Scarsdale Orchestra Concert Webstreamed Live to Kabul
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The Scarsdale High School Orchestra performed a late evening benefit concert on Tuesday, January 15 at 11 pm to raise money for an upcoming Afghan Youth Orchestra tour of the U.S. The concert featured chamber works by Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Beethoven and was performed late at night so that the concert could be streamed live and viewed by the Afghan students in Kabul.
This partnership came about because Scarsdale High School Orchestra director Amedee Williams read a New York Times article last year about the Afghan Youth Orchestra and was inspired to track down the Afghan Youth Orchestra director and offer help. Williams learned that the Afghans needed financial help for the tour and that Carnegie Hall had offered its hall. After many emails they put together a cultural exchange.
Williams was very pleased with the 1-15 event. He reported, "Many people watched the concert online and have sent me emails that they will be mailing in donations. I think the community is now more aware of the AYO tour and I hope people will attend the concert at Carnegie Hall on February 12th." Though there were initial problems with the internet, ultimately they were able to stream the concert live to Kabul.
A crowd of about 30 spectators and parents turned out to watch the event. For the opening, students Rachel Haber, Emily Nishiwaki and Nicholas Politi 
performed a string trio followed by a magnificent Beethoven solo by pianist Cherie Hu. Zubin Katicha, Bryant Lo, Caroline Holmes, and Aron Szanto played a string quartet, followed by a piano trio involving Alan Yao on violin, Aron Szanto on cello, and Cherie Hu on piano. These were concluded with the final performance of a Quartet with Naoko Nakajima and Helen Clapp on violin, Julia Wells on viola and Andrew Starr on cello.
A representative from the Afghan side said that the performance was "a good opportunity to see who we are meeting a few months from now!"
SHS Freshman Alan Yao, who performed in the concert said, "This is really a good experience for all of us. We have been preparing for tonight's concert for about two months."
Kathy Gray, mother of junior Helen Clapp said, "The concert opens up students' minds and makes them more aware of the world outside of Scarsdale."
On Friday, February 8, the Afghan Youth Orchestra will arrive in Scarsdale. Rehearsals, dinners, ice skating and sightseeing, hosted by the Scarsdale school community, will be followed by a joint concert of the two ensembles at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, February 12. The Afghan students will continue on to Boston for performances at the New England Conservatory.
Gangster Rap: Should You See Gangster Squad this Weekend?
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It's 1949. The horrors of World War II may be fading in the rearview mirror, but America's cities are in the grip of a new battle—against mobsters building empires based on heroin, whores, and gambling. In Los Angeles, it's not much of a fight: Boxer-turned-bad-boy Mickey Cohen has cornered the vice market with the help of henchmen and policemen on the take.
But not every cop is crooked. Sergeant John O'Mara, a decorated vet, has taken his guerilla-warfare training to the streets, happily busting up one of Cohen's lucrative brothels. When L.A.'s police chief needs someone to go mano a mano against Cohen, O'Mara's clearly the man. Bravely, he accepts the challenge: to build a team of cops who'll operate under the radar and beyond the bounds of the law to break the mob's stranglehold on the city.
If you're looking for Gangster Squad to reinvent the genre, you'll be disappointed: Watching O'Mara recruit his team is like catching a rerun of The Untouchables on TCM because nothing else is on TV. The squad's got all the standard crew—racially, temperamentally, and intellectually diverse, with lesser members getting so little screen time they're unable to fully transcend caricature. Yet their dialogue is witty and well-paced, giving you plenty of opportunity to chuckle in between the periodic hailstorms of bullets. (Apparently, one shootout was supposed to take place in a movie theater, but the scene got scrapped after the Aurora tragedy. You can still see it in the original film trailer.)
A movie like this soars or fails on the strength of the acting, and fortunately, the principals mostly shine. Sean Penn, as Mickey Cohen, doesn't exude malice so much as suck the light from every room, drawing it into the crags and creases of his damaged boxer's face. As his unhappy lover, Emma Stone whipsaws between hardened vamp and dewy-eyed little girl lost, which is exactly what the role demands. It's not hard to see why she sneaks around with O'Mara's main sidekick—a boyishly endearing Ryan Gosling—in search of a sweeter existence.
Lastly, there's James Brolin as O'Mara, oddly less memorable than many in the ensemble. Squinty-eyed and lock-jawed, he's a man who World War II has permanently changed, imbuing him with a lust for violence coupled with a rigid sense of honor. In his own way, he's as ruined as Cohen; he just chooses more socially acceptable ways of channeling his impulses.
It's all enough to keep you entertained, especially against a backdrop of swinging Hollywood nightlife. Wouldn't you love to have a nightclub called Slapsy Maxie's on Harwood Court, complete with an orchestra and sultry chanteuses? I think Waterworks is still vacant ... Chamber of Commerce, get on it.
Deborah Skolnik is a Greenacres mother of two and a senior editor at Parenting magazine.
The Science of Bad Habits and Willpower
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If you're wondering how you can stick to your New Year's resolutions, the Scarsdale Public Library is here to help. The library is hosting a two-part discussion with Dr. Caren Baruch-Feldman entitled "The Science of Bad Habits and Willpower". Dr. Baruch-Feldman has given numerous exciting and interactive workshops to children and adults. The workshops provide participants with strategies that they can incorporate into their lives. Providing in-services and presentations is a highlight of Dr. Baruch-Feldman's professional life. Topics of other recent conversations that Dr. Baruch-Feldman has led include Understanding Psychological Evaluations; Functional Behavioral Assessment and BIPs; Executive Functioning; Helping the Disorganized Student; Stress and Anxiety in the Life of Your Child; How You Think Affects How You Feel; Effective CBT Strategies for School- Age Children; Camp Counselor Training; What My Dog Brandy Has Taught Me about Working with Children; and SAFE DOGGY PROGRAM.
Session 1 of the discussion will take place on Friday, January 25th at 10:30 am at the library where Dr. Baruch- Feldman will begin by reviewing the latest research surrounding the struggle to make New Year's Resolutions you will keep. "Do you struggle with willpower? Do you make New Year's resolutions, but fail to keep them?" Dr. Baruch-Feldman asks. "In an effort to provide solutions to these common problems that affect so many of our patrons, the Scarsdale Library is looking forward to hosting the discussions and seeing the ongoing positive impact they are sure to have on the people we interact with most often," commented Elizabeth Bermel, director of the Scarsdale Library.
Participants are encouraged to read one or more of the following bestsellers that discuss some of the scientific principles that will be reviewed during Dr. Baruch-Feldman's lectures.
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do To Get More of
- It by Kelly McGonigal
- Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister
Register online at www.scarsdalelibrary.org or call the Reference Desk at 914-733-1300 ext. 2. Session 2 will take place on Friday, March 1st at 10:30am and will address "How to Keep Your Willpower and Lose Your Weight".
Caren Baruch-Feldman, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and certified school psychologist who maintains a private practice in Scarsdale and works part-time as a school psychologist in the Harrison, NY school district. Her private practice focuses on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children and adults and Psycho-Educational Evaluations. In addition, Dr. Baruch-Feldman trains camp counselors based on psychological principles, is the past president of the School Division of the Westchester County Psychological Association and co-chair and co- founder of Parents and Professionals Advocating for Students (PAPAS) at Westchester Day School (WDS) in Mamaroneck. Dr. Baruch-Feldman has authored numerous articles and led workshops on topics including cognitive behavioral therapy techniques, helping children and adults with stress and worry, executive functioning, and psychological assessment. Providing in-services and interactive workshops is a highlight of Dr. Baruch-Feldman's professional life.
Dr. Baruch-Feldman received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University and received her doctorate in Clinical-Child Psychology and School Psychology Certificate from St. John's University. She did her internship and post-doctoral training at Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
Third Annual Spelling Bee to be held February 1
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On Friday February 1 at 7:30 PM community residents of all ages will swarm to the Scarsdale High School auditorium (Brewster Road entrance) for the third annual Friends of the Scarsdale Library Adult and Teen Spelling Bee. Veteran teams will compete against such newcomers as Scarsdale High School teacher Dominique Padurano and two of her students. At the end of the night, the community's best spellers will be recognized with accolades and Kindle Fire HD's.
The fun starts when the doors open at 7:00 PM for the silent auction and raffles. Notable auction items include an eight-week TestTakers SAT prep course valued at $1995, an iPad 4 valued at $730, a one-year family membership to LIFE – The Place to Be valued at $325, and heavy duty Le Creuset enamel cookware valued at $350. Raffle prizes include SoulCycle classes, passes to Grand Prix NY go-kart racing, baskets of children's games, and more.
Audience members will be regaled not only by the mental gymnastics displayed onstage, but also by trivia quizzes served up between rounds. Ed Coleman, the voice of the New York Mets, will once again play emcee. NY Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Mayor Miriam Levitt Flisser and Library Teen Advisory Board Co-Chair Rachel Josselsohn will serve as judges.
Proceeds from the Spelling Bee will be used to create a "business center" at the Library providing a range of office equipment that will serve the needs of many constituencies, including home-office professionals, small-business owners, members of volunteer organizations, senior citizens and students. The equipment may include a banner maker, cutting-edge copier, laminating machine, photo printer, and more depending on the amount of funds raised.
Businesses and individuals who are interested in sponsoring the Bee by making a donation of $250 or more should contact Renu Lalwani at 472-4310. The Friends are grateful for the generous support received from the sponsors of the Spelling Bee. To date, sponsors at the Diamond Level are Houlihan Lawrence, and Sara and Richard Werder. At the Gold Level, sponsors are Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty, Mercedes-Benz of White Plains, Paul Hastings LLP, Renu and Anil Lalwani, and Margaret and Larry Smith. In addition, anyone can become a "Friend of the Bee" by making a donation of any amount. A donation form is available at the Friends of the Library website.
Admission to the Spelling Bee is $5, and refreshments will be available for purchase. Cash and checks will be accepted for raffle tickets and silent auction bids. The snow date will be Friday, March 1.
An Extraordinary Year in Scarsdale
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There was no shortage of excitement in Scarsdale in 2012. With much to discuss in person and online, Scarsdale10583 had a banner year. Here are the top stories on Scarsdale10583 for 2012:
Schools: When former Dean Dave Mendelowitz was indicted in November for patronizing prostitutes, possession of crack cocaine and obstruction of justice, readers roared. Neither parents nor students could reconcile their image of the trusted role model and member of the Drug and Alcohol Task Force with the reports of the Dean's Friday night activities with "Yoyo" and "Suji." What can we say but we thought we knew you?
June saw a changing of the guard at Scarsdale High School when Co-Principals Fred Goldberg and Kelly Hamm retired after a combined 46 years of service to the school. The duo had become of the face of SHS, greeting students and parents each morning, disciplining those that had gone astray, tackling complex scheduling problems and directing hundreds through gridlocked halls. To lose both at once caused "a seismic shift in the landscape," according to Joan Weber, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel at the district.
Celebrities: An unconfirmed rumor that superstars Beyonce, husband Jay-Z and newborn Baby Blue were moving to a manse on Heathcote Road was the talk of the
town in January, 2012. The paparazzi were parked in front of a closed gate at the entrance to 10A Heathcote Road, hoping to get a glimpse of the celebrities. The rumor turned out to be baseless ... but that didn't stop Saturday Night Live from running a spoof of the family's move to the dale. Watch it here:
Openings: As the economy came back to life in Scarsdale, so did retail and restaurants. Diners welcomed Savona, an elegant bistro downtown and have been packing tables ever since their opening in April. Locals were pleased to find West Elm's colorful furnishings in the Vernon Hills Shopping Center and Athleta next to the Gap nearby. Also open this year was MAG Tricote for one-of-a-kind handknit creations on Christie Place, Martines on East Parkway for fresh baked items, lunch and coffee and Skin TheraP on the Popham Road Bridge. Though Morton Williams closed, two new markets appeared ... H Mart and Fresh Market opened, increasing options for groceries and gourmet food shopping in our area.
Hurricane Sandy: Though we would all like to forget it, Mother Nature was probably the biggest force in Scarsdale this year. On October 29 the nor'easter struck, taking down trees and power lines and nothing has been the same since. Many, including yours truly, were without power for 11 long days. Temperatures dropped, tempers flared and generators droned when after four days there was no sign of Con Edison in town. Why was Scarsdale overlooked and what can be done to prevent a similar crisis in the future have been fueling conversations ever since.
Saying Goodbye: Scarsdale mourned the loss of rising SHS junior Tyler Madoff who was swept out to sea during a summer adventure trip on the Big Island of Hawaii. Though Madoff was a strong swimmer and avid rower, he was overcome by the force of the wave. Despite a wide scale search, his body was never recovered.
Not a week later, Greenacres father of three, Pete Sauer died while playing basketball at Gardella Park in White Plains. Sauer, who was 6'7" tall, was the captain of the 1998 Final Four Basketball Team at Stanford University where he played on the team for four seasons. An autopsy revealed that Sauer had an enlarged heart, a condition called cardiomegaly, and also suffered a fractured skull when he fell. The family was already planning to move and tragically left Scarsdale without their dad.
Back from the Dead and Very Much Alive: An Edgemont woman was far more fortunate. What could have been a tragedy turned into an inspirational story of a husband's heroism. While on a scuba vacation in Costa Rica Dr. Hillary Greenberg was also hit by a surge and ended up on the ocean floor without the regulator (breathing tube) in her mouth. Determined to save her, her husband Bill performed CPR for 40 minutes until she could be moved out of the water to a local hospital. Though she remained in a coma for weeks she has made a miraculous recovery and will hopefully return to work as a doctor again this year.
Non-Partisan System: Perennial questions about Scarsdale's Non-Partisan System re-emerged last winter. Is the system too secretive? Is it undemocratic? Would the Village be better served by popular elections for Village Trustees and the Mayor. These and other concerns continued to be debated, but this year some meaningful changes were made to the Non-Partisan Resolution.
Tax Revaluation: Inequities in Scarsdale's real estate taxes were finally addressed this year as Scarsdale undertook a revaluation of all Village properties. Since the last revaluation was done in 1969, the difference between the assessed value and market value on many homes has grown and caused a steep rise in the number of field grievances. To make it fair, all homes and properties are currently being reassessed with the goal of implementing new tax rates in 2014.
People: In April Florie Wachtenheim received the Scarsdale Bowl, the community's most coveted award for volunteerism. Tracking her 
progression from PTA mom to President of the Scarsdale School Board, colleague Linda Chayes credited Wachtenheim for "balancing a seriousness of purpose with a wry sense of humor and a deep appreciation for complexity and nuance."
Another local hero celebrated her 95th birthday this year. Emiily Hirsch who has run Scarsdale Candy 'N Cards for 45 years had an outdoor birthday bash in Scarsdale Village on June 15 sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, catered by Lange's, with coffee from Starbucks and a beautiful birthday cake from La Rennaissance.
Historic preservation was also on the agenda in 2012 – especially when the Scarsdale Historical Society applied to the Scarsdale Zoning Board of Appeals to sell the Cudner Hyatt House on the Post Road and convert it from a museum to a single family house. Turns out that the house had far more defenders than anticipated and a lively meeting ensued where the Scarsdale Arts Council attempted to save what they called "one of Scarsdale's greatest heritage treasures."
Pop Culture: When Scarsdale's Julie Gerstenblatt heard that 50 Shades of Gray author E.L. James was coming to Westchester, she couldn't pass up the opportunity to meet her. Despite the fact that Gerstenblatt found 50 Shades of Gray "awfully written," like millions of other women, "she couldn't put it down." Here are her thoughts on what E.L.James did not discuss at the event!
