A Roaring Good Time to Benefit Scarsdale Library: You're Invited
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Friends of the Scarsdale Library invite you to put on 1920's glam attire to attend A Roaring Good Time in Gatsby’s Library on Thursday, October 17th, at Beach Point Club.
After a long break during COVID, the Friends of the Scarsdale Library (FOSL) is pleased to bring back a gala fundraiser for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, supporting the Scarsdale Public Library. The event will undoubtedly be a night to remember– it will be held at Beach Point Club and will feature food, drinks, music, casino games, interactive raffles, and a silent auction. Whispering Angel will be the exclusive rosé sponsor and there are many great prizes from well loved national brands as well as many local Scarsdale favorites in the beauty, dining, fitness and kids’ classes categories.
The proceeds from the gala will ensure that the Scarsdale Public Library can continue to offer the best to community members of all ages. Specifically, they will support Library programming, including children and teen classes, adult programming, the Maker Space, author talks, as well as museum passes and new technology, and more. There are still exciting sponsorship opportunities for corporate or individual donors. This is also a perfect time to become a ‘Friend’ of the Scarsdale Library or renew your commitment to FOSL.
Your support is appreciated to ensure that Scarsdale Library remains a cultural and intellectual hub for the community. Help us keep this momentum going by joining the Friends of the Scarsdale Library at a Roaring Good Time in Gatsby’s Library, Thursday, October 17th at 7pm. We look forward to celebrating with you!
For further details or to purchase a ticket or become an event sponsor click here.
Gatsby’s Library Contact:
● Daniela Retelny, Gala Co-Chair, daniela.retelny@gmail.com
Thank you to all of our other sponsors and raffle prize contributors to date. Special thanks to these headline sponsors:
Speakeasy sponsor
● Angela Retelny Team at Compass
Glitz & Glamour Sponsor
● The Longevity Space by Dr. Poonam Desai
Roaring 20s sponsor
● Cheryl and Philip Milstein
● Wilson and Son Jewelers
● Breaking Solutions
● Whispering Angel
● Laura Miller Team at Houlihan Lawrence
● Shoreline Painting
● Sabine Poisson, Event Producer & Designer
Political Polarization: The Solution Might Be at Your Dinner Table
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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We’ve all been there. We’re out to dinner with friends and in an instant the tone of the conversation turns from convivial to confrontational, from amicable to aggressive. Alarmed you find yourself kicking your partner under the table, nudging them “not to go there.”
With the country polarized over politics it’s a situation that is hard to avoid.
But instead of skirting all points on which we disagree, is it better to find a way to conduct a civil discussion? How will we understand one another if we can’t discuss the issues that tear up apart?
That’s the subject of the documentary “Undivide Us,” that was shown at the Scarsdale Library on Saturday September 21 at an event hosted by the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale and the Scarsdale Public Library.
The film takes us on a road trip to three swing states, Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania where focus groups are conducted with people of divergent viewpoints. Raising subjects like gun control, abortion and the environment, the group leader attempts to show the participants how to conduct productive conversations where they can understand the views of others and also be understood.
Using conversational techniques designed for marriage counseling, participants can reflect on why others feel the way they do in order to bridge gaps. Simply put, a participant can ask, “Can I reflect back to you why I think you think what you think?”
The film was directed by Kristi Kendall, a television news producer, who “has developed an expertise in leveraging the power of story to bring together unlikely collaborators to work synergistically on project that help shape public opinion.” And that’s just what she does in “Undivide Us,” where she contends that in reality, “Only about 20% of Americans are unable to have discussions with people they disagree with ….so the other 80% can chat.”
Valerie Abrahams interviewed Director Kristi Kendall
Following the screening, Kendall was interviewed via Zoom by Valerie Abrahams, former editor of the Scarsdale Inquirer.
Asked for advice on how to bring her ideas to the Scarsdale community Kendall told the people in the room who had viewed the film, “You are now part of the solution. In social circles and at dining tables, treat others with respect and authentic honesty. … seek to understand rather than seek to be understood.”
Sadly, the producers noted that even after hours of conversation no one changed their minds on the issues, but they did change their attitude about people who disagree with them.
In order to spread the word, Kendall recommends the following:
Go to Undivideusmovie.com, and first sign the Undivide Us Pledge for Respect.
See a long list of venues where the film will be shown this fall and request a screening in your community. Share the movie trailer on social media and with friends.
It starts with you. Rather than avoiding touchy subjects, use civil discourse to understand and build mutual respect.
Learn more here: https://undivideusmovie.com/
Photographs by Ruth Raskin on Display at the Mamaroneck Artists Guild Gallery
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Scarsdale resident Ruth Raskin's photos are now on exhibit through September 28 at the Mamaroneck Artists Guild Gallery in Larchmont.
Here are her words about the show. "Carl Jung coined the term The Shadow Self in 1912. In psychology it refers to a person's dark, repressed side--those parts of ourselves we don't want to acknowledge much less reveal to other people. For this show, My Shadow Self is a way for me, a camera-shy photographer, to avoid more classic self-portraits while sharing something (but not too much) about myself. In this exhibit I invite the viewer to interpret what I am disclosing and what I am hiding in these dark, sometimes cryptic, sometimes lighthearted, photographs."
Celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month
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Celebrate Library Card Sign-up Month this September with the Scarsdale Public Library and the American Library Association! The Scarsdale Public Library is inviting everyone to discover the incredible resources and opportunities available at your local library by signing up for a library card.
This back to school season all Scarsdale residents are encouraged to sign up for a library card! There are no fines, and digital materials are available 24/7. Library cards provide access, connection, independence, and responsibility, and parents can sign up their children (of all ages) either in-person or online through the library website. Study rooms are available and students can reserve them ahead of time using their Scarsdale library card through the SPL website or app.
This year, we’re thrilled to have Optimus Prime from the TRANSFORMERS as the ALA’s special ambassador, highlighting that there's more than meets the eye at the library. On Tuesday, September 24, from 5- 7 pm there will be a Library Card Sign Up Month Celebration, where you can meet a 9-ft character - Bumblebee - from the Transformers while exploring library offerings and services.
Whether you're looking to enhance your skills, find valuable information, or connect with fellow avid readers, a library card unlocks a world of possibilities.
Today’s libraries are vibrant community centers offering books and more! At the library you'll find diverse programs, job search assistance, homework help, book clubs, author talks, storytimes, and more.
Curious about exploring a new hobby or learning a new language? Scarsdale library card holders have access to Craft & Hobby and Mango Languages. Interested in starting or growing a small business? We provide poster printing, color printing, faxing and scanning services, in addition to books and digital databases. Scarsdale Library cardholders also have access to our Makerspace and Maker 101 programs, including Cricut design, 3D printing, sewing and embroidery programs.
During the school year, teens can join the Teen Advisory Board to earn service hours and share their interests and talents with their community. For those who are not yet in school, the Scarsdale Public Library offers a 1000 Books Before Kindergarten program to encourage literacy from birth and up.
The Flavor of Home: A Scarsdale Student’s Experience in Taiwan
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- Written by Eian Tsou
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It was 16 hours of movies, napping, and pretzels before we arrived in Taipei, Taiwan from JFK. My brother, mother, and I stumbled out of the plane, picked up our bags, and were greeted by grandparents and cousins.
Like many others when they were younger, I used to take traveling for granted. I’d whine about the humidity and heat, beg my mom to let me play video games, and insist on staying indoors whenever possible. It wasn’t until I grew older that I began to appreciate the richness of these moments – the joy of reconnecting with family, the vibrant culture, and the unique beauty of a place so different from home.
One thing I especially missed was the food.
That was the first thing on the list – and the main objective in general. Hours before our flight, my brother Andre and I watched Mike Chen's YouTube video “Eating BRUNCH at Taiwan 7-ELEVEN”, eager to try out the various types of teas, tea eggs, pork buns, and most importantly, instant ramen. Upon arriving at our apartment, the two of us strolled to the nearby 7/11, coming back with “beef-flavored instant noodles” – a bowl of deliciousness that isn’t just beef-flavored but has large chunks of tender beef and tendon in it, a gamechanger compared to that of Cup Noodles or Top Ramen in the US.
Obviously, instant ramen isn’t all that Taiwan has to offer.
Every morning, we walked just around 10 minutes or so to a local breakfast joint to delight in its soup dumplings. Nestled in a bustling side street, the eatery was easy to miss if you didn’t know where to look. It had an unassuming facade, with faded signage and a cluster of plastic stools accompanying the plastic tables within. Yet, it’s where you find great food – and for great prices. Meals for three people may only cost you around $10.
However, the finest soup dumplings are found at no other than Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung started its humble business in Taipei and recently opened its long-waited branch in NYC. We visited the Din Tai Fung inside the grand Taipei 101 tower. Contrary to the small local eatery we frequented in the mornings, this restaurant was sleek and modern. The minimalist decor created an air of sophistication, yet it retained the warm, inviting energy that Din Tai Fung is known for.
Besides soup dumplings, Taiwan offers deliciously made beef noodle soup, pork buns, the best boba tea, and traditional desserts such as Aiyu jelly and boba with shaved ice, sweet rice balls with sesame paste, and Tanghulu. 
The highlight of the trip for me, though, was Jiufen.
As if it was the real-life rendition of the film Spirited Away (even though Hayao Miyazaki denies taking any inspiration, which I personally don’t believe), Jiufen felt like stepping into a world where time moved differently. Perched on the mountainside, this former gold mining town was a maze of narrow, winding streets lined with red lanterns, teahouses, and shops selling all manner of trinkets and snacks. The air was filled with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and the savory scent of fried stinky tofu, mingling with the earthy smell of rain-soaked stone.
Every corner seemed to reveal something new – a cozy café next to a store selling Studio Ghibli souvenirs, a clothes shop selling traditional garments, or a panoramic view of the misty ocean far below. I also learned that, at the top of Jiufen, there lay an elementary school. How nice it would be to leave class and run down a few steps to enjoy some taro balls while watching the clouds roll over the hills.
As our time in Taiwan drew to a close, I found myself savoring every moment, every bite, every sight. It was a reconnection – with family, with my heritage, and with a part of myself that I hadn’t fully appreciated before.
I'm already looking forward to my next visit. Whether it's slurping soup dumplings, exploring the busy streets in flip-flops and a tank top, or just hanging out at a 7/11, I can’t wait to dive back into those familiar yet ever-exciting moments.
