Scarsdale Teens Cycle to Raise Awareness and Funds
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100 Miles to Raise Awareness About Climate Change
Jack Porter with supporters Adam Wasserman, Emmett Goldstein, and Michael Waxman. One bike, one kid, and 100 miles for climate change awareness. Jack Porter, a junior at Scarsdale High School, went above and beyond on Friday September 27 to raise awareness for the pressing issue of global warming. While most kids opted to participate in the school’s climate change walkout organized by Junior Class President, Michael Waxman which in his words focused on, “capturing our message that SHS students care about climate change and want to see a transition into a renewable energy economy in the future.” However, Jack wanted to do even more to spread the word of global warming. As a result, Jack devoted 17 hours of his day on Friday to bike 100 miles.
Although, in the beginning, Porter wasn’t reaching all of targeted destinations in his desired time, with the support of friend’s Emmett Goldstein, Michael Waxman, Sam Scheffler, and Adam Wasserman, Jack soon was back onto course. Jack was continually motivated “to raise support for the climate change walkout and push the limits.”
Like many other students around the world, Jack, understands the grave dangers of global warming. His bike route spanned Bronxville to the Kensico Dam supplemented by many laps around the high school track. He was able to track his progress through his Garmin running watch and the Garmin connect app.
How can the rest of us take action to help raise awareness for global warming? Jack suggests, “Petitioning local government and congressmen to support climate action, not driving with one person in a three-ton SUV and supporting clean energy sources like nuclear.” Jack believes with, “Support from first world governments and investments, nuclear fusion could be functional and effective in a few years,” which is a, “real key to solving all our environmental problems.”
Cycling for White Plains Hospital Family Health Center
Several Scarsdale teenagers and members of the Junior Friends of White Plains Hospital (WPH) sweated and cycled their way to raising funds to benefit White Plains Hospital Family Health Center on September 22.
Spearheaded by Charlotte Meyers, 17, president of the Scarsdale High School Junior Friends of WPH, the fundraiser drew 23 cyclists to the Flywheel Sports cycling studio in Scarsdale. The teens raised nearly $1500 in support of local healthcare.
The students are members of the Junior Friends of White Plains Hospital and work closely with their adult counterparts in the Friends of White Plains Hospital. The mission of these groups is to raise awareness, provide volunteer services, and raise money for valuable Hospital programs.
The Family Health Center, which opened in a new location in June, provides preventive, primary care, and specialty services to families and children living in White Plains and surrounding neighborhoods.
(Pictured from left to right: Jennifer Farfel, Eileen Meyers, Charlotte Meyers, Jayden Cyzner, Tara Bleustein, Bonni Bleustein.)
Eagle Scout Builds Outdoor Fitness Stations at SHS
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A Scarsdale High Senior who is also a gifted runner and a boy scout has realized his dream to construct three outdoor fitness stations next to the Scarsdale High School track.
The work began two years ago when Ward Bandsma was a sophomore at Scarsdale High School and contemplating his project to earn him the designation of Eagle Scout. In collaboration with his track coach Richard Clark, Ward envisioned the installation of three fitness stations to be used by both students, sports teams and community members as an outdoor gym to be used free of charge. Each station would facilitate a variety of exercises.
Working with Recreation Department Supervisor Brian Gray, Bandsma selected three stations from PlayWorld for an estimated cost of more than $11,000 plus miscellaneous expenses for freight, wood chips, railroad ties and signage. He then embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign to come up with the budget to install the equipment.
He started with requests to both the schools and the Village who both turned him down. He made presentations to Recreation Department head Brian Gray and Assistant to the Village Manager Josh Ringel but was unsuccessful at securing the funds. He met and presented the plan to SHS Principal Ken Bonamo and wrote a detailed project proposal for Athletic Director Ray Pappalardi who presented it to sports booster organization Maroon and White, again with no success. Finally he turned to the Scarsdale School Education Foundation and the Scarsdale Foundation who ultimately granted him $4,500 and $2,500 respectively.
Looking for further funding and grants, Bandsma went online and launched a campaign on Go Fund Me where he raised another $5,090 which made it possible for him to move forward.
Rather than hire a company to install the equipment, Bandsma recruited his fellow scouts to dig holes, assemble equipment, level the equipment, mix and pour cement, rake and install wood chips. This work was done on December 15 and 16, 2018. He estimated that the labor to install the three stations would have cost $7,500.
On September 2, 2019 Bandsma’s accomplishment was recognized at the Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony attended by troop members, his family and 
State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. He received his Eagle Scout pin from Scoutmaster Ed Connolly while his parents, grandparents and family looked on.
It was a proud day for Ward’s family, marking a wonderful contribution to the Scarsdale community.
Brian Bandsma, Scoutmaster Ed Connolly and Ward Bandsma at the Eagle Court of Honor ceremony.
Authors of "Grown and Flown" to Discuss Their New Book at the Scarsdale Adult School
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Authors Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington will discuss their new book, "Grown and Flown," at the Scarsdale Adult School on November 13.First you read “What To Expect When You’re Expecting,” and then moved onto “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen.” There has never been so much good information available about navigating parenthood, at every stage. Seven years ago, two local parents, grappling with their own teenagers and young adults identified yet another unique life stage… from the teenage years into the twenties. They dubbed this period, “Grown and Flown,” and started a website and a Facebook page that soon grew to be “the #1 site for parents of teens and young adults.”
The site includes insights from 500 writers, experts, physicians, student advisor, psychologists, educators and parents and averages more than two million monthly page views.
Now the two, Lisa Heffernan and Mary Harrington, have published a book with advice from experts and parents on every issue you may confront as the parent of a teen. They called the book, “Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family and Raise Independent Adults.” It’s filled with advice on topics like these:
-How to engage teens in meaningful conversation
-The most important things to remember before starting high school
-Depression is different for teens: learning the signs
-Honest talk about sexual assault
-Why it’s so critical to stay close the first semester of college when your child is pulling away
-It’s Parents' Weekend at your kid’s college: do’s and don’ts
Find out the answers to these questions and others when authors Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington discuss their new book at the Scarsdale Adult School on Wednesday night November 13 at 7:30 pm at Scarsdale High School.
Join them as they share what they know about building strong relationships with your teens and preparing them to successfully launch into adulthood.
Sign up here to attend the class – and if you wish - to purchase the book.
Bus Carrying Scarsdale Students to Riverdale is Rear Ended on the Cross County Parkway
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Photo by Sam SingerThe school year is off to a shaky start for some private school students from Scarsdale. A small Scarsdale school bus, carrying eleven students to private schools in Riverdale was rear-ended by a driver on the Cross County Parkway on Monday morning September 9 around 7:50 am. Ten students were enroute to Horace Mann and one to Riverdale Country School.
The eleven students were taken to St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers though none were injured.
According to a parent of a student on the bus, Horace Mann sent two security vehicles to pick up the students, accompanied by the Head of School and Head of Transportation.
Victoria Presser, the Public Information Officer for the Scarsdale Schools reported that all the students were okay. A district administrator went to the hospital to work with families in picking up their students. Police reported that the driver of the car, who rear-ended the bus, also went to a hospital after complaining of some pain.
Photo by Sam Singer
A Secret Garden on Popham Road
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When Alfredo and Malula Gonzales bought their first floor apartment at 50 Popham Road 17 years ago, they didn’t even realize it had a terrace. It was wintertime when they made the purchase, and they didn’t look outside.
Their first spring they were pleasantly surprised to find the spacious terrace, and started to embellish it with a few potted plants during their first season on Popham Road. They had moved to the apartment from Parkfield Road where the house already had a beautiful garden designed by the former owner, fashion designer Vince Camuto. When they moved, Alfredo was afraid he would miss the garden and the barbeque.
Alfredo in his garden.At Popham Road, the terrace on their apartment overlooked a beautiful garden on the 4-acre property that includes the building, and the Gonzales’ were inspired by the view. Each year they added both perennials and annuals to the terrace, until the garden became their passion and obsession.
Alfredo was no stranger to gardens, He grew up in Venezuela where he was the eighth of nine children. Their 
tropical garden in the tropics required twice a day watering, and when he came home from school, he was responsible for the second shift.
Now in its 17th year, his garden on Popham Road is filled with flowering hydrangeas, climbing ferns, clematis, coneflower, coleus, begonias, marigolds and more. The two spend many happy hours planting, potting and weeding – much to the joy of their neighbors, who look out and see the garden from their windows above.
Each year, the Gonzales invite their neighbors to the terrace for drinks, hors d-oeuvres and a closer look at the plantings.
Discussing his garden, Alfredo said, “When you retire, you must have a hobby. The garden is mine.”
