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?

For more than a hundred years Palisadians have gathered at the flagpole next to Route 9W, first erected in 1861 and replaced twice since then, to celebrate Memorial Day. In the 1950s the holiday was celebrated with a parade that included a marching band, speeches by Palisades residents, and the firing of salutes with live ammunition. Small boys would run to collect the shells as soon as the firing stopped. The National Anthem was sung by a local resident with a fine voice.

Volunteers are gathering across the lower Hudson Valley in an effort to block the spread of an invasive plant called mile-a-minute vine. A coalition of groups is sponsoring the effort, including the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Bear Mountain State Park, and the Invasive Plant Council of New York.

Right before Memorial Day, the Palisades gas station was dressed for action as the Rooster Hamburger Stand for a film adaptation of Melissa Bank's A Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing. Several passing motorists stopped to check out what looked like a new retail option in Palisades, only to be waved on past by production assistants with walkie-talkies.

Long Time President Eileen Larkin Resigns

When we formed the Palisades Civic Association more than 25 years ago, we were faced with zone changes that would have drastically changed Palisades. We should be forever grateful to people like Andy Norman, John Converse, John Kriz, Reg Thayer, Dr. Donald Tapley, Paul Prisco, Barbara Olson, Carol Elevitch and so many others who gave their time, money and their skills to this organization and prevented re-zoning so as to maintain the rural character of our community.

With Help From The Palisades Community Center

Our venerable community newsletter began its life as a circular hand-typed on purple mimeograph stock almost thirty years ago. Over the years our graphic style has evolved quite a bit. Personal computers and desktop publishing software became available in the 1980s, making design and layout much easier. These tools have continued to grow more sophisticated over the years, giving us the ability to produce issues with polished layout and graphic design once only available to professional publishers.

In the News:

• South Orangetown School Budget Vote and School Board Election
• Palisades Resident Honored
• Last Lamont Lecture
• Dorothy Turns 90
• Tragic Loss for Postmistress
• Goodbye to the Palisades Driving Range!
• We Will Have a Memorial Day!

Church news and list of events.

Library news: summer programs for children, new books and DVDs, museum passes, and digitized resources.

In the wake of recent hearings relating to proposed luxury real-estate development on the site of what was, for many years, the 9W Driving Range, many local residents have expressed concerns about the effectiveness, responsiveness, and integrity of the Historic Areas Board of Review process. Notwithstanding the clear language of the law - which gives both the HABR and ACABOR authority over the size and scale of new construction within the Historic District - as well as strong representations with broad-based community support made by Historic District residents to the HABR and ACABOR, in this as in other cases which have come before these boards, they have declined to respond meaningfully to community views or to exercise their full legal mandate in regard to new construction in the Historic District.

This spring, you’ll probably have to move quickly to get in your last swings at the 9W Golf Range. Approval for the residential subdivision on the 18.5 acre site is rapidly nearing completion, according to Debbie Arbolino at the Orangetown Building Department. “This one has gone pretty fast—they are pretty professional and right on top of things,” she added.

New books and DVDs, upcoming library programs and events.

Church announcements, events, special services, workshops.