On Wednesday, September 27, members and friends of the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory broke ground on a new geochemistry research building. The Observatory's existing geochemistry building dates from the early 1950's and can no longer support the kinds of leading-edge research needed to answer the most pressing questions about Earth and its climate.

The Children’s Enrichment Center (CEC), a non-profit cooperative preschool, has been a wonderful addition to the Palisades community for the past six years. Now, according to director Joanne Volpe, the CEC has been asked to vacate the building at the end of June, as the local school district may soon sell the entire 8.3 acre property on which it sits. If the property is not sold by that time, the district is planning to rent the entire building to the Fred S. Keller School, which, according to its Facility Manager Christopher D. Manikas, is very pressed for space and wishes to occupy the entire building.

Currently, the South Orangetown school district is in the process of getting four parcels of their land appraised to see what our district’s assets are worth and what the costs are to maintain them. In late November, concerned residents were told that any decision to sell the Palisades school, or any other school property, was “a long way off”. They were told that nothing would be decided before the appraisals were completed and that the district would hold public discussions before any decisions about a sale were made.

The 9W Golf Range property has changed hands for the second time since being sold by the Kopac family to MWD Star Group LLC last year. Star sold to an intermediary company who then resold the tract to Lennar Inc., the nation’s third largest developer. Starting this past summer, Lennar carried out improvements (road, drainage, berms etc.) according to a plan prepared by the Star Group and signed off by the Orangetown planning board a year ago.

One-On-One Learning was founded almost ten years ago in February 1997 by Sister Cecilia LaPietra O.P. of the Dominican Sisters of Sparkill. Sister Cecilia was part of an education committee at the convent. They noticed the growing community of Hispanic laborers in the hamlet and decided to use their educational skills to help solve the language difficulties prevalent among their new neighbors.

Back when her college sophomore aged son was in 2nd grade, Margie Goldstein noticed that several of his classmates at W.O. Schaeffer school were coming to class during the winter in nothing but shirt sleeves. All the other children had warm coats, and some even had two or three beautiful coats to choose from each day. She couldn’t stand to see those few shivering children come in to class each morning without proper clothing.

Our community faces a new and serious threat. The South Orangetown School District has plans to sell the brick schoolhouse on Oak Tree Road and the property behind it, a total of 8.4 acres. They have already warned the co-op pre-school now occupying the building that they may be evicted in June and sent an appraiser to look over the property. This land abuts the 9W Golf properties now being developed by Lennar, and the two pieces of land could be connected with a road from 9W to Oak Tree Road.

Singer-Songwriter Katie Elevitch Performs November 4th

Where: Palisades Presbyterian Church / Parish Hall

When: Saturday, November 4th, 7pm to 9pm.

All ages are encouraged to attend; no admission charge. Katie Elevitch, a Palisades native, is a Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter whose original music has been described as "...folk plunging toward jam band funk" (Village Voice). This past Spring she played across Germany in her first international tour, and continues to perform all over the New York City area. This show will feature Katie on Guitar and Vocals, accompanied by Lee Farber (Percussion) and her long-time collaborator/producer Riley McMahon (Guitar), as well as a special appearance by Michael Shapiro (Piano), Choir and Music Director of the Palisades Presbyterian Church. Refreshments served. Visit www.KatieElevitch.com for information on Katie's music.

As we regroup after a brief summer respite, the PCC Board is diligently working on several fronts to continue the trend toward making the Community Center an active hub of our community. The fresh paint job, wallpaper and gorgeous new curtains have given the center that added touch to make it much more inviting and flexible for a broader spectrum of venues. We urge you to consider renting the space for your upcoming special event as it is becoming our own little backyard special events facility! Let’s keep it thriving!

Palisadians on their way to the meeting
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At 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 4, twenty-or so Palisadians gathered at the Woods Road triangle with Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner to discuss the future placement of a gazebo donated to the community by Tyler Schmetterer. At present, the wooden, green-painted gazebo is disassembled and stored at the Orangetown Highway Department.

Summer is over, school has begun, and the young children are back at Palisades Church on Sundays, adding their presence to the congregation. During each Sunday's "Children's Message" we all lean forward to make certain we catch their special comments and answers to questions.

Worship is at 10:00 AM every Sunday, and the 1st Sunday of each month we have Communion. The children return to the sanctuary and sit with their parents to share in that ritual.

The Palisades Free Library offers a variety of children's programs, as well a new books, new DVDs, and many reference materials.

The Historical Society of Rockland County’s newest publication, The Column Rule: Rockland People, Rockland Places by Arthur H. Gunther 3rd is now available. Unabashedly nostalgic and often poetic, Gunther’s book contains 100 essays selected from the 2600 or so columns that he wrote as Editorial Page Editor of the Journal News over the past 25 years. Gunther’s memories are often of “little people,” unsung heroes and heroines of recent decades, some of whom you’ve probably known.

Eli Josephs Given Preservation Award

The Josephs House
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The 16th annual Rockland County Executive's Preservation Merit Awards ceremony took place on Sunday, May 21, at the Historical Society's Jacob Blauvelt House Historical Site. The Rescue Award, presented for a historic site or structure rescued from possible demolition and reclaimed for further use, was given to Eli Josephs of Palisades.

At 15 miles south, New York City is our backyard, so why bother searching out local services and amenities when they're readily available in one of the biggest cities in the world? Well, because, even if we work in the city, we shop, socialize, raise children, maintain houses and relax here in Rockland County. Consequently, this column is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence with nary a bridge, tunnel, or toll required. It rests on the premise that they're out there — dedicated people with vision and creativity, and a commitment to provide quality to those who've decamped to the burbs. So let's get to it!

Caught in the Twilight: a fascinating history and a question about the future

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Mention the gas station on Route 9W to people in the vicinity and you are sure to get a smile and a fond story. Like the woman who said that during the gas crisis in the 1970’s, the owner, Henry Kennell, would open the gas pumps privately for her ailing mother to ensure she had enough gas to make the frequent trips to her doctor. Or the man who was thrilled to meet Drew Barrymore when it was the set for the movie “Riding in Cars with Boys.” Or how in the 1960’s, Palisades children loved to walk to the gas station for candy, soda and rocket pops. And what about the stolen Indian Motorcycle sign? Was it ever found? No, it never was!

Back in Palisades, after a working vacation in Texas, look forward to their next production of Measure for Measure, performed by the Rogue Players on November 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18 at the Palisades Presbyterian Church.*

Last February 14 young actors from the Children’s Shakespeare Theater (CST), flew to Fort Worth, Texas with Director Diana Green, Associate Director Cristina Biaggi and Milbry Polk. They were invited to perform Winter’s Tale in four high schools and lead workshops in stage fighting, Pavanne Dance and scene building in other schools and after school programs. It was a special experience as Diana said, “the kids took a big step up because they became visiting artists and teaching artists. They were great ambassadors of goodwill and creativity.”

Here in Orangetown, what is built, where it is built, and what it is used for is controlled by Town zoning ordinances, as enforced by the Building Department zoning officer and amended by the Zoning Board . Zoning ordinances regulate the use of the land (residential, industrial, institutional, commercial, recreational etc.), in accordance with the Town’s Master Plan. They also address lot sizes, building heights, setbacks (the amount of space between a lot line and a building), density (the number of housing units per acre in a subdivision) – among other particulars. In Palisades, most of the older parts of the hamlet are zoned R 40 (low density residential: one dwelling per 40,000 square foot lot – a “builder’s acre.”) Some of the land to the south and east of 9W is zoned R 80 (rural residence: one dwelling on 80,000 square feet). Horne Tooke Road and the land around it, which was developed in the 1950s, is zoned R15 (medium density). There are scattered R 22 parcels. The former driving range on 9W is zoned R40. About two-thirds of this piece of land is within the Historic District (see below).

Our Sparkill-Palisades All-Volunteer Fire Department Voted “Best in County” by Fireman’s Association

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(SPARKILL-Monday September 11) On Monday evening, they were rolling up the clean “parade” hoses at the John Paulding Engine Co. in Sparkill, and putting the sooty ones back on the trucks. This time the chore was no trouble at all for these proud volunteer firefighters. They returned from the 94th annual Rockland County Volunteer Fireman’s Association Parade (held in Stony Point on Sunday, Sept 10th ) with top honors for Best in County, besting 39 other county fire departments as to their equipment turnout, manpower, marching style and organization.

This past Friday, early-rising residents of Heyhoe Woods Rd. were mystified by the sudden appearance of a late model silver Lexus RX 330 SUV with New Jersey plates parked in the middle of their street with the doors wide open.

This was easily the worst parking job we've seen in years. Clearly, the driver had departed in quite a hurry. What happened? Did they forget their Columbian Coffee?