Girls Inc. Makes it Fashionable to be Strong, Smart and Bold
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How powerful is the purse? At Girls Inc of Westchester County’s annual fundraiser, the answer was $150,000 strong. That’s the amount the local chapter of the 145 year-old national girls’ empowerment organization raised in a single night. Their recent ‘Power of the Purse’ gala brought celebrities, business leaders and designers together to raise money for programs that enhance the financial literary, everyday savvy, and self-assurance of local girls between the ages of 9 and18.
Held in Ardsley at ‘Life: The Place to Be,” the festive Power of the Purse gathering featured an exciting auction of unique, individually-crafted handbags designed to honor 11 Westchester “purse-o-nalities.” A teen from Girls Inc.’s programs strutted the runway to model each designer-created masterpiece, to share her dreams for the future, and to invite the crowd to invest in girls like her.
NBC-TV Today Show financial advisor Jean Chatzky served as the emcee for the evening. New York State Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins,
By the time the evening drew to a close, the ‘Power of the Purse’ event had achieved – and exceeded - its initial goal.
“It was wonderful to see so many people come out in support of Westchester girls, and our effort to teach girls the skills they’ll need to be financially independent adults.” said Sally Baker, Executive Director of Girls Inc. Westchester.
The many heartfelt testimonials offered by local Girls Inc youngsters inspired and engaged the more than 400 guests. Enthused Matisse Clayton 11 of New Rochelle, “Girls Inc. has empowered me to be whatever I choose – a journalist, a doctor, a lawyer or a president.” Added Roosevelt High School student Margaret Herring of Yonkers, “I was considered to be nothing and fought to be something; I triumphed. I’m half way here so who’s going to stop me?”
The ‘Power of the Purse’ gathering serves as the centerpiece of Girls Inc. Westchester’s annual funding campaign, which raises money for programs that inspire all girls to be ‘strong, smart, and bold.’ Through workshops, classes, and conferences, Girls Inc. Westchester helps pre-teens and teens throughout the county learn about leadership, financial literacy, media literacy, science and technology careers, and more.
“This event gave the all-important message to Westchester girls that they matter, and that there are countless women and men who care about and are willing to invest in their future.”
(Pictured at top: Shell Roberts, Sabrina Standard, Jacqueline Williams, Andrea Stewart Cousins: Photo Credit Cesar Rivera)
Take A Survey to Tell Us What You Would Like To See Downtown
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Downtown Scarsdale has seen its ups and downs in the past few years. Just this week, Imagine Candy is opening on Harwood Court, right across the street from the former site of Rhodadendron, a moderately priced clothing and accessories store that never gained a foothold in town. And on Christie Place the new Patisserie Salzburg is selling cake but the Christie Place Bakery has closed.
With several empty sites in town, the Scarsdale Chamber of Commerce wants to hear your opinions about what kinds of businesses, stores and restaurants you’d like to see in Scarsdale Village. Participate in our short survey and we’ll tabulate the results and make sure your voices are heard.
Rhodadendron on Harwood Court has closed
The Christie Place Bakery is also history
Police Investigate the Death of an Edgemont Grad
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Residents of Chimney Pot Lane in Ardsley found the body of a 20 year-old Hartsdale man in their yard at 1:50 pm on Wednesday October 19th. The body was identified as Charles A. McCarthy of 300 South Central Avenue, Hartsdale. An autopsy was done by the Westchester County Medical Examiner’s Office but the cause of death has not been determined and the department is awaiting toxicology reports. The Ardsley Police, Westchester County Police and the Medical’s Examiner’s office are conducting an investigation into the matter but according to police “the incident does not appear to be criminal in nature.”
McCarthy was a 2010 graduate of Edgemont High School and was a student at Westchester Community College at the time of his death. He had a troubled past. In December 2010 McCarthy was charged with burglary in the break-in of a home on Andrea Lane where a computer and electronics were stolen. At that time, McCarthy was also on probation for an attempted robbery conviction in Eastchester in 2008.
Ardsley Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Detective Division at 914-693-1700.
(Pictured above, Charles A McCarthy)
Update from Assemblywoman Amy Paulin
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Assemblywoman Amy Paulin (D-88) reports that the 2011 legislative session was for her, one of the most successful. Working in a bipartisan manner, Paulin was able to get many of her bill’s passed and she ranked fourth out of 150 in the number of her bills that passed both the State Assembly and State Senate. To date, Governor Cuomo has signed thirteen of her bills into law.
As a result, Paulin was named Chair of the Assembly’s Committee on Children and Families. Paulin’s 2011 bills reflect her new leadership role and her advocacy for students, seniors, and vulnerable populations. Some of Paulin’s bills that were signed into law this session include:
Adult Protective Services Record Sharing
The death earlier this year of 23-year old Laura Cummings, a mentally disabled woman who was held captive, tortured and brutalized by her own mother and half-brother, brought to light the tragic consequences that can occur when one state agency lacks access to critical information possessed by another state agency. Paulin’s law (Ch. 440 of 2011) will give adult protective services access to child protective services records to better enable them to determine whether a person is in need of adult protective services.
SUNY Purchase
Legislation was passed to allow SUNY Purchase to lease unused land on its campus to create a senior learning community. As many as 385 units may be constructed and 20% of the units will be designated affordable housing. Westchester County residents will be given priority for half of those units. 75% of the revenues generated by the lease will fund financial aid to qualified students while the remaining 25% will support the addition of full-time faculty positions at the university.
Early Intervention
Paulin’s bill gives counties a measure of critically needed mandate relief. Although state law requires commercial health insurers to contribute to the cost of early intervention services provided to children covered under their policies, private insurers pay only 2% of costs of the $654 million early intervention program. The failure by insurers to pay their share of the costs of early intervention services has placed an increasingly undue burden on municipalities. With this new law, municipalities will be better equipped to improve efficiencies in seeking reimbursement from insurers.
Immunizations
Paulin wrote a new law (Ch. 316 of 2011) that extends the law she authored that allows licensed pharmacists to administer flu and pneumonia shots to adults. Without this extension, adults would not be able to obtain flu and pneumonia shots in pharmacies or at other community facilities. Prior to the law, between 5,000 and 7,500 New Yorkers died annually from these diseases, and more than 75,000 treated in hospitals for flu-like symptoms. With the law, more than one million shots were administered in the past year. By allowing pharmacists to administer these vaccinations, the State will make healthcare more accessible to all New Yorkers and be better able to respond to a future flu pandemic.
Constituents can keep up with news and announcements on Paulin’s official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/assemblywomanpaulin and follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/amypaulin .
Tapping the Potential of the NYS Legislature and a Candidates Debate
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Dr. Gerald Benjamin and Daniel L. Feldman will discuss “Tapping the Potential of the New York State Legislature” at the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale’s Food for Thought Luncheon at Scarsdale Golf Club on Friday, October 21. Members of the community are invited to attend. Dr. Benjamin and Mr. Feldman are the co-authors of Tales from the Sausage Factory: Making Laws in New York State, which has been hailed as a must-read for anyone interested in the workings of state government. Dr. Gerald Benjamin, SUNY Distinguished Professor of Political Science, has written extensively on state and local government and been involved in numerous efforts to reform both. He also served as an elected official in Ulster County for a dozen years. Daniel L. Feldman is Associate Professor of Public Management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As a member of the New York State Legislature from 1981 through 1998, Feldman wrote more than 140 laws including New York’s Megan’s Law
The luncheon will begin at 11:45 am. To RSVP, call Anne Lyons at 725-9810. The cost is $40 per person ($45 after October 10) and is payable in advance or at the door. To pay in advance, make your check payable to League of Women Voters of Scarsdale and mail to Anne Lyons, 82 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale 10583.
On Wednesday October 19th at 7:30 pm, the LWV of Scarsdale will sponsor a Candidate Forum in the Scott Room at the Scarsdale Public Library. Participants will be the candidates for the 5th District of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, Dr. Iris Pagan and William J. Ryan.
Ryan, who is a Democrat is the past President of the County Board of Legislators. He is now serving his seventh term and is running for 
re-election in November. Republican candidate, Dr. Iris Pagan is challenging Ryan for his seat. She is a White Plains resident and a teacher and served as the treasurer and president of the Westchester County Women’s Republican Club. She is a graduate of Columbia Teacher’s College and Pace University.
The public is invited and encouraged to attend. After the candidates speak there will be a question and answer period. For more information, contact Deb Morel at 723-7364 or [email protected].
