October 2008 Bulletin Board
Palis-Agers
All Palis-Agers (Palisades residents 75 years old or older) are invited to a meeting to discuss Elder Law at 1:30pm on Thursday, October 16. The meeting will be held at the Annex to the Palisades Presbyterian Church, 117 Washington Spring Road, which is handicapped- accessible. Palisades attorney David Englander will be present to answer questions. Please call Alice Gerard at 359-4338, for further information. Refreshments will be served.
Palisades Traffic
This summer the blinking light was restored at Oak Tree and Closter Roads and pedestrian crosswalks were painted in front of the Post Office, Library and PCC.
A stand up “Yield to pedestrians” sign and solar-operated speed feedback signs will be installed this fall and we are waiting to meet with the Department of Transportation Regional Director to re-evaluate the safety and improvements to the Rte. 9W /Oak Tree Road intersection. Police presence on Oak Tree Road was increased in September and violators were ticketed or given warnings. Police Officer Silva was astounded at the high volume of cars exceeding the speed limit in both the 30 m.p.h. and 15 m.p.h. zones, not to mention the number of illegal trucks.
The Traffic Advisory Board agreed with our request for the installation of a sidewalk on the north side of Oak Tree Road between Rte. 9W and the Post Office and it now has to be approved for the 2009 Town budget. Henry Ottley has suggested that the sidewalk be built inside the first line of trees within the triangle instead of along the shoulder of the road. E-mail concerns to palisadescc@gmail.com
Palisades Post Office
Postmistress Mary Whatley thanks Charles Vezzetti, Rockland County Superintendent of Highways, and Town of Orangetown workers for providing a crosswalk from the parking area to the post office and for the repair of the Caution/Stop light.
Mary, Subu and Karen remind us that school is open—please drive safely—and that the post office offers Priority Mail (2-3 day delivery), Express Mail (overnight to most destinations), and Passport Services. (845) 359-7841.
Duke Ocean Grill
Latest predicted opening is mid-to-late October. Located on former Food World site in Tappan, the dining room will seat 400 with a separate banquet room accommodating up to 200.
Other features include a waterfall wall, conveyor-belt sushi bar, raw bar, drinks bar, and mezzanine party room with karaoke. The menu will include seafood, pasta and steaks.
Ezra Kahn Enters Doctoral Program
Ezra Kahn, the son of Jaclyn Vorenkamp of Palisades, has accepted a research assistantship in the doctoral program in Industrial Ecology at the University of Washington in Seattle. He will be developing alternate biofuels with a grant from Boeing, Inc.
Ellen Galinsky Photographic Exhibition
River Winds Gallery of Beacon, New York, presents “Forgotten Spaces,” until October 6. For information call (845)838-2880.
Harriet Hyams’ Gift to the Library
An exquisite pair of stained glass windows, designed and created by Harriet in memory of Beatrice Agnew were installed on Sept. 16. They grace the entrance to the Library and provide a beautiful and lasting tribute to the over forty years Beatrice gave to our community. The Board of Trustees will hold a dedication of the gift with Beatrice’s family at a date to be announced.
The Library Board thanks all who made donations in Beatrice’s name which funded the installation of the windows and we thank Harriet for her special gift which serves as a memorial to Beatrice.
Todd Vorenkamp Flies in Honor of Fellow Coast Guardians
Lieutenant JG Todd Vorenkamp, son of Eric Vorenkamp of Palisades, flew in the Missing Man formation over Barbers Point, Hawaii, on September 12 to honor the four Coast Guardsmen killed there in a training exercise the week before. Todd is a search and rescue helicopter pilot in the Coast Guard stationed at Humboldt Bay, California. Videos of the flight can be seen at www.khnl.com/Global /story.asp?S=9002282
Coyotes among us
Coyote sightings in our area have increased over the summer and neighbors have been spreading the word about these sightings: Crossing Rte. 9W near IBM around 5-6pm; Lamont guard house at dawn; Tallman park; Woods Road; the triangle at Washington Spring Road at dawn and in the cliffs on Lawrence Lane. It is assumed that there are locations west of Rte. 9W as well. A neighbor’s dog was killed by a coyote in the woods near Lamont in September. The Tallman ranger thinks there may be two dens in our area, so clearly our local environs is home to the coyotes.
To co-exist with the coyote safely, here are some tips:
• Although curious, coyotes are generally timid and don’t attack people and will run if challenged. If you see one, make loud noises by yelling, clapping, waving your arms, shouting, etc.
• Coyotes prey on small animals. Keep a watch on your outdoor pets (small dogs and cats) especially from just before dusk to just after dawn. Keep your dogs on leashes.
• Don’t feed your pets outside and keep garbage and food scraps
contained.
For more information on coyotes and co-existing, visit: www.wdfw.wa. gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm.
Congratulations!
Jacquelyn Drechsler recently earned her Masters of Social Work degree from the Silver School of Social Work at New York University.
Save the Dates!
Lamont Open House, Saturday, Oct. 4, 10am to 4pm. For information call 365-8634.
Palisades Presbyterian Church Harvest Festival and Silent Auction: Saturday Oct. 18, 11am to 5pm (see page 16)
O&R Proposed Substation Meeting Before the Planning Board, Oct. 22, Orangetown Town Hall, 7:30pm. (see page 4)
Palisades Community Center Totally Awesome Cocktail Party and Fundraiser (and book party for “Pots and Pans in Palisades” cookbook.) Saturday, Nov. 1, 6pm to 8pm. (see page 3)
Palisades Library Sunday Symposia, Lynn Sykes on earthquake risks to our community. Sunday, Nov. 16, 3:30pm to 5pm at the Esplanade. (see page 15)
Farmers’ Markets: Piermont: every Sunday through Nov. 23, 9:30am to 3pm. Nyack: every Thursday through Nov. 20, 8am to 2pm. Final day: annual Thanksgiving market on Wed., Nov. 26.
The New 2008 Palisades Directories are Here!
After more than a year of work, the nearly 50 page directory has been published. The names and contact information for community members who asked to be included are listed alphabetically in this handsome volume. Those who sent in their $7 may pick up their copies at the Palisades Library after Oct. 1. If you have paid for the directory and would also like a computer version (pdf file) at no extra charge, please contact Joyce Gavin (359-9116). A limited number of additional directories are available at the library. The price is $10 per copy with all proceeds benefiting the Palisades Library.
Don’t forget to vote Tuesday, November 4 6am to 9pm
District 12 votes at the Palisades Presbyterian Church on Washington Spring Rd.
District 50 votes at Sparkill Firehouse on Rte. 340.
We want to hear from you!
10964 welcomes items for the Bulletin Board and Palisades People. Email Greta Nettleton at gretan@optonline.net or mail to: 10964 Newsletter, P.O. Box 201, Palisades, NY 10964.