Jewish Singles Group for Boomers Invites New Friends
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Shalom Chai Boomer Jewish Singles is a new group to the Scarsdale area. Partnering with the JCC of Mid-Westchester, the group, for singles ages 50 +, will host events at the JCCMW.
The group was started by Leslie Zimmer, who has run Jewish singles groups for many years in Chicago and Los Angeles before her move to New York. Zimmer enjoys bringing people together in a relaxed and comfortable environment and makes sure people really have a chance to interact and get to know one another.
She says, “Until you find your Basherte, if that’s what you are looking for, please come and enjoy meeting new people for friendship. This is a great way for women to find Gal Pals and men to find Guy Pals. We could all use more friends to feel connected.”
Plans are being made for the coming year to for events including Sunday Bagel Brunches focusing on interesting topics; dances; Meet, Mingle, and Shmooze Mixers; Shalom Chai Café with entertainment; Jewish holiday-themed events and more.
To join the Meetup group, please click here. If you have any questions, or would like to introduce yourself, please call Zimmer at 310-625-1833.
Teen Author Shares Stories and Culture with the Scarsdale Public Library
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Library Director, Beth Bermel and Dara Gruenberg, President of the Friends of the Scarsdale Library with Tony (Shunming) Zhang and copies of his book. The Scarsdale Public Library now has a new addition to its growing collection highlighting Chinese culture. Tony (Shunming) Zhang, a sophomore at the Shanghai American School, donated copies of his book, 10 Ancient Chinese Fables, to the Library’s collection.
When asked to share why he decided to donate his book to the library, Tony recalled the years he spent in school here in Scarsdale. “This neighborhood nurtured me and helped me develop a strong fascination in storytelling. In particular, I loved Aesop’s fables and Greek mythology--the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the stories of the various heroes and demigods. With that said, I also realized that there were a lot of stories that my parents and grandparents told me that were different than this usual set, which is what prompted me to pursue this passion project and share the stories of my childhood with the local community.”
The fables in his book span two thousand years of cultural history and provide moral lessons for the reader. Such stories include “Frog at the Bottom of the Well,” “The Bird and the Mussel,” and the “Farmer and the Hare.” Tony’s goal is to make these tales available to strengthen cultural ties and understanding, encouraging others to appreciate Chinese culture as much as he has appreciated ours.
Dara Gruenberg, President of the Friends of the Scarsdale Library, recognized and commended his work, stating, “The Friends of the Library extends its gratitude to Tony for his generosity and commitment to our library. We are so inspired by his work to help diversify our collection and share the stories that helped shape his childhood with the broader community. We are all better off when we learn from one another and share our rich cultural identities.”
One day Tony hopes to share collections of stories like the one he has written with his own children and grandchildren. Stories that consider morality and values, and that also represent cultures around the world. “Cultural differences should not separate us from each other. Rather, we should embrace and appreciate the things that set us apart.”
Tony attended Greenacres Elementary School from 2017-2018 where he had Ms. McCarren as a teacher. He attended Scarsdale Middle School in 2020. Reflecting on this, Tony added, “The time I spent in Scarsdale schools was not long, but it certainly was the most memorable time in my life.”
A Salon and Saloon Blossoms in Scarsdale
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While many businesses closed their doors during the pandemic, one innovative and brave young woman opened hers. Undaunted by the shutdown, Danielle Settembre used the quiet months of the pandemic to plan and build not just a hair salon, but a saloon as well.
The daughter of restauranteurs, and a trained stylist, Settembre set out to combine her skills in hair and skin care with her hospitality know-how gained while growing up with a family owned business.
Before the pandemic, she searched for a venue for her own operation, while working at the Elizabether Arden Red Door spa at the Westchester. She initially rented space in Mamaroneck but when that fell through she spotted an available storefront on Scarsdale Avenue that was formerly the site of an insurance agency. She fell in love with the ivy covered exterior and patio and signed a lease for the space in March 2020, just weeks before the fateful shutdown. In her words, “A week later the Red Door filed bankruptcy, and then Covid hit. So basically I was unemployed during a major pandemic. All construction was stopped.” She kept afloat by doing in home appointments for her clients while she worked on the build out of the salon.
Construction didn’t resume until July 2020 and her Hair Saloon & Cafe™ was able to open in September 2020, with a socially distanced layout to meet health department standards.
To ensure that her clients were comfortable getting their hair washed she spent extra time planning the hair washing station. She said, “I really wanted to make sure the clients are comfortable. And I really didn’t want sinks that hurt their necks either. I didn’t mind spending a little extra on the massage chairs that massage your full back while you get your hair washed. I drove a sixteen foot truck to pick up the chairs an hour away.”
Settembre has a bachelor’s degree in business and trained at L’Oréal academy in Paris. She’s worked alongside French celebrity stylist Odile Gilbert and is an ambassador for the global hair care product line, Kerastase. She’s worked with some of the biggest names in fashion backstage during New York City and Paris fashion week where she mastered precision cutting and color techniques on runway models.
She recruited some of her former colleagues at the Red Door and the salon offers haircuts, blow dries, hair dye along with facials, full body wax, eyebrow tint, micro blading, microdermabrasion and they have the newest equipment for a hydrafacial treatment. They use some of same products as the Red Door including Wella, Redken and an organic color line as well. They do balayage, highlights, mens’ cuts, kids’ cuts, keratin treatments and offer bright, fun hair dye colors too.
About her team, she explained, “We are all women here, which I love, although we do have lots of male clients as well. The women working here are all different ages and nationalities. It’s a diverse group that caters to everyone and knows about different hair types. We are all vax’d and boostered here and the salon is a Covid safe and spacious place.”
Turning to the drinks and food, Settembre explained, “It took me a year to get a liquor license and I had the Westchester Health Department in here to get permits. Then I created an elaborate drinks menu, a cocktail list with lots of skinny drinks that are low calorie but strong.
Honey I’m Not Coming Home is the most popular—it’s a mix of fresh honey, tequila and fresh lime. Since I am also serving food, I had to figure out what my locals would like to eat. I found out that people are super health conscious and foodies at the same time. I decided to use Buon Amici down the road for my sandwiches which is also great for giving back and supporting each other within this community. A lot of people like the Hungry Hungry panini. We also have a vegan wrap. We try to cater to food allergies and restrictions.”
Settembre is grateful for her reception in Scarsdale. She said, “I feel lucky that this community has been super supportive of women-owned and small businesses. Having this business in Scarsdale is a beautiful thing. We have close relationships with our clients and they support us by telling their friends and writing positive reviews on social media.”
The Hair Saloon and Café is located at 862 Scarsdale Avenue in Scarsdale. They are open Tuesday-Sunday. Reach them at 914-881-1233 and check them out at https://hairsaloonandcafe.com/
Students Meet with Paulin and Stewart-Cousins
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LWVS’ Students Inside Albany Winners, Sarah Vibbert and Alicia Xin, with Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin on Saturday, June 25, at CHAT American Grill in Scarsdale.Students Inside Albany is a four-day conference designed to increase students’ awareness of their responsibility in a representative government and provide the tools necessary for meeting that responsibility. Unfortunately, the conference was canceled this year due to Covid, but the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale was able to arrange a sitdown lunch with our student winners and elected officials. At CHAT American Grill in the Village, our student winners got to ask questions about why Stewart-Cousins and Paulin ran for office and what they think about the pressing issues facing our state and country. Both officials gave insight on the demands of their jobs and how they view the important role and voice of young people.
Spring Gala at the Scarsdale Public Library
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Though the evening was under a tent rather than beneath the stars, rain couldn’t dampen the spirits of more than 300 people who attended the Friends of the Scarsdale Public Library May fundraiser at the newly opened Scarsdale Library.
With threatening skies all day, organizers warned ticket holders to dress for a chilly night beneath a tent. However, we arrived to find something for everyone.
For those who preferred to be outside, a tent and a bar were set up over the main entrance to the library with plenty of space to drink and mingle. In both venues, volunteers, trustees, board members, politicians and neighbors had time to chat, eat, drink and enjoy the music.
Inside was a plentiful display of sushi from Akai in Scarsdale Village along with the David Clark Band, a cover band for Billy Joel. Pizza from Pizza Luca was being cooked and passed around to guests and drinks were provided by The Old Fashion Cocktail Company.
Event chairs Ali Gordon and Janet Han created a warm, welcoming party on yet another inclement night in Scarsdale.
Funds raised at the event will be used underwrite a landscaping plan for the site. Details to come!
Pictured at top: Ali Gordon, Janet Han and Dara Gruenberg.
Photos courtesy of Marc Jessamy.
