Bill Demarest reports on local Hudson Valley happenings through his site, Nyack Free Press. Demarest reported on the breaking news story Monday morning of a body found in the Hudson River off of Stony Point. 

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By Geoff Welch, Curator, Harmony Hall

Film Composer Howard Shore Talked Movie Music Magic

Tuxedo Park resident, Howard Shore is a well-known composer of film scores including, among many, the popular “Lord of the Ring” trilogy Silence of the lambs, Naked Lunch, Philadelphia, Ed Wood, The Aviator, Hugo and the Hobbit. He also has composed a piano concerto a cello concerto, and an opera, The Fly. On Saturday, September 28, Shore gave a talk for the Tuxedo Park Library that was moved to the larger space of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, just inside the gates of Tuxedo Park, to accommodate more people. The church is stunning with its Tiffany and LaFarge stained glass windows. A modest sized screen and sound system was deployed to present a number of film clips, excerpts from orchestral performances and a lovely short documentary by Shore’s wife, Elisabeth. Continue Reading

Bill Demarest reports on local Hudson Valley happenings through his site, Nyack Free Press. Demarest recently attended a Nyack village court session related to rowdy night life along the old main drag.  

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Surprised parents ran into a morning mess of construction at Sloatsburg Elementary School Thursday. Crews from Carbro construction were in the road and in the way, with heavy equipment loudly competing with local traffic as parents tried to make their regular morning run to drop off students.

Nice new wood chip piles that steamed in the morning chill and troublesome tress cut along property lines — these are just a few of the benefits some local residents have received from recent Orange and Rockland storm hardening work.

It’s hard to keep track of which O&R project is what, as the company’s in the second year of a $143 million capital improvement program that includes distribution line upgrades, new power poles, upgraded wire, and storm hardening. Continue Reading

Ken Wojehowski has worked his gym magic in the Ramapo Central Schools outpost of Sloatsburg Elementary School for a few years now — long enough to have a legend. Mr. Woj, as he’s popularly known, is often the first person to introduce many Sloatsburg kids to serious physical and sports activity via his innovative gym programs.

And it’s run, run, run leading up to the annual Ramapo Central elementary school cross country meet at Suffern High School, where Mr. Woj’s Sloatsburg teams are known monsters. Continue Reading

This weekend marks the official change of season. So, that means the holidays in all their many manifestations are close upon us.

One corner shop in Tuxedo is celebrating its one-year anniversary and wants to spread the good cheer. Whether you’re heading out to the Rennaissance Faire up in Sterling Forest or wandering down the booths of the Tuxedo Farmers’ Market this Saturday, visit BackHome Antiques. The store with the red door looks small from the outside but once inside, the store sprawls with two stories of antique, collectibles and interested items. Continue Reading

The days do shorten. This year it feels like the fall season has already arrived. But the official change of season takes place Sunday during the Autumn Equinox, which occurs at 4:44 p.m. The Harvest Moon, or full moon closest to the autumnal equinox, has risen evening’s over the Ramapo Mountains. Continue Reading

Fatigue, rolling fevers, aching joints, and worried sleeplessness — these are a few of the symptoms of that little tick terror known as Lyme Disease.

For many doctors and insurance companies, Lyme is a pain not only in the neck but in the bottom line. Lingering symptoms and hard to diagnose maladies associated with Lyme have caused the medical and insurance industries to often isolate and ignore many people with the disease. Today, once a firm diagnosis is made, Lyme is typically treated with anywhere from a tw0-week to 21 day cycle of antibiotics — widely considered in the medical industry as a “cure.” Continue Reading

Have you always wanted to eat at a few Suffern restaurants but just never found the time to narrow your choices. Well, Wednesday’s A Taste of Suffern offers you the perfect the opportunity, where for $30 you can get a bellyful of appetizers from ten different Suffern hot spots plus know that it’s all money well spent.

A Taste of Suffern is one of three taste of fundraisers that the Rockland YMCA holds throughout the year, with Wednesday’s being presented by the Suffern Greater Chamber of Commerce. Nearly every family in Sloatsburg with kids has at one time or another had a member go a tumbling or dancing at the Suffern Y on Washington.

“It’s a lot of fun, especially if you go with someone” said Fritz Brevil, membership coordinator for Rockland YMCA about Rockland Y’s foody fundraisers. Brevil said the June Taste of Nyack drew some 100 people who wandered the village tasting foods of some of the village’s most popular cafes and restaurants. The Rockland YMCA also holds A Taste of Pearl River.

“You get to try out restaurants that you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t had the time,” said Brevil.

Ten of Suffern’s most popular restaurants will participate in Wednesday’s tasty fundraising event. The cost per person is $30 buys you an evening’s worth of appetizers. You must call the Rockland YMCA for a reservation. It’s easy. Beth or her staff will expecting your call at 845-358-0245.

Some of the participating restaurants include Hacienda de Don Manuel, Marcello’s Ristorante, Ravi’s, and El Banquetes. A Taste of Suffern begins at 6 p.m. with a shotgun start, meaning each ticket or set of tickets will give an assigned starting restaurant. If there’s a particular restaurant that you want to begin with, the Rockland YMCA will try to accommodate you. And then head out and enjoy the offerings. Even though the participants will be serving appetizers, you will be filled. The whole evening ends up at Ravi’s, where dessert and door prizes will be presented after 9 p.m.

Can you say date? A Taste of Suffern will keep you moving along so you won’t have to work hard on the conversation. Just comment on the delicious food.

“What I love about the Taste of Suffern event each year is that it provides a unique opportunity to taste some exquisitely fattening dishes from an eclectic assortment of American and international traditions without the traditional guilt,” said Suzanne Daycock, president of the Suffern Greater Chamber of Commerce. “Suffern is a fabulous place to visit if you’re a fan of great food and the YMCA is a great group to support. I also think its a great opportunity for Suffern to show off some of the county’s best restaurants in a setting that is historic, beautiful and full of acres of free parking. How can you miss?”

To purchase of ticket for a Taste of Suffern, call the Rockland YMCA offices at 845-358-0245 and put in your order. Tickets cost $30 per person.