MAR '11 - The Nyack Villager

4 The Nyack Villager March, 2011
REPORTER at large
Water that burns starts on page 3
e gas that comes to the surface has to be
separated from the highly toxic wastewater.
Only 30-50% of the water is typically recovered
from a well.
For the time being, NY State has imposed a
moratorium on fracking.
ere is a desperate need for us to become informed
and insist our representatives do our
bidding. e life you save may be your own
... or that of your spouse ... or your baby ... or
your pet ... or the Earth.
Year of Edward Hopper
Nyack’s Hopper House Art Center, as part of
its 40th anniversary, will exhibit Edward
Hopper’s early art, from May 21 to July 17.
e show will include rare works from the
Whitney Museum of American Art, the
Arthayer R. Sanborn Hopper Collection Trust,
and some artifacts. e wooden-wheeled bicycle
(below) was discovered in the basement at
Hopper House. It was built for an extra-tall
rider. It is known that Edward Hopper stood
over six feet tall by the time he was twelve.
e Nyack Board of Trustees has designated
July 2, 2011 Edward Hopper Day in honor of
the famous American painter and Nyack’s native
son. North Broadway will be unofficially
renamed Edward Hopper Way and 10 new
street signs, purchased by the Village, will be
placed along North Broadway.
Hopper House is at 82 N. Broadway.
Rep. Engel again scores 100%
e League of Conservation Voters (LCV) has
again given Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17)
a 100 percent rating for his votes on environmental
issues. LCV is a national organization
with 40,000 members committed to helping
ensure that air, water and open spaces are protected
today, and for our future generations.
Rep. Engel said, “e Republican majority in
the House is always thinking of new ways to
gut environmental regulation in the guise of it
being bad for business and jobs. ey want to
Nyack Saturday night
For the past forty years we at e Nyack Villager
have enjoyed dropping into the bars and
restaurants in Nyack at night and we still do.
Almost all of the bars are good, enjoyable
friendly places, but their reputation—and
Nyack’s—are being tarnished by a few bars.
In the Journal-News for February 22, Steve
Lieberman reported, An Orangetown police officer
suffered an arm injury while scuffling with
two of ten underage drinkers early Sunday at a
Main Street bar.
e Nyack Villager was informed by the Orangetown
PD that summonses were issued
to the Black Bear Saloon in connection with
selling alcohol to minors and the matter was
referred to the State Liquor Authority for potential
administrative action.
Orangetown officer Sgt. Sullivan told our reporter,
Tell everybody to come to Nyack. It is
safe at night. Enjoy, have a good time—but
behave yourselves and please—do not drive home
drunk.
Will Upper Nyack secede?
Talk of secession continues in Upper Nyack.
e issue has to do with the services paid by
property taxes to Clarkstown. Some residents
in Upper Nyack seem to doubt they’re getting
their money’s worth.
Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack told the
Upper Nyack Village board that for $2.3 million,
Clarkstown provides police, parks and
recreation, recycling, and other governmental
services. Trustee James Sarna has said, If the
village as a whole makes a determination that
we can do it as efficiently or more efficiently, then
it would make sense for us to try to get on the
ballot and vote for secession.
Other feel it will cost too much. If Upper
Nyack residents wish to split from the township,
they would be required to present a petition
signed by five percent of Clarkstown
voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial
election. e measure would then be
brought to a townwide vote.
Have an opinion? Send it to Letters to the
Editor of e Nyack Villager.
eliminate the agencies responsible for monitoring
our air and water and food. We need to
be more vigilant than ever to make sure we
have a healthy, clean environment for our children
and grandchildren. I am honored and
grateful for the LCV 100 percent rating, and I
will continue to be an outspoken voice on behalf
of our environment.”
Rep. Engel has earned the top rating from the
LCV and its endorsement for re-election the
past several years. Ratings are based on legislation
voted on by House members on such
Streetscape update
Nyack’s Streetscape Project is a plan to upgrade
Main Street between Broadway and Franklin.
To be improved: lighting, street trees and planters,
benches, tables & chairs, trash receptacles, bicycle
racks, sidewalks and curbs, parking, pedestrian
safety and other details.
by Carol Fleischmann
I started the Streetscape project eight years
ago next month as part of the Nyack Downtown
Coalition, creating a committee to explore
the needs of the Nyack business
district.
Our committee walked the streets for many,
many months and developed a preliminary
plan which we presented to (then-mayor)
John Shields and the Village Board. With
their support we continued to develop the
plan. A few years ago, the Village Board
hired a landscape design firm, Hakim Associates,
to design a plan which we presented
to the public. e plan was well received.
Within the last year or so, the newly-elected
Nyack Trustees voted to hire the Nyack engineer
for the creation of final and formal
working plans. Committed to the plan, the
trustees secured funds, awarding the project
to A-Tech Concrete Company of Edison,
NJ.
As e Nyack Villager reported, the project is
scheduled to begin in July so as not to interfere
with two important events: the 40th anniversary
of Hopper House in May and the
Nyack Art Walk in June.
A-Tech and the Village Board intends to set
a reasonable schedule and to work closely
with the merchants and businesses that will
be affected by the construction. I will help
to coordinate that schedule to make it as
smooth as possible. e end result will be
wonderful for us all—Nyack’s business community,
residents and visitors.
Carol Fleischmann is Chair of the Friends Of the
Nyacks’ Streetscape Committee, a member of their
Steering Committee, a member of the Advisory
Board of the Chamber of Commerce and a psychotherapist
in private practice.
matters as the Gulf oil spill response, the
CLEAR Act which included unlimited liability
and other reforms governing offshore
drilling, promotion of energy efficiency, water
and estuary protection, restoration of the
Upper Mississippi River, and clean air legislation.
Rep. Engel said, “is 100 percent rating is a
tremendous honor and reflects my strong
commitment to protecting the health of our
environment and the beauty of our natural resources.”
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