NOV '09 - The Nyack Villager

Greensboro, NC, for her work toward reconciliation
related to the Klan shootings there in
1979.
e Fellowship of Reconciliation (F.O.R. to
its friends), headquartered in Upper Nyack, is
the oldest interfaith peace and justice organization
in the United States. For more information
about the award winners and the work
of the FOR, browse www.forusa.org
Film Society Loses its Home
e Rivertown Film Society is out of a home in
Nyack—at least temporarily. When Riverspace,
until recently a functioning theatre, suspended
operations, the film society lost its base of operations.
Superior quality movies had been shown
there on Wednesdays for some years.
Founded in 2001, e Rivertown Film Society
often played to large, appreciative audiences.
Now, according to film society insiders, November
and December screenings must take place at
the Lafayette eatre, 97 Lafayette Avenue, in
Suffern, NY. ose who have been there know
e Lafayette as a little jewel-box of a theatre, an
ornate, 1920s-style movie palace on a miniature
scale. e price of a ticket at the door remains
the same—$9 general admission, $7 for students,
seniors & general members, $6 for student
& senior members. For info, call (845)
353-2568.
Starting in January, Rivertown Films intends
to return to Nyack for a once a month Saturday
screening.
e Rivertown Film Society asks you to show
continued support by sending your e-mail address
to (enews@rivertownfilm.org) to stay informed
of upcoming screenings and events.
Moose On the Loose
Vehicle crashes involving deer are frequent and
can happen anywhere and at any time, but motorists
should be especially alert on the road during
low-light mornings and evenings throughout
Autumn, when most of these crashes occur. Use
extra caution. Slow down and watch for deer
and moose that may suddenly enter the roadway.
According to the Dept. of Transportation, of the
900,000 deer inhabiting NY State, 60,000 to
70,000 of them are involved in deer-vehicle collisions
each year. Most of these collisions occur
from October through December, two hours
prior to sunrise and two hours following sunset.
Moose populations have grown in New York
State in recent years and moose-vehicle collisions
are on the increase. eir dark color makes them
especially hard to see at night and, because of
their height, their eyes typically do not reflect
headlight beams.
4 The Nyack Villager November, 2009
Reporter at large
Reporter at Large starts on page 3
Readers are asked to report moose sightings by
e-mail to MO-MooseSiting@dot.state.ny.us
Nyack’s Soup Angels
e Soup Angels’ soup kitchen, founded in
2006 by Kathie Rife and Katie Berry, will host
its 4th annual Come To the Table anksgiving
Feast on Wed, Nov 25, from 4 to 7 pm. Anyone
who needs a meal is welcome to enjoy a
sit-down turkey dinner and all the trimmings,
at Nyack’s First Reformed Church, 18 South
Broadway, Nyack. e Soup Angels, a non-denominational
group of volunteers, serve meals
every Wednesday at 5:30pm throughout the
year at the church.
Soup Angels will once again send more than
1200 take-out meals to those in Rockland
County who need a meal.
If you can help Soup Angels defray the cost of
these anksgiving dinners, or donate to help
give December holiday gifts of toiletries and
warm clothing to our guests, please send a
check payable to—
Soup Angels, P.O. Box 565, Nyack, NY.
If you have items to donate, please contact
soupangels@gmail.com or visit the website,
www.soupangels.com
ACADA’S October Street Fair
e Art, Craft & Antiques Dealers’ Autumn
Street Fair, traditionally the busiest of the year,
did not disappoint last month. e weather
was superb, with abundant sunshine & bright
blue skies. Happy shoppers & browsers of all
ages filled Broadway & Main Street in Nyack
for the annual ACADA Fall Street Fair. One
resident told us, “It must be the biggest turnout
in years. I loved it. I met Nyackers I haven’t
seen in forever!” One vendor said, “Compared
to last year, our sales are up and the crowds are
much larger.” Another vendor added that
there was plenty of browsing—but more real
shopping and buying. Local restaurants and
cafés told us they were busy all day,
Credit for all this goes to the Art Craft and
Antique Dealers of the Nyacks, a self-help
group of local shop owners who, through
thick and thin for forty years, have presented
these popular street fairs. is year it is with
the help of P.J. Promotions, ACADA’s new fair
organizer.
Back in the early 1970s, ACADA set out to
save Nyack, then suffering the ravages of
ruway construction and what was called
“urban renewal,”—in reality, the destruction
of whole neighborhoods. e fledgling group
tirelessly promoted the village, becoming the
only group to advertise regionally, attracting
patrons to Nyack’s shops and restaurants.
Many people who live in the river villages say
they discovered the Nyacks at an ACADA
Street Fair.
Nyack Rallies for Healthcare Reform
On Sunday October 4 in Memorial Park in
Nyack, Alan Levin, a local psychotherapist
used Margaret Mead’s famous quote—
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,
as he introduced the many speakers and performers
who addressed hundreds of people
gathered under the banner, Health Care for All
Now.
A few weeks ago, frustrated by the misinformation
and lies being spread about health care
reform proposals, Alan and eight other Rockland
activists formed a grass roots group to do
something about it.
ey brought on board seven co-sponsoring
organizations to help spread the word: e
Hudson Valley Fellowship of Reconciliation,
Nyack NAACP, Spring Valley NAACP, Rockland
Progressive Dems, WESPAC Foundation,
Organizing for America & the Rockland
Women’s Political Caucus. e result was an
afternoon and evening of rousing speeches,
poetry and fine music performed by Wally
Glickman, e Rouse Brothers, Tom Chapin
and many others, with one clear message:
health care is a human right. e spirited
crowd waited until after dark for Pete Seeger
who, at age 90, arrived in the light of the full
moon over his beloved Hudson, his banjo and
guitar on his back, apologizing for being late
after a full day of performing elsewhere.
On the Ballot November 3
Two amendments to NY State’s Constitution
and three amendments for Orangetown
Township appear on the upcoming ballot.
AMENDMENT No.1 would allow the Legislature
to acquire 6 acres of forest preserve land
along State Rte 56 in St. Lawrence County
from the National Grid for the construction
of a power line. In exchange, the National
Grid will return at least 10 acres of land to St.
Lawrence County for the forest preserve.
AMENDMENT No. 2 would authorize the
Legislature to allow inmates in state and local
correctional facilities to voluntarily perform
work for nonprofit organizations, defined as
those exclusively for religious, charitable and
educational purposes, in which net earnings
don't benefit any shareholder or individual.
In Orangetown you have the opportunity to
vote on the following three amendments:
1. Extend the term of the Town Supervisor to
4 years (from 2 years, to take effect in 2012,
after the next election), 2. extend the term of
the Supt. of Highways to 4 years (from 2 years
to take effect in 2010, after the 2009 election),
3. Extend the term of the Town Clerk to 4
years (from 2 years to take effect in 2010, after
the 2009 election).
Reporter at Large concludes on page 6