Off and on for ten years, the community has been battling with the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) to make safety improvements to the Route 9W/Oak Tree Road intersection and lower the speed limit to 35 mph from the NYS/NJ border past HNA. We have had meeting after meeting, which included DOT representatives, Assemblywoman Jaffee, NYew Senator Carlucci, county legislators, including Orangtown Supervisors (Kleiner, Whalen, Stewart and Day), Traffic Advisory, Police and Highway Departments and community representatives. At last April’s meeting, we learned that Jaffee had secured $650,000 for improvements and the DOT agreed to make our requested improvements to the intersection. The speed limit, however, was to be determined.

The total Palisades vote mirrored the total county and town votes with the exception of the Orangetown Town Clerk, the only position won by a Republican for which Palisades tallies are available. All other contested positions went to Democrats. The number of people voting was the highest since 1974; 49% of Rockland residents voted this year.

We’ve all heard that old saying “there are only two things in life you HAVE TO do, die, and pay taxes”! Well, Rockland County continues to maintain its standing as the second highest taxed county in the United States just behind Westchester. And now, the Rockland County Legislature has until December 7th to adopt the 2019 Budget that would raise taxes by another 2.9%. County Executive Ed Day’s proposed $709 million dollar budget will increase property taxes by an average of $37.70 per family and are meant to cover contract salaries, health benefits and rising state government costs.

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Fifty years ago, when I started gardening in Palisades, the average date of the first frost was October 12. Over the years that date has shifted; this year the leaves started falling later than I can ever remember and the first frost on my property occurred on November 15. To illustrate the paradoxical nature of the way our region is warming, that same day an early snowstorm created havoc in our area.

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South Orangetown Day: The 4th Annual South Orangetown Day Celebration is here! Saturday, October 13 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm on the Great Lawn of the Manse Barn in Tappan. The Day is great fun for the whole family to enjoy, with games, activities, live music, food and beer! Stop by at the Library Booth and say hello.

Piermont is bustling with activity; new restaurants and shops along with longtime favorites have made this riverside village a popping place to hang out.

Lamont Open House: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory presents its annual Open House on Saturday, October 13, 2018 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Tour a lab, participate in hands-on earth science demonstrations, and learn from world-renowned researchers about their latest discoveries. 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY.

It’s hard to forget Superstorm Sandy’s far-reaching disaster all along the New York/New Jersey seaboard and lower Manhattan in 2012. Closer to home, rising water levels and storm surge tossed boats onto land and devastated many homes along the Hudson River in Piermont and Palisades. We still hear about communities in New Jersey that are waiting for relief. But what hasn’t been in the news is the $19.4 million federally- mandated and federally-funded study for a more than $20 billion project to protect shoreline communities from future storm surges.

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It has been over five years since the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) first put forth its plan to eradicate phragmites, the dominant vegetation in the Piermont Marsh.

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In 1989, the IBM Conference Center was established in Palisades. Created as a conference and executive training center for IBM employees, in the mid-1990s the facility was opened to outside corporations and groups. The 206 room hotel, classrooms, and elegant dining rooms that could be converted into conference spaces equipped with high-speed internet, state-of-the-art technology, and a wide-range of amenities were available to conference guests in a beautiful, secluded setting with ponds complete with resident swans.

Great news! At an April 11 meeting with the NYS Department of Transportation and Assembly member Ellen Jaffee, we were informed that our requested safety improvements to the Route 9W/Oak Tree Road intersection have been approved.

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Thank You to Our Community!
Thank you to all who have become members of the PCC, have given financial donations and attended our events this year. Since volunteers operate all PCC activities, 100% of donations and membership dollars go directly to the up keep and restoration of this historic building. Thank you!

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Member of the Ramapo Catskill Library System and ANSER Network
19 Closter Road
Palisades, NY 10964
845-359-0136
Fax 845-359-6124
www.palisadeslibrary.org

On every continent and in every ocean, Lamont researchers are studying climate, geology, natural hazards, ecology and more. This year, expeditions are taking these curious explorers to the far reaches of the earth. They will be traveling to India, Myanmar, Bhutan, Antarctic, Alaska, Chile, Patagonia, Sicily, Comora Islands off southeast Africa, North Sumatra, China and more. The following are a number of Lamont projects closer to home.

LYNN R. SYKES HONORED BY COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Palisades resident Lynn R. Sykes, professor emeritus at Lamont-Doherty, will receive an honorary degree from Columbia University at Commencement ceremonies on May 16. Honorary degrees are bestowed on several individuals each year who exemplify the ideals of the University through their significant scholarly, artistic or societal achievements or contributions. This is the highest honor that the University can bestow.

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PALISADES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
117 Washington Spring Road, PO Box 687
Palisades, New York 10964
Phone: 845-359-3147
Email: ppc10964@gmail.com
Website: www.palpresny.org
Worship Hours: 10:00 am every Sunday

Genealogical research can help you learn about your recent ancestors, but what about the deeper past? Models vary, but you probably had over 1,000 ancestors living contemporaneously just 300 years ago in 1700. DNA tests can provide great big-picture insights about one’s ancestry going back thousands of years into human history.

Smart phones, smart thermostats, smart door locks - it seems that anything today can start with the word smart if it performs its function remotely. This prefix certainly applies to the new “smart meters” O&R has begun installing in our area. These smart electric and gas meters give the the utility company the ability to switch off the power to our homes remotely and instantly. They are also able to provide the utility company with almost real time access to our power usage. This has caused concern about who has access to this data. For example, knowing the power consumption in your home can easily give someone access to information about whether you are home or not. Also, a controversial episode happened this past fall when victims of hurricane Harvey had their power cut off before the arrival of the hurricane in a pre-emptive move by the grid operator, causing anger and frustration with customers trying to evacuate.

I’m sure at one time or another you may have strolled or biked along the scenic, wooded path in Tallman Mountain State Park, but did you know that that path is part of a 358-mile long hiking trail known as the Long Path? Conceived in 1931 by Vincent J. Schaefer, the idea for the Long Path was to create an unmarked route connecting scenic and historic points of interest stretching from northern Manhattan to the Adirondacks. The opening stanza of Walt Whitman’s iconic poem “Song of the Open Road” inspired the path’s name.

PALISADES COMMUNITY CENTER
675 Oak Tree Road Palisades, NY

PALISADES WINTER FARMERS' MARKET
Saturdays 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Not every community can say they have their very own Farmers’ Market. For the 10th year, we bring the farms, directly to you! In addition, we offer a variety of artisanal specialty items, bakery and Balthazar Breads.
IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN YET, STOP BY!!!!
Market ends March 31