In contested races, the Palisades total vote mirrored the total Town and County votes only for Town Supervisor and Rockland County Legislators—District 17 where a Democrat won over a Republican and District 16 where a Republican was the winner. Both Democrats running for Town Council won in Palisades but lost to Republicans in the Town-wide vote, leaving the Town Board comprised of a Democratic Supervisor and four Republican Councilmen.

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NEW LANGUAGE LEARNING SERVICE
With over 90 language options, including English, for speakers of other languages, this service allows patrons to access the system remotely and offers an unprecedented number of learning options. Transparent Language Online features listening, reading, speaking, and writing exercises, as well as integrated pronunciation analysis, vocabulary acquisition exercises, conversational language courses, video grammar lessons, and a robust social community.

Marathoners
Margie Goldstein ran a dozen marathons until she was injured running the New York City marathon five years ago. But it didnʼt dampen her desire to be part of the race. This year, Margie joined Achilles International, an organization that teams up disabled runners with guides to provide physical and emotional support during the marathon. Margie accompanied a disabled physician from Florida. Michelle, walking briskly, and Margie, jogging, finished the course in six and a half hours.

Andy Stewartʼs win in Novemberʼs local elections of the post of Orangetown Town Supervisor is the first good political news I have heard this year. I have known Andy for years; his wife Rachel was a student of mine at the Rockland Project School in the 1970s. He has done admirable work in Rockland County for the last ten years as the director of Keep Rockland Beautiful and is familiar with town issues because he served on the Orangetown Planning Board.

Talk of change within our community is swirling around these days. This is what we have discovered.

Palisades Free Library
Maria Gagliardi, Director of the Palisades Library, reports, "2011 marks the 120th anniversary of the Palisades Library. At this time there are no plans to combine with other South Orangetown libraries. Over the summer the library began a series of interior and exterior improvements. The upgrades will continue through 2012 adding to the functional space and energy efficiency of the building while retaining the library's warmth and historic charm. New lighting and redesign of the central air conditioning system have already made a significant impact on the library's energy usage. Carpet replacement and new seating continues on the interior and two new parking spaces begin the exterior improvements."

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Professor Thaddeus Macgregor, wearing a top hat and psychedelic glasses, was playing the Theremin on the stage when I entered the old Lafayette theatre that cold, fateful October night. This seemed fitting since this early electrical hands-free instrument from the 1920s was used in many horror films of the time and the picture I was about to see was the silent version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame starring Lon Chaney. Consequently, Nelson Page, the manager of the theatre, was far from silent when we sat down in the lobby to talk.

School House 1918. This building, now the Palisades Community Center, was built in 1870 and used as the Palisades School until 1930.
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As always, we appreciate the volunteer efforts and donations from our community, most notably: Lisa Rinehart, Susan Nemesdy, Joyce Gavin, the Graney family, Larry Tabor, Cellen Wolk and Neal Harris of Hey Hoe Garden Design, Grace Knowlton, Ken Carbone, Cristina Biaggi.

Palisades Presbyterian Church
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Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 15, noon to 5:00pm. Our third Harvest festival features delicious home-made soups and baked goods: cookies, cakes, pies and breads, all for sale at reasonable prices. There will be face painting and pumpkin decorating for children, and local crafts people will display their wares. And of course, there will be an exciting silent auction of goods and services. You never know! You might even win the dream vacation of a lifetime, so plan on attending. All proceeds will benefit the on-going programs and outreach of the Church.

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In Memory of Charles Shimel
The trustees and staff of the Palisades Free Library mourn the passing of our friend and colleague, Charles Shimel. Charles joined the board in 2004 and served as Vice-President and Treasurer. Charles made many lasting contributions to the library including maintenance and improvements to the building and serving on the committee that developed the Palisades People Sunday Symposia and the search committee that hired our current director. We have created a memorial fund to purchase an outdoor bench to honor his work and dedication to the library. If you would like to contribute to this fund, please send a check made out to the Palisades Free Library with Charles Shimel in the memo field.

Amid the intermittent sounds of leaf blowers and chain saws in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene, I’m reminded that all too soon, the incessant whine of leaf blowers will fill the autumn air. I hope, in the calm before that storm, at least a few Palisadians will read this and begin to seriously consider the alternatives.

Palis-Agers to Meet
The next meeting of the Palis-Agers will take place on Thursday, October 20 at 1:30pm in the community room of the Palisades Presbyterian Church. Coffee and cookies will be served and we will have a chance to talk with each other about our lives.

In February of 2010 when a storm brought down dozens of old trees in the area knocking out electricity for many of us for three long days, a number of savvy locals headed to the IBM Center, taking advantage of their hotel facilities, which had the added bonus of a fitness center. Sure wish I had known about it then.

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The IBM Center on Route 9W with its 106 acres of manicured grounds has been part of the Palisades landscape since 1989. While originally built as a conference and training center for IBM, it opened in the mid 90’s to groups other than IBM and, in 2005, it started hosting social affairs such as weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, rehearsal dinners, sweet sixteen parties and fundraisers. Today only 15% of its business is IBM-related.

The Palisades Market Re-Opens
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As most have probably noticed, The Market has reopened with new owners and a minor makeover. Former food writer Agata Ostrowska and chef Fotis Katz (who happens to be Ostrowska’s brother-in-law) have spruced up the interior and streamlined the food service to feature fresh, and whenever possible, organic and local ingredients prepared with a Mediterranean flair. Rotisserie meats and poultry sizzle enticingly; crusty baguettes and flaky croissants emerge from on-site ovens each morning (sometimes twice a day on weekends) and freshly prepared meals, sandwiches and panini await the harried and non-cookers throughout the day. There’s a cold case of sophisticated cheeses, jars of pickles, jams and vinegars from a Connecticut vendor, an alarmingly good selection of pastries, cookies and muffins and a hefty supply of drinks and power bars for the bikers. But Ostrowska insists that the emphasis is less on running in for a quick sandwich than about hanging out with neighbors and friends. “We want it to be a great experience,” she says, “a place where you can come and get everything you need for the day.”

Oak Tree sidewalk coming soon
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OAK TREE SIDEWALK: We did it!

Thank you to Supervisor Whalen and the Town Council for approving the installation of the Oak Tree sidewalk at the March 8 Town Board meeting which was attended by over two dozen community members. Currently, the road is being surveyed. After the engineers draft their plans, Superintendent of Highways Jim Dean and engi neers will schedule a community meeting to unveil the plans and discuss sidewalk materials with us. Hopefully, this project will begin over the summer.

ROUTE 9W INTERSECTION

Thank you to Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee for arranging an April re-evaluation of the intersection with the NYS DOT. Senator David Carlucci and Supervisor Whalen are also committed to helping us achieve safety improvements at the intersection.

the Market dinner 2010 celebration
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PALISADES FARMERS' MARKET

This summer and fall, we are planning a ‘Farm Stand’ at the PCC, to bring fresh corn and toma toes and other Hudson River Valley products to our community. Stay tuned…”

Guest Vendors for May:
May 7 - CST Mother’s Day Plant Sale, Jim the Knife Sharpener May 14 - Bumps & Co Heirloom Organic Vegetable Plant Sale

The Community Center would like to thank every one for making the winter season a success for our regional farmers.

The Palisades Community Center’s Palisades Farmers' Market has moved outside!
The Market is open every Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm. Market dinner on June 4

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Palisades Presbyterian Church
117 Washington Spring Road
(845) 359-3147

We will be hosting our annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday, June 11 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm, rain or shine. Bring your family for games, face painting and, of course, lots of delicious strawberries.

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THE PALISADES FREE LIBRARY
9 Closter Road, Palisades, NY 10964
Telephone: 845-359-0136
Website: www.palisadeslibrary.com
Email: pal@rcls.org
Find us on Facebook

Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:00 am to 9:00 pm
Friday and Saturday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Closed for the Holidays
The Library will be closed for Mother’s Day, May 8 and Memorial Day, May 30.
The Library will also be closed on summer Sundays beginning Father’s Day, June 19 through Labor Day, September, 4.

Increased attention has been drawn to nearby Indian Point because of Japan’s quake-ruptured nuclear energy plants. Here are some facts you should know.

Location: East bank of the Hudson River in Buchanan, New York, 35 miles north of New York City and 19 miles northeast of Palisades.

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Palisades Community Center Board Members:
Carol Baxter, President
Alice Buchanan. V.P
Carol Knudson, Secretary
Michele Balm, Mary Ann Brueckner, Lyn Fowler, Dr. Leo Keegan, Andrew Nelson, Michael Tersigni, and Honorary Board member Dr. Virginia McCauley

Rental Coordinator: Eileen Larkin, 359-6589, Ileenog@aol.com

Mailing Address: PO Box 222 Palisades, NY 10964

Join our e-mail list! PCC@palisadesny.com Website: www.palisadesny.com