Blunt Mountain mint, Pycnanthemum Muticum, transplanted from the Harmony Hall Herb Garden to the Saltbox Environmental Research Center in Torne Valley by volunteers Nathan and Angela.

The slow, steady work by hand and machine to clean up Torne Valley is bearing fruit. The story of how 55 gallon drums of paint sludge trucked from the long-closed Mahwah automobile factory and dumped in the valley are now legendary. Continue Reading

The mini trailer park is set up again in Sloatsburg across from the Post Office. Catering trucks and other production trailers have returned as the NBC sci-fi fantasy show Believe assembles in the area for more semi-rural scenes out on Johnsontown Road. Continue Reading

The Village of Suffern recently announced the formation of a new Downtown Committee that will be tasked with helping to shape a revitalization effort that attracts more people to the village center.

Marcello’s Ristorante in Suffern takes over the Lafayette Theater Sunday for two pre-Valentine concert. Tickets are $30.

One business owner in particular enthusiastically endorsed Mayor Trish Abato’s plan, even inviting the committee to hold its first meeting at his restaurant, with lunch on the house. Marcello Russodivito, owner and chef extraordindaire of Marcello’s Ristorante, has been off working on his own as a one-man economic whirlwind. His popular Italian eatery in Suffern already serves  as a lively center of dining and nightlife along Lafayette Street. Whether it’s a quite birthday dinner celebration, wine tasting with friends, cooking class, or jazzy evening at the restaurant’s piano bar, Marcello’s is a hive of activity. Continue Reading

Saturday offers an opportunity to go out mid morning and get comfortable in a deep dark theater seat for the strange antics of Gloria Swanson in the classic movie Sunset Boulevard.

Part of the on-going Ramapo Film Festival, Sunset Boulevard plays Saturday, November 16, at 11:30 a.m. The mighty mighty Wurlitzer pre-film concert takes place at 11 a.m, featuring the talents of Jeffrey Barker. Continue Reading

Cap off the nice weekend weather with a stroll down Lafayette Avenue in Suffern Sunday, June 2, during the second in a series of Street Fairs.

“We’re calling it the New Suffern Street Fair because we were getting feedback that the fair was getting a bit stale,” explained Greater Suffern Chamber of Commerce President Suzanne Daycock. “We’re working hard to freshen things up a bit in an effort to attract visitors to the area and to its business community. There is so much history in western Rockland, and so many great places for people to eat and to shop,” Daycock said. Continue Reading

“No one in, no one out,” said a Ramapo police officer standing guard at one of the two back entrances to the Town of Ramapo offices Wednesday afternoon, reported Rockland Newsday reporter Sarah Armaghan.

With October’s chill mornings and cool evenings, now’s an ideal time to get out and pick the last of fall’s bounty. Apples and fresh garden goods cheer up any day, especially if there’s someone handy in the kichen.

Recently the Rockland Farm Alliance held its first countywide farm fest, with walking tours of Rockland County’s unique working farms. Continue Reading