January 2013 - The Nyack Villager

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WHITE PLAINS NY 

TheNyack Villager® 

An independent monthly news magazine celebrating life and the arts in the Hudson River Villages 

Fireworks Graphic by Shel Haber 

January 

2013 

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. 

Fireworks by Shel Haber © Nyack Villager, 2013

2 The Nyack Villager January, 2013

In this issue 

Departments 

3 REPORTER AT LARGE 

• Rep. Engel supports TZ Bridge design proposal 

• David Freid to run for county executive 

• Anita Lowey on her Congressional committee assignment 

• On dealing with headache 

• The passing of a trail blazing WAC 

• Bernard J. Albin, 1928-2012 

• Burglary at the Trotting Horse Museum (pg 19) 

6 COMMUNITY NOTES What’s happening in January 

8 EVENTS IN JANUARY Art & entertainment this month 

12 LETTERS to The Nyack Villager 

16 CALENDAR Highlights in January 

17 OP-CALENDAR PAGE useful local phone numbers 

Columns 

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

8 REMEMBER THE DAYS? Jim Leiner on Nyack’s sawbones 

10 AT THE MOVIES Ric Pantale on iconic Hollywood sign 

11 PLUMBING TIPS: Renovating a master bath by Ralph Spano 

14 FROM TOWN HALL Supervisor Andy Stewart on plans for 2013 

15 THE BUSINESS BEAT Scott Baird on crunchy glamor 

19 THE DOCTOR IS IN Making healthy choices for the new year 

Features 

12 A VERY SHORT HISTORY OF EXERCISE by Shel Haber 

13 HEALTH & FITNESS in the River Villages 

18 NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK by Joyce Bressler 

On our January cover 

Fireworks 

Graphic by Shel Haber © 2013 The Nyack Villager, Nyack, NY 

The Nyack Villager 

January, 2013 Vol. 19 No. 5 

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 February issue is January 15. 

Please include a contact name and telephone number. 

Martin Luther King 

Day 

January 21 

Making healthy choices 

for the new year 

See page 19 

Jim Leiner on Nyack’s 

Doctors’ Avenue 

see page 8 

Fitness in the River Villages 

See page 13 

Ric Pantale on Hollywood’s 

iconic sign 

See page 10 

REPORTER 

at large 

REP. ENGEL SUPPORTS TAPPAN ZEE 

BRIDGE DESIGN PROPOSAL 

Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) issued 

the following statement after the NY State 

�ruway Authority selected the Tappan Zee 

Constructors’ proposal for a replacement 

Tappan Zee Bridge. 

“I am glad the �ruway Authority Executive 

Board chose the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement 

which is the least expensive, and 

has a lesser environmental impact on our 

region. I have said for many years that this 

should be the method chosen. I am pleased 

to see that this option allows for the later 

addition of mass transit ... as I believe this is 

important to commuters. I have been 

working on bringing about a new bridge for 

the last 10 years, and it is very promising to 

see progress being made. A new bridge is 

not only necessary for transportation, but 

will be a boon for economic development 

in the entire Hudson Valley region,” said 

Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House 

Energy and Commerce Committee. 

According to information provided by NY 

State, the proposal offers the following: 

• Best price for toll payers at $3.142 billion 

• Shortest construction time of 5 years 

• �e least dredging on the Hudson River 

at 951,000 cubic yards 

• Built to last over 100 years without needing 

major repairs 

• Reduces congestion on the bridge with 8 

traffic lanes and 4 emerg/breakdown lanes 

• Includes a bike and pedestrian path 

• Built to accommodate future bus rapid 

transit and rail transit options 

“We have known for a long time that a new 

bridge would be necessary and it is good 

news for the people of New York to finally 

see a light at the end of the tunnel,” added 

Rep. Engel. 

Reporter at Large continues on page 4 

The Nyack Villager January, 2013 3

4 The Nyack Villager January, 2013 

REPORTER 

at large 

David Fried to run for County Exec 

Late last month, 

Spring Valley Village 

Justice David Fried 

confirmed his intention 

to resign his 

judgeship to enter 

the race for County 

executive on the 

Democratic line. 

State law does not allow a sitting judge to 

run for political office 

Fried joins a crowded field; three other announced 

candidates, Republican County 

Legislator Ed Day, Democratic County 

Legislator Ilan Schoenburger, and Democratic 

Mayor of Suffern, Dagan Lacorte, are 

all vying for the job of County Executive, 

being vacated by Scott Vanderhoef. 

Fried is from Spring Valley. He was a member 

of the Rockland County Legislature 

from 2003 to 2007. He unsuccessfully 

challenged Ellen Jaffe for a seat on the state 

Assembly and, in 2009, became a Spring 

Valley village justice. In prepared remarks, 

he said he has been endorsed for County 

Executive by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, 

Former Town Supervisor �om Kleiner, 

Nyack Mayor Jen Laird-White, South Nyack 

Mayor Tish Dubow, County Legislator Nancy 

Low-Hogan, and Former County Legislators 

Denise Kronstadt & Connie Coker. 

Nita Lowey on her selection as 

Appropriations Committee as ranking 

Democrat 

Congresswoman Nita 

Lowey (D-NY) issued 

this statement following 

her election as 

Ranking Democrat on 

the House Appropriations 

Committee: 

“It is an honor to be 

selected by my colleagues to serve as Ranking 

Democrat on the House Appropriations 

Committee in the 113th Congress. It is especially 

gratifying to be the first woman to 

lead either party on this powerful committee. 

“�is important position comes with significant 

responsibility. In the coming weeks, 

Congress must extend expiring tax reductions 

for middle-class families and replace 

sequestration with budget reductions that 

jeopardize neither critical services nor investments 

for the future. Moving forward, 

the Appropriations Committee will play a 

central role in creating jobs; assisting those 

affected by natural disasters; rebuilding 

crumbling infrastructure; improving schools 

and health care; bolstering security at home 

and abroad; and reducing the deficit by eliminating 

wasteful and duplicative spending. 

“I look forward to working with the Democratic 

Caucus, as well as Chairman Rogers 

and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, 

to support middle-class families, invest for 

the future, and ensure all Americans have 

the opportunity to succeed.” 

Nyack Chamber elects 2013 directors 

2012 Successes Celebrated at Annual Meeting and Holiday Event. Ambitious Programs 

Planned for the New Year 

�e Nyack Chamber of Commerce elected its 2013 Board of Directors at the organization’s 

annual meeting and holiday party on Tuesday evening, December 11, in Nyack. Harbor 

Hill restaurant and bar, a Chamber member located at 91 Main Street, hosted the event. 

Newly elected Directors include Chris Capra, Managing Director, Emerging Media; David 

Collins, owner, Back to Earth natural foods; Sean Spicer, co-owner, the Pour House; and 

Annette Van Loon, owner, Chocolaterie. Returning to the Board are Roger Cohen, Vice 

President and Treasurer, Paul Curley, Secretary, Marilyn Kaskel, Director, and Nancy 

Phillips, Vice President. 

Gina Cambre, Mark Mangan and Carlo Pellegrini will retire from the Board at the end of 

2012. 

“We took some major steps forward in 2012,” said Scott Baird. “In addition to our street 

fairs, Halloween parade, and Holiday Lights programs, we rebuilt our website, added Classic 

Car Night to our roster of events, launched our weekly newsletters and opened the 

Winter Farmers’ Market with the Nyack Center. We were instrumental in the Nyack Marketing 

Association’s collaborative work on the Village banner program and overall promotion 

efforts.” �e Chamber also took part in local relief and information-sharing following 

superstorm Sandy. 

Dealing with headache 

A headache or cephalalgia is pain anywhere 

in the region of the head or neck. It can be 

a symptom of a number of different conditions 

of the head and neck. 

�e brain tissue itself is not sensitive to pain 

because it lacks pain receptors. Rather, the 

pain is caused by disturbance of the painsensitive 

structures around the brain. 

Nine areas of the head and neck have these 

pain-sensitive structures, which are the cranium, 

muscles, nerves, arteries and veins, 

subcutaneous tissues, eyes, ears, sinuses and 

mucous membranes. 

�ere are a number 

of different classification 

systems for 

headaches. �e best 

recognized is that 

of the International 

Headache Society. 

Headache is a nonspecific 

symptom, 

which means that it has many possible 

causes. Treatment of a headache depends 

on the underlying cause, commonly involving 

pain killers. 

You don't always have to head for a 

medicine bottle when your head is 

pounding. 

Try these alternative remedies to prevent or 

stop a headache: Is your headache a migraine, 

tension, or cluster headache? 

Some believe acupuncture can be as effective 

as pain drugs for treating migraines and reducing 

their frequency and severity by increasing 

levels of beta-endorphin, a natural 

painkilling substance in your body. 

If you're needle-phobic, acupressure may be 

a good way for you to dim headache pain. 

Simply rub the two points on either side of 

your vertebrae at the nape of your neck— 

right below the ridges at the base of your 

skull. 

Also try massaging the webbed area on the 

top of your left hand, between your thumb 

and forefinger. 

Take some ginger. It inhibits inflammation 

in blood vessels, so take it when your headache 

first comes on. 

Tame the shoulds. Change irrational beliefs 

—those are ideas typically prefaced with 

words such as should, ought, must, or have 

to—that can lead to stress and head pain. 

Replace them with ideas that use words 

such as wish, want, like, and desire.

The Passing of a trail-blazing pilot 

Josephine Baker 

Naphen, long-time 

resident of Upper 

Nyack, died peacefully 

last month at 

the age of 91. 

A native of NY City, 

she was a devoted 

life-long Yankee fan 

who, into her late 

80s, kept score every game she watched, using 

yellow pads rather than printed scorecards. 

From the moment Jo first heard about 

women in aviation, she wanted to fly. On a 

family trip to Europe as a teenager in the 

late 1930s, she realized her dream. �e ferry 

ride across the English Channel had been 

choppy and her mother was dreading the 

return passage, so Jo convinced her that a 

flight from Paris to London would be 

preferable. 

When in 1942 the call went out to women 

to join the WAACs, the Women’s Army 

Auxiliary Corps (later renamed Women’s 

Auxiliary Corps WACs), Jo immediately 

told her parents she was determined to do 

so. Along with other young women eager 

to fly and to help the US war effort, Jo underwent 

physical and flight training in 

Texas. WACs were the first women besides 

nurses to serve with the US Army. During 

World War II, Jo and other WACs served as 

non-combat pilots, performing tasks such as 

ferrying planes. 

After the war, Jo worked at Time, Inc. and 

then at the Port Authority of New York & 

New Jersey, mainly at the George Washington 

Bridge. After her retirement, she 

worked for many years at the circulation 

desk at Nyack Library and volunteered with 

Friends of the Nyacks and Hopper House. 

—Nita Kammerer 

above: Josephine Naphen and her plane, 

Texas, 1940s 

�e Nyack Villager thanks to Ms. Kammerer 

for an outstanding story. ✫ 

by Donna Cox 

What’s in store for the 

real estate market for 2013? Home prices in our area appear to be stabilizing. 

Have prices reached the bottom in our market? No one can answer 

that question definitively. We are, however, seeing a significant increase 

in the number of sales. An increased number of sales is often the precursor 

to a recovering market. I don’t expect a quick rebound or a dramatic 

increase in prices. It’s likely we will remain level for the next several years 

before we see an appreciable increase in prices. We appear to be closely 

mirroring the last real estate decline/recovery cycle of the 1980s and 1990s. 

�is cycle was characterized by several years of appreciation, followed by 5 years of significant depreciation, 

then 6 years where the prices remained relatively flat. It wasn’t until 1998, a full 12 years 

later, that prices rebounded to peak 1986 levels. Interest rates are expected to remain low at least 

through the first half of the year. Low interest rates alone won’t be enough to motivate buyers; consumer 

confidence in the economy and job stability will have a profound impact on buyer activity this 

year. With that, here are the homes that sold during November. 

• 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 

Townhouse 

Townhouse 

Ranch 

Split Level 

Victorian 

Tudor 

Contemporary 

Condo 

They got what?! 

Nyack 

Nyack 

U. Nyack 

U. Nyack 

S. Nyack 

S. Nyack 

Piermont 

Piermont 

1 Main St #4302 

38 Forest Ridge Rd 

415 Glen Ave 

502 N Midland Ave 

28 Smith Ave 

245 Piermont Ave 

736 Rt 9W 

5-5 Lawrence Park 

$699,000 

565,000 

415,000 

317,000 

749,900 

575,000 

499,000 

184,900 

$625,000 

537,500 

400,000 

315,200 

740,000 

580,000 

470,000 

177,450 

Summary Source: GHVMLS YTD Comparison Report 

November 2012 YTD vs. November 2011 YTD - Single Family Homes 

New inventory (the number of homes going on the market) increased 0.5% (221 YTD 2012 vs. 220 YTD 

2011). �e number of sales increased 25.3% (94 YTD 2012 vs. 75 YTD 2011). �e average sales price of 

homes that have sold decreased approximately 7.5% to $636,975. Overall, the average sales price for single 

family homes that have sold in Rockland County (inclusive of the river villages) was $415,231, down 5.3% 

over the same period last year. 

November 2012 YTD vs. November 2011 YTD - Condos 

New inventory (the number of condos going on the market) decreased 7.5% (74 YTD 2012 vs. 80 YTD 

2011). �e number of sales decreased 20.0% (28 YTD 2012 vs. 35 YTD 2011). �e average sales price of 

condos that have sold decreased approximately 1.2% to $377,581. Overall, the average sales price for condos 

that have sold in Rockland County (inclusive of the river villages) was $224,241, down 7.7% over the 

same period last year. ✫ 

Bernard J. Albin, 1928-2012 

Bernard J. Albin, who was chairman of Orangetown’s 

Architecture and Community 

Appearance Board of Review (ACABAOR) 

from nearly its inception in 1965 until 

2005, has died in Oro Valley Arizona of 

natural causes. He was 84. 

Bernie, as he was known to his friends and 

colleagues, and Bud, as he was known to his 

family, was born in Jersey City in 1928. He 

attended Syracuse University and received a 

degree in landscape architecture. He established 

a practice in NY City and worked on 

numerous regional projects, including the 

landscaping and design of the Palisades Interstate 

Parkway in the 1950s. He and his 

wife Eraine, an interior designer, moved to 

Palisades where he became active in community 

affairs. Local residents commissioned 

him to design Tappan’s Memorial Park in 

1966 after their successful fight to prevent it 

from becoming a housing development. 

Shortly thereafter he was elected by his colleagues 

on the newly formed ACABOR to 

become its chairman, a position he held 

2 

3 

3 

3 

5 

4 

3 

1 

2.1 

3.1 

2 

1.1 

3.2 

2 

2 

1 

continuously for almost forty years. Under 

his guidance, ACABOR worked in partnership 

with developers and new businesses in 

a quickly expanding Orangetown to ensure 

that the fundamental character of the town 

remained constant. �e Board won awards 

for its treatment of public spaces, including 

IBM Palisades (by relocating buildings and 

parking areas away from Route 9W) Blue 

Hill Plaza (reducing the scale of the original 

proposal from three high rises to one and 

reducing its parking by half) and the Pearl 

River Hilton (preserving the existing woodland 

along Veterans Memorial Highway). 

“In the last 50 years, possibly no person had 

a more profound positive impact on the development 

of the Town of Orangetown than 

Bud Albin,” said his nephew, �om Kleiner 

of Sparkill, former Orangetown Supervisor. 

He is survived by his sister, Marlene Kleiner 

of Grandview and nephews �om and Eric 

Kleiner. A service of remembrance will be 

held at 4pm, Sat, Jan 12 at the Palisades 

Community Center, 675 Oak Tree Road. 

Info call 845.499.4366. ✫ 


Community notes 

Tell The Villager and we’ll tell the community. 

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

Blue Rock School Campus Tour 

Blue Rock School invites parents interested in Kindergarten 

through eighth grade to visit our beautiful, four-acre campus 

Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 10am. Come meet Blue Rock faculty 

and hear how our vibrant and creative learning environment 

nurtures children’s natural curiosity and fosters a lifelong 

love of learning. Discover how Blue Rock School's unique educational 

approach brings learning to life. 

10am Sat, Jan 26 at Blue Rock School, 110 Demarest Mill 

Road (off Germonds Rd.), West Nyack. 

Info: visit www.bluerockschool.org or call 845.627.0234 

Saddle River Day School 

Saddle River Day School offers a rigorous educational environment, 

highly skilled faculty, an average class size of 15 

students (a 7:1 student to faculty ratio), personalized college 

counseling and much more. 


Mark your calendar for Saddle River Day School’s Spring 

K-12 open house dates: they are Monday, Feb 4 at 9am 

and Monday April 8 at 9am. 

Saddle River Day School 147 Chestnut Ridge Road, Saddle 

River, NJ. Info: www.saddleriverday.org 201.327.4050. 

Upcoming Events at Green Meadow 

Green Meadow, our local Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, 

is the only school of its kind in Rockland County; it serves 

children from Nursery through Grade 12 and offers unique 

family programs for those with children from birth through 

age three. Nearly 350 students attend the school, which offers 

multi-disciplinary, challenging academic coursework. 

The school also limits the use of technology and media for 

younger students, which is now understood by researchers as 

essential to the developing brain. 

Every Monday at 1pm the school is open for “Tea & Play,” 

for prospective Early Childhood (Nursery School and Kindergarten) 

parents and their children. On Fri, Jan 11 and Fri, 

Jan 25, the school holds Introductory Sessions for Prospective 

Parents. On Sat, Feb 9, they offer a “Joyful Beginnings” 

morning for prospective Early Childhood parents, and another 

Introductory Session on Fri, Feb 15. 

Green Meadow School literature is available at Nyack’s Indoor 

Farmers’ Market every other Thursday from Jan 10 

through May 2. 

For more info, visit www.gmws.org or contact Lisa Miccio, 

Director of Early Childhood Admissions and Family Programs 

at 845.356.2514 x 326. 

At Birchwood Center 

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

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

• THE ART OF MEHENDI with Michelle Dawson 

An interactive workshop revealing the history, folklore, and 

application of Henna. Participants will be painted and have 

the opportunity to paint one another as well. 

Fri, Jan 25 from 6:30-9pm; fee: $45 

• RESTORATIVE YOGA with Jan Crittenden 

Every Wed from 6 to 7:15. $20 drop in/class cards accepted. 

Info: www.birchwoodcenter.com or 845.358. 6409. 

Nyack’s new Winter Market 

Nyack’s Indoor Farmer's Market opened to a big success. Expect 

to see it every Thursday, from 8am to 2pm at Nyack 

Center, corner of South Broadway and Depew. 

Thanks to Gajeski Produce and The Orchards of Concklin, we 

have a steady supply of delicious produce. Read more about 

Gajeski and how they can supply fresh veggies in the winter: 

http://nyackchamber.org/new-vendor-gajeski-produce/ 

What you can expect to see in January: broccoli, broccoli rabe, 

brussels sprouts, cabbage, savoy cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, 

celeriac, garlic, kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnips, parsnips, 

chives, cilantro, basil, dill, oregano, lettuce (Boston, 

romaine, red leaf, green leaf), radishes, Swiss chard, 

tatsoi, mizuna, arugula, pea shoots, spring mix, baby lettuce mix. 

Palisades Indoor Farmers’ Market 

Palisades Community Center, 675 Oak Tree Road in Palisades, NY 

Every Saturday Jan 12 thru May 18, from 9am to 1pm.

Palisades Indoor Winter Farmers' Market returns for its 5th 

year Saturday, January 12. 

Rockland's first Indoor Winter Farmers' Market, located in a 

charming 1870 schoolhouse, opens its 5th season on January 

12. The farmers' market will be open every Saturday, 

9am to 1pm thru May 18, rain or shine, snow or whatever. 

The Palisades Community Center is at 675 Oak Tree Road in 

Palisades, NY. 

Many of our vendors are returning and we welcome a few 

new ones: Blooming Hill Organic Farm, Orchards of Concklin, 

Pura Vida Fisheries, Cooperstown Cheese Co., Balthazar 

Bakery, Full Moon Farm, Fontanarosa Gourmet Pasta, Tierra 

Farm, Grounded Coffee Catering, Pie Lady & Son, SourPuss 

Pickles, Lenny Bee's smoked trout and Woodstock Winery. 

In addition, guest vendors appear throughout the season. 

Jim the Knife Sharpener attends every first Saturday of each 

month. 

Join the e-mail list at:PCC@Palisadesny.com to receive 

market updates. 

Ice Festival cancelled for 2013 

In late November, Knickerbocker Ice Festival Inc., the organization 

that runs the annual Ice Festival at Rockland Lake 

State Park, announced that the event will go on hiatus in 

2013. In a prepared statement they said, “Challenging economic 

conditions have forced the cancellation of the Ice Festival, 

which had become one of the area’s most talked-about 

annual events.” 

Since 2007, the Knickerbocker Ice Festival has celebrated 

Rockland Lake’s history as the epicenter of the ice industry 

during the 19th century. It featured professional Ice Carving 

competitions and demonstrations and other family-friendly 

events. 

“We are disappointed that the Knickerbocker Ice Festival 

won’t be held at Rockland Lake in 2013. Each year it became 

more and more popular and had become a top attraction 

for Rockland County every winter,” said Maria Rodd, 

Knickerbocker Ice Festival CEO. “We hope to someday bring 

it back to Rockland Lake, possibly in 2014.” 

Mass for Newtown victims 

On Sunday, January 13 at 9:15am the Children's Mass at St. 

John's RC Church in Piermont will be offered for the victims 

of the Newtown tragedy and their families. All are welcome. 

In addition there will be a special Mass the following 

evening, Monday, January 14 at 7:15 pm. for the victims of 

Newtown. All are welcome. 

Combatting Food Addiction 

The Patient and Community Education Department at Nyack 

Hospital is now offering a weekly Food Addiction Support 

Group (FA) every Saturday and Sunday. The group meets in 

the Cafeteria Conference Room at Nyack Hospital at 10am 

on Saturday and 8am Sundays. There are no fees and no 

weigh-ins at the meetings. 

FA is open to any man or woman who battles obesity, anorexia, 

bulimia and those whose obsession with food interferes 

with the ability to freely live. The group offers shared experience 

and mutual support for individuals who are recovering 

from the disease of food addiction. 

The model of the Food Addiction Program is the 12-step program 

of Alcoholics Anonymous. Members are welcome to attend 

meetings for as long as they like. Info: please visit 

http://foodaddicts.org/index.html or contact Susan L. at 

845.371.2751 For more info about the support group 

being held at Nyack Hospital, please contact Patient and 

Community Education Department at Nyack Hospital at 

845.348.2004. 

Farm Alliance seeks to raise $25,000 

Rockland Farm Alliance is a non-profit organization focusing 

on revitalizing local food systems in Rockland County, has 

announced a $25,000 matching challenge made possible by 

a recent grant awarded by RSF Social Finance (RSF). This 

2012 appeal will provide an additional $25,000 to help the 

Farm Alliance to build community programs and develop 

new farm projects. 

Celebrating the Maccabi Games 

JCC Rockland on West Nyack Road is having a celebration of 

the 2012 JCC Maccabi Games Leadership on Sat, Jan 12 

from 8:30pm until midnight, featuring "Strawberry Fields” a 

Beatles tribute band, dancing, wine, beer, snacks, dessert & 

coffee, silent auction (no speeches). Admission $59 pp. Respond 

by Jan 4 to Elena Heydt 845.362.4400 ext106. 

E-mail items for Community Notes to The Nyack Villager at 

info@nyackvillager.com 

Our next issue, February 2013, closes on January 15; 

everything should be in our hands no later than that date. 


Remember the days? 

by James F. Leiner 

Nyack’s Sawbones 

If you lived around Nyack for a 

bit you might know Broadway 

was once called Old Hook Road, 

though could have been called 

Doctors Avenue. 

I searched the records at Nyack 

Library for doctors with offices 

along Broadway who practiced 

any kind of medicine, dentistry or chiropractic 

over the past umpteen years. I found 

eighty of them. I wonder how many of them 

our readers will recall. 

• He was a baby doctor before they were 

called pediatricians. I know he treated me 

for a dog bite at his splendid Victorian home/ 

office at 152 South Broadway, on the corner 

of Brookside Avenue. Dr. Pierre Relland 

was a physician & surgeon who took care of 

several generations of kids. 

• Across the street at 180 South Broadway 

was Dr. Louis T. DeNigris. Also a physician 

& surgeon, he would become the mayor of 

South Nyack and serve as a Nyack Fire Department 

Surgeon. 

• Just down Broadway was the office on Dr. 

Raymond Esposito Sr. a well-known chiropractor 

who also served several terms as the 

village’s mayor while treating its aches and 

pains. His home/office was a magnificent 

brick structure at 233 South Broadway. 

• Dr. George Nicolla was an osteopath. 

I knew him as a real gentleman and member 

of Nyack Rotary for years. 

• On the same side of the street, just up the 

block at 207 South Broadway, was the 

home-office of another of Nyack’s famous 

general practitioners of the 50s, 60s and 

70s: Dr. George K. Looser, a wonderful 

doctor who also served decades as a surgeon 

for the fire department. 

• Just south of Cedar Hill Avenue was the 

home/office of another fine physician Dr. 

Herbert Kurtz at 100 South Broadway. 

Herb and his lovely wife, Eva, were active in 

the Nyack Hospital community for decades. 

�ey often led the annual fund raising Kermiss 

Ball at the Rockland Country Club. 

Dr. Kurtz was in practice with Dr. Phillips 

Lampkin and Dr. William Giles. 

• At the corner of Broadway & Depew was 

one of the most famous doctors of his time: 

Dr. Louis Couch, at 46 South Broadway. 


• Above the old A&P supermarket, at 37 

South Broadway, were the offices of three 

generations of dentists: Dr. John 

Gilchrest, Dr. Harvey Gilchrest 

and my first dentist, Dr. Gerald 

Gilchrest. How fondly I recall 

Old Doc Gilchrest getting cussed 

out something awful while he 

removed all of my dad’s teeth in 

one visit; as a young lad I learned 

some new words that day! 

• For you trivia buffs—who was 

the dentist who maintained a 

practice in the same office? His life met a 

tragic end in October 1968. 

• Long before he moved to Franklin Street, 

into Rockland Gardens, the dental offices of 

Dr. J. Weishaar were located over the stores 

at 12 South Broadway. He was later joined 

by his son, Dr. Jefferson J. Weishaar in the 

practice on Franklin Street where they remained 

for years, treating the molars of the 

villagers long before fluoride toothpaste. 

• A few of you might recall when the offices 

of Dr. Herman Newman, an Optometrist, 

were in the corner of the O & R building. 

Doc Newman later moved across the street 

to a little shop at 6 North Broadway. 

• Just up the street, at 10 North Broadway, 

was the office of one of Nyack’s first female 

physicians, Dr. Marjorie Hopper. For many 

years she and Dr. Murray Stoltzer served as 

the official doctors for sports physicals for 

Nyack School students. 

• At 66 North Broadway was the office of 

the first fire department surgeon, Dr. E. 

Hall Kline, who practiced with his dad, Dr. 

Charles Kline. 

• ‘Way up on the village border was the 

home/office of Dr. Joan and Abraham Stein, 

at 253 North Broadway, across the street 

from Dr. Bryant Rooney, at No. 240, who 

was also a fire department surgeon. 

I am confident our readers can add quite a 

few doctors to my list. 

Oh by the way—not that this has anything 

to do with doctors—but did you know that 

at one time, in addition to being called Old 

Hook Road, Broadway was also named 

Helen Hayes Way? Yup. Back in the late 

1980s the road was re-named for a short 

time in honor of her ninetieth birthday. 

Street signs were installed on the signposts 

along the street where, within a week, they 

were stolen. Wonder where they went? 

The Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for helping us 

all ‘Remember the Days.’ ✫ 

J 

Events in January 

Art and Entertainment 

Martin Luther King Day 

Unity Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 

King Jr, on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day, January 21, from 

4 to 8pm at Spring Valley High School, 361 Route 59, 

Spring Valley, NY. All are welcome. Free. 

GraceMusic presents 

Gail Archer, internationally known Grammy-nominated concert 

organist, performs works of Bach, Messiaen, Ives and 

others, on Grace Episcopal Church’s distinguished Casavant 

Fréres organ—the first solo organ recital in over fifteen 

years. Dr. Archer is Professor of Music at Barnard College, 

Director of the Columbia- Barnard chorus and College Organist 

at Vassar. 

4pm Sun, Jan 27 at Grace Church, 130 First Ave, Nyack. 

Admission $20; $15 senior adults, $5 students. 

Nyack author to speak at library 

Nyack author David Means will be the guest speaker at the 

Annual Meeting of the Friends of the Nyack Library. The 

meeting will be on Friday, Feb 1 at 7pm in the Community 

Meeting Room of the library. David Means's books of short 

stories can be found in the Local Author section of the library 

Reference Room. All are welcome and there is no charge. 

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 

WINTER ART CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS 

RoCA’s School for the Arts presents an exciting variety of 

classes/workshops for people of all ages, taught by professional 

artist-instructors in fully equipped studios. Classes include 

ceramics, painting, drawing, jewelry making, lampworked 

glass beads, cartooning, creative writing, sculpture 

for children, abstract painting, figure drawing and more. For 

info and a free catalog, call 845.358.0877 or view classes & 

register online at www.rocklandartcenter.org Begins Jan 14. 

RoCA / Performance 

STACIE CHAIKEN’S “LOOKING FOR LOUIE” 

A second-generation Russian Jewish American goes off in 

search of the mysterious great-grandfather about whom nobody 

would ever speak. This one-woman tour de force is 

written and performed by Los Angeles-based Stacie Chaiken, 

whose solo plays have toured in the US and abroad. The 

critics raved: “Chaiken's beautiful writing strategically proffers 

up pieces of bone and tooth in a scintillating anthropological 

dig...” —LA Weekly. 

2pm Sun, Jan 13 at RoCA, 27 S. Greenbush Rd, W Nyack. 

Narrative Memoir Writing 

New City Library, 220 North Main Street, New City, NY 

Everyone has a story to tell. Author Louis Alexander will help 

you find yours. Whether full-length or short anecdotes, personal 

narratives can be a wonderful legacy to leave family 

members. At New City Library, Sat, Jan 12 at 1:30pm.

Free First Friday Film 

The First Friday Film Series at Piermont Public Library presents 

“Brief Encounter” (1945). After a chance meeting on a 

train platform, a middle-aged doctor and a suburban housewife, 

both married to others, enter into a passionate love affair, 

knowing there's no possibility of a lasting relationship. 

David Lean’s powerful, simple, bittersweet film, based on the 

Noël Coward play, has been called one of the best films of 

all time. Always free and open to all. 

Fri, Jan 4, at 7:30pm, 25 Flywheel Park West, Piermont. 

Info: 845.359.4595. 

Images of Piermont 

"Environs—Images Encountered in Piermont & Vicinity," 

an exhibit of photographs by Laurie Peek will be at Piermont 

Library through Jan 29. 

Finding the extraordinary in the ordinary, Laurie Peek’s photographs 

take a closer look at everyday objects and environments 

close to home. Her unassuming subjects—wet leaves, 

a crushed can, parking lots, watery reflections—help us see 

our world afresh as she transforms the mundane into the 

magical. An opening reception is planned for Sun, Jan 6, 

from 2 to 4pm. The public is welcome. 

Piermont Public Library, 25 Flywheel Park West, Piermont. 

Info: 845.359.4595. 

In January at Hopper House 

Gallery hours: Thursday-Sunday, 1-5 PM or by appointment. 

Admission is $5 adults, $3 Seniors; Free for members, students 

and children. Docent guided tours can be arranged for 

an additional fee. 

• ANNUAL MEMBERS’ EXHIBITION 

All Hopper House members are invited to exhibit work in this 

eclectic display of creativity. Jan 5 through 27 

• HOPPER HOUSE IS LOOKING FOR new docents & Spring 

interns; info edwardhopperhouse.org/opportunities.html 

Benefit for Café Portofino 

Enter Nyack Fencing Academy’s Fencing Tournament to help 

a neighbor, Jack D'Amico, who lost his restaurant, Café Portofino 

in Piermont, during Hurricane Sandy. The tournament 

takes place Jan 6, between 9am & 4pm at 40 Lydecker St, 

Nyack. Call to enter 845.803.6052, or stop by, watch the 

events and make a donation. Refreshments will be served. 

Mark your calendar for Feb 9 

DAYTRIP TO THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

The Historical Society of Rockland trip includes bus transportation, 

docent guided tours, a gourmet luncheon and an 

all-museum pass. On Feb 9 bus leaves the Historical Society 

at 9am and returns at 5pm. The day begins with a guided 

tour of the critically-acclaimed exhibition of forty-five iconic 

works by the cream of the Hudson River School painters. 

After lunch, visit New York City during WW2: film footage, 

music, radio broadcasts, newly recorded eyewitness accounts 

and over 300 paintings, maps, photographs, posters. Before 

the day ends, enjoy a bit of extra time to review these and 

other exhibitions in the museum. Cost: HSRC Members 

$89pp; non-members $99pp. 

For tickets, google Historical Society of Rockland County and 

select “New and Upcoming” and follow the prompts to 

“Daytrip, NY Historical Society.” 

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, Jan 9–8pm at Nyack Center 

• BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD 

Directed by Benh Zeitlin with Quvenzhané Wallis, Dwight Henry; 

2012, USA, 93 min, rated R for disturbing images. 

In a remote Louisiana bayou, 6-year old Hush Puppy faces orphanhood 

when a fierce storm threatens her ailing father and 

sinking home. “... the grinding Great Recession may never offer 

up a movie as happy, or as inspired by poetry and dream, as 

this one.” —David Denby, The New Yorker 

Meet the Filmmakers: Details to be announced. 

Wed, Jan 23– 8pm at Nyack Center 

• HOW TO SURVIVE A PLAGUE 

Directed by David France; 2012, USA, 120 min, documentary, 

unrated. 

This film ia about the role played in the 1980s by ACT-UP, the 

AIDS activist organization, in pushing sluggish government 

agencies and drug companies to combat the AIDS epidemic, 

then spreading like wildfire in the gay population. Their efforts 

accelerated development of life-saving drugs and gave patients 

and advocates a voice in making decisions that impact their 

lives. NY Film Critics Circle Best First Film. “...Every fighter, 

whatever the cause, is expected to attend.” —Time Out NY ✫ 



At the Movies 

by Ric Pantale 

The Hollywood Sign 

�e sign we’re all familiar with 

stands proudly on Echo Mountain, 

in an area Northwest of Los 

Angeles called Hollywood. Since 

1924, it's been the symbol of a place that 

conjures up fantasy and excitement—the 

movie industry. 

It is a collection of 9 gigantic letters that spell, 

in gleaming white opulence, Hollywood. 

For many, the sign has meant dreams both 

realized and broken. It should also be noted 

that the sign was not really built to advertise 

the film industry, but was conceived as a 

temporary billboard to promote the area's 

real estate. �e sign originally read Hollywoodland, 

standing as an advertisement for 

a brand new suburban housing development 

that was taking shape on a huge plot 

of land right below it. 

Over the years, the sign’s appearance and 

meaning have changed—sometimes drastically—but 

it never lost the appeal that came 

to symbolize, not just a place, but a fantasy 

of the mind. As they say, you might think 

you know the story, but to find out the real 

truth you have to go back to the beginning. 

In the late 1800s the area now known as 

Hollywood was a dry, deserted area covered 

with scrub, home to an assortment of wild 

life that included rattlesnakes and coyotes. 

�e area was crossed over by cowboys, Mexicans 

and Indians—each with a personal 

goal of migrating further North towards 

San Francisco. �e great Eastern Migration 

was winding down and some of the settlers, 

mostly out of money, were trying to farm 

the land. �ough dry, the climate was 

pretty good, the soil could be cultivated 

and, best of all, the acreage was very cheap. 

�e growing city of Los Angeles was selling 

off land in the area to raise money to build 

an aqueduct to provide desperately-needed 

water for its residents. At the start of the 

20th century, one E.C. Hurd sold off a 700acre 

ranch to a H.J. Whitley; Whitley 

planted orange and grapefruits trees. His 

wife, Daeda, heard of a place a little farther 

North called Holly Canyon. She 

liked the name so much she and 

her husband named their big 

fruit farm Hollywood. 

By 1903 Sunset Boulevard was a 

dusty dirt road running through 

the ranch. �e Whitleys began 

selling the land piece by piece to 

developers. �at same year 

Hollywood was incorporated as a municipality. 

It grew by leaps and bounds and, in 

1907, Nestor, a small Chicago film company, 

was driven by bad weather to complete a 

film in a place with abundant sunshine. Finally, 

the fledgling but growing movie industry 

that was located primarily in and 

around Fort Lee N.J (due to its proximity to 

Broadway), began sending scouts to California 

to see if the area would be suitable for 

film production which, at that time, needed 

lots of daylight. Word got back that Hollywood 

was perfect, and best yet, the land 

was cheap. �e movie migration was on; 

soon every studio back East was buying up 

property in Hollywood. An added benefit 

was the fact that, since it was mostly farmland, 

the plots usually included ranch 

houses (perfect for offices) and barns (to convert 

to sound stages). 

By 1915, America was officially confirmed 

as movie crazy. In 1920, forty million 

Americans were going to the movies every 

week. As the industry grew, small companies 

merged into the huge studios we know 

today. Restaurants, roads and hotels sprang 

up overnight. A housing development 

offering mid-level-to-expensive homes soon 

took shape. Harry Chandler, a newspaper 

publisher from L.A., financed the project. 

Harry needed something big and brash to 

advertise it, something befitting the glitz 

and glamor of the Movie Capital Of the 

World. He came up with the idea to use 

Echo Mountain, a worthless hill that was 

often threatened by wildfires, to construct a 

gigantic billboard. It would be temporary 

and it would be electrified and it would 

spell out HOLLYWOODLAND. 

It would also cost $21,000—an unheard-of 

sum for that time. ✫ 

PART 2—next month: How the sign evolved

New Year, new renovation 

by Ralph Spano 

With the holidays over, 

Frank and Louise decided to 

bring in the New Year by 

renovating their master bathroom, 

with its antiquated 

tile and plumbing fixtures. 

�ey wanted an oversized 

shower with a bench and body sprays to replace 

their old tub. �ey had long dreamed of having 

a sauna built into a new shower. �ey started 

window-shopping for tiles and color schemes, 

faucets and plumbing fixtures. 

�ey knew they needed advice and design consultation, 

so they called their licensed master 

plumber to come over and discuss their options. 

�ese included relocating the fixtures to add a 

skylight or a larger window for more natural 

light. �ey wanted to eliminate an ugly old radiator 

and replace it with radiant heat in the 

floor, so that when they stepped out of the 

shower, the floor would feel nice and warm. 

�is would increase the size of their bathroom 

without the costly expense of relocating walls. 

Frank and Louise also discussed adding a laundry 

chute from their new bathroom down to 

their laundry room. 

�eir plumber was able to make some cost-effective 

suggestions, taking the stress out of the 

project. He recommended removing all the old, 

stained plaster and sheet rock walls and replacing 

old, leaky water lines with brand new copper 

piping and valves. Also, while the walls were 

open, he suggested replacing outdated wiring, 

switches and lights and showed them how they 

could have two exhaust fans installed—one in 

the new shower and one outside the shower operating 

on separate switches. 

�e couple were pleased with the plans and 

couldn’t wait to begin renovations. With their 

tile and fixtures chosen and all the decisions 

made, the plumber assured Frank and Louise 

that the work would be completed in three to 

four days from start of demolition to the final 

stages of grouting and painting—and it was. 

�roughout the project, their plumber coordinated 

the work of the carpenter, electrician 

and painter. He was instrumental in reviewing 

their budget and adhering to it. Now, 

with the bathroom renovation complete, the 

couple decided their next project will be their 

kitchen. Stay tuned. 

Ralph Spano is president/owner of Sunshine 

Plumbing & Heating. He can be reached at any 

time at 845.548.3054. Visit him online at sunshineplumbingandheating.com 

✫ 


An open community forum. 

Letters 

to the editor 

Opinions expressed are those of 

each letter writer; The Nyack Villager 

need not agree. 

Lead in Nyack’s drinking water? 

To �e Nyack Villager— 

I recently received notice from the Village 

of Nyack, Board of Water Commissioners 

that there is some lead in Nyack’s water. 

As a property owner, I asked the manager 

by phone if any notice had been given to 

the general public, as I have tenants who 

should be informed about this; precautions 

that should be taken by them in drinking 

the water, precautions well detailed in the 

notice. 

I asked if the newspapers had been informed. 

No. But was assured that the information 

was available on the Village website. Why 

so little broadcasting? �e regulations, I'm 

told, do not require more than informing 

the customers—bill paying customers, this 

means—not all users of the water with 

lead. 

Since many thousands of people in Nyack 

live in buildings using this water, the 

Nyack Water department is depending on 

a third party, who may be a resident of 

Florida, or Hong Kong, to inform their 

tenants of the water problems in Nyack. 

Since many people with babies and young 

children may drink the water with lead, it 

seems to me that this is a weak effort to inform 

the general public. Many older people 

do not have access to the village 

website. Owners are not required to inform 

their tenants. Public housing tenants? 

How were they informed? 


Are owners now liable for possible lead 

poisoning in young tenants if they have 

not informed them of the presence of lead 

in the water—or the precautions that need 

to be taken? 

Are restaurant owners required or asked to 

inform their customers of the presence of 

lead or their interest in following the precautions 

outlined? Can such owners be 

made responsible for possible deleterious 

effects? 

I have a great respect for the efforts and 

openness of the local government, but it 

appears to me that a less than optimum 

broadcast of information is present in this 

instance. But I have made just one phone 

call of inquiry. Perhaps �e Nyack Villager 

can get us more information. 

—Don Monaco, Nyack 

Thumbs up to Ric Pantale 

To �e Nyack Villager— 

I just wanted to give a big shout out and 

thumbs up to Ric Pantale and his monthly 

contributions to our Nyack Villager. 

Ric, I want you to know that I really enjoy 

reading your articles every month. Like 

you, I love films and when I get this in the 

mail every month I usually read your great 

articles first. �ank you Ric! 

—Ted Stephens, Nyack ✫ 

The Nyack Villager 

welcomes letters from 

our readers. 

The address to which to 

send your letter appears 

opposite the calendar on 

page 17. 

A very short history of exercise 

by Shel Haber 

Our ancestors didn’t have to worry about 

putting aside an hour a day for exercise. �ey 

were too busy chasing antelopes or walking 

miles to find a good patch of blueberries. 

Exercise wasn't needed until we invented civilization, 

allowing us to become lazy. 

Physical fitness was encouraged in places 

like ancient Egypt and Syria. By decree, the 

Persian Empire required citizens to be fit to 

ensure a strong military. In China and 

India philosophers said physical activity was 

an important aspect of total health and devised 

training methods such as Kung Fu 

and Hatha Yoga. 

Ancient Greek culture exalted physical perfection. 

Athenians valued fitness for philosophical 

reasons and for health. In the early 

Roman Republic people kept fit building 

roads and soldiering. Under the Roman 

Empire, with its huge increase in slave 

labor, the Romans got fat and, in time, the 

Empire fell. 

In the Middle Ages, physical fitness was a 

necessity for survival. �e Renaissance 

brought revived Interest in ancient Greek 

ideals of the human body; some physical 

education began. In Europe from 1700 

to1850 when modern nations where born, 

so were gymnasiums—the start of modern 

school physical education. 

Benjamin Franklin and �omas Jefferson 

advocated physical fitness as part of a good 

education but the American school system 

mostly ignored them. Physical education 

was missing from schools for most of the 

19th and much of the 20th centuries. 

Now, with the increase of information, 

you might get the impression that people 

are committed to having healthy bodies. 

Not so. Recent statistics show physical fitness 

has made no significant gains. So let’s 

get out and walk. ✫



From Orangetown Town Hall 

by Andy Stewart, Orangetown Supervisor 

Happy New Year! My first two-year term as 

Town Supervisor is half over, so let’s take a 

look at a few big issues for 2012 and 2013. 

I’ve organized around the basic themes of 

Your Money, Your Voice and Your Town. 

• YOUR MONEY 

We beat the NYS 2% tax cap in both 2012 

and 2013 budgets, with a plan to actually 

reduce spending in 2013 below that of 2012 

—an extremely rare thing in government! 

Kudos to our department heads, concerned 

citizens and my fellow members of the 

Town council for supporting this process. 

• YOUR VOICE 

�e Orangetown Open House expanded to 

include all Town departments as well as citizen 

committees, and featured a presentation 

and discussion of the Town budget. Wellinformed 

public participation is absolutely 

critical to good government. �ank you to 

all who took part—and remember—you 

can read �e Nyack Villager, Patch.com, 

and Our Town for free—among other local 

news outlets that cover Orangetown. 

• YOUR TOWN 

�e redevelopment of Orangeown’s 350 

acres of former NYS land will create new 

tax ratables, public parks, jobs and services. 

Important steps in 2012 have included, 

first, a vigorous debate about the costs and 

viability of Broadacres Golf Course, 65 

acres of the RPC site that I believe ought to 

be considered for redevelopment. Second, 

NYS committed to partnering with the 

Town to jointly promote our lands for redevelopment. 

�ird, the updated 30 page 

RPC Redevelopment Plan will serve as a 

tool for public participation, planning and 

marketing efforts. 

Find it at www.orangetown.com and please 

let me know your thoughts. 

Here are a few of my plans for 2013: 

• YOUR MONEY 

1) Every ton of recyclables Orangetown collects 

brings a $32 rebate from the Solid 

Waste Authority, totaling about $80k/year, 

but this revenue has been flat in recent 

years. In 2013, we’ll pursue increasing revenues 

from recycling and further reduce the 

cost of garbage disposal, helping the environ- 

ment and putting 

money in your pocket. 

2) �e escalating cost 

of municipal labor 

poses a terrible 

dilemma for strapped 

taxpayers and conscientious 

elected officials. 

We recognize the absolute 

necessity of public safety, sanitation, 

recreation and other Town services. Yet we 

must ask our Town workers—who are our 

neighbors—to pay a greater portion of the 

costs of health insurance and other benefits. 

Otherwise, local government will simply 

become unsupportable and all will suffer. 

• YOUR VOICE 

With a $300,000 grant from Verizon and 

Cablevision we are finally buying and installing 

the computers and cameras needed 

to broadcast pre-taped content 24/7 in addition 

to the live broadcast of Town meetings. 

Let’s load up the Town public access 

TV channels with great locally-generated 

programs featuring your neighbors, your 

leaders and your issues. Call me if you would 

like to help with this exciting project. 

• YOUR TOWN 

�e promotion of sustainable economic development 

is a major focus of the Supervisor’s 

office. Pfizer recently leased two large 

laboratory buildings, Fedex built a distribution 

center on Rte 303 and the Orangeburg 

Commons supermarket/hotel site is under 

construction after long delay in 2011. We’ll 

also see major safety improvements on Rte. 

303 by Erie St. in Blauvelt, a new bridge 

over the Sparkill Creek in Tappan, and new 

sidewalks in Palisades. Underground, the 

Town will continue to find and plug leaks 

in the sewer system in order to protect 

against overflows into the Hudson River 

and into peoples’ basements. 

Please send your comments to 

supervisor@orangetown.com and sign up 

for the Town e-mail alert at 

www.orangetown.com. 

Have a joyous New Year! 

Andrew Y. Stewart, PhD, Town Supervisor, 

Town of Orangetown, 26 Orangeburg Rd 

Orangeburg, NY 10962 

845.359.5100 ext 2261 

845.359.2623 FAX 

E-mail astewart@orangetown.com ✫ 

next month: Nyack Villager’s ♥♥♥ 

Valentine ♥ issue 

advertisers call 845.735.7639 for prices/availability

Nyack Business Beat 

From the Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks 

Crunchy Glamour 

by Scott Baird 

When I asked Agnet 

Dinger to describe the 

philosophy of her store, 

Pink Entourage, she said 

it is Crunchy Glamour. 

“Oh, like Hollywood 

and Granola,” I replied. 

Although my version is not as pithy as hers, 

I think it conveys the idea. 

Pink Entourage specializes in making women 

beautiful—a hair salon, a make-up salon, a 

fashion boutique, and a party center. �e 

Nyack location opened in November at 7 

South Broadway. But Pink Entourage is more 

than just a pretty face—everything about the 

store has substance, depth and a fascinating 

backstory. 

Agnet herself has been in the business for 22 

years. She learned her craft from her family, 

who have been in the beauty business for four 

generations, stretching back to her greatgrandfather 

from Poland. �e cosmetics sold 

in Pink Entourage are hand-blended and made 

right in the store. �at allows Agnet to match 

older discontinued colors or create the perfect 

tint for each complexion. 

She carries many certified organic lotions, 

creams, oils and hair care products. Each of 

her boutique items tells a fascinating story. 

�e bracelets and necklaces, called Zulugrass, 

are made by Maasai women of Kenya. �e 

profits from this jewelry feed up to 1200 

Kenyans. In addition to makeovers and hair 

styling by appointment, Pink Entourage also 

hosts parties—think Sweet Sixteens, bridal 

showers and girls’ night out. 

�is was supposed to have been Agnet’s second 

store, but Hurricane Sandy changed her plans. 

�e original shop in Piermont—Cibelle at 499 

Piermont Avenue—was flooded and has not 

been able to reopen. Agnet feels lucky to have 

opened this new location in Nyack, just in the 

nick of time. 

We are confident that Nyackers will support 

Pink Entourage as the latest addition to our vibrant 

downtown. 

Scott Baird is President of the Nyack Chamber of 

Commerce and is a commercial realtor with 

Rand Commercial Services. You can reach him 

at scott.baird@randcommercial.com and the 

Chamber at www.nyackchamber.org ✫ 



j January 2013k 

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. —Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803—1882 

Birthstone: 

GARNET 

symbol of 

constancy 

SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT 

1 

2 3 

last quarter 

4 5 

Nyack Justice FREE FIRST 

Court 9:30a FRIDAY FILM 

see page 9 

CALENDAR ABBREVIATIONS 

VB=Village Board 

PB=Planning Board 

ZBA=Zoning Bd of Appeals 

HA=Housing Authority 

ARB=Architectural Review Board 

BWC=Bd of Water Commissioners 

PC=Parks Commission 

EC=Environmental Committee 

6 7 8 9 10 

new moon 

11 

D 

12 

Benefit for 

storm damaged 

Nyack PB 7:30 p Nyack Justice 

Court 5p 

Film Society 

film at 

Green Meadow 

School 

Café Portofino 

see page 9 

Nyack HA 

meets 7p 

Nyack Center 

see page 9 

introductory 

sessions begin 

see page 6 

first quarter 

13 14 15 16 17 18 R 19 

“Looking for 

Louie” 

1 woman show 

at RoCA 

see page 8 

ART CLASSES 

begin at RoCA 

see page 8 

Nyack Justice 

Court 5p 

Nyack PC 

7:30p 

Nyack ARB 

7:30p 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 


Court 5p 

Film Society 

film at Nyack 

Center 

see page 9 

27 28 29 30 31 

GraceMusic 

presents Solo 

Organ Recital 

see page 8 

Martin Luther 

King Day 

Nyack ZBA 

7:30p 

Happy New 

Year 


Court 5p 

Annual 

reorganization 

meeting at 

Orangetown 

Town Hall 

at 7pm 


Court 9:30 a 

Nyack Water 

BWC 4:30p 

EC meets 7p 

Nyack VB 7:30p 


Court 9:30a 


Court 9:30 a 

Nyack Village 

Bd 7:30 p 


Court 9:30 a 

Flower: 

CARNATION 

symbol of 

pure love 

R 

full moon 

S 

Blue Rock 

School 

campus tour 

see page 6

TheNyack Villager 

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 JAN HABER 

Contributing Editor SHEL HABER 

Correspondent FRANK LoBUONO 

Publishers JAN & SHEL HABER 

Community advisor FRANCES PRATT 

Office Manager 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 

➤Upper Nyack VIllage Hall N. Bdwy, U. Nyack 

➤Grand View VIllage Hall 118 River Rd 

➤Piermont VIllage Hall 478 Piermont Ave 

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NYACK PUBLIC LIBRARY 

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1 year (12 issues). 

The Nyack Villager is looking for a 

few good freelance sales reps to 

sell ad space in our magazine in 

the Eight Great River Villages. 

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• Experience is a plus but not a necessity; enthusiasm IS necessary. 

• You must have access to a car and be computer-literate. 

• As a freelancer you would be your own boss and make your own hours. 

interested? e-mail us at info@nyackvillger.com 



Dr. Michael Margolin 

Dr. Michael Margolin is a partner (with his 

father and brother) in a family dental practice 

located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 

an easy commute from his home in 

Palisades, NY, where he lives with his wife 

Michelle, a dental hygienist and his twoyear 

old son, Jake. 

Not your average dentist, he sought out and 

completed training for a new treatment that 

uses laser light to save teeth and stop gums 

from bleeding. He is one of only 2000 

dentists worldwide who practice this proven 

safe and effective treatment. 

Laser Periodontal �erapy, as it is called, is 

less invasive than traditional therapies— 

there is no cutting, no postoperative pain 

and no stitches. �e results are nothing 

short of phenomenal. 

�e gum disease that causes loose teeth, 

bleeding gums and bad breath is the work 

of a particular type of bacteria. During 

laser therapy, these bacteria absorb the laser 

light and are destroyed. What’s more, the 

treatment regenerates bone, firms up teeth, 

reduces and eliminates pockets of infection 

and bad breath. Patients’ mouths feel much 

healthier. 

A patient whose surgeon wanted to extract 

her teeth and do bridgework for $20,000, 

chose Dr. Margolin’s laser treatment. Her 

teeth were stabilized and extraction became 

unnecessary. 

For a free consultation call 201.399.4703. 

Dr. Mike will talk to you personally, answer 

all your questions and make you feel comfortable. 

www.newjerseylasergumdentist.com 

NEW KIDS 

ON THE BLOCK 

By Joyce Bressler 

the month of January 

was named by the ancient Romans in honor of Janus, 

the god of beginnings and transitions. Gates, doors, doorways, 

endings and time were sacred to Janus. 

He has two faces since he looks to the future and the past. 

Luminesque Café 

Luminesque Café is the brainchild of two 

young women who met in church in New 

York City ten years ago and now live in 

South Nyack. By coincidence, both grew 

up working in their family businesses, Kristena 

in a Greek restaurant and Laura in her 

father’s bakeries. 

Kristena Katelas, of Greek heritage, attended 

Nyack College and taught children with 

special needs; Laura Cepeda was born in 

Grenada and attended college and law 

school in New York City. 

�ey got the idea to combine their backgrounds 

to create Caribbean & Mediterranean 

Cuisine as Luminesque Café, their 

first business venture. Luminesque means 

light— with a little more flare. 

Kristena and Laura created a fusion menu 

with encouragement from their families. A 

big seller is their Cariterrean Fusion codfish 

with feta cheese, cucumbers, onions and tomatoes, 

Caribbean and Mediterranean spices. 

stuffed in a pita pocket, drizzled with olive oil. 

Luminesque’s menu includes high quality 

organic items, and they are working toward 

becoming 100% certified organic. A kids’ 

menu will be available in a few weeks. 

Hours are Tues, Wed & �urs 10am to 

9pm, Fri & Sat 10am to 11pm. �ere’s jazz 

on Saturday night with spoken word and 

talent nights on Fridays and matinee music 

on �ursdays at 1pm. See them on Facebook 

and Twitter and stop by for a truly 

unique experience. 

Luminesque Café, 140 Main Street, Nyack 

Phone 845.671.9229; on the Internet at 

www.luminesquecafe.com ✫

The Doctor is 

IN 

by Dr. Marissa Ferrazzo-Weller, Highland 

Medical PC, Nyack Hospital 

Make healthy—But Realistic—New 

Year’s Resolutions 

As you make your plans for 2013, consider 

choosing one or more achievable goals for 

improving your health. Many people make 

the mistake of picking a New Year’s resolution 

they are unlikely to keep, such as losing 

30 pounds or working out for an hour a day. 

Instead, start with something that is easy to 

implement. Even small changes can make a 

big difference in your health. Here are 

some ideas for making the coming year a 

healthier one: 

Eating: Moderation, Not Deprivation 

Instead of telling yourself you will cut out 

an entire category of food—desserts or carbohydrates, 

for instance—try cutting down 

on those foods instead. Pick one night a 

week to enjoy dessert. If you label a food as 

“bad” you may end up obsessing about it. 

One food group you don’t have to worry 

about eating too much of is fresh fruits and 

vegetables. Try boosting the amount of 

these delicious natural foods, along with 

whole grains. 

When Exercising, It’s Not All or Nothing 

Another common resolution is to hit the 

gym with a rigorous exercise schedule. It’s 

easy to have unrealistic expectations about 

how many hours a week you will exercise, 

or how much weight you’ll lose as a result. 

Burglary at the Harness Racing Museum 

�e Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame in 

Goshen, NY, was burglarized sometime overnight between 

December 17 and December 18. 

• 

�ieves looted the display case containing a sterling 

silver Fabergé soup tureen and ladle (upper right), the 

Memphis Gold Challenge Cup (lower right) and ten 

additional trophies. �e precious items had been in 

the Museum’s collection since 1951. 

“�e Goshen Police are working with multiple agencies and 

we are hopeful their efforts may lead to the recovery of some 

of these items,” said Museum Director Janet Terhune. “We 

ask the equine community and our neighbors to be vigilant 

and report any pertinent information to the Goshen Police at 

845.294.7988. �e trophies are clearly inscribed and the 

Fabergé trophy is inscribed in Cyrillic.” 

�ere is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the return 

of the Fabergé tureen and the Memphis Gold Challenge 

Cup. For more info, visit www.harnessmuseum.com ✫ 

All too often, people end up quitting their 

new exercise regimen altogether, instead of 

modifying it to fit their lifestyle. 

If you can’t make it to the gym, try incorporating 

exercise into your daily life. Park farther 

away and walk more, or take the stairs 

instead of the elevator. If you own a treadmill 

or elliptical, put it in front of the TV. 

Take an easy pace during your favorite show 

but push yourself while commercials are on. 

It can easily add up to an hour of exercise. 

Don’t Put Off That Doctor’s Visit 

If you haven’t seen your doctor in a while, 

now’s the time to make an appointment. 

Routine screening tests can catch serious 

health problems early, while they are easier 

to treat. Screening tests include mammograms 

and pap smears for women and 

prostate screening for men. Other common 

tests for everyone include blood pressure 

checks and tests for cholesterol and diabetes. 

Make This the Year You Really Quit 

Smoking 

If you’re trying to quit smoking, you don’t 

need to go it alone. Many resources are 

available, including medication your doctor 

can prescribe, or nicotine replacement therapy 

you can buy at the pharmacy. Many 

hospitals and health organizations offer 

smoking cessation support programs—in 

person, online, or by phone. 

Whether you make these or other resolutions, 

choose adjustments you feel you can 

really stick with, week after week. Celebrate 

those small changes—they can add up to a 

big improvement in your health. ✫

January 2013 - The Nyack Villager

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