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.