Kindergarteners at the Elementary School and Otisville Elementary have been treated to special handmade scarves for the upcoming winter season, an annual special treat and gift from New Windsor resident "Grandma" Phyllis Scherf, who has been making one-of-a-kind scarves for these little students since 2008.
Since her scarf-making work began 17 years ago, Mrs. Scherf estimated she’s made close to 3,700 scarves for district kindergarteners.
Her kindergarten scarf-making began when, during a 2008 Thanksgiving family gathering, her grand-niece admired the handmade scarf she wore to her niece’s home.
“I like your scarf, can you make me one?” the grand-niece asked, who was an Otisville Elementary kindergartener at the time.
When she returned to school the following week, Mrs. Scherf, who now is nearing 91-years-old, received a telephone call from her grand-niece: “My new friend loves my scarf. Can you make her one?”
And later, after the two girls wore their scarves to school came another call: “Everybody in my class loves our scarves. Can you make them for everyone?”
After all students were gifted scarves, the tradition of making them for all Otisville kindergarteners was born. The tradition expanded to the Elementary School in 2013.
Mrs. Scherf’s friend encouraged her to take the unused scraps of fabric she used to make jackets for retired greyhound dogs for the scarves. There were untold bags of scraps featuring all kinds of prints suitable for little girls and boys.
That led to Mrs. Scherf acquiring unwanted yarn and tissue paper, so every scarf is individually gift wrapped. Kindergarteners were thrilled to have an expected gift to unwrap!