Amy Paulin to Hold Rally in Scarsdale to Urge Governor Hochul to Sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act
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On Thursday, November 13, at 5:00 p.m., Assemblymember Amy Paulin will host a rally at Chase Park in Scarsdale to urge Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act (A136/S138) into law. The bill, which passed both houses of the New York State Legislature earlier this year, would give terminally ill, mentally capable adults with a prognosis of six months or less the option to request medication to peacefully end their suffering if it becomes unbearable.
At the rally with Paulin will be Westchester Reform Temple Rabbi Jonathan Blake, Calvary Baptist Church Rev. Erwin Lee Trollinger, NYS Senator Shelley Mayer, and many local advocates including Indivisible Scarsdale and Scarsdale Democrats.|
Assemblymember Paulin, the bill’s longtime Assembly sponsor, called its passage “a truly historic and compassionate step forward for New York,” and emphasized that the law “is about easing needless suffering and honoring deeply personal choices.” The legislation includes strict safeguards and mirrors laws already in place in 11 states and Washington, D.C.
Supporters say the measure is about autonomy, compassion, and comfort. “Knowing I can access medical aid in dying has freed me from fear of the future and allowed me to live what remains of my life as fully as possible,” said Dr. Jeremy Boal, a New York physician with ALS who supports the bill.
Thursday’s rally will bring together local advocates, faith leaders, medical professionals, and residents calling on the Governor to make New York the 12th state to authorize medical aid in dying. Attendees are encouraged to join Assemblymember Paulin and lend their voices to this compassionate cause.
WHEN: Thursday, November 13, 5–6 PM
WHERE: Chase Park, 32 Chase Rd, Scarsdale, NY 10583
SHS Students Bring Community Together at Charity Dinner
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SHS 10th grade student government members singing Sweet Caroline at Karaoke.On Monday November 3, the Scarsdale Student Government hosted a Community Dinner in the SHS cafeteria, bringing together residents of all ages for an evening of food, fun, and philanthropy. The event featured delicious offerings from local favorites, Pizzarelli’s, Giannoni’s, and Jade Spoon, with yummy desserts donated by the PTA. There was entertainment for all ages, including arts and crafts, music, and games, provided by various student groups, creating a lively and inclusive atmosphere. 
SHS Student Government seniors Gabe Green and Zachary Weinberg.SHS Student Government President of the Class of 2028, Sammy Cascade commented "I love how the Community Dinner brings students, families, administrators and teachers together for a fun night with a purpose. This year’s event was no different, and it was incredible to see the community come together for such an important cause." The event raised over $7,000, with all proceeds donated to My Sisters’ Place, supporting the organization’s important work in the community. Check out the festivities below with fun photos from the event.
SMS 6th Grader Reuben Peled playing 🏓 ping pong against Student Government Sophomore Emmitt Klingsberg (not shown).
Gerry O’Neill, SHS student government seniors Gavin Tieng and Anish Mehta.
Free Organ Recital by Internationally Acclaimed Organist Paul Jacobs
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Dr. John T. King, in charge of everything musical at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church of Scarsdale for the last 36 years, as well as artistic director, conductor and founder of the New Choral Society, an all-auditioned volunteer chorus of approximately 48 people from Westchester County and surrounding areas, in 1994, literally has been providing all kinds of wonderful, pleasing and first-class music at Hitchcock for seemingly forever.
While he won’t admit it, Dr. King is indeed a well-respected legend in his own lifetime.
He is a working musical phenomenon, who also directs the Chancel and the youth choirs and the adult bells program at his church. And, sometimes he is a featured speaker on a variety of major music subjects at the church and other Westchester County venues.
Obviously, King’s successes are too many to repeat in this digital space. But, nonetheless, perhaps his biggest coup of recent years, certainly in 2025, is convincing Grammy-Award winning organist Paul Jacobs, the internationally acclaimed organist and his good friend of many years, and heralded in June of 2022 as “one of the finest teachers and organists of our day,” by Zachary Woolfe of The New York Times, as well as openly praised by Alex Ross of The New Yorker, as “America’s leading organ performer” and by The Economist as “a grand New York institution” by James R. Oestreich of The New York Times, to return to Hitchcock Presbyterian and perform his usual, most professional and extremely enjoyable organ recital. His first recital at Hitchcock was in November of 2013.
According to Dr. King, the most important occasion for Jacobs’ recital, his second ever at Hitchcock, is to help celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the installation of the Mighty J.W. Walker Organ in the sanctuary of Hitchcock on Greenacres Avenue in Scarsdale, with a free concert there on Sunday, November 9 at 3 p.m. Doors open at 2:30 pm.
That’s spelled F-R-E-E. No charge! Don’t miss it!
Put it on your calendar. You just never know when Jacobs will be back in town again for an exciting recital.
According to Dr. King, also recognized by many as a music historian, said, “At the original dedication, the music was played by Jacob’s organ professor and mine from Yale University, Thomas Murray, on November 18, 1990. “Jacobs, in kind of a full circle nod,” Dr. King adds, “is scheduled to play one of the pieces that Murray played at the original dedication.”
In addition to his well-earned claim to fame around the country and world with stops in every U.S. state and many more overseas, Jacobs is the renowned professor of organ at The Juilliard School in Manhattan and, equally important for Hitchcock, the No. 1 teacher for all of its Hitchcock organ scholars over the years. It has indeed become a “badge of honor” to study under Jacobs.
Jacobs will present in his organ concert an overall program of organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach, Cesar Franck, Felix Mendelssohn, Charles Ives and Alexandre Guilmant.
According to Dr. King, while the concert is indeed free, if you plan to attend, please pre-register your attendance by clicking on the attached Eventbrite link or writing to Hitchcock on its website at http://www.hitchpresby.org. King said, “We expect a full house and want to know you are coming.”
A reception will follow the concert.
Vote for the Democratic Judicial Candidates: Voting Begins October 25th
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(The following letter was submitted by the Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee)
To The Editor:
It may just be a mid-year election, but for Westchester County, it is a crucial election with much of our County leadership on the ballot. Early voting for the General Election starts October 25th. The Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee wants voters to rally around the Democratic ticket and vote for our candidates on Row A.
In addition to the County Executive and legislative races this election (including those for County Executive, County Clerk, and County Legislator), there are several judgeships (all but one contested) to vote on: four State Supreme Court judges, one County Surrogate Court judge, one County Court judge, and one County Family Court judge. There is also Proposition 1 to amend the New York State constitution. This letter provides voters with more information about the judicial candidates and the proposition.
All of the Democratic judicial candidates are pro-choice and have broad experience and sound judicial temperament. The Supreme Court is New York’s trial court handling both civil and criminal matters. The County Court handles criminal matters and certain civil matters. The Surrogate Court handles the probate of wills, guardianships, and other actions relating to decedents. The Family Court decides cases involving children and families.
Supreme Court Candidates
Verris B. Shako
Judge Shako is a Yonkers City Judge in addition to serving as an Acting County Court Judge and an Accessible Magistrate. Prior to her election to the bench, Judge Shako practiced as a trial attorney for 15 years, litigating criminal felony and misdemeanor cases and practicing family law in the three Westchester Family Courts and the two Integrated Domestic Violence Courts.
Diane M. Clerkin
Ms. Clerkin has over 30 years of experience as an attorney specializing in Supreme Court matters, including 23 years in public service with the New York State Unified Court System. She currently serves as the Chief Court Attorney for the 9th Judicial District of the Supreme Court where she supervises court attorneys in the Supreme Court Law Department. In addition, Ms. Clerkin has served as a Court Attorney-Referee where she has presided over her own inventory of Supreme Court matters.
John P. Collins, Jr.
Judge Collins currently serves as a White Plains City Court Judge and, at times, as an Acting Westchester County Court Judge. Previously, he worked as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York for 17 years before initially entering the Unified Court System as a Court Attorney-Referee in the 9th Judicial District.
Desmond C. Lyons
Judge Lyons is the Village Justice for the Village of Irvington and also serves as Acting Judge for the Village of Mamaroneck, Acting Justice for the Town of Greenburgh and the City of White Plains, and Accessible Magistrate in Westchester County. Judge Lyons has been an attorney in private practice for 30 years and is a full-time litigator and outside general counsel to non-profits and other entities.
Westchester County Surrogate Court Candidate
Brandon R. Sall
Judge Brandon Sall currently serves as Westchester surrogate judge, a position he has held since 2015, and is running for re-election for a second, ten-year term. Previously, he served as Managing Partner of Sall, Geist, Schwartz & Jellinek and General Counsel to Westchester County Public Administrator. He also served as Vice President of the Surrogates Association of New York State.
Westchester County Court Candidate
Erin M. McGoey
Judge McGoey serves as Greenburgh Town Justice as well as the Deputy Commissioner of the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities. Judge McGoey began her career serving as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Yonkers and later served as Assistant Westchester County Attorney and Deputy General Counsel for the Metro Transit Authority (MTA).
Westchester County Family Court Candidate
Emily R. Rubin
Ms. Rubin has 27 years of extensive experience in matrimonial and family law litigation. She has handled, among other matters, divorce actions from intake to settlement or trial, proceedings for support, child custody, post-judgment enforcement, and relocation proceedings.
Proposition 1
Proposition 1 concerns the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Center, which is a winter recreation and training facility that began as a bobsled run used in the 1932 Olympics and was upgraded to include a Nordic ski trail system used in the 1980 Lake Placid winter games. This Olympic Center was built on state forest preserve land (known as “forever wild” forest land) in violation of the Article 14 Section 1 of the New York Constitution.
This Proposition would remedy this constitutional violation after the fact, by designating 1,039 acres of this “forever wild” forest land for the existing Olympic Center and allowing 323 acres of that land for limited development of certain ski trails and biathlon courses. In exchange, 2,500 acres of other, undeveloped forest land in Adirondack Park would be incorporated into the “forever wild” forest preserve to compensate for the 1,039 acres that had been taken from it for the Olympic Center.
The Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee urges voters to vote “Yes” on Proposition 1 and to support all of the Democratic judicial candidates.
Your vote matters! Let us make sure Democratic voices are heard.
Respectfully submitted,
Alissa Baum and Myra Saul
Delegates to the Democratic Judicial Convention for the 9th Judicial District
Key Food to Open on East Hartsdale Avenue
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Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner announced that Key Food Coop Supermarket will replace the former Rite Aid on East Hartsdale Avenue in Hartsdale. According to Feiner, “After Rite Aid closed many residents had contacted town officials expressing the desire that a quality food market be encouraged to take over the space.”
The location is owned by landlord Louis Weisman.
Feiner says, “East Hartsdale Avenue is coming back. Earlier this summer we repaved the business district. And recently a new farmers market opened on Saturday mornings. Some new businesses are planning to open soon. I believe that the new supermarket, which we hope will open this winter, will help attract more pedestrian traffic and help existing businesses succeed. And, when there are vacancies high quality tenants will be more likely to want to open their businesses on the avenue.”
