Rockland Center for the Arts

Rockland Center for the Arts envisioned skateboard decks that are normally mass-produced with factory graphics as blank canvases for artists. The result is a cool Skateboard Deck Exhibition and Silent Auction opening Sunday, April 19, with a public reception and continuing through April 31.

Palisdades Presbyterian Church, 1900
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Labyrinth Walk - Saturday, March 21st from 5:00 – 7:00 pm

The Lenten season, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 25th until Easter Sunday, April 12th, is a time of quiet reflection, prayer and spiritual growth. As a special reflection for the season we invite you to attend a Labyrinth Walk at the Palisades Presbyterian Church. There will be a brief presentation given by facilitator Lynn Brown of Garrison, followed by time for walking a 24-foot portable canvas labyrinth in the Parish Hall.

Tappan resident Deborah Brenner hadn’t practiced journalism since college and never imagined a sudden divorce would result in a book to be selected by Wine Spectator as Critical Reading for 2007 (Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine).

Stained glass artist and local resident Harriet Hyams with Kim Agnew Cohen in front of stained glass window dedicated to Beatrice Agnew, in honor of her 40 years of service as Director of the Library
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FOCUS ON JOB RESOURCES AT THE PALISADES FREE LIBRARY

Tomorrow’s Workplace Employment Resource Center serves Rockland County. Services include: resumé workshops, computer training software and job bank. Web site: www.tomorrowsworkplace.org. Don’t overlook the New York State Department of Labor web site. It has the latest information on unemployment benefits. You can also find publications on job searching, interviews and resumes and a database of all job openings on file with New York State; www.labor.state.ny.us.

We’ve had a busy winter and are looking forward to spring so we can get back to making critical repairs. We are grateful to those who made financial donations and thank the following people who generously lent us a hand: Cellen Wolk who donated and planted dozens of daffodils, Robert Adzema for building a basement door at a discount, Larry Bucciarelli for donating driveway plows, Ed at Arbor Hill who donated a percentage of Christmas tree sales, Michael and Michelle Schwartz for donating Christmas trees to sell, Susan Nemesdy and Neil Balm for lending a hand and David Wolk for graphic art. A sincere thanks to Reddi-Alarm Fire Systems who installed a fire system quickly and at no cost. They were efficient and a pleasure to work with.

The Hudson River, flowing for 315 miles from its source in the Adirondack Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean at New York City, has played an important role in our history. Even before Dutch and Germans settled its shores, the river was a major trade route for early Native Americans. Later, during Colonial times, it provided a means to transport products such as fur, wheat and timber. The Hudson River also played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War.

Within the last two weeks, two very reliable witnesses - Jane Bernick and Grace Knowlton - have reported seeing black felines, at least the size of large dogs, on the Lamont hill. They conjecture that these might perhaps be a pair of young black panthers, escaped from or abandoned by someone nearby who was raising them. On March 15 Lisa Larkin saw one panther beside the Palisades Parkway between exit 3 and exit 4.

It is the Dept of Highways understanding that there is $150,000 in the 2009 budget for sidewalks in the Town of Orangetown. The Town Board determines how the sidewalk money is to be allocated. Last week there were 3 Highway Dept men assessing both the north (the wooded area) and south side (in front of the Ottley’s and the Papay’s) of Oak Tree Road between the Post Office and RT 9W.

There are many who have expressed safety concerns about this stretch of Oak Tree Road and are in favor of a sidewalk being built, NOW IS THE TIME to let Thom Kleiner and the Council members know that a sidewalk is necessary for the safety of children, pedestrians and commuters along this hazardous stretch of Oak Tree Road between RT 9W and the Post Office.

Festive Launch for the Third Edition of Palisades Famous Cookbook
On November 1, the Palisades Community Center kicked off the new Pots & Pans in Palisades cookbook with a tasting party. Amidst twinkling lights and with a glass of wine in hand, a hundred fifty partygoers sampled recipes from the cookbook contributed by dozens of Palisadians. We thank Alice Gerard and Mary Tiegreen for recreating a third edition of this cookbook, the first in forty years, and donating all profits from the sale of the cookbook to the Palisades Community Center Restoration Campaign. So far, almost 250 cookbooks have been sold.

Good news! On October 22, 2008, Orange & Rockland was scheduled to go another round with the Town Planning Board regarding their proposal to build an electrical substation on Oak Tree Road in Tappan. However, a few days before the meeting was to happen, O & R requested that it be postponed until January 28, 2009, so that the company could review their architectural and engineering options for the substation site. Tom Brizzolara, Director of Public Affairs for Orange & Rockland Utilities, then called “SaveTappan” committee organizer Don Sullivan and told him that O & R had “heard us” and would respond to community concerns.

On November 4th, 2008, our backyard expanded to include over half of American voters, and much of the globe, but – indulge me – I was unprepared for my reaction.

The election results for Palisades tell us something about ourselves, some or all of which perhaps we already knew. First of all, turnout was robust. 81% of registered voters for all of 10964 voted; 85% in District 12 at the Presbyterian Church, and 75% in District 50 at the Firehouse in Sparkill.

It is with great sadness that we report to you the latest development with one of our Palisades landmarks, the Gas Station on Rte 9W. Since the 1930s, the station was a prominent stop for travelers north and south. It hosted local fruit and vegetable stands and displayed local artwork. The food stand served countless bikers, travelers and residents. It was a location shoot for dozens of films and when it was the "Oasis" food stand, the cook, Khaled Elkady (now the owner of Tappan’s Village Grille), even threw a local party complete with a belly dancer.

In Palisades District #12, there was 72% voter turnout for 810 registered voters. This district votes at the Palisades Presbyterian Church. President Obama received 397 votes, and McCain received 188. In the N.Y. Senate race, Julian received 301 votes to Morahan's 233 votes.

At 4:00 a.m., on Sunday, Nov 23, a wild car chase involving police cars from Haverstraw and Northvale, NJ and an alleged drunk driver ended with the arrest of a Nyack resident who had parked his car on Washington Spring Rd. in the dark, presumably to evade arrest.

On Thursday, October 16, about 25 of Palisades’ senior citizens met in the Community Room of the Palisades Presbyterian Church to consider some legal issues that affect them more as they grow older.

19 Closter Road
Palisades, NY 10964
(845)359-0136, Fax (845)359-6124
pal@rcls.org
www.rcls.org/pal

The wonderful farmers markets in Nyack and Piermont are bursting with autumnal abundance, and this is an excellent thing. Many specialty items sold at these markets are available year-round. Here are two of my favorites:

As the fall begins, Palisades Presbyterian Church returns to our regular schedule.

Weekly service and gatherings schedule:
Sundays: 10am Worship and Sunday School
Tuesdays: 10am Tai Chi
Wednesdays: 12:15pm Bible Study
Thursdays: 10am-12 noon Play Group
8pm Choir Rehearsal
Fridays: 10am Chair Tai

Great Music in a Great Space

GraceMusic began in 1969 with a Messiah Sing that has now become a holiday tradition. Throughout its 38-year history, GraceMusic has presented an impressive list of performers featuring Rockland-based and internationally recognized musicians. Musical variety is central in the selection of concerts, ranging from familiar favorites to new styles, sounds and performers. Past concerts featured Anonymous 4, the “downtown” string quartet Ethel, cellists David Geber and Julia Lichten, British organist David Briggs, the Princeton Singers and the percussion ensemble Talujon.