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.”
Former Greenacres Resident and Community Volunteer Vivienne Braun Passes Away at 58
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Former Greenacres resident and active community volunteer Vivienne Braun passed away at age 58 on the morning of August 13, 2019 surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held on Friday August 16 at Westchester Reform Temple.
According to STEP Board members Vivienne “was always strong, enthusiastic and dedicated to her family, friends, STEP and numerous other Scarsdale and worldwide organizations and charities that she whole-heartedly supported.”
Vivienne received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bryn Mawr College, a Masters degree in International Relations from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a Masters degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Manhattanville College
She was an active volunteer in Scarsdale where she lived for 20 years and served in many leadership roles including President of the Scarsdale High School PTA, Vice-President of the Parent-Teacher Council and board member of the Scarsdale-Edgemont Family Counseling Services.
At Westchester Reform Temple, Vivienne was co-chair of the Social Action Committee and tutored elementary school students through a program sponsored by the Westchester Jewish Community Services. She was on the board of the Scarsdale Student Transfer Education Program where she has served as chairwoman and secretary.
As supporters of the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, Vivienne and her husband participated in bicycle rides in Israel where they visited military bases and met soldiers.
Former Scarsdale Forum President Robert Berg said this: “Vivienne and I worked on some school and community issues several years ago. As we all know, Vivienne was a tireless supporter of the schools. What I admired most about Vivienne was her willingness to stand up for her principles, even if that might not be the most politic way. Vivienne will be missed. My condolences to her family on her untimely passing.”
Vivienne was a strong advocate for her beliefs. After the Scarsdale School Budget was defeated in 2013 (for the first time in 43 years), speaking before the Scarsdale Forum, Braun said, “Over 1,700 people voted against the budget because they believe the board can do better and can propose a budget that they can support. The people who voted no used their vote to send this message to the board.”
She continued, “We want the BOE to stop spending on fancy window-dressing that may make the Scarsdale "brand" internationally prominent but that we know is a charade if the board ignores the core industry of this town which is to provide our children with a superior education. We are telling the Board of Education to spend responsibly and focus on those items in the budget that directly affect the education of our students.”
“I ask the board to listen and incorporate the views and ideas of the voters. The hallmark of Scarsdale is educational excellence. Spending that is not directed squarely at this imperative will not fly in this economic environment. The vote has shown that if you build it, they will NOT come and if you don't spend wisely, they will not acquiesce.”
After leaving Scarsdale Vivienne and her husband Perry moved to Greenwich, CT where she joined JCC-UJA Greenwich. Vivienne and Perry have three children, Jack, Nicole and Andrew Braun.
A memorial service for Braun will be held Friday morning August 16, 2019 at 11am at Westchester Reform Temple.
Conntributions in Vivienne's name can be made to;
Hunter Hillel
c/o Merav Fine Braun
695 Park Avenue
Room 1317A
New York, NY 10065
Please specify in memo The Vivienne Braun Fund to address food insecurity.
Or
Anti-Defamation League
605 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10158
https://www.adl.org/
Register Now for Classes for Students of All Ages at Hoff Barthelson School of Music
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Student Ensemble: Photo by Steven SchnurAt Hoff-Barthelson, students find a warm, friendly music school dedicated to the highest standards of education, performance, and community service. Students of all ages – 6 months to adult – aptitudes, and levels of interest enjoy a supportive, joyful learning environment; a focus on the whole person; exceptional teaching; and a multifaceted curriculum. A commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community permeates the School.
Once enrolled for music lessons, all students gain complimentary access to a comprehensive program that includes unlimited musicianship classes and ensembles, myriad performance opportunities, master classes with world renowned guest artists, and workshops.
As the School celebrates its 75th Anniversary, a number of exciting new classes and program enhancements have been added to the School’s robust curriculum. A sampling of the new offerings includes: group piano and ukulele classes; songwriting workshops; classes in improvisation, piano history and literature; “Scarsdale Singers,” a chorus for adults; classes in the Alexander Technique; Dalcroze Eurhythmics workshops for all ages; and the implementation of online resources published by the Royal Conservatory of Music to support the School’s long-established grade-level appropriate learning goals.
The school year begins Monday, September 9th. Families wishing to learn about early childhood classes for children ages 6 months through kindergarten are invited to attend an Open House on Friday, September 6, from 10 to 11:30 am, which features a demo class at 10:30 am.
For more information and to register, call 914-723-1169, visit www.hbms.org, or e-mail [email protected].
