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2 The Nyack Villager November, 2012

In this issue 

Departments 

3 REPORTER AT LARGE 

• Clean energy projects to replace Indian Point 

• NAACP Candidates’ Forum 

• NAACP meeting 

• Nyack resident gets Genius Grant 

• The Comet ISON 

• Nyack Farmers’ Market comes in from the cold 

• The Great American Smoke Out 

5 NOVEMBER ENJOYMENTS Art & entertainment this month 

11 COMMUNITY NOTES What else is happening in November 

20 CALENDAR Highlights in November 

21 OP-CALENDAR PAGE useful local phone numbers 

Columns 

8 REMEMBER THE DAYS? Jim Leiner on Nyack’s Angel of the Battlefield 

9 PLUMBING & HEATING TIPS OF THE MONTH by Ralph Spano 

10 THE APP OF THE MONTH Vicky Schwaid on her new iPhone camera 

11 FROM ORANGETOWN TOWN HALL Supervisor Stewart on the budget 

12 FROM VALLEY COTTAGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL by Patricia Collins, DVM 

13 THE MISSING INGREDIENT Cindy Coligan’s Homemade Cranberry Sauce 

14 UNDER EXPOSED Shel Haber on a remarkable cheesecake 

22 THEY GOT WHAT?! Donna Cox on current trends in real estate 

Features 

18 ABOUT CANDY 

16 BRIDGES OVER THE HUDSON Shel Haber on crossing the Hudson 

19 FOOD SUPERSTITIONS 

23 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK by Joyce Bressler 

On our November cover 

Graphic by Jan Haber, © 2012 The Nyack Villager, Nyack, NY 

May you share a Thanksgiving filled with peace and contentment. 

The Nyack Villager 

November, 2012 Vol. 19 No. 3 

Comet ISON set to put on 

a show at Christmas, 2013 

see page 4 

Annual Messiah Sing 

Grace Church 

see page 5 

Holiday Boutique 

a la Russe 

see page 5 

First-ever Craft Fair at 

Nyack Center 

see page 5 

Line Dancing classes forming 

see page 5 

Cheesecake comes to Nyack 

see page 14 

Mailed on or near the first of each month to every residential address in eight river villages—Upper Nyack, 

Nyack, Central Nyack, South Nyack, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont and Palisades NY. 

On the Internet at www.nyackvillager.com 

E-mail news releases to us at info@nyackvillager.com Deadline for our December issue is November 15. 

Please include a contact name and telephone number 

REPORTER 

at large 

Clean energy projects to replace 

Indian Point 

Last year, New York State began developing 

25 percent of the alternative electricity 

sources necessary to replace the Indian 

Point nuclear power plant, according to a 

new report released by the Natural Resources 

Defense Council and Riverkeeper. 

The report provides a detailed roadmap for 

fully and cost-effectively replacing the aging 

nuclear facility’s power with equal investments 

in energy efficiency and renewable power 

sources alone, with no impact to the reliability 

of the region’s energy supply. The 

findings come just days before Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission relicensing hearings 

for Indian Point began. 

The analysis concludes that: 

New York will maintain a surplus of energy 

capacity through 2020, even if Indian Point 

is retired. 

A new transmission line under construction 

now, scheduled to come online next year, 

will soon replace more than 25 percent of 

Indian Point’s 2,060 MW. 

With the right policies in place, New York 

could rely on energy efficiency, wind and 

solar power resources alone to replace Indian 

Point’s power. The clean energy outlined 

in this report is expected to have a 

very small impact on consumer costs. 

A related NRDC analysis, issued last fall, 

underscored the need to replace the aging 

nuclear plant in New York City’s backyard 

by outlining the costs and consequences of 

an accident there: It revealed an accident of 

a similar scale to the Fukushima disaster in 

just one of Indian Point’s reactors could cause 

a catastrophe of far greater scale and cost— 

and it wouldn’t take a tsunami to trigger it. 

More common occurrences like thunderstorms, 

flooding or tornados could cause 

big trouble. The result could be a fallout 

plume reaching south to the New York City 

metropolitan area, require the sheltering or 

evacuation of millions of people, and cost 

ten to one hundred times greater than the 

Fukushima disaster. 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission relicensing 

hearings for Indian Point are underway now. 

We will report what happened at the hearing 

next month. 

The Nyack Villager November, 2012 3

4 The Nyack Villager November, 2012 

REPORTER 

at large 

NAACP Candidate’s Forum 

Nyack Branch NAACP Candidate’s Forum 

at which all candidates for public office are 

invited to speak and take questions from 

audience members. 

Thurs, Nov 1, from 7-9:30pm at Clarkstown 

Town Hall, rm 301, 10 Maple Ave, 

New City. 

NAACP Meeting 

Election of officers and at-large members of 

the Executive Committee of the Nyack 

Branch NAACP will take place at their 

General Meeting. Guest Speaker: Mikail 

Sankofa (Thrust Fencing Academy) 

Wed, Nov 28 at 7pm at the YMCA, 35 

South Broadway, Nyack. 

Nyack’s Farmers’ Market comes 

in from the cold 

In mid-October, Kim Cross, Executive Director 

of Nyack Center, announced that 

The Nyack Farmers Market, Nyack Center 

and The Nyack Chamber of Commerce 

have forged a partnership to bring a winter 

market to Nyack starting at the end of this 

month. 

The market will make its transition from 

outdoors to indoors at Nyack Center on 

November 29. During the winter, the market 

will run on its regular Thursday schedule 

from 8am to 2pm until May 2. 

Winter Market starts 8am Thurs, Nov 29. 

Nyack Center is at 58 Depew Avenue, 

Nyack, NY. Info: 845.358.2600 

Great American Smoke Out 

If you are still smoking cigarettes—even 

after decades of dire health warnings and 

the almost absurd price of a pack of smokes 

($8.25 in Connecticut, $8.35 in New Jersey 

and a whopping $11.90 in New York,) 

here’s your chance to kick the habit. 

The Great American Smoke Out says if you 

can go one day without smoking, you’re on 

the way to quitting for good. 

Target day is Thurs, Nov 15. You are urged 

to call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline 

(1-866-697-8487) to order your free 2- 

week supply of nicotine-replacement 

patches. Using the patch, gum or lozenge 

along with a behavior change program and 

a quit plan can double your chances of 

being successful. 

Nyack resident gets Genius Grant 

Nyack resident 

Terry Plank has 

been awarded 

one of this year’s 

23 MacArthur 

Foundation 

“genius grants,” 

and will receive 

$100,000 a year 

for the next five 

years—no 

strings attached. 

The MacArthur Fellows Program awards 

five-year, unrestricted fellowships to individuals 

across all ages and fields who show 

exceptional merit and promise of continued 

creative work. It is limited to U.S. citizens 

and residents. 

There are no restrictions on what the winners 

can do, no papers they need to write 

and no justification required for how they 

spend the money. Recipients usually don’t 

know they’re being considered until they get 

a call and learn they have been picked. 

MacArthur President Robert Gallucci made 

this statement about all the recipients: 

“These extraordinary individuals demonstrate 

the power of creativity. The MacArthur Fellowship 

is not only a recognition of their 

impressive past accomplishments but also, 

more importantly, an investment in their 

potential for the future. We believe in their 

creative instincts and hope the freedom the 

Fellowship provides will enable them to 

pursue unfettered their insights and ideas 

for the benefit of the world.” 

Ms Plank is a professor at Columbia University’s 

Department of Earth and Environmental 

Sciences. She works as a researcher 

at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and 

teaches graduate students and an undergraduate 

course. She researches why and 

how volcanoes erupt. Ms Plank is now 

working on information she recently gathered 

in Hawaii. 

Professor Plank said “It came out of the 

blue. I was walking to my car ... to go get 

my son and the phone rings and it was the 

president of the MacArthur Foundation.” 

She added, “It’s definitely the best phone 

conversation ever.” 

She said she never gave a thought to what 

she would do with an endowment and still 

has no idea. 

Professor Plank has lived in Nyack for four 

years; her son just started at Nyack Middle 

School. 

The Comet 

ISON 

The newly-discovered comet X/201SI, called 

ISON by its friends, appears to be setting 

the stage for a show in the night sky that 

will blow your mind. 

Astronomers expect ISON, a gigantic ice 

ball, to pass just 1.16 million miles from 

the Sun as it makes its closest approach to 

Earth. That’s near enough to the Sun’s heat 

to melt off some of the comet’s ice, releasing 

dust and gas, forming what should be a 

spectacular tail. 

As it circles around the Sun, the comet 

should pass relatively close to Earth—but 

not near enough to cause us to worry. If all 

goes as expected, people living in the 

Northern Hemisphere could see the comet 

glowing as bright as a full moon in the 

weeks approaching Christmas, 2013. 

We mustn’t let our hopes run away with us. 

Astronomers point out that comets have a 

habit of disappointing. ISON could be 

sucked into the Sun and disappear from 

view altogether, or if it survives, it could 

grow a less impressive tail. 

Comet expert John E. Bortle remains optimistic, 

however, comparing ISON with the 

Great Comet of 1680, which, according to 

contemporary accounts, caused the people 

of Manhattan Island to be “overcome with 

terror at a sight in the heavens such as has 

seldom greeted human eyes … In the 

province of New York a day of fasting and 

humiliation was appointed, in order that 

the wrath of God might be assuaged.” 

The little graphic at the top of this column is 

Halley’s Comet as seen by the folks who created 

the Bayeux Tapestry in the 1070s. It’s called a 

tapestry even though it’s really a strip of embroidered 

cloth. Along its 230 feet, it depicts 

events leading up to the Norman conquest of 

England culminating in the Battle of Hastings. 

It is told from the point of view of the winner: 

William, Duke of Normandy, known to history 

as William the Conqueror, 

You can see an amusing animation of the work; 

Google ‘The Animated Bayeux Tapestry’ ✫

November Enjoyments 

Art & Entertainment 

History Happened Here 

This program features a tour around Rockland County beginning 

in historic Tappan, with frequent stops at sites from the 

Revolutionary War, the building of the Nyack Turnpike and 

the Erie Railroad, early industry and the first struggles to integrate 

Rockland's schools, presented by Bob Goldberg, the 

long-time producer of the Armchair Walking Tours. 

Two presentations: 7pm, Wed evening, Nov 14 at Nyack 

Library, 59 S. Broadway, and again at 2pm the following 

afternoon, Thurs, Nov 15 at Valley Cottage Library. 

There is limited seating at Nyack Library; attendees must 

register in advance; call (845-358-3370 Ext 214). 

At Rockland Center For the Arts, 27 S. 

Greenbush Rd. West Nyack (off Thruway 

Exit 12). Hours 9-5 M-F; 9-4 Sat, 1-4 Sun 

November Art Workshops & Classes 

Rockland Center for the Arts presents a series of studio workshops 

and classes for all skill levels to include— 

• Making Silver Jewelry with Alison Lee, 6 sessions starting 

Tues Nov 6, $255/$245 seniors plus $85 materials fee. 

• Lampworked Glass Beads with Beryl Maddalena, 1 session 

Sun Nov 18, $120 plus $25 materials fee. 

• Personal Adornment: Handmade Felt Flowers with Beryl 

Maddalena, 1 session Sun Nov 4, $110/$100 members 

plus $10 materials fee. 

• Nature Mobiles with Andre Voumard for ages 12 and up; 

1 session Sun Nov 4, $70 plus $7 materials fee. 

And more! For more information and to register for a workshop 

or class, call us at 845.358.0877 or visit our new website, 

www.rocklandartcenter.org 

7 

7 

Annual Messiah Sing 

Rockland's beloved tradition continues; 

at the 43rd Annual Messiah 

Sing: we provide the soloists, you 

sing the choruses. Listeners are 

welcome. A holiday tradition with 

guest conductor Brian-Paul Thomas. 

Special pricing for this event only: adults $10; kids free. 

Bring your own score or borrow one at the door. 

4pm Sunday, Dec 9 at Grace Episcopal Church, 130 First 

Ave, Nyack, New York. Info: 845.358.1297 ext. 16 

Circus celebrates 10th birthday 

Amazing Grace CIRCUS! announces 

its 10th Anniversary Season with a 

new name for its after-school program: 

Nyack School of Circus Arts. 

Fall classes for children and adults 

continue through December. All levels 

taught by local professional circus 

arts trainers and educators. See 

AGC’s new website for full details: 

www.amazinggracecircus.org or call Carlo Pellegrini, Circus 

Director, at (845) 348-8740. 

Circus party date change 

The date for the pot luck party for troupe members, parents, 

donors and volunteers is changed to Sun, Nov 4. Same 

place, same time—Grace Church from 4-7pm. Same food 

parameters: email Carlo and say what you are bringing. 

Recital of Sacred Music 

Matthew Baier will present “A Recital of Songs on Religious 

Texts,” a program of songs based on selected texts from Hinduism, 

Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Sufi Islam. With performances 

by Marigene Kettler & Melissa Alexander, Russ 

Ashley, Evan Matthews, Stephan Rapp, Jennifer Graham, 

Jacquelyn Drechsler, Christopher Cardona, Ben Carriel, Matt 

Dow and Matthew Baier. 

Sat, Nov 17 at 8 pm at 1st Reformed Church, 18 South 

Broadway, Nyack, N.Y. 845.353.5518. Admission $15. 

Made by Hand at Nyack Center 

A new arts and crafts fair makes 

its debut at Nyack Center. Over 

30 vendors, live music and food 

will all be part of this festive day 

of shopping and fun. Free entry. 

All proceeds benefit Nyack Center. 

Sat, Nov 17, 10am to 4pm at 

Nyack Center, cor South Broadway & Depew Ave. 

Line Dancing classes begin 

• IN NYACK—Join the Line Dancing classes at St Ann 

School on Jefferson Street. Sessions are Friday evenings 

from 6 to 7pm. Cost $5 per class. Please join in for an hour 

of laughter and movement. Call Julie Lepore at 358.3758. 

• IN WEST NYACK & CONGERS—Dance lessons at the 

VMA in Congers on Tuesdays: $5 Admission; also at Clarkstown 

Reformed Church 107 Strawtown Rd West Nyack on 

Thursdays $10 Admission. Call Matthew at 642.2721. 

Shopping Benefit at Maria Luisa’s 

Start the Holidays with friends and cheer! 

Thursday, Nov 29 from 6-9pm, 10% of 

all purchases from ML Gifts and Maria 

Luisa Boutique will benefit Nyack Center’s 

Programs. Tickets @$20pp inc. 

wine, food (by Art Café), 10% discount and donation. RSVP 

845.358.2600. 

Maria Luisa Boutique, 77 South Broadway Nyack 

Hopper House 

82 North Broadway, Nyack, NY. Gallery hours: Thurs thru Sun, 1-5pm 

or by appt. Admission: $5 adults, $3 Seniors; Free for members, students 

and children. Guided tours arranged with additional fee. Info: 

845.358.0774. 

• HOPPER HOUSE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE 

Original arts and crafts will be on sale in the gift shop 

Nov 10 through Dec 23. 

• BOOK SIGNING AND DISCUSSION 

Paul Dorrell discusses his book “Living the Artist’s Life” 

Sat, Nov 17 at 3pm. 

Nyack Center Concert 

Soprano Julie Wendholt returns to Nyack Center for another 

concert with Steve Taylor, her co-star in the recent Elmwood 

Playhouse production of “The Secret Garden.” The music is 

full of humor and passion, from Mozart to Wildhorn and 

everything in between—including recently rediscovered 

songs from little-known musicals by Leonard Bernstein. 

7pm, Sat, Nov 10; tickets are $25. Concert is followed by 

a wine and cheese reception. All proceeds benefit Nyack 

Center. Info: 358.2600. 

Free First Friday Film 

This month, the First Friday Film will be “Bulworth” (1998). 

Just in time for the presidential election, we proudly present 

this outrageously funny and biting political satire co-written, 

produced and directed by Warren Beatty, costarring Don 

Cheadle, Halle Berry, and Oliver Platt. 

Fri, Nov 2, at 7:30pm at Piermont Public Library, 25 

Flywheel Park West, Piermont, NY. Free. 

7 

Holiday Boutique à la Russe 

Craft vendors, Russian delicacies, live music 

plus tours of the beautiful gold-domed 

church. 

Sat, Nov 17 from 10am to 5:30pm & Sun, 

Nov 18 from 11:30am to 5:30pm at the 

Holy Virgin Protection Church Hall, 51 

Prospect St., Nyack. 

Milk 'n Cookies Playhouse 

“Ricitos and the Three Bears” winner of the HOLA Award for 

Best Musical and Design (performed in Spanish & English simultaneously). 

A spirited retelling of the Goldilocks tale, 

filed with pleasant surprises and fresh, new charm. Free 

milk and cookies provided after the show. 

Sun, Nov 18 at 2pm at the old Nyack High School 131 

N. Midland Ave, Nyack. Tickets: $15 (performance day), 

$12 (advance). Info: 1-855.278.7762. 

Save the Date 

Piermont tree lighting 5pm Sat, Dec 8, at 

Ash St. & Piermont Ave. Piermont Holiday 

Festivities noon-5pm Sun, Dec 9. 

December 

The Unkown Palisades 

In “The Unkown Palisades, a Slideshow through Time,” Eric 

Nelsen introduces the people, places and events that shapes 

our current view of these rocky cliffs. 

Sun, Nov 18 at the Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton 

Ave, Yonkers. Lecture is free with museum admission— 

$5 adult, $3 senior adults & children. For directons visit 

http://www.hrm.org/information html 

November enjoyments continue on page 6 


November Enjoyments 

start on page 5 

At Art Students League 

The Art Students League Vytlacil Campus 

241 Kings Highway, Sparkill, NY 10976, info 845.359.1263 

• An evening of music & artwork singer/songwriter/painter 

Mark Safan, 7-9pm Nov 9. Kindly RSVP: 845.359.1263. 

• Drawings, prints, photos & sculpture by Grace Knowlton, 

2 to 5pm Sat, Nov 17 with light refreshments. Exhibition on 

view through Jan 12, 2013. 

• Open studio reception; meet the artists in residence 2 to 

5pm Sun, Nov 25. Refreshments. 

• Forging & metal fabricating with sculptor James Garvey, 

Saturdays 10am to 1pm. Monthly feeL $130. 

Nora Ephron play at Nyack Library 

M&M PRODUCTION LIVE THEATRE PRESENTS 

“Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” written by Nora Ephron & 

Delia Ephron. Free performance; please register 358.3370. 

2-4pm Sun Nov 11 at Nyack Library 59 S Bdway, Nyack. 

Holiday Boutique 

Find beautiful craft items, unique gifts, home baked goodies, 

raffles, a white elephant table, lunch at Anna's Kitchen, children's 

corner, a visit with Santa (from noon to 2pm)—and 

more at Catholic Daughters of the Americas Holiday Boutique; 

event benefits Friends of St. Dominic's, Smile Train, Friends 

of Children of Haiti, and Birthright, among other charities. 

Sat, Nov 10, from 10am to 3pm at St. John's Parish Hall, 

895 Piermont Ave, Piermont, NY. 

Nyack College Concerts 

Pardington Hall, 45 South Boulevard, Nyack, NY. Info: 845.675.4687 

or e-mail musicoffice@nyack.edu 

• NYACK COLLEGE STRING ORCHESTRA performs a program 

of lush string music by Nielsen, Stravinsky and others. 

Wed, Nov 7 at 8pm. Free admission. 

• NYACK SCHOLARS SYMPOSIUM, a discussion of the life 

and enduring influence of JS Bach, his writing for the transverse 

flute with performances of some of his famous works. 

Thurs, Nov 8; session No.1 at 11:15, session No.2 at 1:15. 

Free admission. 

• CHAMBERFEST BENEFIT CONCERT: A performance of the 

upcoming “Chamberfest Asia 2013” tour program. This crosscultural 

concert program showcases sacred, classical, folk, 

Broadway and gospel chamber & choral music. 

Thurs, Nov 15 at 7pm. A free-will offering will be taken to 

benefit the cost of the tour. 

• AMASI TRIO FACULTY CONCERT: Dr. Tammy Lum, piano; 

Prof. Sungrai Sohn, violin and Dr. Chungsun Kim, cello perform 

music by Arensky, Parker, and Tchaikovsky. 

Wed, Nov 28 at 12:15pm. Free admission. 

“Twelfth Night” at Nyack High 

Students of the acclaimed Nyack High School Drama Club 

perform William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Tickets, 

available at the door, are $12 adult, $7 for student. 

Two performances: 8pm Fri, Nov 9 and 8pm Sat, Nov 10, 

at Nyack High School 360 Christian Herald Road, Upper 

Nyack, NY, just off Route 9W. Info: 845.353.7100. 

Artist of the Month 

FRENCH-BORN MAX BOUNAN came to the US in 1959. 

A landscape painter and graphic designer for more than 40 

years, his atmospheric landscapes in oils and acrylics will be 

on view at the Corner Frame Shop through November, 2012 

in an exhibition entitled, “Lost in Time: Old Mediterranean 

Villages” 

The public is invited to attend the Artist’s Reception on 

Sun, Nov 4 from 2 to 5pm at The Corner Frame Shop, 

40 South Franklin Street, Nyack. Hours: Tues thru Sat 

10am to 5pm. Info: 845.727.1240. 


Memories of the Sudan 

An art show and sale featuring works by three refugees from 

South Sudan, now based in Egypt, are on view at the headquarters 

of The Fellowship of Reconciliationin Upper Nyack. 

The art of Samuel Deng, Wilson Ephraim, and Lawrence 

John Hessein, came to FOR through members Kathy Kamphoefner 

and Paul Pierce, of Refugees United for Peaceful 

Solutions, a church-based program in Cairo, Egypt. 

The paintings express the artists’ memories of their homeland, 

peoples, and traditions. Shown above: an untitled 

work by Wilson Ephraim, 2012 

Nov 1 thru Dec 31 at Shadowcliff Mansion, headquarters 

of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, 521 N Broadway, 

Upper Nyack. Info: 845.358.4601 ext 29. 

At Nyack Center, South Bdwy at Depew, Nyack 

All films presented digitally. Info: 845.353.2568 

Tickets:$11 gen’l adm; $8 students seniors & gen’l members; 

$7 student & senior members unless otherwise noted. 

Purchase tickets at door, in advance from 800.838.3006 

or online at www.rivertownfilm.org 

Wed,Nov 7–8pm at Nyack Center 

• TAKE THIS WALTZ 

Directed by Sarah Polley with Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, 

Sarah Silverman. 2011, Canada, 116 min, Rated R 

Margot is a young wife, torn between the husband she 

knows and loves and the stranger she desires in ways she 

doesn’t yet comprehend. A study of ambivalence in marriage 

and in other relationships. 

“...one of the best films of the year.” –Calvin Wilson, 

St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

Wed, Nov 14– 8pm at Nyack Center 

• MONSIEUR LAZHAR 

Directed by Philippe Falardeau. 2011, Canada, 94 min, 

rated PG-13. 

The public suicide of their teacher traumatizes a class of sixth 

graders in Montreal. Soon after, a new teacher arrives: Monsieur 

Lazhar, an Algerian immigrant, who quickly earns the 

trust and affection of his students. Unable to follow the 

school’s particular rules he nonetheless guides the students 

toward healing with his bravery, common sense, and tact. 

“Like no other film about middle school life that I can recall, 

Monsieur Lazhar conveys the intensity and the fragility of 

these classroom bonds and the mutual trust they require.” 

–Stephen Holden, The New York Times. 

ROCKLAND FILMMAKERS ON NOVEMBER 9. ALL TICKETS 

ARE $10 FOR THIS EVENT, ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR. 

Fri, Nov 9–8pm at Nyack Center 

Rockland Filmmakers Presents 

• GOAT 

Directed & produced by Paul Borghese with Armand Assante, 

William DeMeo, Cathy Moriarty, Ice-T; written by Paul 

Borghese and William DeMeo, produced by William DeMeo, 

Paul Borghese, Robyn K. Bennett; 2012, USA, 110 minutes, 

currently unrated (a likely R for language and brief nudity). 

A story of revenge, family, friends, and honor. On leaving 

prison, Bobby Baldano has some scores to settle. This was 

written, produced and directed by Tappan fimmaker Paul 

Borghese and his Rockland-based company, Tappan Films, 

at locations in New York and Rockland County. 

Meet the Filmmakers: A discussion with Paul Borghese, 

William DeMeo, and others will follow the screening. ✫ 

Deadline for Community Notes 

for our December issue is November15. 

e-mail to info@nyackvillager.com 



Remember the days? 

by James F. Leiner 

Angel of the Battlefield 

OneshowIhatetomisson 

TV is the reruns of M*A*S*H. 

I enjoy the comedy amidst the 

horrors of war. The characters 

are wonderful: Hawkeye, Trapper, 

BJ, Radar and of course 

“Hot-Lips.” I’ve watched every 

episode many times and only 

recently discovered Nyack has 

a direct link to one of the characters in the 

M*A*S*H series. Some might question my 

theory, but keep reading and see what you 

think. 

Twenty-one year old Christine Menninghaus 

completed her degree as a registered nurse 

at Flower Fifth Avenue School of Nursing. 

She quickly found a job at a hospital near 

her home in Clifton, New Jersey. She told 

me once, “I served in a civilian hospital for 

a year and then decided I wanted to do 

something different.” So, in 1948 Chris 

joined the Army Nurse Corps. After training 

at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in 

Colorado, Chris found herself heading to 

Pyongyang, Korea. In November, 1950 the 

first nurses since the start of the Korean 

conflict landed at Pusan. Chris was assigned 

to the 171st Evacuation Hospital where she 

met Major Ruby Bradley. Major Bradley, 

who was in command of the nurses in 

Korea, is regarded as the most decorated 

woman in US Military History. 

In a 2009 interview published in the Veterans 

of Foreign Wars magazine, Chris tells of 

her experiences in Korea. “I served at an 

evac hospital, a little bit further behind the 

lines than a M.A.S.H. unit. While I was 

farther away from the fighting, the shooting 

was far too close for comfort. At times we 

barely escaped the Chinese onslaught. 

When a M.A.S.H. unit became inundated, 

wounded soldiers would be brought to us. 

We would take care of head, spinal, chest, 

and abdominal injuries and other smaller 

injuries—but there was really no such thing 

as a minor injury.” Chris went on, “We did 

surgery 24 hours around the clock when 

there was a major campaign and I served in 

six campaigns. There was a lot of uncontrolled 

blood. In a regular operating room, 

you take care of that because you clamp 

everything off, but it wasn’t like that there. 

We treated thousands of patients under the 

most heart-rending circumstances. Despite 

working 12-hours shifts, there was never 

any doubt about the worthiness of our 

cause and the camaraderie was like none 

other than I have ever experienced.” 

One of the surgeons Chris 

worked with was Dr. H. Richard 

Hornbeger. For her service, 

Chris earned six campaign stars. 

Her experience working with 

the wounded in combat reinforced 

her desire to be a nurse. 

After leaving Korea, she was assigned 

to the Keller Army Hospital 

in West Point. She served 

there for a year and half where 

she met the love of her life Peter Sinnott. 

In 1953, Christine Sinnott was hired by 

Nyack Hospital where I first met her on the 

morning of August 17, 1972. I was wheeled 

into her operating room, where she was the 

“charge nurse,” to correct the damage I suffered 

in my fall from a utility pole while 

working as a lineman. It was only a few 

years later and a few more times meeting in 

her operating room, that Chris and Pete 

Sinnott became my neighbors. 

So, by now you must be wondering how 

Chris’ magnificent nursing career ties into 

M*A*S*H? I wrote earlier she worked directly 

with Dr. H. Richard Hornberger in 

Korea. Dr. Hornberger used the pen name 

“Richard Hooker” and wrote the book 

M*A*S*H: A Novel about Three Army 

Doctors published in 1968. His book was 

used as the basic script for the movie and 

later television series. In his novel’s forward 

notes, Hooker writes: “The characters in 

this book are composites of people I knew, 

met casually, worked with, or heard about 

while working in Korea.” Certainly “Hot 

Lips” has some of the traits the doctor saw 

in Major Ruby Bradley, and isn’t it possible 

some of Chris’ traits as an excellent operating 

room nurse and the camaraderie she experienced 

also went into developing the 

character of Major Houlahan? Knowing 

Chris for more than 30 years, I think so! 

The tragedy in Chris’ life didn’t end with 

the war in Korea. In 1980 her husband 

Peter was killed in a tragic accident while 

serving as a volunteer in the Nyack Fire Department. 

The way Chris handled the horrors 

of Korea went a long way helping her 

handle the death of her husband with grace 

and dignity. If you’ve spent time watching 

M*A*S*H you can see some of the same 

values in the character of “Hot-Lips” Nyack 

certainly had an Angel of the Battlefield! 

The Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for 

helping us all ‘Remember the Days.’ ✫

Plumbing & 

heating tips 

of the month 

by Ralph Spano 

Honey, We Need a 

Raft—or—What 

To Do When Your Basement Floods 

Is your water heater making noise? Look at 

the date your unit was manufactured. If it’s 

six years or older you should consider replacing 

it before it ruptures in the middle of 

the night or when no one is home. Should 

it rupture, it could flood your basement 

with water. Whether you’re sound asleep, 

or have returned from a 

long day at work, a distressing 

surprise could be 

awaiting you. 

When you replace the 

old water heater, 

consider installing 

the new one in a 

protective pan with 

a water alarm sensor. 

These safety features are 

very economical, can ease 

your mind and eliminate future damage. 

Have your licensed professional plumber 

check the PRV (pressure reducing valve), 

which is located by the water meter. The 

range should be between 25 PSIs and 60 

PSIs. Any number lower or higher than 

that should be replaced. Let your plumber 

put a gauge on the water line and check. 

Symptoms are: vibration, water hammers or 

knocking or too much or not enough water 

pressure. 

Michael was busy in the workshop when he 

heard his water heater making noise. He 

checked the manufacturer’s date and saw it 

was made in 2002. He immediately called 

his plumber who recommended he replace 

it. The result was that it saved him the possibility 

of damaging thousands of dollars 

worth of tools in his workshop and many 

other irreplaceable family valuables that 

were housed in the finished basement. 

He became a believer in Preventive Maintenance. 

✫ 

Ralph Spano is president-owner of Sunshine 

Plumbing & Heating. He can be reached any 

time at 845.548.3054. Visit online at 

sunshineplumbingandheating.com or by 

e-mail at: onaps.r@gmail.com 


The App of the Month 

by Vicki Schwaid 

Point and Shoot 

Here's the long and 

short of it—I am 

planning on heading 

south to visit my folks 

and wanted a reliable 

easy-to-use camera. I was looking for an 

easy way to capture my folk’s spirit for I was 

with them less and less. The Jewish guilt 

was building up. I was looking for a way to 

bring them home in a pictorial way. So I 

went to the good old reputable camera shop 

in NJ to find a camera. I wanted something 

that was fast, did well in low light, offered 

high resolution, had the capabilities of 

video and audio recording and most importantly, 

was small enough to carry around 

easily in order to capture that quick and 

funny shot. I wanted a sense of freedom. 

Ididnot buy a traditional Point and Shoot 

camera so I went with—the iPhone. 

Needless to say, it was a great choice. The 

camera on the phone is amazing. I can 

zoom. I have the option to save in High 

Resolution; the phone does a brilliant job 

with light metering. It does great in low 

light and if you want, there is a flash, however, 

it does a brilliant job without a flash. 

Also, with the new iPhone 5 (or 4s and software 

upgrade to iOS6), camera software lets 

you produce panoramic pictures that are so 

much fun. Imagine getting a 360 degree 

view of a party in one shot! Also with the 

new mac operating system, there is also 

Photostream that sends the pictures back to 

the computer, so you don’t have to worry 

about loosing your pictures even if you 

loose your phone. Pretty sweet! 

Once you have your photos on the phone 

there are numerous ways to edit if you 

choose to. The phone itself has decent 

photo editing capabilities (crop, enhance, 

take red out of eyes) and if you want more, 

there are quite a few good photo apps for 

editing and special effects such as Instagram, 

Hipstamatic, Camera+ and Snapseed, to 

name a few. 

The iPhone camera has done a terrific job of 

capturing all different moments, sports, 

portraits of parents and friends, awesome 

scenes and beautiful flowers to name a few. 

And what’s more, I can use it to call my 

parents. I feel less guilty already! ✫ 

Vicki Schwaid is the owner of The Mac Shack 

in Nyack. The Mac Shack does on-site service 

and support for Mac computers and devices. 

She has been in the computing industry for 

25+ years with a fluid understanding of networking, 

programming & graphic production. 

WORD PLAY The English language has at least one nine-letter word that remains a word as each 

of its letters is successively removed, right down to a single letter. The word is “startling” 

remove the l and the word becomes starting 

remove one t and the word becomes staring 

remove the a and the word becomes string 

remove the r and the word becomes sting 

remove the other t and the word becomes sing 

remove the g and the word becomes sin 

remove the s and the word becomes in 

remove the n and the word becomes I 


From Orangetown Town Hall 

by Andy Stewart, Orangetown Supervisor 

Orangetown Town Budget 

Last month I wrote about sewers 

and this month I’m taking on a 

topic that some might say stinks 

almost as much: the 2013 Orangetown 

budget. 

Four years into a period of weak 

economic growth, the town has 

simply run out of easy options or quick fixes 

to our budget problems. My role is to work 

with our department heads and finance 

folks to produce a first draft (which I submitted 

on Sept. 24), and then continue 

working with the Town Board to get to a 

final draft of the budget by Nov 7. A few 

things everyone should know: 

• Before we even began our budget process, 

we found ourselves with a $2 million deficit 

due to increases in mandated expenses for 

labor, health insurance, pension contributions, 

and cost-shifting from Rockland 

County. Needless to say this is a deep hole 

to climb out of to reach a balanced budget. 

• To close this gap between revenues and 

expenses and balance our budget, we have 

four options: cut discretionary services (e.g. 

close parks, eliminate leaf pickup), raise fees 

(e.g. building permits, marriage licenses), 

spend emergency reserve funds (did that last 

year, not much left!) and, of course, raise 

taxes—our option of last resort. 

• My proposed budget does a little of all of 

these in order to avoid any truly devastating 

cuts in town services or an even higher tax 

increase. The proposed budget eliminates 

funding for Broadacres Golf Course, a small, 

secondary course which has lost money for 

years and has now run up nearly $2 million 

in deficits. I also proposed $1.2 million in 

other cuts, including $700K in operational 

cuts at Police, Highway and Sewer Dept. 

• We scheduled a public hearing for October 

23 at Town Hall to vote on whether or 

not to exceed the Tax Cap. 

• Residents of river villages only pay 

for selected Orangetown services, divided 

among various “funds.” Nyackers 

pay for police, all villagers pay 

for sewers and parks and town-wide 

highway services, but villagers do 

not contribute to the Orangetown 

building department, because the 

villages have their own building inspectors 

and planning boards. 

• Orangetown Township was able to meet 

the “2% Tax Cap” last year by spending 

down our reserve fund by $3.5 million. 

Nice trick, but if we tried this again our reserves 

would be gone and the Town would 

have to take out loans to meet payroll—not 

a pretty picture. My budget uses reserve 

funds much more sparingly at $1.5 million 

in 2013, protecting our “rainy day fund” 

for the next emergency. 

• Already, Orangetown government barely 

has enough staff to carry out its mission. If 

we slash spending still further we would 

have to reduce or eliminate Town services 

and/or sell off Town assets. Vital services 

such as road safety, emergency response and 

the court system must be preserved. But, 

ironically, the discretionary items in the 

budget are some of the most visible and/or 

enjoyable of Town services: golf, street lights, 

the bulk waste drop-off center, police response 

to non-emergency calls, family movie 

nights in the park, parades, and so on. 

Please follow my blog on Patch.com as we 

move through this difficult budget season, 

and pray for another winter with no snow— 

saves hundreds of thousands of dollars. ✫ 

Andy Stewart is Orangetown Supervisor reach 

him at supervisor@orangetown.com or phone 

359.5100 ext. 2274. 

Community notes 

Tell The Villager and we’ll tell the community. 

E-mail brief news release to: info@nyackvillager.com 

BIG NEWS FOR NYACK’S FARMERS’ MARKET 

Don’t forget: the Farmers' Market moves to the WEDNESDAY 

(Nov 21) before Thanksgiving. 

Next month, the market moves indoors to Nyack Center for 

the first time in its history. See the story on this on page 4 

in this issue of The Nyack Villager. 

FREE HOLIDAY PARKING 

From Nov 25 through Jan 2, parking in the Village of Nyack 

will be FREE for your holiday shopping excursions. 

HOLIDAY LIGHTS OF NYACK 

Annual tree lighting ceremony will take place from 5:30 to 

7pm in Little Veteran’s Park in downtown Nyack on Friday, 

Nov 30. Come, bring the little ones and enjoy the caroling, 

the live DJ, Hudson Valley Youth Chorus and more. 

SOUP ANGELS 

Soup Angels seeks donations for its 7th Annual Thanksgiving 

Feast, to be held on Wednesday, November 21. Last year 

Soup Angels provided over 1,700 Thanksgiving meals to the 

hungry and lonely in our community and would like to 

match that number again this year. 

Soup Angels invites anyone who needs a meal, no questions 

asked, to their annual sit-down turkey dinner Thanksgiving 

Feast at the First Reformed Church of Nyack, 18 South 

Broadway Nyack NY, from 4 to 7 pm on Nov 21st. 

Seven dollars and fifty cents will buy one complete turkey 

dinner for someone in need. Donations can be mailed to 

Soup Angels, c/o First Reformed Church, POB 565, Nyack, 

NY 10960. 

Checks should be made payable to First Reformed Church 

with 'Soup Angels' in the memo line. For more info, please 

visit their website at www.soupangels.com 

CONCERT TO BENEFIT SOUP ANGELS 

The award-winning Nyack High School Advanced Chorus, 

under the direction of Drucilla Pluhowski, will perform Monday 

evening, Nov 12 (Veteran’s Day) at 7pm at the First Reformed 

Church, South Broadway, Nyack. All proceeds will go to 

Community Notes continue on page 13 


From Valley Cottage 

Animal Hospital 

by Patricia J. Collins, DVM 

Spotting problems before 

they become emergencies 

Our pets mean so much to us 

on so many levels; they are there 

in the morning when we wake up, ready to 

help us start our day with a smile, a purr or 

a wagging tail. They are happy to see us as 

we come home from a long day at work, 

they curl up next to us when we are feeling 

blue, and they are happy to play when all is 

well with the world. They are capable of so 

many things. 

One thing they cannot easily do, however, 

is tell us when they are not feeling well. 

Often they show no signs or symptoms 

when something is wrong. In fact, cats are 

masters at hiding their illness. So it is our 

responsibility as pet owners to ensure long 

and happy lives for our little four-legged 

friends by using early detection to monitor 

their health. 

Medical advancements enable us to diagnose 

trouble before it becomes serious. Diseases 

like heartworm, liver and kidney insufficiency, 

over and under thyroid activity, parasitic 

infestations and much more can be 

detected with blood and stool testing. 

Today’s medical testing and technologies 

can help protect your pets like never before. 

Early recognition and treatment of health 

problems may reduce the need for more invasive 

and costly procedures in the future. 

Blood screenings help us determine the 

system. 

causes of illness safely and 

quickly, and also allow us to 

monitor the progress of medical 

treatments. 

• Complete Blood Counts 

(CBC) give information on hydration, 

anemia or lack of red 

blood cells, infection, the blood’s 

clotting ability and the immune 

• Blood Chemistry profiles evaluate organ 

function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, 

possible toxin ingestion and more. 

• Heartworm testing is more important 

than ever. Heartworm disease is caused by 

a bite from an infected mosquito and is 

quickly becoming more wide-spread due to 

the increased translocation of dogs throughout 

the United States. 

• Urine testing will reveal potential kidney 

diseases, protein loss and diabetes. 

• Intestinal parasite exams will show the 

presence of common parasites that dogs and 

cats can easily share with their human family 

members. 

• And we are all too familiar with those 

pesky ticks in our area that can transmit illnesses 

like Lyme Disease, Ehrlichiosis, and 

Anaplasmosis. 

Through these simple tests many diseases 

can be detected early, before symptoms appear, 

and that can make all the difference in 

adding years of well-being to your pet’s life. 

Kidney disease is a major cause of illness in 

dogs and cats but symptoms often do not 

appear until most of the kidney’s function 

has been lost. If caught early enough, simple 

dietary changes and treatments can keep 

your pet living happily longer. 

Early Detection of diabetes is extremely important; 

early treatment can be more effective 

and easier for you and your pet. Early 

detection and monitoring of diabetes will 

also prevent damage to other organs. Watch 

your furry little family members; be on the 

look-out for subtle signs or changes in behavior 

or daily routines: 

• Look for increased thirst, which often 

goes along with increased urination. 

• Cats may show a lapse in litter box training; 

(note: they are not trying to get back at 

you by having accidents in the house). 

• Unexplained weight loss or a severe decrease 

in appetite, especially failure to eat 

for more than one day, can indicate illness. 

• Changes in activity level and interaction 

can be caused by discomfort from joint disease 

or systemic disease. 

• Bad breath and dental plaque can lead to 

pain and tooth loss; infection can spread to 

internal organs. 

• If you notice any of those signs or symptoms, 

please don’t wait for a regularly scheduled 

wellness exam; contact your veterinarian 

and schedule a visit for your pet. 

All our pets want from us is to be loved; it 

is up to us to give them the best chance for 

a long, healthy and happy life. ✫ 

Dr. Patricia Collins is co-owner of Valley Cottage 

Animal Hospital and has cared for pets at 

the hospital since 1992. Born in NY City and 

brought up in Germany, Dr. Collins received 

her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Ludwig 

Maximilian University, Munich, in 

1988. Her professional interests include laser 

surgery, pharmacology, nutrition 

& internal medicine. 


Community notes startonpage11 

Soup Angels (see above). Come support Nyack’s Music Program, 

and especially Soup Angels. Suggested donation: 

$20, $10 for students and seniors. 

MONTESSORI/RIVER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 

Programs for children age 2 through kindergarten. What are 

you looking for in a school? A nurturing environment? Challenging 

academic curriculum? Dedicated, highly trained 

teaching staff? Classrooms where children work at their own 

pace? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these, we encourage 

you to attend an informational meeting & open house. 

Sat., Nov. 3 at 10am or Thurs., Nov. 15 at 7pm 

85 Marion Street, Nyack, NY (enter on 5th Ave) 

Info: 845.358.9209. 

AT BIRCHWOOD CENTER 

85 S. Broadway, Nyack. Everyone is welcome. Info or to register, e-mail 

info@birchwoodcenter.com or call (845) 358-6409. 

• REJUVENATE WITH RESTORATIVE YOGA 

Work with breath and meditation while supported in positions 

of ease, taught by Jan Crittenden: 

Wed, Nov 14 from 7 to 8:30pm 

• 101 WAYS TO GET INTO TRIKONASANA 

Come explore the magic of the triangle pose with a deep 

asana practice, meditation, discussion, and writing taught by 

Julie Lifton. 

Sat, Nov 17 from 2 to 4pm 

• YOU HAVE FIVE BODIES: DISCOVER THE LAYERS OF BEING 

A fascinating journey using asana, pranayama, meditation 

and discussion, taught by Betsy Ceva. 

Wed, Nov 28 from 7 to 8:30pm. 

UNWASTE YOUR HOME 

Did you know that 25% of the energy we pay for is wasted? 

Join Orangetown’s Environmental Committee for a free workshop 

to learn simple steps you can take to lower your energy 

waste and your utility bills. 

Learn about no-cost/low-cost energy efficiency programs and 

rebates, bill payment options and utility consumer protections—for 

renters and owners. Bring your friends and 

neighbors. Light refreshments served. 

7:30pm Thurs, Nov 8 at Orangetown Town Hall, 26 Orangeburg 

Road, Orangeburg, NY Info: Alexis Starke, 

845.359.2327 

AT LEGACY GALA AT NYACK CENTER 

The sparkling evening features Terry Hekker (past mayor of 

Nyack, author and bon vivant) as Mistress of Ceremonies, 

with Rockland business leader Howard Hellman. They will 

host a live auction that includes rare pearls from China, stellar 

vacation homes, celebrity art and much more. This year’s 

Legacy Honorees are Elizabeth Chapman, William Munn and 

Rebecca & Peter Lang for their contributions to the life of 

Nyack Center and our community. Everyone is invited to 

toast Nyack Center’s 23 years and to enjoy locally crafted 

hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and live music. 

Sat, Nov 3 from 7 to 9pm at Nyack Center. cor South 

Broadway at Depew Street. Tickets @ $85pp, $150 per 

couple may be ordered at 845.358.2600 or online at 

nyackcenter.org 

LOCAL AUTHORS IN THE NEWS 

• GEORGE POTANOVIC, JR., 

photographer extraordinaire, is the author of 

“Honoring Our Heritage: Celebrating the 

People, Science and Innovation at Pearl 

River,” the history of Lederle 

Laboratories from its founding to 

the present. The book received the Historical Preservation Citation 

from Rockland Historical Society. Mr. Potanovic will 

speak at the Historical Society of Rockland at 7pm on Thursday, 

November 8. The program is free and open to the public. 

• JOAN REID “Life is a Bike: Lessons Learned While Riding," 

has gone live on Amazon.com 

The approximately 38 essays are 

now available as an e-book. 

Purchases are welcome and can be 

downloaded onto an iPad, Kindle, 

Smart Phone, and other electronic 

devices for a tiny price. 

Available worldwide. 

TAG & RUMMAGE SALE 

Collectibles, Christmas new gifts, jewelry, tools, books, home 

décor, clothing in all sizes, linens, toys and “New Boutique.” 

Fri, Nov 9 from 9 to 5 and Sat, Nov 10 from 9 to 2 at 

St. John’s Church, 365 Strawtown Road, New City 

Info: 353.1462. 

More Community Notes on pg 14 

The Missing Ingredient 

by Cindy Coligan 

Here we are again; 

Thanksgiving is right 

around the corner. 

There has been a great 

deal of change in my 

life over the past year, 

so this Holiday season 

I want to try and 

keep with tradition. 

We all have items we can't do without on 

our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables. 

That is part of what connects us to each 

other. 

When you lose someone special those items 

become all the more memorable. Whether 

it's mom's gravy or grandma's rolls, warm 

happy memories are important to us all. 

So since I can't make gravy nearly as good 

as the woman I'm missing, I will share my 

favorite recipe for one of her Holiday must 

haves: cranberry sauce. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Cranberry Sauce 

1 twelve-ounce bag of fresh cranberries 

zest of 1 orange 

1 cup fresh squeezed orange juice 

1 cup brown sugar 

3/4 cup chopped pecans 

Put orange juice and sugar in medium 

saucepan and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, 

rinse the cranberries. 

Add the cranberries and pecans to saucepan, 

reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. 

Allow to cool, serve at room temperature. ✫ 


Under exposed 

by Shel Haber 

Cheesecake comes 

to Nyack 

Cheesecake, plain cheesecake, 

cherry cheesecake, chocolate 

chip cheesecake—I have always 

loved cheesecake. 

When I was growing up in Brooklyn, the 

only dessert my family ever ordered was 

cheesecake. I have eaten cheesecake in 

places ranging from the long-gone Automat 

to classy, over-priced joints on Park Avenue, 

family-owned Italian restaurants in Brooklyn’s 

Sheepshead Bay and kosher dairy 

restaurants on the Lower East Side. 

I recently ate a cheesecake that was as good 

or, in my opinion, better than most in New 

York City. As with many important occasions 

in my life, I remember the exact time 

and place when this great event happened: 

October 5, 2012 at two in the afternoon at 

the Westgate Restaurant at Best Western, 

right here in Nyack. 

Lisa Dosch who, with her family, owns the 

Westgate, bakes what may well be the 

world’s best cheesecakes. 

This is not my opinion alone. 

At the big 2012 New Jersey State fair, Lisa 

won first place in both the plain cheesecake 

and flavored cheesecake categories. 

We love Cheesecake 

Who knows how to make love stay? 

Tell love you are going to Junior's Deli in 

Brooklyn to pick up a cheesecake, and if 

love stays, it can have half. 

It will stay. 

—Tom Robins 


Her cakes are the very definition 

of a classic New York cheesecake: 

silky smooth and creamy, with a 

balance of light texture and rich, 

sweet flavor. 

Do yourself a favor: Drop by the 

Best Western and have a slice of 

Lisa’s wonderful cheesecake. If 

you’re venturesome, you might 

try her Amaretto or crème 

de menthe but her plain 

cheesecake will delight 

your inner purist. 

Best Western in Nyack 

has been owned and 

operated for 40 years 

by Lisa, her father 

and brothers Gregory 

and Jimmy 

and sister Donna. 

Best Western is at 

26 Rte 59, Nyack. 

Shel Haber, a stage, film and television art director, 

is co-publisher of The Nyack Villager. ✫ 

For every trouble under the sun 

There is Cheesecake or there is none 

Be there one, try to find it 

Be there none... go out and buy it! 

—Eudora’s Mom 

Still, you will admit that Mindy's cheesecake 

is the greatest alive. 

—Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls 

Community notes start on page 11 

AMERICAN ASSOC OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN 

Branch meeting of the AAUW will be Sun, Nov 18 at 1pm at 

the Nanuet Library, 149 Church Street, Nanuet Topic: College 

Financing—a Matter of Dollars and Sense. Free and open 

to the public. 

ROCKLAND’S DISTINCTIVE MEDICAL HISTORY 

Dr. Michael Nevins is a medical historian and the author of 

ten books who recently moved to Piermont. He is President 

of the Medical History Society of New Jersey and though 

much of his previous work involved New Jersey's medical 

history, he is now focusing on his new locale. In his talk Dr. 

Nevins describes several of Rockland County's colorful pioneers, 

including Piermont's own George Leitner, Virginia 

"Dockie" Davies and Gertrude Harper. He'll explain why he 

believes Rockland's medical history is truly "distinctive"— 

which may come as a surprise to some. The program is free 

and all are invited to attend. 

Sun, Nov 18 from 2 to 4pm at Piermont Public Library, 25 

Flywheel Park West, Piermont, NY. Info: 845.359.4595. 

VFW DONATES CARS 

This month, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9215 in 

Upper Nyack will donate automobiles to two very needy veterans. 

One is a local veteran from Monsey, the other a 

handicapped veteran of the war in Afghanistan who will receive 

a van with a wheelchair lift. 

The VFW is accomplishing this with help from Nanuet Collision 

Centers, Allstate Insurance and Charity Cars in a program 

called “Recycled Rides,” a project in which members 

repair and donate refurbished vehicles to families in need. 

The Recycled Rides gifting event takes place at Nanuet 

Collision Centers, 417 Route 59, Monsey at 12:30pm on 

November 8. The public is welcome to attend. 

FARM ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES MATCHING GRANT 

Rockland Farm Alliance (RFA), a non-profit organization revitalizing 

local food systems in Rockland County, has announced 

a $25,000 matching challenge made possible by a 

grant awarded by RSF Social Finance, a foundation dedicated 

to exploring new economic models that support sustainable 

agriculture, organic and Biodynamic farming. RFA president, 

John McDowell said, “It’s an honor to be recognized by such 

Community Notes continue at right

An open community forum. 

Letters 

to the editor 

Opinions expressed are those of 

each letter writer; The Nyack Villager 

need not agree. 

Update on efforts to rebuild 

Hi Tor Animal Shelter 

To The Nyack Villager— 

Chair of Fundraising, Don Franchino, has 

held five town meetings for Rebuild Hi-Tor, 

discussing volunteering and the building itself. 

People can help by buying brick pavers 

to honor a person, pet, or give recognition 

to a favorite cause; sponsor buckets in local 

businesses, attend events, eat at local establishments 

on “Hi-Tor nights,” attend our 3- 

mile run/walk on October 28th, support 

“Cuts for Mutts,” a day local hair salons donate 

a portion of their proceeds to the rebuild 

efforts. Also, people can purchase 

anything from a cat cage or dog kennel to 

the entire shelter itself, and have their name 

displayed at the shelter. 

Some worry about how the new facility will 

be maintained, with all of the extra costs involved 

such as added electricity. According 

to Franchino, the building will be a solar 

powered, eco-friendly building, and all of 

the current fundraisers will continue as permanent 

events. To answer the concerns of 

others about how this building will even 

come to fruition, Franchino already has a 

a reputable financial organization.” At Cropsey Community 

Farm, RFA’s first farm project and Rockland’s largest organic 

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), hundreds of area 

students, scouts, adults including people with disabilities 

have visited to learn where their food comes from. 

Donations from corporations, businesses, organizations & individuals 

are welcome. 

list of contractors willing to work under one 

General Contractor. In addition, Home 

Depot has agreed to donate items like cement 

and chain link fencing. 

A final concern is the clearing of parkland 

to build the shelter. Franchino says, “This 

County currently has 131 acres of parkland. 

We’re asking for five. We want this building 

to be up front and center, where it can be 

seen, not buried far back the way it is now.” 

Also to be considered is room for parking, 

handicap accessibility, walking trails and 

more. 

Rockland County is full of animal lovers 

who are determined to build a shelter that 

we can be proud of and that our pets deserve. 

Visit www.rebuildhitor.org for more 

information. 

—Chris Falco 

Street tree hazard 

To The Nyack Villager— 

Our trees beautify our villages but, predictably, 

their roots cause the sidewalks to 

heave. This is a potential tripping hazard to 

walkers. 

Could you please tell me whose responsibility 

it is to repair this? 

—Resident 10960; name withheld at request 

of writer. 

[Editor’s note: As we understand it, years ago 

the village deeded all the sidewalks back to the 

adjacent property owners. That, at least, is the 

prevailing legal fiction. 

Send to Rockland Farm Alliance, 220 S. Little Tor Rd., New 

City, NY 10956, or safely online at : http://www.rocklandfarm.org/donate_to_rfa.html 

All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed 

by law. 

Community Notes continue on page 17 

We need to be careful of what we wish for. In 

some places, where sidewalk damage is great, 

the villages solve the problem by destroying the 

trees—even old, established ones. 

The problem is always with the species of tree 

selected at the time of planting. If the villages 

would listen to local experts, they would plant 

only trees with roots that tend to grow straight 

down. They would avoid (as an example) the 

pear trees that make such a glorious display 

when they bloom in the Spring—and invariably 

cause the sidewalks to buckle when they 

mature. 

If the villages were to plant street trees correctly, 

they would select the right species and 

then plant them with those decorative grates 

that allow the trees to develop naturally both 

above and below ground. See pictures by 

googling "grates used in planting street trees" 

or see the real thing on Central Avenue in 

Pearl River. But, of course, that's the expensive 

option. We humans always reach for the 

cheap fix—even when it's cheap only in the 

short run. 

Street cleaning—on Sunday? 

I was awake before 7am, listening to the 

birds, letting the Sun’s rays fall upon my 

face. But what was this, the drone of a 

streetcleaning machine? 

Surely not—not in a residential area. Not 

before 7am. NOT ON SUNDAY. 

I suspect it could awaken leafblowers to add 

their din to the day. 

—C. Heasman, Nyack 


welcomes letters on all 

subjects from its readers. 

The address to which to 

send your letter appears 

opposite the calendar on 

page 21. 


Bridges Over the Hudson 

by Shel Haber 

The Hudson River begins as a trickle at 

Lake Tear of the Clouds in northern New 

York State, then travels southward 315 miles 

before emptying into Upper New York Bay 

and then into the Atlantic Ocean. Its lower 

half is a tidal estuary; its rising and falling 

tides influence the Hudson's current as far 

north as Troy, New York. 

For hundreds of years there was no way to 

cross the Hudson except by boat. Now there 

are many bridges—at least 45 at last count. 

With a new Tappan Zee Bridge about to 

begin construction, here are some details 

about a few of the other bridges that cross 

the mighty Hudson. 

Tappan Zee Bridge 

Opened 56 years ago, on Dec 15, 1955, the 

Tappan Zee is a cantilever bridge. Its site, 

the second-widest point on the river, added 

to construction costs but was chosen to be 

as close as possible to New York City, while 

staying outside the Port Authority's 25-mile 

area of influence. This ensured that revenue 

from tolls went to the newly-created NY 

State Thruway Authority and not to the 

Port Authority. A unique aspect of its design 

is that the main span is supported by 

eight hollow concrete caissons. Their buoyancy 

carries some of the load and helped to 

reduce construction costs. 


Bear Mountain Bridge 

Opened 87 years ago on Nov 27, 1924. At 

its formal opening, it was the longest suspension 

bridge span in the world, and the 

first of its type to have a concrete deck. It 

held the record for world’s longest suspension 

bridge for 19 months, until it was surpassed 

by the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in 

Philadelphia. It was the first automobile 

bridge to cross the Hudson south of Albany 

and surpassed the 1888 Poughkeepsie Railroad 

Bridge as the southernmost crossing of 

the river. .Construction methods pioneered 

on the Bear Mountain Bridge influenced 

much larger projects to follow, including 

the George Washington (1931) and Golden 

Gate (1937) 

George Washington Bridge 

Its upper level opened 81 years ago, on Oct 

24, 1931; its lower level opened 50 years 

ago on Aug 29, 1962. It is a 4,760 foot 

suspension bridge spanning the Hudson, 

connecting NY City to Fort Lee, NJ. When 

it opened, it surpassed Detroit’s Ambassador 

Bridge for the longest main span in the 

world, nearly doubling the previous record. 

The GW held this title until the opening of 

the Golden Gate Bridge in 1937. 

Mid-Hudson Bridge 

Opened 82 years ago on Aug 25, 1930. It 

is a suspension bridge which carries US 44 

and NY 55 across the Hudson between 

Poughkeepsie and Highland. The bridge is 

3,000 feet long with a clearance of 135 feet. 

At its opening, it was the sixth-longest suspension 

bridge in the world. At the time, 

except for ferries, there was no crossing the 

river south of Albany. The Bear Mountain 

Bridge in Westchester County and the Holland 

Tunnel in Manhattan were under construction 

at that time. 

Rip Van Winkle Bridge 

Opened 77 years ago on July 2, 1935 at a 

cost of $2.4 million. It is a cantilever bridge 

spanning the Hudson River between Hud-

son, NY and Catskill, NY. The structure 

carries NY 23 across the river, connecting 

on the West side, US 9W and NY 385 with 

NY 9G on the East side. The bridge was 

built by the newly-created NY State Bridge 

Authority. At its opening, the toll was 80¢ 

per passenger car and 10¢ per passenger up 

to $1. The current toll for autos is $1.50 

for eastbound traffic only. It extends 5,040 

feet across the river, with a ship clearance of 

145 feet. 

Poughkeepsie Bridge 

Opened 123 years ago on Jan 1, 1889 as a 

railroad bridge; 3 years ago, on Oct 3, 2009 

as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge. Known 

also as the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, 

the High Bridge and, for the last three 

years, as the Walkway Over the Hudson 

State Historic Park. It is a steel cantilever 

bridge spanning the Hudson River between 

Poughkeepsie, NY on the East bank and 

Highland, NY on the West bank. It served 

as a double track railroad bridge from 1889 

until it went out of service in 1974. Listed 

on the National Register of Historic Places 

in 1979 and updated in 2008, it opened to 

the public on Oct 3, 2009 as a pedestrian 

and cyclist bridge and New York State Park. 

It may be the world’s longest footbridge. 

Menands Bridge 

Built 79 years ago, in 1933, Troy-Menands 

Bridge (its official name), carries NY State 

Route 378 across the Hudson River in New 

York connecting Menands with Troy. A 

through truss span, the bridge was built to 

accommodate tall ships and once featured a 

pair of elevating towers. The lifting device 

was removed in 1966, but the towers remained 

until their removal in the summer 

of 2000. 

The path Westward 

In the 1600s the Hudson Valley was described as inhospitable, 

filled with wild animals and poisonous 

snakes. The mountains were said to be covered with 

dangerous forests The river was seen as treacherous. 

But in the next hundred years people turned the river 

into a well-traveled pathway and the land into prosperous 

farms and villages 

In the 1800s, before bridges and roads, the river was 

the best way to transport goods North and West. 

River transport was by raft, then Hudson river sloop 

and later, by side-wheel steamboats. These offered a 

fast, affordable way to travel. By 1850 there were 

about 150 boats steaming up and down the Hudson. 

To carry produce to markets in the Midwest cheaply 

and safely, the Erie Canal was constructed, connecting 

the Hudson to Lake Ontario; it opened in 1817 and 

proved to be an economic bonanza and made New 

York the Empire State. 


FAMILY BARN DANCE WITH FIDDLE MUSIC 

Blue Rock School will host their 2nd annual old-fashioned 

Family Barn Dance with live fiddle music in November. 

Children are welcome, and no previous dance experience is 

necessary. Renowned dance caller, Eric Hollman, will lead 

the way as guests keep step to live, traditional fiddle tunes 

from Ireland, Appalachia and New England, performed by 

fiddle player Naomi Morse and pianist Neil Pearlman. 

The event is open to the public. Tickets (at $10pp) will be 

sold at the door. Gift baskets for all ages will be auctioned 

off. Refreshments will be available for sale. All event proceeds 

to benefit the Ruth Schaeffer Scholarship Fund at Blue 

Rock School in West Nyack, NY. 

Fri, Nov 9, from 7 to 9 pm at Congers Lake Memorial Park 

Auditorium, 6 Ghilchrist Road, Congers, NY 

Info: 845.627.0234 or visit www.bluerockschool.org 

CD RELEASE EVENT BENEFITS VETERANS 

The release of singer / songwriter / instrumentalist Katie 

Elevitch's CD will take place on Veteran's Day. Proceeds from 

this event will provide funds for Katie to attend special yoga 

teacher training in Washington D.C. to learn how to help veterans 

heal emotionally and manage stress through yoga. 

The release event will be Sun, Nov 11 at the Turning Point, 

Piermont, NY and will feature a full band show featuring 

songs from Katie’s new CD that explore her relationship to 

her late father, Morton D. Elevitch, a decorated WW2 veteran, 

and his own relationship to war. 

Katie's new CD will be for sale, as well as her father's book 

"Dog Tags Yapping", a critically acclaimed first-person account 

of his war experience through letters and cartoons. Go 

to Katie's blog RockandRollYogi.com for more info. Show details 

and tickets are for sale at turningpointcafe.com 

AARP TAX-AIDE PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS 

Tax-Aide of Rockland County seeks volunteers to prepare federal 

and state income tax returns for seniors and other lowto-moderate-income 

Rockland residents from Feb 1 to Apr 

15. The returns are fairly simple and are done electronically. 

No business returns are prepared. 

Community Notes conclude on page 23 


About Candy 

The word candy probably was derived from 

the Sanskrit word khanda (piece of sugar). 

But before refined sugar became readily 

available, most candy was made from honey. 

Honey was used in Ancient Egypt, Greece, 

China, Persia, the Roman Empire and elsewhere 

to coat fruits and flowers to preserve 

them and to create a form of candy. 

In early days, candy was often used as medicine, 

sometimes to calm the digestive systemorsoothasorethroat. 

Only very rich people could afford to buy 

candy in the Middle Ages, when it was a 

combination of spices and sugar used as an 

aid in digestive problems. Upset stomachs 

were very common in the days before reliable 

refrigeration; people must have consumed 

a lot of food that was less than fresh. 

Candy often served to refresh the stomach. 

Often called a 'chamber spice,' it was made 

with cloves, ginger, aniseed, juniper berries, 

almonds and pine kernels dipped in melted 

sugar. 

In the early 18th century, the first candy 

that came to America was rock candy, made 

of crystallized sugar. This simple sweet was 

a luxury available only to the well-to-do, as 

sugar was rare and very expensive. The 

medicated lozenge that hid bitter medicine 

in a hard sugar coating was another early 

form of candy. 

Often, the first financial transaction a child 

makes is to to buy candy—most often, 

penny candy. 

Now we are told that some candies—dark 

chocolate in particular—are good for you. 

Some researchers have found that dark 

chocolate, eaten in moderation, can lower 

your blood pressure. But the presence of 

theobromine renders chocolate toxic to some 

animals—especially dogs and cats. 

Today the world produces more refined 

sugar than can be sold, making it very attainable 

and cheap. 

Because of the low cost of sugar there are 

now many more candies and many more 

types of candies than ever before, such as 

candy bars, chocolates, licorice, sour candies, 

hot-spicy candies, salty candies, tart 

candies, hard candies, taffies, gumdrops, 

marshmallows, and more and still more. 

Even those of us who rarely eat candy can 

admire the color and sparkle in a good display 

of candy. 

Left border, from top to bottom: 

Candy Corn, M&Ms, Starlight Mints, 

Allsorts, Candy Buttons, Licorice Wheels 

Top border, from left to right: 

Candy Corn, Chocolate Truffles, Caramels, 

Jelly Beans, Chocolate Bunny, Lollypops 

Right border, from top to bottom: 

Lollypops, Lemon Drops. Candy Canes, 

Chunk Chocolate, Hard Candy Swirls, 

Gumdrops ✫ 


Food Superstitions 

Though many of us regard ancient superstitions 

as innocent fun, they can be crippling if 

taken too seriously. 

Here are some superstitions that surround 

food, many of them derived from the British 

Isles. They traveled around the world via colonization. 

Salt Most of us have heard that after 

spilling salt, throwing a little more over the 

left shoulder into the devil’s eye will ward 

off the bad luck normally arising from the 

spillage. It used to be considered bad if you 

helped another person to the salt—there 

was even a little phrase that evolved from 

the superstition: “help to salt, help to sorry.” 

In parts of Europe, salt is thrown on the 

threshold of a new house because it is 

thought that salt will protect the inhabitants 

from evil. 

“Auspicious” foods InJanuaryorthe 

turning of the new year, black-eyed peas 

will bring you good luck. In Spain they 

court fortune by eating a grape to accompany 

each midnight strike of the clock 

while in Austria, they seek good luck by 

consuming tiny marzipan pigs. For February, 

stick to noodles, the symbol of long life 

in many places. And never break up the 

noodles while you cook them. Lucky foods 

for March are seeds. For April, you can have 

your fill of eggs. Yogurt and cheese are 

lucky in May. In June, make sure you eat 

some wedding cake. In July, watermelon is 

best. Corn on the cob should be consumed 

in August. September is the best time for 

oysters or fish. October is for pumpkin pie 

and November is for Turkey. In December, 

fruits will bring you good luck. 

Eggs In many parts of Europe, farmers 

would take a fresh egg into the fields in the 

hopes that it would bring a good healthy 

crop. Eggs were also used to tell fortunes; 

two yolks would mean a marriage was coming 

up soon, a black spot on a yolk was a 

bad omen and an egg with no yolk at all 

was just about as bad as you could get. 

Egg superstitions abound. Another is that 

you should crush the shells of an egg after 

you eat it. If you don’t, a witch will use the 

shells to make herself a boat and raise 

storms at sea. 

Apples Our ancestors thought an apple 

skin would reveal the first letter of your true 

love’s name. What you do is peel the apple 

until the skin breaks. Toss the skin and then 

see what letter is revealed where it lands on 

the floor. It will be the first letter of your 

Prince Charming’s name. 

Cutlery Magical significance pervades the 

use of eating implements. For instance, 

when two spoons turn up atop each other 

in a saucer, it augers a forthcoming marriage. 

We’ll leave the rationale behind this one to 

your imagination. Many, mainly sinister, 

beliefs are attached to knives. One recommends 

the speedy separation of crossed 

knives before they lead to the crossing of 

swords. There is an old saying that “stirring 

with a knife causes strife.” In China, the 

careless laying of a pair of chopsticks across 

the top of an empty rice bowl is a harbinger 

of death. 

Coffee and tea if you see bubbles on your 

coffee you must drink them right away, before 

they burst. If you can drink them up 

before they do, you will receive money from 

an unexpected source. 

As for tea, it is considered bad luck if two 

people pour tea from the same pot. If you 

forget to place the lid on the teapot while 

you brew the tea, a stranger will drop by soon. 

The wishbone In American and British 

tradition, two people use their pinky finger 

to break the wishbone. The one who wins 

the longest piece gets his wish. 

The orange Oranges are lucky fruit and a 

bride should carry an orange blossom in her 

bouquet to bring good luck. 

If you love someone and want him to love 

you back, give him an orange. 

It’s good to know that lovers who give each 

other oranges will be drawn even closer together. 

Garlic Garlic has been used in food and 

medicine since ancient times and also has 

lots of strong superstitions attached to it. 

The way to repel an evil eye is to carry a 

piece of garlic with you. Garlic is a powerful 

werewolf and vampire deterrent. 

Onions If you throw onion peels on the 

floor, you’ll throw away your luck. Protect 

your home from bad spirits by sticking a 

small onion full of pins and keeping it in a 

window. 

Get rid of warts by rubbing the edge of an 

onion on the wart and then throwing it over 

your right shoulder without looking back. 

You’ll never get warts again. 

If you have to take a decision on an issue 

but find your options confusing, do the following: 

scratch each option on a different 

onion and keep them in the dark. The one 

that sprouts first gives you the answer. ✫ 


e 

Birthstone: 

TOPAZ 

symbol of 

fidelity 

November 2012 

If we were intended to fly, God would have made it easier 

to get to an airport. —Joan Bellofatto Reid in “Life Is a Bike” 

Flower: 

CHRYSANTHEMUM 

symbol of 

optimism 

g 

SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT 

1 2 3 

CALENDAR ABBREVIATIONS NYACK COMMITTEES 

VB=Village Board 

PB=Planning Board 

ZBA=Zoning Board of Appeals 

BWC=Bd of Water Commissioners 

HA=Housing Authority 

ARB=Architectural Review Board 

PC=Parks Commission 

EC=Environmental Committee 

last 

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 

quarter 

Circus 

Annual 

Nyack PB Nyack Justice 

meets 7:30p Ct 5p 

Party 

Messiah 

see pg 5 

Election 

Sing 

see pg 5 

Artist Of the 

Month 

see pg 6 

new moon 

11 12 D 13 14 15 16 17 

Nora Ephron Village Hall 

Nyack Justice 

Nyack ARB Nyack Justice 

closed for 

play at Nyack 

Court 5p 

meets 7:30p Court 9:30a 

Veterans’ Day 

Library 

Nyack HA 

see pg 6 

meets 7p 

Concert to 

benefit 

Soup Angels 

See page 11 

Day 

New classes 

begin at RoCA 

see pg 5 

History 

Happened Here 

see pg 5 

R 


Ct 9:30a 

NAACP Candidate’s 

Night 

7 to 9:30; see 

page 4 


Ct 9:30a 

Nyack Water 

Bd 4:30p 

Nyack Village 

Board meets 

7:30p 

Nyack EC 

meets 7p 

Chamberfest 

at Nyack College 

See page 6 

First 

Friday 

FILM 

see pg 5 

Blue Rock’s 

BARN DANCE 

see pg 1 7 

first 

18 19 20 R 21 22 23 24 

quarter 

Nyack Justice Nyack PC 

Milk ‘n 

Village Hall closed 

Court 5p meets 7p 

Cookies 

for Thanksgiving Day 

NOTE Nyack 

Playhouse 

Village Board 

see pg 5 

meeting 11-29 

Legacy 

Gala 

at 

Nyack Center 

see pg 13 

MADE BY HAND 

at Nyack Center 

see pg 5 

Boutique à la 

Russe 

see pg 5 

25 26 27 28 

Open Studio 

Nyack ZBA Nyack Justice 

meets 7:30p Court 5p 

Reception 

at Art Students 

League 

see pg 6 

full 

moon 

S 29 30 


Court 9:30a 

Nyack Village 

Board meets 

7:30p 

Holiday 

Lights 

of Nyack 

see pg 11 



Founded in 1994, The Nyack Villager is published monthly, mailed on or about the first of each month to every postal address in eight Hudson River 

villages—Nyack, Upper Nyack, Central Nyack, South Nyack, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont &Palisades (zipcodes 10960, 10964 & 10968). 

Editor 

Contributing Editor 

Correspondent 

Publishers 

Community advisor 

Office Manager 

JAN HABER 

SHEL HABER 

FRANK LoBUONO 

JAN & SHEL HABER 

FRANCES PRATT 

JOYCE BRESSLER 

prefix unless otherwise noted: 845 

Columnists 

PETER SEGALL, DVM • DAN SHAW, LCSW 

JON FELDMAN • JIM LEINER • RIC PANTALE 

DONNA COX • HARRIET CORNELL • PETER KLOSE 

HOLLY CASTER • CINDY COLIGAN 

NYACK VILLAGER ADDRESSES PO Box 82, Nyack, NY 10960-0082 e-mail: info@nyackvillager.com 

• Editorial / advertising phone (845) 735-7639 • Fax (845) 735-7669 

on the Internet at www.nyackvillager.com The Nyack Villager is on the Internet courtesy of Devine Design. 

Published monthly by Nyack Villager, LLC © 1994—2012 

All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission is forbidden. 

Phone Numbers 

AMBULANCE CORPS 911 

non-emergency 358 4824 

TO REPORT A FIRE 911 

POLICE EMERGENCY 911 

non-emergency 359 3700 

POISON CONTROL 1-800 + 336 6997 

RPT CHILD ABUSE 1-800 + 342 3720 

BATTERED WOMEN 634 3344 

HOSP EMERGENCY 348 2345 

➤Nyack VIllage Hall, Nyack 9 N Broadway 

OFFICE OF VILLAGE CLERK 

MAYOR'S OFFICE 

OFFICE OF TREASURER 

BUILDING DEPT 

DEPT PUBLIC WORKS 

FIRE INSPECTOR 

JUSTICE COURT 

PARKING AUTHORITY 

WATER DEPT (non emerg) 

WATER PLANT EMERG 

HOUSING AUTH 15 Highvw 

SECTION 8E 

358 0548 

358 0229 

358 3581 

358 4249 

358 3552 

358 6245 

358 4464 

358 3851 

358 0641 

358 3734 

358 2476 

358 2591 

➤South Nyack VIllage Hall 282 S B’wy, S. Nyack 

POLICE NON EMERGENCY 

➤UpperNyackVIllageHallN.Bdwy,U.Nyack 

➤Grand View VIllage Hall 118 River Rd 

➤Piermont VIllage Hall 478 Piermont Ave 

NYACK PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

NYACK PUBLIC LIBRARY 

PALISADES FREE LIBRARY 

PIERMONT PUBLIC LIBRARY 

NYACK POST OFFICE 

NYACK CENTER 

THE NYACK VILLAGER 

358 0287 

358 0206 

358 0084 

358 2919 

359 1258 

353 7013 

358 3370 

359 0136 

359-4595 

358 2756 

358 2600 

735 7639 

Get a free copy of The Nyack Villager 

at Nyack, Piermont, New City & Valley Cottage Libraries, 

Best Western Inn Nyack, Koblin’s Pharmacy, Runcible 

Spoon, Hogan’s in Nyack, Nyack Village Hall & selected 

locations; available while they last, starting near the first 

of each month. Residents in the eight river villages should 

receive a Villager each month in the mail; if you don’t, let 

us know and we’ll fix it. All others may subscribe at $18 for 

1 year (12 issues). 

PRICE IS IMPORTANT ... but it’s NOT THE ONLY item to consider 

when you’re buying advertising space. Think CIRCULATION. How 

many readers actually see your ad? 

Only The Nyack Villager reaches every resident of all eight river villages every month. 

We alone are ‘saturation mailed’ from Upper Nyack to Palisades. That’s Post Office- 

Speak for everybody with a residential address in Upper Nyack, Nyack, Central Nyack, 

South Nyack, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont and Palisades. All the other 

magazines are dropped off at the 7-11 and elsewhere. Nobody knows how many get 

read—how many get tossed out unread. Same goes for the Internet. Nobody knows 

how many people will see your ad there, either. With us, circulation is a certainty. 

We’ll even help design your first ad—at no extra cost to you. Call us at (845) 735-7639. 


y Donna Cox 

They got what?! 

Some people view 

buying a house as 

purely a financial transaction, often underestimating the less tangible 

but equally important emotional benefits of owning a 

home. There’s a big difference in buying a house and having a 

home. A house is a basic structure —shelter from the elements 

and a place to sleep and put stuff. Buying a house is just the first 

step. Making a home is what’s important. It’s true— home is 

where the heart is. A home is where you feel comfortable, 

warm, safe and protected. A home is where you live your life, where friends and family 

gather and where a lifetime of memories are made. How many of us have driven by a 

home we moved out of decades ago just to reminisce? A home is about establishing 

roots. Home is where you plant perennials and watch them bloom each spring; it’s the 

doorway with penciled lines where you mark your children’s height year after year; it’s 

the big, beautiful tree in your backyard—the one that was just a sapling when you 

moved in. The homes we live in become an integral part of who we are. I wish you all 

a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter and warm memories. With that, 

here are the homes that sold during September. 

• THE HOMES LISTED BELOW WERE SOLD BY A VARIETY OF BROKERS PROUDLY SERVING THE RIVER VILLAGES. 

STYLE LOCATION ADDRESS BEDROOMS BATHS LIST PRICE SALE PRICE 

Ranch 

Colonial 

Colonial 

Colonial 

Colonial 

Colonial 

Contemporary 

Colonial 

Ranch 

Contemporary 

Colonial 

C. Nyack 

Nyack 

Nyack 

S. Nyack 



U. Grandview 

Piermont 

Piermont 

Piermont 

Palisades 

16 Buttermilk Falls Rd 

6 Charles St 

119 N Midland Ave 

5 Salisbury Pl 

10 Cornelison Ave 

7 Cedar Hill Ave 

35 Tweed Blvd 

51 Franklin St 

709 Piermont Ave 

30 Castle Rd 

10 Century Rd 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

3 

3 

4 

2 

3 

3 

1 

2.1 

1.1 

2 

2.1 

1 

3.1 

3 

1 

2.1 

3 

$ 159,900 

479,000 

389,000 

799,000 

599,000 

298,000 

1,650,000 

875,000 

799,000 

525,000 

649,900 

$ 135,000 

455,000 

370,000 

725,000 

575,000 

247,700 

1,487,500 

855,000 

799,000 

490,000 

620,000 

Summary Source: GHVMLS YTD Comparison Report 

3Q 2012 YTD vs. 3Q 2011 YTD - Single Family Homes 

New inventory (the number of homes going on the market) increased 2.2% (190 YTD 2012 

vs. 186 YTD 2011). The number of sales increased 29.0% (80 YTD 2012 vs. 63 YTD 2011). 

The average sales price of homes that have sold decreased approximately 7.3% to $637,035. 

Overall, the average sales price for single family homes that have sold in Rockland County (inclusive 

of the river villages) was $417,946, down 7.0% over the same period last year. 

3Q 2012 YTD vs. 3Q 2011 YTD - Condos 

New inventory (the number of condos going on the market) decreased 1.5% (66 YTD 2012 vs. 

67 YTD 2011). The number of sales decreased 3.8% (25 YTD 2012 vs. 26 YTD 2011). The 

average sales price of condos that have sold increased approximately 1.2% to $369,293. Overall, 

the average sales price for condos that have sold in Rockland County (inclusive of the river 

villages) was $227,537, down 5.5% over the same period last year. ✫ 


y Joyce Bressler 

NEW KIDS 

ON THE BLOCK 

Cynthia Fuller-King 

Cynthia Fuller-King, originally from 

Toronto,has lived in Rockland County for 

five years. She has developed a unique yoga 

based practice, “a holistic technique that restores 

and rejuvenates a person’s physical, 

mental and spiritual wellbeing” called The 

Fuller Method. 

She draws on her years of experience as a 

professional modern dancer, and as a registered 

yoga teacher at the 500 level. 

Cynthia also draws upon an “extensive 

background of bodywork using Alexander 

Technique, energy work and meditation, 

synthesizing her eclectic array of body 

knowledge and mindfulness.” She has 

taught yoga-based classes since 1983, “guiding 

and encouraging students to move into 

each posture with intention of creating optimal 

alignment, strength, flexibility and 

awareness.” 

The Fulller Yoga Studio in Palisades offers a 

beautiful, retreat-like setting amidst open 

meadow, woodland and perennial gardens, 

surrounded by wildlife and suffused with a 

sense of community. 

Ongoing classes are small, allowing personal 

attention. Her instruction ranges from gentle 

beginner to advanced level. Private therapeutic 

sessions for pain relief, weight 

management, stress, and postural issues are 

also available. 

The property, located on an artist compound 

is welcoming and accessible. Cynthia’s 

unique method helps you take what you’ve 

learned into day-to-day life at very reasonable 

rates. 

She also offers annual retreats to Guatemala 

from February 23 through March 2. 

For more details call Cynthia Fuller-King at 

845.359.3290 or visit on the Internet at 

www.thefullermethod.com ✫ 

Call The Nyack Villager and ask us 

how you can become a 

New Kid On the Block. 

Reach us at 845.735.7639 


IRS provides use of laptop computers and printers. Volunteers 

are trained in January in the tax code and to use the 

Tax-Wise Program. New counselors are expected to attend 

most sessions. All counselors (new and returning) must pass 

a test to do returns. The test is open-book and takes several 

hours to complete. 

Volunteers are expected to work at least two 4-hour shifts 

per week from Feb 1 to Apr 15. Most of the work is done at 

selected libraries and public buildings in Rockland County. 

The sites operate once or twice a week from 10am to 2pm 

Mon thru Sat. One evening session is offered. Saturday preparers 

are especially needed. 

Volunteer staff includes a greeter, who checks clients' papers, 

answers questions, schedules time with counselors, and does 

other tasks. The Tax-Aide program is sponsored by AARP, 

withthesupportoftheIRS. 

To become a tax counselor or greeter, call Mary Ann at 845. 

357.6968 or Helen at 845.634.3996. ✫ 

Readers are invited 

to send us brief items for this column. The Nyack Villager’s 

deadline for each issue is the 15th of the month 

before the date on the cover; example: for our next issue 

(December) send all material by November 15. 

E-mail us at info@nyakvillager.com

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