STEP Honors Eric Rothschild at 45th Anniversary Celebration
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Forty-five and glowing certainly describes the atmosphere at the Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Program (STEP) anniversary celebration held on Saturday November 5th at the Scarsdale Women’s Club. Over two hundred people came out to honor this transformative Scarsdale program and its founder, Village Historian and beloved Scarsdale history teacher Eric Rothschild.
An assortment of community members, former students, and STEP family representatives came to the podium to laud the accomplishments of STEP’s founder, its graduates and its goals. Over the past 45 years, STEP has hosted 27 women and 22 men who have been given the opportunity to attend Scarsdale High School and live for two years with a local family. After graduating, they have gone on to a wide selection of college and universities, pursued a variety of careers and many have maintained their ties to Scarsdale.
The SHS a cappella group “For Good Measure” opened the evening’s formal program and was followed by a short video produced by SHS students, highlighting the STEP experience of David Bougard (SHS 2010) and the Hunersen family. New York State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin proclaimed Nov 5th as Eric Rothschild Day and remarked “STEP exemplifies public education at its best.”
First among the speakers was Jerylle Kemp, former STEP student (SHS 1968) who shared her experience of coming to Scarsdale from Atlanta to live with the Frye family. Kemp, who graduated from Yale and has a Wharton MBA and a law degree from Harvard said she came “looking for an academic challenge and sense of community.” She spoke of lifelong friendships as well as establishing a strong foundation for future endeavors. Kemp was so positive about her STEP experience that she encouraged her sister who also participated in the program.
The evening proceeded with SHS alum Steven Schnur kicking off tributes from what was titled Eric Rothchild’s Fan Club. Although Schnur spoke regrettably of never having experienced Rothschild in the classroom, they have since forged a relationship at their favorite haunt, The Scarsdale Library. Schnur praised Rothschild for “nurturing what is best within us.” Former student Tom Vogel spoke of Rothschild, “not as a caretaker; he’s a creator.” He urged students to “do your own research, put yourself in others’ shoes and go out of your comfort zone.” Another former student Lyndon Tretter described Rothschild like “Tom Sawyer getting kids to paint the fence; he made them believe it could be cool to study hard.”
Kimberly Harris (SHS 1988) spoke about the wonderful experience of being a STEP sister and Kelley Hamm, SHS acting co-principal said, “Eric nurtured STEP at its creation and has worked for many years sustaining it and maintaining contact with STEP alum. He has such pride and love of what they have accomplished. “
On behalf of the STEP Board and all its constituencies, STEP Senior Chair Liz Gruber made a presentation of a commemorative pen saying, “we are honored to be working with you to continue the mission of this exceptional organization that you are so passionate about. Following a standing ovation, Rothschild lauded the entire community saying, “We could have sat on our laurels and built a moat, but we didn’t. Instead we decided to share our educational and community resources by becoming one of the 30 communities with STEP-like programs in the U.S. Today Scarsdale has the only remaining program.” He wished STEP a happy birthday and said, “May you have many more.”
In addition to current STEP students Keith Martinez and Lisa Studway, the anniversary celebration welcomed Angela Kanish (SHS 85) and Darrian Mumphrey (SHS ’08). Kanish graduated from Ithaca College and has an MBA in Arts Administration from Binghamton University. She currently works for the San Diego Opera as Associate Director of Education. Mumphrey attends CUNY in the Bronx and is majoring in art education.
The STEP Benefit was chaired by Beth Ehrich Berkeley and Nina Ross. The Good Life Gourmet caterers worked generously with the organization providing food and staff to enhance this community event.
Article by Valerie Abrahams and Anna Decker. Photos by Gail Weisenfeld
(Pictured on top: STEP Chair Liz Gruber with Honoree Eric Rothschild)
What’s Jewish about Breast and Ovarian Cancer?
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On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, at 9:00 am, Westchester Reform Temple (WRT) will hold a free lecture titled, “What’s Jewish about Breast Cancer and Ovarian Cancer? Stay Informed for Yourself and Your Family.” The program will feature guest speakers Dr. Susan Klugman, Director of Clinical Services and Community Outreach for the Program for Jewish Genetic Health of Yeshiva University, and Rochelle L. Shoretz, Founder and Executive Director, Sharsheret.
Breast cancer affects 1 in 9 women in their lifetime and ovarian cancer affects 1 in 70. Approximately 10 percent of these cancers have a hereditary component. Scarsdale's Dr. Klugman will discuss the mutations in the specific genes and the increased risks for women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Ms. Shoretz will discuss the unique issues of Jewish women at risk of developing or diagnosed with breast cancer and the culturally-relevant support programs Sharsheret has developed to meet their needs.
This free, educational program is open to the community and co-sponsored by WRT’s Caring Community, Sharsheret and Yeshiva University’s Program for Jewish Genetic Health. A light breakfast with cancer-fighting foods will be served. Dr. Klugman is the Director of Reproductive Genetics at Montefiore Medical Center and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She received her bachelor of science degree with honors from Cornell University and her medical degree from New York University, before completing residencies in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Genetics at Einstein and Montefiore Medical Center. In 1993, she founded the Larchmont Women’s Center, a faculty practice office.
Ms. Shoretz, a two-time breast cancer survivor, founded Sharsheret to connect young Jewish women fighting breast cancer following her own diagnosis at age 28. She is a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Breast Cancer in Young Women. A Centennial Scholar graduate of Barnard College and a Kent Scholar graduate of Columbia Law School, Ms. Shoretz served as a law clerk in 1999 to United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
RSVP is requested, but not required, to CaringCommunity@wrtemple.org. Westchester Reform Temple is located at 255 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, NY.
Project Eye to Eye and Strides Westchester Walk
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Project Eye to Eye is a national not-for-profit mentoring program that has been changing the lives of children and young adults across the United States. The newly-formed Scarsdale chapter of Project Eye to Eye (PETE) will pair Scarsdale High School students with language-based learning disabilities and / or ADHD with Scarsdale students in fifth through seventh grades with similar challenges.
Once a week, a group of 13 mentors will work with 13 mentees and using a fun art-based curriculum will help these children to discover and use their individual strengths, value their own unique minds, and speak up for what they need to succeed in the classroom.
The Scarsdale program will be lead by SHS juniors Emma Colbran and Zach Galst who are seeking to create a supportive environment and build student confidence and self esteem. Colbran says, "Overcoming learning disabilities requires self-advocacy and a determination to achieve. It is important to accept, recognize and seek out necessary accommodations." Galst added, "Often kids with LD feel they aren't smart enough. They don't understand why they can't keep up academically with their peer group. The high school mentor group is not so much older than the middle school students and this makes it easier to make connections to other kids similarly affected by LD. The PETE program is a chance to make a huge difference in kid's lives."
The program is seeking students in 5th through 7th grades to be paired with high school mentors. To learn more about Project Eye to Eye -- visit: www.projecteyetoeye.org. For questions about the Scarsdale chapter, email zgalst@verizon.net or ecrrox@aim.com. Space is limited to 13 participants.
- For: Boys and Girls; 5th - 7th Grade with Language based learning disabilities and / or ADHD
- Dates: October 23 -- March 25 (Class will not be held holiday weekends)
- Time: Sundays from 10:00 a.m. - 11 :30 a.m.
- Where: Betty Taubert Girl Scout House, 37 Wayside Lane, Scarsdale
- Fee: None
- Coordinators: Emma Colbran and Zach Galst --SHS Class 2013
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More Good Work: On Sunday, October 16, 2011 Team JCC of Mid-Westchester participated in the American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Westchester Walk. The 19 member team raised nearly $1000.
Pediatric Cancer Foundation Hosts Luncheon at Trump National
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Pediatric Cancer Foundation held its 41st opening fall luncheon on Wednesday, October 5 at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor. Over 350 people were in attendance at the event which was sponsored by Neiman Marcus Westchester.
Pediatric cancer survivor Julie Goodfriend, spoke eloquently about her cancer journey and all the angels who helped her along the way. Pediatric Cancer Foundation Luncheon Chairs, Bonnie Boilen, Dana Hokin, Jackie Kabot, Wendy Schimel, Denise Warshauer, and advisor, Susan Cohen, remark “Our Luncheon had a brilliant and successful life of its own. We thank our guest speaker, committee members, attendees and Neiman Marcus Westchester for their commitment to us in our mission to …hold the hand of a child. ”
Pediatric Cancer Foundation (PCF) is a non-profit charity whose mission is to find a cure for childhood cancer. They raise money for research, treatment, state of the art equipment and instruments and parent/patient care and support doctors at five leading tri-state hospitals including: New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center; Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center; Stephen D. Hassenfeld Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center; The Steven and Alexandra Children’s Medical Center of New York; and Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center
To find out more about Pediatric Cancer Foundation, call Executive Director, Nancy Joselson at: 914-777-3127 or visit www.pcfweb.org.
Pictured at top: Jennifer Stone, PCF Board member and Shari Phillips, PCF Board Members from Scarsdale
Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee Seeks Candidates
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You can help to maintain the excellent Scarsdale schools by becoming a candidate for the Scarsdale School Board Nominating Committee this year. The School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) is the group that identifies, proposes and nominates qualified candidates to run for the Scarsdale Board of Education. The SBNC includes 30 voting members representing each of the five elementary school neighborhoods. Each year ten new members are elected to serve a three-year term on the SBNC.
“The goal of the Administrative Committee of the SBNC is to present a solid slate of candidates for the SBNC election held on January 17, 2012,” said Michael Pollack and Nan Berke, Co-chairs of the SBNC Administrative Committee, the group that organizes the election. “Our charge is to present a full slate of candidates. That means for every open seat on the SBNC, we need two candidates. In all, this year we need 20 people from the community to run.“
To become a candidate, complete a biographical form and submit it, with a candidate petition with ten signatures, by November 21, 2011 to the SBNC Administrative Committee, P.O. Box H 172, Scarsdale, NY 10583. These forms can be downloaded from www.scarsdalesbnc.com and are also available at the Scarsdale Library and Village Hall.
If you are interested in becoming a candidate or have questions, go to the SBNC’s website at www.scarsdalesbnc.com . Also, feel free to contact the SBNC Administrative Committee Co-chairs: Nan Berke at ntberke@gmail.com or Michael Pollack at michael.pollack@pollackservices.com.
Service on the SBNC is a good way to serve your community. Please become a candidate.
Pictured Above: Jyoti Ruta -Chair of the SBNC, Michael Pollack and Nan Berke, Co-chairs of the Administrative Committee of the SBNC.
