The Palis-Agers will meet on Tuesday, December 3, at 1:30 in the Community Room of the Palisades Presbyterian Church. If you have a story to tell — any kind of story — you will have an audience. As usual, refreshments will be served.

Jane Herold Pottery Sale
At the Pottery on Ludlow Lane, Palisades, NY Two weekends: Dec. 7/8 and 14/15 from 1-4 PM each day or by appointment. Follow signs from 9W and Washington Spring Rd.

Jane will post a preview of new work on her website at: www.janeherold.com in late November. Send her an email if you’d like to be on her email list. jane@janeherold.com.

Sundials and Watercolors
Robert Adzema of Palisades has launched a new website where you can see his sundials and watercolor paintings. Have a visit at: www.robertadzema.com.

New Art Cinema in Rockland
Bow Tie Cinemas has taken over the theatres in New City and is now operating them as a 6 screen fine arts venue. It is no longer necessary to go to Westchester or drive into the city to see first run foreign and independent films. The address is 202 South Main St. This is the only art cinema currently in the county.

The Rockland Camerata, a 35-year-old Rockland County chorale, will give a concert on Saturday, December 7 at the Clarkstown Reformed Church. The concert starts at 4:00 and there will be a reception afterwards for the audience.

Oak Tree Sidewalk Update
The Town of Orangetown Engineering Department has been working with the New York State Department of Transportation to satisfy their additional requirements for pedestrian landings at all four corners of the intersection of RT 9W and Oak Tree Road. When this is completed, the job will go to bid. It is anticipated that the sidewalk construction will not begin until spring 2014.

Further west on Oak Tree Road (across from The Ross Brothers Landscaping) the Rockland County Highway Department is replacing the bridge over the Sparkill Creek. The road will be open during construction.

Update on the Piermont Marsh
On November 1 Mayor Sanders of Piermont received a letter from Betsy Blair of the DEC. She wrote that the DEC, in response to the many concerns expressed about the plan to remove phragmites from the marsh, had decided to reassess the scale of the Phragmites removal and the use of herbicides to achieve that result. The letter also states that the DEC is prepared to work with the community on plans for the marsh.

Update on the Desalination Plant
Close to 1600 people attended the two hearings held by the Public Service Commission on October 1 and 2 on the desalination plant proposed for Haverstraw by United Water. Experts, leading elected officials, and members of the public spoke overwhelmingly against the project; one meeting lasted until 2 am. The public was able to add comments until November 8. Hopefully, the Public Service Commission might reconsider its approval of the project as a result of the strong feelings and new evidence against it.

Update on East Ramapo
Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed into law a bill that would advance the East Ramapo school district $3.5 million in lottery aid to help it restore programs and teachers cut as a result of the current budget problems. Previously the district would have gotten the $3.5 million in September 2014, but the special legislation delivers it in June 2014, so some programs cut from the 2013-14 budget could return, even if temporarily.

Update on the Palisades Cemetery
A group of Palisadians will meet on December 13 with the New York State Cemetery Board. We will have more information after that date.