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Written by: Sophia Albert

Published: 29 January 2020

Created: 29 January 2020

Last Updated: 30 January 2020

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Playing card shirt created by Jenny Kahn, modeled by Anya Kornfeld.Can you wear sustainable clothes without sacrificing style? Scarsdale High School Junior Jenny Kahn took on that challenge and figured out a way to refashion last year’s clothing into new, stylish pieces. To that end, about a year ago she created the Up 2 D8 club (aka Up to Date) at Scarsdale High School. “Fashion Design has always been my passion; however, I am also aware that the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. Each year, 26 billion pounds of textiles are thrown into landfills. Virtually every synthetic fiber that has ever been created is still in existence. With the rise of ‘fast fashion’, this waste will only get worse. That led us to our current goal: to raise awareness and make an impact on a local level,” Khan said.

Since its inception in 2019 with only four members, the club has grown tremendously. Members of the club bring in old clothes that they don’t wear anymore, or are no longer wearable, take them apart and add to them, in order to give them a new life. The club meets each week to create new pieces, and continue with longer projects. Whether it's adding pom pom-string to the sides of jeans, or completely cutting up a shirt and turning it into a skirt, the possibilities are endless. Being a member of the club myself, my favorite thing about it is being able to see my old clothes transformed into wearable pieces.

Once all of the pieces were complete, Kahn organized a fashion show displaying all of the club member’s designs. “All designers prepared at least two garments, and some came to my house to spend more time sewing and creating their pieces. We had a total of 30 garments, including the suit I wore as host, plus 11 models wearing the remaining 29. In addition to preparing the garments and fitting them to the models, I had to deal with the technical aspects of the show, including lighting, music, and a slideshow of the ‘before’ images. We marketed the show through social media and posters Camo shirt with black sleeves created by Allie Singer, modeled by Victoire Lacoudre.placed throughout the school,” Kahn said.

She orchestrated an entire runway show with student models. All of the ticket sale proceeds went to the charity Kids Kloset, a program that provides under-served Westchester County children with clothing.

“It was very rewarding to know that I was modeling for a good cause and that I was able to show the hard work and effort of others in the club,” said model Jolie Kantor ‘21. The students who created pieces for the show spent weeks designing their garments so they were picture-perfect for the runway. Some students who made garments, like myself, got to model their own pieces. The rest got to see their designs come to life on the runway. “It was really fascinating to see the pieces that I created come together on someone walking the runway. When making the pieces it was important to imagine what it would look like on someone, so it was interesting actually seeing my pieces being worn,” said club member Allie Singer ‘22. The fashion show also gave students who modeled an opportunity to gain confidence. “The experience of walking in front of the audience with the beautiful garments on was so amazing. It showed me a different style of art that I truly love” said model Marie Lacoudre ‘22.

Overall the fashion show was very successful. “We raised about $1,500. The show was a success because all of the designers enjoyed the process of setting up and showing their pieces. We were additionally able to spread awareness and encourage people how to “rethink” old clothes and ‘reinvent’ them rather than throwing them all away,” said Kahn.

White and navy white striped color-block skirt created by Eliana Zitrin, modeled by Jolie Kantor.Although there aren’t any future plans for the club currently, Khan states “We will continue having our weekly meetings and hopefully work on some long term projects I have in mind.” Although there won’t be another fashion show for the club this year, there will definitely be more events from the Up 2 D8 club.

Jean jacket with faux fur back created by Jenny Kahn, modeled by Lara Burgert.

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Written by: Ray Cooper

Published: 23 January 2020

Created: 23 January 2020

Last Updated: 23 January 2020

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Jayshen Saigal with a stop and pop jumperSSince the new year and the colder weather, Scarsdale has looked like a hot new team.  The Raiders looked to continue their ascent vs. the highly touted Valhalla Vikings at home on January 21st.  The team is coming off a win vs. an 11-4 Dobbs Ferry team and a tough loss on the road to perennial power Mt. Vernon. After a rough month of December, Scarsdale was approaching the .500 mark.  Valhalla entered the game with an impressive 9-3 record. In a game that wasn’t decided until the final eight seconds, the Raiders prevailed 55-53.  Coach Joe Amelio was “pleased with our effort for 32 minutes against a well-coached team who pressures you for the entire game. 

Scarsdale was missing its starting point guard, Matthew Lipsay – who was out with the flu.  The Raiders started Michael Callahan, Dennis Alter, Fisher Waterhouse, and the “JS Express” – Jayshen Saigal and Jacob Smith. 

Saigal started the Raiders off strong – sinking two jump shots a minute into the affair – giving Scarsdale an early lead. Saigal sandwiched a steal in between those baskets.  The Vikings turned to a press within the first few minutes – trying to capitalize on Lipsay’s absence.  The strategy began to pay dividends as the Raiders turned the ball over on consecutive possessions.  Only poor shooting both at the free throw line and from the outside kept the game close.  Compounding Scarsdale’s backcourt woes, Waterhouse was charged with two quick fouls and Raider’s Coach Amelio was forced to bring him to the bench for the remainder of the half. The teams traded 3s – with Alter and Evan Kashanian cashing in for Scarsdale.  Valhalla’s Marlin Wise had a nice 3 point play and the first quarter ended with the Vikings leading by a point.

The second quarter saw Valhalla gain its largest lead of the game – with a five point 20-15 advantage. Saigal also picked up his second foul of the game near the halfway point of the quarter – but he was left in as his maturity would allow him to be extra careful in this area.  He was quite aware of the situation and said: “I knew I had to be very smart for the rest of the game after my second foul.”  As would be for the entire contest, the Raiders battled back, and after a Levi Ring driving layup the lead was cut to one with a little under three minutes left in the half.  Both teams were in the double bonus situation for the remainder of the half and traded free throws.  As the buzzer sounded to end the half, the Vikings were still clinging to a small lead – 25-23.   Jacob Smith striving for 2 of his 23 points.

The Raiders began the second half like a house on fire: marked largely by the emergence of Jacob Smith as a force in the contest.  Smith, in his first start all season and playing for his ill captain Lipsay, began his assault on the Viking’s basket.  The junior guard took over the game for about three and a half minutes – sparking a 13-4 run.  First, he drove for a layup and followed that with a rebound on the defensive end.  Around a minute later and after a Saigal jumper gave Scarsdale a one point lead, Smith hit consecutive three pointers within 10 seconds and suddenly Scarsdale’s lead swelled to a game high seven. The Raiders did a fantastic job breaking the Viking press in this quarter – through great passing and a strong transition game. As was de riguer for the entire affair, Valhalla climbed right back into the game. Both teams played tight defense and the third quarter ended with Scarsdale leading by three points – 36-33.

As the final quarter began, both teams saw victory within its grasp.  Valhalla scored two quick baskets and with a Raider turnover, took its final lead of the game with about five minutes to play.  Saigal picked up his fourth foul of the game and faced fouling out with only one more infraction.  With 3:42 left in the game, Waterhouse put up a three pointer and was fouled. At the same time the Vikings were called for a two-shot flagrant foul.  With five free throws coming up, the Raiders could have put a lot of space between them and Valhalla.  However, Waterhouse and Saigal only converted two of the shots - and Scarsdale led by a single point.

After a stop on defense, Alter nailed a three pointer.  The Vikings then climbed back to tie the game at the 2:32 mark.  On the next possession Saigal put back a rebound and was fouled.  After converting the free throw Scarsdale led by three with 2:13 left.  Alter made a great block on the Viking’s driving layup with about 1:40 to play.  The teams traded possessions until Jacob Smith came up big again for Scarsdale.  With a little over a minute to play, Smith stole the ball from the Valhalla guard, drove for a layup, and scored.  However, he was fouled hard on the play and his leg was balky.  He left the game with a team-high 23 points.  Ring hit the free throw for the injured Smith and the Raiders led by six.  Valhalla refused to go quietly – seeing Wise hit a long three with 50 ticks left.  The chaotic last minute continued as Valhalla’s press prevented Scarsdale from inbounding the ball – a five second penalty gave the ball back to the Vikings under the Raider basket.  After Alter’s foul led to two Viking free throws, Scarsdale was clinging to a one point lead with 32 seconds left.  Waterhouse missed a jumper and Valhalla called a time out after its rebound.  With the 35 second shot clock turned off and a chance to win the game, Valhalla’s James McAndrew’s long jumper was off the mark. Alter grabbed the rebound with eight seconds remaining and was quickly fouled.  He hit one of his two free throws – and the Raiders had a slim two point lead.  Valhalla’s final gasp came as a long three pointer fell harmlessly in Alter’s hands.  

Raiders Callahan fights through the defense.Saigal had a strong all-around game scoring 17 points on 6-15 shooting from the field and 5-7 from the line.  He also had 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists, and a steal – continuing his strong senior season.  Smith’s breakout performance was also fabulous from every side and featured 23 points on 7-10 shooting including two threes and 10 assists – missing a triple double by only three rebounds. Commenting on Smith’s performance, Amelio said: “Jacob is really turning the corner and is a huge asset when he is aggressive like today.”  Smith was elated after the game and said: “we are coming together as a team very well and playing with a lot of energy.”  Scarsdale’s playoff drive continues Friday, January 24th at Greeley.

Photos by Jon Thaler. See more here.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 15 January 2020

Created: 15 January 2020

Last Updated: 30 December 2020

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Photograph by Steven SchnurThe Scarsdale School District offers online Kindergarten registration. Current residents who expect to have a child attend Kindergarten during the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to complete this process by January 31, 2020. Although prospective Kindergarteners may register at anytime prior to the start of the school year, completing this process early ensures a smooth screening and placement process. Children whose fifth birthday falls on or before December 31, 2020, may be registered for the 2020-2021 school year.

Please visit www.scarsdaleschools.org/registration for instructions on how to register online.

Enrollment in one of the five elementary schools (Edgewood, Fox Meadow, Greenacres, Heathcote, and Quaker Ridge) is determined by the neighborhood in which you reside. If you do not know which elementary school serves your neighborhood, please call the District Registrar, Nunzia Mauro, at (914) 721-2444 or send an email to [email protected].

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 12 January 2020

Created: 12 January 2020

Last Updated: 12 January 2020

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On Tuesday January 14, 2020 the School Board Nominating Committee will hold their election for new members at the Scarsdale Middle School.  Also at that time, voters will be asked to vote on 21 proposed amendments to the SBNC Resolution that governs the process. The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale has analyzed these 21 proposed amendments and forwarded us the following consensus statement commenting on each of the proposed amendments.

LWVS Consensus Statement on Proposed Amendments to the SBNC Resolution 

Introduction: The League of Women Voters Scarsdale (the “League”) observes and comments on local governmental processes, such as the process of amending the SBNC Resolution, in order to help inform voters and to help support the democratic process of civic engagement in Scarsdale.  The League thanks Jordan Copeland, Chair of the Joint Committee (the “Joint Chair”) of the School Board Nominating Committee (the “SBNC”), for his thoughtful and thorough presentation at our membership meeting on December 16, 2019 to review the proposed amendments to the SBNC Resolution (the “Resolution”).  The League appreciates the care that the Joint Chair put into answering our questions, and his timely responses. The League further appreciates the hard work and initiative of the entire Joint Committee for their consideration of clarifying and constructive changes to the Resolution. 

Overview

The Joint Committee (the “Committee”) has proposed twenty-one (21) amendments to the SBNC Resolution, which are up for a vote on January 14, 2020, at the regular SBNC election. The Committee made these amendments available to the public on November 18, 2019 and at the time of the League Information Session, the Committee was still in the process of amending the proposed amendment document.  Several amendments are clarifying and are not substantive; several are more extensive in nature with potentially complex implications. 

In this statement, the League reached consensus in support of many of the proposed amendments to the SBNC Resolution.  As much of our consensus discussion focused on the tight timetable of the process and the large number of amendments proposed, we comment more extensively without an indication of agreement or disagreement on the remaining amendments. The rushed process, coupled with extensive structural changes, and the ongoing edits to the Resolution document, complicated and affected our ability to definitively support or oppose specific amendments even following lengthy discussion.

Process 

League Concerns: 
The League is concerned by the abbreviated timetable and limited public education on what are fairly substantial structural and philosophical changes to the Resolution. While the League supports a process in which the Joint Committee reviews the Resolution annually to make appropriate changes, such a process should be deliberative and collaborative and should include ample voter education efforts prior to the January election. The League believes proposed amendments should be finalized and publicized in sufficient time for the community to fully understand the nature of the changes and the rationale behind the decision-making process.

Although the Joint Committee may have been contemplating changes for the past several years, the first notice to the public that any changes were being proposed did not occur until November 18, 2019, when a press release was issued. The Joint Committee held an information session shortly thereafter on December 3, public comment was requested by December 13, and the vote is to be held on January 14, 2020. There were ongoing changes to the proposed amendments throughout the public comment period in response to offered public comment and in order to provide further clarity.   The effect of these ongoing changes created confusion as to the final amendment language, ultimately leaving only a few weeks for public review of proposed amendments around the holiday season.

Abbreviated Timetable:  
During the information session, the Joint Chair stated that the Resolution has been amended 32 times in 55 years. However, the Joint Chair stated that there were four to five years of backlog in amending the Resolution, thus the large number of changes proposed.  The Joint Chair further stated that there was a compressed window and that it was very intense work to amend the Resolution.  In response to written League questions, the Joint Chair acknowledged the difficulty of the compact schedule and stated that while the “Resolution does not require an extensive public comment period, it would have felt more relaxed to have a longer time to discuss the proposed amendments with the community.” 

Proposed Amendments 

The League discussed extensively some of the larger structural and philosophical proposed changes to the Resolution and has offered detailed comment on those amendments below.  While the amendments could be grouped into larger categories for general discussion, including SBNC structure, SBNC candidates, Board of Education candidates, record-keeping and non-substantive changes, for clarity of explanation the amendments are listed in numerical order. 

Amendment 1 clarifies and consolidates existing language in the Resolution that prohibits members of the Administrative Committee from simultaneously serving on the Nominating Committee, the Citizens’ Nominating Committee, the Board of Education, or the Village Board and clarifies when the Chair and Vice Chair of the Nominating Committee and graduating Nominating Committee members may simultaneously serve on the Administrative Committee.   

The League supports this proposed amendment, provided that inadvertently deleted language concerning the Board of Education and the Village Board be restored prior to finalizing. 

Amendment 2 would clarify the two-year Administrative term that Nominating Committee members serve upon completion of their three-year Nominating Committee term.  

The League agrees that this is a clarification, not a substantive change and supports this proposed amendment. 

Amendment 3 would serve to merge the Joint and Administrative Committees into one Administrative Committee, and would replace the Administrative Chair/ Vice Chair and Joint Committee Chair/ Vice Chair roles with an Election Chair and Vice Chair and a Resolution Chair and Vice Chair.   

According to the Joint Chair, the rationale behind this change is that it will serve to streamline and clarify the structure of the committees.  The Joint Chair also conveyed that the election responsibilities currently coordinated by the Administrative Committee are wide-ranging and would be more easily served by a larger cohort resulting from the merging of the two committees.   

The League appreciates the service of the Joint Committee and Administrative Committee and supports the merging of the two committees based on the reasons stated above. 

This proposed amendment eliminates language regarding the succession path from vice chair to chair of the Committee.  Please see League comments on leadership succession under Amendment 5. 

Amendment 4 would permit the initial Administrative Committee meeting of the year to be called by June 30, two months later than set forth in the existing Resolution.   

The League agrees that this is not a substantive change and supports this proposed amendment.   

Amendment 5 clarifies that Administrative Committee members serve a two-year term and that chairs and vice chairs hold office for one year.   

The Joint Chair indicated that “this is not an actual change, but merely a clarification,” as the procedure, as currently written, has “proved untenable and has not been followed in recent years.”  It was also stated that the proposed progression would allow the leaders to specialize in an area in which they are skilled; stating that different skill sets are required for amending the Resolution and running the SBNC election.  The Joint Chair indicated that the Committee had considered the “downside of eliminating the current succession path.” The League strongly values continuity and the preservation of institutional knowledge from year to year.  Succession of leadership roles is a key method to ensure such matters are retained within an organization.  The League acknowledges that this is aspirational for many organizations and due to unforeseen circumstances, not always possible.  However because of the importance of continuity and institutional knowledge preservation, the League believes that codifying the vice chair’s succession to the chair of the Committee should remain. 

The League did not reach consensus on this proposed amendment for the aforementioned reason that the amendment no longer codifies the succession path from vice chair to chair.

Amendment 6 changes the term of SNAP and Scarsdale Forum appointees to the Administrative Committee from three years to two years; it also modifies how vacancies are filled.  

The Joint Chair stated that the Administrative Committee has “not been able to attract any members from SNAP or TVCC in recent years, and one of the reasons may have been the three year length of term.”  The League understands the Committee evaluated the possibility of less continuity and reduced institutional memory against the practical consideration that the TVCC and SNAP positions have been unfilled for several years.  The Joint Chair also stated that the Committee concluded that “appointed members -- who are not elected by the community -- should not be the members with disproportionate tenure and influence.”  
The League agrees to neither support nor oppose this proposed amendment and believes that further research into these positions should be conducted. 

Amendment 7 would permit contemporaneous Administrative Committee meetings to be held by conference call or electronic means wherein members can hear each others’ votes.   

The League agrees that this is not a substantive change and supports this proposed amendment. 

Amendment 8 would permit, but not require, the Administrative Committee to adopt rules of procedure.   

The League agrees that institutions should be able specify their internal procedural structure and supports this proposed amendment. 

Amendment 9 would remove the requirement for a supermajority vote of the Administrative Committee should a quorum of six or fewer members be present at a meeting.  

The League agrees that this is not a substantive change, and as amended gives greater flexibility to the Administrative Committee. Therefore, the League supports this proposed amendment.

Amendment 10 would eliminate the Election subcommittee and charge the entire Administrative Committee with conducting the election of Nominating Committee members.  

The League agrees that this would ease the workload and supports this proposed amendment.

Amendment 11 could modify the three-year staggered term system on SBNC as to allow all SBNC voting members to serve a full three-year term regardless of a previous Election Unit vacancy.    

According to the Joint Chair, “a small number of our members do not complete their terms for one reason or another. When this occurs, to maintain the stagger under the current system, we must seek a replacement member for the vacated seat, who only finishes whatever remains of the term.”  The rationale for this change, according to the Joint Chair, is to “retain experienced members rather than curtailing their terms to preserve a stagger.”   The League acknowledges the importance of retaining experienced members and suggests that the Committee keep an eye on how the lack of some staggered start dates may impact the SBNC and the Committee in future years.   

The League agrees to neither support nor oppose this proposed amendment.  

Amendment 12 would eliminate the requirement that the Administrative Committee add candidate names to the ballot to ensure that every SBNC election is contested. It would also permit the recruitment of SBNC candidates after petitions are due in order to ensure full SBNC membership, however not necessarily contested slates.   

As discussed in the information session, there is often difficulty finding volunteers to fill enough slots to create a contested election in each Election Unit.   However, despite the challenges in finding volunteers, the League strongly encourages the Committee to maintain the goal of a contested election in order to ensure a democratic process in the SBNC election; a process wherein nonpartisan Nominating Committee members are:  “elected by the voters.”  Historically, the goal of contested elections has been a central part of the SBNC process. While there may be individual elections or periods of time when contested elections are not possible, the League believes that the goal should remain. 

The League does not support this proposed amendment as currently written since it does not include a goal of contested elections. 

Amendment 13 would allow the public notice of Nominating Committee candidates to refer voters to biographical information, rather than contain such information in the notice itself.   

In the interest of environmental responsibility and with regard to budgeting concerns, the League supports this proposed amendment.

Amendment 14 would eliminate the requirement for an “electronic site accessible via the internet” for record-keeping and would further change the current record-keeping requirements.   Public access would be provided for Resolution changes, but not for all Administrative Committee records.  

The League encourages the preservation of records, and continuity from year to year to preserve institutional knowledge. The League supports public record-keeping and agrees that not all records are suitable for public dissemination.  However, clear guidelines should be used to ensure that relevant records relating to Resolution changes and Administrative Committee decision-making remain public. 

The League agrees to neither support nor oppose this proposed amendment. 

Amendment 15 would allow elected SBNC members who move to another Election Unit to complete their terms as opposed to resigning from the Committee and creating a vacancy.   

As discussed during the information session, the Joint Chair stated that once an individual is on the SBNC, they are a representative of the Nominating Committee and the community as a whole, not necessarily a representative solely of their neighborhood.   At the time of the League consensus meeting it was unclear as to which Election Unit the individual would continue to represent.  The proposed amendment clarifies that said representative would continue to sit for the Election Unit from which they were originally elected. 

The League supports this proposed amendment. 

Amendment 16 would remove language that purports to dictate that the Citizens’ Nominating Committee take an action that the SBNC cannot require it to do.  

The League agrees with this reasoning and supports this proposed amendment. 

Amendment 17 would expressly authorize the Nominating Committee to adopt rules of voting procedure and provide for questions of compliance with such procedures.   

The League agrees that expressly authorizing such procedural rules is in the best interest of the institution and supports this proposed amendment.

Amendment 18 would allow the SBNC to ask “additional differentiated questions” to candidates seeking nomination to the Board of Education.  

While the League appreciates the need for information-gathering and follow-up after a candidate interview, the League also understands that there may be practical or logistical complications and ambiguity in the meaning of “differentiated.”  The League believes that this is a procedural decision.  

The League agrees to neither support nor oppose this proposed amendment.

Amendment 19 would allow the selection of School Board nominees by April 7 and publication of the names of the nominees by April 14, thereby extending each of the existing deadlines by one week. 

The League agrees with the need for flexibility and supports this proposed amendment.

Amendment 20 would update the acronym of the Scarsdale Neighborhood Association Presidents (“SNAP”).   

The League agrees that this is not a substantive change and supports this proposed amendment.

Amendment 21 would eliminate ambiguous or inconsistent terms; would correct punctuation, grammar and numbering, and relocate or combine sections without functional change to the Resolution. 

The League agrees that this is not a substantive change and supports this proposed amendment.

Conclusion

The League appreciates the Joint Committee’s desire to improve the SBNC election system. The proposed amendments are extensive and detailed in nature and the timetable for understanding the implications of some of the more complex changes was abbreviated. The League encourages future Committees to consider including additional time in the process to allow for reflection and community comment on any proposed amendments to the Resolution. The League hopes that the Committee will use this consensus statement as a tool to facilitate future discussion on strategies to continue to improve the system.

See sources and footnotes are in the full document at this link.

Read questions about the amendments and answers from the Joint Chair here: