Jewelry Making Workshop

Last Saturday was the second session of our Jewelry Making Workshop. In the last session all the participants had the opportunity to make their very own earrings and this time around they were able to make their own bracelet and necklace. In this workshop participants got to learn the essential skills to jewelry making including wire-work and stringing. They also learned about gemstones and got to work with Swarovski crystals. Our jewelry makers ended up making some really beautiful pieces that they will be able to enjoy for years to come!

SEC Prom 2014

There was plenty of tail feather shaking and rug cutting at the 8^th annual South East Consortium formal last Saturday night.

Participants arrived dressed to the nines for a Vegas themed evening at Bronxville High School. The gala was hosted by the energetic and outgoing Bronxville Youth Council led by staff advisor David Russert.

“It’s a fantastic night, one our students look forward to every year,” said Russert as he manned one of the game tables Saturday night.

As party goers trickled in the dance floor filled up with twisting feet, shaking hips and pumping arms to the familiar styles of DJ Mike. The party was truly under way when Chris Horan arrived quickly dancing into a shirt saturating sweat.

The ambiance was electrifying with palm trees, Vegas themed decorations, an ever- changing DJ booth and Vegas gambling chips strewn across tables. Besides the windows on the walls one would think you were on the floor of Ceasar’s.

Dancing can build up quite an appetite but that was easily solved thank to Mamaroneck Village Pizza and Pasta who catered the event. Attendees had a smorgasbord of food to choose from including two types of pasta, salad and chicken marsala.

Shortly after dinner and after a little more dancing it was time for the main event of the evening. One that was eagerly anticipated by all; the crowning of the prom King, Queen, Prince and Princess.

Maggie Stone and Chris Horan grabbed the princess and prince spot respectively. Approaching the stage to applause the two were visibly ecstatic with joy.  Both stood side by side as they were crowned.

There was a collective hush in anticipation of what was coming next, the crowning of the king and queen.  Mark Siragusa was named Prom King. Mark seemed triumphant in his victory as he walked up to the microphone, pumping his fist and grinning ear to ear.

Prom Queen? Marci Mehler! A woman who has been vying for the honor for years. Tears erupted from her eyes as the Tiara was placed on her head. The only words she was able to get were “thank you, thank you.” It was a very moving moment and there was hardly a dry eye in the gymnasium because of it.

The night ended with cake, more dancing and warm feelings towards one another. The South East Consortium prom has become something everyone looks forward to during the year. It’s a night to get dressed up, dance with friends and have some laughs. 

Check out another article written about our Prom night: Phil Reisman: At long last, Marci is crowned prom queen

West Point Swim Meet

Duty, Honor, Country; the words proudly displayed across the West Point Military Academy Swimming pool.  The Sharks swim team attended the 2014 Special Olympics New York Spring Games West competition at West Point on Saturday April 26th.

Nestled along the Hudson River in the Hudson Highlands the West Point Military Academy is an institution steeped in history and tradition. A place the Sharks swim team is honored to be able to swim every year.

Attendees were greeted by an impressive and heart felt show of force from the cadets, who came out to “buddy up” with athletes for the day. “Having a cadet hang out with me for the day is my favorite part of the day,” said Sharks swimmer Carly Horowitz.  As always the cadets were attentive, polite and enthusiastic.

Shortly after the parade of athletes (a triumphant march around the track lined by West Point athletic teams cheering athletes on) the crowd was wowed by an aerial display from the West Point jumpers as they jumped from a chinook helicopter and parachuted with precision right onto the football field.

With our squad of cadets and spirits high the Sharks made the trek up from the stadium to the swimming pools where they would win glory in the water.

Having blown the competition out of the water at White Plains High School in March every athlete was charged with more events and greater distances to master at West Point. A task they accomplished handily.

The Sharks swim team brought home a bounty of gold, silver and bronze medals in events ranging from the 25 meter free style, 50 meter backstroke and 25 meter breast stroke.

When awarded their medals the athletes made their way to the podium where a United States Army colonel in dress regalia presented them with their prize as both posed for the camera.

The West Point meet is a culmination of everything our athletes have been working towards all year. An event we all look forward to. An event the Sharks compete in with duty, honor and country in mind. 

Ragtime

On Sunday April 27^th the “Day on Broadway” group headed over to the Westchester Broadway Theater to watch Ragtime the Musical. Everyone was even more intrigued by the storyline because part of the play took place in New Rochelle, New York, a place we all know!

We ate, we laughed and experienced all the emotions these amazing performances can pull out of you. It is easy to say that a good time was had by all! We had some good food, socialized with friends, and saw a great show!

Teen Adventure!

Old MacDonald had a farm. And on that farm he had a group of teens! This past Saturday the South East Consortium Teen Adventure group journeyed to Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.

Stone Barns is a working farm, greenhouse, world class restaurant and is home to many animals including amber laying hens, honeybees, some rowdy pigs, some mean looking geese, plus many more.

After lunch under some large maple trees the group started exploring the grounds. It was a perfect day for a ramble through the fields and a gander at some naying , snorting, clucking and baying farm animals.

The teens got up close to some new born lambs but not close enough to touch. The lambs were protected by some impressive (and rather intimidating) Great Pyrenees’. The four-legged guardians are raised with the flock so they identify with the sheep as family. Just another part of the farm life.

On the grounds was a large green house with a retractable roof. Inside the greenhouse the crew got to see where the vegetables on their plates at night come from. The seemingly endless rows of cabbage, mustard, lettuce, cilantro and chard made you feel healthier by just looking at it!

The teens were able to do a little creative farm engineering when they grabbed some markers and construction paper to create their own vegetable-fruit creation. We saw an apple carrot and a strawberry plum. The delicious day dreamed dishes were pinned up by a farm staff member for all to see.

What is a trip to a farm without a hike around the grounds? The teens tied their boots up tight and dug into the shaded winding trail. The route took us past idyllic streams and a two grazing fields where we saw cows and a majestic horse. We finished our trip with a light snack and some water.

We were one exhausted group when we plopped into our seats for the bus ride home. Sunshine, friends, exercise and nature, what better way to spend a Saturday?

5th Annual Challenger Game

It was a back and forth swish fest on the hard top.  The South East Consortium Hawks met at the Westchester County Center for a full court inter-team friendly match last Tuesday evening.

Friends and family were in attendance as the divided Hawks played the fifth annual Challenger Game. The full court game had all the fixings of a pro- event; score board lit, two zebra striped officials, booming announcers commentating on plays and blaring pop music between periods. All that was missing was Spike Lee in the front row.

It was a nail biter from the tip off. The score was tied after the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd periods. With 20 seconds to go in the fourth Alex Pflaum got the personal foul but it was too little too late. The Hawks team under the coaching expertise of John Farrell pulled off a down to the second victory 44-40.

Both Hawks team have so much to be proud of. The high scoring game was a result of sound game mechanics, some incredible 3-pointers and hustle and determination from every player on the court.

It wasn't just the usual Hawks crew soaring up and down the court. Both teams saw some new, but hopefully returning, faces donning the blue and white strip. Meg Lewis, Gabriel Mineard and James Beveridge laced up their sneakers to take part in this exciting event.

The Hawks look forward to their next event taking place in May against their rivals North East who they narrowly lost to last year. 

Special Olympics Swim Meet 3/22/14

The Sharks were in the water and were on the hunt for gold.

This past Saturday members of the South East Consortium Sharks Swim team competed in the 2014 Stephen Sturgis Memorial Aquatics Competitions.

The competition, held at White Plains High School, hosted several swim clubs from around the area including North East, YWCA, White Plains Park and Recreation and the Mamaroneck Star Fish.

The Sharks had been focusing on their freestyle, backstroke and team relays at practice and it definitely showed this weekend. The team took home 7 gold, 4 silver, 4 bronze and placed in every other event they were entered in.

Additionally the two relay teams entered both came out of the pool wearing gold for their efforts.  There was definitely some sore necks from all that hanging metal the next day!

Every athlete improved their personal best times recorded at practice. Some new comers to the event made a real splash. John MacAulay showed up big time on Saturday motoring through the 50 free style with a time of 40:41. Zoe Smith’s debut was met with much success in the 25 Free and 25 backstroke.

Both South East Consortium’s relay teams flexed their muscle cruising easily to first place in the 100 meter relay event. The relay teams were comprised of Matthew Teator, Andrew Myers, Danny Maloney, Ryan Urquhart. The second team was made up of Carly Horowitz, Nikita Afanasiev, JD Stiner and John MacAulay.

The Sharks will be heading up to compete at West Point Military Academy on April 26^th.