of the system created for your family. However, a top reason is that it simplifies your life, period. I like making my clients lives easier, so I label!
Favorite hack?
Set up a system where you put all hand me downs in shelving above active clothing . Categorize clothes to grow into (tops, leggings, etc.) and that way when your child moves up a size they can go “shopping” from their own closet. Also place a donation bin below active clothing so it is taken out of rotation and can be put to good use elsewhere. Actually, a donation bin can be in any room where you might need it.
Brilliant!
Everything I do with my clients has to do with setting up my clients to succeed. It comes down to creating systems properly. Yes, it takes time from the beginning to pull everything out, but in the end you have a manageable system to keep you organized, save time and reduce your stress.
Stephanie Naccari is the founder of Get it Done by Stephanie Organizing & Move Management. Be it professionally organizing your home, coordinating a move from packing to unpacking/organizing to designing a closet and garage system, Get It Done by Stephanie’s team knows how it get done. With over seven years of experience Get it Done by Stephanie has become a trusted resource and support for their clients.
Scarsdale's Paint Recycling Program: A Win for Scarsdale and the Environment
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale's Paint Recycling Program, which started in November, has been a huge success. Already Scarsdale has recycled over twelve tons of paint!
Residents can bring their leftover oil and latex-based paint, shellac, varnish and sealers to the Paint Recycling Area (pictured) at the Scarsdale Recycling Center (110 Secor Road). Paint that has dried out is accepted. Instead of being discarded and burned at the County incinerator (where all of our trash goes), the paint is reused or recycled!
The containers are separated by material type and recycled. Another bonus is that paint no longer has to be hardened with kitty litter or other materials. Just place your paint container into the paint recycling collection bin. The Recycling Center is open Monday-Saturday, 8am-3pm.
For a complete list of accepted and not accepted paint products, please click here.
Recycling paint keeps toxins out of our waste stream while saving energy, water and raw materials. It also provides a means by which Scarsdale's Sanitation Department can address the disposal of paint in a cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly way.
Thanks for recycling your paint and please spread the word!
Westchester Remembers
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Stuart Kolbert and Barbara Tartell carry historic scrolls.Former Scarsdale residents Barbara Tartell led the processional of historic torahs at a Yom Hashoah Holocaust Commemoration event at the Garden of Remembrance in White Plains on Tuesday April 18. The day featured keynote speaker and Holocaust survivor Hannah Holsten and a procession of scrolls that were rescued from synagogues and towns during World War II.
The event was hosted by the Holocaust and Human Right Education Center (HHREC) and the Westchester Jewish Council and was attended by approximately 200 people.
Commenting on the day Tartell said, “I’ve been involved with HHREC for the last 17 years. My involvement began as an exercise of personal discovery, trying to learn as much about my parents personal histories, but has since grown to be more of a mission of Holocaust education and its relevance to the diverse community in which we live. I believe that with the dramatic increase of hate in general and anti-Semitism specifically, HHREC role in our community is more vital than ever. I consider it a great honor to carry this Torah for such an important Day of Remembrance.
Photo credit: Julie Brimberg Rothschild
Westchester County Executive George Latimer
Recycling Your Batteries is Easy
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale makes it easy to recycle batteries. Residents can bring their used batteries to Village Hall, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and to the Recycling Center, Monday-Saturday, 8am-5pm. Battery recycling tubes are located in the lobby of Village Hall and in the Recycling Center Office.
Single use batteries that should be recycled include alkaline, lithium and button batteries (used in watches and hearing aids). Batteries that are rechargeable or that are damaged are not accepted. Nearby stores that accept rechargeable batteries include Cornell’s Hardware (310 White Plains Road, Eastchester), Home Depot (601 Sprain Road, Yonkers) and Best Buy (299 N Central Avenue, Hartsdale). For a list of batteries that are accepted and not accepted by Scarsdale, visit here.
During the recycling process, batteries are broken down and valuable materials such as nickel, cobalt and lithium are recovered. Recovered materials are then made into new products such as new batteries.
Battery recycling allows valuable metals to be reused, thereby reducing the need to mine new metals. It also eliminates the toxic fumes that are released when batteries are burned at our county incinerator (where all our trash goes).
So please, recycle your batteries.
