Reflections on 9/11
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- Written by: Sharon Dizenhuz
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Scarsdale resident and former TV news anchor Sharon Dizenhuz shared this memory of September 11:
In my mind's eye, it still looks like the photograph below on the horizon of the southern part of Manhattan. My whole world view shifted on that day, when horror and fear redefined themselves for me, but not my view of the lower Manhattan skyline. Because the alternative is still too painful, the image bank in my mind's eye persists with the illusion of this complete, whole, unviolated and seemingly inviolable view of the southern tip of Manhattan.
I was anchoring the news at NY1 that crisp, gorgeous, blue-skied day. It was supposed to be a typical mayoral primary day. But from the second I got the call to come in early because a plane hit the WTC, to the moment, 10 or 11 hours later when I finally got up from the anchor desk for the first time, the day catapulted me from one unimaginable reality to another, and ultimately, to a permanently altered world view. As I remember it now, it all proceeds in excruciating slow motion. I see the towers tumbling down in real time on the monitors in the newsroom, while I am meant to be describing the significance and impact of this sight on live television, and all I can hear is the voice in my head screaming..."Oh my GOD...how many people are in that falling building now? How many people are dying right before my eyes? How many lives are being ruined now in a rumbling, billowing, smoke-filled domino effect of pain and loss? I probably know some of them." (i did).
Having worked in news for a fairly long time by then, I wondered.. in that second sound track you develop in your brain when doing live TV, who these people were whose stories we would soon come to know and cry over? And on the other track, the main one where you actually speak over the din from the other one, i struggled to keep composure, to get and deliver good information that might be useful or maybe even calming to a panicked city.
I still have a physical reaction when I think or talk about 9/11 for very long. This day, for me, lasted for such a long time...through sunrises and sunsets when the acrid smell of burning flesh still hung in the air and stung in my nose even as far uptown as my 76th street apartment, while the desperate and the terrified walked the streets holding pictures of people they loved and could not find on makeshift signs. It lasted weeks when I would pass fellow New Yorkers on the street with vacant, haunted faces and imagine they'd already discovered the worst. They were strangers, but in that window of time, New Yorker's eyes would meet as they never had before and wordlessly tear up with pain and compassion, solidarity, and understanding. I would bring a weekly pie to my local fire house that lost 14 men in one day, thank the few who were still standing, and cry all the way home. That endless slow motion day endured through months as I hosted a live call in show at the station, where those who'd lost loved ones could call in and speak to a revolving door of therapists and clergy we had as live guests along with counter-terrorism experts who could advise New Yorkers about the new, secondary threat of anthrax, and physicians who could help first responders and residents of downtown cope with mysterious new respiratory ailments; where dozens of callers confessed that they'd felt paralyzed for weeks and had not yet left their couches. In that city of intentional strangers once so proud to be anonymous, we 
became neighbors who make eye contact for a time. And these neighbors called up and sobbed over what had happened to our neighborhood, to their families, to their hope. The stories I'd anxiously and fearfully imagined that first part of that first day, emerged in agonizing high relief for a long, long endless day.
12 years later, those vivid images play instantly in the movie in my head at the mention of 9/11 and remind me to honor the memories, to tell those neighbors I still think of them often, and to try to do what I can to make sure this never happens again. No one has to tell me "never forget". I have that video burned onto my mind's eye. Right next to the picture of the perfect beautiful skyline in lower Manhattan I still cling to.
Declutter at the Saxon Woods Garage Sale
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With "indoor season" rapidly approaching, it's time to free up some valuable space around your house by cleaning out those closets, basements and attics and head over to the Saxon Woods Garage Sale, Sunday, October 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the park in White Plains.
Sponsored by Westchester County Parks, this sale is for individuals and families who want to sell their unwanted items, such as clothing, household items, furniture, toys, books and sporting goods. No professional antiques or collectible dealers are allowed. The sale is limited to the first 100 applicants who register.
Price is $40 for a 10-foot by 10-foot space. Vendors must provide their own tables, chairs, canopies and anything else necessary for display; no electrical hook-ups are available. Gates open at 6 a.m.; booths must remain open until 3 p.m. A $20 cash refundable deposit will be required at check-in that day; it will be returned at the end of the day pending inspection of the site by park staff. At the end of the sale, a charitable organization will be available to accept donations of any goods that do not sell, and unwanted items can be discarded in a trash hauler.
Admission and parking for shoppers at the Saxon Woods Garage Sale are free. The event will be held rain or shine. Saxon Woods Park is located at 1800 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. Go to westchestergov.com/parks for info and registration form, or call the park at (914) 995-4480.
JCC of Mid-Westchester Plans A Day of Chesed (kindness), Service and Remembrance for September 15
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The JCC of Mid-Westchester will welcome members of the community on Sunday, September 15, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., as part of the National Day of Service and Remembrance to mark the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attack. This is a county-wide event and all members of the community are invited to come out and donate items for these drives and/or participate in numerous charitable activities taking place that day for people of all ages and interests.
A number of activities that will benefit more than 20 local agencies will take place; a bone marrow drive with the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation, a pet adoption and pet toys collection with PetRescue, a microwaveable meal/snack drive for AnySoldier, which sends packages to troops, hair donations for Locks of Love, a blood drive to benefit the blood bank at White Plains Hospital, a Sukkot Holiday Package program (DOROT Westchester), a children's clothing drive by Kids Kloset, a teen clothing/suitcase drive to benefit the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services (JBFCS), school- and art-supply collection to aid Jewish Child Care Association (JCCA), a pasta/cereal collection for Bronx Jewish Community Council, a canned tuna collection to benefit Hope Community Services, which provides meals for the hungry in New Rochelle, and new pillow donations for Life Haven Shelter.
As a day of service for families with children of all ages, there will be service activities for the youngest set, including Child-Friendly Tzedakah Art Projects, Chanukah Dinner Favor Making for Bronx Jewish Community Council Clients, Sukkot Decoration Making for Hebrew Home Residents, Caring Quilt project to create a "square of care" for a paper quilt for Ronald McDonald House, and Tzedekah Box Decorating.
The event is FREE of charge and begins at 10 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., there will be a community ribbon-cutting for the new Karen Spar Kasner Play Center for the JCC's Nursery School. A remembrance program will take place at 1:00 p.m., featuring elected officials and community leaders. There will also be intergenerational activities, which include organized sports activities from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., a family swim in the JCC pool from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., and a concert by Westchester Klezmer Group from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. In addition to the age-appropriate art activities for young children, there will be teen service projects 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester, a proud beneficiary of UJA-Federation of New York, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community by providing cultural, social, educational and recreational/fitness programs, human services and Jewish identity-building opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds without regard to race or religion. Visit www.jccmw.org for more information about the JCC of Mid-Westchester and class schedules.
Scarsdale Adult School Fall Registration Opens Monday, August 5th
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Scarsdale Adult School online registration for the fall semester is opening Monday! Catalog subscribers and residents of zip codes 10583, 10530, 10605, and 10804 may expect to receive their printed catalogs in the mail shortly after August 9th. Extra copies will be available at both the Scarsdale Public Library and Scarsdale Village Hall.
SAS continues to offer a wide range of history, culture, religion, film, literature, foreign languages, art appreciation, music, finance, fitness and dance, games, photography, arts and crafts, cooking, wine, garden, skill enhancement, health/wellness, and self-improvement classes. Expanded computer and technology offerings are sure to be a hit with even more courses specific to mobile devices and cloud-based apps. SAT preparation classes for high school students are back as well.
SAS has also planned a series of special events commemorating its 75th anniversary. Take a look back at the year 1938, when SAS was born, in one of several new classes.
Be sure to subscribe to the SAS monthly newsletter for the latest updates by going to the SAS website and clicking on the yellow and green "Subscribe to Newsletter" icon.
With staggered start dates throughout the semester and both day and evening classes, SAS has something to fit everyone's schedule. To enroll for classes and view all SAS offerings, visit the adult school website at www.ScarsdaleAdultSchool.org or call (914) 723-2325 with any questions.
August Specialty Camps and Stress Reduction at JCC of Mid-Westchester
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As local day camps and sleep-away camps draw to a close, what's a mother to do? One option is to sign the youngsters up for an End-of-Summer Specialty camp at the JCC of Mid-Westchester.
For the week of August 12th to 16th, parents can enroll their children in one of three specialty camps: baseball, cheer-tumbling or drama-dance, all of which are held in the JCC's air-conditioned, well-equipped facilities.
The 3-up 3-down Baseball Program will teach kids the fundamentals of fielding and hitting, using batting cages and baseball diamonds at Scarsdale's Supply Field. Snacks and a dip in the JCC pool will round out each camp day, which run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m, August 12th to 16th. There will also be a surprise celebrity guest on the final day of camp, bringing the week's festivities to a close. The camp is for children ages 6 to 12 years, and the activities are grouped by age and ability. Cost is $400 for the week. For more information, contact Roy Emlet at 914-472-3300 x254.
The Cheer-Tumbling camp, for pre-teens ages 7-12, is great for those who want to learn to tumble for their school's cheerleading squad or an All-Star team. Cartwheels, round-offs, back handsprings, and back tucks are some of the skills taught with proper progression, as well as jumps and conditioning. This specialty camp runs from 9:00 am to 1:00pm, August 12th to 16th. Cost is $300 for the week. For additional information, contact Chon Smith at 914-472-3300 x324.
At the Drama Dance Mini Camp, children ages 4 to 7 years will gain confidence by acting and dancing with their peers in a safe, supportive environment. Professional acting instructor Kerri LuBell encourages cooperation, coordination, imagination and fun! The program runs from 9:00am to 12:00 noon, August 12th to 16th. For details, contact Jayne Santoro at 914- 472-3300 x320.
These specialty camps are not the only happening at the JCC this summer. On July 30th, the JCC of Mid-Westchester will host Juna Bobby, M.D. and founder of MindBodySpace. Dr. Bobby will present a lecture on improving children's emotional and mental health through stress relief.
The lecture will include an explanation of "good" stress versus "bad" stress, the physical and cognitive effects of stress overload, and how such overload can affect academic performance. Focusing on "Stress Reduction for Your Child's Peak Performance," Dr. Bobby will discuss the unique challenges and everyday stresses that children face today, and she will introduce the Extra Edge program for students, which is adapted from a program created by the Benson Henry Institute's Education Initiative at Harvard Medical School. In addition, Dr. Bobby will teach how to elicit the Relaxation Response -- an antidote to the stress response – through experiential exercises derived from cutting-edge scientific research in the field known as Mind-Body Medicine. Mind-Body Medicine is based on the concept that we can improve health and well being through self-care or "mind-body" techniques, such as meditation, guided imagery and deep breathing exercises.
Dr. Bobby, a graduate of the NYU Medical School, is a Board Certified radiologist. She also trained at Montefiore Medical Center, at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York, and at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital Psychiatry Academy continuing education programs for Mind Body Medicine and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Her expertise lies in teaching positive thinking skills and tools to break cycles of stress and promote health and inner well being. Her program website is www.mindbodyspace.com.
This event will run from at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM on Tuesday, July 30th at the JCC of Mid-Westchester, which is located at 999 Wilmot Road in Scarsdale. The cost for this event is $25, payable at the JCC in Scarsdale. For more information, contact Academic Center Director Lisa Itzkowitz via phone at 914-472-3300 ext.275 or via email at itzkowitzl@jccmw.org.
