Nicole Eisenman's Work on Display at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg
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World renown artist Nicole Eisenman has now extended her reach to Russia where her work is included in the Manifesta 10 show, a biennial of contemporary art at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. Her painting shown here is included. Eisenman is an SHS graduate and the daughter of former Scarsdale Village Trustee Kay Eisenman. She studied at the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated in 1987. Eisenman's work includes paintings and sculpture that examine gender, politics, and cultural norms and has been the subject of recent exhibitions at the Contemporary Art Museum St Louis, MO, USA (2014); the Berkeley Art Museum, CA, USA (2013); Studio Voltaire, London (2012); Kunsthalle Zürich, Switzerland (2007); and Museo de Arte Carrillo Gil, Mexico City (2005), among others. Her work was shown in the 1995 and 2012 Whitney Biennials. She won the Carnegie Prize in 2013. He works are owned my MOMA, the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Kunsthalle Zürich; and Museum Ludwig, Cologne and she holds a teaching appointment at Bard College in 
Annandale-on-Hudson.
The Scarsdale Outdoor Workout
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Summer is here and who wants to be rubbing elbows with spin-mates inside the gym when you can be outside working up a sweat with a friend? Grab a ball, a resistance band, a medicine ball, some hand weights, a yoga mat or a picnic blanket and call a friend for an early morning workout in your yard. Other good outdoor workout venues include the Bronx River Parkway trail, Kensico Dam or any of the Scarsdale or Eastchester Parks or schoolyards. All you need is a place to run and a fence, bench, or basketball pole to harness your resistance band. If you prefer to end your day with a workout, go to one of the Scarsdale parks where you are permitted to drink a post-workout beer (though not on school fields.)
Here is a 30-minute work-out designed by Equinox trainers and fitness experts Pamela Newkirk-Arkin and Webb Travis. They joined me at Hyatt Field in Scarsdale to run through atotal body strength and cardio work out.
1. Run- Begin by taking a 3-minute run around the perimeter of the park to warm up.
2. Ball squat- With a playground ball between your thighs, hold on to a fence (or bench, bleachers) and make a chair (butt) shape with your body. Do 10 squats down and squeeze the ball on the way up. Then hold and squeeze for 10 counts without contracting your glutes followed by pulsing down for 10 counts just below the knee height and back to knee height. Finally, hold for 10 counts while giving the ball an isometric squeeze.
3. Alternating dead lift and shoulder press with weight: Holding the back of a bench or a fence, hinge forward from the hips, making a table top from your head to your heel, arm straight down from the shoulder. Bring extended knee up to hip height in front as you bring a weight (kettlebell, dumbbell, etc) into bicep curl, and press above the head. Alternating straight leg dead lift, extending the arm, knee raise with a bicep curl into an overhead shoulder press 10 times. Then hold with a flexed foot, go into bent over isometric position of a straight leg dead lift, squeeze abs and drag elbow along the rib cage and back down for the dead lift .
4. Weighted lunges, twist lunges and forward lunges: Holding a weight at chest height, lunge forward and perform an overhead raise, 10 on each side. Follow with lunges adding a twist with your arms, rotating towards the working leg, to work your core (10 per side).
5. Run a lap around the field (about 3 minutes)
6. Triceps- Wrap your resistance band around a fence or pole and go into a ready standing position with slightly bent knees. Band should be taut and elbows and shoulders should be parallel with your spine, only bending at the elbow to fully extend the arms, palms down. Perform 15-20 repetitions from the elbow pressing down then 15 -20 presses back with straight arms.
7. Alternating Side Plank Row- With weights in both hands on weights, (optional,) do a push up then rotate your whole body to one side, dropping heels to the ground while drawing the elbow up. Return to plank position and repeat 10 per side. Note: abs should be tight and back should not arch.
8. Cable chop with side lunge - Step on a resistance band and step out with the other foot into a side lunge. Then reach arms diagonally across the body and extend the arm upwards. Repeat 10 times on each side.
9. Basic mountain climbers- Get into high plank position and alternate knees in for a count of 20-30 seconds or repetitions on each leg.
10. Run a lap around the field (about 3 minutes)
11. Plank with hand clap or arm raise for a count of 20
12. Abs- On your mat, perform 20 regular crunches, 20 "figure 4" crunches (10 per leg), 20 bicycle crunches bringing the elbow to your opposite knee while crunching, and 20 alternating leg reaches.
13. Stretches –Lift one foot onto a fence or bench and reach arms to feet for a hamstring stretch then repeat for opposite leg. Next, do a "figure 4" stretch by taking your ankle and resting it on your opposite knee while sitting down as if you were sitting into a chair. Repeat on other side. Finally, stretch your quadriceps by grasping the base of your foot and pulling the heel to your glute. If able, pop your foot onto a fence and lean back slightly to further the stretch.
Contributors:
Webb Travis is an experienced personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Equinox in Scarsdale. He graduated from SUNY Plattsburgh with a Bachelors degree in both Advertisement and Exercise Science and a Masters of Science degree in Organizational Leadership.
Pamela Newkirk-Arkin is an ACE Certified Private Trainer with a BFA in Dance from Adelphi University (Cum Laude). Pamela is the Group Fitness Manager at Equinox Scarsdale. As a former dancer, Pamela's true passion is teaching Lotte Berk style barre classes, but she loves teaching other formats as well including cardio, hiit, sculpt and stretch. She is the proud mom of two children.
Kelly Vasami is a local photographer who captures weddings, portraits, engagement sessions, maternity and newborn sessions for families and couples all along the East Coast. Leran more at www.kellyvasami.com.
It Tastes Great, but is it Safe to Drink? Water Quality in Scarsdale
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After a month of intermittent bursts of brown water due to the flushing of the water lines, it's good to know that Scarsdale's most recent water quality report came back with no violations. Here's what you need to know about Scarsdale's current quality status in regards to water.
Where does our water come from?
The Village of Scarsdale receives all of its water from the New York City water supply system. There are direct connections to the Catskills Aqueduct, the Kensico Reservoir and the Delaware Aqueduct. Locally, the water moves through the Ardsley Pump Station and the Reeves Newsom Water Supply Station. All of Scarsdale's water is chlorinated to inhibit bacterial growth. The pH is regularly adjusted and orthophosphate is added for corrosion control treatment. "We have recently completed major renovations of the Reeves Newsom Water Supply Station," said Tony Capicotto, village Superintendent for Water. "We are very proud to say that we have all new pumps in place and kept the water running to the village with minimal disruptions throughout the entire process. And we finished it on time."
What's in our water?
All water, even bottled water, contains contaminants. Although Scarsdale's water tested positive for some contaminants, all levels were below the maximum allowed by New York State. There is the potential for lead to be in your drinking water, but this would be caused by your home's independent plumbing and cannot be tested by the village. According to the water department, "...you can minimize exposure to lead by running the tap for 30 seconds to two minutes before using tap water for cooking or drinking." You can also opt to have your water privately tested http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead. There is a known presence of giardia in the water supply and this is common. Giardia may cause intestinal unrest in some if ingested but can be treated with anti-parasitic agents. People at higher risk include immune-compromised people, infants, and some elderly people, and these people should speak with their physicians about additional precautions to take when consuming water.
How does it taste?
That said, in comparison to other towns in Westchester, Scarsdale's water tastes terrific. On May 7th, Scarsdale was awarded the bronze for best tasting water at the county's annual water taste test, second only to White Plains and Mt. Vernon. Furthermore, last year, the Scarsdale Water Department was commended for its water fluoridation program by Westchester County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler, MD. Not only has fluoride in the water supply been proven safe, it has been shown to reduce tooth decay in kids by 29% and in adults by 25%.
In fact, our local water tastes so good that local entrepreneurs Elias and Hiche Slubski have begun to filter and bottle water in in Greenburgh and sell it around the country. Called NY20 the Slubskis have a marketing campaign that boasts about the bottle as well as its contents. They call the water "the champagne of waters for the city that never sleeps," and bottle it in a plastic bottle designed by their architect-mom. Apparently "you can feel the spirit of innovation through the comfortable grip of the American-made plastic bottle that doesn't roll around when laying horizontally." New York's great tasting bagels and pizzas are often attributed to the water they're made with, so it will be interesting to see if this "water champagne" takes off as a premium domestic beverage. Next time you shower or brush your teeth, don't take our liquid gold for granted.
So, what about this brown water?
According to Mr. Capicotto, "...all water main flushing is finished!" Water flushing began on April 7th and was completed on May 7th. "It lasts for about a month each spring," said Mr. Capicotto. "We let people know to prepare for it by placing ads in the Scarsdale Inquirer, including alert notices on water bills, and emailing residents." Water flushing improves water quality and prepares the system for higher summer flows. "Your water may be brown for an hour or two, four hours, or not at all," said Mr. Capicotto. Discolored water is caused when sediment is stirred up during water flushing or during a water main break. It's safe to drink, but it many stain clothes so hold off on doing laundry until your water is running clear again. The water quality report recommends running cold water for several minutes to see if it becomes clear. Use a sink in the basement or one near the main water line to the house and check the water hourly.
Why is the county being sued?
The federal government has filed a lawsuit against Westchester County for missing the deadline to have an ultraviolet (UV) treatment process in place at Kensico Dam in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). No illnesses have been reported, but federal guidelines now require UV treatment of water to kill cryptosporidium.
Would Scarsdale have to contribute to potential fines imposed for missing the deadline?
"I'm not sure. It's too early to tell," said Mr. Capicotto. Ned McCormack, Communications Director and Senior Advisor to Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, said that the county is aggressively moving forward to comply with SDWA and will hopefully be completed before the court case is decided. "District One, which includes Scarsdale, is two-thirds in compliance with UV-treated water," Mr. McCormack said. Or in numbers, 100,000 people are receiving water that is not UV-filtered. Over the last couple of years, several plans were proposed to add UV-treatment to District One's water supply. However, these plans were not feasible at they were estimated to cost $100 million. According to McCormack, a new plan that would add two small treatment plants in White Plains at a cost of $9.7 million over two years is currently sitting with county legislators. "This plan would get our district into compliance the quickest for the lowest cost," Mr. McCormack explained. Mr. Astorino's office is awaiting approval of the proposal. "Our water is safe," Mr. McCormack added. "Westchester residents receive some of the most naturally pure water because of the protected watershed; land cannot be developed around the aqueducts. Even people receiving UV-unfiltered water drink water that is routinely tested, filtered, and monitored by the Department of Health." The county is currently defending their position in court.
Do you feel confident about Scarsdale's water quality? Let us know in the comments below.
Prom Perfect
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Spirits were high when the sun shone just in time for the pre-prom party at the high school on Thursday June 5th. Rain all day threatened to move the festivities indoors, but someone upstairs knew that the class of 2014 had earned the sunshine.
The students were especially dazzling this year – one more beautiful than the next. Girls sported up-do's, sleek twists, ponies and silky curls, some adorned with crystals were stunning. The fashion this year was long straight dresses in solid jewel colors of royal blue, red, emerald green with others in white, pastel pink and floral prints. The ebullient students and their proud parents had a picture-fest, posing for shots with dates, girls with the friends, boys with their crowd and some with parents and teachers. Spirits were high in the hour before the class walked the red carpet to board the bus for Glen Island Country Club where the word was the party went off without a hitch.
Commenting on the prom, faculty class advisor Oren Iosepovici said, "The prom was a wonderful testament to what this class has been as a whole. It was incredible watching everyone bond, dance, and basically have a great time. A great culmination to what has been a terrific class!!
See our gallery of the stunning class of 2014 below: - thanks to Jon Thaler for some of the photos)
SHS Science Students Present their Research
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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.
