Alternative School Graduation Celebrates Community, Character, and Connection
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- Written by Wendy MacMillan
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In a heartfelt ceremony that exemplified the strong values of its community, the Scarsdale Alternative School celebrated its 28 graduating seniors on the evening of Wednesday, June 18th. The intimate commencement was organized by junior students and Graduation Heads, Jacob Dallal, Sam Weston, and Tessa Leroy. In a true display of the “A” School spirit of cooperation, the heads also had support from the other sophomores and juniors who pitched in to buy flowers, decorate, and to help set-up for the meaningful event.
In addition to being organized by students, the Master of Ceremonies for the evening was senior Amey Jha who kept his classmates and their families laughing and nodding in recognition as he made personal and touching introductions, and kept the event moving smoothly along.
The first faculty member to take the podium was A-School Director, Fallon Plunkett. In her opening remarks, Plunkett shared, “Thank you to my A-School colleagues: Amanda Filley, Mike Giordano, Ava Laera, Chris Paulison and Haley Rauch. Without your tireless commitment to making our program into a school of ownership, accountability and trust, it would not be the same. To our 
senior English teacher Pamela Kroll, your dedication and heart are seen in every minute of your teaching. To Maria Atkinson the A-School Secretary, for without your attention to detail who knows where we would be!”
The teacher’s tireless commitment was made abundantly clear as they took turns delivering heartwarming, individualized speeches that honored each of the graduating seniors. Their detailed remarks demonstrated just how well they get to know each of the graduates not only as students, but as people with differing talents, passions, and dreams.
Listening to the teacher’s memories of each student and their carefully crafted words of advice, it also became clear that the A School faculty does so much more than teach…they inspire, they listen, they support, and they create a remarkable sense of connection and belonging for all of their students and staff.
Though every senior was recognized for their contributions to the SAS community, three students were further acknowledged with a distinctive A-School award. The first award, the Jeanne Award, recognized a senior who best embodies the A-School values of integrity, empathy and service. This year that award was given to Ava Feldman.
The Jen Award which celebrates the student who works behind the scenes to better the community, was awarded to Amelia Grossi-Romano.
And the last award of the evening, the Senior Project Award which honors the best senior project, was bestowed upon Charlotte Stebich.
Closing the ceremony, Ava Feldman, a senior who was elected to speak on behalf of the class, gracefully delivered a poignant speech that reminded her peers of the power of community.
In her opening remarks Plunkett also added, “And finally seniors! While the road to get here wasn’t always easy, it was definitely entertaining. Filled with a constant rotation of seating charts, photo booth pictures during class, a little crashing out over reading quizzes, and a broken bouncy ball. But here we are! Tonight we celebrate you. As the Director of this Community, I now pronounce you ready to graduate.
Coffee for a Cause
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale Teenager Starts Business to Support Guatemalan Farmers and Bring Fresh, Ethical Coffee to Her Community
My name is Charlene Dong and I am currently a junior at Scarsdale High School. During winter break, I had the privilege of traveling to Guatemala, a beautiful country in Central America known for its volcanoes, rainforests, and ancient Mayan sites. What I did not realize before my trip was that Guatemala is also home to some of the world’s best coffee beans.
Guatemala lies within the Coffee Belt, a unique geographical region where the finest Arabica beans are grown. During my one-week trip, I toured several coffee farms and learned about the journey beans take from growing and harvesting to roasting and packaging. However, the highlight of my trip was connecting with a non-profit organization that supports small-scale farmers in Guatemala. One of the key regions they work with is Antigua, a city known for the nearby Volcán Fuego. Its volcanic soil, high altitudes, and ideal climate produce beans with bright acidity, sweet 
floral notes, and a smooth, rich flavor. By connecting farmers directly with buyers and cutting out the middleman, the non-profit helps them earn a fair and dignified income. Witnessing this impact firsthand inspired me to start cdBeanz, a business dedicated not only to bringing the freshest, most authentic Guatemalan coffee to my community but also to contributing to this cause by supporting small-scale farmers.
Since its inception in March, cdBeanz has sold over 150 pounds of coffee. I am a strong believer that the best coffee comes from the quality of beans and its freshness. At cdBeanz, I work closely with a range of growers in Guatemala, supporting over 100 micro-scale coffee producers including women farmers and those cultivating beans around Lake Atitlán. This ensures that cdBeanz can offer a diverse selection while supporting different communities across Guatemala. Furthermore, our coffee beans are roasted and shipped on the same day, and arrive in Scarsdale within two days. Looking ahead, I hope to expand cdBeanz to partner with farms in other countries along the Coffee Belt, including Indonesia and Ethiopia.
The profits I earn from cdBeanz go toward one of my biggest passions: tennis. As a competitive tennis player who grew up training on the courts of Scarsdale, I am eager to give back to my community and offer tennis lessons. All the money goes toward court reservations, permits, balls, and training equipment to make these lessons possible.
Thanks for reading and learning about the journey behind cdBeanz! If you’re interested in supporting cdBeanz, here is the link to my website:
The Procedure Committee is Looking for New Members!
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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The Procedure Committee is responsible for administering the procedures governing Scarsdale's non-partisan election system, including publicizing and recruiting candidates for the CNC, providing election information and administering elections, and recommending any changes to the guidelines of the CNC.
The Citizens Nominating Committee (CNC) is a non-partisan, elected group of Scarsdale residents who nominate a slate of non-partisan candidates for the offices of mayor, trustee and village justice. Each of the five elementary school neighborhoods elect six representatives to sit on the CNC for staggered terms of three years. In a CNC member’s fourth year, that member serves on the CNC’s Procedure Committee (PC).
The PC is comprised of fourth year members of the CNC as well as residents who volunteer to sit on the committee. The PC invites members of the community to join and participate in Scarsdale’s non-partisan system of government. It is a wonderful way to learn more about Scarsdale form of government and to contribute. The PC will meet over the course of the next several months online. If you are interested in joining please contact Ralph Geer (RalphGeer@gmail.com) or Dan Besikof (dbesikof@lowenstein.com)
more information. https://www.scarsdaleprocedurecommittee.org/Reports/download/217
YMSL Fosters Mother-Son Volunteerism and Leadership
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- Written by Joanne Wallenstein
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Drew Bass, Erin Bass, Deborah Lichtenstein, Aaron Lichtenstein. It’s mid-May and while schools are winding down, the third year of the Young Men’s Service League (YMSL) is only just beginning. Thirty rising 9th grade boys and their moms are gathered at the Scarsdale Public Library for their first official meeting as members of the local lower Westchester County (LoWestCo) YMSL chapter. The meeting serves as an orientation to the growing chapter of the national nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering mother-son volunteerism and leadership.
Founded in Texas in 2001, YMSL has grown rapidly in more than 30 states. The organization is unique in its structure focusing on four pillars: service, leadership, learning and relationship-building. High school aged boys and their moms serve local philanthropies together, strengthening their bond, and make a meaningful impact in their community. Young men typically join the program as freshman and continue through their senior year of high school, logging volunteer hours with local nonprofits while holding grade-level leadership positions and attending meetings that include guest speakers and workshops.
LoWestCo’s growth reflects this area’s interest in service-based extracurriculars that promote civic engagement and family connection - especially valuable in today’s fast-paced world. This local chapter became the first in New York State when it launched two years ago in 2023. It started with a phone call between two moms - Erin Bass and Deborah Lichtenstein - friends since their oldest sons were in preschool at Westchester Reform Temple. Erin’s family had relocated to Nashville a few years prior and were planning to move back to Scarsdale. When she heard about the Nashville Chapter of YMSL she thought it could be a great way to transition her and her son back into the Scarsdale community. At the time, Deborah was finishing up her role as the Scarsdale Middle School PTA President and jumped in to help Erin recruit new members and host interest meetings before launching the following September. 
Group of Moms and Young Men at Butler Cornerstone Community Center for Ultimate Gift“We started with close to sixty 9th and 10th grade boys just 2 years ago and are currently at 112 young men, 95 moms and four grades,” says Deborah. “The growth has been explosive.” In fact, when they started the organization many moms and sons were from Scarsdale and neighboring towns Larchmont and Mamaroneck and now, they have expanded to include Armonk, Harrison, and Irvington.
Class of 2026 and 2027 at banquet.
This past year, the chapter has served over 4,600 hours across 20 different organizations throughout Westchester and the Bronx. At least twice a week, YMSL LoWestCo sends a group of moms and sons to cook dinner or bake desserts at the Ronald McDonald house. Nearly every Saturday morning, a group of moms and sons show up to Grassroots grocery ready to help unload, bag and sort thousands of pounds of fresh produce and then help deliver to its partner food pantries. On Sunday mornings, you’ll find a group of young men shooting hoops and assisting the athletes in the Backyard Sports Cares program. 
Moms and Young Men at Ronald McDonald House.
“It’s been so rewarding bringing LoWestCo to our community and volunteering alongside my son; watching him grow and discover which opportunities and commitments he feels drawn to the most,” said Erin Bass. Erin’s son, Drew, served as the Chapter’s first President –“YMSL has allowed me to not only foster a greater relationship with my community, but also with my mother and my peers as well. I’ve learned the importance of commitment and showing up and leading with a positive attitude.”
This past March, LoWestCo completed its first Ultimate Gift project, inspired by the book “The Ultimate Gift,” by Jim Stovall. Led by Mary Frances Duggan and her son Jack Levin, the organization set up two food pantries at The Butler Cornerstone Community Center in the Bronx- a location that had recently lost its state-funded food pantry. 
Moms and Young Men at Ronald McDonald House“We fed over 260 families, distributed over 3,200 non perishable items, all collected through YMSL food drives, and handed out over 260 bags of Grassroots Grocery produce over the two pantries,” says member, Mary Frances Duggan.
At the end of each year, a banquet is held to celebrate the accomplishments as a chapter. On a Sunday evening in late April, over 120 high school boys and their moms gathered at Sam’s of Gedney Way to reflect on their year at YMSL, hand out awards, and ceremoniously pass the gavel to incoming grade level presidents.
This year’s 10th grade President, Aaron Lichtenstein, spoke fondly of his time leading his grade saying, “This role has taught me that leadership isn’t just about making decisions or leading meetings - it’s about giving your time, energy and support to others.”
This next year of YMSL brings excitement as new moms join the LoWestCo chapter board, the chapter’s slate rounds out the four grades and the first senior class graduates.
The chapter is excited to see member moms take on bigger roles in leadership; another sign of growth. Karen Hogan who joined in the inaugural class with her son, Tyler, will take the lead as President of the Chapter. “Since the first moment I heard about YMSL I knew it was something I’d love to be involved with. My son Tyler and I have had the good fortune to get involved in LoWestCo when the chapter was formed. Erin leaves big shoes to fill, but I am excited to help take our chapter to the next stage of our development, along with all of the members of our fantastic Board of Directors.”
A Joyous 71st Celebration at Westchester Reform Temple
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A joyous celebration of community and faith was hosted at Westchester Reform Temple on Thursday May 8, 2025. Over 300 supporters contributed $295,000 to support the synagogue and American Friends of NATAL who provides assistance to Israelis suffering from trauma due to terrorism and war.
Guests enjoyed an elegant dinner buffet catered by Matt Miller Culinary Productions in the social hall which was decorated like a library to echo the event theme, “Writing Our Next Chapter.” After dinner the group gathered in the sanctuary where they were greeted by event co-chairs Alisson Friedland and Abby Sroka who called the gala a celebration of spirit, resilience and commitment to Jewish life.
Before conducting a live auction, congregant member, MC and comedian Peter Wang had the room in stiches. He posed the question of why Rabbi Blake still looks like he is 13. How does he stay so young? He aired a short video of himself with Bruce Beck and Rabbi Blake at the synagogue water fountain, also known as “the fountain of youth,” and surmised that the water was responsible for the Rabbi’s eternal youth.
This cleverly lead into an auction where audience members could contribute $36 to drink from the fountain of youth. Other silent auction items included tickets for a Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and Wilco Concert at Jones Beach Theater, a private Cantor’s concert and cocktail party in your home and a reserved parking space at the synagogue for one year.
Next up was a live musical performance from "This is Your Life." The professionally trained actors and musicians perform an improvisational act based on their audience. Their clever revue was a riff on everything from Truck Day at the Early Childhood Center to canasta night, the blood drive, the temple endowment and Rabbi Blake’s wife Kelly.
As congregant Audrey Weinberg said, “Westchester Reform is not your grandmother’s temple. There’s something here for every life stage, from nursery schoolers to empty nesters. It’s a wonderful community.”
Photos by Silvana DeFrancis Photography
