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Written by: Rajni Menon

Published: 20 November 2018

Created: 20 November 2018

Last Updated: 21 November 2018

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Looking for a new twist on sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving? Local chef Rajni Menon, a Scarsdale resident who hails from the southern Indian state of Kerala, shared this recipe which melds sweet potatoes with ingredients from her Kerala pantry and spices that are available here in the United States.

Here’s a recipe to bring a touch of the exotic to your Thanksgiving table:

Roasted Sweet Potatoes in Coconut Milk
(Serves 3-4 as a side dish)

Ingredients:

Sweet potatoes (cubed)-3 cups
Coconut milk-1/4 cup
Coconut oil-3 tablespoons
Jaggery(Indian brown sugar grated)-1/4 cup
Garlic powder-1/2 teaspoon
Kashmiri chill powder or paprika-1 teaspoon
Onion powder-1/2 teaspoon
Vanilla powder-1/2 teaspoon
Cinnamon powder-1/2 teaspoon
Cumin powder-1 teaspoon
Salt-1/2 teaspoon
Black pepper-1 teaspoon
Maple Syrup-3 tablespoons

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

Cube the sweet potatoes and place it in a shallow baking pan.

Add spices, coconut oil and the coconut milk.

Mix well to coat the sweet potatoes.

Bake for 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Stir it gently at the 20 minute mark and bake for another 20 more minutes until the sweet potatoes are fully cooked and roasted at the bottom.

Add in the maple syrup and give it a gentle stir.

Transfer this to a serving platter and enjoy!Rajni Menon

Menon teaches authentic Kerala cuisine which is mostly gluten free and vegan. She teaches private Indian cooking classes in clients’ homes, preparing full meals from scratch. See more about Menon here: www.creativerajni.com

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Written by: Conservation Advisory Council

Published: 14 November 2018

Created: 14 November 2018

Last Updated: 16 November 2018

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What can be recycled in Scarsdale can sometimes be confusing. This is the first article in a series of articles on WHAT and HOW to recycle in Scarsdale.

Our Sanitation Department does a great job of making our waste disappear so it’s easy not to think about it, but it all has to go somewhere. Instead of ending up as garbage that is burned just 30 minutes from Scarsdale, most items we use every day can be recycled and turned into something new while generating revenue for our County.

Every additional item that is recycled keeps our air, land and water safer, lessens the need to manufacture products from scratch, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. With a little effort and armed with a little knowledge, we can individually and collectively make a big difference!

This first article is a comprehensive guide to Commingled Recycling - Plastic, Glass, Metal, and Cartons. For a printable version or to read other CAC sustainability articles, click here. An article about Paper and Cardboard recycling will be published next month.

To ask further questions, please contact the Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council using the online contact form.

Commingled Recycling (Plastic, Glass, Metal, Cartons)
Containers should be emptied and rinsed (see FAQ below). You can include caps and lids.

PLASTICS
ACCEPTED ITEMS: Any plastic coded #1 - #7
(except NO plastic bags, Styrofoam, or big, bulky items - even if numbered)

HOW TO DISPOSE OF NON-ACCEPTED PLASTIC:
• ALL plastic bags, Saran wrap, bubble wrap, air pillows: Trash or store recycle bins (FAQ below)
• Styrofoam (even coded #6, see FAQ), vinyl, diapers, utensils, and straws: Trash
• Very large items such as very large plastic toys: Donate or curbside Bulky Trash
• Empty containers that held hazardous material: Trash (see FAQ below)

GLASS
ACCEPTED ITEMS: Glass bottles and jars for food and drinks (any color)

HOW TO DISPOSE OF NON-ACCEPTED GLASS OR GLASS-LIKE ITEMS:
• Glass vases, Pyrex, drinking glasses, ceramics, plate glass, candle jars: donate or trash
• Light bulbs: LED and Incandescent (trash); CFL (recycle at vendors, see FAQ below)

METALS
ACCEPTED ITEMS: Metal food and drink cans, aerosol cans, aluminum foil and foil pans, and screw-top metal lids (separated from glass jars)

HOW TO DISPOSE OF NON-ACCEPTED METALS:
• Metal hangers: dry cleaners, scrap metal bin at Scarsdale Recycling Center, or trash
• Batteries: Non-rechargeable (trash), rechargeable (big box stores, see FAQ below)
• Bulky metal (e.g. water heater): leave at curb on bulk pickup day (2nd trash day of week)
• Other metal (keys, pipes, knobs, nails, etc): scrap metal bin at Scarsdale Recycling Center
• Empty containers that held hazardous material: Trash (see FAQ below)

CARTONS (NEW!!!)
ACCEPTED ITEMS: Food and drink cartons, soup cartons, juice boxes, and ice cream cartons

Commingled Recycling FAQs

COLLECTION: Why can’t we place recycling in plastic bags for pickup? Plastic bags jam the sorting machines at the recycling center so recycling needs to be placed LOOSE in our bins. If worried about your bin getting dirty, you can line it with a large bag that stays in the bin.

RINSING CONTAINERS: Do I have to clean my containers before recycling? Food residue should be removed and containers should be briefly rinsed but they don’t need to be sparkling clean. The recycling process can handle a little residue but rinsing keeps everything neater.

PLASTIC BAGS: Are plastic bags with recycling number signs accepted? No, not in the County program. But clean soft, thin film plastic, such as plastic bags (grocery, bread, cereal, garbage, newspaper, dry cleaner, Ziploc, etc.); Saran wrap; bubble wrap, air pillows, and packaging wrap may be recycled through supermarkets/large box stores which are required to have bins. Click here for more information on plastic bag recycling.

PLASTIC BAGS: Can we get a plastic bag recycling bin at the Scarsdale Recycling Center? Our County does not currently process plastic bags and Scarsdale cannot meet the minimum volume required to recycle privately. The Scarsdale CAC will continue to look into options.

PLASTIC CODES: What does the number inside the triangle recycling symbol mean? It denotes the type of plastic that the container is made of and can aid recyclers in the sorting process. Westchester accepts all numbers (#1 -#7) EXCEPT Styrofoam (even if #6) and plastic bags.

STYROFOAM: Why is Styrofoam not accepted, even when coded #6? Municipal recycling programs rarely accept Styrofoam for recycling due to the difficulty in processing, transporting and recycling Styrofoam. Some shipping stores (more info) accept loose fill peanuts. The most waste-conscious option is to avoid Styrofoam whenever possible.

CARTONS: Why are cartons put in commingled recycling when they look more like paper? Food and beverage cartons are lined with a thin film of plastic to make them leak-proof so they go through a different recycling process than regular paper/cardboard. The same equipment used to sort other commingled items is used to sort the cartons so they are processed together.

LIGHTBULBS: Why do different bulbs have different disposal requirements? Incandescent bulbs and LEDs may go in trash or be recycled through some retailers. However, fluorescent tubes and CFLs contain mercury which is toxic. Large home improvement stores typically accept CFLs (more info) but not fluorescent tubes which should be brought to the County Hazardous Materials depot (link).

METAL: What if I have an item that is part metal (like a broken scissor with plastic handle)? If the metal can be separated, it may be placed in the scrap metal bin at the Recycling Center and the plastic placed in recycling or trash; otherwise, the whole item should be placed in trash.

BATTERIES: How do I dispose of batteries? Regular (non-rechargeable) batteries go into trash. Rechargeable batteries contain toxic materials and should be brought to big box electronic stores that have rechargeable battery recycling bins, not placed in trash.

HAZARDOUS ITEMS: What’s considered “hazardous?” Materials such as pesticides, herbicides, stains, kerosene, automotive fluids, solvents, and pool chemicals are considered hazardous. Empty containers used for such hazardous materials should go into the trash, even if empty. Full or partial containers with hazardous material should be brought to the County Hazardous Materials depot (link). Household cleaners are not considered hazardous and these empty containers can go into recycling if coded #1-7. Click for a list of hazardous materials.

General FAQs

What happens to our garbage? Household garbage is brought to a County incinerator 30 minutes north of Scarsdale, where it is burned and generates electricity. The County has controls in place to minimize the negative environmental impact, but there are unavoidable toxic by-products. Residual toxins are emitted into the air and hazardous ashes must be buried in landfills. Recycling helps to reduce these negative environmental impacts.

How does recycling help? Every additional item that is recycled keeps our air, land and water safer; reduces use of fossil fuels; lessens greenhouse gas emissions; and enables us to turn items we no longer use into something new while generating revenue for our County.

What happens with our recyclables? Our recyclables are brought to the County’s Material Recovery Facility in Yonkers, where they are sorted, bundled into bales, and sold on the open market to manufacturers who turn our recyclables into new products.

What determines what recyclables are accepted? Not all plastics, glass, metals, or paper products are the same. Even if they look similar, raw materials can be different, or they may require different processing equipment due to materials or shape. The County specifies what is accepted based on what it’s able to process and what it’s able to sell.

Why are commingled and paper/cardboard collected separately? Processing them separately yields a much higher quality recycling stream which helps ensure our recyclables are sold and turned into new items.

I’ve read about towns throwing out their recycling. Is this happening here? NO! Our dual-stream recycling system and residents’ efforts to minimize contamination have ensured all our recycling is sold and turned into new products even as other municipalities have had difficulties.

Additional Recycling Resources:

• Scarsdale Recycling Guide
• Yonkers Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) video
• Scarsdale Sanitation Dept: [email protected] or 914.722.1294 (Mon-Sat, 8am-3pm)
• Westchester County Recycling Helpline: 914.813.5425 (Mon-Sun, 9am-7pm)

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 07 November 2018

Created: 07 November 2018

Last Updated: 08 November 2018

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Nell Brodsky at Mile 8Many with local roots were among the 52,000 runners who finished the New York City Marathon under sunny skies on Sunday November 4. The 26.2 mile course traverses all the boroughs where supporters lined up to cheer the runners on. Here are a few stories from Scarsdalians – and Scarsdale alumni who ran:

Nell Brodsky, SHS 2009 ran for the first time. She shared the following: “I’ve been wanting to run the NYC Marathon for a few years, and watching it last year was so inspiring that I signed up and committed myself to try. I kicked off training by preparing for a half marathon in the spring, only to get a stress fracture in my shin, which sidelined me from running until mid-July. So being able to participate in the marathon after overcoming the injury felt especially meaningful.

The day exceeded all my expectations. I knew that seeing family and friends on the sidelines would be incredibly moving, but I had no idea how much of a boost the crowds and volunteers would give me. Like so many runners, I had my name on the front of my shirt, and I felt energized when spectators called my name in encouragement throughout the race. One lady made me laugh when she yelled, “GO NELL!” and then added, “I love your name!”

I was choking back tears the final mile, and when I crossed the finish line, I was fully crying. When the volunteer who was putting the medal around my neck saw my tears, he put his hands around my face and said, “Congratulations, you did it and you can Gregory Seidenlet it all out.” A few minutes later, another volunteer who saw me stumbling around looking confused, offered his arm, and escorted me to a recovery area, chatting kindly to me the whole way.

The exhilaration of running through the cheering crowds and the kindness and amazing support of the hundreds of volunteers throughout the route made me feel like I was experiencing the very best that people can be.”

Greg Seiden, SHS 2011 is a veteran of the race. He said, “This was my third time running the NYC marathon. After training about 30-35 miles per week, I found this time around to be extremely challenging. I used the crowd’s energy to push forward. While not the best time I’ve had, I was more proud of a finish this year than in years past.

Matt Aks from the SHS Class of 2007 ran his first NYC Marathon. “It was beautiful day in NYC—amazing runners, friendly crowds, perfect subway service and music everywhere,” said Nancy Rubini, proud mother of runner Matt.

A spirited group of Edgemonters shared this about their experience running the marathon:

Anthony DeMaio ran his 15th NYC marathon on Sunday, and his 37th marathon overall in a time of 3:19. Says DeMaio, “New York City is the world's greatest marathon and illuminates everything New York has to offer.”

Matt Aks gets his number.He also shared this photo of his Edgemont neighbors take prior to the start of the race. Pictured here are from left to right are Paula Ramer, Mason Reeves, Anthony DeMaio and Maria Teaiwa-Rutherford all who finished the race.

Emily Michaels, SHS '10 said, "This was my first marathon and I don’t think it will be my last. The energy of the NYC crowd every mile of the way is surreal. There’s nothing like the knowledge of seeing your family and friends only a few miles away to push you forward through the next distance. I really loved every minute of the experience and look forward to doing it again!"

Did you run? Please send your photo and story to [email protected] to share!Emily MichaelsPaula Ramer, Mason Reeves, Anthony DeMaio and Maria Teaiwa-Rutherford before the run.

Anthony DeMaio ran his 37th marathon

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 31 October 2018

Created: 31 October 2018

Last Updated: 01 November 2018

Hits: 5529

National strife came too close to home this weekend with the Shabbat massacre on Saturday October 27 that killed 11 people in a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Those of us who had been consoling themselves with the idea that Trump’s rhetoric was pointed at the Mexican border or the Middle East woke up to the realization that his angry words and hate speech could quickly become our problem too. We can no longer say, “It can’t happen here.”

With so many synagogues in our vicinity, locals fear that the random act of violence in Pennsylvania means that we are all at risk and can no longer deny that anti-Semitism is on the rise.

A vigil was held at Congregation Kol Ami on Sunday with a keynote address from David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee. His words are below along with comments from the leadership at Westchester Reform Temple and Westchester Jewish Family Services. Read their insights and recommendations for what you can do to combat this deeply disturbing trend, in addition to voting on Tuesday November 6.

David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee

After Pittsburgh, We Need A Coalition Of Conscience

We knew anti-Semitism was out there. We knew it was growing. More and more people felt uninhibited in expressing their hatred and bigotry.

Deadly attacks against Jewish targets had already occurred in other countries, from Belgium to Bulgaria, Argentina to Panama, Turkey to Tunisia, and France to Denmark — not to mention Israel. Yet American Jews nonetheless lived with a kind of innocence: surely nothing on the scale of Pittsburgh was conceivable here.

That innocence has been shattered, of course. It has happened, and 11 Jews, pillars of the proud Pittsburgh community, were murdered in a house of worship by a killer intent on destroying Jewish lives.

Many are understandably dazed, depressed and disoriented. If it could unfold in Pittsburgh, it could take place anywhere. The 11 are us, and we are they. Whether we knew them or not, they were probably not more than two degrees of separation from us, and to look at their photos was to see pictures of our own family, our friends, our neighbors and, yes, ourselves.David Harris

The immediate response has been heartwarming. Solidarity events and memorial services are being held across the country. In one remarkable example, a countywide gathering was announced in White Plains on Sunday at noon. Four hours later, the synagogue was overflowing, with as many as 1,500 people crammed into a space that could barely hold 1,000. And among them were dozens of elected officials and interfaith partners.

And many world leaders have expressed their solidarity, support and grief. We have heard from officials in Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, the European Union, France, Germany, Singapore, Sweden and the UN, among others, who say they stand with the Jewish community. As one wrote: “Anti-Semitism is our worst existential enemy, and we must fight it with every conceivable means.”

But therein lies the looming question. Once the gatherings are behind us, the tweets become a fading memory, and the “thoughts and prayers” are filed, what’s left? Are we back to business as usual? How do we fight this age-old pathology “with every conceivable means?”

Needless to say, it would be gratifying to know that the likes of a Jonas Salk were working on a vaccine against this dreaded social disease. Well, many of us have been trying to do just that, but haven’t yet come up with the magic formula, as Pittsburgh painfully illustrates.

But there are still things that can be done.

First, the threat of anti-Semitism has to be acknowledged. Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? But I could write a book on the last 18 years, as we met with one world leader after another trying to convince them of the growing magnitude of the problem. While some listened, too many others didn’t, suggesting we were exaggerating the danger or misunderstanding its nature.

Second, combating anti-Semitism requires recognizing the main sources of the menace, and they are three: the far right, the far left and jihadists. Some, for a variety of political reasons, would rather downplay one or more of these wellsprings, but all pose a grave danger — and all need to be confronted head-on.

Third, political rhetoric has consequences. When elected officials resort to incendiary language, or turn to coded words and wink-and-nod gestures, the effects can be profound. Public discourse in the United States today, in the realm of politics and beyond, continues to head to the gutter. Opponents become enemies, conspiracy theories abound and social media becomes the great enabler. If leaders don’t act responsibly and bring us back from the brink, we will all pay a heavy price.

Fourth, this is the time for a coalition of conscience to emerge — to stand up proudly and loudly for the values of decency, civility, mutual respect, bipartisanship and unity. If nature abhors a vacuum, so does democracy. If that coalition doesn’t stand up and stay the course, then, as we’ve seen, others, with very different agendas, will fill the space.

Fifth, for all the blessings of America, and they are practically infinite, violence has become too much part and parcel of our landscape. It takes many forms — from the language of incitement and confrontation, to the number of lethal weapons in the wrong hands; from those who get a rise from in-your-face encounters imbued with physical danger, to those who fall through the cracks of the systems designed to identify social malcontents; and, of course, to those, of different motivations, who unleashed Charleston, San Bernardino, Sandy Hook and Fort Hood.

And sixth, most immediately, as many people as possible — Jews and non-Jews alike — should consider attending synagogue services this weekend. We’re calling it #ShowUpForShabbat. It’s a way of demonstrating unity and shared destiny, of saying “no fear.”

It’s a message to the haters that their America is not ours. Our America champions democracy and pluralism. It celebrates, not bemoans, our diversity. And it mourns, not exalts, what happened in Pittsburgh last Shabbat morning.

The Leadership of Westchester Reform Temple

“We are all devastated at this despicable act of hatred and violence that goes against all that we hold sacred as Jews and Americans. Once again, we find ourselves mourning. Once again, we must confront Anti-Semitism. Once again, we feel the wrenching pain of unchecked gun violence.

Most of all, our hearts are with the families and loved ones of the victims, as well as the injured police officers who bravely came to their defense.

We will continue to do all that we can to support a hurting Jewish community in need. As we learn more about the situation, we will apprise our congregation of the ways in which WRT can be a source of strength and comfort to our brothers and sisters at Tree of Life.”

Seth Diamond of Westchester Jewish Community Services

We're all deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy that occurred this weekend in Pittsburgh. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with the families of those who were killed and injured. Just as after the church shooting in South Carolina and the school shootings in Newtown, CT and Parkland, Florida, we once again find ourselves in the challenging position of trying to help our children and ourselves cope when hearing about acts of violence.

WJCS mobilized immediately upon finding out about the synagogue shooting, doing what we do best: counseling and comforting our community. Our Jewish Programs staff, in consultation with our Trauma team, has been in close contact with rabbis and other Jewish leaders and has had professionals at synagogues and day schools. UJA and Westchester Jewish Council have asked those throughout Westchester who need assistance to contact us. We have also offered help, through UJA, and have been in contact with the Pittsburgh Jewish Family and Children's Services.

Guidelines for Families in the Wake of a Hate Crime

When hearing frightening news, we all struggle with feelings of fear, anxiety, vulnerability, anger, and sadness. As an agency with expertise in trauma and child development, WJCS offers the following recommendations from our mental health professionals:

Take care of yourself. Stay calm and follow healthy habits. Eating well, sleeping well, and exercising can help you better manage stress and anxiety.

Reassure your child of his or her safety. Let children know that schools, law enforcement agencies, and government workers are actively working to ensure that all institutions in our area are safe and secure.

Make time to connect and talk. Sharing your feelings with others--whether it's with family, friends, or a mental health professional--can be very helpful. Be sure that children have the opportunity to share their feelings and be prepared to answer questions in a developmentally appropriate way.

Observe your family members' emotional states. Monitor their moods as well as sleeping and eating behaviors. Some may be open to articulating their fears while others emotionally disconnect or appear anxious without saying why.

Limit media exposure. Our 24/7 news cycle can reinforce and exaggerate scary thoughts for both adults and children.

Maintain normal routines. Following your regular schedule provides comfort and security.

Spend quality time with loved ones. Schedule some fun activities for yourself as well as with your children.

If sadness persists, on your part or that of your child’s, seek professional consultation.

Jospeh Kaidanow and Millie Jasper from the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center

To say once again, "our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families," rings hollow. It does not adequately convey the deep sorrow, pain and anger that we feel. We mourn any death. How do we mourn death when it happens in the very place we seek solace, peace, and respite from the world?

We send our heartfelt condolences, love and support to the Tree of Life, New Light and Dor Hadash Congregations as well as to the brave police officers who came to their defense.

The Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center solemnly pledges to fight antisemitism and racial hatred by redoubling its efforts to educate our youth, create upstanders and defend human rights with the hope of preventing such horrors in the future.