Saturday, Nov 23rd

volunteerDo you know a female junior in your school who is making a difference? Is she a leader in school or in her community? Is she someone who cared enough about an issue to take a stand and make a difference? However she has done it, she is making a contribution and the Junior League wants to hear about her!

The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) is offering three $500 Volunteer Service Awards to female high school juniors. The recipients of this award will be young women who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to volunteerism within their community and/or school. The purpose of this award is to promote volunteerism and to support the development of young women.

Award Criteria
The JLCW will consider all applicants who meet the following criteria:
• Female
• High school junior
• Student in Ardsley, Eastchester, Edgemont, Greenburgh Central, Scarsdale or White Plains School District
• Has demonstrated a commitment to volunteerism between September 2013 and March 2015

Application Deadline
All applications must be submitted by May 4, 2015.
To download an application, please visit www.jlcentralwestchester.org.
Questions? Email [email protected].

CALEA Accreditation LogoA national law enforcement commission has awarded the Scarsdale Police Department its highest accreditation standard.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) has awarded the Scarsdale Police Department an "Accreditation with Excellence" under the "Gold Standard Assessment" program. The award was given on March 21st at the commission's conference in Reno, NV.

The program is voluntary and requires an agency to comply with 484 sets of standards in such areas as policies and procedures, crime prevention, management, support services, community advocacy and personnel practices. The agency is required to submit periodic reports to CALEA, and undergoes a comprehensive onsite inspection by a team of CALEA assessors.

The Scarsdale Police Department was first accredited by CALEA in 1990 and has continuously maintained its accreditation status since then. This is the first time the agency has been awarded "Accreditation with Excellence," which requires compliance with 100 percent of mandatory standards and 80 percent of optional standards. The Scarsdale Police has previously been awarded "Flagship Agency" status, and has been designated as a "Meritorious Police Agency" for maintaining national accreditation status for more than 15 years.

Only 5 percent of agencies in the nation are CALEA-accredited, according to the Commission. Of those, only 20 percent receive "Accreditation with Excellence."

The Scarsdale Police Department has also been continuously accredited by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services since 1990.

Scarsdale Chief of Police Andrew A. Matturro said the accreditation "is an outstanding honor and achievement for the men and women of the Scarsdale Police Department. This is a validation of their exceptional work ethic and the highest level of professionalism."

WJCSElliot Rose and Peggy Garfunkel of Scarsdale were among 19 community volunteers honored at the Westchester Jewish Council (WJC) 2015 Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Awards (JYBDSA) Ceremony on Wednesday, March 11th at the JCC of Harrison. The event attracted over 350 attendees.

The 2015 recipients and their nominating organizations were:

  • Scarsdale residents Elliot Rose (AJC Westchester/Fairfield) and Peggy Garfunkel (Jewish Women's Foundation of New York)
  • New Rochelle residents Gregg Mashberg (Anti-Defamation League) and David Simhon (Congregation Anshe Shalom)
  • White Plains resident Susan Hope Davis (Congregation Kol Ami)
  • Armonk residents Richard Koh (Hillels of Westchester) and Jessica Morganthal (Rosenthal JCC)
  • Dobbs Ferry resident Michael Maron (JCC on the Hudson)
  • Rye resident Robert Miller (Jewish Community Center of Harrison)
  • Mamaroneck residents Sarene Shanus (Jewish Education Project) and Richard Alter (Temple Israel of New Rochelle)
  • Brewster resident Michael Salpeter (Jewish Family Congregation)
  • Bedford Hills resident Vivian Cohn (Temple Shaaray Tefila)
  • Bronx resident Trudy Cummings (The Mollie and Jack Zicklin Jewish Hospice Residence of MJHS)
  • Larchmont resident Susan Miller (Westchester Jewish Center)
  • Harrison resident Robert Mensch (Westchester Jewish Community Services)
  • Carmel resident Ruth Greenfield (Temple Beth Elohim)
  • New York City resident Lisa Rosenshein Todes (Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center)
  • Lanesborough, MA resident David Rolle (Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester)

The Julian Y. Bernstein Distinguished Service Award is named after Julian Y. Bernstein a former Westchester Jewish Council board member, who was a visionary communal leader.

Prior to the awards ceremony, Paul Warhit, President, Westchester Jewish Council, Rabbi Eytan Hammerman, Senior Rabbi, JCC of Harrison, Congressman Sean Maloney, Michael Kaplowitz, Chairman, Westchester Board of Legislators, Kevin Plunkett, Deputy County Executive and Michael Bernstein, son of Julian Y. Bernstein, shared remarks, followed by a performance by HaZamir Westchester, The International High School Choir.

Honorees received the award for their service from members of the JYBDSA Committee. A dessert reception followed.

The Westchester Jewish Council connects Westchester's Jewish communities and strengthens relationships among Jewish organizations and other ethnic and faith based groups, elected officials, Israel, and the community at large. For more information, click here

tiger1Scarsdale Senior Girl Scout Samantha Lawless is partnering with Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo to present a "Save The Tiger" weekend. On April 18 and 19, visitors will learn why the wild tiger is endangered and find out what they can do to help stop it from disappearing in our lifetime. Activities will include talks and video presentations about the tiger and its habitat. Children will make tiger masks and visit real tigers at the zoo's Tiger Mountain exhibit.

This "Save The Tiger" weekend is part of Samantha's Girl Scout Gold Award Project which is the highest award a girl scout can earn by working more than 80 hours on a community service project to improve the world and be sustainable beyond her involvement. Samantha is also talking with the zoo's guest programming and education departments about helping them create a Tiger Conservation Patch Program for scout troops to earn at the zoo.

Samantha, who feels strongly about helping protect wildlife, held several successful events in Scarsdale two years ago while earning her Girl Scout Silver Award. Her most dramatic event was a tiger-themed fashion show held at The Center @862, which raised awareness in her community about the endangered tiger as well as over $1000. She used the money to purchase GPS equipment for Panthera, a conservation group working in the forests of Asia to protect the tiger from extinction.

Through Panthera, Samantha was introduced to a National Geographic author who is writing a book to encourage kids to get involved in wild animal conservation. The book will be published this summer and will include information about Samantha's tiger projects.

tiger2"I'm hoping that my new project at the Bronx Zoo will reach even more people than the event to raise awareness in Scarsdale. I want to inspire others to take action to prevent the loss of this beautiful animal," says Samantha. "I especially want to teach other kids and teens about the issues of wildlife trafficking and deforestation. There are only about 3,200 wild tigers left on earth today. Young people hold the future of this planet in their hands and will make the right choices if they know what is at stake."

Samantha's "Save The Tiger" activities will be included with admission to the Bronx Zoo on April 18 and 19.

tiger3

womensexchangeWhat could be better than supporting a group of talented artisans and craftspeople while also discovering some wonderful gift items? You can do this and more at the Scarsdale Village Woman's Exchange Store located right on Harwood Court.

If you haven't been into this charming little store, give yourself a treat and you'll find a treasure of baby gifts as well as a variety of other household items. The beautiful smocked dresses are among my favorites (they can be made to order) and have been a hit with many a contemporary new Mom. You'll also find hand knitted sweaters and blankets, hand crafted toys as well as other baby items. In addition, The Exchange carries wonderful manufactured goods such as serving pieces, frames, pillows, quilts and more; all at very reasonable prices. It's a wonderful spot for house gifts; I've purchased many items including trays and pottery that sell for much more elsewhere.

Founded in 1931 (during the Depression) to help women supplement the family income by selling handiwork and baked items, our Scarsdale Exchange is one of the oldest of 23 similar establishments. The shop is staffed by volunteers and in addition to supporting the consignor artisans, any profits go to My Sisters' Place. Items come from all over the country. Wooden alphabet trains are made in Polk County, Illinois by a retired Air Force officer who supplements his social security income; Brenda of Greenwich makes music boxes and Rita of Fenton, Missouri has done embroidery and smocking for the Exchange since 2010.

Be sure to stop in, even just to admire the homemade items you won't see anywhere else.

The Scarsdale Women's Exchange is open Monday – Friday 10AM - 4:30PM and Saturday 10AM-4PM.