Jim Dugan, Candidate for Board of Education Discusses Student Mental Health and the College Admissions Landscape
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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James C. Dugan, who is just finishing up his first term as a member of Scarsdale’s Board of Education, announced in April that he will seek re-election to fulfill another term in the upcoming election on Tuesday May 21. During his first term as a BOE member, Dugan was part of a committed team that helped to navigate our District out of pandemic learning, he took part in a methodical superintendent search process that saw Dr. Drew Patrick named as our new Superintendent, and thoughtfully participated in many hard conversations about issues that face our schools and larger Scarsdale community. We reached out to Dugan to learn more about his desire to serve another four years.
Why did you volunteer to run for the Board of Education?
Dugan: Ever since moving to Scarsdale in 2006, I have been very supportive of our great public schools and, from time to time, have volunteered in connection with issues such as advocating for maintaining small elementary school class sizes. In 2021, I had the opportunity to run for the Board of Education and I’ve been fortunate to serve as a Trustee since then. My experience as a Trustee over the last three years has greatly deepened my appreciation for the dedication and the hard work that our educators, administrators, and volunteers demonstrate every day. More than ever, I believe that Scarsdale is a great place to live in large part because of our excellent schools and because our community strongly believes in and supports public education. I am honored to have the opportunity to continue to serve as a Trustee and to contribute my time and energy to the cause of continued excellence in our schools.
What do you see as some of the important issues facing the Scarsdale Public Schools today?
Dugan: We are at a uniquely challenging time in public education generally, and Scarsdale is no exception to this. In the wake of the pandemic, mental health remains top of mind for our community and our students at every level. Our kids seem to feel more and more the stresses and struggles taking place in the world around them. I think schools need to be prepared to address proactively the mental health needs of our students. Another significant issue for our community is the college admissions landscape, which has become more and more challenging as unprecedented numbers of candidates apply for limited spots. The schools should do what they can to help families navigate their way through this. Also, I believe it is important for the schools to continue to model good behavior in terms of accepting and nurturing students and families who are diverse in different ways. We are here to educate all Scarsdale children who come to us.
What do you see as the highlights of your first term on the Board?
Dugan: Without question, I believe that our superintendent search process and our decision to select Drew Patrick for the role were the highlight of my first term. The departure of our former superintendent was a bit of a surprise, and I am proud of the way the Board handled that curveball and carefully managed the process by which we were able to attract and vet some amazing candidates. I’m very happy with the results of our search - kudos to Karen, Amber, and Ron for serving in officer positions and dedicating so much time to organizing that process. I am also proud of the transparent way the Board has functioned over the last three years - with the lengthy and detailed public Board deliberations over the adoption of our budget for next year serving as a good example of our commitment to letting the community see and participate in our process.
Was there any Board action taken during your term that, in retrospect, you might have voted differently than you did?
Dugan: Only one issue comes to mind - my vote in favor of limiting our first public comment during Board meetings to four minutes. (The second public comment period is not limited). I believed at the time that this would help our meetings to run more smoothly and effectively. But in the three years that have passed since that vote, I have come to believe that the four minute cut off is not really necessary and that it unintentionally sends the wrong message to the community about the Board’s openness.
James C. Dugan (Term: 2021-2024): Mr. Dugan is an attorney and volunteer who has been active in Scarsdale since moving to the community with his family in 2006. Mr. Dugan has served as a member of the Citizens’ Nominating Committee and the Procedure Committee. He was a member of the Overhill Association Board as well as its President; and has been active in the Episcopal Church of St. James the Less. Mr. Dugan was a co-founder of the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools, a community organization of engaged parents of Scarsdale students. Mr. Dugan is a partner in the litigation department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where his practice focuses on high-stakes corporate litigation. He has a BA in English Literature from the Pennsylvania State University and a JD from Cornell Law School. Mr. Dugan and his wife Shirley have three daughters who attend Scarsdale Public Schools, one in Middle School and two in High School.
The Scarsdale Schools’ Budget Vote and Board Election will take place on Tuesday, May 21 at the Scarsdale Middle School Gym, 7am - 9pm.
Young Women Inspired to Run for Office at League Workshop
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- Written by Leah Dembitzer
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Elected officials inspired students to run for office.On Thursday, April 18, the League of Women Voters Westchester hosted its annual Running and Winning workshop at Reid Castle at Manhattanville University. Forty-two *female elected officials from throughout Westchester met with sixty-six *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 underlying purpose is to help our government institutions increase gender parity. 
Small Group InterviewsThe event was chaired for a third year by Scarsdale residents and League members, Elissa Ruback and Leah Dembitzer. Dembitzer commented: “Running and Winning is a meaningful opportunity meant to inspire and educate young women with an interest in politics and advocacy. A connective theme highlighted by many of our attending elected officials was to encourage young women to use their voice and to be a change-maker. We are so proud to bring this special event to students and grateful to the elected officials who told their stories to inspire the next generation of leaders."
The young *women who participated 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 application.
After a welcome and breakfast, the students and elected officials heard from a panel of select elected officials. The officials responded to high school student questions on why they decided to run for office and the challenges they face. The panel included; County Legislator, Margaret Cunzio; County Legislator, Emiljana Ulaj; New Rochelle Mayor, Yadira Ramos-Herbert; Scarsdale Deputy Mayor, Dara Gruenberg; and Port Chester Trustee, Joan Grangenois-Thomas.
Students listen to panelists.
Legislator Cunzio said she was privileged to speak to the students and also emphasized that she had for many years been the one in the background; she spoke of the importance of her mentor who encouraged her to run for office. Cunzio also said that she is a volunteer firefighter and though petite and a woman, she runs into a burning building with all of the male firefighters in her company – the whole room broke into applause. 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.
Deputy Mayor Gruenberg said that she had spent a lot of time finding other people to run for office and realized that she could do it herself: “I ran because I wanted to get things done.” Gruenberg also said that she may not always know about every issue at the outset but she can learn, she can listen and she can ask questions.
Trustee Grangenois-Thomas had a similar experience to Deputy Mayor Gruenberg in that she worked behind the scenes to help others get elected. Ultimately, her volunteer colleagues suggested that she run for office. Grangenois-Thomas also encouraged the students to “do you… to be yourself.” Mayor Ramos-Herbert is the first woman and person of color to be mayor of New Rochelle. She talked about how important her network of female friends and colleagues are to help, give advice, and support her.
Ramos-Herbert also said that she thinks of the Caitlin Clark quote: “Be your unapologetic self,” and how important it is to be true to oneself and to have courage. Legislator Ulaj talked about her journey from an immigrant, working-class family and how she had to forge her own way in order to ultimately run for office. She shared that she believes that the most important issue for women is bodily autonomy; being in control of one’s body and reproductive health.
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: candidate, campaign manager, speechwriter, publicity/communications chair, and 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 organizing and funding a Composting Center. The majority of student groups chose to run with the Mental Health Community Center as their platform 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.
Running and Winning 2024 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, Manhattanville University, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Xi Chi Omega Chapter, and the American Association of University Women.
Student quotes:
“The part of the program I found most interesting were the interviews with officials as they were very open with their stories and we got to hear from many different perspectives.”
“It helped me see a personal side of government and the nitty-gritty side of campaigning.”
“I saw how strong and kind they (the elected officials) were! It reminded me that they are humans doing their best.”
“The experience made me feel more empowered and confident.”
“The experience showed me how I’m able to stand up and change the political world.”
*LWVW uses an inclusive definition of female and woman and welcomes all individuals who identify as such..
Photos from the event (courtesy of League of Women Voters Westchester)
Letter: We Need Trees More Than We Need Attached Garages that Don’t Fit on Historic Lots
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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(The following letter was written by 8 year-old Angelica Kardon, a second grader at Fox Meadow School)
I’m a second grader living in Scarsdale. I go to Fox Meadow Elementary School. I have been to one Board of Architectural Review meeting at Village Hall. At that meeting, I shared my perspective, and as I heard each person speak, I became inspired to take further action and write this article.
In school, we learned about “needs” and “wants;” a “need” is something we must have to survive and a “want” is something we’d like to have.
Just because a developer “wants” to make a huge profit reselling a home and thinks he or she can make more money selling a house with an attached garage, it doesn’t mean it is what is best for the people living in the neighborhood. At a house near me, a developer wants to do this even though it will harm an important tree that has been around for 200 years that looks amazing and helps prevent our homes from flooding. Developers don’t live with us, and they don’t care if we lose all our big trees.
People do not “need” to replace unattached garages at the end of driveways with attached garages when it doesn’t make sense on a property lacking space. People do “need” trees to live. Most people in the community “want” to see beautiful trees as they walk to the train in the Village more than they “want” to see oversized homes with garages that don’t belong.
When my mom drives my brothers and me to school, I do not want to look out the window and see a garage where there should be a healthy, historic tree.
The meeting I went to inspired me to start learning all that I can about the history of Scarsdale and about its trees. I will be participating in a tree tour of our neighborhood this Saturday, April 6th at 4:15pm, leaving from 15 Autenrieth Road. Please join my neighbors and me. You do not need to pre-register.
I hope that our earth isn’t spoiled just so that we can make the developers rich. Plenty of normal people would like to buy houses with separate garages and preserve them and our trees.
Please have compassion for me and my friends in my generation. I hope you take my advice. I want our historic neighborhood to stay charming and to keep its trees. That’s what I think about what is best for Scarsdale, and for the kids.
WRT Celebrates Beloved Rabbi Jonathan Blake
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- Written by Sharon Dizenhuz
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On Friday night April 6, Westchester Reform Temple’s sanctuary was standing room only for a celebration marking Rabbi Jonathan Blake’s twenty years at the synagogue and his fiftieth birthday as well. Rabbi Blake’s mentor and predecessor Rabbi Rick Jacobs, now head of the Union of Reform Judaism, kicked off the toasts and tributes, saying he felt so fortunate to be back in Scarsdale to honor Rabbi Blake and remembered how impressed the original search committee was to find a rabbi with beautiful singing voice. Before taking his leave, Rabbi Jacobs noted that he was off to Congregation Kol Ami for a second local appearance that night.
The well-orchestrated service included individual blessings from each of Rabbi Blake’s fellow clergy members, a toast from his proud mother and a shout out to some of the guests in the room including four of his five college roommates. The evening was a “This is Your Life” nod to every stage of the rabbi’s life.
Temple President Warren Haber spoke about Rabbi Blake’s extraordinary moral compass and leadership, mentioning his many roles in the community, including his work as chaplain for the Scarsdale Fire Department. And in a videotaped presentation, several dozen congregants offered tributes in verse, costume, and even in song to the rabbi, citing his spectacular range of talents and interests— oenophile, foodie, snappy dresser, leader, comforter, teacher, master intellectual, preacher, chef, movie buff, and bookworm. They remembered his presence at pivotal times in their lives, saying he was there to share in their simchas and comfort them in times of loss. Finally, Scarsdale Mayor Justin Arest and Village Trustee Dara Gruenberg offered an official proclamation from the Village of Scarsdale enumerating Rabbi Blake’s accomplishments with a long list of “whereas” clauses that ended with the declaration of April 7 as “Jonathan Blake Day” in Scarsdale. (See below for the proclamation.)
Rabbie Blake’s oldest childhood friend seconded that affirmation of Blake’s vocal talents, noting that the two sang in a choir together in elementary school and have continued musical collaborations since then. Rabbi Blake’s gorgeous voice is on frequent display at the temple…and on this evening his wife, Broadway performing artist Kelly McCormick took a break from her role in the national road show of "Girl from the North Country” to serenade her husband, singing “Grateful” by John Bucchino in her own mellifluous voice.
When the guest of honor finally got his turn to speak, the popular rabbi offered a combination of soul, intellect, and sense of humor. He referenced this week’s Torah portion, ably chanted by his nephew in his honor, calling WRT the modern day Tent of Meeting, explaining what he learned from Moses’ experience as a Jewish leader.
"First, that it is not good to go it alone.
Second, that something important happens inside the Tent of Meeting.
Third, that we’re supposed to be doing here is taking the blessing out of the Tent and into the world.
He said, “People often ask me, “Do you ever get nervous up there on the bimah?” And I say, “No, not really.” And that’s because I never have to do this alone. I get to do this with the best people in the world."
And indeed, many of the best people in the world were in the sanctuary that night. Kudos to Nancy Michaels and Beth Ehrich for arranging the special service as well as Cantors Amanda Kleinman, Danielle Rodnizki and Isaac Sonett-Assor, and Rabbis Leah Citirn and Sasha Baken for their contributions to the heartfelt and melodic tribute to Rabbi Blake.
Proclamation from the Village of Scarsdale
Whereas, the Village of Scarsdale stands as a testament to the values of community, compassion, and service to others; and
Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Blake has been an esteemed leader, guiding light, and cherished member of our village and the congregation of Westchester Reform Temple for two decades; and
Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Blake’s unwavering dedication, boundless empathy, sense of humor, and profound wisdom have demonstrably enhanced the lives of countless individuals within our community and beyond; and
Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Blake's commitment to fostering understanding, promoting unity, and spreading kindness has enriched the fabric of our village and strengthened the bonds that unite us; and
Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Blake joined Westchester Reform Temple in 2003 as a summa cum laude graduate of Amherst College and with a Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and
Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Blake has served as the senior rabbi of Westchester Reform Temple since 2011; and
Whereas, Rabbi Jonathan Blake is a noted speaker, singer, and commentator on Jewish text and Jewish life; and
Whereas, Rabbi Blake serves on the Boards of UJA-NY and Zioness, as a trustee and the Co-Chair of the Annual Giving Campaign of the CCAR, and on the President’s Rabbinic Council of HUC-JIR; and
Whereas, Rabbi Blake has forged a partnership with, and preaches at, Greater Centennial AME Zion Church annually; and
Whereas, Rabbi Blake serves as a chaplain to the Village of Scarsdale’s fire and police departments and served as president of the Scarsdale-Hartsdale Interfaith Clergy Association; and
Whereas, Rabbi Blake’s tireless efforts in promoting social justice, advocating for equality, and championing the rights of all individuals have left an indelible mark on the collective conscience of our village.
Now, therefore be it resolved that I, Justin Arest, Mayor of the Village of Scarsdale, do hereby proclaim my deepest gratitude, admiration, and appreciation for Rabbi Jonathan Blake. With heartfelt sincerity, on behalf of the entire Village of Scarsdale, I express our profound thanks for his twenty years of exemplary service, leadership, and unwavering dedication to our village. In a time of rising antisemitism, Rabbi Blake’s work is even more critical in quelling hatred and dispelling ignorance. His eloquence has not only inspired hearts, but also fostered dialogue, understanding, and unity among residents with a variety of perspectives and backgrounds.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions, we declare April 7, 2024, to be "Rabbi Jonathan Blake Day" in the Village of Scarsdale, a day dedicated to honoring this talented individual’s remarkable ongoing legacy and celebrating his enduring positive effect on the lives of our residents.
May Rabbi Jonathan Blake continue to inspire us with his compassion, uplift us with his teachings, celebrate life’s joys with us, mourn life’s sorrows with us, and guide us with his wisdom for many years to come.
(Photos by Leslie Regan)
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Announces Annual Award Winners
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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(This is sponsored content from Berkshire Hathaway)
And the Award Goes to….
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Annual Award Winners
