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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 16 January 2014

Created: 16 January 2014

Last Updated: 16 January 2014

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David Raizen, President of the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps has been picked to be the 2014 recipient of Scarsdale's highest honor – the Scarsdale Bowl. David who is a Scarsdale native will be the youngest recipient in the Bowl's 71-year history. The Bowl is awarded each year since 1943 to on who has given "unselfishly of their time, energy, and effort to the civic welfare of the community". David has toiled tirelessly and creatively for almost four decades to improve and save the lives of Scarsdale's residents both as an EMT and as President of the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

"David Raizen is an extraordinary volunteer who has dedicated himself to safeguarding the health and well-being of every resident of Scarsdale" stated David Brodsky President of the Scarsdale Bowl Committee. The Bowl Committee is made up of a diverse group of 15 community volunteers that selects the honoree after reviewing many worthy candidates who are nominated by residents.

David Brodsky described the reaction of the committee members who voted to honor Raizen: "The committee was impressed by the selfless dedication David has brought to his almost forty years of service to the community and recognized that every resident can sleep a little sounder knowing that should they or a loved one need emergency medical assistance that it is only minutes away. The quiet steadfastness of David's efforts over four decades to create and maintain a state of the medical emergency response team has been nothing short of extraordinary." From emergency runs to the hospital to supplying ice at hot humid graduations to taking care of the pets of those who have been taken to the hospital Brodsky continued, "David has positively impacted the lives of almost every resident of Scarsdale and he has done so without asking for praise or thanks. He embodies all of the attributes of the ideal Bowl recipient – the unselfish devotion of time for the civic welfare."

David will be honored at the Scarsdale Bowl Dinner on April 9th at the newly renovated Fountainhead in New Rochelle. Brodsky encourages all member of the community to attend the dinner. "This is an opportunity to celebrate not only our honoree but our community where so many people give of their talents and energies to help this Village be one of the finest residential communities on the county. Come to thanks David and stay to enjoy a wonderful evening with friends and neighbors." Anyone wishing to attend should go on line to scarsdalebowldp@gmail.com to request an invitation.

After the vote last Sunday evening, delegates from the Bowl Committee including David Brodsky, Scarsdale Foundation President Richard Toder, secretary/treasurer Deborah Pekarek and committee members Michelle Lichtenberg, George Lindsay and Carolyn Stevens went to Raizen's home on Aspen Road to inform him of his selection. Raizen appeared shocked and confessed to being overwhelmed and humbled by his selection for Scarsdale's highest honor.

Maybe it was because David grew up here in Scarsdale that he caught the 'volunteer bug" early. While a student at Scarsdale High School, David and his friend Steve Rambone (who is now a Middle School teacher here in Scarsdale ) took a first aid and CPR course in 1975. Marty Joel and Kay Mencher, who then ran SVAC asked if he and Steve could help out around the place and assist them in building bedrooms so that the paramedics on duty overnight could get some sleep. Not old enough to be a emergency medical technician, David started doing electrical work and Steve started doing the carpentry works and other odd jobs around the place. David couldn't wait to be allowed to 'ride' as part of the ambulance crew but you had to be 18 to be a to be an EMT. David spent two years helping out and taking his training – and took his first ride on his 18th birthday. Forty years later David is still helping out, still riding – and has worked over these past 40 years to make SVAC one of the finest ambulance corps in the county. Through his leadership the corps has grown from 25 volunteers to 75. He upgraded the level of service SVAC provides to advanced life support and kept them on the cutting edge of technology. The soft-billing program (SVAC will bill a patient's insurer and accepts whatever the insurer pays as full payment) he put in place saves Scarsdale residents tens of thousands of tax dollars every year. He worked very hard to help build the new headquarters for the members SVAC – because they deserved a decent place to work. But David does so much more as the committee learned from the recommendations it received. He has mentored Scarsdale High School students in the emergency medical technician program and Scarsdale Fire Explorers providing them with encouragement and training – and teaching them the value of volunteerism. He is always looking out for the residents without us being aware – such as having the SVAC ambulances at a particularly hot graduation with ice water and Gatorade and cooling fans at the ready for the many folks attending graduation, without being asked. When storms have struck and taken out communication systems David has made his way to the Public Safety Headquarters to help out and coordinate communications so that emergency medical aid would always be available to our residents.

Upon graduation from Scarsdale High School in 1978 David attended Hofstra University where he earned a BA. Upon graduation from college in 1982 started his own business – Scarsdale Security. David has a talent for growing things – today Scarsdale Security employs 95 people providing security and surveillance services to many high-end retailers. He lives in Scarsdale with his lovely and supportive "better half" Bettina, their two young children and a foster child.

(Photo at top courtesy of Jon Thaler)

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Published: 31 December 2013

Created: 31 December 2013

Last Updated: 31 December 2013

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Elana Chapter of Hadassah, based in White Plains, kicked off its 40th anniversary year by installing a new executive board. Outgoing Chapter President Gale Friedland installed the new officers: President – Linda Ettinger Lieberman of White Plains; Vice Presidents of Education - Yvette Lawrie of Greenburgh; Fund Raising – Elaine Glover and Louise Sanet of White Plains; Membership – Abbe Goodman of White Plains; Programming – Wendy Hollander of Edgemont and Cindy Dickstein of Riverdale; Corresponding/Recording Secretary- Eileen Allen of Scarsdale; and Treasurer – Diane Wilensky of Eastchester.

The Elana Chapter was chartered December 3, 1973 in White Plains. Founded by Harriette Ketover, formerly of Brooklyn, who resided in White Plains at the time, the group met at Temple Bet Am Shalom and local homes. With 377 members, all but 10 life members, the Elana Chapter has an active book club, holds film screenings, trips to Jewish and other cultural sites, as well as game days for those avid players of mah jongg, bridge and board games. It hosts many speakers on topics of interest to its members, mostly in their 50s – 70s. New members and transfers are welcome. Call 914-472-3626 or e-mail ElanaChapterofHadassah@gmail.com for further information.

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Published: 18 December 2013

Created: 18 December 2013

Last Updated: 07 January 2014

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Benjamin Boykin II, White Plains Common Council member and County Legislator for District 5, will meet with League members at its general membership meeting on Monday, January 13th, at 10:30 AM at Village Hall, 3rd Floor. Boykin will discuss issues he expects to address in his first term on the County Board of Legislators and take Q & A.

Boykin, a former White Plains Common Councilman was sworn in as a member of the Westchester County Board of Legislators (BOL) on Monday January 6. He said, "I am looking forward to working with the sixteen other County legislators to hold down property taxes and create new job opportunities for the residents of Westchester," said Boykin. "Government, at all levels, has to take a proactive approach in increasing economic growth and ensuring a level of prosperity for future generations. That's no small task, but I think working together we can achieve success."

Boykin noted that many Westchester residents are still in need of help and support from County government programs, and pledged to preserve childcare subsidies for working mothers while also maintaining services for seniors and at-risk youths.

Boykin succeeds Bill Ryan as County Legislator for District 5. A CPA with an MBA from the Kellogg Business School at Northwestern, Boykin was Assistant Treasurer at RJR Nabisco. He currently is President of his financial consulting firm, Ben Boykin & Associates. He has served on the White Plains Common Council since 2000, including as its President (April to December 2011, 2008-09 and 2002-03), and served on the Board of Education for the White Plains City School District from 1992 to 1999.

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Written by: Stacie M. Waldman

Published: 12 December 2013

Created: 12 December 2013

Last Updated: 12 December 2013

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Tipping at holiday time can be joyous, stressful and even confusing. It's hard to know whom to tip and how much to tip or whether it would be more appropriate to give a gift. If so, is a small or big gift in order, or is a gift plus cash the right combination? We did a survey of 101 people in Scarsdale and surrounding areas to help determine what people like you are doing at holiday time for those who help to make our lives a little bit easier. Highlights are listed below and the table of results follows:

• Nannies and housekeepers are gifted the most (in dollars) at holiday time. Almost all respondents gave their nannies one week's pay, if not more. (A couple of people give their nannies 2-4 weeks pay.) Housekeepers most often receive a week's pay. Babysitters, as expected, are given less: 12% give a week of pay, 8% give between $10-$50, 7% give a small (<$25) gift, and 8% don't give anything beyond their regular rate.
• Most in Scarsdale are not tipping their gardeners, but those that do tend to tip very well, upwards of $76.
• Hairdressers are tipped well during the holidays in Scarsdale. After all, we all want to look our best at annual parties. Although 1/3 of people don't tip extra at holiday time, 7% tip between $10-25, 22% tip between $26-50, and 10% tip between $51-$150. Another 10% give a gift to their hairdresser.
• Garbage collectors receive generous gifts during the holidays. Really, who doesn't love those mini golf cart gizmos that speed down our driveways to rid the sides of our houses of trash? Only 11% of people don't do anything for garbage collectors. Almost half of people give between $10-$50, although it is unclear if this is per person or per truck. Another 11% give a small gift (<$25), 11% give $51-$75, 11% give $76-$100, and 4% give $101-$150.
• It pays to be a mail carrier. Although the U.S. Postal Service has a policy against mail carriers accepting any cash gifts, cash equivalents, or gifts over $20 in value, we in Scarsdale either don't know about it or choose to ignore it. 33% gave $10-$25, 28% gave $26-$50, and 6% gave $51-$100. Another 19% gave their mail carriers a small gift and 11% give nothing. Some people responded that they also tip their UPS/FedEx driver, and the amounts varied from $15-$50. Most people tip their newspaper delivery person with either a small gift or cash between $10-$50.
• Teachers most often received small gifts (<$25) from Scarsdale respondents. 13% gave cash gifts of $10-25 while $15% gave cash gifts between $26-50. 4% gave between $51-$75. If your child takes the bus, it's certainly appropriate to recognize the hard work of the bus driver and bus monitor. Gifts or gift cards are most appreciated and a range of $10-$50 per child is considered appropriate.
• Doctors are the least likely to receive cash gifts, understandable given their salaries compared to nannies and housekeepers. However, if your doctor has gone above and beyond for you or if you see them regularly, it's certainly appropriate to bring in a small gift of appreciation for the doctor or his/her office staff.
• The equivalent of one session or one week's pay is standard for a dog groomer, dog walker, personal trainer, music teacher, tutor, and regular aesthetician. Cash is the reigning wish from people in these professions.

Sarah White of Quaker Ridge enjoys tipping and gifting. She added, "I feel like gift giving around the holidays is somewhat obligatory and I am always worried that I am forgetting someone. She says, "I am approaching it more as a 'to-do' list." In fact, etiquette books often recommend making a list of people you wish to give to at holiday time so as not to forget anyone. Emily Weston of Fox Meadow said, "I do tip the garbage men and recycling men as well as the mail carrier, but as government employees, sometimes I wonder if it's appropriate to tip." And she's right, according to the postal service. She adds that there are some people who depend on it and build it into their yearly budget, so those are the people she prioritizes. "The dry cleaning delivery guy is always so kind and friendly when he sees me. The simple act of just being nice means a lot these days and I want to recognize that." Emily will be tipping him generously this year for his kindness and understanding.

Along with cash or other gifts at holiday time, it is important to remember to include a note thanking the recipient for their service. Kind words of appreciation mean a lot. If the person you are gifting interacts with your children on a regular basis, it is a nice gesture to include a little something from the child/children like a homemade card or art project. Sarah White believes teachers should receive the most, "...but that is often tempered by district policies," she said. So adding a special note from a child can make a teacher feel special and appreciated at holiday time.

Sources outside this survey suggest that a gift or cash in December is appropriate for service people who you interact with at least once a month. If you get your hair cut 2-3 times a year, it is unnecessary to make a special trip in to give a gift to a hairdresser. Likewise, some people responded that they tip their tailors, dry cleaners, launderers, and restaurant hostesses, but again, this is unnecessary unless you interact with these people regularly or they have recently gone above and beyond for you. There is also no "right" amount to gift, and the table below simply serves as a guideline. Sarah White cautioned, "It's hard to know what the 'right' amount is. It really does and should depend on how much you have in your holiday budget and this can vary tremendously family to family."

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey. We hope that you got answers to your "What is appropriate to tip and who do I tip?" questions. Let us know in the comments if there are other people you tip during the holidays and what you tip them.