Rivertown Magazine 03-04

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Register at www.stac.edu/openhouse-RT or scan

Did you know we’re test- optional and offering Scholarships amounting to at least $50,000 over 4 years? Come to Spring Open House to find out more!

WHAT’S INSIDE

OUR FEATURES

12 PRESERVING RIVER HOOK: A 5-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

By Ryan Bieber

16 FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY: A COMMUNITY APPROACH

By Jennifer L. Warren

By Tom Clancey

18 GROWING UP ARTISTIC IN NYACK: EDWARD HOPPER HOUSE

By Janie Rosman

OUR REGULARS

By McKenzi Taylor

By Minoo Hersini

James Carsey

Marsico

64 PIERMONT’S BASQUE TAPAS BAR & RESTAURANT GOES BICOASTAL IN TARRYTOWN

By James Carsey

70 HARNESSING THE HUDSON WITH MASTER BUILDER MARTIN GINSBURG

By Bruce Apar

72 DESSERTS WITH A MOCHI-TWIST AT NEWCOMER SOPOONG DONUTS

By Elyse Toribio

74 MAUREEN’S JAZZ CELLAR BRINGS MUSIC ALIVE

By Elisa Zuckerberg

76 PUTTING THE FUN BACK IN ARTS FUNDING: GOVERNMENT GRANTS ENRICH STUDENTS

By Kyle Chouinard

10 MEET THE MAKER: BLOGGER AND BAKER MONIQUE POLANCO

By Joanne Louis-Paul

62 SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE MONTH SPONSORED BY GARY’S GUTTER SERVICES

Nominate Your Favorite Rockland Sports Star

67 WALKING THROUGH HISTORY: NEW BRIDGE LANDING PARK

By Steve Kelman

81 CALL ME CRAZY!: IN THE BEGINNING … by Phil Bunton

82 WELCOME TO RIVERTOWN PET PARADE

MEET A FEW OF OUR FRIENDS

15 CHOOSING A COLLEGE AND FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

21 THE GRACIE ROSE OFFERS A TASTE OF HOME

59 TIA MARIA BOUTIQUE & NEW SYNERGY SALON JOIN FORCES TO ROCK NEW CITY

63 PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY LEONARD J. BIRBROWER, ESQ.: A CHAMPION IN AND OUT OF THE COURTROOM

73 IMAGINE WORKING WITH LISTING AGENT KATE KENNEDY AT IMAGINE PROPERTIES

80 A LOOK AT HOME SALE PRICES BY DONNA COX OF HOWARD HANNA RAND REALTY

Julian and Natalie Dion are owners of The Carpentry Shop in Tappan, p47 Photo by Kelsey Ann Rose

In & Around Our River Towns

A SHORE THING

How’re you doing? Been awhile. Hope you’re OK.

If that seems an abrupt way to announce ourselves, it’s because we see this as less an introduction than a re-introduction. You see, we have it on good authority that most of the eyes scanning these words belong to people, like you, who are familiar with Rivertown Magazine – and have missed it since the last issue was published in March 2020. That was the month that you-know-what happened.

For those new to these pages, our arms couldn’t be open any wider to welcome you into the fold.

We are proud purveyors of quality-of-life journalism. You can find all the nasty news you want (or not) in plenty of places. Not here. There’s a surplus of that bad stuff and a shortage of the good stuff. We’re here to do our part to restore a certain balance. There is no shortage of people doing good things who don’t get the recognition they deserve. If you know any of those people – and we’re sure you do – send them our way, to editor@ rivertownsmedia.com.

For a quick and fun origin story of how Rivertown got its start, check out founder Phil Bunton’s aptly-titled “Call Me Crazy!” column on page 81.

Flash forward to today, when Rivertown serves as a testament to the durability of regional magazines, with a publishing team that has grown by leaps and bounds.

The leaps are across the Hudson, where we’ve expanded our bounds to pay attention, when it serves your interests, to Rockland County neighbor Westchester County. After all, like the 1970s War song says, “Why Can’t We Be Friends”?

Just as we serve the Hudson’s eastern coast of River Towns, from Irvington north to Peekskill, we look forward to doing the same for this side of the river, spreading the good news that enriches Rockland and Bergen. Whichever side we’re on, our passion remains the same, as does our practice of community journalism, acting as an advocate for our readers and as a catalyst for local commerce.

Think of us as building a social and cultural bridge with an easy-on ramp for both sides of the Hudson to talk to, and learn from, each other, as naturally adjacent communities. After all, whatever you choose to call it, that is a bridge that spans the river, not a barrier. Who says you can’t be in two places at once? We like to think of it as a shore thing.

Benny Castro believes in being bi-coastal. The chef-owner of Piermont’s popular Basque Tapas Bar and Restaurant, which you can read about on page 62, has just added a location in Tarrytown. And there’s a lot more of that lifestylish coverage packed into these 84 pages, and in every issue. We’re bi-monthly for now, with our eye on going monthly later this year. The more enthused the response from residents and local businesses, the quicker it’ll happen.

We’ve all come a long way since that airborne disturbance immobilized our lives in March 2020. Now that it’s cool again for us all to rejoin the human race, we look forward to meeting you in person at one of our Rivertown Exchanges, starting March 28 with our Relaunch Event at Farm at Hotel Nyack. Find out more on page 20.

Whether there or anywhere, see you in and around our River Towns.

MANAGING EDITOR

Gina Carey Gina@RivertownsMedia.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Design2Pro

CONTRIBUTORS

Ryan Bieber

Robert Brum

James Carsey

Kyle Chouinard

Tom Clancey

Stephanie Conte

Meghan Donovan

Samantha Finch

Minoo Hersini

Steve Kelman

Tevin Kim

FOUNDER

Phil Bunton

ADVERTISING SALES

Joanne Louis-Paul

Maggie Marsico

Janie Rosman

Kristin Sandgren-Jolain

Sandra Szpicek

McKenzi Taylor

Elyse Toribio

Nikki Visciglia

Jennifer L Warren

Elisa Zuckerberg

Lucia Ballas-Traynor - 917-602-3939

Lucia@RivertownsMedia.com

Steve Crowell - 203-918-1747

Steve@RivertownsMedia.com

Judy Famulare - 201-647-3553

Judy@RivertownsMedia.com

Joanne Louis-Paul - 845-667-2269

Joanne@RivertownsMedia.com

Tom Riley - 845-300-4296

totrwriter@aol.com

Contact our editorial offices at editor@RivertownsMedia.com

Visit us online at > rivertownmagazine.com

TZB Media LLC

109 Grand Street

Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520

Rivertown Magazine is published bi-monthly by TZB Media LLC in cooperation with Moon Media Group LLC. It is distributed free of charge at hundreds of locations throughout Rockland County (NY) and Bergen County (NJ), as well as other select places in Hudson Valley. Rivertown Magazine is a trademark of Moon Media Group LLC and TZB Media LLC. All materials are the property of Rivertown Magazine, Moon Media Group LLC and TZB Media LLC, and may not be copied or reproduced without written consent of the publishers. Copyright ©2023.

ALAIN BEGUN BRUCE APAR

MEET the MAKER MONIQUE POLANCO

STORY BY JOANNE LOUIS-PAUL

When you visit Monique Polanco’s Peaches 2 Peaches food blog, it is clear that this social-worker-turned-professionalbaker pours love into everything she does. Her page is downto-earth yet elegant, inspirational yet practical, and above all else, full of delicious and decadent treats.

Growing up in the Bronx, Polanco spent much of her childhood alongside her grandmother, helping her bring her yummy recipes to life. Once she became a teenager, Polanco started baking on her own and hasn’t stopped since.

This passion has been an anchor for her. “Whatever was going on in my life, being in the kitchen has always been important to me,” she said. “It puts me in a great mood and gives me a sense of satisfaction when I see the end result of what I make. It’s captivating.”

Lemon Meringue Tart

Cherry Galette

Photos by Monique Polanco

Polanco and her husband moved to Rockland County eight years ago. Soon after settling in, she was laid off from her job of 15 years as a school social worker. Shortly after, she had their daughter and started looking for a way to earn an income from home. She literally did an online search for “how to make money from home while on maternity,” and food blogging was one of the options that popped up.

If you’re looking to build your food photography muscle, Polanco highly recommends these resources:

• Foodtography School by Sarah Fennel

• Eva Kosmas Flores’ Food Photography, Styling, and Branding course

This was the perfect fit for the new mom. She immediately started taking photos of her food, posting them to social media, and writing a blog. Five years later, she has a profitable business that allows her to share her unique creations with the world from the comfort of her kitchen. “I want people to go to my blog, see beautiful imagery of delicious food and drinks, and feel excited to try my recipes.”

• Artificial Academy by Joanie Simon

desserts she’s had at restaurants, and goodies she’s come across on the internet. “I try to put my own spin on them by adding additional flavors and ingredients until I create something unique.”

A little over a year ago, her carefully crafted blog caught the attention of a publishing company and they approached her to write her first cookbook — a lifelong dream come true.

Releasing this fall, it will be chock full of fun, celebratory desserts, including butter pecan cake, sweet potato cheesecake, white chocolate bread pudding, and southern peach hand pies.

It’s worth noting that every gorgeously styled photograph on her site is taken by Polanco. She didn’t have a background in food photography, but being the self-starter that she is, she took some online courses and quickly learned and refined her skillset.

Peaches 2 Peaches gives Polanco an opportunity to express herself and put her passion and creativity into each new treat. What sets her recipes apart from all the rest is the fact that they are a distinctive mix of her family’s favorites, memorable

When asked what makes her cookbook stand out, she answered, “People should want to buy my book because I am a home baker, just like most people. I didn’t get a degree in culinary education, nor was I classically trained. I learned to bake from my family members and by figuring out recipes on my own through trial and error. The recipes in my book are easy to follow, deliciously created, and perfect for any celebration!” > peachestopeaches.com

Joanne Louis-Paul is a marketing and sales professional, writer, and community builder with a heart for her native Rockland County and the Hudson Valley region at large. She loves welcoming small business owners into her ever-growing Hudson Valley United Freelancers and Entrepreneurs group on Facebook.

Jumbo Cinnamon Rolls Pie Crust

PRESERVING RIVER HOOK: A 5-YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

The 12-Acre Property Was One of Nyack’s Six Original Farms

STORY BY RYAN BIEBER | PHOTOS BY ANDREA SWENSON

When the village of Nyack bought 12 acres of land for $2.5 million in 2018, the community took on a project of unprecedented scope.

Transforming the property into what would become River Hook: The Hester Haring Cason Preserve was a formidable undertaking – and still is. Five years later, River Hook has made significant progress, but there is a lot of work to be done well into the future.

Walking the preserve, the most visible efforts thus far are the various landscaping projects and artwork that

dot the property. Sugar maples line the entrance, while colorful sculptures stand scattered throughout the fields.

Visitors can walk along paths or lay in the grass, admiring views of the Hudson River as they go. Passersby may also peruse the outside of a 1930s estate home, a brick cottage, and high-peaked stables. While the buildings are locked and the inside needs repair, the antique charm of the brick and stone buildings’ exterior is undeniable.

The plan is to make use of these existing structures and highlight Nyack’s natural and historical beauty. The preserve sits

on land that is one of the six original farms that made up the village of Nyack. For nearly 100 years, the land belonged to the Haring family. It was known by residents as the “Sheep Farm” for the bountiful flock that grazed the meadow.

Now the preserve exists as a community gathering space, envisioned as a hub where nature, education, and the arts can intersect. Nyack Mayor Karen Tarapata calls the preserve the “Green Heart of Upper Nyack.” She said River Hook is meant to be a resource for locals and surrounding areas alike.

“A community really exists where you

gather, and this is the first place the village owns where people can really get together,” Tarapata said. “Our goal is to make the property really friendly, useful, and welcoming.”

Right now, the big project in the works is paving a 2,000 ft. trail that runs throughout the property. Over the years, the road has fallen into disrepair, posing a potential hazard for walkers and bikers.

While the project certainly isn’t the most glamorous renovation, Tarapata said the goal is to increase safety while also improving accessibility.

“The design vision that was originally done for the property is very grand, but we’re starting with the most useful thing, which is a good surface from one side to the other,” she said.

Worm composting

Along with the construction of the trail (which will also be wide enough for cars and work vehicles), eight parking spots will be added.

While River Hook is generally off limits to vehicles – conforming to the walkable village ideal codified in Upper Nyack’s 2020 comprehensive plan — Tarapata said there was a need to make the preserve more accessible for people with disabilities.

The paving of the path is scheduled during summer 2023. The preserve will be open throughout the process, although some sections may be closed to the public while work is underway.

Larger projects, like repairing the interior of the cottage and estate, are a few years away. The preserve relies largely on grant funding and volunteer work, organized by Tarapata and the board of Friends of River Hook.

The Friends of River Hook website mentions such ambitious projects as building a theater for music or dance, but Tarapata says the overall concept has changed post-Covid.

A River Hook community update meeting is scheduled for Saturday, March 25, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at Old Stone Church, 347 North Broadway, Nyack 10960.

“The design vision was to set a high-level approach at the very beginning,” she said. “The vision for the property has evolved over the last five years, where we realized the challenges and length of time involved with making some of these things a reality.”

That’s not to say River Hook can’t grow into a vital hub for arts and and education.

Already it’s begun hosting various educational programs, from starting a worm composting project to providing work to groups like the Boy Scouts. Volunteers can help plant native species in the spring, and Friends of River Hook is looking to bring in the New York Conservation Corps to participate in summer projects.

Sheryl LeRoy, newly appointed president of the Friends of River Hook board, said there is work to be done raising public awareness of the preserve. She and

Tarapata plan to host a town meeting in March 2023 to update the public on recent and future projects.

“The word still needs to get out more,” LeRoy said. “I think they [community members] know it exists, but there’s a lot of people who haven’t been there yet.”

LeRoy and Tarapata envision holding community or town meetings at the preserve, though restoration of the buildings’ interiors and upgrading the road will not happen for a while.

“There’s a lot of money that needs to be raised to make those improvements,” LeRoy acknowledged, with Tarapata adding that “River Hook will take 20 or 30 years to come to fruition.”

Ryan Bieber is a journalist and filmmaker based in Westchester. He enjoys beautiful hikes and good eats. Find him at ryanbiebermedia.com.

“Our goal is to make it friendly, useful, and welcoming.”

— Upper Nyack Mayor Karen Tarapata

Old stone barn was a carriage house

CHOOSING A COLLEGE AND FINDING THE RIGHT FIT

Helping your student decide where to attend college is a big decision. I understand — I’ve worked in college admissions for almost 20 years and I know the impact of where your student pursues their college degree is one that can be stressful for not only them, but for the entire family. However, it can also be a fun and exciting time.

Here are some tips that may help you navigate this important process:

1. Embrace the options, but also know your must-haves. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 3,567 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. with first-year graduates as of the 2020-2021 school year.

While I recognize this number is high, it also illustrates that the right-fit institution is out there. Your student will get a good deal of messages from many institutions. Plan now on reaching out to the colleges that your student is interested in, which will allow them to not only get information about the school but also show their interest in the institution. Stay true to the environment and qualities that will make an education the right choice for your student, and you will find the right fit.

2. Research and research some more. Beyond visiting the website and traditional college search sites, if possible, visit each campus of every institution you are considering. There is no better feeling than stepping on to the right campus for you. Do your research by asking family and friends about where they attended college and why. If you find someone who has attended somewhere, see how often they still connect with that institution.

3. Ask any and all questions of the institutions you are interested in. The most common questions we are asked, such as admissions requirements and tuition, are already listed on the college’s respective websites. Reserve your emails and phone calls with college representatives for the information that you can’t easily find. Questions about academic curriculums, expectations or work, and campus life are an excellent starting point.

See how your admissions counselor truly engages with you, and how they can connect your hopes and dreams with their college or university. It’s a good indicator of what your experience as a student might be like. Are you just a number or are you treated as an individual? Ask to speak to a current student to hear their perspective, too.

4. Enjoy the process.

One thing that gets lost among all the studying, SAT/ACT testing, resume writing, and request for recommendations is that the process should be fun. For many students, where to attend college can be the most important decision of their lives. However, if you plan, ask the right questions, and do your research, this can be one of the most exciting times and you’re bound to find the right fit.

Mike DiBartolomeo is Vice President for Enrollment Management at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY. > STAC.edu

A COMMUNITY APPROACH TO FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY

STORY BY TOM CLANCEY | PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA FINCH

Volunteers throughout Rockland County are leaving the refrigerator door open — and encouraging people to take what they need and give what they can.

The three-location initiative, known as Rockland Community Fridge, seeks to alleviate food insecurity, or a lack of access to food and nourishment for basic needs. The crisis situation that can cause psychological distress is being made worse by the pandemic, inflation, and an influx in newly arrived families, said organizers with Proyecto Faro.

“We saw that during the pandemic there was so much need for people in the community to have access to food, with dignity and without being scared,” said Sherly Fabre, an organizer with Proyecto Faro, which also offers recurring food distribution events, legal services for immigrants, and a free store at its Stony Point headquarters. “So far it’s been a really good success.”

About nine percent of Rockland County’s population, roughly 29,000 people, do not have access to a reliable source of food, making them food insecure, according to New York State Department of Health statistics from 2018, the most recent year available. The situation has likely worsened since then.

“If you were on the margins prior to the pandemic, it takes longer for low-income families to recover from something like this than it does families that are more affluent,” said Kim Cross, executive director of Nyack Center, one of the three Community Fridge locations partnered with Proyecto Faro.

“There’s a great level of need, especially now with inflation,” said Fabre. “Your dollar is not being stretched as far, and there are people who were barely making ends meet before that.”

At Nyack Center, which serves about 100 to 150 children per day, most of whom qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch, programs like the Community Fridge help fill in the gaps, said Cross.

For Proyecto Faro, or Project Lighthouse, the program also fulfills its core mission of supporting those in Rockland County who feel insecure due to their immigration status.

Community Fridge at Seed of God Church, Pomona

People are welcome to take food from the fridge locations on an as-need basis

“A lot of need is certainly arising out of an influx of a number of new families coming into the county and migrating here with very little,” said Elizabeth Roberts, Proyecto Faro’s director of administration and finance. “Getting established and trying to figure out how to start over is usually accompanied by food insecurity.”

Food donations at the three Community Fridge locations are not the only thing that’s shared. A sense of optimism that surrounds the volunteer effort is also palpable, said Roberts.

“Despite all of the difficult things that we see every day,” Roberts said, “I think we’ve seen a lot of hope that gets restimulated, or it builds on itself, because people show up for each other. There is a sense of unity and solidarity that I think gives people [hope].”

Rockland Community Fridge locations are open 24/7, except

Permitted food donations include:

¾ fresh produce

¾ granola bars

¾ trail mix

¾ puddings

¾ apple sauce

¾ fruit cups

¾ water bottles

¾ juice bottles and boxes

¾ milk

¾ disposable utensils

¾ napkins

¾ pre-packaged foods and individually packaged snacks

Please check expiration dates.

The fridge cannot accept home-cooked meals, alcohol, or opened items.

at Nyack Center, where the nonprofit host is working with the village to resolve building code issues currently prohibiting the outdoor use, said Cross.

If you would like to donate food or volunteer with Proyecto Faro, email info@proyectofarorockland.org

Tom Clancey is an independent musician and community journalist. Find him at ClanceyMusic.com.

Community Fridge Locations: •

Kiara Knight of Valley Cottage standing alongside the fridge she painted at Nyack Center

EDWARD HOPPER HOUSE

GROWING UP ARTISTIC IN NYACK

STORY BY JANIE ROSMAN

While many recognize Nyack native Edward Hopper’s paintings of seemingly expressionless figures in lonely, sad scenes, fewer may be familiar with his early work.

Visualizing young Hopper growing up in Nyack — as depicted in his drawings — brings clarity to how the public understands him, said Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center Executive Director Kathleen Motes Bennewitz. Since coming on board in October 2021, Bennewitz has taken the museum in a new direction, connecting the surrounding community more closely with Hopper’s life.

That’s the framework of the museum’s current exhibit, on view through March 26, titled Edward Hopper’s Boyhood on the Hudson River & Emerging Artistic Vision, which features art that hasn’t been seen before by the public.

Hopper and older sister Marion grew up in the 1858 Victorian home on North Broadway built by their grandparents, John DeWint Smith and Martha Griffiths Smith. He walked around the village sketching storefronts, streetscapes, shipbuilding yards, and boats on the Hudson River. Their father, Garrett Henry Hopper, operated a dry goods store (site of Grace’s Thrift Shop) a few blocks south, retiring in 1913.

The family read classics, journals, and novels, bringing to bear an artistic influence. Some of the drawings are by early ancestors of his mother, Elizabeth Smith Hopper, matron of the house who shaped her family’s culture. His great-

With this kit, children can see Nyack through Hopper’s eyes

The house was rechartered as a museum in 2017

grandfather, Joseph W. Griffiths, helped found the First Baptist Church a few blocks north of their home.

Though their home’s Victorian décor was removed during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, a small corner vignette installation with wallpaper and wainscoting with a silk gown pays homage to the domestic ambience of the original house, Bennewitz explained.

Hopper commuted to New York City after high school graduation to study illustration and fine art, and later moved to Paris for two years, after which New York City lured him back.

Trips to Nyack became more frequent after he married Josephine Nivison in 1924, as their car was kept in Nyack. As he had done while growing up in

Walking Tours from Hopper House

• South on Broadway to where Hopper’s father had a dry goods store (now Grace’s Thrift Shop)

• To the Hudson River, this tour presents young Hopper and friends as the Three Commodores who go sailing and enjoy other boat recreation, with insignia flags

• Around Marion Street (the site of his and his sister’s first primary school)

• North to the building Hopper painted that’s next to a deli (in development)

Nyack, Hopper continued sketching and scouting locations, now joined by his wife.

After the deaths in the mid- to late-1960s of Hopper, his mother, and sister, the family home fell into disrepair but was saved from demolition. In 1971, it became the Edward Hopper House Art Center. In 2000, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house

was rechartered as a museum in 2017, when it became a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit.

The museum’s Arthayer & Ruth Sanborn Gallery is dedicated to Hopper’s work and focuses on his childhood activities, while two other galleries feature rotating exhibitions of artists inspired by Hopper’s legacy, Bennewitz said.

Kids of all ages are invited to work on

Young Hopper’s notebooks

projects in the second-floor Art Lab, named “Hop into Art,” where the Nighthawks Teen Leadership Program for teen docents meets bi-monthly.

Children can “see Nyack through Hopper’s eyes” by using a kit titled “Would Be Artist Walking Tour & Activities.” It includes drawing materials, a backpack, and a sketchbook to use as youngsters venture into the Village. There are four themed and self-guided tour maps that begin at the museum. Questions and activities correspond to each route, plus the kids have a keepsake in the scenes they sketched.

A grant from the Rockland County Department of Economic Development and Tourism helps subsidize the museum’s tour maps and marketing materials.

Janie Rosman is a freelance writer and editor based in Westchester whose work appears in local and regional publications.

Where to Go

Edward

Through March 26, 2023

Edward Hopper House Museum and Study Center 82 North Broadway, Nyack 10960

(845) 358-0774

> EdwardHopperHouse.org

Hours (as of January) Thu-Fri, 1-5PM Sat-Sun, noon-5PM

The Art Lab is open to kids of all ages

A TASTE OF HOME

Small town, big Irish community; that is what some would say about the quaint hamlet of Pearl River, NY. Located a short 20 miles north of New York City, it is considered the Irish epicenter of Rockland County. That makes it the ideal location for an establishment like The Gracie Rose, a thriving Irish tea shop and in-store grocery that serves as a welcoming space to experience Irish cuisine.

What makes the establishment unique is its imported goods section. True to the slogan “a taste of home,” not only can you dine in or take food to-go, patrons can browse Irish products at the in-store grocery. The shop’s storefront window has a giant tree with teacups hung from its branches. Once inside, co-owner Tina Murphy says “people comment on how cozy and comfortable it is, and that’s the whole spirit of the business.” Co-owner Bernie Fitzgerald adds, “We want them to feel as if they’re in their own home.” Don’t forget to look up — a favorite decor piece are the teacup chandeliers!

Photo by Meghan Donovan

The three “biddies” of The Gracie Rose

Photo by Meghan Donovan

Enter the “three biddies” who own and run the business — Bernie (Foley) Fitzgerald, from County Kerry, Ireland along with Tina (Segatta) Murphy and Tara (Tonner) McDonald, both of whom grew up in town. The trio has known each other for years, and when the opportunity arose to take ownership in 2022, they joined forces without hesitation. With the love of their families, culture and the support of the community, these ladies are bringing a touch of Ireland with every plate they serve. “Being a country-specific dine-in eatery and shop, The Gracie Rose is unique; other places offer one or the other,” says McDonald.

Their menu features Irish classics, from all-day breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea, to all the sweets in between. A top seller is the traditional breakfast paired with homemade brown bread. Other favorites include fish and chips, the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) burger, the classic chicken curry, and The Friar Tuck sandwich, a chicken filet with homemade coleslaw. Satisfying all taste buds from savory to sweet, customers can nosh on shepherd’s pie, sausage rolls, homemade soups, scones, and fresh cream buns. There are no shortcuts here, and its authenticity is what has customers driving to Pearl River from Westchester to South Jersey.

Photo by Meghan Donovan

Now, to the sweets! The owners describe their baker Emma Charlton, another Pearl River local of Irish descent, as “phenomenal.” All desserts are made in-house, including Irish-style apple pie, Irish biscuit cake, sherry trifles, apple crisps, and assorted scones: white chocolate and cranberry, raisin, chocolate chip, and plain, plus other seasonal flavors.

As they near their one-year milestone as owners, the biddies are eager for the future ahead. While the holiday season is their busiest time for basket making, they are expanding the business and having them available for all occasions. Baskets can be shipped across North America with items including candy, teas, canned and dry goods — all from their instore market. These are distinguished by brand names that speak volumes to Irish immigrants, such as Barry’s, Batchelors, Cadbury, and Lucozade.

The catering side of the business is another growth area the trio is working on, offering platters of appetizers, sandwiches and desserts, just in mini versions of their traditional menu. This opportunity not only would diversify their business, but it also provides a niche other delis just don’t have. Keep these ladies in mind when celebrating life moments such as communions, graduations, and holiday parties. They are ready to bring delicious eats to the party!

The three co-owners have a clear view of what makes their business special. Their door is open to both old and new to enjoy an experience you don’t need a plane ticket for. —

Maggie Marsico

CHEF RENéE KASHUBA

AUTHENTIC BY DESIGN

Rebecca Schoneveld’s Studio Strives to Let Brides’ Unique Style Shine

STORY BY JENNIFER L. WARREN

It’s an all-too-common bridal dress formula: The gown takes center stage while the bride — along with her authenticity — is engulfed by the glitz and glamour of her garb.

Designer Rebecca Schoneveld passionately longs to flip that script. From her atelier shop in Irvington, NY, she described her philosophy in dress-making. “I want people to see the bride before the dress. She should be shining through it.”

That very attention to women’s unique personalities has been the driving catalyst behind Schoneveld’s professional fashion mission for the past two decades. The seeds of that journey were planted early. Schoneveld convinced her mother to give her sewing lessons at age four, when she created her first design: a floral sundress with ducks embellishing the straps.

That passion intensified as she reached adolescence and was unable to afford new clothes. She deconstructed bridesmaid

Photo by Amy Sims

Photo by Liza Boone

dresses and used 1970s vintage scraps from thrift stores, creating her own high school wardrobe. When prom rolled round, she wore her own design.

At 17, she landed her first fashion job, and after earning enough money, enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology. It was here that she mined critical details, honing her technical and creative skills. It was also a setting that introduced her to some cruel realities in the industry.

“Fashion is not a kind place. It’s about consumption and cashing in on women’s insecurities. As a designer, I really wanted to marry the love of luxury with my love for people,” Schoneveld explained. “I wanted to keep being creative, making things I love, but also feel spiritually whole and satisfied.”

In 2011, Schoneveld released that magic when she opened the doors to her first business and created her trademark brand: Rebecca Schoneveld New York. Rooted in making women feel like the best versions of themselves, the brand aimed to extinguish fashion stigmas, bringing back the fun.

“It’s timeless, modern, romantic with a twist that’s fresh, light, and comfortable,” said Schoneveld. “I want to be able to have these dresses passed on, keeping their relevancy.”

Not only is relevancy at the forefront, but so too is her pivotal client-centered philosophy. Empowering each client with a creative “license” to unleash her authentic self, Schoneveld and her team aspire to “speak to the soul,” while never sacrificing quality or craftsmanship.

This sometimes means throwing out the rulebook many follow for weddings. She customizes to a bride’s style and offers nontraditional elements, such as colors beyond white.

And in an industry that typically charges by the amount of material used, Schoneveld’s prices remain constant and fair no matter the dress size. The shop practices size-inclusivity, with the collection offering a full range of dress sizes, from 0-33. “Your size is not a style,” her website declares. “We design clothes that respond to your spirit first and foremost.”

“I want people to see the bride before the dress. She should be shining through it.”

—Rebecca Schoneveld

Photo by Zev Starr-Tambor

The bridal shop continues to evolve with the changing times and needs of its clients. And, even through the challenges of a pandemic, for which there is no game plan, the brand survives. After facing unprecedented times in 2020, Schoneveld made the difficult decision to close her initial Brooklyn-based locale and refocus.

The result: the 2022 Irvington Riverfront Design Studio, located on 50 South Buckhout Street. The lofty, sunny, industrial setting overlooks the majestic Hudson River, has a team of brilliant women intent on fostering an ambience of respect and positivity, as well as is a place where women can comfortably convene.

Add to that the 2023 launch of eveningwear, catering to the mother of the bride as well as other formal events, and Schoneveld cannot contain her joy and excitement, contemplating upon the possibilities.

“I’m very excited to reach a broader audience,” said Schoneveld. “We are a one-of-a-kind place in this market, allowing people to get something custom and sustainably made here in New York, using high end, luxurious fabrics, and always keeping the prices fair.”

Reflecting further on her shop’s location and love for being exactly where she is supposed to be, she added, “People in Irvington value a story, such as seeing a self-made woman who wants to give back to her community and really be a force for women for the good in it; the joy I see in my clients really invigorates and fuels me.”

Some might say: The brides — or anyone wearing a Schoneveld insignia garment — aren’t the only ones shining brightly.

Jennifer Warren is an English teacher and freelance writer who has called the Hudson Valley home for over 40 years. As an avid runner, triathlete, hiker, and all-around outdoor lover, she can’t think of any other place she would rather be, surrounded by mountains, the Hudson river and all-around incredible beauty.

Rebecca Schoneveld Bridal Atelier 50 S. Buckhout St #107G Irvington, NY 10533

Photo by Liza Boone

NEW CULINARY DESTINATION IN NEW CITY WILL OFFER SPECIAL OCCASION CATERING AND EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

After spending two decades pleasing people’s palates with exquisitely crafted food and design in his private and corporate event business, Andrew Michaels is excited to announce his expansion with a new venue designed for micro-weddings, rehearsal dinners, bridal showers and everything in between.

RH241 is a beautiful multi-purpose space for private events, parties, and corporate meetings. It will also be the site of culinary events including cooking classes, paint and sip evenings featuring local artists, wine tastings, and supper club dinners.

“We’re excited to bring our signature culinary and event style to more people in Rockland, Bergen, New York City and beyond,” says Andrew. “We look forward to welcoming guests to RH241 to celebrate their special occasions with our fantastic combination of innovative food, beautiful location, and stellar service — all customized to fit their budget.”

Located at 241 South Little Tor Road in New City, RH241 is the epitome of the modern farm-to-table destination. The sophisticated rustic-chic interior seats up to 90 people and is situated on the six-acre Red Hill Nursery with views of the historic Cropsey Farm across the street. This unique location paired with incredible food and service will make it a sought-after destination to be wined and dined!

Photos by RH241

How about halibut? Each month, a guest chef will curate a one-of-a-kind menu

Owner Andrew Michaels

The sophisticated rustic-chic interior seats up to 90 people

WHAT’S TRENDING IN WEDDINGS FOR 2023

STORY BY MCKENZI TAYLOR

Accessories Are Going Big and Bold

Capes, exaggerated veils, offbeat looks, cocktail gloves, campy ensembles and bows… if it’s over the top, you are going to see a lot more of it with 2023 wedding wardrobes. Danyelle Verhaalen of Grey Pearl Bridal Gallery in Las Vegas, Nevada, tells me that she is fielding a ton of design requests asking for “something that hasn’t been done before.”

In addition to accessories paying homage to bygone eras and movie star glam, many brides want non-traditional colors, newer necklines, mismatched color palettes, and asymmetric designs. Gone is the basic white wedding gown with the sweetheart neckline. Bridal fashion as self-expression is a major 2023 wedding trend.

Expect a Lot of Three-Year Vow Renewals

Recently, we have had quite a surprising number of vow renewal ceremony bookings for 2023 by people who were wed in 2020. With countless couples having tied the knot under less than ideal circumstances in 2020 and 2021, many are seeking a do-over without having to wait for a milestone anniversary, such as 10 or 20 or more years. The year 2020 saw a lot of courthouse nuptials, lackluster elopements, and maskedup weddings. In whatever way couples were married in 2020, chances are it wasn’t exactly what they wanted to do, and that has left a lot of couples frustrated.

Enter the 2023, three-year vow renewal ceremony. Perhaps your dream was a dramatic elopement or a micro-wedding, but you wanted to avoid all the constraints that the shutdown placed on your special day. A vow renewal is your chance for a post-pandemic do-over, this time with all the trimmings.

Many Couples Are Opting Out of Traditional Bridal Parties

Many couples who have booked 2023 weddings are either modifying the traditional bridal party or banishing it altogether. Focusing on our closest friends and family is what makes an event special. Instead of large weddings with bloated guestlists, couples are preferring VIP-only guestlists that all but eliminate the need for a formal bridal party. Another reason for this trend: while it’s a great honor to be asked, being in a bridal party is a job that comes with expenses and responsibilities. As we get older, our nearest and dearest have other pressing responsibilities, from parenthood and demanding jobs to mortgages and aging parents. The rigors of being included in a bridal party can become more burden than honor, so couples are starting to shed the tradition.

Less Greenery and More Bold Tropical Flowers

Where 2022 saw variations on gardenthemed bridal bouquets filled with greenery, 2023 is leaning less towards green accents and more towards big, colorful, tropical bridal bouquets and floral design. From orchids and hibiscus to bromeliad, ginger, angel’s trumpet and canna, mixed tropical bouquets are the new “It” bridal bouquet for 2023.

Pets at Weddings

All those pandemic puppies have ushered in a new era of pet love that goes beyond what we have seen in years past. Pups especially have become such an integral part of the American family, more couples are reluctant to leave them out of their special day. Amplifying this trend are companies like Fairytail Pet Care, in the Las Vegas area, which provides trained handlers to dress, wrangle, and care for furry family members at weddings. Expect to see four-legged guests at some weddings in 2023.

About Wedding Planner McKenzi Taylor

McKenzi Taylor is a celebrated wedding planner known for her storybook micro-weddings and elopements in some of the most picturesque natural locations throughout Las Vegas and elsewhere. She has been featured for three years running in Bridal Guide’s “Wedding Planners We Love.”

Andrew Michaels, owner of RH241, is expanding his current outside catering & event business with a new venue at 241 South Little Tor Rd in New City on the plush, six-acre Red Hill Nursery property and across the street from the historic Cropsey Farm. The space was built for everything from Bridal Showers, Corporate Events, Paint & Sip Classes, Supperclub Dinners & much more! The chic-rustic interior imbues sophistication and warmth, while the outside patio portrays pure relaxation with its sleek black Adirondack chairs and hammered metal tables awaiting your next glass of Rosé. "I'm excited to be sharing what I have achieved in the high-end private event world with the public and o ering our local community something fresh and new!"

For more information or to book a private event, please contact us at (845) 638-2233 or www.rh241.com

ESSENTIALS FOR PLANNING YOUR DREAM DAY

STORY BY BY MINOO HERSINI

Every bride dreams of that one special day, the day we wish to be perfect and magical beyond all other days. The road to making that dream a reality is paved with a few key elements. With my over 35 years of experience in the flower and wedding business, I always begin my relationship with a new bride by sharing the following guidelines. I hope you will find them helpful to you while planning your special day.

Budget

Communicate with your loved ones openly and stay in line with your collective comfort zone. Agreeing on your top priorities can help focus your budget — whether these are venue, flowers, food, photography, etc.

Scale

Begin your invite list with the key people who have had a true impact in you and your partner’s lives. Who do you wish to celebrate your love with?

Venue

Pursue a location that best fits your vision. Transforming a barn into a castle or a castle into a barn is certainly doable, but will require a lot of additional expense and effort — and at the end of the day, a barn will always be a barn and a castle will always be a castle. And no matter your vision, please do always keep in mind the ease and transportation for your guests.

Minoo Hersini

Design by Au Ciel

Bouquet by Au Ciel

Vendors

Trust your friend and family recommendations. Prior relationships can give you a sense of ease. You want to come to the table with all your vision. If you are a detail-oriented bride, do your diligent research and studying, bring your Pinterest boards and your reference binders. Show us the dreams only you have seen until now. But then allow us to hold your dreams and guide them to reality. Trust your vendors to have the experience and knowledge to execute for you.

Once you select your venue, think of your wedding as a larger house party, and this is your house. You’ll want to make sure your guests feel comfortable and joyous and create a memorable evening with your best dishes, linens, and an eye towards decor. Following the venue, the next most important element to make a wedding dreamy and magical lies in the use of natural elements — your floral design and your use of light.

Floral design for a wedding is often

regarded through scale. This is a mistake — to use flowers well, you shouldn’t begin with scale, but instead with intention. Nature is a storyteller, so start with the question: what story do you want your flowers to be telling for you? The color, texture, and movement that flowers can bring to a room will create the beauty that lifts and moves a bride through her wedding day.

And don’t forget about candles. Candlelight is romance, it is a revelation in light and dark, it is magic, and it elevates every venue and design.

The most crucial advice I will leave you brides with, is to be your unique individual self. Don’t follow the trend that everyone else is following. Stay true to the visions within you and make your dream come true. L

Minoo Hersini is the owner and creative director of Au Ciel Flowers since 1984, and founder of Au Ciel lifestyle boutique, which was established during the Covid-19 pandemic

For more information about Au Ciel, visit:

> au-ciel.com

Designed by Au Ciel Designe by Au Ciel

Floral design by Au Ciel

Bouquet by Au Ciel

PERSONALIZING THE MENU

Many people are opting for personal chefs to customize their wedding fare. We caught up with Made by RK’s Chef Kashuba to find out what makes the difference

STORY BY JAMES CARSEY

Most of us associate private chefs with bespoke meals and personalized menus made with the freshest local ingredients. You wouldn’t expect a private chef to help you pick out flower arrangements, conceptualize your event, coordinate logistics, or arrange transportation for the guests of a wedding venue.

That’s where Chef Renée Kashuba, owner and chef of Made by RK, comes in. She’s a self-proclaimed jack of all trades when it comes to helping curate a special event. Although she bills herself as a private chef, she does everything from cooking intimate dinners to planning the finer details of a wedding party.

“No two events are the same in my world. I do a lot of hand holding with my clients and walk them through every step of the way,” Chef Renée said, describing her unique party planning process. “I’m also the one who hugs you when you cry.”

Questions to Ask a Prospective Personal Chef

¾ What types of food do they specialize in?

¾ Will they be open to customizing the menu?

¾ Can they handle dietary needs you want to accommodate?

¾ Where will they prepare the food, and how will they transport it to the venue?

¾ Can they pair drinks with the menu?

¾ What other services do they provide for events?

¾ Do they have former clients you can contact?

Photos by Renée Kashuba

Tears being optional, finding a trusted partner to help plan a big life event can make a world of difference. Though not all private chefs will also serve as designer, wedding planner, and chief organizer as Kashuba likes to, opting for their more personalized approaches to the menu in lieu of catering has become a growing trend.

Ask Cat Colella-Graham, who hired Made by RK for an engagement party and found the experience warm and customized. “From the careful curation of the menu, to the details of setting the stage for a perfect event, Renée was invaluable in creating incredible experiences,” she said.

Danielle Flick, who celebrated a September wedding, was impressed with every aspect of the personal chef experience at her event, which included cooking, coordinating guest seating charts, measuring the venue floor, creating stationary, and arranging décor and flowers. She likened the experience to a “true partnership” and “friendship.”

While every personal chef will approach events differently, Kashuba believes a delicious arsenal of international cuisines and creative menus are only one part of the recipe. For her, collaboration is key. Without giving

away any of her trade secrets, Chef Renée said she focuses on the clients’ sensibilities and what they truly enjoy in life to make the experience personal. Their favorite colors, music, food tastes, and other preferences are factored into the event.

The experience, in turn, is mutually fulfilling. Kashuba said building relationships with clients during the brainstorming and event planning process is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the job. She believes it inspires creativity, direction, and eventually an incredible experience for the client. “The more I can get to know them, the more I can get inside the client’s vision for the celebration and bring that vision to reality,” she said.

If you’re open to a unique and very hands-on process of event planning, then the personal chef route is worth exploring. In the best cases, the experience is an indulgence in quality food, stellar service, and good oldfashioned hospitality.

James Carsey is a freelance writer from Tarrytown. He enjoys art, photography, cooking, and the great outdoors.

>

MENU

STARTER

Cheese boards with olives and fruit

SALAD

Red Tuscan salad with shaved summer squash

FIRST

Italian succotash salad with basil

MAIN

Seared beef filet & mushrooms in red wine reduction

Pork tenderloin roasted with fruits and herbs

Seared asparagus with tarragon

Honey glazed carrots

Roasted baby potatoes with olive oil and rosemary

Penne with summer vegetables and Reggiano

DESSERT

Salted caramel cheesecake

Tarte aux citron

Triple berry shortcake

Dark chocolate truffles

Cali-Italian Engagement Party

SAMPLE

THE CASE FOR CALLIGRAPHY

DESPITE THE EASE OF DIGITAL PRINTING, HAND LETTERING AND CALLIGRAPHY ARE OFFICIALLY BACK

STORY BY MAGGIE MARSICO

Wedding signage is an essential feature to one’s big day. Enter Scripted Swirls, a woman-owned small business based in Pearl River, NY. Creator and founder Sarah Henry began her entrepreneurial venture in the height of the pandemic. While working in healthcare PR in 2020, she needed an outlet. One iPad purchase and hours of doodling later, Henry followed that creative itch and launched a custom signage business by year’s end. We caught up with her to learn about the ways hand lettering and calligraphy can make weddings unique.

Why should couples consider incorporating lettering into their weddings?

“Signage is a statement piece. It serves as a way to tell your love story and have guests learn more about you and your relationship. I recommend customizing signage around themes to ensure details are cohesive. Weddings are celebrations that are unique to each couple, but some traditional elements continue to stand the test of time. Calligraphy and hand lettering are those details that exude sentimentality and luxury.”

Photo by Emily Wren

Photo by Carley Storm Branding

What are the different ways hand lettering can be used?

“So many ways! Hand lettering is popular on envelopes, ceremony programs, and menus — and signage at weddings such as mirrors with seating assignments and welcome signs, along with my personal favorite top seller, ‘First Day, Yes Day, Best Day’ sign.”

What are some interesting or creative materials people can use for signage?

“Mirrors, chalkboards, acrylic, and wood are popular materials. Innovative ideas for escort cards or place cards include guest names written on sea glass and oyster shells for beach-themed weddings, as well as lemons, which is a go-to at summer weddings. Another couple had custom labels on hot sauce bottles, which doubled as their escort card and party favors for guests!”

What are the different factors people opting for hand-lettered mailed items should consider?

“Hand lettering can be implemented into every custom piece of your wedding, beginning with your invitations and carried all the way through to the menus at your reception tables. Also think about embellishments such as custom wax seals, drink stirrers, cocktails napkins, and cake toppers. Come inspired with ideas and ready to collaborate!”

How much time do couples need to factor into orders for custom signage?

“Working with a custom signage designer is up there with hair and makeup in regards to the importance of securing for your big day. Some signage artists start booking weddings a year-plus in advance, such as myself! I recommend reaching out at least six to seven months before your wedding. For

day-of signage, you book and reserve your spot in my calendar — however conversations don’t commence until two months prior to your date. If you choose to have signage for seating arrangements, as a vendor, the list arrives two weeks before the big day after you’ve finalized your seating arrangements. If you choose a custom welcome sign, that can be made ahead of time (roughly two months).”

What’s one of the favorite jobs you’ve done?

“As a huge fan of television show The Challenge, last summer I did custom work for the show’s star Derrick Kosinski’s wedding. All custom signage included mirror seating chart, welcome sign, acrylic signature drinks sign, wedding cards/gift sign, and table numbers.”

Maggi Marsico is a foodie with an insatiable case of wanderlust. She enjoys writing about Rockland, where she grew up.

Photo by Uplift Photography

RESOURCE GUIDE Wedding

COMPILED BY TEVIN KIM

If you’re tying the knot, this comprehensive list of additional services will help you tie up any loose ends

WEDDING PLANNERS

Bad Boss Bride

845-499-7178

rachel@badbossbride.com

badbossbride.com/home

BLB Events

646-389-0787

hi@blbevents.com blbevents.com

The Revelry Cooperative

347-204-9005 jules@therevelrycooperative.com therevelrycooperative.com

Lifetime Events by Jacqueline 914-713-5092 contact@lebjv.com lebjv.com

Chére Rosalie info@chererosalie.com chererosalie.com

Ness McGovern Events and Design

201-838-3459 nessmcgovern.com

Shine Events

845-535-3100 info@shineevents.com shineevents.com

Where’s the Party?

845-641-0281

wherestheparty@gmail.com wheresthepartyevents.com

Creations by Christine 44 Durante Rd. Waldwick, NJ 07643 201-294-7944

christine@cbcevents.com cbcevents.com

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Photos by Maria B Lung

1 Bellows Ln. New City, NY 10956 photosby-mb.com

Rick Helman

Photography and Video

8 Cairngorm Rd. New City, NY 10956

845-638-0221

info@rickhelmanphoto.com rickhelmanphoto.com

Diban Photography

145 N Franklin Tpke. Suite #311 Ramsey, NJ 07446 845-659-7255

info@rodrigodiban.com

dibanphotography.com

Jason Rhee Photography

232 Campora Dr. Northvale, NJ 07647 917-974-1386

photo@jasonrhee.com jasonrhee.com

Rey Paul Weddings

148 Hackensack Ave. Harrington Park, NJ 07640 551-486-1215

paul@reypaulweddings.com reypaulweddings.com

Memories by MMM Photography

513-800-9683 memoriesbymmm.com

A Day of Bliss

Photography

212-724-1794

adayofbliss.com

Chaz Cruz

Photographers

347-708-2010

chaz@chazcruz.com chazcruz.com

WEDDING VENUES

HOTELS

Hotel Nyack

400 High Ave. Nyack, NY 10960

845-675-8700

hotelnyaksales@jdvhotels.com

hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/new-york/jdvhotel-nyack/lgajn

Planning assistance available upon request

Westgate Inn & Lounge

26 NY-59

Nyack, NY 10960

845-358-8100

frontdesk@westgateinnnyack.com

westgatelounge.com

Hilton Pearl River

500 Veterans Memorial Dr. Pearl River, NY 10965

845-735-9000

hilton.com/en/hotels/prlbhhf-hiltonpearl-river/

EVENT SPACES

The Nyack Seaport

21 Burd St. Nyack, NY 10960 845-353-3200

nyackseaport.com

Up Lounge

91 Main St. Nyack, NY 10960

914-882-0882

uplounge91@gmail.com

uploungenyack.com/privateparties

Town & Country

922 Route 9W Congers, NY 10920

845-268-9291

info@townandcountrycaterers.com

townandcountrycaterers.com

The View on the Hudson 101 Shad Row Piermont, NY 10968

845-365-0009

theviewonthehudson.com

RESTAURANTS

The Hudson House of Nyack

134 Main St. Nyack, NY 10960 845-353-1355

hudsonhousenyack.com

La Fontana

95 S Broadway Nyack, NY 10960

845-358-3770

lafontanaofnyack.com

Prohibition River

82 Main St. Nyack, NY 10960

prohibitionriver@gmail.com

prohibitionriver.com

RENTALS (FURNITURE, TENTS)

ABC Fabulous Events

149 Burd St. Nyack, NY 10960 845-358-5744

quotes@abcfabulousevents.com abcfabulousevents.com

Coco Productions

4 Gottlieb Dr. Pearl River, NY 10965 516-668-0257

cocoproductions@live.com cocoproductionsusa.com

Rockland County Party Rentals

CATERING

Peppercorn Events

663 Westwood Ave. River Vale, NJ 07675

201-402-9091

hello@peppercornevents.com

peppercornevents.com

Divine Catering

845-406-2173

divinecateringny@gmail.com

divinecateringny.net

Above & Beyond Catering

70 Cortland Ave.

Dumont, NJ 07628

201-746-6161

events@aboveandbeyondny.com

aboveandbeyondny.com

Seasons Catering & Special Events

644 Pascack Rd. Washington, NJ 07676

info@seasonscatering.com

seasonscatering.com

Also includes event spaces

Shortrounds Catering

189 Kinderkamack Rd. Emerson, NJ 07630

201-261-6585

shortroundscatering@gmail.com

shortroundscatering.com

Mimi’s Plate

33 Old Tappan Rd. Tappan, NY 10983

845-359-6464

platas59@yahoo.com

mimisplate.com

Harvest Moon Caterers

811 Chestnut Ridge Rd. Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977 845-262-1059

info@harvestmooncaterers.com

harvestmooncaterers.com

A World of Food Caterers

493 Kings Hwy. Valley Cottage, NY 10989

800-331-5238

aworldoffood2@gmail.com

aworldoffood.com

La Talye Catering & Event Design

3 Main St. Haverstraw, NY 10927

845-304-2998

latalaye.com

119 Rockland Ctr. Suite #72 Nanuet, NY 10954 800-635-3699

rocklandcountypartyrental@hvc.rr.com rocklandcountypartyrental.com

Clarkstown Party Rentals

300 Corporate Dr. Suite #1 Blauvelt, NY 10913 914-930-6266 clarkstownrentals.com

Que Rentals

48 W Church St. Spring Valley, NY 10977 845-694-4461

info@querentals.com querentals.com

D’s Party Rental 845-659-2595 dspartyrentalsny.com

Four Seasons Party Rentals

115 Franklin Turnpike #305 Mahwah, NJ 07430 800-349-8969

fourseasonspartyrental@hvc.rr.com fourseasonspartyrentals.com

All State Party & Tent Rentals

201 Route 59 Hillburn, NY 10931 845-398-8888

info@allstateparty.com allstateparty.com

DRESSES/SEAMSTERS/TUXEDO

Dante Zeller Tuxedo by Sarno

303 NY-59

West Nyack, NY 10994

845-623-7744

tuxedobysarno.com

Letitia’s Bridals

730 NY-304 New City, NY 10956

845-425-3330

letitiasbridals@gmail.com letitiasonline.com

Allure Bridals

35 S Middletown Rd. Nanuet, NY 10954 201-723-4873 allurebridals.com

A Touch of Elegance

136 S Pearl St. Pearl River, NY 10965

845-735-5533

atoa1992@gmail.com

atouchofelegancecleaners.com

French dry cleaners and seamstress/ tailoring services available

Formals Only

300 3rd Ave. Westwood, NJ 07675

201-722-1700

formalsonly.biz

WEDDING JEWELRY

Honor & Blume

23 N Broadyway Nyack, NY 10960 914-953-2188

honorandblume@gmail.com honorandblume.com

Metal & Stone Jewelers

12 S Broadway Nyack, NY 10960 845-358-4363 metalandstonejewelers.com

Somos Designer Jewelry 78 S Broadway Nyack, NY 10960 845-348-0800

marie@somosjewelers.com somosjewelers.com

Grooms & Groomsmen Suits

7 Godwin Ave. Ridgewood, NJ 07450

201-584-9544 gandgsuits.com

Augenbraun’s Bridal

48 NY-59

Monsey, NY 10952

845-425-3439

Customly Yours

60 S Main St. New City, 10956 845-300-1174

customly.yours@gmail.com customlyyoursfashion.com

Hope Wade Designs

845-729-0448

hopewadedesigns@gmail.com

hopewadedesigns.com

Be a Bride

255 NY-59

Airmont, NY 10901

845-327-7460

Rosi’s Bridal Studio

9 Sheridan Ave. Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423

201-857-4958

rosisbridalstudio.com

Mamari Jewelers 35 S Middletown Rd. Nanuet, NY 10954 845-624-3159

mamarijewelers@gmail.com mamarijewelers.com

Special Designs Jewelers 16 Indian Rock Suffern, NY 10901 845-357-0048

info@specialdesignsjewelers.com specialdesignsjewelers.com

Kimiya Jewelers 175 NY-59 #111 Spring Valley, NY 10977 845-371-5464 kimiyadesigns.com

Jewelry By Allen Joseph 180 Franklin Tpke. Mahwah, NJ 07430 201-831-0666 jewelrybyallenjoseph.com

F. Silverman Jewelers

431A Chestnut Ridge Rd. Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 201-930-8883

fsilvermanjewelers1@gmail.com fsilverman.com

FLORISTS

Amaryllis Event Decor

35 Industrial Parkway Northvale, NJ 07647

201-750-3327

info@amaryllisdecorators.com

amaryllisdecorators.com/home

Balloon Artistry

100 Red Schoolhouse Rd. Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977

845-352-7916

info@balloonartistry.com

balloonartistry.com

Full-service party designers

Rockland Florist

1000 Palisades Center Dr. Suite #105 West Nyack, NY 10994 914-235-6565

rocklandflorist.net/

Basset Flowers

305 S Main St. New City, NY 10956

845-634-3638

bassettflowers305@gmail.com

bassettflowers.com

New City Florist

375 S Main St. New City, NY 10956

800-643-4199

newcityflorist.com/weddings

Tappan Zee Florists

176 Main St. Nyack, NY 10960 845-358-2544

tappanzeeflorist@gmail.com

tappanzeeflorist.net

West Nyack Florist

726 West Nyack Rd. West Nyack, NY 10994 845-353-2203

westnyackflorist@gmail.com westnyackflowers.com

Pearl River Florist

45 E Central Ave. Pearl River, NY 10965

845-735-3366

prflorist.net

Petals and Stems

Florist

55 Lafayette Ave. Suffern, NY 10901

845-426-0200

info@petalsandstemsflorist.com

petalsandstemsflorist.com

Flor Bella Designs

310 Ridge Rd. Mahwah, NJ 07430

201-578-5547

florbelladesigns.com

CAKES

Walter’s Cake Art 3 Veterans Pkwy. Pearl River, NY 10965 845-201-5724 walterscakeart.com/index.html

Anna’s Bakery 12 Old Haverstraw Rd. Congers, NY 10920 845-268-7540 annasbakerycongers.com

Caked Up Cafe

40 S Main St. New City, NY 10956 845-499-2929 cakedupcafe@gmail.com cakedupcafe.com

A Little Cake Bakery 176 Kinderkamack Rd. Park Ridge, NJ 07656 201-391-6300 sales@alittlecake.com alittlecake.com

The Cake Fairy 88 LaRoche Ave. Harrington Park, NJ 07640 201-660-7897

info@thecakefairyllc.com thecakefairyllc.com

Florentina’s Specialty Bakery and Café 125 Paris Ave. Northvale, NJ 07647 201-750-2301

florentinas-bakery.com

Carousel Cakes

5 Seeger Dr. Nanuet, NY 10954 845-627-2323 carouselcakes.com

Allie’s Bakery

21 Orangetown Shopping Center

Orangeburg, NY 10962 845-359-0248

alliesbakeryny.com

Skazka Cakes

648 Godwin Ave. Midland Park, NJ 07432 skazkacakesorders@gmail.com skazkacakes.com

L’Arte Della Pasticceria

109 E Main St. Ramsey, NJ 07446

201-934-3211

info@larte.biz

larte.biz

Also offers catering

HAIR/MAKEUP/SPAS

HAIR

D.S.Z Barbers

140 Main St. Nyack, NY 10960

845-348-1500

info@dszbarbersinc.com dszbarbersinc.com

Hudson Hair Co.

125 Main St. Suite #6 Nyack, NY 10960

845-358-4247 hudsonhairco.com

Ziggy Artistry

61 S Main St. New City, NY 10956

845-499-7246

ziggyartistry@gmail.com ziggyartistry.com

Euphoria Hair Gallery

740 W Nyack Rd. West Nyack, NY 10994

845-512-8961

andreajoyce@euphoriahairgallery.com euphoriahairgallery.com

MAKEUP

Color Makeup Studio

6 Fairmont Terrace West Nyack, NY 10994

845-461-9921

christine@colormakeupstudio.com colormakeupstudio.com

Denise’s Masterpieces

21 E Central Ave. Pearl River, NY 10965 845-304-4268

denisesmasterpieces.com

Facewear Makeup Studio

6 N Cheryl St. Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977 845-512-8874

facewear.net/

BEAUTY/MEDICAL/DAY SPAS

Wholeness Center

7 New Lake Rd. Valley Cottage, NY 10989 845-268-7532

glow@wholenesscenter.com wholenesscenter.com

Flora Cottages

7 N Broad St. Ridgewood, NJ 07450 201-895-1643

iva@florascottages.com florascottages.com

Base Aesthetic MedSpa

200 Closter Dock Rd. Floor #2 Closter, NJ 07624 201-564-7521

getbare.com

BellaTu MedSpa

172A Main St. Nyack, NY 10960 845-859-7569

bellatumedspa@gmail.com

bellatumedspa.com

WEDDING DJS AND BANDS

Total DJ’s Music Productions

400 Rella Blvd. #165 Suffern, NY 10901 845-228-8989 totaldjs.com

DJ Gold Mixmaster

25 Philips Pkwy. Montvale, NJ 07645 845-821-1364

djgold-mixmaster.business.site

Flipside Entertainment 14 Old Haverstraw Rd. Congers, NY 10920 845-268-0071

info@flipsdeevents.com flipsideentertainment.com

DJ Yossy

2 Golden Rd. Suffern, NY 10901 845-774-5949

dj@djyossy.com eventhighlighters.com

Action Entertainment 13-17 NY-59 Nyack, NY 10960 844-322-8466

eventswithaction@gmail.com actionent.com

Playback DJ & Events 201-767-5577

info@dpevents.net dpevents.net/w

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For advertising and partner content information, please contact one of our Business Development Directors.

Lucia Ballas-Traynor: 917-602-3939 lucia@rivertownsmedia.com

Steve Crowell: 203-918-1747 steve@rivertownsmedia.com

Judy Famulare: 201-647-3553 judy@rivertownsmedia.com

Joanne Louis Paul: 845-667-2269 joanne@rivertownsmedia.com

Tom Riley: 845-300-4296 totrwriter@aol.com

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Since we're out of ruby slippers, we got advice from local wizards on how to create the home of your dreams

TAPPAN’S THE CARPENTRY SHOP

Going With the Grain and Against the Trend

STORY BY ROBERT BRUM

Spalted Maple Square Epoxy Resin Table

When Julian and Natalie Dion moved into their new home in Tappan seven years ago, it was right before Christmas and there wasn’t much left in the way of money to pay for new furniture. Julian, a master carpenter with experience in construction, set out to remedy that by building a dining room table, and soon added a bench here, a table there.

His handiwork caught the attention of their visitors.

“People would come to our house and they’d ask, ‘Where’d you buy this?’ And we were like, ‘No, we made it.’” Natalie said. “If I could design it and think of it, he could make it. He could make everything come to life.”

Thus the seed was planted that grew over the next five years into The Carpentry Shop Co., which the couple opened in

White Pine Crosscut Coffee Table

Photo by Laina Karavani

Walnut Dining Table

2020 on Oak Tree Road (naturally), a mile from their home.

The shop specializes in made-to-order pieces handcrafted in their shop from sustainably sourced wood. The home decor, furnishings, and outdoor pieces are fashioned from towering wooden slabs stored on the premises, which customers can browse before selecting the grain that suits their tastes.

The wood Julian and his team select is in its natural state, with the imperfections giving each piece a distinctive quality that’s absent in mass-produced products. In fact, The Carpentry Shop is a direct repudiation of the so-called “fast furniture” trend that entices buyers with cheaply made imports with a short shelf life.

“They’re not using real wood,” Julian said of the commercially manufactured goods. “The people that we’re targeting that are coming in are people that appreciate quality and understand.”

“We’re really trying to do things the right way,” Natalie added. “Yes, we could use veneer, but it’s not necessarily the right way and so we would rather not make it that way. We want to do things so we know they’re going to last.” The shop’s products are built to last for generations, “almost like an heirloom, something that can get passed down, something that holds a story,” she said.

The raw materials The Carpentry Shop works with include domestic species like maple and walnut and exotic imported varieties from South America and beyond, which are harvested without relying on clear-cutting or other environmentally damaging methods. The wood is kiln-dried to remove moisture and increase the finished product’s durability.

Exotic Wood Monkey Pod Light Fixture

The Dions’ homegrown aesthetic extends beyond their own shop into their efforts to build a community of artisans among their suppliers and other carpenters, many of them fellow small business owners. A line of woven placemats and table runners featured on The Carpentry Shop’s website are handmade by Lenna Kashishian, a textile artist and designer from New City.

The couple’s ambitions extend beyond their local roots: They have remodeled

The Sugar Maple Inn, located along the Deerfield River in West Dover, Vermont, for a planned 2023 opening.

Julian, who grew up in Maine among generations of woodworkers, and Natalie, who’s originally from Manhattan, met when they were students at Penn State. They have two daughters, Sofia and Alexandra.

The challenges of running a small business are outweighed by the satisfaction, according to the Dions. “Having control over your life, it feels empowering,” Natalie, a former US government analyst, says in a video on the shop’s website. “I’m doing something every day that I love, and when you typically open a small business, it’s to do something that you’re necessarily passionate about.”

Robert Brum is a veteran journalist who has extensively covered the lower Hudson Valley.

Visit

Black Walnut Executive Desk with Waterfall Legs

Handcrafted Furniture for your most intimate spaces.

High-quality, responsibly sourced materials are essential to the success of our products. Each project offers new insights to our aesthetically savvy customers and gives us another opportunity to deepen our evolving understanding of working with natural yet mercurial materials. From inception to completion, each piece is created alongside our astute clientele. We delight in the process of bringing our clients’ furniture, interior decor, and design visions to life.

BEFORE YOU CRACK OPEN THAT PAINT CAN… FOUR HANDY TIPS FOR DIYERS

STORY BY ELYSE TORIBIO

Swipe through your “For You” page on TikTok or on your Pinterest boards and you’ll come across countless projects by DIYers and home decor influencers that look not only impressive, but easy to replicate.

“I could totally do that,” you think. And then you pick up the brush. Going from a drab Before to a jaw-dropping After is not always a simple process, but it’s worth the effort – even small projects can give a room or home a much-needed update, if you keep a few key tips in mind.

Painting, for example, is “the fastest way to potentially transform an entire space and recreate your environment,” said Eli Massar, professional painter and owner of Wow 1 Day Painting, which offers services for interior, exterior, and commercial spaces in the Bergen County area.

Massar shares here for Rivertown readers “not-so-sexy” but effective tips for painting that will save DIYers time, money, and lots of frustration. Pin them for your next project and prepare to wow yourself!

1. Fail to prepare, prepare to fail

“Preparation is everything,” said Massar. Preparing surfaces prior to painting will help to eliminate those tiny but visible imperfections that plague many a DIY project. Massar said this involves spackling, sanding, or repairing any nicks on the surface.

“It’s particularly important to spackle properly,” said Massar. “It often requires several coats with sanding in between, but when done properly, the results are a repair that’s invisible versus one that’s visible. Uneven surfaces reflect light in different ways and therefore become very obvious.”

You may spend more time than you’d prefer on this stage of the process, “but the end result will be so much better.”

2. Don’t fear flat or matte paint finishes

Historically, satin or semi-gloss have been the recommended option in spaces where cleanability is a concern, but Massar said modern chemistry in quality paints now offer good cleanability in matte paint and even in some flat paints.

And, Massar added, “for older walls with imperfections, the flatter the paint the less they show.”

Both matte and flat paints touch up well, so make sure you store any leftover paint for touch-ups (Bonus tip: Keep the label too, so you can go to the paint store in the future and get a perfect match for sheen, color, and product line).

3. Start small to see a big difference

Not quite ready to tackle a big paint job but still want to spruce up a space? Small projects can immediately update a room.

Repainting doors and trim can make a surprisingly noticeable difference, Massar said, as can caulking. “A properly painted white trim never goes out of style, looks good with any color and adds depth to a room.”

On a slightly larger scale, repainting cabinets can also make a kitchen or bathroom look practically new again. “Quality kitchen cabinets paint extremely well for approximately onethird of the cost of installing new ones. It requires multiple steps but the outcome is truly remarkable.”

4. Follow the trends and your own taste

One trend Massar noticed is that color is back in a big way.

“After a stretch, particularly during Covid where very bright whites and innocuous beiges and grays were super popular, we’re now seeing people choosing more vibrant colors, particularly for accent walls,” said Massar.

Dark blues appear to be a favorite, and dark reds are having

a resurgence in dining rooms. “It had been very popular 15 years ago and we’ve been painting over it for quite a while, but now we’re painting it again.”

But don’t feel as if you need to keep up with the latest trends. “If you’re selling your house it’s important to know what the right colors are for selling,” said Massar, “If you’re staying, then the only person that really matters is you.

“There are 4,000 options in Benjamin Moore or SherwinWilliams palettes. There’s a color for every taste.”

Not sure what direction to go in? Massar said generally, cold color cabinetry complements very warm floors, and very bright white trim goes with warm floors. “But there’s no proper right or wrong, these are general patterns.”

For more information, visit: > wow1day.com/locations/house-painting-bergen-county

DOWN TO EARTH LIVING IN POMONA

HELPING HOMEOWNERS BEAUTIFY THEIR BIGGEST INVESTMENT FOR OVER 50 YEARS

Perhaps now more than ever, your home is your oasis. The pandemic offered us an opportunity to beautify our backyards and outdoor spaces and expand our idea of the sanctuary spaces our home could offer. While many of us are back to traveling, the care and decorating of our homes is still our number one priority and, of course, our largest investment.

For the past 50 years, homeowners across the tristate area have flocked to Down to Earth Living on Route 45 in Pomona for its vast selection of plants, outdoor living furnishings, holiday décor, and gifts and accessories. In fact, it’s been voted Best of Hudson Valley for home décor.

The Down to Earth Living 10,000-square-foot garden center and nursery are filled with an incredible selection of contemporary, classic, and traditional all-weather dining and deep seating furniture from March through October with the best prices in the New York metro region. You can choose immediate delivery from their huge existing inventory or order to your specifications. Down to Earth’s extensive variety of specimen plants and unique home goods has made it the area’s largest and most popular nursery and go-to destination for quality furnishings.

“Among other things, the experiences of the past several years have changed the way we entertain,” notes a spokesperson for Down to Earth Living. “People are taking more pride in their homes, entertaining family and friends more, and they want beautiful furniture that will stand up to the increased use. One of the reasons our selection is unmatched is because we not only have five

decades of experience and solid partnerships with our suppliers. We listen to our customers year after year and offer products that match their needs and desires.”

Each department at Down to Earth Living is headed by an expert who specializes in products for the home. From plants to planters, from casual outdoor furniture to candle sticks, from flowers to fertilizers, from wall art to wind chimes, the staff is prepared to help you coordinate all your purchases to beautify your home – a home that reflects you. They also support interior design professionals, helping them select specific items for their clients.

Down to Earth Living, founded in 1979 and situated on 12.5 acres, attracts homeowners from Rockland, Bergen, Orange, and even Fairfield County, thanks to their unequaled and often exclusive inventory. The garden center is filled with plants, pots, planters, perennials, flowers, shrubs, trees, specimens, and more. When it comes to home décor, visitors will find a wonderful collection of distinctive items that simply aren’t available at any big container stores. Whether you are looking for statues and sculptures, candles and lighting, place settings, birdhouses, vases and planters, fire pits, or any other enhancements to your outdoor living, you’ll find unique choices here. —

Lee Ann Devine

Down to Earth Living opens for the season on March 10. The hours are 9am to 5pm seven days a week. For value, selection and friendly, knowledgeable service year-round, visit Down to Earth Living – Your Source for Gracious Outdoor Living. They can be reached by phone at 845-354-8500. Visit their website at

Photo by Risa B. Hoag

The garden center is filled with plants, pots, planters, perennials, flowers, shrubs, trees

Choose from a wide selection of plants, outdoor furnishings, holiday décor, and gifts and accessories

Photo by Risa B. Hoag

‘THE THINGS I LOVE’ YOU’LL LOVE TOO

When you walk into The Things I Love, something special happens. You’re transported to a nostalgic shopping time. The 2,000-square-foot space is curated with the most special treasures; you’ll want to lose your afternoons playing in here. Not only will you find artists like Michael Aram and companies like Barefoot Dreams, but it’s the handmade culture that stirs the soul of the shop. More than 2,500 artists have been represented for over 25 years.

At The Things I Love, you’ll find a devoted and friendly crew educated in all of the pieces in stock, the artists who make them, and even the clients who love them. As a “brick & mortar” store, The Things I Love appreciates the shopper who needs to touch, feel, and see before they buy. (An itch online shopping just can’t scratch, phew!)

Sandra Szpicek

While owner Sandra Szpicek isn’t new to this, she is true to this. She began her 25-year career as an entrepreneur in a small shop in Nyack in 1998, adding The Things I Love in 2000. Sandra is devoted to the idea that “Small Business” starts with your community.

Sandra has used The Things I Love to help raise money for VCS, Hospice, The Center for Safety & Change, and Big Brothers Big Sisters, just to name a few. Sandra is currently Secretary of the New City Chamber of Commerce, which she has devoted herself to for over 12 years. Stop by and say “hello.” She’ll offer you a cup of coffee while your senses are dancing through the store.

With Sandra recently back from a stint shopping new artists in Atlanta, The Things I Love is newly filled with home decor, clothing, jewelry, children’s gifts, and so much more. Don’t forget about the free gift wrap!

The Things I Love is ahead of the curve when it comes to furnishing your home, too! With two designers specializing in fabric selection, window treatments, reupholstery, furniture, lighting, area rugs, and accessories… you can, quite literally, find it all!

SETTING THE SCENE SIMPLE TIPS TO GIVE YOUR CENTERPIECES CENTER STAGE

BY SANDRA SZPICEK | PHOTOS BY SAMANTHA FINCH

Bringing home a centerpiece that catches your eye is easy. But making it pop as a spectacular statement on the table? That’s a whole different story. Here are some tips to display the beautiful pieces you introduce to your home in a way that wows.

Start From the Bottom Up

If the centerpiece isn’t large enough, a simple trick is to add a tray underneath. This gives the piece more presence simply by expanding its space on the table. You don’t need to break out the measuring tape to determine if the centerpiece is too small — if it feels tiny, expand its depth, height, or both with a tray that suits it. Avoid a tray that competes with its style or covers it in a distracting way. Along with trays, try placing runners under centerpieces. If you want to go bold, don’t be stuck with a stiff, flat runner. Instead, use a beautiful scarf as a backdrop. It has a gorgeous effect!

Group Objects

Another way to make your centerpiece stand out is to group pieces together. This creates a visual feast that can be played with whenever you want a little change. The appeal of grouping objects is that there is some variety — to make your tablescape pop, avoid using too much of any singular element.

Well-designed spaces often use a rule of three to establish rhythm and keep interest. Take inventory of the room you’re working in for visual cues. Are there some rounded elements or velvet textures? To maintain a cohesive design, introduce some of those same textures, colors, and materials. This will guide a design that complements rather than clashes. Consider the shape of your table — square tables offer more space for a fuller, more substantial arrangement than rectangular tables, which may benefit from a trailing design along the length of the table.

Play With Size

Make your selections not just based on color but also based on height. Stagger anything that you want to group to have your eye dance around the table. You’ll see that everything becomes more important when there’s interest. Aim for a mix of heights, especially when grouping objects. Find your focal point — the object you want to draw the eye to — and work around that.

If it’s a pillar candle, fill the remaining space with smaller pieces that don’t compete, such as fresh greenery. To elevate the space, consider the vessel— could you add another shape or texture by encasing that candle in a glass and metal lantern? If your focus is fresh flowers, vases provide impeccable height and depth to a centerpiece.

With a variety of sizes and patterns to choose from, take cues from the room you’re in; allow shades and textures to influence your design. When playing with the size and height of your centerpiece, take your guests into consideration. You’ll want to avoid incorporating anything too bulky that could obstruct guests’ views. Take a seat at your own table! The height of a centerpiece should either fall just below eye level or a few inches above for a grander tablescape — avoid meeting the piece directly in the eye.

Celebrating her 25th year in business, Sandra Szpicek is the owner of The Things I Love, a boutique home decor shop in New City that specializes in unique homewares, clothing, jewelry, and gifts.

TIA MARIA BOUTIQUE & NEW SYNERGY SALON JOIN FORCES TO Rock NEW CITY!

Tia Maria Boutique, owned by Tia Maria Montemurro, opened in September 2022 and has added so much class and excitement to Maple Avenue in New City. Specializing in women’s fashion and accessories, the boutique’s allure is brought full circle with an easy-access interior door to the adjacent New Synergy Salon, Tia Maria’s hairdresser for 30 years.

The passageway lets customers conveniently and uniquely have their hair styled and then step into the boutique for stylish, fairly priced women’s clothing — without stepping outside!

A role model for women’s empowerment, Tia also owns real estate in New York City, is the owner of Events by Tia Maria, and is a member of the New City Chamber of Commerce. We are thrilled to have her back in Rockland. Stop by Tia Maria Boutique — you’ll quickly be addicted to both the latest styles in women’s apparel and to Tia Maria herself.

104 Maple Avenue (845) 494-3291

Tuesday–Saturday: 9:00 am–7:00 pm

Sunday–Monday: 9:30 am–3:00 pm

@TiaMariaMontemurro

@TiaMariaMontemurro1

New Synergy Salon, the upscale New City home to natural-looking hair extensions and color specialties, is owned by Peggy Roccio and Sarah Vollmart. They started together at Head People Salon and reconnected five years ago to own and operate New Synergy Salon.

Recognized as leaders in their field, the duo services clients of any age in a clean, stylish environment — neatly situated right next to Tia Maria Boutique through the interior doorway. Peggy and Sarah are excited to call Tia their neighbor in the newly renovated building that merges their businesses, and brings charm to Maple Avenue.

Peggy Roccio is a specialist in blonde hair and is certified in all types of hair extensions — including k-tip, microbead, and hair wefts. Contact Peggy at (845) 893-5803 or visit BlondeHairExpert.com.

Sarah Vollmart is a master colorist and stylist of over 40 years. She excels in all colors, offering highlights, color treatment and cuts, and is certified in hair extensions, keratin treatments, and Brazilian blowouts. Reach Sarah at (845) 548-2499 or visit NewSynergySalon.co.

106 Maple Avenue

Tuesday–Saturday: 9:00 am–7:00 pm

Sunday–Monday: 9:30 am–3:00 pm

@NewSynergySalon

ANSWER THESE 5 QUESTIONS BEFORE ADOPTING A PET

Thinking of bringing a pet into your home? Here are a few considerations to keep in mind

STORY BY NIKKI VISCIGLIA

Photo by Charles Deluvio

Iwas sitting on the floor of the ASPCA’s cat room, just about to leave for the day and consider my options, when a tiny orange tabby came out from underneath the kennels and climbed on top of my shoulders. She looked at me with a tilted head and huge, Puss-inBoots eyes, and it was sealed — she’d come home with me the next week.

That was 2019, and Coral and I have been inseparable ever since. Adopting a pet can bring such great joy, but should not be a decision taken lightly. So what exactly should you consider before you dive into the world of furparenthood? We talked to the folks at Hi-Tor Animal Care Center in Pomona to find out.

What are the most important things to consider when adopting an animal?

“When adopting a pet, it’s important to consider your lifestyle — do you want an active, high-energy pet? Or would you rather someone to share the couch with? Also consider your living situation to not only ensure that animals are allowed, but that you have enough space. It can also be helpful to have a conversation with other people in your household to divide responsibilities and establish who will be the primary caregiver.”

How much money and time should you expect to dedicate to a cat or dog?

“On average, cats cost $300-$700 per year for food, routine vet care, and other toys and supplies. Litterboxes should be cleaned daily, and cats should get at least 15 minutes of play time per day. Dogs average between $500-$2,500, without accounting for emergency vet

care and any boarding or grooming needs. Dogs should be walked for about 15-20 minutes at least three times a day.”

When should you adopt a kitten or puppy vs. an older animal?

“While adorable, younger animals can be labor-intensive. If you have a lot of time to put into training and keeping up with high energy levels, a puppy or kitten may be a great fit. However, if you’re away from home for long hours and are always on-the-go, you may consider a senior animal. Both options are great — it’s just about finding the animal that will fit in with your lifestyle.”

How can you ensure a comfortable transition for your new friend?

“Quietness and consistency are very important in making an animal feel comfortable. You should establish a routine and also try to keep the environment as calm as possible. Giving them spaces where they can be alone if they become too overwhelmed with their new surroundings is also important. Above all, patience is key.”

How should you introduce your new pet to other animals in the home?

“When a new animal first arrives, separate them from other animals in the household. Providing separate areas will give them all space to remain calm and confident of their safety. Introduce the animals slowly, establishing a peaceful environment and rewarding calm behavior. With some time, they can develop a positive and loving relationship.”

Nikki Visciglia is a writer and artist born and raised in the Hudson Valley.

Photo by Nikki Visciglia

Photo by Anusha Barwa

COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF RIVERTOWN!

Rockland Scholar-Athletes of the Month

Kicking off our May-June 2023 issue of Rivertown Magazine, we are teaming up with local high schools throughout Rockland County to identify scholar-athletes who will be showcased in our pages.

We’re scouting student-athletes who excel both on the field of play and in the classroom, and who are model citizens who generously give back to their communities.

Our Scholar-Athletes of the Month program is a partnership between Rivertown and Gary’s Gutter Services Inc. Owner Gary Parahus will be awarding each student selected with a plaque to commemorate their selection.

Here’s the Game Plan …

Rivertown Magazine will huddle with athletic directors and coaches from around the county to identify the most deserving student-athletes each month. From girls soccer to boys lacrosse, from track and field to basketball — and from Nyack to Nanuet — we will present the best-of-thebest in each issue.

Thank you, Gary, for helping Rivertown Magazine field an all-star lineup of scholar-athletes in Rockland County.

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY LEONARD J. BIRBROWER, ESQ.

A CHAMPION IN AND OUT OF THE COURTROOM

Leonard J. Birbrower, Esq. (“Lenny”) has been practicing personal injury law since he moved to Rockland County in 1963. Lenny represents individuals with all types of injuries resulting from: automobile or premises accidents; medical, dental, hospital or nursing home malpractice; and product liability — in addition to serious death claims. He welcomes consultations with individuals, as well as practicing attorneys (who refer their clients to him), on the basis of finding out what happened to them and the seriousness of their injuries. All consultations, no matter how long they take, are always free. In personal injury cases, past results are not a guarantee of future results. However, Lenny’s meticulous efforts in evaluating and researching each individual matter are consistent with the high quality he brings to the practice of law. He is continually recognized as a lawyer of distinction in the practice of personal injury law, and recently received his 5-Star plaque for 2023.

Throughout his career, Lenny has been the prime trial attorney in each of the law firms where he has been a founding partner. The trials have not only concerned accident and injury matters, but his experience also includes criminal trials, corporate disputes, and real estate litigation. Given his long tenure and varied experience, he is regularly consulted by other attorneys who are not familiar with the courtroom or the litigation process.

In his spare time, Lenny brings his vigorous spirit to the dance floor. You can see him regularly competing in multiple events (smooth and rhythm), at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio located in Bardonia, or on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok. He is proud of his many first-place performances in the senior division (65+) — most recently a performance that brought him a standing ovation! In addition to earning numerous trophies, Lenny was awarded the John Allen Humanitarian Award at the annual Fred Astaire Dance Studio event.

Lenny has also dedicated many hours volunteering for the people of Rockland County. He is a past Chairman and board member of Jawonio, and the first president of the Jawonio Foundation; participated on the selection committee for “40 Under 40”; is a former board member of the Rockland Business Association (RBA); and currently serves on the board of Congregation Sons of Israel in Nyack.

As Lenny always says, “The lawyer you choose makes a difference.” Let Lenny be that lawyer! — by Nadine Schneider

Personal injury attorney Leonard J. Birbrower, Esq.

Lenny proudly displaying his competitive dance trophies

Lenny is consistently recognized as a top attorney in the practice of personal injury law

TAPAS BAR BASKS IN ITS SUCCESS

STORY BY JAMES CARSEY | PHOTOS BY KRISTIN SANDGREN-JOLAIN

Opening a restaurant can be grueling. It takes hard work, endless dedication, and the ability to roll with the punches.

Now imagine how much harder it would be to do that in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Chef-Owner Benny Castro of Basque Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Piermont — a Rockland mainstay since 2018 — did a little more than imagine. Despite the labor shortage, supply chain issues, dining restrictions, and all the uncertainty plaguing the restaurant business in general, he opened a new Basque Tapas Bar and Restaurant in Westchester County’s Tarrytown a year ago — and it is doing quite well, thank you.

Castro experienced major challenges during the renovation phase. The supply chain debacle made it nearly impossible to find restaurant essentials like sinks, tables, and chairs.

“Three months into the expansion and we still didn’t even have any chairs. It was pretty wild, I’ve never been through anything like that before,” Castro said.

The results belie those troubles. The restaurant has a colorful, winning personality that announces itself as soon as you enter. Basque’s décor makes a strong and immediate first impression, with exposed brick walls and hardwood floors, plus a generous display of art on the walls, conveying a warm, casual vibe. Just off the dining room there is a small market space that sells authentic ingredients and products from Spain.

Castro’s motivation to expand Basque Tapas Bar and Restaurant with a second location is simple: he believes in the brand. He’s built the business from the ground up and had a strong feeling about setting up shop in Westchester County. When the Tarrytown location came up, he jumped at the opportunity.

Castro spent plenty of time in the trenches learning the business. While in his teens, he worked as a dishwasher, busboy, and cook, eventually graduating to manage restaurants and consult.

Castro’s father owned successful Spanish eateries in New York City, including the renowned El Quijote in Chelsea. “It’s in the blood. I grew up in these restaurants. It’s part of who I am,” Castro said.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU?

Tapas and paella portions at Basque are bigger than customary. “You come to Basque and you have five tapas and you’re full. You spend half the price that you would eating tapas in Manhattan,” Castro said.

While true to the authentic flavors of Spain, the tapas boast a modern flair. The paella is made from scratch, so preparation may take a little longer but Castro says the taste is worth the few extra minutes.

Both Basque Piermont and Basque Tarrytown have received the Restaurants from Spain Certification from Foods and Wines from Spain, an international group that promotes authentic Spanish food across the globe.

For your dining pleasure… seafood paella (left), surf and turf paella (right), tortilla española, fried eggplant, dates, sautéed chorizo (cast iron)

HISTORIC NEW BRIDGE LANDING PARK

STORY BY STEVE KELMAN | PHOTOS BY DEBORAH POWELL

During our nation’s war for independence, New Jersey saw more action in the way of battles, skirmishes, and raids than any other colony. In fact, General George Washington and the Continental Army spent more days in New Jersey than any other state, according to Crossroads of the American Revolution.

A prime spot where this history took place was in River Edge at Historic New Bridge Landing.

“New Bridge served as a battleground, fort, encampment, military headquarters, and intelligence gathering post in every year of the American Revolution” Bergen County Historical Society (BCHS) reports.

The 13-acre park consists of three historical homes, a traditional barn, and an 1889 swing bridge over the Hackensack River.

On a cold winter afternoon, I walked the grounds of the park accompanied by Deborah Powell, a past president of BCHS and one of the park’s commissioners.

Historic New Bridge Landing

We began our stroll outside of the Steuben House (c1752) adjacent to the bridge and the Hackensack River. Here Powell described the overall significance of the historical park. “New Bridge was a strategic crossing point during the war because it was the first bridge located above the Newark Bay.”

Although the original 1744 bridge no longer exists, an 1889 Swing Bridge serves as an attractive replacement with its own historical significance. Listed on the NJ and National registers, it is the oldest swing bridge in the state.

On November 20, 1776, after abandoning Fort Lee to British forces, Washington led the Continental Army on a retreat across the (1744) bridge as they were being pursued by the enemy.

Thomas Paine, publisher of the popular pamphlet “Common Sense,” was an eyewitness to the retreat and aide to General Nathanael Green. He wrote that the Continental Army’s “first objective was to secure the bridge over the Hackensack.”

Paine is best known for the phrase “these are the times that try men’s souls.”

Rendering of the new museum building

Westervelt-Thomas Barn (1889)

Steuben House

Powell said the Steuben House, “saw more of the Revolution than any other house.” The house was also a military headquarters for Washington later in the war during September of 1780.

Exhibits inside the house include nine Revolutionary War maps of the New York region, musket balls (including one that was shot at the house), and a Charleville musket unearthed at New Bridge in 1915.

“This type of musket was imported from the French, who were aiding the American cause,” Powell said.

The other historic houses at New Bridge include a two-room, sandstone cottage named Demarest House (c1794), and the Campbell Christie House (c1774).

“The Campbell Christie House is the welcoming point for all of our events,” Powell said. During these events, which typically occur twice a month, the house serves as a tavern where food is sold, and reenactors demonstrate activities like cooking and black smithing. “Our focus is on the visitor experience,” Powell said. “And the people who visit like to keep coming back.”

All the historic buildings are open during events, which include a Pinkster celebration in May, and walking tours of the park during the month of June. The park’s grounds are open daily, dusk to dawn.

Moving forward, a museum is being planned at the site, and fundraising to cover its construction is underway. “The new facility will provide us with exhibit space, storage for our collection, and two ADA bathrooms,” she said. “This will be a big help with the visitor experience.”

Concluding my visit, I crossed the 1889 swing bridge under a hazy late day sun. Overhead, a group of angry blue jays were causing a racket. At the same time, the rattle of a kingfisher was heard in the distance.

And just downriver maybe a mile or so, a pair of immature bald eagles were seen perched on a tree looking down at the water, perhaps searching for a late-day meal.

HARNESSING THE HUDSON

STORY BY BRUCE APAR | PHOTOS BY HOWARD COPELAND

“Isn’t that something?” master builder Martin Ginsburg asks as we momentarily pause on a mid-January stroll through his Harbors at Haverstraw residential community (off Route 9W), en route to check out its new neighbor and his newest project, Admirals Cove.

Positioned at the widest point of the Hudson River, our gaze tracks his, peering southward as we take in the happy harmony of skyscraping sculpture, nature, and waterfront living. The man clearly enjoys being in his element and guiding us through it, not surprising since the environment is of his own making.

Calling the indefatigable Ginsburg a developer and leaving it at that is like calling Elon Musk a tinkerer. The 87-year-old founder and principal of Ginsburg Development Corporation

(GDC) first and foremost prides himself on being an architect.

Add to all those credentials Ginsburg’s avocation of aesthete, as in ardent admirer and patron of fine art, attested by the sculptures and paintings that ornament the visual language of his properties.

Admirals Cove, which recently started leasing its 240 one-, two- and threebedroom rental units, is the latest manifestation of Ginsburg’s highconcept model for luxury rentals. Monthly rates range from under $2,000 to more than $6,000.

Together with the Harbors, built almost two decades ago, the twin communities populate a picturesque peninsula that was “desolate” and now is a vibrant and verdant and intimate waterfront

‘We don’t just build homes, we build communities and relationships’ –Martin Ginsburg

In the mighty river, master builder Martin Ginsburg sees a revenue stream for waterfront towns

In this aerial view by Daniel Spitzer, MD, Harbors at Haverstraw at lower left and four Admirals Cove buildings at middle left are separated by a kayak lagoon. At top right is the marina and parking lot. At far right corner is site of future restaurant above ferry to Ossining.

playground. It artfully blends a sense of being away from it all with a chill vibe that welcomes non-residents to partake of its pleasures. Most of the marina members live elsewhere, while street parking, trail walking, and other features are open to the public.

After earning his degree in architecture, Martin Ginsburg was perfectly content plying his trade in New York City, when he was recruited by brother Jerome to join him in starting GDC in the early Sixties. At that point, not unlike that other New York-bred developer of note, they, too, were the beneficiaries of a loan from their father — totaling $6,000.

As fledgling developers, the brothers made their bones by taking on what Ginsburg called “the most difficult, rotten, hilly sites.” In that way, “we were able to acquire properties no other developer would build, for a very reasonable price.”

He is not deterred by the occasional project that is a money-loser, which he accepts as an occupational hazard. “My focus is always on the vision for what’s the best possible project to create in that area,” a GDC practice he calls placemaking. “You’re buying into a lifestyle.”

Amenities at Admirals Cove and Harbors range from a cafe, marina, and swimming pools to a kayak launch lagoon and a forthcoming multi-level restaurant on the property’s northeast point, with expansive river views in three directions. Another major feature is the waterfront promenade.

For commuters headed to Manhattan or stops along the way, a New York Waterway ferry is docked on the premises, across from the marina, for the 15-minute shuttle to Metro-North’s Ossining train station.

“The major thing we’re trying to accomplish,” said Ginsburg, who speaks softly and carries big ideas, “is presentation on the entire waterfront, with an estuary built out at the southern end and then a walkable waterfront and sculpture trail, with a bridge over the marina and a playground.”

He envisions the trail connecting directly to downtown Haverstraw, about a mile north, where the town has contracted with a Long Island developer to gentrify the area, thanks to a $4 million grant from the state’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).

Two Westchester municipalities also bequeathed $10 million each in DRI funding by the state are Ossining (where Ginsburg has Harbor Square) and Peekskill (home to his high-end Abbey Inn and Spa perched aerie-like high above the Hudson).

Invoking the term “rainmaker,” Ginsburg is not shy about suggesting it is no coincidence that the state’s coveted DRI millions went to three River Towns where GDC already had

upped the ante by creating high-profile, mixed-use waterfront showplaces. The DRI money was earmarked to “enhance walkability and connectivity to the waterfront and public places, increase arts and cultural amenities, and expand business and housing opportunities,” which also happens to describe the GDC formula.

“We’re very passionate about the Hudson River,” he said, adding, “It has to become a major asset” for River Towns. They have to realize the river has to become a front door. Tourism is a very clean, attractive industry. The cities and towns haven’t focused on making that important.”

Ginsburg proposes nature trails dotting each of the Hudson River ports where the ships would stop, while the art lover in him favors installing sculptures within natural settings, as he already has done on his properties, creating gateways for hikers and other visitors to our Hudson Valley shores.

Bruce Apar is Editorial Director + Associate Publisher of Rivertown Magazine.

The waterfront promenade eventually could extend to downtown Haverstraw.

DONUTS, WITH A MOCHI-TWIST NEWCOMER SOPOONG INVITES YOU TO PICNIC

STORY BY ELYSE TORIBIO

It’s fitting that Sopoong Donuts, a new Korean-inspired dessert cafe in Wyckoff that opened in September 2022, is surrounded by the many local parks of Bergen County.

The name of the Goffle Road business translates to “picnic,” said owner Young Choi, because he wants customers to feel at ease as they sip on a smoothie or munch on a mochi-style donut. “Or wherever they are — at a sports game, the park — just roll out a blanket and enjoy.”

Choi hails from Glen Rock and runs Sopoong alongside his wife and another business partner. Their hope is that the cafe’s selection offers an alternative to the more familiar style of donuts from chains like Dunkin’ and Krispy Kreme, he explained. Their signature treat does just that.

The mochi donut is a ring of fried dough bubbles that are slightly crispy on the outside but soft, fluffy, and chewy on the inside. Sopoong offers a rotating selection of not-too-sweet glazes and flavors, including churro, purple yam (also known as ube), Thai tea, Earl Grey, and black sesame, in addition to classics like vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. “These donuts are on a different level,” said Choi. “To try is to believe.”

For a savory option, the corn dogs offered at Sopoong are also a departure from what customers might find at a ball game or carnival. The batter makes for a sweeter and crispier texture than the typical corn bread and can be topped with hot Cheetos, cheese balls, regular or truffle parmesan potatoes, or be made churro style. Inside, as is typical for Korean corn dogs, customers can opt for a sausage, cheese, or both.

Choi credits the massive success of K-pop stars like BTS and

Blackpink for the rising popularity of Korean culture in the U.S. in recent years. He said that — thanks to the supportive residents of Wyckoff and surrounding communities of Ridgewood, Midland Park and Glen Rock — word of mouth is spreading about Sopoong, too.

“We are catching up day by day,” said Choi, who manages Sopoong’s website and Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook accounts. “This is a mom-and-pop store. I’m a very old gentleman, but I’m learning.”

Elyse Toribio has lived in North Jersey for nearly 20 years and is always looking for a new shop, restaurant, or spot in the area to recommend to friends and family.

Mochi-style donuts

Smoothies

The Korean-inspired dessert cafe opened last September Corn dogs

IMAGINE WORKING WITH IMAGINE PROPERTIES

Kathleen “Kate” Kennedy has been a top producer since she entered real estate more than 30 years ago. She works with buyers and renters, but her expertise is with sellers. She has been the top listing agent at Imagine Properties since she joined.

Kate also represented one of the largest commercial deals in South Orangetown. In addition, you will always find Kate giving back to the community where she lives and works. She is associated with Sparkill Ladies Auxiliary, The Family Fire Fund, The Promise Scholarship, and the Penguin Plunge. Kate is also a retired Special Education Teacher with the Nyack Public School System. Kate grew up across the border in NJ and is happily married to Joe Kennedy, a retired FDNY. They have raised their three wonderful children in South Orangetown. Kate Kennedy, your “Need To Deed Realtor” Call her for All Your Real Estate Needs 845-461-9889

Imagine Properties is proud to be celebrating our 10th Anniversary this August! Our new location will serve as a corporate headquarters for Imagine Help, our non-profit organization, as well as our New York, New Jersey, and Florida offices.

We also offer mortgage services (NMLS 21393880) through Brighton Bank, which recently expanded to cover all 50 states. Since we became independent 10 years ago it has always been and will always be about serving our customers to the best of our ability.

Imagine Properties is an amazing team and we appreciate the support from our friends, family, affiliates, and the community. Thank you for 10 wonderful years! Hoping for at least 10 more!

Kathleen “Kate” Kennedy Listing Agent

HANDLING MUSICAL GENRES LIKE GOLD

Curating a live music experience for audiences and musicians alike, Maureen’s Jazz Cellar strives to adapt to what’s playing each night

STORY BY ELISA ZUCKERBERG

Nyack’s Maureen’s Jazz Cellar is a live music gem owned and operated by couple David Budway and Brianne Higgins. The venue has become a haven for jazz fans in the region and is an integral part of the community.

David, who is an accomplished musician and performer, opened the club shortly after his sister Maureen’s untimely passing in 2015. Brianne is an actor and director, and the mastermind behind the creation of the venue. David spoke with me about the club’s history and Brianne’s incredible skill in transforming the “ugliest place you’ve ever seen” into a beautiful listening room.

Given Maureen’s Jazz Cellar’s six-year history, many music fans are already familiar with your venue, but many of us want to know its origins.

“I’ve been making music my whole life, and losing my favorite musician and one of my closest friends, my sister Maureen, had a horrible effect on me. The intimacy we shared musically was like we were like one person. It’s a labor of love. That’s what this place is about.”

Photo: Elisa Zuckerberg

Photo by: Layne Anderson

Photo by: Chris Yacopino

Maureen Budway

David Budway on piano, Tania Grubbs vocals, Ron Affif guitar, Jeff Grubbs bass, and Mark Ferber on drums

You said that Brianne brought this idea to you — at the time you were performing in New York City. How did it change your music career?

“My trio had a residency at The Carlyle. [Maureen] passed when I was doing that. It was my wife’s idea to build something and name it after her. Brianne is a great actor and comedian who inherited the gift of carpentry from her father. She was tired of building sets for plays that were torn down, and wanted to build something lasting. We signed a lease and came to this place… it was the ugliest room I’ve ever seen. I was thinking that there was no way this could be a music place. We got the key, lit some sage, and said some prayers. Brianne transformed the place.”

When you opened you thought you’d present jazz exclusively, no?

“No! Because we love so many things including, The Grateful Dead — our first date was a Grateful Dead concert. We wanted to do jazz, comedy, and other things. Many of the people who come to Dead nights don’t come to jazz nights. They wouldn’t believe what it’s like on a jazz night. For Dead nights, we clear the tables for dancing, there’s tie-dye, and it’s loud! For the jazz shows, we put out the tables, it’s quiet, and we don’t allow people to talk. We treat each individual music genre like gold, like it should be presented.

One thing I really want to go on record saying is, through the pandemic, the Deadheads really stepped up. They came here and sold hot chocolate and merch, coming up with new ways for us to survive.”

I see that you also present programs for the community.

“Rockland has a big PRIDE-LGBTQ community. We honor this community and allow people to do shows here once a month. The proceeds go to the Rockland Pride Center. The Rockland Youth Jazz Ensemble rehearses here on Mondays and local piano students do recitals. Our Tuesday Open Mic is onenight-fits-all. Jazz, songwriters, little kids — all perform in a listening environment.”

How did the evenings at the Piano Bar start?

“That started during the pandemic. We started doing this thing on Facebook, singing some songs. I’d look to see who was watching and take requests. The audience loved it and would Venmo us. When we reopened, Brianne suggested we keep the Piano Bar going.

There’s a whole different audience for Saturday Piano Bar nights. People who don’t want to pay a cover and be quiet for a jazz show can get rowdy, drink, and sing along like it’s a party.”

Think you have the right combination and understand what your audience wants?

“Yes, definitely! But it’s a ton of work! Brianne and I did the math. We put on 300-plus shows a year, all different genres.”

As far as Maureen’s Jazz Cellar goes, according to David, the future is bright, but not exactly back to normal. “Thankfully we entertain many different audiences. It comes from the love of music, the love of Maureen, and LUCK!”

Elisa Zuckerber is the founder of HearItThere.com, an online resource for live music events in Hudson Valley and Fair fi eld County.

“We treat each individual music genre like gold, like it should be presented.”

—David Budway

PUTTING THE FUN BACK IN ARTS FUNDING

From stage to classroom, government grants enrich students

STORY BY KYLE CHOUINARD

Jessica Jones started working with Ayn Lauren, the Founder and Artistic Director of Stage Left Children’s Theater, in 1999. The two still work together, but instead of Jones being a member of Lauren’s first cohort of students, she’s the theater’s executive director.

“It was a place where I was able to express myself differently,” Jones said. “We learned about working together, we learned about community, we learned about being able to express ourselves.”

Unfortunately, after 17 years as an instructor with the theater, Jones started her new position in the midst of the pandemic. Like other Rockland arts organizations, Stage Left canceled performances, moving some students to Zoom presentations. Now, post-pandemic, record high funding from New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) has organizations like Stage Left coming back in full force into the Rockland community.

NYSCA has granted nearly $750,000 to organizations in

Rockland County over the last two years, including Stage Left and Children’s Shakespeare Theater. The Shakespearean theater introduces children to classical texts in a “safe, supportive community,” said Brady Amoonclark, Artistic Director of the theater, which lost an entire season to the pandemic.

“We didn’t know if the children of Children’s Shakespeare Theater would be enthusiastic to return or what type of art we’d be able to make in this pandemic,” she said. “(But) we made beautiful art and the funding from NYSCA allowed us to do things to keep us safe.”

Peter Pan was produced by Stage Left Children’s Theater

Strawtown Studio introduces students to nature

The theater used its NYSCA funding to buy masks, Covid tests, and high-efficiency particulate air filters, among other Covid mitigation strategies, Amoonclark said. “The first year was a big leap of faith, but, luckily, the kids came back.”

While other organizations received their first funding from NYSCA during the pandemic, Stage Left had been relying on it for years to move its work from the stage into the classrooms of Cottage Lane and William O. Schaefer elementary schools.

The Theater Enrichment Program, a partnership between Stage Left and the South Orangetown Central School District, helps students develop creative writing and theatrical skills not normally found in an English class. Nearly half of the program’s funding comes from the state, much of which is NYSCA’s.

“We’re bringing in theatrical lessons to their school day,” Jones said, “which has been amazing.” If a parent’s work schedule prevents the child from attending after-school activities, the program allows them to participate in their classroom.

Every fourth and fifth grader in the district works with Stage Left. Both teachers and principals within Orangetown have said they’ve seen improvements in students’ reading and writing skills.

“Kids have chosen to go back and sometimes revise their writing after taking our course because they’re like ‘Oh, there’s so much more detail I can put into this,’” Jones said.

Strawtown Studio, also in Nyack, tries to bring students outside of the classroom and into nature. In videos on Strawtown’s website, students create art based on the nature around them, such as using collected rocks to make paint they then use.

While not requiring the same Covid-19 ventilation protocols, the nature-based programming center had to shut down its in-person work. Within two weeks, Seeman said, Strawtown was getting its programming out to both formal and informal educators, like teachers, parents, and youth leaders.

“Our organization was very dedicated to taking this body of work from over 20 years and creating ways to share it with others,” she said. “(NYSCA) funding allowed us to maximize … getting our work out to other people.”

B ing or selling a home can be a stressf l process if o don't ha e the right real estate agent. With o er ears of e perience, Rosalie has amassed an e tensi e amo nt of kno ledge, affiliates, and local market e per se.

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Outside of state funding, Rockland County is also helping arts organizations bounce back from the pandemic. Lucy Redzeposki, the county’s Director of Economic Development and Tourism, announced in January 2023 tourism grants to 29 organizations totaling $278,000.

“Tourism has endless benefits; it creates jobs, strengthens economies, and contributes to infrastructure development,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.

Children’s Shakespeare Theater’s Amoonclark feels similarly about a return to live theater within her own organization. The theater garners support from local businesses for its performances, working with Beckerle Lumber, Harrington Press, and Fiddler Ian Moore, who can also be found at the Nyack Farmers Market.

“These dollars that NYSCA awards us also get reinvested in our local community,” said Amoonclark. “Arts are an engine that help drive the economy.”

GIVING NEW LIFE TO FOOD WASTE

STORY BY RYAN BIEBER

This January marked the one-year anniversary of Orangetown’s food scrap recycling program, a collaboration between local residents, Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny, and Rockland Green, to turn recycled food scraps into compost.

In its first year, the program converted 45 tons (approximately 90,000 pounds) of food scraps into nutrient-rich soil. Residents collect their food waste in compost bins before dropping them off at the department facility off Route 303 in Orangeburg. From there, Rockland Green processes the food scraps along with wastewater sludge and wood chips to make rich soil that is then sold to commercial and industrial companies throughout New York state.

Gerard Damiani, executive director of Rockland Green, said it takes about 52

Food Scrap Recycling Quick Facts

¾ Food waste is the largest component found in landfills

¾ Food scraps decomposing in landfills produce methane

¾ Compost made from food scraps is nutrient-rich and sequesters carbon

¾ Rockland Green diverted 45 tons of food scraps from landfills in one year

Marking one year in, Orangetown’s food scrap recycling program is ready to expand

Composted food scraps create nutrient-rich soil

Food waste collection bin

Rockland Green’s composting facility in Hillburn, NY

Photo by Markus Spiske

Photo by Town of Orangetown

Photo by Rockland Green

days from start to finish to turn the food waste into soil. Still, the process overall is less expensive and more environmentally friendly than the cost of shipping food waste to the closest landfill, which is around 320 miles away. In a landfill, the decomposition of food scraps produces methane, a greenhouse gas more potent than Co2 and a major contributor of global warming.

Rockland Green covers the cost of transporting the food scraps from the highway department to their processing facility. They also funded the purchase of collection bins as well as compostable brown bags used for storing food scraps at home, available to residents free of charge. All in, the company has invested over $50,000 into the program.

Theoretically, Rockland Green could turn a profit by selling the compost, but this is not currently the case. Damiani said the sale price of compost greatly varies and is highly dependent on the demand and season. He said that having more residents recycling food waste would help make the program more profitable, although he added that profit is not the main goal here.

“It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “It’s beneficial to the environment. And in

the long run, this is more convenient and you will see a reduction in the amount of waste generated from residential and commercial dwellings.”

Currently, only around 500 out of Orangetown’s 17,000 households have signed up for the compost program. One of the biggest hurdles is that the one drop-off site in all of Orangetown isn’t in the most convenient location for all residents. However, that is soon to change.

According to Damiani, the village of Piermont has recently received its first round of compost collection bins and is planning on launching the program in early 2023. Meanwhile Rockland Green has been in talks with the village of Nyack and is canvassing other town supervisors in neighboring municipalities to gauge interest in expanding the program.

“It really starts with elected officials,” Damiani said. “The town supervisors know their residents the best, so if they say ‘yes,’ then we will start to work with them and have those conversations. It’s all about creating partnerships and synergy so it becomes economically feasible to roll this out even further, or even go to curbside [pickup].”

Orangetown’s food scrap drop-off site

Congressman Mike Lawler drops food waste off at the food scrap site

Photo by Town of Orangetown

Photo by Town of Orangetown

THEY GOT WHAT?! ®

By DONNA COX of Howard Hanna Rand Realty

In the first half of 2022, we saw a continuation of the 2021 market characterized by low interest rates, explosive, double-digit appreciation, and historically low inventory. As the year progressed, there was a confluence of factors like the Feds raising interest rates multiple times, inflation concerns and a rapid increase in mortgage interest rates that caused the market to cool slightly. We still ended the year on the upside with year-over-year appreciation in both the single-family home and condo markets. What’s in store for the real estate market for 2023? The lack of inventory has been instrumental in driving prices up – especially since mid-2020 - and I predict this will continue in 2023 albeit to a lesser degree. As inflation slows, I expect the Feds to pull back and mortgage rates to stabilize and hopefully go down a bit as the year progresses. I do believe that we will continue to see a seller’s market, especially in the first quarter of this year. If you are a seller, keep in mind that right now you have almost no competition and demand for homes is still at a premium so if you are thinking of selling, sooner may be better than later. One thing is certain, it will be another exciting year for real estate. With that, here are the homes that sold in the Rivertowns during December.

If you are thinking of selling, buying or just want to chat about the real estate market in general, give me a call at 845-641-8613; I’d be delighted to speak with you.

IN THE BEGINNING …

Every now and then some youngster will ask me, “How do I become a newspaperman?” Or a journalist. Or a TV reporter.

The very short answer: I don’t know.

I know today that you have to go to college and study for four years – or more.

In my day the only way to become a newspaperman was to work at it.

So that’s why – on my 16th birthday, no less — I quit school and went to work on the local daily paper.

Little did I know that the only reason I got the job was because the paper was going out of business and no one in his right mind wanted to work there.

So, for four months I brought coffee and tea from the canteen to the copy editors. I answered phones, I ran up and down stairs to the library. I made sure the editors’ pencils were always sharpened (no computers in those days). And, yes, I actually wrote one story – about cricket, the world’s most boring game. One game can take three to five days and even then there‘s likely to be no result.

My story got published, but the next day — the very next day — the paper went out of business. I didn’t think my story was that boring, but apparently it killed the newspaper.

I started Rivertown Magazine more than 20 years ago. For most of my adult life I’d been a journalist. After that ignominious start reporting on cricket, I progressed to some of the biggest daily newspapers in England.

Then Rupert Murdoch started a magazine in New York called Star — and I was immediately recruited. For the next 40 years I worked for supermarket scandal magazines such as Star and National Enquirer. I’d had scoops on O.J. Simpson, Liz Taylor, President Clinton’s love life, Barbara Walters. I dealt with the good, the bad and the ugly. But I was forced to quit my job as editor of the Star when a man called Pecker (first name David) bought the magazine. I took an instant dislike to my new boss. And, as I told my wife, who wants to work under a Pecker? And so I decided to create my own magazine. Rivertown.

I worked out of an upstairs bedroom in my house in South Nyack. Advertisers would often climb up the back stairs and deliver their material directly to me.

I wrote many of the stories, designed the pages, and distributed the magazine door to door at local businesses and at all the local street fairs. My family sold the advertising. The great thing about a magazine like Rivertown is that everyone reads it and everyone has an opinion. People used to stop me in the street and ask what I thought of a particular restaurant. Or a new boutique. And I always had an opinion.

When I first came to Rockland County, the River Club was my favorite hangout. Then Hudson House. And La Fontana, and so on. There are so many great places here, and now is the time to try them all again.

I like to think that Rockland County is the best kept secret in the Northeast. And it is. It is a gem of a place. Pick up Rivertown every month and explore the wonders of Rockland County.

And Rivertown led me to my wife Candice. She advertised her interior design business in the magazine. We met and we fell in love. Proof — if proof is needed — that it pays to advertise in Rivertown.

But sorry, we can’t repeat the deal that Candice got. That deal is closed.

Phil Bunton is the founder of Rivertown Magazine. He is retired and living in Florida with his wife Candice.

with Phil Bunton

Our fearless founder met wife Candice through this very magazine

Do you want to see your adorable dog, cat, hamster, cockatoo, or llama in the pages of Rivertown? Of course you do!

It’s as simple as 1-2-3 (4 is optional):

1. Take a picture of your pet.

2. Tell us your pet’s name as well as

your name, email, phone number, and zip code.

3. Email the photo and info to editor@rivertownsmedia.com with “Pet Parade” in the subject line.

4. That’s it. Now sit back and wait for your pet’s 15 minutes of fame!

Brandy

Layla Macy

Brooklyn

Roxy and Rudy

Bo

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Set along the Haverstraw Waterfront Promenade with its monumental sculptures and jaw-dropping views of the river to the east and High Tor Mountain to the west, experience a special place like no other.

Featuring beautiful waterfront-inspired architecture throughout the community, the residences at Admirals Cove offer the latest in contemporary fixtures and finishes in a variety of One, Two, and Three-Bedroom apartments with great layouts… all with GDC’s renowned on-site property management providing you with carefree living.

Schedule an appointment online with our Leasing Agent or call (914) 714-3914.

Admirals Cove, 1100 Admirals Cove Boulevard, Haverstraw, NY 10927

Artist’s Rendering