Scarsdale residents Sharon Griest Ballen and Gary Katz will be inducted into Westchester County's Senior Hall of Fame.

The 44th annual awards luncheon is set for Friday, Dec. 4, at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown.

Ballen, one of four seniors countywide named a Distinguished Honoree, was recognized for her volunteerism and advocacy across multiple organizations, according to the River Journal.

Katz was also named to the Class of 2026 as a Scarsdale honoree, though his specific tier was not listed in the announcement.

In all, 61 seniors from 29 municipalities and hamlets will be inducted at the ceremony, which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Ballen chairs the Prison Relations Advisory Committee for the Town of Bedford, where she works with the commissioner of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and the superintendent of the Bedford Hills Women's Prison.

That work has led to collaborations including distributing soaps and fans to incarcerated women during summer months, according to the River Journal.

She also serves as a board member of the Endeavor Therapeutic Horsemanship Program, which supports individuals with disabilities, veterans and at-risk youth. Ballen is the Clerk of Session at Katonah Presbyterian Church and finance manager at the Katonah Thrift Shop.

Muriel Conway of Ossining and Rita C. Mabli of New Rochelle will receive top honors at the event. Mae Carpenter, former commissioner of the Department of Senior Programs and Services, will receive the Pioneer In Aging Services Award.

County Executive Ken Jenkins said in a statement that the annual celebration "… is an opportunity to recognize the remarkable contributions our older adults make to their communities and to Westchester County as a whole."

The Senior Hall of Fame began as part of the 300th anniversary of Westchester County's founding. Nearly 1,800 seniors have been inducted over 44 years.

Nominees must have made significant contributions to the county's quality of life through professional work, volunteer service, or both. A panel of judges selects the honorees.

Individual tickets cost $100. Sponsorships and congratulatory journal ads are also available. Residents can visit westchesterpartnership.org/hall-of-fame or contact Jill Sommer Stern at (914) 218-3968 for details.

Upcoming community dates:

  • Friday, Dec. 4: 44th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Westchester Marriott, Tarrytown
  • Monday, Nov. 2: Deadline for journal ad submissions