The Scarsdale Foundation Announces the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl Award Winner, Andrew Sereysky; the Spotlight Honor Goes to Scarsdale Adult School
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Scarsdale Bowl Co-Chairs Marc and Cynthia Samwick greeted Sereysky at his door.Andrew Sereysky is the 2025 recipient of the venerated Scarsdale Bowl, awarded annually since 1943 to those who have “given unselfishly of time, energy, and effort to the civic welfare of the community.”
The Scarsdale Foundation also continued its new tradition of honoring either an individual or an organization who has made a tangible difference in the community’s quality of life in one specific area. The Spotlight Award, established in 2023, goes to Scarsdale Adult School for its 87 year tradition of building community through life-long learning.
The Bowl Committee, a diverse group of 16 community volunteers representing all areas and demographics of Scarsdale, selects the recipient for each award after reviewing and vetting many worthy candidates who are nominated by the community.
Please plan to help celebrate the Foundation’s honorees at the Bowl Dinner on Thursday, April 24th. Invitations are open to all Scarsdale residents and will be available in February.
The Scarsdale Foundation promotes and celebrates volunteerism and also administers grants and scholarships, provides need-based college scholarships for sophomores, juniors and seniors and recognizes extraordinary volunteers who work toward the betterment of the community. You can visit the Scarsdale Foundation web site for more information.
Andrew Sereysky
Greenacres resident Andrew Sereysky has been an active village volunteer since moving here in 1994. His long history of volunteer work has touched numerous organizations representing many facets of village life, notably the Greenacres Neighborhood Association, the Cable Television Commission, and the Advisory Council on Communications. Sereysky is known throughout the village for his numerous contributions, making him a deserving recipient of the 2025 Bowl award.
Sereysky has been an active participant in community affairs. His commitment to the Greenacres Neighborhood Association has been steadfast since 1996, serving as its President during the terms of 2004-2007 and 2013-2023. Simultaneously, he has been a key figure in the Cable Television Commission since 2004, assuming the role of Chairman from 2010 to 2014. With a professional background in advertising, Sereysky has helped to make Scarsdale’s communications more transparent and concise, playing a vital role in the Ad Hoc Committee/Advisory Council on Communications since its formation in 2016. He is currently engaged in the Ad Hoc Pool Redevelopment Advisory Committee. Sereysky and his wife, Joan, raised their son and daughter here and have since welcomed 3 grandchildren into their family.
“As chairs of the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl Committee, we are thrilled to honor Andrew Seresky with this year’s Scarsdale Bowl Award. Andrew exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and community service, consistently giving selflessly of his time and energy to enrich the lives of so many. His dedication, leadership, and unwavering commitment to making Scarsdale a better place are truly inspiring. We are privileged to celebrate his contributions and highlight the immense impact he has made in our community,” said Scarsdale Bowl co-Chair Marc Samwick.
Bowl Committee members delivering the good news. Back Row: Cynthia Samwick, Elise Flagg, Randi Culang, Anne Lyons (Foundation President), Marc Samwick, Middle Row: Alli Seiden, Isabel Finegold, Daniela Retelny, Joan and Andrew Sereysky
Sereysky has also served on the CNC Procedure Committee, SNAP, Citizens Nominating Committee, the Scarsdale Forum, Procedure Committee, School Board Nominating Committee as Administration Chairman, the Scarsdale Bowl Committee, STEP, the Board of the Scarsdale Foundation, and was a coach for many years for his children’s various sports teams. Time after time, Sereysky provided help and expertise to Scarsdale organizations. He also aims to mentor and raise up the next generation of volunteers, serving Scarsdale in myriad ways to preserve our volunteer spirit.
Andrew Sereysky
Friend and former Village Trustee Deb Pekarek said, “I am so delighted that Andrew will receive the Scarsdale Bowl! Andrew loves Scarsdale and continues to volunteer his time unselfishly for the betterment of our beloved community. Andrew certainly represents the true spirit of the Scarsdale Bowl award. This will be a grand celebration!”
Following the Bowl Committee vote on Sunday night, co-chairs Marc and Cynthia Samwick along with Anne Lyons, President of the Scarsdale Foundation, Isabel Finegold, Treasurer of the Bowl Committee, and Bowl Committee members Penny Bauersfeld, Randi Culang, Elise Flagg, Daniela Retelny and Alli Seiden surprised Sereysky at his home with the news on Sunday night. Also serving on the committee this year are: Amy Cooper, Lori Kaplan, Tracy Lazarus, Toby Milstein Schulman, Ryan Spicer, Stephanie Stern, Claudia Uribe-Galeano and Julie Zhu.
“Being selected as the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl recipient is such an honor. It's an incredible recognition for which I'm forever grateful.” said honoree Sereysky.
Scarsdale Deputy Mayor Dara Gruenberg said, “Andrew’s decades-long commitment to the Scarsdale community, marked by quiet dedication, tireless hard work, and unflagging good cheer, makes him an extraordinary candidate for this year’s Scarsdale Bowl. His selfless contributions, steady leadership, and ability to inspire those around him have had a profound and lasting impact on the village, ensuring its vibrancy and continued 'small-town' feel."
The Spotlight Award Goes to SAS
For the third year, the Bowl Committee also selected a Spotlight Award winner. As opposed to the depth and breadth required of the Bowl winner, the Spotlight Award recognizes meaningful contributions in a specific area or a problem solved after focused effort.
Bowl Co-chair Cynthia Samwick noted, “The Scarsdale Adult School has long been a cornerstone of our community, fostering lifelong learning and personal growth for residents of all ages. Their tireless efforts to provide outstanding educational opportunities, innovative programming, and a welcoming environment exemplify what makes Scarsdale so special. We are honored to shine a spotlight on this remarkable organization and its ongoing commitment to inspiring and enriching our community.”
The Bowl Committee requested suggestions of individuals and organizations alike from the community and reviewed many worthy nominations before voting Scarsdale Adult School to be the 2025 recipient of the Spotlight Award in recognition of their ongoing commitment to life-long learning through their widespread educational offerings. Scarsdale Adult School director Jill Serling was likewise thrilled to learn of the award when Bowl committee members surprised her at her home with the news on Sunday night.
“I am humbled and overjoyed with the news that Scarsdale Adult School (SAS) has been awarded the Spotlight Award,” said Scarsdale Adult School Director, Jill Serling. Our success in serving our mission in service of our community of lifelong learners is truly a collective effort thanks to our amazing staff, board, advisory committee members, instructors, and students. This year’s Spotlight Award is a wonderful example of two Scarsdale institutions supporting each other in furtherance of education."
Established in 1938, the Scarsdale Adult School is an independent, not-for-profit organization chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. It launched that year with 10 classes as an evening program; its original classes were ahead of its time- including courses in finance for women. Today, the Scarsdale Adult School is a unique Scarsdale fixture, which offers continuing education and a wide range of enrichment curriculum for lifelong learning for any adult regardless of residence. The SAS serves thousands of individual students a year - filling close to ten thousand seats annually. For courses, there is a wide choice of intellectually stimulating, recreational, and skill-enhancing courses and lectures. Tuition is kept to a minimum which allows all to participate regardless of financial ability. From another community financial angle, SAS partners with other local organizations. In addition, it also rents space across various Scarsdale institutions which supports the community’s financial wellbeing.
Anne Lyons, President of the Scarsdale Foundation said, “Every year, the Scarsdale Foundation and the Scarsdale Bowl Committee seek to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism and generosity that make our community so special by honoring those who exemplify those ideals. The Scarsdale Adult School has been a fixture in the Scarsdale community for 87 years attracting thousands of lifelong learners to partake in their impressive course selection thanks to the efforts of many dedicated community volunteers. Andrew Sereysky is the consummate community volunteer. His welcoming and inclusive personality, and the twinkle in his eyes when he asks you to help out, encourages many to become part of the rich volunteer community in Scarsdale that makes our Village a very special place. We are thrilled to be celebrating with such dedicated volunteers and our larger community on April 24th.”
Commenting on the news, the Scarsdale Bowl Committee said, "We are thrilled to celebrate the 2025 Scarsdale Bowl honorees, Andrew Sereysky and the Scarsdale Adult School, for their outstanding contributions to our community! Andrew’s unwavering commitment to Scarsdale and his decades of service exemplify the true spirit of volunteerism. The Scarsdale Adult School has enriched countless lives with its wide-ranging educational offerings, fostering lifelong learning and connection.
A heartfelt thank you to our amazing Bowl Committee for their hard work and dedication: Penny Bauersfeld, Amy Cooper, Randi Culang, Isabel Finegold, Elise Flagg, Lori Kaplan, Tracy Lazarus, Toby Milstein Schulman, Daniela Retelny, Ryan Spicer, Stephanie Stern, Claudia Uribe-Galeano, Alli Seiden, and Julie Zhu. Your creativity and teamwork are making this event possible!
We hope to see everyone on April 24th as we honor these well-deserving winners and the spirit of community that makes Scarsdale so special.
Warm regards,
Cynthia and Marc Samwick
Co-Chairs
Lovers Diamonds Opens on Garth Road
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Three generations of the Mehta family along with Scarsdale’s Mayor, Village Manager and Village Trustees were on hand to celebrate the opening of Lovers Diamonds at 14 Garth Road in Scarsdale on the evening of Monday December 9th.
The jewelry store features lab-grown diamonds that can be custom ordered in all shapes and sizes to fit into a wide array of settings in platinum, gold or rose gold. Because the diamonds are fabricated, you can envision and custom design a ring or a piece of jewelry to your specifications.
According to owner Pravin Mehta, “Our goal at Lover's Diamond is clear: to offer high-quality, exquisitely designed natural and lab-grown diamond jewelry at competitive prices. We strive to ensure that neither jewelry exchanges nor online retailers can match the value we provide.”
The attractive store is decorated with the paintings of Pratibha, enhancing the décor. In addition to selling diamonds, they also offer full line of top branded perfumes and fragrances.
Lover*s Diamond offers a free 14K gold setting with the purchase of a one carat diamond for $499 and is also offering a free $100 jewelry repair with the purchase of exquisite jewelry for $1000.
You’re invited to stop by:
Lovers Diamonds
14 Garth Road,
Scarsdale, NY10583
www.loversdiamond.com
www.diamonddaysgroup.com
Here are comments written by owner Pravin Mehta and read by his grandson Viraj Mehta at the opening:
It is an immense honor for me and my family to have you preside over this Grand Opening Ceremony. Your presence adds profound significance to this event, and for that, we are deeply grateful.
Mayor Justin Arest shakes hands with Pravin Mehta.Today, we celebrate the incredible journey of two visionary women: Puja Mehta, born in the era following the Vietnam War, and Malti Mehta, whose life began amidst the tumult of the Second World War. These women embody the transformative changes and renaissances that have shaped our world over decades.
Diamonds, the rarest and most brilliant of nature's creations, are the result of cataclysmic geological changes that took place millions of years ago. Across generations, humanity has revered their rarity and beauty, immortalizing them in poetry and song. To Malti's generation, diamonds were sacred and divine-a gem fit for queens and brides. They expressed this reverence through words like: "Diamonds are forever."
Fast forward to Puja's era-a time of scientific ingenuity and innovation. The development of lab-grown diamonds using high pressure, high temperature (HPHT), and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is one of humanity's most remarkable achievements. Yet, despite the technological triumph, much of the industry failed to capture the essence of love and romance inherent in diamonds.
Puja, however, redefined this narrative. She introduced Lover's Diamonds-diamonds grown lovingly, with care and passion. These diamonds symbolize a new universe of love, encompassing:
- Art Lover's Diamonds
- Music Lover's Diamonds
- Environment Lover's Diamonds
In her vision, the first "lover" was born when Adam took a bite of a freshly plucked apple, representing the boundless connections diamonds can embody. This revolutionary concept led to the creation of Lover's Diamond, a name Puja has generously made available to all producers, manufacturers, and distributors of lab-grown 
diamonds.
The mission of Lover's Diamond is to create everyday jewelry-elegant, versatile pieces crafted from exquisite diamonds in all shapes and colors. These jewels are designed to enhance the beauty and glamour of women around the world.
While building this fine jewelry project, we were inspired by the legacy of Harry Winston, a Scarsdale native and one of the world's most renowned jewelers. His unparalleled contributions to the world of jewelry are immortalized with his statue in Winston Park, a constant source of inspiration for us.
Another individual who deserves recognition is Pratibha-a CPA and a gifted painter whose artwork has captured the attention of influential critics worldwide. We are proud to say that Lover's Diamond is not just a jewelry store; it also doubles as an art gallery, showcasing Pratibha's extraordinary creations.
Our goal at Lover's Diamond is clear: to offer high-quality, exquisitely designed natural and lab-grown diamond jewelry at competitive prices. We strive to ensure that neither jewelry exchanges nor online retailers can match the value we provide.
This is not just a story about diamonds; it is a story of two extraordinary women, Malti and Puja, and their shared vision of creating something truly exceptional-a jewelry store that celebrates love, beauty, and ingenuity.
Thank you.
Become a Lover's Diamond Ambassador
Join our Marketing and Sales Team as a Lover*s Diamond Ambassador and unlock exciting opportunities with profit-sharing benefits!
About Us:
We offer an exceptional range of products:
• Lover*s Diamonds: Lab-grown diamonds and fine jewelry.
• Diamond Days: Natural (mined) diamonds and luxury jewelry.
• Danish Design & Jacob Jensen Watches: Iconic Scandinavian craftsmanship.
• Lover*s Fragrances: Premium perfumes from top global brands.
Why Join?
This freelance role empowers you to develop a lucrative additional income stream by sharing your passion for luxury and elegance.
Profit Example (Fine Jewelry):
• Average Retail Price: $10,000
• Gross Profit (30% Margin): $3,000
• Net Profit (after $1,000 expenses): $2,000
• Your Share (30%): $600 per sale
What You’ll Gain:
• Be part of an empowering community of Ambassadors.
• Represent products that embody beauty, sophistication, and sustainability.
• Use our tagline: “Diamond Days are Happy Days.”
Take the first step toward a sparkling future with Lover*s Diamond.
Interested? Contact Please contact: Pravin Mehta at 914-433-8618 or by email:pkbmehta@gmail.com
The Holidays- Fun or Frustrating?
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This was submitted by Dr. Ilana Rosenberg of Scarsdale Psychology Associates
Many people love getting together with family for the holidays. Many people want to leave the table screaming. It can be tough to connect with family members who may have different political views, have caused you hurt or trauma, or that you just don't like.
Here's a tip to help you get through with sanity and grace:
Most Generous Interpretation
Dr. Becky talks about finding the most generous interpretations of children's behaviors. I think she's right. It's important to understand that both children and adults are trying to do the best they can with the resources they have available to them.
People survey their environment and respond to internal and external triggers to create safety for themselves. Even adults are dealing with younger parts of themselves that may come out when getting together with family.
Say your obnoxious cousin or aunt is at Thanksgiving and loudly voices a political opinion that you find abhorrent.
Or say you spent the week prepping for the meal, shopping and cooking and your mom mentions that the turkey is dry, or has a negative look on her face.
If you take it personally, you’ll feel badly and it could ruin your day.
Instead of thinking: what’s wrong with that person? Try asking: what happened to that person?
If you can see beyond the person’s mask, you can see their obnoxious comment as a defense they’re using to protect themselves and you can understand how this defense gets in the way of their being at ease in the world. Replacing judgment with compassion, can help you see the goodness at their core.
Applying the most generous interpretation of another person’s behavior won’t just help the other person feel better. It will make your holiday more enjoyable!
Ilana D. Rosenberg, Ph.D. is the founder of Scarsdale Psychology Associates (SPA). She believes that developing self compassion is a game changer in life, and that the chemistry of the match between you and your therapist is what helps make therapy so powerful. SPA has therapists who are warm and compassionate, so that you feel cared for every step of the way.
www.ScarsdalePsychologyAssociates.com 914-901 3520
Ballet des Amériques Presents Nutcracker Dream at the Emelin Theatre
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The Emelin Theatre resumes a holiday tradition – NUTCRACKER DREAM – in partnership with Westchester’s premier professional dance company Ballet des Amériques, with a magnificent backdrop plus new costumes and choreographies to keep faithful audiences engaged and excited.
The Emelin Theatre is proud to present Nutcracker Dream, performed by Ballet des Amériques, one of the few professional dance companies in the New York metro area producing this holiday classic. Inspired by the work of Rudolf Nureyev and Marius Petipa, this 90-minute family-friendly adaptation is an exquisite interpretation of the beloved holiday classic.
French-American choreographer Carole Alexis reimagines the traditional story by drawing on her multicultural heritage and choreographic vision. This production is based on A Story of a Nutcracker (1844) by Alexandre Dumas, a Caribbean and French author whose multicultural background mirrors the richly diverse origins of the cast. Alexis creates an energetic production with dancers that engage, surprise, and delight. “Carole’s adaptation speaks to all cultural and socio-economic backgrounds,” says Emelin’s Board President, Mark Ettenger, “and ticket prices are set at levels that are accessible, affordable and inclusive, all central to the Emelin’s mission."
Among the standout performers are Johnathon Hart, a rising star recently featured in Dance Magazine, dancing the Cavalier alongside Sugar Plum soloist Isodale Alexis. Also featured is Rosella Dunkerley, a 17-year-old local talent who has trained at the Ballet des Amériques Conservatory for six years and performs multiple roles with aspirations of becoming a professional dancer.
Young dancers from Westchester County perform children’s roles, showcasing a vibrant local presence in the production. The new magnificent backdrop, costumes, and fresh choreographies ensure that faithful audiences remain engaged and excited. Additionally, this presentation marks an extraordinary collaboration between two arts organizations committed to celebrating the performing arts and fostering community connections.
This exclusive engagement at the Emelin includes eight matinee and evening performances in December. Tickets starts at $41 for adults and $30 for students, inclusive of all fees, in keeping with the mission of making the arts affordable and accessible.
The opening Gala is Saturday, December 14 at 7PM, and a limited number of VIP packages are being offered. Subsequent performances are scheduled twice daily at 1:30 PM and 5 PM on December 15, 21, 22 and 26.
A TREASURED PARTNERSHIP AND TRADITION | Ballet des Amériques has been staging productions at the Emelin Theatre since 2012. Nutcracker Dream premiered at the Emelin in 2018, and was staged again in 2019, and most recently in 2023 to sold-out audiences.
ABOUT CAROLE ALEXIS | Carole Alexis is a choreographer, producer, dance educator and pedagogue and the founder and director of the Carole Alexis Ballet Theatre/Ballet des Amériques, who has won numerous awards and proclamations for her contributions to the arts and the advancement of culture. Most recently, in 2021, Carole Alexis was named Chevalier de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, and in 2023, she was honored with the Artist Award by ArtsWestchester. A student of Maurice Béjart, Alexis’ choreographic work is rooted in classical ballet training and tradition while drawing upon influences as disparate as children's games, island rituals, natural phenomena, and modern urban life.
ABOUT BALLET DES AMÉRIQUES | Under the directorship of Carole Alexis, Ballet des Amériques has been staging productions at the Emelin Theatre since 2012. The company’s extensive and eclectic repertoire bears Carole Alexis’ distinctive signature and vision, reinvigorating “ballet” for new audiences and dance connoisseurs alike. Proclaimed “Westchester’s Premier Dance Company” by the County Executive and voted “Best Ballet Company” by the editors of Westchester Magazine, Ballet des Amériques has danced in nearly 200 productions throughout Westchester, the greater New York City area and overseas and is committed to developing inclusive dance audiences through choreography and performances of the highest quality.
ABOUT THE EMELIN | Founded in 1972, the Emelin Theatre is a non-profit organization that brings world class performing arts to Westchester County. Promoting a cultural life that entertains and educates our audience, the Emelin presents numerous world class events including all genres of music, comedy, dance, and family theatre, plus a broad range of independent and contemporary film. Well-known for our high-quality and affordable programs, the Emelin is one of the few performing arts venues in our region offering such a broad mix of entertainment appealing to all ages and tastes, attracting audiences from Westchester County and beyond. Voted Best of Westchester Professional Theatre 2020. Best of Westchester Children's Theatre 2023. (Westchester Magazine)
The Emelin Theatre’s 2024-25 programs are made possible in part by ArtsWestchester with support from Westchester County Government and by New York State Council on The Arts.
For more information, please visit here.
Emelin Theater:
153 Library Lane
Mamaroneck, NY 10543
Email: boxoffice@emelin.org
Website: www.emelin.org
Box Office in-person Hours: Two hours prior to any scheduled performance.
A Parisian Bistro in Harrison
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This weekend we happened into another newish area restaurant, masquerading as a neighborhood bar but delivering haute cuisine. Café Deux, on Main Street in Harrison appears to be a local hangout but the fare is as good as you’ll find in Manhattan.
Open for three meals a day, we tried dinner on Saturday night and were pleased to find an eclectic menu, skewing French but with Indian, Italian and American influences.
Overhanging the bar is a long string of lights, casting a warm glow and giving the restaurant a modern flair. On the way in we noticed a case filled small dark chocolate cupcakes that we didn’t have room to sample on the way out. Next time.
The drinks menu was extensive – with a wide variety of wines, spirits, mixed drinks and mocktails. Something for drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
The menu includes starters to share, salades, moules, pastas, “Les Autres” and sides and offered a tempting array for meat eaters, fish lovers and vegetarians.
To start, we split an ample portion of the Fall Harvest Salad with romaine, radicchio, endive, oranges, figs, beets, radish and ricotta salata. We were tempted to try the whipped ricotta and fig toast and the duck confit Lyonnaise.
Mussels, either in a classic white wine sauce or with curry are served with fries or baguette.
Very popular are the burgers. There’s a Deux Wagyu Burger with house aioli, cheddar and fries – but you can also upgrade to truffle fries with parmesan and white truffle oil. Those are rich enough to share with everyone at the table.
I went for the Poulet Roti Masala, which was a sliced chicken breast covered with roasted chickpeas, haricots verts, prunes, mint, basil and cilantro. It was aromatic and yummy. I would love to have the recipe. The tuna nicoise salade had spiced, blackened tuna with a soft boiled egg, potatoes and nicoise olives. Another nice option.
For dessert we were happy to find a few flavors of Caffe Panna Ice Cream and had to share a few for the table.
Café Deux was a pleasant surprise within a quick drive to Scarsdale, but with an air of Paris.
Try them soon and let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Cafe Deux
307 Halstead Avenue, Harrison
https://www.cafedeuxny.com/
