June, 2011 - The Nyack Villager
June, 2011 - The Nyack Villager
June, 2011 - The Nyack Villager
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<strong>The</strong><strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> ®<br />
An independent monthly news magazine celebrating life and the arts in the Hudson River Villages<br />
<strong>June</strong><br />
<strong>2011</strong><br />
<strong>June</strong> Wedding<br />
Photo by Jorge Madrigal © 2010 Madrigal Studios, <strong>Nyack</strong>, NY<br />
PRST STD<br />
US Postage<br />
PAID<br />
permit no.<br />
5432<br />
WHITE PLAINS NY<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> is the only publication mailed to every residential address in all eight river villages—Upper <strong>Nyack</strong>, <strong>Nyack</strong>, Central <strong>Nyack</strong>,<br />
South <strong>Nyack</strong>, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont & Palisades NY, as well as to many businesses and professionals in Rockland<br />
and by subscription to the known world.
2 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>
In this issue<br />
Departments<br />
3 REPORTER AT LARGE<br />
• Tenth Annual Men Cooking at <strong>Nyack</strong> Center<br />
• <strong>Nyack</strong> Historical Society tour of the Tenement Museum<br />
• Busy State Senator: what David Carlucci is up to<br />
• Streetscape update by Carol Fleichmann<br />
• Congressman Engel again calls for closure of Indian Point<br />
• Jen Laird White may challenge for mayor’s job<br />
• Hard times for the Nanuet Mall<br />
• Parking Permits for <strong>Nyack</strong> residents page 15<br />
5 JUNE DELIGHTS Art & entertainment this month<br />
9 COMMUNITY NOTES Happenings in <strong>June</strong><br />
10 LETTERS to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong><br />
20 CALENDAR Highlights in <strong>June</strong><br />
21 OP-CALENDAR PAGE useful local phone numbers<br />
Columns<br />
6 REMEMBER THE DAYS? Jim Leiner’s Flashback On a <strong>Nyack</strong> Street<br />
7 THE MISSING INGREDIENT Cindy Coligan on happy mistakes<br />
15 UNDER EXPOSED How Shel’s little brown wagon helped win WW2<br />
16 MENTAL HEALTH NOTES Daniel Shaw on mourning<br />
17 HOMETOWN LAW Peter Klose, Esq. on writing a will<br />
18 AT THE MOVIES Ric Pantale on films you may have missed<br />
and notes on Hollywood Lingo<br />
19 WILDLIFE NEWS Travis Brady on the carnivore next door<br />
22 THEY GOT WHAT?! Donna Cox on current trends in real estate<br />
Features<br />
7 THE WORD HOUND He-e-e-re Fido<br />
15 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK<br />
18 PETS FOR ADOPTION Meet Apollo, a friendly Shepherd mix<br />
23 LEAF BLOWERS: MILD ANNOYANCE OR ENVIRONMENTAL<br />
HAZARD? by Gail Greiner<br />
On our <strong>June</strong> cover<br />
JUNE WEDDING<br />
photo by Jorge Madrigal<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong><br />
<strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> Vol. 15 No. 10<br />
Friends of the <strong>Nyack</strong>s Newsletter<br />
pages 11 through 14<br />
in this issue<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Historical tours the<br />
Lower East Side Tenement<br />
Museum see page 3<br />
Mailed on or near the first of each month to every residential address in eight river villages—Upper <strong>Nyack</strong>,<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>, Central <strong>Nyack</strong>, South <strong>Nyack</strong>, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont and Palisades NY.<br />
On the Internet at www.nyackvillager.com<br />
E-mail news releases to us at info@nyackvillager.com Deadline for our July-August issue is <strong>June</strong> 15.<br />
Please include a contact name and telephone number.<br />
Annual Artwalk<br />
see page 5<br />
the name is FIDO<br />
Word Hound<br />
see page 7<br />
Leaf blowers—environmental<br />
hazard? see page 23<br />
<strong>The</strong> little brown wagon that<br />
helped win WW2<br />
see page 15<br />
REPORTER<br />
at large<br />
by Jan Haber<br />
(unless otherwise noted)<br />
Tenth annual Men Cooking at<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Center<br />
Led by Celebrity Chef David<br />
Carlucci, 70 professional &<br />
amateur chefs will prepare<br />
their culinary specialties<br />
for you to taste Sunday<br />
<strong>June</strong> 12, 5 to 7pm.<br />
Proceeds<br />
from this<br />
popular<br />
annual event<br />
will benefit the<br />
Center’s great<br />
community programs.<br />
Men Cooking for<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Center, <strong>June</strong><br />
12 from 5 to 7pm.<br />
Admission: children, $10, adults $20 at<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Center, 58 Depew Avenue, <strong>Nyack</strong> NY.<br />
Info: (845) 358-2600.<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Historical offers guided<br />
tour of the NYC of yesteryear<br />
In <strong>June</strong>: a guided tour of restored homes in<br />
<strong>The</strong> Tenement Museum of New York, plus a<br />
neighborhood walking tour of the Lower East<br />
Side, presented by the Historical Society of<br />
the <strong>Nyack</strong>s.<br />
<strong>The</strong> museum tour, Getting By, shows how immigrants<br />
weathered hard times at 97 Orchard<br />
Street from 1863 to 1935.<br />
Reporter at Large continues on page 4<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 3<br />
Photo courtesy East Side Tenement Museum by Keiko Niwa
4 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><br />
REPORTER at large<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Historical starts on page 3<br />
On the tour are restored homes of a German-<br />
Jewish family who lived through the Panic of<br />
1873, and an Italian-Catholic family who survived<br />
the Great Depression.<br />
Part of the presentation is a continuous film depicting<br />
the immigrant lifestyle, with clips of<br />
an interview with a previous tenant. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
will be time to visit the gift store, as well as interesting<br />
small shops in the area.<br />
<strong>The</strong> focus of the neighborhood walking tour<br />
will be the trends that shaped the Lower East<br />
Side from 1935 to the present. <strong>The</strong> group will<br />
view the architectural style of bodegas, parks,<br />
settlement houses and churches along the way.<br />
Please note: the building tour is not handicapped-accessible.<br />
Admission includes coach<br />
transportation, museum admission and both<br />
tours. Space is limited, so sign up soon to be<br />
part of this trip.<br />
On Wed, <strong>June</strong> 15 the coach leaves from 507<br />
North Broadway in Upper <strong>Nyack</strong> promptly at<br />
8:15am, to return at 4pm. You’re on your own<br />
for lunch, though we’ll provide suggestions.<br />
Send a check for $50 for members, ($55 nonmembers)<br />
to Historical Society of the <strong>Nyack</strong>s,<br />
PO Box 850, <strong>Nyack</strong>, NY 10960. Include your<br />
address & phone numbers.<br />
Info: call Betty Gaeta at (845) 358-2765 or<br />
e-mail abgaeta@verizon.net<br />
Busy state senator<br />
• NY State Senator David Carlucci (D-Rockland/Orange)<br />
co-sponsored a bill to help police<br />
crack down on texting-while-driving.<br />
Though there are 16,000 deaths nationwide<br />
due to texting while driving, local law enforcement<br />
officers presently cannot pull a driver<br />
over solely for texting while driving; this bill<br />
would make text messaging while driving a<br />
primary, rather than a secondary violation.<br />
“Texting while driving is a deadly combination,”<br />
Senator Carlucci said; “It has led to a<br />
new form of distracted driving, resulting in<br />
preventable fatalities on our roads. This legislation<br />
will allow law enforcement officers to<br />
save lives.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> bill awaits passage by the State Assembly.<br />
• NY State Senator Carlucci, Assemblywoman<br />
Jaffee and Assemblyman Zebrowski joined<br />
Dept. of Transportation Leaders to address<br />
flooding, potholes, pedestrian safety and other<br />
road concerns that plague the Lower Hudson<br />
Valley, including Oak Tree Road and Route<br />
9W in Palisades where, tragically, a child was<br />
killed last year.<br />
Streetscape update<br />
by Carol Fleischmann<br />
It's actually going to happen! We are breaking<br />
ground on <strong>June</strong> 1, starting at the corner of<br />
South Franklin & Main Street. <strong>The</strong> project<br />
will be divided into sections, one side of the<br />
street at a time, each to be completed before<br />
starting another.<br />
Though not all details have been finalized, it is<br />
expected that at least one side of Main Street<br />
will get new sidewalks and wiring for street<br />
lamps this Summer. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> will<br />
try to keep you updated as work progresses.<br />
<strong>The</strong> village was able to secure a grant for most<br />
of the renovations so bonding was not needed<br />
—hence the 2-part project.<br />
A public dedication is scheduled for 2pm Sat,<br />
<strong>June</strong> 4, at the corner of Franklin and Main.<br />
<strong>The</strong> public is cordially invited and we hope to<br />
see you there.<br />
Rep. Engel again calls for closure<br />
of Indian Point<br />
Congressman Eliot Engel repeated his call for<br />
the closure of Indian Point, following his tour<br />
of the plant with Nuclear Regulatory Commission<br />
Chairman Gregory Jaczko and Congresswoman<br />
Nita Lowey. Rep. Engel was the<br />
first New York Member of Congress to call for<br />
the plant’s closure, and maintains the position<br />
that the plant is dangerous to the New York<br />
City region and beyond.<br />
“You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.<br />
This is an antiquated plant that would never<br />
be built today in this location, and no matter<br />
how you dress it up, it’s still just a plant whose<br />
time has long passed. To me, 9-11 was a game<br />
changer,” said Rep. Engel. “One of the hijacked<br />
planes flew over Indian Point on its<br />
way to the World Trade Center. That, combined<br />
with the discovery that blueprints for<br />
nuclear facilities in the US have been found in<br />
the hands of the Taliban, opened my eyes to<br />
the extreme peril of having these plants where<br />
they are now located. Terrorists are seeking<br />
vengeance for our killing Osama bin Laden,<br />
and the New York area is a prime target, with<br />
Indian Point a tempting location for a strike.”<br />
“Why is Indian Point a danger? <strong>The</strong> evacuation<br />
plan is inadequate; the population of NY<br />
City & the Hudson Valley region is too large<br />
for existing escape routes. No regional county<br />
executive has signed off on an evacuation plan.<br />
25 million people live within the 50-mile radius—the<br />
largest concentration in the US. In<br />
Japan, residents were told to get out of the 50-<br />
mile radius. <strong>The</strong> plant sits near two fault lines.<br />
Entergy says it can withstand a quake of 6.1<br />
on the Richter Scale, higher than the record<br />
for this area of 5.25. However, Japanese scientists<br />
were unprepared for the 9.0 quake and<br />
the tsunami that followed.”<br />
Candidate for mayor?<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Village Trustee Jen Laird-White may<br />
soon announce plans to run for mayor of<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>, challenging incumbent Richard Kavesh<br />
for the nomination in the Democratic Party<br />
primary in September.<br />
Among her job qualifications, she lists the cofounding<br />
of the <strong>Nyack</strong> Park Conservancy.<br />
Former Mayor John Shields describes Laird-<br />
White as a “high-energy mover and shaker<br />
who has been incredibly good for the village”<br />
—in part for her work in developing a worldclass<br />
park design—and doing it all without<br />
taxpayers' money. As president of the conservancy,<br />
she raised more than $100,000 toward a<br />
revitalized riverfront park. Most of the money<br />
came from annual benefits, plus a $40,000<br />
grant from Scenic Hudson.<br />
In addition, she founded the dog-run park in<br />
South <strong>Nyack</strong> and the Hudson River Kids<br />
Summer Discovery Program, encouraging<br />
local children to learn about everything that<br />
lives in the river. “<strong>The</strong> whole idea is to give<br />
kids a respect for this amazing resource they<br />
have right down the street,” she says.<br />
Hard times for the Nanuet Mall<br />
More than 40 stores are vacant in the oncebustling<br />
Nanuet Mall. Some of the escalators<br />
no longer run and, on weekdays at least, the<br />
food court is all but deserted.<br />
When it opened, in 1969, the Nanuet Mall<br />
was pretty much the only game in town. Its<br />
anchor stores, Sears and Bamberger's (later<br />
Macy's), blew the doors off tacky, WWII-style<br />
Korvette’s on Rte. 59. Korvette’s, which once<br />
was the area’s only department store, closed,<br />
unmourned, a few months later.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n, in 1980 <strong>The</strong> Galleria at White Plains<br />
was built, followed by Woodbury Commons<br />
in Central Valley in 1985. <strong>The</strong> coup de grâce<br />
came in 1998, with the advent of Palisades<br />
Center, roughly four times the size of the<br />
Nanuet Mall.<br />
Indiana-based Simon Co., which operates the<br />
Nanuet Mall, fought back, adding a third anchor<br />
store (Boscov’s) and a great many smaller<br />
shops. <strong>The</strong>re was general grumbling about the<br />
irrelevance of many of the new shops (“Do we<br />
really need another source of Disney chachkas?”)<br />
Evidently not; the Disney stores all went away,<br />
followed by Boscov’s in 2008.<br />
Now, amid reports that the Simon Co. plans to<br />
demolish the Nanuet Mall (all except Sears and<br />
Macy’s, which it does not own), are stories of a<br />
revitalized Nanuet Mall to open in 2013.<br />
According to published accounts, Clarkstown<br />
Supervisor Alex Gromack says a new Nanuet<br />
Mall is likely to include a movie complex, offices,<br />
restaurants and a splendid food market<br />
in a mix of outdoor and indoor styles. ✫
JUNE DELIGHTS<br />
Art<br />
and<br />
Entertainment<br />
Artwalk <strong>2011</strong>: tribute to Hopper<br />
<strong>The</strong> 6th annual juried event is A Tribute to Edward<br />
Hopper, honoring the acclaimed artist and<br />
native son and marking the 40th anniversary of<br />
the Edward Hopper House Art Center.<br />
<strong>The</strong> signature poster (above) is from a painting<br />
by Richard Sutton of NY City and shows the influence<br />
of Edward Hopper on Mr. Sutton’s work,<br />
while representing this year's theme. This year,<br />
the artists were each asked to create one work is<br />
their own medium that was influenced by or<br />
dedicated to Edward Hopper. <strong>The</strong> Hopper-inspired<br />
works will be on view throughout <strong>Nyack</strong>.<br />
A special art class for children will be held by<br />
artist David Derr on Sunday, <strong>June</strong> 19, 1-3pm at<br />
Eyevolution Optique. Reservations required.<br />
(845) 353-4701.<br />
Stroll the streets of <strong>Nyack</strong>, meet the talented<br />
artists participating in Artwalk, dine, shop and<br />
enjoy <strong>Nyack</strong>.<br />
Artwalk <strong>2011</strong>: 3 days: Fri, <strong>June</strong> 17, 7-9 pm,<br />
Sat, <strong>June</strong> 18, 12-5 pm & 6-9 pm and<br />
Sun, <strong>June</strong> 19, 12-5 pm.<br />
15th annual Taste of <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
Sponsored by the YMCA, Taste of <strong>Nyack</strong> takes<br />
place this year on Tues, <strong>June</strong> 14 at 6pm. Tickets<br />
are $40pp. For info, call (845) 358-0245.<br />
Free First Friday film<br />
Piermont Library presents Across the Universe on<br />
Friday <strong>June</strong> 3, at 7:30pm. If you’re a Beatles fan,<br />
this one’s for you! Julie Taymor (<strong>The</strong> Lion King,<br />
Spider-Man) directed this one-of-a-kind joyful,<br />
exhilarating wild ride based on 34 Beatles songs<br />
everybody knows—and does it in a way that only<br />
Taymor can. <strong>The</strong> film stars Evan Rachel Wood,<br />
Jim Sturgess, Joe Anderson and Dana Fuchs,<br />
among many other, with cameos by Bono, Eddie<br />
Izzard, Joe Cocker, Selma Hayek & Didi Conn.<br />
<strong>June</strong> Delights continue on page 8<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 5
Remember the days?<br />
by James F. Leiner<br />
Flashback on a <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
Street<br />
I was enjoying a cup of coffee in<br />
the window of what for decades<br />
was Hawvermale's Hardware<br />
store when the fire whistle started<br />
blowing. Like the fire engine<br />
chaser that I am, I counted the<br />
alarm code and knew the fire<br />
trucks would soon be racing up Main Street to<br />
a call at <strong>Nyack</strong> College. Only a few minutes<br />
passed and the rescue rig of <strong>Nyack</strong> Fire Patrol<br />
flew by followed closely by the Red and Black<br />
truck of Jackson Engine. Inwardly, I cried a<br />
little. You see, for forty-years I was driving or<br />
riding on one of those trucks. Now, I only sit<br />
and watch—and remember. A few minutes<br />
passed and the fire engine named after a race<br />
horse came up Main Street, with its light blazing<br />
and siren blasting. Mazeppa’s men were<br />
answering the alarm. I didn’t head for the fire,<br />
I went back to my coffee; my firefighting days<br />
are over. That’s a younger man’s job now. Instead,<br />
I looked out the window and my thoughts<br />
flashed back to the days when I was an active<br />
firefighter and then further back 65 years to<br />
the days of my youth when <strong>Nyack</strong>’s Main Street<br />
was where it was at for the kids in town.<br />
I stared out on the street I know so well, and<br />
with a little bit of imagination, and the<br />
thought of the racing fire trucks fresh in my<br />
mind, I could almost see the flames and<br />
smoke coming from Steve’s Bar across the<br />
street; my first working fire as a <strong>Nyack</strong> fireman<br />
back in 1969. John Galietta, a member of<br />
Chelsea Hook & Ladder, and my landlord,<br />
was cited for bravery in his attempt to rescue<br />
four men who perished in that inferno. Turning<br />
to my left I could see down the block to<br />
where four stores were destroyed in a huge fire<br />
in 1971. Ted Peterzells’s Sport Shop was one<br />
of those stores, so was the Eagle Confectionary,<br />
home to Tom Vassilo’s incredible chocolate<br />
concoctions. National Shoes and Mae Moon’s<br />
a women’s clothing store also burned to the<br />
ground that day. Not all of the stores of my<br />
youth were consumed by fire. Urban Renewal<br />
in the late 1960s claimed many. With a bit of<br />
effort I could almost see Paone’s Pizza across<br />
the street (the first pizza shop in Rockland<br />
County), and where I think I smoked my first<br />
cigarette. Down the block was Eagle Army &<br />
Navy, the best store for my dad’s working<br />
clothes. Parietti’s <strong>Nyack</strong> Billiard Parlor, (my<br />
mother NEVER let me go in<br />
there!) <strong>The</strong>n I could see myself<br />
walking into Tromm’s cozy little<br />
delicatessen where everything<br />
smelled so good, and they sold the<br />
best potato salad in the entire<br />
world. <strong>The</strong> Main Diner, a hamburger<br />
haven with a steaming cup<br />
of Joe was close to the Harmony<br />
Music store. <strong>The</strong>re were many<br />
more stores that escape my memory—all<br />
of them gone now.<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> was the shopping hub of Rockland<br />
back in the 1940s, 50s and into the mid 60s.<br />
Main Street, the in place to go for shopping<br />
was even more special to me in my youth. <strong>The</strong><br />
big magnet, or course, was the once-proud<br />
Rockland <strong>The</strong>ater on Broadway. the county’s<br />
gaudiest show house. Imagine, two cartoons,<br />
a Movietone News, and a double feature on<br />
Saturday for a quarter. I remember kissing my<br />
first girlfriend in the back balcony. I think her<br />
name should be omitted here, though.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was something just plain good about<br />
hanging around Main Street. You could stop<br />
in the Eagle for one of their famous “Cherry<br />
Smash” sodas. (If you don’t know what that is,<br />
email me: I have the recipe). I would often hit<br />
Woolworth’s candy counter for my favorite<br />
chewy, or walk down to Schmitt’s Ice Cream<br />
Parlor where they made those fabulous Ice<br />
Cream Sodas (another quarter). We used to<br />
peek in the dark windows of Henni Bartell’s<br />
Bar and see if our fathers were tipping a few.<br />
That’s where I first felt the end of <strong>Nyack</strong> cop<br />
Pete Gentile’s nightstick as he barked at me:<br />
“hangin’ around that bar ain’t gonna do you<br />
any good kid!” In my teen years, Friday and<br />
Saturday were the nights to be in town. You’d<br />
meet a pack of kids from school, and even<br />
more from down in Piermont. It was one big<br />
fraternity in those days. Everyone seemed to<br />
know everyone else. <strong>Nyack</strong> was a great place<br />
to grow up.<br />
I must have been day dreaming when the fire<br />
trucks came back down the hill. Startled a bit,<br />
I noticed the passing red blur of one of the<br />
trucks in the corner of my eye. Maybe there<br />
was a bit of a tear there too. Not wanting to<br />
return to the present day, I closed my eyes<br />
thinking of the places of my youth. I didn’t<br />
want anything to spoil those fine memories.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> thanks Jim Leiner for helping us<br />
all ‘Remember the Days.’ ✫<br />
6 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><br />
:) Smile<br />
Half of all modern drugs could well be thrown out of the window, except that<br />
the birds might eat them.—Dr. Martin Henry Fischer<br />
Well, if I called the wrong number, why did you answer the phone?<br />
—James Thurber (1894-1961) (New Yorker cartoon caption.)<br />
<strong>The</strong> older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch<br />
his own breath.—Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart
<strong>The</strong> Missing Ingredient<br />
by Cindy Coligan<br />
Everyone knows we’re supposed to learn from<br />
our mistakes. Mom & Dad drilled that into<br />
most of our heads from the time we can remember.<br />
But what about when those mistakes actually<br />
make things better? I am here to tell you—<br />
Don’t be afraid of mistakes in the kitchen!<br />
Two things to always remember—never put<br />
water on hot oil, and always keep salt and<br />
sugar properly labeled. Pretty much anything<br />
else can be fixed. So relax, enjoy yourself and<br />
improvise when necessary.<br />
Here is my favorite crumb-topping recipe,<br />
born out of one mistake and one missing ingredient.<br />
I know you will love it on all the<br />
amazing summer fruits and berries that will<br />
soon be arriving.<br />
CRUMB TOPPING<br />
1 cup whole wheat flour<br />
2/3 cup brown sugar (the mistake)<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 cup butter<br />
pulse in food processor or blend by hand.<br />
Place in medium bowl and add 1/2 cup nuts<br />
(match your fruit; the Texan in me loves<br />
pecans with peaches)<br />
1/2 cup oats.<br />
Clump together by hand and sprinkle over<br />
your favorite fruit filling<br />
<strong>The</strong> missing ingredient you ask? Well, I can’t<br />
exactly tell you that just yet. You see, it’s the<br />
secret to my delicious piecrust and I think we<br />
need to get to know each other a little better<br />
first. <strong>The</strong> secret ingredient was missing from<br />
my pantry, so I opted for a crumb topping on<br />
my beautiful blueberries instead, mis-measured<br />
the brown sugar (the mistake), omitted the<br />
granulated sugar originally called for, and the<br />
rest, as they say, is history.<br />
Cindy Coligan is a native of Houston, Texas and<br />
moved east fifteen years ago. A graduate of the<br />
Institute of Culinary Education in Manhattan,<br />
she is the chef/owner of Lanie Lou's Cafe at 135<br />
East Erie Street (just off Route 303) in Blauvelt,<br />
NY. Reach her at (845) 680-6199. ✫<br />
He-e-e-re Fido<br />
by Jan Haber<br />
Fido is a kind of generic name for<br />
a domestic dog, though few people<br />
seem to choose it as the name<br />
for the family pooch.<br />
We set Word Hound on Fido’s<br />
trail and found some surprises.<br />
Fido (Latin, gender masculine) for<br />
I am faithful. Abraham Lincoln’s<br />
dog was named Fido.<br />
Though Lincoln appeared to be a rough backwoods<br />
type without much book-learning, he<br />
was, in fact, highly literate and fully qualified<br />
to give his dog a Latin name. After the election<br />
of 1860, Lincoln left Fido in the care of<br />
friends in Springfield when he moved to the<br />
White House. It is said that Fido died shortly<br />
after Lincoln was assassinated.<br />
Though there are other names reserved for dogs,<br />
none is quite as generic as Fido. We searched<br />
but could find no ancestry for Bowser or Bosco.<br />
Rover (a wanderer), Rex (the king) Spot, Patch,<br />
Whitey and Red (presumably in reference to<br />
coat attributes) were all yesteryear’s traditional<br />
names but seem a bit dull and unoriginal now.<br />
Max leads the hit parade of current dog names<br />
in the US, England and Australia followed by<br />
Sam, Jack, Jake, Jessie, Molly, Chloe<br />
and Lucy. Names you may recognize<br />
from popular culture include<br />
Toto, Tige, Bullseye, Nipper, Asta,<br />
Lassie, Daisy —and more recently,<br />
Gromit, Dogbert, Barkley, Marmaduke,<br />
Snoopy, Benji, Clifford and Blue.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are many dozens more at the<br />
website at http://www.jimwegryn.<br />
com/Names/Dogsall.php<br />
<strong>The</strong> Word Hound welcomes comments<br />
and questions from readers. ✫<br />
Mosaic portrait of a household pet / guard dog from the<br />
city of Pompeii, destroyed in 79AD when Vesuvius<br />
erupted.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 7
Summer Art Programs at RoCA<br />
27 South Greenbush Rd. West <strong>Nyack</strong> (off Exit 12 NYS<br />
Thruway.) Info: call 845-358-0877. Hours: M to F, 10am<br />
to 5pm; weekends, 1 to 4pm; closed holidays.<br />
Rockland Center (RoCA) School for the Arts offers<br />
a wide array of classes for children and adults<br />
taught by professionally trained artists in fully<br />
equipped studios. Courses are offered mornings,<br />
afternoons, and evenings. Fees range according<br />
to the discipline and length of program. Classes<br />
begin Monday, <strong>June</strong> 27. Courses include ceramics,<br />
painting, drawing, glass, cartooning, creative<br />
writing, photography and more.<br />
<strong>The</strong> camp experience at RoCA provides creative<br />
fun days for children ages 5 to 12 on RoCA's ten<br />
wooded acres, fully equipped, air conditioned, art<br />
studios and large swimming pool. Campers<br />
learn in a hands-on, non-competitive environment<br />
encouraging confidence, creativity and<br />
group cooperation. 3 or 4 days per week, two 4-<br />
week sessions, <strong>June</strong> 28 thru Aug 19.<br />
For info and a free catalog, call (845) 358-0877<br />
or visit online at www.rocklandartcenter.org<br />
Gay Pride Rockland<br />
Info: (845) 634-5729 ex 311<br />
• Juried Art Exhibit & Sale to benefit VCS Gay<br />
Pride Rockland. Opening Gala Reception with<br />
nibbles, wine & Champagne. Free.<br />
1pm Sun, <strong>June</strong> 5 at Rockland Center for the<br />
Arts, 27 S. Greenbush Rd. West <strong>Nyack</strong>, NY.<br />
• Family-friendly Children’s Carnival, face painting,<br />
supervised children’s art, street vendors,<br />
Lavender Light Gospel Choir, <strong>The</strong> Soul Street<br />
Dance Company & more. Free.<br />
Sun, <strong>June</strong> 12 from 11:50 to 5 in Riverspace<br />
Parking Lot, <strong>Nyack</strong>, NY<br />
Documentary film screening<br />
Plunder—<strong>The</strong> Crime of Our Time, a documentary<br />
film by Danny Schechter, dissects Wall St. fraud<br />
that resulted in the current economic crisis.<br />
2pm <strong>June</strong> 12 at Fellowship of Reconciliation, 521<br />
North Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong>. Sugg donation: $10.<br />
8 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><br />
JUNE DELIGHTS<br />
continue from page 5<br />
Children’s Shakespeare <strong>The</strong>atre<br />
For the first time in it’s history, Tallman Mountain<br />
State Park will host free performances of two<br />
plays: Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged)<br />
and <strong>The</strong> Merry Wives of Windsor.<br />
Admission is free; performances take place in the<br />
stone amphitheater at the western end of the athletic<br />
field, just to the left of the entrance to the<br />
park. Info: (845) 365-9709; directions to park:<br />
www.palisadesparksconservancy.org/parks/31/<br />
6pm Fri, <strong>June</strong> 3—<strong>The</strong> Complete Works of Shakespeare<br />
(Abridged)<br />
4pm Sat, <strong>June</strong> 4—<strong>The</strong> Merry Wives of Windsor<br />
Artist of the Month<br />
An exhibit of original drawings, paintings and<br />
sculpture by Neil Lavey will be on view in <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
<strong>June</strong> 1 through 30 at <strong>The</strong> Corner Frame Shop &<br />
Gallery. Artist’s Reception: <strong>June</strong> 5 from 2—5pm.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Corner Frame Shop & Gallery, 40 South<br />
Franklin Street, <strong>Nyack</strong>. Info: (845) 727-1240.<br />
At Palisades Presbyterian<br />
• At the Annual Strawberry Festival, homemade<br />
strawberry shortcake is the main event. Visit the<br />
Pocket Lady with toys for the kids, face painting<br />
and other children’s activities<br />
<strong>June</strong> 11 from 2 to 6pm at Palisades Presbyterian<br />
Church, 117 Washington Spring Rd., Palisades.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> documentary film, For the Bible Tells Me So<br />
will be shown <strong>June</strong> 25 from 7 to 9pm at Palisades<br />
Presbyterian Church (address above). <strong>The</strong><br />
movie will be followed by dessert and a discussion<br />
with panel.<br />
Rockland Camerata<br />
<strong>The</strong> Rockland Camerata, under the direction of<br />
new conductor Matthew Rupcich, will perform<br />
Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass & other master works.<br />
A meet the artists reception will follow. Tickets:<br />
$20; $15 students & senior adults, $10 children.<br />
Info: (845) 634-5562.<br />
Sat, <strong>June</strong> 11 at 4pm, at the Reformed Church of<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>, 18 South Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong>.<br />
Orangetown Historical Museum<br />
Orangetown: Edward Hopper’s Backyard<br />
An intimate look at Edward Hopper’s early years.<br />
Exhibit continues through Dec 9, Tues 10—2 &<br />
Sun 1—4 at the Depew House, 196 Blaisdell<br />
Road, Orangeburg, NY.<br />
At <strong>Nyack</strong> Center, South Bdwy at Depew,<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>, NY<br />
All films presented digitally. Tickets—$10 gen’l adm; $8<br />
students seniors & gen’l members; $7 student & senior<br />
members Info: www.rivertownfilm.org or call 353-2568.<br />
8pm Wednesday, <strong>June</strong> 8<br />
• POETRY<br />
Director: Chang-dong Lee; (2010), South<br />
Korea; Winner, Best Screenplay, Cannes Film<br />
Festival 2010<br />
May well be the film of the year.—Michael<br />
Phillips, Chicago Tribune<br />
8pm Wednesday, <strong>June</strong> 22<br />
• QUEEN TO PLAY<br />
Director: Caroline Bottaro; (2010) France &<br />
Germany; actors: Jennifer Beals, Kevin Kline;<br />
Critics’ Pick! Caroline Bottaro’s tangy comic<br />
bonbon plucks the game of chess out of the<br />
metaphorical realm of spy thrillers and re-imagines<br />
it as a fable about relationships and upward<br />
mobility ... Captivating<br />
—Stephen Holden, <strong>The</strong> New York Times ✫<br />
AT THE LIBRARIES<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Library<br />
59 S. Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong>. Info & reg: (845) 358-3370 ext. 214.<br />
Register for teen activities at ext. 236. More listings online at<br />
www. nyacklibrary.org<br />
• Digital Photo Workshops<br />
Phase 1: Composition & Lighting Tuesday, <strong>June</strong> 28,<br />
6:30pm: Phase 2: Getting to Know Your Camera<br />
Thursday, <strong>June</strong> 30, 6:30pm. Presented by Andres<br />
Valenzuela. Registration began May 15.<br />
• Silk Scarf Painting Tues, <strong>June</strong> 21, 6:30pm<br />
Using dyes, participants create a beautiful hand<br />
painted silk scarf. Must bring an old bath towel and<br />
a hanger. Registration required, materials fee of<br />
$5pp in advance to confirm registration; limited to<br />
10 participants. Registration begins <strong>June</strong> 1.<br />
<strong>June</strong> Delights conclude on page 9
• Special Live <strong>The</strong>atre Event Sat, <strong>June</strong> 25, 2pm<br />
M&M Productions’ unFramed: Self Portrait: A Man<br />
in Progress, poetic tale of a journey from boyhood in<br />
Antigua to manhood in the U.S. Admission free,<br />
registration required.<br />
• <strong>Nyack</strong> Hospital Blood Pressure Screenings Sat,<br />
<strong>June</strong> 11, 1 to 3pm<br />
• American Red Cross Blood Drive Wed, <strong>June</strong> 15,<br />
10am to 6pm<br />
• Teen Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Party<br />
Wed, <strong>June</strong> 29, 6pm, for those entering 6th through<br />
12th grade in Fall of <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
Piermont Public Library<br />
25 Flywheel Park West, Piermont, NY. Open Mon-Thurs<br />
10-8pm; Friday, 12-5pm; Saturday, 12-4pm. Closed Sun<br />
except for special events. Info: (845) 359-4595 or visit<br />
www.piermontlibrary.org<br />
• In the Gallery this month<br />
In honor of the Year of Edward Hopper, we continue<br />
the display of works by Margaret Grace and<br />
James Kimak.<br />
• Screening of film: “Hopper’s Silence”<br />
On Sun, <strong>June</strong> 5 from 2 to 4pm, there will be a<br />
showing of the documentary by Brian O’Doherty. A<br />
reception will follow.<br />
• Toddler Storytime 11am Mondays.<br />
• Moon River Music Wed, <strong>June</strong> 15 at 11:30am<br />
Palisades Free Library<br />
19 Closter Rd., Palisades, NY. Phone for details: (845) 359-<br />
0136. Registration required for all programs.<br />
• Father's Day Crafts ages 5+.<br />
Make a gift & card for father or grandfather. Or<br />
both! Please register.<br />
Wed, <strong>June</strong> 15 at 4:15pm<br />
• Book-a-Trip ages 5+.<br />
Celebrate the One World; summer reading theme<br />
with multicultural stories, crafts and snacks.<br />
Wed, <strong>June</strong> 29, 4:15pm<br />
• Page Turners will kick-off the summer reading<br />
program with a show on Thurs, <strong>June</strong> 30 at 7pm.<br />
Stop in at the library for details and tickets.<br />
Valley Cottage Library<br />
110 Route 303. Handicap accessible. Info: (845) 268-7700.<br />
M-Th. 10-9pm, Fri-Sat. 10-5pm. You can register for programs<br />
online and get details at www.vclib.org Books for<br />
discussion groups are available one month before discussion.<br />
• Experience the Enchantment of Korea<br />
View a documentary film and reenactment of a traditional<br />
Korean wedding, enjoy a Korean meal, view<br />
works of art, including paintings and costumes.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 11 at 2pm<br />
• Demystifying Your Digital Device<br />
Learn to download e-books and audiobooks using<br />
the library’s resources. Bring your device to this<br />
hands-on, librarian-led workshop.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 13 at 7pm<br />
• Book Discussion<br />
<strong>The</strong> Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood<br />
Copies of the book are available at the library.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 16 at 7pm<br />
• Sustainable Gardening<br />
Meet Cornell Master Gardeners for coffee and see<br />
how to design a garden to suit your unique environment<br />
with minimal need for water, harmful fertilizers<br />
& pesticides. Call 268-7700 to register.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 18 at 10:30am<br />
New City Library<br />
220 North Main Street, New City, NY. Contact: Sally<br />
Pellegrini, 634-4997 ext. 139; spellegr@rcls.org for details.<br />
• St. Agatha’s Home in Nanuet<br />
<strong>The</strong> history of the children’s home, written by a<br />
former resident.<br />
Sun, <strong>June</strong> 5 at 1pm.<br />
• Up the Lazy River<br />
An avid kayaker discusses purchasing considerations<br />
and boating techniques.<br />
Tues, <strong>June</strong> 7 at 7pm.<br />
• Picasso: 100 Years Ago<br />
A slide lecture on the innovative artist.<br />
Wed, <strong>June</strong> 8 at 1pm.<br />
• Grief and Loss<br />
A bereavement counselor offers ways to help cope<br />
with losing someone close.<br />
Sat, <strong>June</strong> 11 at 1pm. ✫<br />
Vacation time for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>The</strong> issue you are reading is our regular <strong>June</strong><br />
issue. It will be followed by a combined July-August Summer issue with a deadline of<br />
<strong>June</strong> 15. In September we go back to our regular monthly schedule. Someone will be in<br />
the <strong>Villager</strong> office all Summer so you can call us as usual. Neither the telephone tape<br />
nor our e-mail gets a vacation, so leave us a message at any time.<br />
COMMUNITY NOTES<br />
Tell <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> and we’ll tell the world.<br />
Deadline for Community Notes for July/Aug issue<br />
is <strong>June</strong> 15; e-mail us at info@nyackvillager.com<br />
STATION DAY IN PIERMONT<br />
Visit the Piermont Train Station. It was built in<br />
1883, it’s on the National Register of Historic<br />
Places, adjacent to the Erie Path and it was lovingly<br />
restored by Piermont Historical Society.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 5, 10am to 2pm at 50 Ash Street (Ash Street<br />
at Hudson Terrace). Free of charge. For info, call<br />
(845) 365-0655.<br />
PROJECT GRADUATION FUNDRAISER<br />
Congratulate your graduates with a personalized<br />
balloon bouquet delivered right to their homes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> red or black Congrats Grad Mylar helium<br />
balloons will be attached to the graduate’s mailbox<br />
(or other designated outdoor place), delivered<br />
a few days before graduation day, <strong>June</strong> 23rd.<br />
Order by <strong>June</strong> 15 from nhsprojgrad@gmail.com<br />
or call for info: 353-6418. $5 per balloon.<br />
WELCOME TO NEW BUSINESSES and to those<br />
who moved or expanded. If we left you out please<br />
accept our apology and let us know if you opened a<br />
new store or made changes you’d like to share with<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> readers.<br />
• Art Cafe 65 S Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong>, has a newly<br />
expanded space next to <strong>Nyack</strong> Library. 353-<br />
4230 www.artcafenyack.com<br />
• BeeAlive Royal Jelly Products, Bee Spa and<br />
Retail Store recently opened at 19 North Broadway,<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>: (845) 727-7775 www.beealive.com<br />
• Boost Mobile mobile phone service store<br />
opened recently at 2 South Franklin Street,<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>. (845) 535-3401<br />
• Dwayne M. Bodie, D.M.D., P.C. will relocate<br />
to 51 North Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong> in late <strong>June</strong>.<br />
(845) 358- 5110 www.drbodie.com<br />
• Funny Business Collectible toys and comics,<br />
recently opened at 130 Main Street, <strong>Nyack</strong> (845)<br />
348-4747 www.funnybusinessonline.com<br />
• Good Day Sunshine a natural and gluten-free<br />
bakery is opening soon on Main Street in <strong>Nyack</strong>.<br />
www.gooddaysunshine.net phone (845) 270-<br />
2856 or e-mail gdsunshie41@gmail.com<br />
Community Notes continue on page 10<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 9
Letters<br />
An open community forum.<br />
to the editor<br />
Opinions expressed are those of<br />
each letter writer; <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong><br />
need not agree.<br />
Ooops! Our bad!<br />
To <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong>—<br />
Thanks for the always valuable <strong>Villager</strong>.<br />
Please correct data on article on US troops<br />
overseas. Instead of 39,000, you must have<br />
meant 390,000.<br />
39,000 couldn't police the whole world. Of<br />
course 390,000 can't either!<br />
—Richard Deats, <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
Illegal connections causing misery<br />
To <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong>—<br />
How many of my neighbors have illegal connections<br />
between their sump pumps and their<br />
sewer line? When the sewers are blocked and<br />
fill with storm water it backs up raw sewage<br />
into your neighbor's basement. At my house<br />
we had a very bad month. <strong>The</strong> raw sewage has<br />
flowed into our basement, causing a mess,<br />
stench and requiring expensive remediation.<br />
<strong>The</strong> good news is that the blocked sewer pipe<br />
has been located and plans are under way to replace<br />
it. <strong>The</strong> Orangetown workers have been<br />
monitoring our sewer 24 hours a day and clearing<br />
it during the recent storms. <strong>The</strong>se workers<br />
have been respectful and caring and I can't really<br />
thank them enough for working so hard to<br />
protect our house from further damage.<br />
<strong>The</strong> blocked pipe should make everyone aware<br />
that our sewer system is old and vulnerable.<br />
If everyone had their sump pumps drain into<br />
the street instead of our sewers, the system<br />
would most likely not back up. I am sure the<br />
surveillance necessary to take care of our house<br />
and others must be expensive for the town.<br />
10 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><br />
So, dear neighbors on Tallman Place, North<br />
Broadway at Tallman Place and Orchard Street,<br />
anybody uphill from me: would you do me a<br />
favor and fix your illegal connections? You have<br />
made my life miserable. I bet you'd recognize<br />
me if you saw me—I'm that gray-haired piano<br />
teacher you see walking up the street into town.<br />
Do you really want me to have to deal with<br />
your excrement? Fix it!!! Thank you very much.<br />
—Fredrica Wyman, <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
GOP tax policy<br />
To <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong>—<br />
Republicans don't increase taxes on the wealthy<br />
during an economic downturn—it will exacerbate<br />
the problem. Republicans don't increase<br />
taxes on the wealthy during a recession—it will<br />
slow recovery. Republicans don't increase taxes<br />
on the wealthy during a depression—it drains<br />
scarce capital needed to rebuild the economy.<br />
Republicans don't increase taxes on the wealthy<br />
during an economic recovery because it inhibits<br />
economic growth. Republicans don't increase<br />
taxes on the wealthy during boom times because<br />
it discourages increased investment.<br />
Oh, now I get it. Republicans don't increase<br />
taxes on the wealthy!<br />
—Paul G. Jaehnert<br />
On health care<br />
To <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> and Mr. Kleiner—<br />
Regardless of what the the health care bill’s proponents<br />
claim, those of us who buy coverage on<br />
the open market have been hit with higher program<br />
costs coupled with an erosion of coverage.<br />
Despite good intentions, common sense tells<br />
me any document that contains over 2000<br />
pages that no one really understands (other<br />
than to repeat talking points crafted by both<br />
pro and con groups), invites fraud, abuse and<br />
misinterpretation by all players.<br />
<strong>The</strong> result will be excessively expensive to implement<br />
and regulate. In the end taxpayers,<br />
will bear the burden passed down from all levels<br />
of government.<br />
—Jock deCamp, Upper <strong>Nyack</strong> ✫<br />
COMMUNITY NOTES start on pg 9<br />
• Maria Luisa's Boutique new location: 77 S<br />
Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong> (845) 353-4122<br />
www.marialuisaboutique.com<br />
• Maura's Kitchen 248 Main Street, <strong>Nyack</strong>;<br />
Peruvian & Latin American Home Cooking<br />
(845) 535-3533 e-mail Mauraskitchen@gmail.com<br />
• Saffron Trading Company new location: 14 S<br />
Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong> (845) 353-3530 e-mail<br />
info@saffrontradingcompany.com<br />
• Small Fry's Children's Consignment Boutique<br />
newly opened at 148 Main Street, <strong>Nyack</strong> (845)<br />
675-7480 kids@SmallFrysConsignment.com<br />
BIRCHWOOD ONE DAY YOGA RETREAT<br />
85 S. Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong> e-mail info@birchwoodcenter.com or<br />
call (845) 358-6409 for more info. Everyone is welcome.<br />
• A day of yoga immersion for experienced students<br />
includes a back bending class, light lunch<br />
with lighthearted dialogue on yoga philosophy,<br />
and meditation with Betsy Ceva and Jill Ganassi.<br />
Sun, <strong>June</strong> 12 9am to 4pm; fee $125<br />
• Salute the Moon with Betsy Ceva<br />
Meditate to the sounds of wildlife; reflect and refresh<br />
around the campfire—all on a secluded hill<br />
top at the edge of Lake De Forest.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 17, 8 to 10:30pm; fee $35<br />
BLUE ROCK SCHOOL HOSTS GARDEN PARTY<br />
Blue Rock School will host its Biennial Garden<br />
Party and Auction with live music, wine, drinks<br />
and hors d’oeuvres to support school’s scholarship<br />
fund and the construction of the new Arts<br />
& Nature Studies Annex.<br />
Sunday, <strong>June</strong> 5 from 4 to 7pm at Shadowcliff,<br />
521 North Broadway in Upper <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
NYACK FARMERS MARKET<br />
Founded in 2001 by the late Chuck Smith of <strong>The</strong><br />
Chamber of Commerce of the <strong>Nyack</strong>s, the market<br />
is both a pleasure and a necessity for residents<br />
and visitors.<br />
Open every Thursday, rain or shine, from 8am to<br />
2pm in the Municipal Parking Lot at Main and<br />
Cedar Streets, the market features locally-grown<br />
fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, perennials,<br />
pies, prepared foods and much more.<br />
Community Notes continue on page 17
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 11
12 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 13
14 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>
NEW KIDS<br />
ON THE BLOCK<br />
by Joyce Bressler<br />
Lanti-Yates Music Studio<br />
Chris Yates was one of nine kids whose actormusician<br />
parents ran a touring theater company.<br />
<strong>The</strong> kids grew up singing and performing<br />
on musical instruments. Chris attended college<br />
and studied voice at the Manhattan<br />
School of music, while perfecting his piano<br />
technique privately. After college he went on<br />
tour and performed professionally as an actor<br />
and musician. When Chris and his wife, Carolyn,<br />
started a family and moved to <strong>Nyack</strong>, he<br />
began teaching at the Lanti Music Studio. He<br />
took over as director in January and renamed<br />
it Lanti-Yates. It is an intimate space in South<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> where the staff helps students of all ages<br />
discover their musical potential through private<br />
and group instruction in piano, voice,<br />
guitar, drums, flute and cello, with new programs<br />
to come. <strong>The</strong>ir use of toys, games and<br />
technology make lessons fun and creative.<br />
Look for Chris and Carolyn this summer at<br />
the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) at<br />
521 North Broadway in Upper <strong>Nyack</strong> where<br />
they will bring the philosophy of their studio<br />
to an affordable fun-filled summer camp.<br />
info: e-mail: lantiyatesmusic@gmail.com on the<br />
web at www.lantiyatesmusic.com or call<br />
(845) 405-3615. ✫<br />
Parking Permits<br />
Parking Permits are available for the Catherine<br />
Street parking lot at a cost of $30 per month.<br />
Parking Permits are available for the Spear<br />
Street parking lot at a cost of $10 per month.<br />
Parking Permits are available in the municipal<br />
parking lot in the center of the village at a cost<br />
of $50 per month.<br />
Overnight Parking permits are available in the<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Library parking lot at a cost of $30 per<br />
month.<br />
Under exposed<br />
by Shel Haber<br />
My little brown wagon<br />
I have always been proud of the fact<br />
I helped win WW2 with the aid of<br />
my little brown wagon<br />
Back then, we all learned about<br />
WW2 from baritone voices on the<br />
radio. <strong>The</strong> radio voices came into our<br />
home night after night and informed us of the<br />
fall of Poland, the invasion of France and the<br />
nightly bombing of London.<br />
But we were at peace and our<br />
favorite programs on the<br />
radio were <strong>The</strong> Fred Allen’s<br />
comedy show, <strong>The</strong> Adventures<br />
of Ellery Queen and<br />
Jack Benny.<br />
That was until December 7,<br />
1941. I was a young kid<br />
and did not understand the<br />
importance of the voice on<br />
the radio that said, Japanese planes bombed Pearl<br />
Harbor today; the USA is at war. All along our<br />
street one by one every neighbor’s radio was<br />
turned on and stayed on all day and into the<br />
night. <strong>The</strong> next day the flag at PS 225 was at<br />
half mast.<br />
In early January a few little flags with a blue star<br />
appeared on our street. <strong>The</strong>y were hung in<br />
front windows indicating a member of the family<br />
was serving in the military. One night, the<br />
horizon out in the Atlantic glowed red and we<br />
learned later that German U-boats had torpedoed<br />
and sunk two oil tankers just outside the<br />
entrance to New York Harbor. Street lights were<br />
masked, electric billboards were turned off and<br />
windows were darkened for the rest of the war.<br />
We put a flag with a blue star in our window<br />
for my brother, Ken and then a second star for<br />
my uncle, Mike. My father went to work at the<br />
Brooklyn Navy yard. My mother worked part<br />
time in a nearby factory that made army shirts.<br />
Back then, there was no such thing as recycling,<br />
so the Salvage for Victory campaign was launched<br />
by the government to reclaim materials for the<br />
war effort, like waste paper, scrap metal, old<br />
rags, rubber and empty cans.<br />
I told my parents I wanted to do<br />
my part in the war effort. <strong>The</strong><br />
fancy red steel wagons were hard<br />
to find so they scouted around<br />
and bought me a locally-built little<br />
brown wooden wagon.<br />
I loved my brown wagon. Every<br />
day after school and on weekends<br />
I would go with two friends from house to<br />
house gathering yesterday’s newspapers. In<br />
those days, every household<br />
purchased at least two newspapers;<br />
one morning, one<br />
evening, every day.<br />
When my mother went<br />
shopping I would sometimes<br />
help and go with my little<br />
brown wagon from shop to<br />
shop, bakery, dairy and eggs,<br />
green grocer and butcher.<br />
Shopping for vegetables, my<br />
mother met a friend. <strong>The</strong><br />
two women kissed and asked each other, How<br />
is your boy? Each had a son far away in the<br />
army, and each knew that yesterday, one of our<br />
neighbors had replaced the blue star with a<br />
gold star.<br />
My wagon had been beautifully build to last<br />
by a local handyman. It was easy to pull even<br />
when it was stacked with newspapers. As we<br />
went by, people would say, <strong>The</strong>re go the kids<br />
with the fancy brown wagon.<br />
We delivered the papers to the local Air Raid<br />
Wardens’ station, set up in a store front.<br />
Sometimes when we came in overloaded with<br />
paper, the wardens would let out a loud cheer.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y painted big squares on the floor to give<br />
each of the regular paper gatherers a handy<br />
spot. <strong>The</strong>re were spots marked for five synagogues,<br />
six churches, the Boy Scouts, the 60th<br />
precinct, the Salvation Army and one day, a<br />
new spot marked, <strong>The</strong> Brown Wagon.<br />
Shel Haber, a stage, film and television art director,<br />
is co-publisher of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong>. ✫<br />
Parking Permits are available to Village of<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> residents (with proof of residency) for<br />
overnight parking (3am to 6am) in the village<br />
lot at a cost of $25 per year.<br />
More info call 358 3851. ✫<br />
<strong>The</strong> newspapers all ran headlines similar to this one<br />
following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the start<br />
of World War 2.<br />
If you had a family member serving in the<br />
armed forces, you hung a little flag like this<br />
one in your front window. Two stars meant<br />
two service members. If the service member<br />
was killed, a gold star replaced the blue one.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 15
JULY-AUGUST issue.<br />
Mental Health Notes<br />
by Daniel Shaw, L.C.S.W<br />
Mourning<br />
Back in 1915, Sigmund Freud wrote<br />
one of his best known papers,<br />
Mourning and Melancholia, in<br />
which he introduced an idea that<br />
has since become common knowledge:<br />
that if a grave loss is<br />
mourned well, one can expect, in a<br />
reasonable amount of time, to get<br />
on with one’s life. But if mourning never<br />
ends, and a loss becomes a source of unending<br />
grief, then melancholia, or depression, results.<br />
Most of us adults are mourning, at some level,<br />
for something lost. Lost opportunities and<br />
lost youth might be the most commonly<br />
mourned experiences. Though we may not<br />
brood openly or excessively, we probably all<br />
know someone who has never stopped being<br />
bitter, or regretful. <strong>The</strong>re are some great examples<br />
of mourning turned to melancholy in<br />
literature—Dickens’ Miss Havisham, still in<br />
her wedding dress though she was cruelly<br />
jilted many years before; Tennessee Williams’<br />
Blanche DuBois, who has had to bury every<br />
one of her relatives, has lost her family home,<br />
and is fast losing her youth. Fragile and frazzled,<br />
the loss of her sister to the brutish Stanley—her<br />
sister being her last family tie and the<br />
last person she had any control over—finally<br />
drives her insane.<br />
Adults who as children were abused and neglected,<br />
often find mourning challenging. <strong>The</strong><br />
Scottish psychoanalyst Ronald Fairbairn put it<br />
this way: he said that for a child who depends<br />
entirely on his parents, it would be better to<br />
feel like a sinner in a world ruled by God,<br />
then to have to realize that one is an innocent<br />
living in a world ruled by the Devil. In other<br />
words, children would rather believe that they<br />
are bad than have to believe that their own<br />
parents would abuse them.<br />
Many adults, in therapy years later, have great<br />
difficulty mourning these kind of losses—the<br />
loss of security and safety they suffered as children;<br />
the loss of ever feeling loved and cherished<br />
by a truly caring parent.<br />
Defending against their grief and their desolation,<br />
these patients often go through life dismissing<br />
the pain of their wounds. “Yeah, so<br />
my father was a raging drunk and my mother<br />
didn’t do anything to protect us. So what? I<br />
don’t want to go through life blaming them<br />
for my problems.” I’ve heard this kind of remark<br />
many times, and I marvel at how people<br />
who take this attitude seem to be trapped in<br />
endless self-loathing and self-reproach. Not<br />
wanting to blame their parents, they have no<br />
problem relentlessly blaming themselves.<br />
Some will even go so far as<br />
to claim that they should have been<br />
stronger, at the age of 5, and not<br />
been so selfish, such a cry-baby. At<br />
5, with a raging drunken father<br />
smashing dishes, screaming at a depressed,<br />
crushed mother, this child,<br />
according to his adult self, was supposed<br />
to have behaved in a way that<br />
would have made his mother happy and<br />
avoided triggering his father’s rage.<br />
Somehow, it is easier for this adult child to<br />
loathe himself, than it is to acknowledge how<br />
profoundly his parents failed to function as<br />
parents, how unable to give and to love they<br />
really were. He cannot bear to know the<br />
depth of terror he must have felt all through<br />
childhood. He cannot bear to face the facts,<br />
because then he will feel the sting of grief so<br />
deeply that it will pierce him through and<br />
through. And he fears that once he opens up<br />
this grief, it will never stop, he will be<br />
drowned in it.<br />
He doesn’t know that this grief, if allowed to<br />
be released, can be a part of the mourning<br />
process, the process that allows us to bury the<br />
dead, to let them be at rest, and eventually to<br />
go on with being alive, and free.<br />
Instead, the adult who was abused as a child,<br />
by holding a deep, sometimes unconscious belief<br />
in his own badness, keeps his tie to the<br />
abusers alive. Instead of denying his parents<br />
the right to define him as the bad one, and<br />
bearing the grief of having been unloved, he<br />
blames himself, as the abusers did, and keeps<br />
the abusers alive, internalized as his own selfattacking<br />
voice.<br />
Very few people go through life without having<br />
some grief to bear, some terrible loss to mourn.<br />
Whether we mourn the loss of something beautiful,<br />
or of something terrible, our mourning is<br />
meant to restore and renew us, to allow for a<br />
letting go, to prepare us to value and cherish<br />
the life we have, to do our best to make the<br />
most of our time here. Depression can have<br />
many causes, and can be treated in many different,<br />
effective ways. For some, it will be the<br />
acknowledgment of loss, and the discovery of<br />
what it means to truly mourn, that will be the<br />
path out of depression, toward life.<br />
Daniel Shaw, LCSW, practices psychotherapy in<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> and in NY City. He can be reached at<br />
(845) 548-2561 in <strong>Nyack</strong> and in NY City at<br />
(212) 581-6658, shawdan@aol.com or online<br />
at www.danielshawlcsw.com ✫<br />
16 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><br />
:) Smile<br />
If a person offends you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was<br />
intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch<br />
your chance and hit him with a brick.—Mark Twain (1835-1910)
Home Town Law<br />
by Peter Klose, Esq.<br />
So, you don’t have a will ...<br />
What happens at death is psychologically<br />
difficult for many of us to deal<br />
with. <strong>The</strong>re are almost always more<br />
pressing issues than planning for<br />
what will happen when you die.<br />
A majority of people die without a will. This<br />
means that there is no clear message to the<br />
family about what a person’s assets are, where<br />
those assets are located, what should happen<br />
them, and what arrangements that person has<br />
made for his or her body or funeral.<br />
In NY State, a will is a legal document witnessed<br />
by at least two people who are not “interested”<br />
in the assets of the person who is signing the<br />
will. <strong>The</strong> will sets forth how the assets (no<br />
matter how small) will be distributed by the<br />
person designated to gather and distribute<br />
them (the Executor) upon death. If you do<br />
not have a will when you die, then you allow<br />
NY State to decide who gets what, without regard<br />
to your wishes or your heirs' needs, through<br />
the laws of “intestacy.” In today’s world of<br />
blended families, long lost cousins, and global<br />
assets, it is advisable to think about, organize<br />
and have an attorney draw up your will.<br />
Making a will is especially important if you<br />
are parents of young children because you will<br />
want to designate who will have guardianship<br />
of the children. You may consider separating<br />
the physical guardianship of the children from<br />
the guardianship of the money intended for<br />
those children. Obviously, depending upon<br />
your assets, you can make many different provisions<br />
for your family, including attempting<br />
to protect your assets from Medicaid and estate<br />
tax.<br />
You may amend your will at any time, and<br />
should review it periodically, especially when<br />
your family changes (divorce, marriage, death,<br />
birth of children, etc.). At the same time, you<br />
should review the beneficiary designations for<br />
your 401(k), IRA, pension and life insurance<br />
policies, which automatically<br />
transfer to your beneficiaries<br />
when you die. You will even<br />
need a will if you have a lifetime<br />
trust in place to hold most<br />
of your assets as the will ensures<br />
that any property you failed to<br />
transfer to the trust during your<br />
life is properly dealt with when<br />
you die.<br />
What else do you need? Two other documents,<br />
the Health Care Proxy and Living Will are<br />
also documents that are generally drafted at<br />
the time you execute your will.<br />
<strong>The</strong> NY Health Care Proxy Law allows you to<br />
appoint someone you trust to make health<br />
care decisions for you if you lose the ability to<br />
make decisions yourself. By appointing a<br />
health care agent, you can make sure that<br />
health care providers follow your wishes. You<br />
can appoint one for temporary inability to<br />
make health care decisions or in the event of permanent<br />
inability to make health care decisions.<br />
I use the NY State Department of State form<br />
which is located here:<br />
http://www.health.state.ny.us/professionals/pa<br />
tients/health_care_proxy/index.htm<br />
A Living Will is a legal document that provides<br />
a doctor, hospital, family member and healthcare<br />
proxy direction, preferences and wishes as<br />
to particular life prolonging medical treatments,<br />
where you either suffer from a terminal illness<br />
or are in a permanent vegetative state. Here is<br />
an example from the New York State Bar Association:<br />
http://www.nysba.org/Content/Navigation-<br />
Menu/PublicResources/LivingWillHealth-<br />
CareProxyForms/Living_Will_and_Heal.htm.<br />
<strong>The</strong> bottom line is that it may be time to do<br />
some spring cleaning and prepare for the inevitable.<br />
If you would like to see a legal topic covered or<br />
would like to comment, please send me an e-mail<br />
to peter@kloselaw.com. Peter Klose practices law<br />
and lives here with his wife and three children.<br />
You can reach him at (845) 727-7727 and at<br />
www.kloselaw.com ✫<br />
COMMUNITY NOTES start on pg 9<br />
FRIENDS OF THE NYACKS<br />
Enjoy a Saturday afternoon walk through<br />
through Edward Hopper’s <strong>Nyack</strong>, guided by a<br />
knowledgeable Friend of the <strong>Nyack</strong>s. Walkers<br />
meet in front of Hopper House, 82 North<br />
Broadway, <strong>Nyack</strong> at 12:45pm on the following<br />
dates: <strong>June</strong> 4, 11, 18 and 25. $5 minimum donation<br />
is suggested; sign up by e-mail at<br />
info@friendsofthenyacks.org<br />
PIERMONT FARMERS' MARKET<br />
Will open for the <strong>2011</strong> season on Sunday, <strong>June</strong> 5<br />
(rain or shine) in the M & T Bank Parking Lot,<br />
Piermont Avenue and Ash St. (527 Piermont Avenue).<br />
Hours: 9:30 am to 3pm.<br />
PALISADES FARMERS' MARKET<br />
All events take place at 675 Oak Tree Road Palisades, NY<br />
• Palisades Farm Stand<br />
will be open every Saturday 9am to 1pm through<br />
<strong>June</strong> 27. Info: visit www.PalisadesNY.com<br />
• Palisades Farmers' Market dinner<br />
Enjoy a seasonal meal made with ingredients<br />
from our vendors. A la carte selections and a<br />
room full of raffle prizes. RSVP appreciated; to<br />
PCC@PalisadesNY.com<br />
<strong>June</strong> 4 from 7 to 9pm<br />
Community Notes continue on page 19<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 17
At the Movies<br />
by Ric Pantale<br />
Movies you may have missed<br />
• THE WAY BACK<br />
(2010) Thriller<br />
This fine film might have slipped<br />
by you. It is a true story. It stars<br />
Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Ed Harris. In<br />
1940 four prisoners break out of a Siberian<br />
prisoner of war camp and try an impossible<br />
4,000 mile walk to freedom. <strong>The</strong>y somehow<br />
manage to cross the Gobi Desert and the Himalayas<br />
to find freedom in India. Beautiful<br />
scenery is everywhere as we follow the escapees<br />
from one hardship to another. <strong>The</strong> film is a<br />
tribute to man's will to survive and be free.<br />
Available now on DVD.<br />
• ALL GOOD THINGS<br />
(<strong>2011</strong>) Drama<br />
Another true story that will send shivers down<br />
your spine. It's not a horror story but I guess<br />
it might be, if it happened to you.<br />
Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst star with the<br />
always-great Frank Langella. <strong>The</strong> story spans<br />
about 25 years and starts in the early 1970s.<br />
Ryan Gosling's character is the son of a rich<br />
and powerful land-owning father (Langella).<br />
<strong>The</strong> son has a deep hatred of his father because<br />
he was made to witness the suicide death of<br />
his mother when he was only six years old.<br />
Gosling somehow meets the girl of his dreams<br />
and eventually marries her, taking her to upstate<br />
NY to open a Health Food Store.<br />
Somewhere along the way, the poor guy is<br />
pulled back into his father’s cruel but legal<br />
business. Things unravel fast for him—he's<br />
not exactly sound to begin with—and soon<br />
his wife goes missing. Although all signs<br />
point to him as her murderer, he's acquitted.<br />
Hitchcock would have nailed this story, but<br />
alas he's in Psycho Heaven. I recommend you<br />
rent this movie to see how it all turns out.<br />
Available now on DVD.<br />
18 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong><br />
Hollywood lingo<br />
We'll take a break from Historical<br />
Hollywood this month and review<br />
some interesting terminology and<br />
aspects of film.<br />
• Cameo: This is the word used<br />
for an unexpected on-screen appearance<br />
of a famous person, usually<br />
in a walk-on or small role. Often the<br />
appearance comes as a pleasant surprise.<br />
<strong>The</strong> cameo role gets its name from the famous<br />
brooch, with its instantly-recognizable profile.<br />
Though cameos are mostly used in comedy,<br />
famous writers sometimes show up in their<br />
own dramatic stories. Alfred Hitchcock practically<br />
trademarked the cameo, appearing briefly<br />
in 37 of his films. A cameo can be wordless or<br />
used to set up an important scene with brief<br />
dialogue. In Inglorious Basterds, Quentin Tarrantino<br />
cast Rod Taylor and Mike Meyers in<br />
cameos. Most of the time, a cameo actor<br />
plays himself, and if he has a sense of humor,<br />
it'll be an exaggeration. <strong>The</strong> HBO series, Extras,<br />
got some big laughs when famous actors<br />
appeared, being stupid or obnoxious. A cameo<br />
sometimes verges on being a role for a supporting<br />
actor. In Superman, Marlon Brando’s brief<br />
but memorable role could be classed as a cameo.<br />
You shouldn’t confuse a cameo with a small<br />
role played by an actor before he was famous.<br />
Before he was a star, Sylvester Stallone appeared<br />
briefly in two movies, Bananas, where<br />
he plays a thug and Prisoner of Second Avenue,<br />
where he suddenly appears as a mugger. Of<br />
course there are literally hundreds of other famous<br />
actors who started out as extras or in<br />
walk-on parts. Bob Hope had Bing Crosby do<br />
cameos in some of his films. Sean Connery<br />
makes an unbilled appearance in Robin Hood,<br />
Prince of Thieves as King Richard. Visit the<br />
IMDB site on the Internet and type in an<br />
actor’s name. If the role is listed as uncredited,<br />
it usually means it was a cameo.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> 4th wall This is what film and theatre<br />
people call the imaginary boundary between<br />
the stage and the audience at a play. A set<br />
usually has three walls; this is also sometimes<br />
true in film. When an actor seems to step<br />
outside the play and talks directly to the audience,<br />
he is said to be breaking the 4th wall. In<br />
film, this almost always happens in comedies.<br />
Laurel & Hardy did it in all their films: Hardy<br />
would turn around and look at the audience<br />
after Stan did something stupid. Bob Hope<br />
used it in some of his films where he would<br />
crack a joke to the movie audience. In Mel<br />
Brooks' High Anxiety, the camera pulls back as<br />
the audience hears a plate glass window breaking.<br />
Boston Legal used to have deadpan discussions<br />
where key players worried about being<br />
renewed for another season. William Shatner<br />
sometimes made references to Captain Kirk,<br />
his character in the earlier Star Trek series.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next time you’re at a movie and a famous<br />
face unexpectedly pops up, you will know it's a<br />
cameo. When an actor acknowledges the presence<br />
of the audience, you will know he's<br />
breaking the fourth wall.<br />
Ric Pantale writer and director, is an independent<br />
film maker. His latest film, Delilah Rose, is<br />
scheduled for release this year. ✫<br />
PETS FOR ADOPTION<br />
Above: Apollo, a gentle, sweet young male<br />
Shepherd mix.<br />
Apollo, 21/2 years old, is an active, playful dog<br />
who is well trained and gets along well with<br />
other dogs. He weighs about 52 lbs and is a<br />
lovely brindle color. He is up-to-date on his<br />
vaccines and is neutered.<br />
To adopt Apollo or another fine pet, call<br />
Hi-Tor Animal Care Center at 845-354-<br />
7900 or e-mail them at info@hitor.org
Wildlife News<br />
by Travis Brady<br />
<strong>The</strong> carnivore next door<br />
Ahh, the snow has melted, the days are getting<br />
longer—what a great time for a walk in the<br />
woods! For many of us, a walk in the woods<br />
evokes pleasant memories of hikes and camping<br />
trips and also holds the potential of seeing<br />
wild animals in their wild habitats, such as<br />
watching a rabbit nibble in a field of wild dandelions,<br />
or maybe observing a deer alertly<br />
drinking at the streamside. Recently, the types<br />
of wildlife to be seen in our local woods have<br />
increased. Predators are making a comeback in<br />
our forests. Marten, fisher and coyote populations<br />
are increasing in our area.<br />
Predators are wild animals that hunt other animals<br />
for food. Most of the time, predators<br />
prey upon weak, old, and sick animals, leaving<br />
the healthy and robust individuals to reproduce.<br />
In this aspect, predators play an invaluable<br />
role in keeping balance in the ecosystem.<br />
If predators were eliminated, their prey, the<br />
plant eaters, could (and have) alter the vegetation<br />
to the point where a habitat can no longer<br />
support native species which reside there.<br />
With a growing carnivore population, however,<br />
often comes conflict. Some people enjoy<br />
watching coyote pups romp across the field<br />
while other folks are quite unnerved by the<br />
sight of a coyote stalking a rabbit near their<br />
well-tended gardens. Coyotes and fishers have<br />
even been known to prey on cats and small<br />
dogs and, like our local raccoons, as many of<br />
us are so often reminded, coyotes are opportunistic<br />
feeders and will raid unsecured trash<br />
cans. This can led to habituation and food<br />
conditioning, a situation where wild animals<br />
are no longer afraid of people and instead see<br />
us as providers of food.<br />
We must learn to be good neighbors in order<br />
to co-exist with a carnivore population that is<br />
expanding in numbers and geographical range.<br />
We must keep our pets leashed and close by us<br />
when outside of the house. Chickens and rabbits<br />
should be securely penned up at night to<br />
prevent confrontations with coyotes, fishers<br />
and other more familiar carnivores as well.<br />
As an avid hiker and nature lover, the forests<br />
always call to me this time of year, the fledgling<br />
owls, the mass swarming of salamanders,<br />
the spring peepers. Personally, I am thrilled<br />
that the predator populations are returning.<br />
<strong>The</strong> thought of having an animal in our forest<br />
that is watching me as much as I’m watching<br />
it is exciting. I remember the first time I unexpectedly<br />
came upon a coyote in the woods.<br />
I was alone and though informed enough to<br />
stay calm and enjoy the moment, I admit that<br />
the primordial hair stood up on my arms and<br />
the back of my neck. <strong>The</strong> encounter was brief<br />
and invigorating and I remember that I was<br />
never happier to not have been a rabbit.<br />
Travis Brady, a wildlife biologist, owns and operates<br />
Mosaic Wildlife Services in <strong>Nyack</strong>. He can<br />
be reached at (917) 560-6326 or online at<br />
www.mosaicwildlife.com ✫<br />
COMMUNITY NOTES start on pg 9<br />
• Documentary Film Screening: Gasland<br />
Award-winning film about fracking: the controversial<br />
method of obtaining natural gas; its negative<br />
environmental & health impact. Q & A<br />
with guest speakers; $10pp suggested donation.<br />
RSVP suggested to PCC@ PalisadesNY.com<br />
Walk-ins welcome if space is available.<br />
Fri <strong>June</strong> 10 at 7:30pm at Palisades Comm Cntr<br />
• Annual Book Sale in Palisades<br />
Huge selection of used books for all ages and interests.<br />
Great prices. Sales to benefit the restoration<br />
of the Palisades Community Center. Info:<br />
www.PalisadesNY.com<br />
Sat & Sun <strong>June</strong> 18 & 19 9am to 3pm at Palisades<br />
Community Center 675 Oak Tree Road<br />
Palisades, NY.<br />
TURN UP THE PRESSURE ON INDIAN POINT<br />
Join Riverkeeper on <strong>June</strong> 2 and tell the NRC in<br />
person what you think about Indian Point. It’s<br />
the public’s last chance before the relicensing<br />
hearing in the fall to make sure the NRC, and<br />
our local elected officials, hear loud and clear<br />
about our concerns following the Fukushima nuclear<br />
disaster. If someone tells you that “it can’t<br />
happen here” they are either misinformed, or not<br />
telling you the truth. <strong>The</strong> NRC has gamed the<br />
system long enough. It’s time for us to turn up<br />
the pressure on the NRC at this critical time, and<br />
the best way to do that is to show up & speak out.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 2, 6:30 to 9:30pm at Colonial Terrace, 119<br />
Oregon Road Cortlandt Manor, NY<br />
ENVIRONMENTAL PICNIC<br />
Rockland County’s Environmental Coalition will<br />
sponsor a picnic at the upper meadow at Hook<br />
Mountain overlooking the Hudson River on the<br />
first Saturday after the Summer solstice (Midsummer's<br />
Day).<br />
Food booths, healthy beverages, acoustic music<br />
and the beauties of nature will give solace for<br />
some hard messages from local environmentalists<br />
about what will happen if hydro-fracking comes<br />
to New York. Only by working together will we<br />
find solutions.<br />
<strong>June</strong> 25, noon to 5pm. Info: call 535-3288.<br />
For updates: www.letstalkaboutfracking.com<br />
Community Notes conclude on page 22<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 19
Birthstone:<br />
MOONSTONE<br />
symbol of health<br />
& long life<br />
o <strong>June</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
1st quarter<br />
5 6 7 8 9 R 10 11<br />
full moon<br />
7 S<br />
7<br />
12 13 14 15 16 17 18<br />
Men Cooking<br />
7<br />
at <strong>Nyack</strong> Center<br />
6th Annual<br />
see page 3<br />
ARTWALK<br />
Gay Pride<br />
Rockland<br />
in <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
see page 8<br />
last quarter<br />
19 20 21 22 23 24 25<br />
s<br />
R<br />
Fri, Sat &Sun<br />
see page 5<br />
Flower:<br />
ROSE<br />
symbol of<br />
romantic love<br />
Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.—Oscar Wilde 1854-1900<br />
SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT<br />
new moon<br />
1 D 2 3 4 PALISADES<br />
Meeting on<br />
FREE Market Dinner<br />
INDIAN POINT<br />
see page 17<br />
see page 19<br />
FIRST FRIDAY<br />
FILM<br />
see page 5<br />
We regret the inconvenience . . .<br />
but the village sent us no meeting<br />
schedule for <strong>June</strong>. If you plan to<br />
attend court or a village meeting, call<br />
before you come to confirm the time.<br />
• Mayor’s office: 358 0229<br />
• Office of Village Clerk: 358 0548<br />
Art Show for<br />
Gay Pride<br />
Rockland<br />
see page 8<br />
PIERMONT<br />
FARMER’S MARKET<br />
Sundays 9:30-3<br />
see page 17<br />
Demystify<br />
your digital<br />
device at<br />
VALLEY COTTAGE<br />
LIBRARY<br />
see page 9<br />
UP THE LAZY<br />
RIVER—<br />
kayaking<br />
at New City<br />
Library<br />
see page 9<br />
TASTE OF<br />
NYACK<br />
see page 5<br />
Silk Scarf<br />
Painting<br />
AT NYACK<br />
LIBRARY<br />
see page 8<br />
RIVERTOWN<br />
FILM SOCIETY<br />
“POETRY”<br />
at <strong>Nyack</strong> Center<br />
see page 8<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> Historical<br />
tour of<br />
Tenement<br />
Museum<br />
see page 3<br />
RIVERTOWN<br />
FILM SOCIETY<br />
“QUEEN TO<br />
PLAY”<br />
at <strong>Nyack</strong> Center<br />
see page 8<br />
NYACK<br />
FARMER’S MARKET<br />
Thursdays 8 to 2<br />
see page 10<br />
FILM<br />
SCREENING<br />
GASLAND<br />
see page 19<br />
Children’s<br />
Shakespeare<br />
<strong>The</strong>atre<br />
“MERRY WIVES”<br />
see page 8<br />
STRAWBERRY<br />
FESTIVAL<br />
at Palisades<br />
Presbyterian<br />
see page 8<br />
PALISADES<br />
BOOK<br />
SALE<br />
see page 19<br />
Environmental<br />
PICNIC<br />
see page 19<br />
26 27 28 29 30<br />
RoCA’s<br />
Summer<br />
Camp starts<br />
see page 8<br />
PAGE<br />
TURNERS<br />
Summer<br />
reading at<br />
Palisades Library<br />
see page 9<br />
FARMERS’<br />
MARKETS<br />
<strong>Nyack</strong>: Thurs<br />
8:30am-2:30pm<br />
Piermont: Sun<br />
8am-2pm<br />
20 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong><br />
Founded in 1994, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> is published monthly, mailed on or about the first of each month to every postal address in eight Hudson River villages—<strong>Nyack</strong>,<br />
Upper <strong>Nyack</strong>, Central <strong>Nyack</strong>, South <strong>Nyack</strong>, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont &Palisades (zipcodes 10960, 10964 & 10968).<br />
Editor<br />
Contributing Editor<br />
Correspondent<br />
Publishers<br />
Community advisor<br />
Office Manager<br />
JAN HABER<br />
SHEL HABER<br />
FRANK LoBUONO<br />
JAN & SHEL HABER<br />
FRANCES PRATT<br />
JOYCE BRESSLER<br />
exchange numbers 845<br />
unless otherwise noted<br />
Columnists • PETER SEGALL DVM • JEROME GREENBERG DC<br />
• DUNCAN LEE, ESQ • JON FELDMAN • JIM LEINER • THOM<br />
KLEINER • DONNA COX • DAN SHAW, LCSW • VIVIANE<br />
BAUQUET FARRE • HARRIET CORNELL • PETER KLOSE<br />
• DOROTHY GOREN Ed.D • HOLLY CASTER • GEORGE<br />
MANIERE • RIC PANTALE<br />
NYACK VILLAGER ADDRESSES PO Box 82, <strong>Nyack</strong>, NY 10960-0082 e-mail: info@nyackvillager.com<br />
• Editorial / advertising phone (845) 735-7639 • Fax (845) 735-7669<br />
on the Internet at www.nyackvillager.com <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> is on the Internet courtesy of Devine Design.<br />
Published monthly by <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong>, LLC © 1994—2008<br />
All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission is forbidden.<br />
Phone Numbers<br />
AMBULANCE CORPS 911<br />
non-emergency 358 4824<br />
TO REPORT A FIRE 911<br />
POLICE EMERGENCY 911<br />
non-emergency 359 3700<br />
POISON CONTROL 1-800 + 336 6997<br />
RPT CHILD ABUSE 1-800 + 342 3720<br />
BATTERED WOMEN 634 3344<br />
HOSP EMERGENCY 348 2345<br />
➤<strong>Nyack</strong> VIllage Hall, <strong>Nyack</strong> 9 N Broadway<br />
OFFICE OF VILLAGE CLERK<br />
MAYOR'S OFFICE<br />
OFFICE OF TREASURER<br />
BUILDING DEPT<br />
DEPT PUBLIC WORKS<br />
FIRE INSPECTOR<br />
JUSTICE COURT<br />
PARKING AUTHORITY<br />
WATER DEPT (non emerg)<br />
WATER PLANT EMERG<br />
HOUSING AUTH 15 Highvw<br />
SECTION 8E<br />
➤South <strong>Nyack</strong> VIllage Hall 282 S B’wy, S. <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
OFFICE OF VILLAGE CLERK<br />
BUILDING DEPT<br />
JUSTICE COURT<br />
POLICE NON EMERGENCY<br />
➤Upper <strong>Nyack</strong> VIllage Hall N. Bdwy, U. <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
OFFICE OF VILLAGE CLERK<br />
➤Grand View VIllage Hall 118 River Rd<br />
OFFICE OF VILLAGE CLERK<br />
BUILDING INSPECTOR<br />
JUSTICE COURT<br />
➤Piermont VIllage Hall 478 Piermont Ave<br />
OFFICE OF VILLAGE CLERK<br />
JUSTICE COURT<br />
MUNICIPAL GARAGE<br />
YOUTH RECREATION<br />
THE NYACK VILLAGER<br />
358 0548<br />
358 0229<br />
358 3581<br />
358 4249<br />
358 3552<br />
358 6245<br />
358 4464<br />
358 3851<br />
358 0641<br />
358 3734<br />
358 2476<br />
358 2591<br />
358 0287<br />
358 0244<br />
358 5078<br />
358 0206<br />
358 0084<br />
358 2919<br />
348-0747<br />
358-4148<br />
359 1258<br />
359-1258 ext. 310<br />
359-1717<br />
359-1258 ext. 326<br />
735 7639<br />
NYACK PUBLIC SCHOOLS<br />
S. ORANGETOWN CENTRAL SCHL DIST<br />
NYACK PUBLIC LIBRARY<br />
PALISADES FREE LIBRARY<br />
PIERMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY<br />
NYACK POST OFFICE<br />
PALISADES POST OFFICE<br />
PIERMONT POST OFFICE<br />
NYACK CENTER<br />
HEAD START OF ROCKLAND<br />
NYACK YMCA<br />
COMMUNITY GARDEN<br />
FRIENDS OF THE NYACKS<br />
ART CRAFT & ANTIQUES DLRS<br />
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE<br />
353 7013<br />
359 7603<br />
358 3370<br />
359 0136<br />
359-4595<br />
358 2756<br />
359 7841<br />
359 7843<br />
358 2600<br />
358 2234<br />
358 0245<br />
358 1734<br />
358 4973<br />
353 6981<br />
353 2221<br />
Starting on the first of each month and while they last, free copies of <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> are available at <strong>Nyack</strong>, Piermont, New City & Valley Cottage<br />
Libraries, Best Western Inn <strong>Nyack</strong>, Koblin’s Pharmacy, Runcible Spoon,<br />
Hogan’s in <strong>Nyack</strong>, <strong>Nyack</strong> Village Hall and other selected locations.<br />
Advertisers—<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> is the only<br />
magazine that is MAILED every<br />
month exclusively to every resident<br />
of all eight river villages<br />
from Upper <strong>Nyack</strong> to Palisades<br />
NY—very choice territory!<br />
Everybody reads every issue<br />
cover to cover so you know<br />
your ad dollars are working<br />
hard for you. Ad prices start<br />
as low as $125.<br />
And, if you want us to, we’ll<br />
design your first ad for<br />
you—at no extra cost.<br />
Call (845) 735 -7639<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 21
y Donna Cox<br />
“What’s going on in<br />
the market?” is a question<br />
I get every day. Here’s a brief update. With low interest rates and a selection<br />
of lower priced homes (under $450K), the first-time home buyer<br />
market continues to be strong. <strong>The</strong> “Move up” buyers, traditionally a<br />
strong buying force in our market, are in a somewhat precarious position.<br />
<strong>The</strong>se are buyers who are also sellers. Because of current market conditions<br />
these buyers/sellers are often selling their homes for less than they<br />
had hoped, leaving less equity to finance their next home and therefore<br />
limiting the price point of their “move up” home. This balancing of needs, wants and affordability<br />
often results in moving up in much smaller price increments than in the past. This in turn, is impacting<br />
sellers in the mid- to upper-mid price bracket ($650K-$950K) who are looking to sell. On<br />
a positive note, as confidence builds on Wall Street and in the financial sectors, the upper-tier market<br />
($1.2M+) is beginning to show signs of recovery. With that, here are the homes that sold during April.<br />
• THE HOMES LISTED BELOW WERE SOLD BY A VARIETY OF BROKERS PROUDLY SERVING THE RIVER VILLAGES.<br />
Tudor<br />
Two Story<br />
Colonial<br />
Condo<br />
Contemporary<br />
Condo<br />
Condo<br />
Estate<br />
<strong>The</strong>y got what?!<br />
STYLE LOCATION ADDRESS BEDROOMS BATHS LIST PRICE SALE PRICE<br />
U. <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
U. <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
U. <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
<strong>Nyack</strong><br />
S. <strong>Nyack</strong><br />
Piermont<br />
Piermont<br />
Palisades<br />
401 N Broadway<br />
204 Highmount Ave<br />
300 N Midland Ave<br />
3 Main St #504<br />
123 Piermont Ave<br />
2-12 Lawrence Park<br />
7-16 Lawrence Park<br />
23 Ludlow Ln<br />
$ 1,496,250<br />
639,000<br />
569,000<br />
575,000<br />
1,350,000<br />
245,000<br />
169,900<br />
5,250,000<br />
$ 1,400,000<br />
615,000<br />
542,000<br />
525,000<br />
1,150,000<br />
220,000<br />
160,000<br />
4,350,000<br />
Summary Source: GHVMLS YTD Comparison Report<br />
1Q YTD <strong>2011</strong> vs. 1Q YTD 2010 - Single Family Homes<br />
New inventory (the number of homes going on the market) decreased 22.4% (59 YTD <strong>2011</strong> vs. 76 YTD<br />
2010). <strong>The</strong>re was a 125% increase in the number of sales (27 YTD <strong>2011</strong> vs. 12 YTD 2010). <strong>The</strong> average<br />
sales price of homes that have sold increased 29% to $595,672. Overall, the average sales price for single<br />
family homes that have sold in Rockland County (inclusive of the river villages) was $434,951, up 0.4%<br />
over the same period last year.<br />
1Q YTD <strong>2011</strong> vs. 1Q YTD 2010 - Condos<br />
New inventory (the number of condos going on the market) decreased 9.2% (26 YTD <strong>2011</strong> vs. 36 YTD<br />
2010). <strong>The</strong>re was no change in the number of sales (9 YTD <strong>2011</strong> vs. 9 YTD 2010). <strong>The</strong> average sales price<br />
of condos that have sold decreased 38% to $434,951. Overall, the average sales price for condos that have<br />
sold in Rockland County (inclusive of the river villages) was $231,552, down 17.7% over the same period<br />
last year. ✫<br />
8<br />
4<br />
3<br />
2<br />
2<br />
2<br />
1<br />
9<br />
6.1<br />
3.1<br />
2.1<br />
2<br />
2.1<br />
1<br />
1<br />
5.1<br />
COMMUNITY NOTES start on pg 9<br />
THE MIDWIVES' COUNCIL<br />
<strong>The</strong> Midwives' Council, an educational and outreach<br />
group for local midwives, will host an information<br />
/ film event at the <strong>Nyack</strong> Library on<br />
<strong>June</strong> 11, from 1 to 4pm.<br />
VCS ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING<br />
This month, <strong>The</strong> Volunteer Counseling Service<br />
Inc. (VCS) holds its Annual Public Meeting of<br />
the Board of Directors and the Volunteer Awards<br />
Ceremony. Refreshments will be served<br />
7pm <strong>June</strong> 14 at New City Library, 220 N. Main,<br />
New City, NY<br />
WINE TASTING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD<br />
Wine Tasting to benefit Planned Parenthood’s<br />
Spring Valley Health Center and Teen Information<br />
Peer Services program will include live auction<br />
and raffle and splendid Hors d’oeuvres by<br />
Cris Spezial of <strong>Nyack</strong> Gourmet, Ltd.<br />
Friday, <strong>June</strong> 3, 6:30 to 8:30pm at a private residence<br />
in Orangeburg, NY; address provided upon<br />
registration. Adults: $50pp, young adults: (16-<br />
25): $10pp RSVP to (914) 467-7342 or online<br />
at www.pphp.org<br />
NYACK ROTARY<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> Rotary has chosen Corinne Casolaro,<br />
a <strong>Nyack</strong> High School Sophomore for the Rotary<br />
Youth Leadership Award (RYLA). She will attend<br />
the RYLA conference at Mount St Mary College<br />
in Newburgh, <strong>June</strong> 26th to <strong>June</strong> 30th. Congratulations<br />
Corinne!<br />
ROSARY ACADEMY SAVE THE DATE<br />
All-School Reunion of Graduates (1964-1981)<br />
of Rosary Academy High School, Sparkill, NY<br />
will be held Sat, Oct 22, noon to 4pm at the<br />
Dominican Convent, Rt. 340, Sparkill, NY<br />
(across from the former location of the school).<br />
Info: call (845) 359-4173, visit the Dominican<br />
Sisters’ website at www.sparkill.org or e-mail<br />
Sr. Peggy Scarano, OP peggy.scarano@sparkill.org<br />
WOMEN’S DINNER<br />
<strong>The</strong> Christian Women's Club of Rockland<br />
County invites all ladies and gentlemen to its<br />
Outreach Dinner. Musical entertainment will be<br />
by Angela Chan; Hal Cumming, a trial attorney,<br />
and his wife, Ibby, an RN, humorously comment<br />
on their marriage: Opposites Attract:<strong>The</strong>n What?<br />
<strong>June</strong> 14, from 7 to 9pm, at Casa Mia Manor<br />
House, 577 Rt. 303, Blauvelt. Cost: $20pp ✫<br />
22 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>
Leaf blowers:<br />
Mild Annoyance or Serious Health<br />
and Environmental Hazard?<br />
by Gail Greiner<br />
As <strong>Nyack</strong> residents we<br />
have become accustomed<br />
to the sound of<br />
leaf blowers whirring or screaming at any time,<br />
on any day. Maybe it’s an army of leaf blower<br />
wielders, or just a lone head-phone wearing<br />
neighbor sporting a backpack, oblivious to the<br />
health and well-being of neighbors or self.<br />
It takes only a quick Google to learn that leaf<br />
blowers are more than an annoyance; they are<br />
a serious health hazard for their operators and<br />
anyone within hearing or breathing distance.<br />
Below is just a partial list of the dangers leaf<br />
blowers pose:<br />
Air Pollution—A single leaf blower operating<br />
for an hour emits as much pollution as 40 cars<br />
idling during the same amount of time.<br />
(http://www.greenwichcalm.org/apps/blog/sh<br />
ow/6583443-health-hazards-of-leaf-blowers)<br />
Leaf blowers stir up over two pounds per hour<br />
per leaf blower of dangerous particulate matter<br />
including but not limited to cat, dog, and rodent<br />
feces, pesticides, and street dust which<br />
may include mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium<br />
and nickel. (<strong>The</strong> American Lung Associate of<br />
Sacramento)<br />
Leaf blowers spew a number of toxic chemicals<br />
including but not limited to carbon monoxide,<br />
benzene (a known carcinogen), 1,3 -butadiene,<br />
acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde (possible carcinogens).<br />
(California Air Resources Board, “A<br />
Report to the California Legislature on the<br />
Potential Health and Environmental Impacts<br />
of Leaf Blowers,”<br />
http//www.epa.gov/oms/regs/nonroad/equip-<br />
Id/hhsfrm/f00007.htm)<br />
Noise—Owners’ manuals warn that operators<br />
and anyone within 50 feet of an operating leaf<br />
blower should wear protective eye, ear, and<br />
respiratory gear.<br />
(http://www.nonoise.org/quietnet/cqs/leafblow.htm)<br />
Leaf blowers exceed the World Health Organization’s<br />
acceptable ambient noise levels by 20<br />
decibels at 50 feet.<br />
Leaf blowers exceed World Health Org noise<br />
levels by 50 decibels at the operator’s ear, a<br />
level sure to cause hearing loss and impact the<br />
operators’ health in general, particularly the<br />
cardiovascular system. (World Health Org and<br />
“Comments on Occupational Noise to the<br />
OSHA Standards Planning Committee,” Alice<br />
Sutter, PhD and www. nonoise.org)<br />
Half the wearers of hearing protection don’t<br />
benefit because the fit is wrong or they don’t<br />
wear it consistently. (“Noise, Ears & Hearing<br />
Protection,” the American Academy of<br />
Otolaryngology.)<br />
Leaf blower noise is especially irritating<br />
for anyone within earshot<br />
because of its particular pitch, the<br />
changing amplitude, and the lack<br />
of control by the hearer. (Interview<br />
with Michael H.L. Hecker, a<br />
Los Altos psychoacoustician, et al. in <strong>The</strong><br />
Sacramento Bee.)<br />
Taken all together, just this small amount of<br />
evidence makes it clear that leaf blowers, at<br />
best, detract from the quality of life and wellbeing<br />
of <strong>Nyack</strong> residents and, at worst, pose a<br />
serious health risk to residents and/or operators.<br />
A number of local communities from<br />
Greenwich, to Rye, to Dobbs Ferry have taken<br />
measures to ban leaf blowers or limit their use,<br />
as have over 300 communities nationwide.<br />
Environmental Committee<br />
On April 12, 2010 volunteer members of the<br />
newly formed Village of <strong>Nyack</strong> Environmental<br />
Committee, an advisory committee that<br />
makes recommendations to the Village Board,<br />
held their monthly meeting. On the agenda<br />
were ways to implement a survey of residents<br />
on environmental issues. From that meeting<br />
the “Noise and Air Quality” sub committee<br />
was formed. <strong>The</strong>se were the issues they<br />
brought to the table:<br />
1) Leaf blower usage: Limit leaf blower usage<br />
to Sept 15 to Dec 15, and then only allow one<br />
machine at any one time on a 1/4 acre property,<br />
as enacted in some local communities.<br />
2) Leaf blower noise: phase in implementation<br />
of (quieter) 65decibel noise level machines.<br />
3) Leaf blower application: Blow leaves only,<br />
not dirt, garbage, grass clippings, snow, etc.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mayor’s Recommendation<br />
On April 21, <strong>2011</strong>, at the most recent meeting<br />
of the committee, Mayor Kavesh requested<br />
that the committee attempt to collect feedback<br />
from “as wide a sample of stakeholders as possible,<br />
landscapers included (10 or so),” before<br />
a proposal by the sub-committee be submitted<br />
to the Village Board.<br />
A Call to Action<br />
If you are concerned about the impact leaf<br />
blowers have on the community, or if you are<br />
a landscaper and would like to voice your<br />
opinion, this is your opportunity. Contact<br />
Environmental Committee Chair Deborah<br />
Turner at (845) 480-9006.<br />
Gail Greiner is an English teacher and private<br />
tutor. She has been a <strong>Nyack</strong> resident for 5 years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong> 23
24 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Nyack</strong> <strong>Villager</strong> <strong>June</strong>, <strong>2011</strong>