Scarsdale Students Show Appreciation to First Responders
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- Written by: Wendy MacMillan
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October 7th, 2023 was a day that left many in our community feeling devastated and fearful for the safety of loved ones in Israel and even right here at home. After the heartbreaking events of that day, and in response to the rise of anti-semtic incidents around Westchester, local police officers began working even harder to protect Scarsdale’s schools, houses of worship, and the community overall.
Noticing the increased police presence, three Scarsdale High School students (Arielle Zaitchik, Cami Culang, and Samantha Schnieder) wanted to find a way to thank the police department for their dedication to keeping their community safe. What started with the three students providing a simple Shabbat Dinner to express their gratitude, quickly evolved into a bigger project where they not only deliver Shabbat dinners, but also special meals for holidays and other secular celebrations.
Taking their gratitude to the next level, Zaitchik, Culang, and Schneider co-founded “Appreciating First Responders” where, with the help of community members who generously contribute food and donations, they are able to provide first responders with delicious pot-luck style meals. Recently, Appreciating First Responders delivered a festive feast for both lunch and dinner to their beloved police department in celebration of the winter holidays.
The collection of donations during the holidays was so successful that the group was also able to provide food for Chief Matturro’s retirement and on Super Bowl Sunday. Even though firefighters had to work that evening, AFS delivered submarine sandwiches and chicken wings to the fire department so they could still enjoy some traditional Super Bowl party food.
In effort to spread awareness about their project, the co-founders also recently led a session during Scarsdale High School’s Non-Sibi Day, where students decorated cookies and made cards expressing their gratitude for everything Scarsdale’s first responders do to protect the community.
When asked about why she was motivated to start Appreciating First Responders, Zaitchik said, “We hope the police, fire department, and EMTs feel the love and appreciation from the Scarsdale community for all they do to protect us.”
And when asked how others can help, Zaitchik added, “To help out with our project, the community can follow our Instagram account where we post updates and ways to contribute to our potluck meals. If bringing a meal is not an option, donations are also very helpful. When families drop off their contributions, oftentimes the police are appreciative and will give out stickers, introduce Sushi, the K9, or the firemen will allow the kids to spray the hoses.”
If you would like to contribute to Appreciating First Responders next meal, follow the project on Instagram.
Westchester Families Need Your Help: Donate Clothing to The Sharing Shelf
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- Written by: Deborah Blatt
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Clothing insecurity is growing in Westchester County. In 2024, The Sharing Shelf, the nonprofit Clothing Bank serving children and teens in need in Westchester, provided clothing to 6,764 children and teens. That’s an increase of 23% from 2023, and the need for clothing continues to grow: In the first month of 2025, requests for clothing grew 84% over the same period in the previous year – from 324 requests in 2024 to 597 in 2025.
Requests to The Sharing Shelf for clothing for the children and teens came in 2024 from 588 staff members at 161 community partner agencies across Westchester. Those children and teens live in every community in Westchester.
Those numbers have grown, too. The number of staff members at partner agencies who requested clothing grew from 522 in 2023 to 588 in 2024. The number of partner agencies grew from 138 to 161.
While Westchester is among the nation’s wealthiest counties, its poverty rate for children under five was 11.1% in 2023, according to Westchester Children’s Association. More than 67,000 children and teens live in poverty or a low-income home in Westchester.
Clothing insecurity is often overlooked, on the assumption that as long as one has some kind of clothes, there’s no problem. But for students to perform well in school – and stay in school – they need to have clothes that are the right size, that are appropriate to the season, that reflect their personality, and they need enough of them to be clean. Imagine how you would feel going into a meeting inappropriately dressed, and how you would perform in that situation.
How can Westchester residents help? By donating new or gently used clothing in all sizes, from newborn through adult XXL to The Sharing Shelf’s Clothing Bank in Port Chester. Donated clothing should be in clean wearable condition, ready for immediate distribution. Clothing donations are by appointment only and can be scheduled through our website: www.sharingshelf.org. There you can find both our seasonal and year-round clothing needs.
At The Sharing Shelf, volunteers are core to our work, and, as clothing insecurity grows, our need for volunteers grows as well. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, and a parent or guardian must actively volunteer with teens ages 14-17. Pre-registration through our website is required for all volunteers.
You can also organize a clothing drive, donate funds, or visit our Target registry or Amazon wishlist to order new items that The Sharing Shelf needs. Relevant information is available at www.sharingshelf.org.
Having clothes that fit properly, are seasonally appropriate, and make a child or teen feel comfortable, are enormously important to their well-being and performance. You can help children and teens across Westchester have the benefit of such clothing. I hope that you will join us in doing that. It’s enormously fulfilling.
The author, Deborah Blatt, is Founder and Executive Director of The Sharing Shelf, the nonprofit Clothing Bank serving Westchester County.
Victory for Ken Jenkins in Election for Westchester County Executive
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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(Updated 6:00 pm) The Westchester County Board of Elections is reporting a resounding victory for Ken Jenkins in the special election for Westchester County Executive on Tuesday February 11, 2025. The post was vacated when County Executive George Latimer was elected to represent Congressional District 16 in November 2024. Latimer challenged incumbent Jamaal Bowman in the Democratic Primary in June and won and was then elected in the general election.
Jenkins was named the interim County Executive in January and will now serve for the balance of the term until November 2025.
The vote counts were as follows:
Democrat Ken Jenkins
57,590 votes
64%
Republican Christine Sculti
32,956 votes
36%
Sculti was an advisor to former County Executive Rob Astorino and was endorsed by President Donald Trump. Jenkins was endorsed by NYS Governor Kathy Hochul, NYS Senator Kirsten Gillabrand, NYS Assemblymemeber Amy Paulin and many unions. With Republicans controlling Congress, the Senate and the White House, this is a telling victory for the Democrats in a local race.
Commenting on the results, Alissa Baum and Myra Saul, Co -Chairs of the Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee said, "The voters have spoken! Democrat Ken Jenkins won the special election for Westchester County Executive in a landslide. He defeated his opponent, Republican Christine Sculti, by 64-36%, in unofficial returns. On the Monday before the election, President Trump had tweeted out his support for Ms. Sculti and had urged his supporters to defeat the present administration.
The message of this election is clear: Westchester residents have no love for MAGA Republicans and soundly reject Donald Trump and his lawless presidency."
Vote for Westchester County Executive on February 11, 2025
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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To the Editor,
Vote February 11 for Ken Jenkins in the Special Election for County Executive!
Now that Trump has returned for a second term, the question on many people’s minds is what this means for Westchester Democrats. While the national party is in the midst of electing a new chair and determining its direction, here in Westchester there should be no doubt that Democrats have been delivering solid results with excellent leadership over the last seven years.
Ken Jenkins, once our Deputy County Executive, has been elevated to the position of County Executive by the Board of Legislators, now that George Latimer has been sworn in as our U.S. Congressman. Jenkins is now running in the February 11 Special Election to serve for the remaining months of Latimer’s 2021-2025 term.
Jenkins served for 18 years as a member, including four years as Chairman, of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, before serving as Deputy County Executive, where he worked in partnership with Latimer to cut taxes while maintaining essential services, substantially reduced crime, and secured millions of dollars to address infrastructure needs in Westchester. With their administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and economic growth, Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the County’s financial outlook from stable to positive, and S&P Global Ratings increased the County’s bond rating to AAA, levels that had previously declined under the Republican predecessor, Rob Astorino.
Early Voting for the Special Election begins February 1. Early Voting polling locations are the same as those used in November’s general election. However, be aware that polling locations on Election Day, February 11, will likely be different since polling sites will be consolidated for this election. Please be on the lookout for the announcement of those Election Day polling sites. Voters can also vote early by mail, but the application for an early mail ballot must be RECEIVED 10 days before the Special Election (https://elections.ny.gov/request-ballot)."
Westchester needs to elect Ken Jenkins for County Executive to keep the momentum set by his former partner in the executive branch, County Executive George Latimer. You have the opportunity to vote for Jenkins in the Special Election on February 11.
Since this is a special election which is only days away, turnout is likely to be uneven. Scarsdale is the reservoir of good voters. Let’s show our stuff by voting either early or on February 11th. Every election is important!
Alissa Baum and Myra Saul
Scarsdale Democratic Town Committee
NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli Advises New Yorkers to Use Their Gift Cards
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Over $21 Million in Unused Gift Cards Recovered by DiNapoli’s Office in 2024
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli is urging New Yorkers to keep track of gift cards received during the holidays. When gift cards aren’t used for five years, their balances may be turned over by retailers to the Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF). In 2024, the office recovered over $21 million from gift cards, more than three times the amount received in 2014 ($5.8 million). New Yorkers are encouraged to spend holiday gift cards early this new year and remember to check for unclaimed funds.
“Tis the season of giving, not losing, so please spend those gift cards and check to see if you have unclaimed funds,” DiNapoli said. “Many New Yorkers don’t realize gift cards may have their balances transferred to the Office of Unclaimed Funds after five years of inactivity. Last year, we recovered over $21 million worth of lost money from unspent gift cards.”
Statewide, New York City residents are owed the most in unclaimed funds stemming from gift cards, cumulatively totaling nearly $48 million, followed by Long Island residents at $11.4 million and Hudson Valley residents at $7.8 million.
DiNapoli’s office returns an average of $1.5 million in unclaimed funds every business day and works with retailers to identify the owners of unused gift cards. Retailers can provide OUF with a name if the person registers the gift card online, if they have been issued a refund, or if the card was purchased with an existing store account. If the owner’s information is not known to a New York retailer, it will report the card details, such as card number and balance, which can be used by the gift card owner to claim the balance from OUF.
OUF will begin returning some money more quickly in 2025 due to legislation just signed into law. Certain newly acquired unclaimed funds of $250 or less may be returned to their rightful owners without requiring them to fill out a claim form. If OUF can confirm the identity and mailing address of an entitled owner, those payments will be mailed by check directly to them. If gift cards are registered with retailers before they are turned over to OUF, returns could be expedited.
DiNapoli reminds gift card recipients to read the fine print on the card for details about any fees and expiration dates and to register the card with the retailer.
The Comptroller’s office has more than $19 billion in unclaimed funds.
