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Written by: Wendy MacMillan

Published: 19 November 2023

Created: 19 November 2023

Last Updated: 19 November 2023

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The Scarsdale High School Drama Club absolutely knocked it out of the park with their rendition of Rohald Dahl’s Matilda! While I am no theater critic, I am an avid lover of musicals…and this production had me wondering if I was in the Shubert Theater, or truly sitting in the auditorium at SHS.

Many of us may feel like we have already seen Matilda (the 1996 film, the musical on Broadway, or 2022’s Matilda the Musical on Netflix), but I guarantee that you have never seen Matilda like this! Everything, from the STUNNING set design, to the expertly done lighting and sound, to the seemingly professional choreography had me hooked right from the opening scene.

It’s true that the tech and set designers established a world on stage that immediately drew the audience in, but it was the performers who brought their characters to life right before our eyes. Every actor on the stage helped to engage their audience in a story that often had us cheering, laughing, or clapping on the edges of our seats. And wow, can these kids sing! The big numbers were so full of energy that it was hard to keep from tapping your toes, and the solos didn’t stop short of giving you the chills. One might expect a good musical to have good singers but these kids weren’t just good, they were amazing.

But the actors didn’t just let the musical numbers carry the show…the comedic timing on the part of every character could give professionals like Danny Devito, Rhea Perlman and Emma Thompson a good run for their money. In fact, I truly had to remind myself that this was not a professional production, but a HIGH SCHOOL production put on by our very own, and very talented SHS Drama Club…a production that ended with a packed house giving a
resounding standing ovation. Bravo kids, bravo!

I should note that I went to the theater last night to support a couple of the students I know…I did not expect to leave feeling compelled to encourage my friends and neighbors to catch the show while you can! If you weren’t able to catch it on opening night, it's not too late! Tickets are still on sale for tonight’s performance and for the matinee on Sunday at 2 pm.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 08 November 2023

Created: 08 November 2023

Last Updated: 08 November 2023

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Meet Zachary Kaplan, the new President of Scarsdale Hockey and learn why he thinks playing hockey is great for kids.

Please tell us about yourself and your experiences with hockey.

I am originally from near Washington D.C., went to NYC after college, and eventually moved to Greenacres in 2017 with my wife (Nancy) and our two children. I have been a lifelong ice hockey fan and player. I played youth hockey through high school, played college hockey at UPenn, and continue to play in an adult league in the Westchester area. I also currently coach my son’s youth hockey team with Scarsdale Hockey.

Why did you decide to take on this new role?

I am grateful to the outgoing Scarsdale Hockey Board President, Mahen Kathirithamby, for giving me the opportunity to take on this leadership position. For me, this is an opportunity to grow interest and participation in the sport of hockey, which I love, while also giving back to the community of Scarsdale (which I also love!).

Give us your outlook on youth sports.

I believe the primary goals of youth sports are not captured in wins and losses. I want our players in Scarsdale Hockey to have fun and play safely. I want our players to be challenged by great and fair competition, to learn to battle through adversity and to work hard to become the best possible versions of themselves. I want our players to build self-confidence, emotional maturity, and good sportsmanship.

Tell us how playing hockey builds community.

I have been involved with several different youth sports throughout my life. Only with hockey have I felt a true sense of family and community. I think partially it is the culture of the sport, passed down through generations. I also believe the fast-paced nature of hockey emphasizes and rewards teamwork, communication, and collaboration. Whatever the reason, when I arrive at the rink and see players and parents spending time together long before a game starts, it just feels different than other sports.

What are your goals for the organization?

Our primary goal as an organization has always been, and will continue to be, to provide opportunities for children in the Scarsdale and Greater Westchester County area to learn, develop and play ice hockey in a safe, fun, and competitive environment.

What are your plans for the coming months?

The coming months will primarily be about listening to our Scarsdale hockey families and the broader community. I believe that a big part of leadership is having self-awareness combined with a willingness to consistently listen and improve. I start this new role with humbleness that I have a lot to learn before we chart out the specific actions to better and grow our organization.

What are the ages of the children on the team? How can readers get their kids started?

We offer travel team programs for children aged 6 – 17. In addition, we offer a “learn to play” program for our younger players who are brand new to the sport. Although the 2023-2024 season is well underway, we still have open spots across teams at all age levels. If readers are interested in learning more – whether for this season or future seasons – they can email me directly at [email protected].

Where do they skate and what are the hours?

We primarily skate at Westchester Skating Academy in Elmsford, although we also have practices and games at other local rinks in the area. Our hockey season runs from September through March, and our players are on the ice approximately 50 - 60 times for practices and games. Practices are typically Tuesday and Thursday afternoon/evenings, with games on the weekend.

What would you say to parents who fear that the sport is too dangerous?

Ice hockey is a contact sport and injuries do happen. That said, Scarsdale Hockey takes player safety extremely seriously and we have enacted a series of policies over the years to prioritize the health and safety of our players, including head injury protocols and mandatory neck protection. It is also important to know that body checking is only allowed at the 14U level and above; there is no body checking at the 8U through 12U levels.

Do they need to purchase equipment before giving the sport a try?

We have a limited supply of loaner equipment we can make available for players for their first few times on the ice. For those anxious about the cost of equipment, there is a robust market for used gear through local and online hockey stores that can significantly reduce the cost of entry to the sport. Please feel free to email me on this topic as well.

Who should they contact to start playing hockey?

Me! [email protected] and learn more about us at https://www.scarsdalehockey.com/

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 30 October 2023

Created: 30 October 2023

Last Updated: 30 October 2023

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To the Editor:  The Scarsdale Forum welcomed its members and guests to Octoberfest 2023, the fourteenth annual membership party at The Scarsdale Woman’s Club on Sunday, October 22. Guests were directed to the many outdoor activities throughout the grounds. In addition to the games and craft activities set out on the lawn for the children, Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps brought its ambulance to explore and the Scarsdale Fire Department showcased Fire Engine 53. Scarsdale Edgemont Family Counseling Service, Scarsdale Foundation and Scarsdale Rotary provided information about their organizations throughout the afternoon. Friends of the Scarsdale Parks conducted a tree tour on the club’s grounds.

Suzie Hahn played Chopin.A new addition to the day's festivities was the Scarsdale Forum Talent Show. Mason Yuan, Eleanor Foley, James Wilson, Mia Wilson, and Charlie Rosenthal delighted guests with a fantastic program complete with classical music, gymnastics, and magic! Forum veteran members and former Winterfest performers Eli Mattioli and Jim Pullman played Gershwin and Schubert classics and Scarsdale School Board Vice President Suzie Hahn dazzled the audience with her performance of Chopin's "Fantaisie Impromptu". NYS Assemblywoman Amy Paulin put on a show stopping ballroom dance number that truly electrified the crowd.

NYS Senator Shelley Mayer, County Executive George Latimer, County Legislator Ben Boykin and Scarsdale Village Trustee Sameer Ahuja attended the event as well.

Bruce Wells held court under the great oak at the popular beer tasting station featuring his home brewed beers. Manny Lourdes, MC Catering served a delicious buffet luncheon. Octoberfest 2023 was a zero waste event thanks to the efforts of Scarsdale Forum’s Sustainability Committee.

Throughout the afternoon, guests new to the community asked seasoned volunteers: “I work and have a family, how can I become more involved?” The answer? Attend your community events and the opportunities to engage will present themselves!

Garrett Capobianco, Ben Boykin and George Latimer

The Scarsdale Forum is a 119 year old charitable organization dedicated to improving life in Scarsdale through its educational programs and social activities. The Forum offers programs of interest to our community, engages in studies of the issues affecting Scarsdale and sponsors public events such as the Sunday Speaker Series. All Scarsdale residents are welcome to join: www.scarsdaleforum.com. Mason Yuan

A special thank you to Scarsdale10583 for its assistance in publicizing Octoberfest 2023 to the community

Lena Crandall and BK Munguia, Co-chairs
Octoberfest 2023
Scarsdale Forum

Amy Paulin and Dance Partner Andrey Stefanov

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Written by: Sameer Ahuja

Published: 24 October 2023

Created: 24 October 2023

Last Updated: 24 October 2023

Hits: 2236

Did you know we’ve had chatbots for decades?

The first was named Eliza. Created by Joseph Weizenbaum back in 1966, it used pattern recognition technology and a script to simulate a psychotherapist.

(See below.) Future iterations were tested for many uses, like psychiatry and research projects. But most simply allowed users to chat.

Since humans are a curious species by nature, it’s little wonder we’ve decided to ask these bots our deepest, most vexing questions. But do chatbots have what it takes to be the tomorrow teachers?

As it turns out, AI chatbots arrived at a key juncture of our education crisis. Teachers are paid less than ever, schools are shuttering, college degrees are going through the roof price-wise, and to complicate matters, many young people are falling ever behind in our society wide COVID hangover.

Zooming out, it’s evident we have a dynamic, hyper speed-paced world. Readers of Consume at Once know this already. As we’ll discuss in this article, so much emerging tech can make it hard to predict which skill sets to prioritize, especially for our youth. Already, many students fear their career of choice will get automated—right after they’ve invested so heavily in education.

Meanwhile, just when it looked like education was on the verge of utter disruption via advancements like distance learning, ChatGPT came on the scene. So, will chatbots replace an entire career like teaching? Will we find ways to work with it? And how will chatbots and other A.I. tools shape our understanding of credentials?

So many questions like these leave schools, universities, and trade programs facing a big decision: to embrace, restrict, or ban this technology.

Happy birthday, ChatGPT!

Nearly a year ago, ChatGPT made its debut, generating widespread interest and media coverage. ChatGPT's uncanny ability to generate human-like text and insights, plus accomplish tasks has been a boon for many industries. It’s shown incredible promise in various applications, from content generation to customer service automation.

But the reaction hasn’t all been positive.

Fearing plagiarism and other cheating concerns, some schools have called for blanket bans of the tech. Countries like Russia, China, and Italy have outlawed ChatGPT, citing misinformation and privacy concerns. Meanwhile, to many mental health professionals' dismay, people have turned the bot into their very own therapist, sometimes producing disastrous effects.

OpenAI has also come under fire for ChatGPT producing biased or politically insensitive content. Experts warn the bot is a massive liability for misinformation. They advise against using it as your sole news source.

This is especially relevant as the 2024 general election will be our first in the brave new ChatGPT era. Even more questions abound. Who knows what kind of (bad) information an AI known for “hallucinating” will produce? What does a world look like where bots are now producing headlines—affecting the zeitgeist? How do we ensure ChatGPT’s commitment to the truth? And who gets to train these bots and what kind of biases might they harbor?

These are no idle queries.

Social media gave rise to much misinformation already. It stands to reason AI chatbots could turbocharge this phenomenon. Independent journalism is a good thing. Tech assisting journalists is also a positive.

But with the unprecedented productive capacity of these machines, we’re losing the ability to decipher truth in a pile of confusion. So, while it may seem tedious, it’s becoming ever more important to understand and mitigate biases in AI-generated content.

But perhaps the largest frontier for ChatGPT is the academic world, where plagiarism has become ever rampant in the last year. Widespread cheating has caused some schools to rethink the concept altogether.

Naturally, many students now use AI in their writing. A predictable outcome, it’s natural to want to cut corners when opportunity arises. But this is a problem. A big one. Think about what calculators do as mental crutches. Once upon a time we could do multiplication and long division in our heads.

Not so with many young people these days.

Now, we risk atrophying our reading/writing skills more with increasing dependence on AI. Plus, when chatbots can write in the style of others, we are condoning widespread cheating—which only hurts our kids in the long run.

Some have insisted on moving past the issue of plagiarism, encouraging teachers to “work around it.” Maybe instead, the solution is to work with it. A new school of teachers is trying to use ChatGPT for good. Some veteran teachers say the panic over AI is akin to past resistance to things like “the internet and graphic calculators.”

As mentioned, the jury remains out.

Other teachers use bots to show students what not to do. Some have had ChatGPT write essays on works such as Romeo and Juliet and Moby Dick. Their students then enthusiastically critique the AI essays. Detroit teacher Sarah Millard claims, “My students have never been so engaged in writing.”

In other cases, tech has already been embedded into everyday educational apps like Duolingo and Quizlet. Instructional tools like flashcards and quiz apps now use AI to trace patterns, optimizing learning outcomes. OpenAI is also collaborating with companies and educators to set boundaries and provide fact sheets on AI learning materials.

Though much remains unclear one year into ChatGPT’s emergence, one thing is certain: ChatGPT can’t replace the human element of a teacher. Instructors can be our greatest mentors and role models. In some cases, they’re safe adults that children can turn to with trust. More, they also play the role of advisors, counselors, and coaches for after-school sports. In short, the overreliance on AI chatbots might lead to a devaluation of human educators, who bring empathy and real-world experience to the learning process.

Ultimately, the journey toward a compromise, where tech complements traditional teaching, promises to create a richer, more engaging learning environment for our students. Don’t believe me? Just query ChatGPT.

It’ll back this up.

Sameer Ahuja is a tech executive and Scarsdale Village Trustee Ahuja who writes a newsletter, Consume at Once, that discusses how technology is transforming how we create and consume movies, videos, TV, games, sports, and social media.