MAR '11 - The Nyack Villager

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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.” ✫
An open community forum Letters to the editor Opinions expressed are those of each letter writer, not necessarily those of The Nyack Villager A tough question To e Nyack Villager— Okay, I just want to understand. Presently, Nyack cannot support stores like the nearlyperfect Gracie's Ravioli, which just closed. But when we build a Super Block, it will be so attractive that new businesses will come to Nyack, fill the new retail spaces and the old empty stores, and people will change their minds and habits and begin shopping downtown. Am I missing something or is that the plan? —Tom Dudzick, Nyack Where is Current TV? To e Nyack Villager— Where can we see Current TV—an independent cable television channel devoted mostly to environmental concerns? Why is it not available on Cablevision? We hear Keith Olberman’s program is moving there in the Spring. —JRT, Piermont [Editor’s note: we passed the question to Amelie Tseng, Current TV rep, who suggests changing cable services and Jim Maiella, of Cablevision’s programming department, who thinks you already have enough news channels. See below:] • Although we are not currently carried on Cablevision, Current TV is available to Direct TV, Dish, AT&T and Verizon subscribers. Channel numbers are available on our homepage at www.Current.com Hope this helps. —Regards, Amelie Tseng, Current TV PR • Cablevision is always evaluating the channels we carry, based on consumer interest and other factors. Today, our customers receive more than a dozen dedicated news and information networks, with additional news and public affairs-related programming available on many other channels. anks very much for being in touch on this. —Jim Miella, Cablevision For Word Hound’s hat collection To e Nyack Villager— Here’s an addition for the Word Hound. Brick in the hat is an expression applied to an intoxicated person; meaning he is top-heavy, and cannot walk steadily. From 1859 Dictionary of Americanisms by John Russell Bartlett, 2nd Ed. —Ken McNichol, Palisades [Editor’s note: We love it! Never heard this one before. Many thanks!] Legal littering? To e Nyack Villager— Where does e Journal-News get off littering my lawn with their advertising? We returned from a trip to find five pieces of their litter on our driveway, announcing “nobody home” to any passing thief. How do I get it stopped? —Algebra Whiz [Editor’s note: Wouldn’t it be nice if residents could opt in—request the advertising and the coupons before the materials are dumped onto their property? Alas, this is not the way the world works; you have to opt out. Call 1-888 426-6388 and say you want the delivery stopped. e Journal-News promises to honor your wishes.] Starbucks should sweep up To e Nyack Villager— Just moved to Nyack and love it here. Last night while walking in front of Starbucks I noticed that there were literally hundreds of cigarette butts on the sidewalk in front of the store. I'm not sure who is legally responsible for sweeping up the sidewalk, the village or the store, but it's really disgusting. All store owners should take more pride in their stores' appearance and that starts with the sidewalk directly in front of their store. —Jeff Alpert, Nyack Letters of the Editor continue on page 16 The Nyack Villager March, 2011 5
Page 1 and 2: TheNyack Villager ® An independent
Page 3: In this issue Departments 3 REPORTE
Page 7 and 8: photo courtesy Rockland Center For
Page 9 and 10: Under exposed by Shel Haber Conside
Page 11 and 12: Amazing Grace Youth Circus • Circ
Page 13 and 14: Events start on page 10 Events in m
Page 15 and 16: Service credits when you knit scarv
Page 17 and 18: Food, Glorious Food by J.R. Tillots
Page 19 and 20: y Donna Cox Many buyers have been s
Page 21 and 22: the Nyack villager Founded in 1994,
Page 23: COMMUNITY NOTES start on page 16 AT

MAR '11 - The Nyack Villager

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