Two Scarsdale Students Win the NYCLU's Bill of Rights Contest
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 6389
The Lower Hudson Valley chapter of the NYCLU (NY Civil Liberties Union) sponsors an annual contest on the Bill of Rights. It includes the seven counties of Westchester, Rockland, Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Putnam and Dutchess. This year's Grand Prize winner was SHS senior Katie Bowen and the best in school prize winner was Lauren Jacoby. Both student winners are seniors in the AT Constitutional Law class at SHS and wrote on the issue of whether a police search of phone locations (to solve a theft in a school) should require a warrant.
Ms. Valentin has been taking SHS students in Criminal Justice to the Bill of Rights Day for the past seven years - and recently added students in the AT Constitutional Law class. This year, SHS teacher, Kate Krahl, joined them with her AT Government class. 
The photos feature students from the AT American Government and AT Constitutional Law classes attending the Bill of Rights Day on Dec. 15, 2017. The guest speaker was Attorney Consultant Rashida Robinson of the NYCLU who answered numerous questions on police searches and mobile devices.
Forest Yin Spa Closed Again After Arrest of Unlicensed Masseuse
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 7166
Another masseuse has been arrested for practicing without a license on Central Avenue in Hartsdale. On January 9, 2018 members of the Greenburgh Street Crime unit arrested Xiaonu Jin, born 11/19/64, for violating New York State Education Law 6512 (sub1), Unauthorized Practice of a Profession at Forest Yin Spa on 100 North Central Avenue in Hartsdale.
The Greenburgh Police Street Crime Unit and the Drug and Alcohol Task Force completed a short-term investigation into the Unauthorized Practice of a Profession.
Xiaonu Jin purported herself as a licensed massage therapist without having the requisite state license. She was transported to police headquarters where she was booked, processed, and released on one hundred dollars bail. Forest Yin Spa was closed by the Town of Greenburgh Building Department.
WeRun for Hope in Annual 5K Jingle Ball Run
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 4036
On a snowy Saturday December 9, while most stayed warm and prepared for the first wintry storm, the Scarsdale based WeRun club teamed up with local residents for a twenty-two member "WeRun for Hope" group and raised funds for the annual 5K Jingle Bell Run at SUNY Purchase. The Jingle Bell run is a national wide fund raising event for the Arthritis Foundation. Another charity fun run job was well done by this local, spirited, and vibrant running club in 2017.
Favretti and McClure to Receive Thomas Sobol Service Award
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 6057
Two long time Scarsdale employees, Chief Financial Officer and Custodian of Taxes for the Village of Scarsdale Mary Lou McClure and SHS social studies teacher Maggie Favretti, will be the recipients of the second annual Thomas Sobol Award for Service to the Community. The announcement was made by Susan Greenberg, President of Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service, sponsor of the Award. These two recipients of the award will be honored at a luncheon to be held at 14 Harwood Court on the ground floor of the Harwood Building beginning at 11 AM on Tuesday January 23, 2018.
Mary Lou McClure administers all matters relating to finance in the Village as well as assisting with the preparation of the annual Village operating and capital budgets. Her budgeting and finance abilities have helped the Village Board to adopt consistently responsible annual operating budgets and a philosophy of cash to capital resulting in a lower debt burden and maintenance of Scarsdale's Aaa bond rating. Her work during her thirteen year tenure with the Village has resulted in significant service and efficiency enhancements to Village financial, budgeting and tax collection operations.
According to Steve Pappalardo, Village Manager, Mary Lou has exhibited a solutions oriented approach and a constant eye toward improving operational efficiencies. In 2007 Mary Lou was instrumental in evaluating solutions, selecting a vendor, and upgrading the Village's Financial/Enterprise Resource Planning system currently in use. She also modernized the tax receivable and tax lien systems. Mary Lou implemented online payment of the tax and water bills in 2008, and assisted in the implementation of online Recreation registration in 2009. She continues to pursue opportunities for automation, including document imaging and online inquiry and payment, all to provide more convenient and better service to residents.
Maggie Favretti is known for her scholarship, intellect, 
and indefatigable energy in designing courses, writing publications, and connecting student learning to real-world outcomes. Maggie earned a B.A in art history from Yale University and an M.A. in English from Middlebury College. She has published short works about the commodification of the American landscape, women's poetry during the Enlightenment, food history and local history. At the high school, Maggie works to develop interdisciplinary teaching and world history programs. She has served as adviser to various high school clubs as well as serving on many committees beyond the confines of SHS such as the World History Association, the College Board and various historical associations.
Superintendent of Schools Thomas Hagerman commented, "Maggie has connected with countless students, families, and community members not only because of her dedication to the school and to education in general but also because of her belief that we each have the capacity to improve the world around us through individual dedication and collective effort – a belief she has exemplified throughout her career. We are delighted that Maggie is this year's recipient of the Sobol Award."
Dr. Sobol was one of the nation's leading educators who, from 1971-1987, served as Scarsdale's Superintendent of Schools, then as New York State Commissioner of Education from 1987-1995, and subsequently as Professor of Education at Columbia Teachers' College, until his retirement in 2006. The New York Times characterized Dr. Sobol as a "fervent advocate for imposing broad academic standards, subsidizing poor urban districts, empowering parents and teachers to make policy, and promoting a multicultural curriculum." He firmly believed that educational excellence in the classroom must be combined with support at home and that ALL children should have the opportunity to learn.
While in Scarsdale, Dr. Sobol was instrumental in helping to establish the Scarsdale Community Youth Service Project, a unique collaboration between the Village and the Schools and administered by SFCS, providing significantly to the well-being of students in the Middle and High Schools. The objective of this award is to recognize two employees who work in Scarsdale, one from the Village and one from the Schools, for their distinguished service to the community over a period of years, and like Dr. Sobol, set an example of professional skill and loyalty to the community. The intent is to convey to the people who work in Scarsdale that its residents appreciate their efforts, and at the same time to honor the memory of Tom Sobol.
Following his tenure as State Commissioner of Education, Dr. Sobol returned to Scarsdale and served as a Board member of SFCS, chairing its Long Range Planning Committee where his final report was well recognized for its perception and written eloquence. In 2007 he was the recipient – with his wife Harriet – of the SFCS Open Door Award for service to the Community. Dr. Sobol passed away on September 3, 2015 after a long and valiant battle with Parkinson's Disease.
New Program Offers Opportunities For Parents and Caregivers To Re-enter Marketing and Communications Careers
- Details
- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 5373
Scarsdale resident and Global Chief Client Officer at Young & Rubicam, Shelley Diamond shared this exciting opportunity to help reboot your career. Young & Rubicam Group is launching a new career reboot program, PowerOn. In recognition of marketing and advertising professionals facing the challenges of re-entering the workforce after leaving to be full-time parents or caregivers, the training program aims to reclaim this untapped talent and recruitment potential. The 12-week training program is open to both men and women and offers hands-on experience, resources and training necessary to kickstart the next chapter of their careers.
Studies from the Center for Talent Innovation show that those who leave the workforce to care for children or other family members face increasing difficulty when they opt to re-enter, with women being disproportionately more affected. Today, an estimated 3 million women with college or advanced degrees are seeking to re-enter the workforce.
"It's time for our industry to embrace this untapped pool of talent – so often the decision to depart from the workforce to focus on family or childcare unfairly impedes opportunities for growth down the line. But we know these candidates offer an incredible skillset, life experience, diverse points of view and much more. We developed PowerOn to offer a channel for these professionals to come back," said Madeline Park, Chief of Talent and Operations, Young & Rubicam Group.
Participants will be supported by mentor teams, both experienced executives and reciprocal learning opportunities from emerging talent. The program's robust learning and development curriculum includes professional workshops, speaker series and a range of professional skills and knowledge training sessions. Training sessions will be open for all employees to encourage networking, collaboration and shared learning. The optimal goal will be to place participants in full time positions at the close of the program.
Y&R Group's PowerOn program seeks to support and mentor professionals who primarily have experience in Account Management, Strategic Planning and Project Management. Applicants must have held a management or senior level position prior to leaving the industry.
The program will begin on January 16, 2018 based in Y&R Group's New York office locations. Participating companies include: Y&R, Wunderman, Red Fuse, WPP Health and Wellness companies, Sudler & Hennessey, Grey Healthcare and Hogarth.
Applications are open now thru December 1, 2017. For additional information about PowerOn or to apply visit www.poweronyrg.com.
