Th e Nyack Villager September · Th e Nyack Villager AnindependentmonthlynewsmagazinecelebratinglifeandtheartsintheHudsonRiverVillages September 2012 P R S T S T D U S P o s t a g

®The Nyack Villager

An independent monthly news magazine celebrating life and the arts in the Hudson River Villages

September

2012PRSTSTDUSPostage

PAID permitno.

5432 WHITEPLAINSNY

This month we celebrate The Nyack Villager’s 19th birthdaywith a review of some favorite covers by Jan & Shel Haber

Mailed on or near the first of each month to every residential address in eight river villages—Upper Nyack, Nyack, Central Nyack, South Nyack,Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont and Palisades NY.

2 The Nyack Villager September, 2012

The Nyack Villager September, 2012 3

The NyackVillagerSeptember, 2012 Vol. 19 No. 1

On the Internet at www.nyackvillager.comE-mail news releases to us at [email protected] Deadline for our October issue is September 15.

Please include a contact name and telephone number

In this issueDepartments3 REPORTER AT LARGE

• How &where to register to vote• On the new bridge• What they’re saying:

George Sherman on the new TZBridgeKirsten Gillibrand on Todd Akin

• The Cost of the War in Iraq• What Was in The Villager 10 Years Ago?

7 LETTERS to The Nyack Villager

12 COMMUNITY NOTES Community dates in September

14 SEPTEMBER EVENTS Art & entertainment this month

16 CALENDAR Highlights in September

17 OP-CALENDAR PAGE useful local phone numbers

Columns8 REMEMBER THE DAYS? Jim Leiner’s Memories of Liberty Street School

9 THE APP OF THE MONTH by Vicky Schwaid

10 AT THE MOVIES Ric Pantale on film superheroes

11 HEARTWORMS by Midge L. Ritchie DVM

12 THE LIFETIME GARDENER by Jon Feldman

13 NYACK BUSINESS BEAT by Scott Baird

18 THEY GOT WHAT?! Donna Cox on current trends in real estate

Features6 VILLAGER ON THE ROAD The Fremont Troll

6 TOOTS AND THE DEAD RATS a reminiscence by Jan Haber

19 BACK TO SCHOOL in the river villages

On our September cover

CELEBRATING THE NYACK VILLAGER’S 19th ANNIVERSARYwith some of our favorite covers by Jan & Shel Haber,© 2009—2012 The Nyack Villager, Nyack, NY

REPORTERat large

How & where to register to voteTo vote in the upcoming local & presidentialelections on Nov. 6 you must be registered.You must register to vote if you’ve neverregistered or if you moved since you lastregistered. Fortunately, New York State,makes it easy to register.

• Register in person at the Rockland CountyBoard of Elections Mon—Fri 9am to 5pmand during special hours on Sat Oct 13,from 2pm to 9pm or at any New York Stateagency-based voter registration center.

Xe Rockland County Board of Elections isat 11 New Hempstead Road New City, NY10956. Phone: 845.638.5172. Call tohave an application mailed to you.

• You can also enter your name directly intothe mailing list database to have a New YorkState Voter Registration Form mailed toyou. NOTE: Xe same form can be down-loaded, using this link—http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegis-ter.htmlHow and Where to register to Vote

or You can call 1.800.FOR.VOTE to re-quest a voter application. You can down-load a PDF version of the NY State VoterRegistration Form in English or Spanish.All signed applications must be postmarkedby October 12, 2012, or dropped off at theBoard of Elections by that date.

• Absentee ballot applications can be ob-tained online or in person at the Board ofElections, and then dropped off or mailedin with an original signature postmarked nolater than October 30, 2012. Absentee Bal-lots are due postmarked or dropped off byNovember 5. You can use the absentee bal-lot even if you’ll be at home on election day.

• To vote you must be 18 years old or older,a US citizen, a Rockland County residentfor 30 days prior to November 6, not in jailnor on parole for a felony conviction, andnot claiming the right to vote elsewhere.

Frequently asked question:If I sign up to vote, will I get called for juryduty?Answer:Xe court draws names from many sources, in-cluding the Department of Motor Vehicles.An individual is more likely to be called for juryduty because of possessing a driver’s licensethan because he/she is registered to vote.

Jon Feldman on afine Rhododendron

see page 12

Seattle’sMunicipal Troll

see page 6

Back To Schoolsee page 19

Ric Pantale onmovie superheroes

see page 10

Dr. Ritchie onheartworm in dogs

see page 11

Reporter At Large continues on page 4


REPORTERat large

On the new bridgePlans to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge havemoved a giant step forward.

In Piermont, with the Hudson River as hisscenic backdrop, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pro-claimed ...“a different day for the TappanZee,” adding, “We’ve made more progressin the past few months than we made in 13years.”

Indeed, as of Monday, August 20, the NYMetropolitan Council, comprised of thecounty executives of Westchester, Rocklandand Putnam, gave their approval, clearingthe way for the governor to seek federal fi-nancing for part of the project’s cost.

Not everybody is happy about it. Xere isstill uncertainly about where $5.2 billionwill come from—and there is real outrageabout the projected toll of $14 which, somesay, will put the new bridge beyond thereach of working commuters.

Xere are plenty of concerns. Paul Gallay,president of Riverkeeper, the pro-environ-ment watchdog group that has criticized thegovernor’s plan, wrote, “In the businessworld, no reputable company would hold avote on, let alone approve a $5 billion in-vestment on the basis of a sketchy, one-pagefinancial plan, especially from a businessthat’s already having problems with its bondrating, like the Xruway Authority.”

On Monday the state killed off all hopes forrail service over the new Tappan Zee Bridge,dooming Rockland, Westchester and Put-nam counties to countless generations ofdependence on their cars, with all the hydo-carbon emissions that will surely follow.Xe best mass transit we can hope for is adedicated bus lane during rush hours.

Howard Glaser, director of state operations,called the August 20 vote "an importantstep forward. Xere's been 10 years ofstudy, hundreds of public meetings, and fi-nally we'll begin to move forward," Glasersaid. "Xe (55 year old) bridge is outdated,it's unsafe. Residents of Westchester andRockland and Putnam deserve better, andit's an important economic lifeline for all ofNew York State."

Among many questions that remain: whywas is Tappan Zee Bridge falling apart afteronly 55 years? Xe GW will celebrate its81st birthday in a few weeks.

What they’re saying� GEORGE SHERMAN ON THE NEW TZ BRIDGE

In a letter dated Aug 7, George Sherman, aresident of South Nyack and longtime ad-vocate for the environment, complains thatmeetings intended as public informationsessions have been monopolized by localpoliticians whose speeches add nothing tothe debate and leave no time for local resi-dents to be heard.

“I'm sure that you are aware that this area isand has been out of compliance with federalclean air standards for years,” wrote Mr.Sherman, “Xe proposed new bridge(s) willcreate more traffic and only compound thisproblem. Yet this serious threat to ourhealth has not been addressed and we arefaced with a major increase of cancer caus-ing toxins being spewed into our air.Xis whole region will suffer as polluted airknows no boundary. When 287 and 87were joined, we saw a doubling of trucktraffic through this corridor. I don’t see thatthe sign at the 287/87 juncture directingtrucks north to 84 has had a significant im-pact in reducing the truck volume.

“We had requested that epidemiologicalstudies be done in this region to determinethe degree of illness so a realistic assessmentcould be made but we were turned down bythe NY State Xruway Authority. Some-where in the 88 million dollars spent onconsultants, money could have been foundfor this important study.

Are they afraid that such a study will reveala problem that they do not want to dealwith?”

Xe letter was sent to Brian Coneybeare,former News 12 anchor, now a spokesmanfor the governor.

� SEN. KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND ON REP. TODD AKIN

“In all my years of public service, I’ve hearda lot of shocking remarks on the campaigntrail. But yesterday’s appalling comment byTea Party senatorial candidate Rep. ToddAkin of Missouri took things to a wholenew level.”

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body hasways to try to shut that whole thing down,”he said, falsely claiming that rape survivorscan’t become pregnant as a result of thecrime, while defending his opposition toabortion, even in cases of rape and incest.

Sen. Gillibrand added that Akin’s opponentis Sen. Claire McCaskill, “who has been astrong progressive voice in the Senate onbehalf of women’s rights.”

Rosie O’Donnell’s close callHours after shehelped a womanfrom her car in aNyack parking lot,Rosie O’Donnell,popular actor, co-median and SouthNyack resident, saidshe experiencedchest ache, clammy

skin, nausea and vomiting. She did an on-line search for heart attack symptoms inwomen and took some aspirin.

Xe cardiologist she consulted the next daytold her that her coronary artery was 99%blocked. Xe cardiologist installed a stent.At last report, Ms. O’Donnell was makinggood progress toward recovery.

Considering herself lucky, Ms. O’Donnellurged women to know the symptoms ofheart attack and to “listen to the voice in-side—the one we all so easily ignore.”

Great advice. Get well soon, Rosie!

Symptoms of heart attackAnthony Komaroff, MD writes that, al-though the most common sign of heart at-tack in both men and women is chest painor discomfort, other symptoms tend to varydepending on gender.

In men—symptoms include pain or discomfort in thecenter of the chest, pain or discomfort thatradiates to the upper body, especially shoul-ders or arms and neck, sweating, dizziness.

In women—symptoms include pressure, aching, or tight-ness in the center of the chest (although notas frequently as in men), shortness of breath,weakness; unusual fatigue, nausea or vomit-ing, dizziness back or jaw pain.

Dr. Komaroff is professor of medicine at Har-vard Medical School and editor-in-chief ofHarvard Health Publications.

Fact checkingAs much as we admire and use the Internet,we must recognize that it’s the perfectmedium for legitimizing lies and half-truths.

Get to know Snopes, if you’re not alreadyacquainted with it. Be your own factchecker at http://www.snopes.com/

Snopes describes their site as “the definitiveInternet reference source for urban legends,folklore, myths, rumors, and misinforma-tion.” �



Villager On the RoadThe Fremont TrollYou have to love a city where a troll quali-fies as municipal art.

In the Fremont district of Seattle, Washing-ton, under the Aurora Bridge, there lurks an18’ troll, clutching a VW Beetle with Cali-fornia license plates. One imagines he justgrabbed it off the roadway above.

In 1990, the audacious plans of artists SteveBadanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter andRoss Whitehead won the competition spon-sored by the Fremont Arts Council. Xegoal was to rehabilitate the area under thebridge—long a hangout for drug dealers.

Xe troll was built later that same year.

Trolls are known to live under bridges—asyou know if you are familiar with the Scan-dinavian folktale, Mree Billy Goats Gruff.

Made of steel rebar, wire and concrete, theFremont Troll is known to freeze in placewhenever there are observers. Aurora Av-enue North was renamed Troll Avenue inhis honor. �

Toots and the dead ratsby Jan Haber

When Cynthia O’Kelly was in the thirdgrade, she got religion.

Her parents, casual Methodists, viewedtheir daughter’s religious fervor with amusedtoleration, although I feel sure they wouldhave intervened had they known about therat funerals.

For one wholesummer, Toots—nobody ever calledher Cynthia—buried every deadrat we could find under the ele-vated tracks in our neighbor-hood on the North side ofChicago.

I was her willing accomplice, scrounging lit-tle boxes to serve as caskets for the departed.

Each rat was buried with elaborate Chris-tian ceremony in a deep hole in the cindersunder the elevated tracks.

Toots ran a pretty good funeral, completewith readings from a tattered Bible. To oureight year-old ears, the ceremony resonatedwith dignity and holiness. At the site ofeach interment, we raised a small cross wefashioned ourselves from two sticks andsome twine.

I can only imagine what my parents wouldhave said about the enterprise. My dad wasa doctor and my mother a registered nurse.Xey were both, I thought, obsessed withhand washing. My mother kept our smallapartment scrubbed and disinfected, asthough she expected it to be used to per-form surgery. Rats and other germ-carrierswere anathema.

Had they found out how we were spendingour time, I suspect it would have ruinedeverything and a lot of rats would havegone unburied. �

Jan Haber, a graphic artist and writer, is theeditor of Me Nyack Villager.


Lettersto the editor

An open community forum.

Opinions expressed are those ofeach letter writer; The Nyack Villager

need not agree.

A correctionTo Me Nyack Villager—In August 2012 in Editor's Note following aletter entitled, Question about Sean Ryan Park,there were some errors I'd like to correct.—Missy Pinckert, Upper Nyack

Editor’s Note: Our mistake. We transposed thenumbers in the date of Mr. Ryan’s tragic deathand should have reported he died in 1995—not 1955. For more details, see www.co.rock-land.ny.us/environ/county/SeanHunterRyan.htm

More on Nyack Library(Letter edited for length)To Me Nyack Villager—Nyack Library board members must expectthat those who contact you will express dis-sent. Non-users and those who are happywith the status quo will not be willing to sitthrough tedious, sometimes incomprehensi-ble three-hour board meetings.

Recently, those who disagree with currentlibrary policy have been dismissed as igno-rant or as complainers who dislike change.It has even been suggested this library is notthe place for research and that such usersshould go elsewhere.

Xe library should serve the needs of all itspeople—as the library’s extremely high cali-bre staff seems to understand. Why doesn’tthe administration and board share their re-sponsiveness?

To a person, all those who recently spoke indisagreement say they love the Nyack Li-brary. Xeir criticisms should not be dis-missed but welcomed as evidence of anengaged public, not demonized and dis-missed.

Currently, at board meetings, there is littlecommunication. One leaves the meetinghaving expressed one’s views, but there is noback and forth discussion. Xen everythingseems to drop into a black hole.

Has the board considered what has beensaid? Without two-way communication,there’s no way to know.

Nyack Library should focus on the needsand convenience of its tax-paying users.—Maureen Lester

Nyack Library: another opinionTo Me Nyack Villager—In response to a number of letters that youhave published, I have to say that I love theNyack Library. I think this is because I usethe online service to order specific books Iwant. Nyacklibrary.org makes it incrediblyeasy to put a hold on any book you want inthe entire Ramapo Catskill system. Xeyeven call you up when the book is ready forpickup. Now, when I read an intriguingbook review, I immediately go online andput a hold on the book. It works so well. Ijust love it.

Xe scattered magazine displays are a minorsource of annoyance, but overall we have agreat library if you use the available tech-nology.—Karen Tarapata, Upper Nyack

Note: Letters continue online atwww.nyackvillager.com

This publicationwelcomes letters on all subjectsfrom its readers..

The addressto which to send your letter ap-pears on page 17.


Remember the days?by James F. Leiner

Memories of Liberty StreetSchoolLiberty Street School once restedmajestically on a small hill in thesouth end of Nyack. Its lovelygreen front lawn sloped gentlydown to Broadway.

Built on property donated by TunisDepew, the school opened in 1851; additionswere added in 1867, 1909 and 1949. Origi-nally called the Nyack School it was the onlypublic school in the area, and housed all gradesuntil the end of 1929 when new junior and sen-ior High Schools opened on Midland Avenue.

High School classes occupied the top floor.Xere was a pre-fabricated building on thesouth side of the school housing what, at thetime, were called slow learners. On the south-east corner, a building housed grade 3-D (ad-vanced students). Physical education washandled either in the giant hall on the down-stairs floor or on the outside playground depend-ing on the weather.

Upper grades went to the Nyack YMCA onBurd Street, where varsity basketball wasplayed. Varsity baseball and football wereplayed on “Doc” Bernard’s field located at hisClarkstown Country Club. Students were sep-arated by gender, boys on the south play-ground, and girls on the north. Xe yearbookwas called Me Owl; the school colors were blue& gold.

In the early 1930s the front lawn was sold fora new post office and Liberty Street was ex-tended south from Depew to Hudson Avenue.Xe Nyack School became Liberty StreetSchool.

Teachers stayed for a long time back then; tomany, Liberty Street seemed like home. Teach-ers like Susan Blauvelt & Warren Templin(English), Florence Slade (spelling and pen-manship), Winifred Davis and Geraldine Mof-fit, (mathematics), Betty Ingersoll (history),Evangeline MacLaren, (public speaking & dra-matics)—was she ever qualified for that subject!Gertrude Goldstein and Bandmaster ArthurChristman, (music), Solon Gordon, (printingand mechanical drawing), Vivian Krumm andFrancis H. Campbell, (science), Ella Goodsir,(bookkeeping), and Doris Newton, (geogra-phy). In 1929 Kenneth MacCalman was thesuperintendent and a former chemistry teacher,A.W. “Mr. Ritt” Ritterhausen was the princi-pal. Before him principals were Homer J.Wightman and Charles Warner.

Sports have always been a big part of educationand Nyack School was no different. Xe Nyack

coaches of the day included Harold S. DeGroat(baseball, basketball & football), Xornley

Booth, (soccer), George Hobart&, Harold Petersen, (basketball),Xomas G.Ausbury coachedfootball and baseball. Phyllis R.Clarke and Ruth Mosley coachedall the girls’ sports. Assistantcoaches included Sol Gordon,(wrestling), Verner Cox, WarrenTemplin (track & soccer) andFrancis Campbell, (tennis). All-County athletes were plentiful

coming from Liberty Street including theGeary, Lovett, Donovan and Xeis brothers,Louis Durkin, Louis Tillinghast, “Buzz” Foun-tain, and Harry Rosenberg. Rosenberg was thefirst in Rockland County to run 100 yards in10 seconds—miraculous time in the 20s, con-sidering the type of shoes and the cinder track.Also guys like Syd Bradshaw, Chris Kelly, BudAvery, Peck Artopee (yes, the street is namedafter him), Fred Conace, Syd Miller, Pete (take2 & hit to right) D’Auria, Dan Guilfoyle, AndyPodraskie, Horace Tyrus, Harry Dropkin, BillPerry and Jack Rose. Xe girl athletes often re-membered are Betty Zabriskie, DorothyBlount, Betty Parietti, Hope Coffey and theSpeh sisters.

Academics were stressed—and paid off formany of the students. Success came to manyincluding Sydney Bradshaw, former governorof the NY Stock Exchange, Eddie Sauter,arranger for many of the Big Bands during the40s; Bill Smith, basso star of musicals likeShowboat and Porgy and Bess; Leonard Gold-stein, in charge of all U.S military bands in Eu-rope by the end of World War II; RustyCrawford, chairman of the board of BowerySavings Bank; John Bott, former editor of theNY Post, William H. Hand, assistant toXomas Edison and later a successful inventor,Homer Lydecker Sr., a successful businessmanand avid baseball fan, and Clifford Blauvelt,vice-president of American Cyanamid.

Liberty Street would continue to be the village’sonly Elementary School until it was closed in1968 after being declared unsafe by the StateEducation Department. After settling a disputeover the land with the Depew family heirs theschool was torn down in September 1977. Xeproperty was sold to the Nyack Urban RenewalAgency. Dozens of Liberty Street Alumni stoodwatching the demolition with a tear in theireye. “It was a very nice school at the time,” saidPat Roy who graduated from 6th grade in1953, as she watched the workers tear downthe school. “But, I don’t feel bad, it’s makingway for other things, Liberty Street served itspurpose in its time.” �

The Nyack Villager thanks Jim Leiner for helpingus all ‘Remember the Days.’


The App of the Monthby Vicki Schwaid

NAG NAG NAG“Oh, I haven’t had thechance.” “Oh, I’ll doit tomorrow.” “Eh, Idid one a month ago,that’s good enough.”“Oh, geez, I’ve been meaning to get a harddrive, but haven’t had a chance.”

Does this all sound too familiar? It does tome. Xe importance of backup is so underestimated. Xe computer data we create isbecoming the integrated fibers of our life—our photos, music, emails, documents, eachand every one—beyond important to us.So, really, it doesn’t take much effort in thelong run to set up a backup scheme.

Xere are several options, however. Xetwo easiest options are to purchase either anexternal hard drive (USB, FireWire, SATA)or a Time Capsule, which is a networkdrive. If you choose the first option—theexternal hard drive route—then all you reallyneed to do is connect it to your Mac; theoperating system will ask “Do you want thisdrive to be used for time machine?” andyou say YES! Time Machine is the name ofthe backup program. Viola! the backup willbegin and will happen every hour as long asthe hard drive is plugged into the computer.If you decide to disconnect the externaldrive and then put it back into the computera day or week later, the backup will naturallyresume as if it was never taken out.

Xe second option also works like a charm.A Time Capsule is an Apple product thatcontains a hard drive in a white slim boxhowever in general, it does NOT connectto the computer but connects to the net-work (either the router or modem). Mostpeople who have laptops travel with them,or take them back and forth to work. Whatis lovely about this option is the Time Cap-sule knows the laptop is back home and willresume any backup that has started. Xereare no cables to worry about because thebackup happens over the wireless network.Magic!

And I will nag you too and say “GOBACKUP!” Xere—I nagged you! �

Vicki Schwaid is the owner of Me Mac Shackin Nyack. Me Mac Shack does on-site serviceand support for Mac Computers and devices.She has been in the computing industry for 25+years with a fluid understanding of networking,programming, video & graphic production.


A Superhero Is NothingBut a Super Sandwich

Xere seems to be an endless bar-rage of superhero movies today.You have to wonder when MightyMouse and Popeye will get their shot (oopsforgot—Popeye was done ‘way back in 1980).Where and how did all this start?

It seems as though every few months Holly-wood finds another hero with unbelievablepowers. Of course, superheroes are nothingnew in movies; consider Tarzan. He is kindof a superhero without shoes—and he goesback to 1918—the last year of WW1.Tarzan's super powers included his abilityto talk to animals. And he seemed to have avine handy whenever he needed to travel.

Xe first superheroes came from popularcomic strips, often done as movie serials.Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers—even Supermanthrilled Saturday morning movie goers.

In the 1940s Superman and Batman, alongwith Captain Marvel were all done as filmserials. Let's not forget Dick Tracy, the bigcity super detective with a crazy-lookingnose.

Comic book superheroes became super-popular during WW2. Every hero wantedto kick Nazi butt, especially Captain America.For some reason Japan escaped his wrath.

By the early 1950s comic books came underserious fire from US congressmen who feltyoung minds were being poisoned by horrorcomics. Because of that, all comic bookssuffered. Superman and Batman continuedbut some of the other super heroes went

into early retirement. Xen,sometime in the 1980s, comicbooks were reborn as graphicnovels, spawning a whole newgeneration of comic addicts.

Every now and then a moviewas made starring the new heroes—Swamp Xing, Xe Hulk andSuper Woman—but they were

invariably of poor quality, with low budgetsand laughably bad special effects.

Xis went on until the first serious superherofilm appeared. Superman, Me Movie camewhen newly-developing computer graphics,super sound and new, sophisticated visualtechniques were all coming together.

Although the Christopher Reeve was perfectin the role of Superman, he was unknownto movie audiences of the day. For the firsttime, a movie based on a comic book had abig budget and a supporting cast full of bigstars—Marlon Brando, Gene Hackman,Glenn Ford. Soon thereafter came an un-usually fine sequel, Superman 2.

Hollywood producers were stunned by thebox office success of these films and becameconvinced that, given a decent budget andfirst rate actors, people would flock to see afilm about a superhero.

Batman came next, with a young, imagina-tive director, Tim Burton, staring such no-tables as Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholsonand Kim Basinger. Xe success of thesefilms created a new genre that is goingstrong today. I am still waiting for my ownsuperhero, Birdman to make his appearance.He can't fly but is a great jumper.

Ric Pantale writer and director, is an inde-pendent film maker. His latest film, “DelilahRose,” is scheduled for release soon. �

At the Moviesby Ric Pantale


From Valley CottageAnimal Hospitalby Midge L. Ritchie, DVM

Nasty Little Worms andYour Best Friend’s Heart

Heartworm disease is a seriousand potentially fatal conditioncaused by parasitic worms living in the arter-ies of the lungs and occasionally in the rightside of the heart of dogs, cats and otherspecies of mammals, including wolves, foxes,ferrets, sea lions and (in rare instances) hu-mans. Heartworms are classified as nema-todes (roundworms), specifically Dirofilariaimmitis. Dogs and cats of any age or breed aresusceptible to infection.

Xe disease is spread by mosquitoes that be-come infected with microfilariae while takinga blood meal from an infected animal. Whenthe infected mosquito bites another dog, cat,or susceptible animal, the larvae are depositedon the skin and actively migrate into the newhost. For about two months the larvae mi-grate through the connective tissue, under theskin, and then pass into the animal's bloodstream. Xere, they are quickly transportedto the arteries of the lungs. It takes a total ofapproximately six months for the infectivelarvae to mature into adult worms that beginproducing offspring, microfilariae. Adultheartworms can live for five to seven years inthe dog. Xe onset and severity of disease inthe dog is mainly a reflection of the numberof adult heartworms present, the age of theinfection and the level of activity of the dog.Dogs with higher numbers of worms are gen-erally found to have more severe heart andlung disease changes. Xe heart may enlargeand become weakened due to an increasedworkload and congestive heart failure mayoccur. A very active dog (working dog) ismore likely to develop severe disease with arelatively small number of heartworms thanan inactive one (a lap dog or couch potato).

Occasionally, a dog with a largenumber of heartworms may notonly have worms in the heart, butalso in the caudal vena cava (largeprimary vein of the lower body)between liver and heart. If heart-worms are not removed surgically,this syndrome causes sudden col-lapse and death within two tothree days.

In the cat, the larvae molt as well, but fewerworms survive to adulthood. While dogsmay suffer from severe heart and lung damagefrom heartworm infection, cats typically ex-hibit minimal changes in the heart. Xe cat'sprimary response to the presence of heart-worms occurs in the lungs. Cats typicallyhave fewer and smaller worms than dogs andthe life span of worms is shorter, approxi-mately two to three years, compared to five toseven years in dogs. However, heartworms donot need to develop into adults to cause sig-nificant pulmonary damage in cats, and con-sequences can be very serious when cats areinfected by mosquitoes carrying heartwormlarvae (acute pulmonary inflammation re-sponse and lung injury). Xis initial phase isoften misdiagnosed as asthma or allergicbronchitis but in actuality is part of a syn-drome now known as Heartworm AssociatedRespiratory Disease (HARD).

Although at Valley Cottage Animal Hospitalwe believe that prevention is key, many own-ers unknowingly adopt dogs that are alreadyinfected with the disease; so what happensthen? Xe only treatment that is approved bythe FDA is the use of melarsomine, com-monly known as Immiticide. Xis requires 3injections over a course of 30 days, followedby strict rest for a total of 60 days. Xis isproven to kill 98% of the worms. In the past,many have tried using what is called a “slow-kill” method, by using long-term heartwormpreventive, or macrocyclic lactones. Slow-killmethods using continuous monthly adminis-tration of prophylactic doses of any macro-

cyclic lactone are NOT RECOMMENDED.While effective in reducing the life span of ju-venile and adult heartworms, it appears thatthe older the worms are when first exposed tomacrocyclic lactones, the longer it takes forthem to die. It may take more than two yearsof continuous administration before adultheartworms are eliminated completely, andrigid exercise restriction would still be re-quired for the entire treatment period.Xroughout this period, the infection wouldpersist and would continue to worsen. An-other potential concern in using macrocycliclactones long-term in heartworm positivedogs as stand-alone therapy is the potentialfor resistance in sub-populations of heartworms.

Canine heartworm infection is widely distrib-uted throughout the US. Heartworm infec-tion has been found in dogs native to all 50states. All dogs, regardless of their age, sex, orhabitat, are susceptible to heartworm infec-tion. At the Valley Cottage Animal Hospitalwe have seen an increasing rate of positivedogs within the last year; in fact, we havetreated 6 already just this year. Xis is why wecannot stress enough the importance ofmonthly heartworm preventives and yearlycheckups. Clinical signs that owners may no-tice include, but are not limited to, cough,exercise intolerance, dyspnea (difficultybreathing), syncope (temporary loss of con-sciousness due to poor blood flow to thebrain), and ascites (fluid accumulation in theabdominal cavity). If you note any of thesesigns, it is important to call your veterinarian.

If you have more questions regarding heart-worm disease, please feel free to contact us atthe Valley Cottage Animal Hospital, or callyour regular veterinarian. You can also checkout the American Heartworm Society’s web-site at www.heartwormsociety.org �

Originally from Ohio, Dr. Ritchie trained at RossUniversity School of Veterinary Medicine, andTexas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine andBiomedical Sciences. She is part of the Valley Cot-tage Animal Hospital team.


The Lifetime Gardenerby Jon Feldman

If we're lucky, from time to time,something touches our life that trans-forms a moment into a lifelongmemory. Whether a person, placeor pet, such happenings become apart of the story of our lives. Forme, it occurs more often with plantsthan anything else.

Many of my firsts were while visiting abotanical garden, plant nursery, or in the gar-dens of friends. Some meetings were clearlylove at first sight. Others took a bit moretime for the attraction to be fully realized.

Curiously, it is often the circumstances ofthe discovery that hold more long-lastingappeal than the object itself.

I’ve met some extraordinary gardeners inmy work and am frequently awed by thebroad knowledge and love of plants theyshare. One such person, a gardener formost of her considerable lifetime, tends aplot that her parents started at the end of

the Korean War. During each visit, I amshown new plants and learn more about her

fascinating life as we walk throughthe array of plants and layers of his-tory. I have a few transplants ofher groundcovers now, and lookforward to pointing them out dur-ing tours of my own gardens.

My first true infatuation, at aboutage 12, was with a genus of plants

known as Rhododendrons. My parentswere crazy about them, and this acorndidn’t fall far from their tree. Xe folkswere long-standing members of the Ameri-can Rhododendron Society, and I accompa-nied them to its meetings and annual plantsales. It wasn’t long before I joined theranks and shared the passion of the faithful.

One particular species that captured myparents’ hearts, and became a part of familylore, was a yellow-flowering variety knownas Mary Fleming. Like another family fa-vorite, Angel Wing seashells, sightings of aMary were as rare as finding an intact wingamong scattered shards along a sandybeach. Either one would be announced

with great pride and satisfaction—accompa-nied by exact locations, dimensions andcomparisons to previous finds.

Our curiosity about the woman blessedwith such an unusual plant as her namesakereached its peak in the pre-Google world ofthe 1970s, yielding only snippets of undoc-umented information.

Xe ensuing decades since the lapse of mySociety membership did not significantlyreduce the desire for more information onthis now-mythical woman ingrained intomy family’s history. Years later, in a fortu-nate stroke of serendipity, I was called to aninteresting older property, in Upper Nyack,for a landscape consultation. While walkingthe grounds, enjoying its unusual and ma-ture plantings, I was listening to my clientexplain the history of the place and found itespecially interesting that a well-knownhorticulturist had owned and planted theproperty in the late 1950s and ‘60s. Hername was Mary Fleming. �

Jon Feldman is the owner of G. biloba GardenEnvironments. Reach him at 353-3448 orwww.gbiloba.com

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE NYACKSThe Chamber’s After Hours networking gatherings resumethis month. For time & place call (845) 353-2221

SEPTEMBERFEST 2012The Chamber of Commerce of the Nyacks hosts its annualAutumn street fair, SeptemberFest, on Sunday, Sept 9 from10am to 5pm rain or shine. Enjoy shopping, browsing, apetting zoo for the kids, live music and food. Fun for all.

APPLE PICKING BEGINSPick your own apples at The Orchards of Concklin startingSept 8. The Orchards will be open for picking apples everyweekend thru Oct 21, 10am to 5pm, weather permitting.

Apples include Cortland, McIntosh, Red Delicious, Empires,Golden Delicious, Winesap, Rome, Fuji and Macouns. (Notall apples wil be available on all weekends.)

For special fun, every weekend from noon to 5pm, The Or-chards have Inflatables for children.

The Orchards are at Exit 12 on the Palisades Parkway at Rte45 & South Mountain Road in Pomona, NY. GPS address1010 RT 45, Pomona NY. Info: 845.354.0369.

AT BIRCHWOOD CENTER85 S. Broadway, Nyack. Everyone is welcome. Info or to register,e-mail [email protected] or call (845) 358-6409.

• Pilates Mat Class with Nicole FaustiniBuild strength in the deep abdominal muscles focusing onalignment, stability, and mobility of the spine. Beginnerswelcome. Tuesdays, 7:15 to 8:15pm. Drop in: $20

• Rejuvenate with Restorative Yoga

Open, reflect and receive the benefits of complete relaxationusing various props to support the body in deeply comfort-able and relaxing ways. Wed, Sept 19, 7 to 8:30pm. $25

• Sacred Sundown Services for Yom Kippur with Judith Roseand Lisa SokolovKol Nidre: Tuesday, Sept 25, 7:30 to 9pm.Ne’ilah and Break Fast: Wed, Sept 26, 6 to 7:30pm.$30 per service or $50 for both. Pre-Registration required.

NYACK SKATEBOARDING CONTESTNyack's first skateboarding contest (with prizes) takes placeSat, Sept. 29 from 1-3 pm in the Riverspace parking lot,Main Street, Nyack. The goal: to raise awareness for theneed of a legitimate skate spot in Nyack.

Nyack skateboarders Joe Ondrek, Joe Russo, Jamaal Bey,Tim Anderson and teacher Sarah Anderson have been goingdoor to door to alert the neighbors. They have also set up

Community notesTell The Villager and we’ll tell the community.

E-mail brief news release to: [email protected]


Nyack Business BeatFrom the Chamber of Commerce of theNyacks

by Scott Baird

• Old friend with anew name.In May of this year,First Niagara Bank (aregional New YorkBank) purchased anumber of upstatebranches of HSBC (a multinational corpo-ration), including the iconic bank branchwe all know on South Broadway acrossfrom the YMCA. So, in an interestingswitch from what we may be used to, amultinational bank has been transformedinto a local, regional bank.

Despite the ownership change, the staff inthe Nyack Branch remains largely the same.Sara Tucker still leads a team of six businessbankers, including Tracy Dembicer, whocovers Nyack. Tracy and her colleagues are

looking for businesses throughout the Hud-son Valley in need of commercial loans.Local credit decision-making is a key strengthFirst Niagara brings to the table.

Sandeep Sandhu is Branch Manager in Nyack.You’ll see other familiar faces at the branch:those of Karen Ayres, Liz Fonvil, ArleneRodgers, Dan Maze and Latoya Aguillard.We also look forward to working with FirstNiagara on community projects; the bankhas a strong commitment to charitablecauses, especially those involving youth andmentoring.

• A taste of Italy.Celebrating her seventh year in Nyack,fashion designer Paulette Ross brings charmand class to Nyack in her delightful bou-tique—p.ross on Main Street in the heartof the Village. At first glance, you mightthink the small store carries just “one-of-a-kind” pieces, rather than full stock. Butthat’s only until you understand thatPaulette has modeled her shop after Euro-pean boutiques; while she has every size in

Scott Baird is the President of the Chamber ofCommerce of the Nyacks; he is a commercial re-altor with Rand Commercial Services. His e-mail address: [email protected]

the store, just one sample of each item isdisplayed.

Paulette serves both men and women. Herbusiness is all about knowing her customersand bringing something special to them.She travels to Italy two to three times a yearto connect with the latest trends. She worksclosely with clothing designers to bring homestyles that appeal to her customers’ tastes.Paulette is also a fashion artist in her ownright. She designs jewelry, which is made inItaly. She designs her own line of shoes,blending high fashion with comfort. In thesame vein, the handbags she carefully selectscombine trendy looks with practicality.

Special touches, such as making sure shoeshave no pinch points and ensuring the fitand drape of clothing are perfect, makePaulette’s product line one of the treasuresof Nyack. �

an online petition at [email protected]

TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONALToastmasters is a not-for-profit organization helping promoteeffective public speaking and the enrichment of leadershipskills. Nyack Toastmasters, chartered in the Spring of 2011,meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month (Sept 13& 27), from 7 to 8:30pm at Nyack Library. For info, phone347.268.9182.

FARM TO YOU FEST 2012For the first time in history, the public is invited to visit Rock-land farms—including some that are not generally open tothe public. A celebration of local agriculture takes placeSunday, Sept 30 made possible by the Rockland Farm Al-liance (RFA). This in response to a growing interest in localfood and knowing your farmer.

Starting at the Cropsey Community Farm in New City, visitorsreceive a map of participating locations and a schedule of

events throughout the county. Included on the self-guidedtour are Rockland’s only dairy farm, orchards, micro-farms,local nurseries that have operated for generations, homegardeners who sustain themselves with their harvest, andmore. Workshops, tours, cooking demonstrations and chil-dren’s activities will be featured throughout the day atCropsey Community Farm.

The Farm Tour is self-guided, no reservations required,10am to 4pm, rain or shine. All-day admission is $20 percarload and $10 per bicycle/motorcycle ($5 discount for RFAmembers) with proceeds to benefit Rockland Farm Alliance.For up-to-date info, visit www.rocklandfarm.org

NYACK’S SCHOOL OF CIRCUS ARTSNyack’s School of Circus Arts opens Sept. 12 at The CircusSpace at Grace Church. Amazing Grace CIRCUS! has re-named its after school circus program to reflect its local be-ginnings. To celebrate its 10th year in operation, AGC will

teach acrobatics, gymnastics, aerial, dance, acting, clowningto local kids. Nyack’s School of Circus Arts Fall Session runsfrom Sept 12 thru Dec 14. Register now by contacting Mr.Amazing (aka, Carlo Pellegrini) at 845.348.8740 [email protected] Appropriate for ages 7 to18, beginner to advanced; adult classes offered too.

Amazing Grace CIRCUS!’s celebrates its 10th Anniversarywith a new show ,“The Hippo Who Wanted to Fly,” AmazingGrace CIRCUS’ 10th Anniversary production. A children’sstory told with circus acts, ‘The Hippo Show’ will debut Oct.6 & 7 at Rockland Community College’s Cultural Arts CenterTheater. Shows are 12pm & 4pm on Oct. 6, 2pm on Oct. 7.Tickets are available at the Amazing Grace CIRCUS! websitethrough Brown Paper Tickets. Adults: $25, Children: $15,Seniors: $15. Group Sales available.Visit www.amazinggracecircus.org or call 845.348.8740and speak to Mr. Amazing.

Community Notes conclude on page 18


Friends Of the Nyacks Walking ToursTours begin at 2pm. Fee is $5 per person. No reservations required.

• EDWARD HOPPER’S NYACK Sept 16See Nyack through the eyes of artist Edward Hopper as yourguide highlights the influence of light, water & architecture.Tour begins at the Hopper House, 82 N. Broadway, Nyackat 2pm, Sept 16.

• DOWNTOWN NYACK Sept 30Trace the growth of Nyack from a small river village to amajor commercial and manufacturing center during thegilded age; see many of the same buildings that were pres-ent at the turn of the century.Tour begins at the foot of Main St, Nyack by the River at2pm, Sept 30.

• SAVE THE DATE Oct 142nd ANNUAL APPLE FEST—Apple Pie baking contest,William Tell game, apple head crafts, music, games, foodand everything APPLE ... and a special treat—Meet TheSheriff’s Horses. For more info contact Friends of the Nyacks:[email protected] or call 845.358.4973.

Book Sale & Russian Tea RoomRussian Orthodox Church : Holy Virgin Potection Church, 51 Prospect St,Nyack NY , 845.353.1155.

Come browse our Books Sale and sample Tasty Russiandesserts, tea and coffee at the Russian Tea Room Café. Largeselection of used books, CDs, VHS, LPs, cassettes, boardgames and puzzles.Sun, Sept 9, from 12 to 4pm.

‘Ladies Night’ at Maris Luisa’s"Ladies' Night: The Maria Luisa Way" gatherings resume atthe shop Sept 13 with Cindy Joseph, the creator of "Boom!"cosmetics. Details: marialuisaboutique.blogspot.com/

Nyack College Gala Faculty ConcertA highlight of the fall season, this concert features musicperformed by the faculty of Nyack College in solo and en-semble selections—a program not to be missed.Tues, Sept 25 at 7pm at Pardington Hall, Nyack CollegeSchool of Music, 1 South Boulevard, Nyack, NY. Info:845.675.4686. No charge for admission.

First Friday Film at Piermont LibraryDennis P. McHugh Library, 25 Flywheel Park West, Piermont NY. Phone845.359.2163.

First Friday Film at the Piermont Library will present JacquesTati’s “M. Hulot’s Holiday” (1953), with a special openingshort, Buster Keaton’s “Seven Chances” (1925).

This is Jacques Tati’s first film as his clueless, bumbling alterego M. Hulot—a sublime, subtle, mostly silent comedy,evoking a France now long gone. “The greatest collection ofsight gags ever committed to celluloid,” said Roger Ebert.

And since the Tati film is as slender as it is delicious, we’llpreface it with a hilarious two-reeler the great BusterKeaton. “Seven Chances,” a charming comedy, that culmi-nates with what is perhaps the most hysterical (not to men-tion, extended) chase scene ever made.Fri, Sept 7 at 7:30pm at Piermont Library. There is noadmission charge.

Armchair Walking ToursPresented by The Historical Society of The Nyacks and theFriends of The Nyacks, this popular program, now in its 17thyear, features slide presentations on local history, architec-ture and related cultural subjects. The Armchair WalkingTours are dedicated to the memory of Rockland County’sgreat historian, John Scott. The programs are produced byBrian Jennings, local history librarian at the Nyack Library.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF MARSHALL AND HENRY EMERY,the opening program in September, will be presented by ar-chitect and historian, Winston C. Perry, Jr., President of theHistorical Society of the Nyacks.

The Emery brothers defined the architectural character of theNyack community. Examples of their work include Nyack Li-brary, YMCA, St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, Reformed andMethodist Churches, the gate at Oak Hill Cemetery, numerousstores, three grand South Broadway homes and many mod-est homes.At Nyack Library, 59 S. Broadway, at 7pm Wed evening,Sept 12 AND at Valley Cottage Library the following after-noon, Thurs Sept 13 at 2pm. Seating is limited at NyackLibrary; attendees must call the library in advance to regis-ter at 845.358.3370 Ext 214 or register online.

Photographs and drawings of the Emery Brothers’ projectswill be on exhibit in the Historical Society museum at 50Piermont Ave on Saturdays from 1 to 4pm through Sept.

Art Students League Vytlacil CampusThe Art Students League Vytlacil Campus, 241 Kings Highway, Sparkill,NY. Info 845.359.1263 [email protected] (“contact” tab for directions) SullivanGallery Hours: M-Tu closed. Th, F, Sat-10 am to 5pm, W-10am to 8pm

Calendar for September 2012• MARK SAFAN: PAINTINGSThe abstract paintings of Mark Safan, League Instructor andVytlacil Critique artist, will be on exhibit in the Elizabeth V.Sullivan gallery.Sept. 15 through Nov. 10; opening Sat, Sept. 15, from 2to 5pm

• OPEN CRITIQUESGet feedback on your artwork from League instructors. 2nd &3rd Wednesdays of the month: Sept 12 & 19. 10am to 4pm.Fee: $12. Optional lunch at 1pm: $10. Call ahead to notify.

• OPEN STUDIO & RECEPTIONVisit their studios on a monthly basis and meet our residentartists who come from around the world.Thursday, Sept. 20, from 5 to 7pm

• FORGING & METAL FABRICATING WORKSHOPwith sculptor James Garvey. Discover your creativity as youwork mainly with steel to learn the basics of forging.Saturdays 10am to 1pm (excluding Sept. 1) Fee: $130

In September at RoCAAt Rockland Center For the Arts, 27 S. Greenbush Rd. West Nyack (offThruway Exit 12). Gallery hours 9-5 M-F; 9-4 Sat, 1-4 Sun

• ANNUAL FACULTY EXHIBITION & OPEN HOUSEOn view in the Emerson Gallery though Oct 3—RoCA’s tal-ented faculty exhibits their most recent artwork and projectsincluding painting, drawing, ceramics, photography, jewelryand more. Chat with the faculty, tour our studios and seedemonstrations. A great opportunity to get to know RoCA!Opening reception, Sun, Sept 9, from 2 to 5pm

• THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PETER CHENEY

On view in Gallery ONE through Oct 3—self taught artistand Nyack resident Peter Cheney’s paintings, sometimes onfound objects, reflect the simplicity and directness of countryroad signs, while his animal characters tell anecdotes of histime in Rockland County and in his day-to-day life.Opening reception, Sun, Sept 9, from 2 to 5pm

• CALLUM COOPEROn view in Media Project Spaces 1 & 2 through Oct 3. Withingenious homemade camera riggings, Australian artist andexperimental filmmaker, Callum Cooper, creates films thatflip and spin, placing the viewer inside the action, much likebeing on a ride in an amusement park. Created at the Vyt-lacil Campus of the Arts Student League of New York, 2011.Opening reception, Sun, Sept. 9, from 2 to 5pm

• FALL CLASSES FOR ADULTS AND CHILDRENinclude ceramics, painting & drawing, lampworked glassbeads, jewelry, figure drawing, abstract painting, cartooning,creative writing, handmade books, beading, family workshopsand more. RoCA’s brand new website is easy and fun to use.Classes begin Mon, Sept 10. For more info about RoCA’scurrent & upcoming programs, classes and exhibitions,visit www.rocklandartcenter.org or call 845.358. 0877.

Looking Back at Tappan Zee BridgeThe Historical Society of the Nyacks’ new exhibit, "LookingBack at Tappan Zee Bridge" in the Carnegie Room, will be onview at Nyack Library during regular library hours thru Oct 31.The goal is to inform and educate residents about the pastand what they might anticipate in the near future with thenew bridge.

Starting Sept 8 The Historical Society’s exbibit hours will ex-pand to every Saturday from 1 to 4pm. The Society needsvolunteers to staff the exhibits. To volunteer, please contactLeontine Temsky at [email protected] or call845.418.4430.

Art & Entertainm

ent

Septe

mber events


Wed, Sept 12–8pm at Nyack Center• AI WEIWEI: NEVER SORRYDirected by Alison Klayman, 2012, USA, 91 minutes, inEnglish and Mandarin with English subtitles, documentary.

China's most famous international artist and most outspokendomestic critic expresses himself through large installationsand social media. Chinese authorities don’t like what he hasto say, and have shut down his blog, beat him up, bulldozedhis newly built studio and held him in secret detention. Thisis the inside story of a digital age dissident that blurs theboundaries of art and politics.

MEET THE FILMMAKERS: Director Alison Klayman and editorJen Fineran will discuss their film after the screening.

Wed, Sept 19– 8pm at Nyack Center• A SEPARATIONDirected by Asghar Farhadi, 2011, Iran, 123 minutes, inPersian with English subtitles, rated PG-13.

“A Separation” quietly and shrewdly combines elements offamily melodrama and legal thriller. Simin wants to leaveIran with her daughter; her husband, Nader, insists on stay-ing to care for his frail father. Their dilemma plays out in anIranian courtroom, not the ideal place to discuss intimatematters. A portrait of the slipperiness of truth, the film pres-ents a society divided by sex, generation, religion and class.

Awarded the 2012 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. �

At Nyack Center, South Bdwy at Depew, NyackAll films presented digitally. Info: 845.353.2568.

Tickets:$11 gen’l adm; $9 students seniors & general members;$8 student & senior members.

Purchase tickets at door, in advance from 800.838.3006or online www.rivertownfilm.org

Rockland Historical Society Events• STONY POINT DAY TRIPwith Structural Archeologist Dr. Andrew Smith

Come tour with us and find out about historic Stony Point—it’s not just a battlefield. We meet and board the bus atFireside Restaurant on Rt. 9W (Liberty Drive) in Stony Point.We’ll step back in time and hear of Mad Anthony Wayne,see the churches of today and yesterday and visit theGilmore Sloane House. Highlights will include the PyngypSchool, lime kiln, the Ice House ruins, the oldest houses, theMitch Miller House, “Teachers Rest,” the former Lovett plant,the onetime amusement park turned arsenal…and MORE!Please join us to see, right in our own backyard, the loca-tions of significant happenings in our nation’s earlier days.A delicious luncheon at Fireside is included. Prepaid reser-vations are required.Sat, Sept 15, 9am to 1:30pm; $59 per person; HSRCmembers $54 per person.

• THE UNKNOWN PALISADES—EVENING LECTUREwith Eric Nelsen of The Palisades Interstate ParkThrough images and narrative, the story of the Palisades isbrought to life. Among topics covered: the villages that oncedotted its shores; the palatial estates that rose on the sum-mit; the epic struggle of the New Jersey Women’s Clubs andothers to preserve the cliffs from defacement by massivestone quarries; the bathing beaches and other facilities thatran at full-tilt during the early decades of the twentieth cen-tury; the work of the New Deal agencies in the park duringthe Great Depression; and the oasis that the park has be-come in today’s busy world.Thurs, Sept 27, 7:15pm at Historical Society, 20 Zukor

Road, New City, Admission is free, reservations are required;space is limited—to reserve your spot, call 845.634.9629or e-mail [email protected] Visit our website:www.RocklandHistory.org

Exhibit on Sparkill Creek WatershedDuring September, in partnership with the Sparkill CreekWatershed Alliance, Piermont library will present an exhibi-tion entitled “The Creek, the Marsh, the River: Our Water-shed,” held as part of the 2012 Hudson River Rambletaking place each weekend in September as a celebration ofthe culture and natural resources within the Hudson RiverGreenway and the Hudson River Valley Heritage Area. Anopening reception and panel discussion is scheduled for 2pmSun, Sept 16, in Piermont Library’s Hudson River Room.

Local author speaks at libraryWest Nyack resident James F. Simon, Dean Emeritus at NYLaw School, will speak about his latest book, “FDR and ChiefJustice Hughes: The President, the Supreme Court, and theEpic Battle Over the New Deal,” at Nyack Library on Thurs,Sept 20 at 7:30pm. The discussion of this timely history willshed light on the relationship between the Presidency andthe Supreme Court during the 1930s, and will examinetoday's complexities and impact on public policy. Free ofcharge. Copies of the book will be available for purchaseand autographing.

Comedy at Tappan Reformed ChurchComedian Donna East returns to the Manse Barn stage afterher acclaimed appearance in 2009. Known for entertainingtroops in 11 countries, she has appeared at the NY ComedyClub, Caroline’s Comedy Club, NBC lifetime Television andStandup Comedy in NYC. This month she appears in Tappanat the Manse Barn.Sat, Sept 8 at 8pm at the Manse Barn, 32 Old Tappan Rd,Tappan, NY, in the historic center of town. Tickets are$20 per person or $90 for a group of five.


September 2012a gFlower:ASTERsymbol of loveof variety

Birthstone:SAPPHIREsymbol ofwisdom

SUN MON TUES WED THU FRI SAT

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

R

S

R

D first quarter

last quarter

newmoon

full-moon

ARBmeets7:30 p

ARMCHAIRWALKINGTOUR

see pg 14

Nyack JusticeCourt 9:30a

BWC meets4:30p

EC meets 7p

VB meets7:30p

MARKSAFAN

PAINTINGS atArt StudentsLeaguesee pg 14

Nyack JusticeCourt 5p

HAmeets 7p

Nyack PlanningBd meets 7:30p

2 FRIENDS OFTHE NYACKSWALKINGTOURSsee pg 14

Rosh Hashanah


Nyack VBmeets 7:30p

30

Nyack ZBAmees 7:30 p




CONCERTAT NYACKCOLLEGEsee pg 14

Be good and you will be lonesome.—Mark Twain 1835—1910

Saturday

Sunday

CALENDAR ABBREVIATIONS NYACK COMMITTEES

VB=Village BoardPB=Planning BoardZBA=Zoning Board of AppealsBWC=Board of Water CommissionersHA=Housing AuthorityARB=Architectural Review BoardPC=Parks CommissionEC=Environmental Committee

Village Hallsclosed forLabor Day



EC meets 7p

Nyack PCmeets 7p

Yom Kippur

FACULTY EXBIBIT AND OPEN HOUSE atRckland Center For the Artsopening reception Sept 9

see pg 14

At NyackLibrary—

LOOKING BACKAT THE TZBRIDGEsee pg 14

SeptemberFeststreet fairsee pg 12

BOOK SALE andTEA ROOMsee pg 14

FREEFIRSTFRIDAYFILM

see pg 14

RivertownFilm SocietySept 12 & 19see pg 15

skateboardcontestpg 12

Farm Festpg 13


exchange number is 845

TheNyackVillagerEditor JAN HABERContributing Editor SHEL HABERCorrespondent FRANK LoBUONOPublishers JAN & SHEL HABERCommunity advisor FRANCES PRATTOffice Manager JOYCE BRESSLER

Founded in 1994, The Nyack Villager is published monthly, mailed on or about the first of each month to every postal address in eight Hudson Rivervillages—Nyack, Upper Nyack, Central Nyack, South Nyack, Grand View, Upper Grandview, Piermont &Palisades (zipcodes 10960, 10964 & 10968).

ColumnistsPETER SEGALL, DVM • DAN SHAW, LCSWJON FELDMAN • JIM LEINER • RIC PANTALEDONNA COX • HARRIET CORNELL • PETER KLOSEHOLLY CASTER • CINDY COLIGAN

NYACKVILLAGERADDRESSES PO Box 82, Nyack, NY 10960-0082 e-mail: [email protected]• Editorial / advertising phone (845) 735-7639 • Fax (845) 735-7669

on the Internet at www.nyackvillager.com The Nyack Villager is on the Internet courtesy of Devine Design.Published monthly by Nyack Villager, LLC © 1994—2012

All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission is forbidden.

Phone NumbersAMBULANCECORPS 911

non-emergency 358 4824TOREPORTAFIRE 911POLICE EMERGENCY 911

non-emergency 359 3700POISONCONTROL 1-800 + 3366997RPTCHILDABUSE 1-800 + 342 3720BATTEREDWOMEN 634 3344HOSP EMERGENCY 3482345

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�South Nyack VIllage Hall 282 S B’wy, S. NyackPOLICE NON EMERGENCY

�Upper Nyack VIllage Hall N. Bdwy, U. Nyack

�Grand View VIllage Hall 118 River Rd

�Piermont VIllage Hall 478 Piermont Ave

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Get a free copy of The NyackVillagerat Nyack, Piermont, New City &Valley Cottage Libraries,Best Western Inn Nyack, Koblin’s Pharmacy, RuncibleSpoon, Hogan’s in Nyack, Nyack Village Hall & selectedlocations; available while they last, starting near the firstof each month. Residents in the eight river villages shouldreceive a Villager each month in the mail; if you don’t, letus know and we’ll fix it. All others may subscribe at $18 for1 year (12 issues).

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ADVERTISE IN THE NYACK VILLAGER ... the ONLY publicationthat is MAILED to every residence in the 8 River Villages(Nyack, Upper, Central & South Nyack, Grand View on Hudson, Upper Grand-view, Piermont & Palisades.)

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Ourwebsite has a pdf view of the entiremagazinewhichmeans, if you have an ad inThe NyackVillager, our Internet visitorswill see it exactly as it was printed.

Wemake it easy for you to become an advertiser. We’ll even help design your first ad—at no extra cost. For prices and sizes, visit www.nyackvillager.com and find get info nearthe bottom of the first page of ourwebsite. Or call us at (845) 735-7639.


by Donna Cox

Buying a home isquite possibly thelargest investment you will ever make and knowing as much as pos-sible about a property before you buy it is imperative. Xat’s wherea professional home inspection comes in. A home inspection shouldbe an objective, visual examination of a home and an evaluation ofthe home's mechanical systems, plumbing and electrical systems, in-terior elements, roof, attic, foundation, basement, visible structureand more. By observing and asking questions, you can learn a greatdeal about the home, how its systems work and tips on routine maintenance. A home in-spector can identify possible issues as well as recommend preventive measures which canavoid costly future repairs. Keep in mind that no house is perfect. If the inspector finds issuesthat need to be addressed, it doesn't necessarily mean you shouldn't buy the house, only thatyou will know in advance what the issues are and can evaluate your options. After the inspec-tion, you will have a much clearer understanding of the property you are about to purchaseand will be able to make a confident buying decision. With that, here are the homes that soldduring July.

• THEHOMES LISTEDBELOWWERE SOLDBYAVARIETYOFBROKERS PROUDLY SERVINGTHERIVERVILLAGES.

SUMMARY Source: GHVMLS YTD Comparison Report

July 2012 YTD vs. July 2011 YTD - Single Family HomesNew inventory (the number of homes going on the market) increased 5.4% (156 YTD 2012 vs. 148 YTD2011). Xe number of sales increased 19.1% (56 YTD 2012 vs. 47 YTD 2011). Xe average sales price ofhomes that have sold decreased approximately 11.5% to $676,877. Overall, the average sales price for sin-gle family homes that have sold in Rockland County (inclusive of the river villages) was $417,669, down5.1% over the same period last year.

July 2012 YTD vs. July 2011 YTD - CondosNew inventory (the number of condos going on the market) decreased 1.8% (54 YTD 2012 vs. 55 YTD2011). Xe number of sales increased 47.1% (25 YTD 2012 vs. 17 YTD 2011). Xe average sales price ofcondos that have sold increased 1.8% to $369,293. Overall, the average sales price for condos that sold inRockland County (inclusive of the river villages) was $223,600, down 7% over the same period last year. �

ColonialVictorianTownhouse

20 Burd St70 Clinton Ave525 Gair St

$ 660,000810,000810,000

$ 699,000829,000850,000

41.12.1

343

NyackS. NyackPiermont

STYLE LOCATION ADDRESS BEDROOMS BATHS LIST PRICE SALE PRICE

They got what?!

NYACK COLLEGE HONOREDFor the second year in a row, The Chronicle of Higher Educa-tion named Nyack College a 2012 “Great College to WorkFor,” citing four categories: work/life balance, confidence insenior leadership, supervisor/department chair relations, andrespect and appreciation.

“It is an honor for me to work with faculty and staff who aresuch extraordinarily accomplished men and women. Our suc-cess as an institution can be credited to the part that eachassociate contributes to fulfilling our mission,” says Dr.Michael Scales, president of Nyack College.

IMPROVED ROUTE 9 BICYCLE SAFETYAn enhanced safety plan with new, high visibility signage onRte 9W in Clarkstown and Orangetown is expected to helpguide cyclists along the safest routes, make it clear to mo-torists that cyclists have a right to be on the roadway and tourge them to maintain three feet of safe distance when pass-ing a bicycle rider.

In a plan developed with the help of Assemblywoman EllenJaffee, The NY State Department of Transportation evaluated

Bike Route 9, where it departs from Route 9W at TompkinsAvenue in Haverstraw, rejoining the highway at Short CloveRoad. It then heads off of Route 9W at Christian HeraldRoad in Upper Nyack, remaining separated until the Route340-Route 9W junction.

Bike Route 9 is a 340-mile bike route connecting New Jer-sey, New York and Canada, composed of state highways,local roads, and trailways-bike paths in State park lands.The Hudson Valley is home to 124 miles of the bike route.

YOGA AID WORLD CHALLENGE COMES TO NYACKThe Nyack yoga community will unite in a worldwide charity"yoga relay" on Sunday, Sept 9, at 4pm at Birchwood Centerin Nyack. Participants in the challenge raise funds for one ofthe Yoga Aid partner charities and then celebrate theirfundraising efforts in a special 2-hour yoga class taught bythe area's finest instructors including Charlene Bradin, PaulaHeitzner, Lena Madsen and Gail Walsh.

The event is open to all who register and donate or raise$25 on www.yogaaid.com Also—look for a special Face-book page with more info on the Yoga Aid Nyack effort atwww.facebook.com/yogaaidnyack �

E-mail BRIEF Community Notes to The Nyack Villager [email protected] by 9/15 for our October issue.

Community notesstart on page 12


BACK TOSCHOOLFall, 2012

The River Villages: rich in education

COLLEGE

� Nyack College, Nyackaccredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges andSchools, offers undergraduate degrees in 46 majors. Gradu-ate degrees include Master of Business Administration, Mas-ter of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Divinity, and Masterof Professional Studies. Campus is located on 102 acreswith spectacular views. Info: Marielle Pasquale 845.675.4414.

PRE-K THRU HIGH SCHOOL

� Blue Rock School, West Nyack,A progressive, day school for grades K thru 8, founded 1987;offering a rich educational experience that nurtures a child’sinnate love of learning. Class sizes are small with a chal-lenging academic curriculum integrated with the arts, natureand play. Info: visit www.bluerockschool.org or call 845.627. 0234.

� Green MeadowWaldorf School, Chestnut Ridgeoffers Parent & Child classes for babies/toddlers, serves chil-dren from Nursery through 12th grade. Founded in 1950.Green Meadow students go on to top colleges, fulfilling ca-reers, and are known for their resilience and creativity. Info:845. 356. 2514 ext 311 or www.gmws.org

� The River School, Nyack,a small, private elementary school, providing classical edu-cation and encouraging cooperation among a diverse bodyof students, parents and faculty. A wide variety of activitiesand small classes develop each child’s unique gifts. Info:www.riverschoolnyack.com or e-mail [email protected]

� Rockland Country Day School, CongersOffers a culture of inclusion, individuality, and innovationenabling students to maximize their strengths and blazetheir own paths. College prep program promotes criticalthinking, creative expression, integrity, community serviceand the cherishing of diversity. Pre K -12th grade Contact:845. 268. 6802 ext. 227 or www.rocklandcds.org

� Rockland Jewish Academy West Nyack,opens in September 2012 as a Pre-K to 5th Grade inde-pendent Jewish day school, offering a full curriculum of gen-eral and Jewish Studies, providing students with world-classeducators and facilities. Contact: 362.4200 ext 207 orwww.rocklandjewishacademy.org

� Saddle River Day School, Saddle River, NJFounded in 1957; beautiful 26-acre campus, coed, collegeprep day school; approx. 325 students in grades K-12.Seven to one student-to-teacher ratio insures personalizedattention. Academic environment embraces values of respon-sibility, honesty, compassion & respect. Contact: 201. 327.4050 or www.saddleriverday.org

ART AND MUSIC

� Lanti-Yates Music Studio, South Nyack,an intimate studio that engages students of all musical lev-els, interests, and ages. Professional faculty specialize inpiano, voice, guitar, and drums. Performance opportunitieshelp students share their passion for music. Info: 845.405.3615 or www.lantiyatesmusic.com

� Rockland Center For the Arts, West Nyack,offers hands-on art programs for all age and skill levels inceramics, painting, drawing, creative writing, glass, cartoon-ing, jewelry making, photography, family workshops andmore—all taught by professionally trained artists in fullyequipped studios. Nestled in nature with galleries of con-temporary art. Info: www.rocklandartcenter.org or 845. 358.0877.

� Rockland Conservatory of Music, Pearl Rivera not-for-profit community music school founded in 1956.We offer music and voice lessons for students of all ages andabilities, also offers Women’s and Children’s Choruses, StringOrchestra, Music Therapy and a variety of concerts andevents. Info: [email protected] or 845.356.1622.

� Vytlacil Campus, Art Students League, SparkillThe Vytlacil campus of the renowned Art Students League ofNY offers weekend Workshops, Open Artwork Critiques byLeague instructors, and a monthly Open Studio event. ArtExhibitions in the Elizabeth V. Sullivan Gallery feature localartists of distinction. Info: www.artstudentsleague.org or845.359.1263.

PRESCHOOLS

� Jewish Preschool of the Nyacks, Upper NyackOffering a strong, early childhood program based on the cur-riculum advocated by the National Association for the Educa-tion of Young Children, combined with exposure to Jewishculture for both unaffiliated and affiliated families. Open-ing in September 2012 in Upper Nyack. Contact: Rabbi Jef-frey Abraham at [email protected]

� The Montessori Center of NyackFounded in 1978. Offers a strong academic, social and artis-tic foundation for children ages 2-5 in morning, afternoon,and full-day sessions, with Breakfast, After-School and Uni-versal Pre-Kindergarten programs. Accredited by the Na-tional Association for the Education of Young Children andaffiliated with the American Montessori Society. Contactwww.NyackMontessori.com [email protected] �


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