Palisades Free Library

THE PALISADES NEWSLETTER 10964 JUNE 1997 NUMBER 157 OCEAN TO OCEAN FOR STERLING FOREST Local Students will bicycle from Seattle to to Raise Funds for the Preservation of Sterling Forest.

hey're doing what?? That's right, four local University this fall, and Alon Ferency, a friend of students are riding 4,000 miles in a coast- Jaime's who is also graduating from Harvard this year. to-coast crusade to raise funds for a cause The group decided to organize the fundraiser they believe in. Joining the fight to save after reading an article about Sterling Forest in the Sterling Forest from development, the stu­ December edition of 10964. The article, entitled "A Tdents are bicycling from Seattle to Palisades as a Gift From All of Us to Mother Nature," chronicled the fundraiser for the Sterling Forest project. By publiciz­ decade-long struggle by the Palisades Interstate Park ing their ride in the counties of Rockland, Commission (PIPC) to preserve the ecologically cru­ Westchester, Orange, and Bergen, they hope to raise cial forest. It profiled the role played in this struggle as much as possible for the by Palisades residents Robert cause. "We hope our ride Binnewies, executive director will encourage residents of the PIPC, and Nash Castro, throughout the region to now retired from that post. contribute to this extraordi­ The article explained that nary and timely cause," although a coalition of explains Jaime Fitzgerald, Federal, State, and private the group's organizer. pledges had been assembled Jaime graduates from for the purchase of Sterling Harvard on June 6, three Forest from prospective days before the epic trip developers, an additional $10 begins. His sister Shannon, million in private donations who will be a junior at is still needed to reach the Cornell next fall, is joining agreed-upon purchase price him. Other members of the (after additional private group are Lauren Starke of donations, that shortfall has Tappan, who will be a shrunk to $6.5 million). If the sophomore at Brown environmentally crucial land University, Patrick Farley, a can be purchased from former resident of Palisades developers, it would become who will be a junior at Clark the largest New York state Jaime Fitzgerald and Patrick Farley (continued on page 2)

1 and the cost of fundraising so that 100% of donations sent in will go straight to Sterling Forest. "We hope our trip will help the Hudson River Valley to capitalize on a unique conservation opportunity at Sterling Forest, while allowing us to gain increased respect for our nation's land and resources," states Fitzgerald. Following their active fundraising drive in late May, the young fundraisers will continue to accept pledges throughout the summer at the following address: park to be created in the last Ocean to Ocean for Sterling Forest half-century. P.O. Box 153 Fitzgerald and four friends decid­ Palisades, NY 10964 ed to lend their support to the cause, planning a cross-country trek with a community service theme. Please make checks payable to "Palisades Interstate They hope to travel 77 miles per day, six days a Park Commission - Sterling Forest Fund." Please week, and they will camp and volunteer their time to make sure your name and address appear on your perform maintenance in parks and wildlife preserves check, as all donors will receive an update on the along the way. The trip will actually begin June 9th; success of the fundraising—and the ride—when the the group expects to be back in Palisades between cyclists return in August. For an update on the August 10th and August 20th. group's progress across the , Palisadians The students are asking local residents, mer­ may call Sylvia March at 359-3767. chants, and corporations to pledge funds toward the Sterling Forest cause, for 'which they hope to raise Jaime Fitzgerald & Alice Gerard $12,000 or more. They are paying for the entire trip Palisades Presbyterian ChurcK News ANNUAL STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL Saturday, June 14,2 p.m. to 6 p.m. On the manse lawn, Washington Spring Rd, opposite the church PLEASE NOTE: Sunday services will be at 10 a.m. from June 22 tkrougk Labor Day.

2 he excitement in the Bidi C©tfrt first time homosexuality neighborhood was was featured on a sitcom," palpable two years f>$rf©rxh$ says Didi. "We were way ago as news ricocheted ahead of Ellen DeGeneres!" through the preschool Didi's really big break in crowd that Stacey Jones, Hollywood came 'with her the Station Master of the portrayal of Frenchie, the television hit, Shining Time beauty school dropout in Station, was moving to Grease. Palisades. This excitement Didi's personal life was still evident two years changed one day when she later as neighborhood fami­ was listening to a radio lies streamed to the library's interview with a composer sellout event featuring named David Shire. "His Stacey, otherwise known music was so beautiful. I as Didi Conn, performing called a girlfriend who songs from her latest knew him. She gave me work, a delightful record­ his number and I called ing entided, Mommy him up!" That was it. Gimme a Drink of Water. David, too, has numer­ The event was one of the ous theatrical and movie most successful fundraisers credits, including an of the year for the library. Academy Award for Norma Didi was born in Rae, two Grammys for his Brooklyn to a theatrical contributions to the leg­ director and a psycholo­ endary Saturday Night gist. Didi studied at the Fever soundtrack, four American Dramatic Emmy nominations, and Academy, but after just six three Tony nominations. months, she left to spend His songs have been a year and a half on the road with The National recorded by numerous artists including Barbara Theater Company, Mimika, doing pantomime. Streisand, Melissa Manchester and Maureen "A turning point came when a good friend of McGovern. Didi and David were married in 1984. mine said, 'Didi, you should be in commercials. Since then, Didi has been very busy. One day Go see my agent.' So I went. There was a sign she got a call to see if she wanted to be in a TV on the door, DO NOT ENTER UNDER PENALTY show with Ringo Starr. "A Beatle! Of course I OF DEATH. But I just went in. Then the agent wanted to be in the show!" That show was stuck her head out of the door and said, 'Do you Shining Time Station. It has been on the air now really talk like that?' No one had ever told me I for nine years and a movie is in the works. had a strange voice. That day I was cast for an Five years ago Didi and David were blessed A&W Root Beer commercial." with the arrival of a son, Daniel. Two years ago, Didi was only 23 when she moved to LA and thanks to some friends in Piermont, they came made her first television show, The Practice, with out to Palisades. "When I walked down the path Danny Thomas. Her biggest laugh came when of this house, butterflies came out and flew all her character, a goofy doctor's secretary, responds around me. It was magical." to her date's confession that he is gay by throw­ We are so glad that Didi has brought her ing herself on him and exclaiming, "That's great! magic here to our neighborhood. I'm gay too. I'm happy all the time!" "It was the Milbry Polk

3 New Rails-to-Trails ParK Coming Our Way alisades has always been to park is not yet complete. The town is scheduled to short of safe routes for fam­ Presently, Conrail has accepted take title of the property within Pilies and children to ride the Town of Orangetown's pur­ the next few months, though a bikes and walk together. chase offer of $250,000 for four firm date has not been set. Once However, this may soon change. miles of corridor. An additional that happens, says Mr. Rose, the After nearly five years of debate stretch of nearly a mile has been intent is to use the property as a and planning, six miles of donated to the project by the trail for walkers, joggers and, unused Erie Railroad corridor in town, and another mile-long possibly, bikers, and the devel­ nearby Tappan is to be devel­ stretch, connecting to the opment stage will begin. oped as a linear park, part of the Blauvelt rail-trail, has been What does this mean for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy ^_ ^_ Palisades? While technical­ program that parlays aban­ ly not within our hamlet, doned railroads into hik­ AFTER NEARLY FIVE YEARS OF the addition of this 6-mile- ing and biking trails. DEBATE AND PLANNING, SIX MILES long branch of parkland, According to Richard located just a short walk OF UNUSED ERIE RAILROAD L. Rose Jr., the superinten­ down Oak Tree Road, dent of the Town of CORRIDOR IS TO BE DEVELOPED would provide a greater Orangetown's Department AS A LINEAR PARK. outlet for recreation and of Recreation, Parks and exercise to residents who Buildings, the new park, until now have been con­ or rail-trail, would run fined to heavily traveled along the corridor com­ local roads for their morn­ mencing at the north side ing jogs and strolls. The of Oak Tree Road, just park would be protected east of Finn McCool's, from the ever-increasing continuing into Sparkill truck and automobile traf­ and crossing Route 303 into donated by Rivervale Realty. In fic on Oak Tree Road and Route Blauvelt. A short spur would addition, the town has access to 303, and would most likely be connect with the existing another $250,000 to be used paved with crushed limestone, Piermont rail-trail, which leads to toward surveying, zoning and maldng it, in theory, bicycle and the bicycle path in Tallman Park, development costs. Of the poten­ even stroller friendly, and allow­ a part of the Hudson River tial $500,000 earmarked for the ing for better use by parents and Greenways trail system, and project, $400,000, or 80%, is to children and by cyclists desiring which circles back to the heart of be reimbursed through grants a reprieve from the fast-moving Palisades. In all, approximately from the Intermodal Surface packs on 9W. This new parkland 15 continuous miles of trails, Transportation Efficiency Act, will be a welcome supplement to with the possible inclusion of known as Istea (pronounced the small, poorly fenced School several handicapped-accessible "ice tea"), with a breakdown of Board property at the corner of sections, would provide an 50% of the funds geared toward Oak Tree Road and Route 303, unbroken path for local hiking the enhancement of facilities and an intersection noted for its pre­ and biking. another 50% dedicated to the ponderance of traffic accidents. But Mr. Rose stresses that the preservation of abandoned rail­ Another advantage to the cre­ transition from railroad corridor roads. ation of the parkland, says Mr.

4 Rose, is the preservation of wet­ considered an amenity to a com­ people to once-abandoned sites. lands along Sparkill Creek, munity. A 1994 survey of resi­ And increased use was direcdy including the Brookside Bird dents living near a trail indicated correlated to increased revenues Sanctuary. The Heritage Task that 42% believed that the trail for local businesses. Force for the Hudson River would increase the selling price The Rail-to-Trail Conservancy Valley, a state environmental of their home, 17% were influ­ does, however, advocate that group, has in the past recom­ enced to move to the area communities develop a manage­ mended banning development because of the trail, and no ment plan designed to enhance around the three county water­ respondents believed that the safety, such as landscaping in a ways to control drainage and trail decreased the selling price manner that limits deep shadows pollution problems affecting the of their home. Privacy issues and hiding areas, or installing Hudson River. were usually solved by the plant­ emergency telephones in key And except for a brief time ing of vegetative screening; fenc­ areas along the trail. Various pro­ during trail construction, the Rail- ing was rarely deemed necessary. grams can be implemented once to-Trail Conservancy says that In terms of public safety, the the trail opens, ranging from lim- rail-trails have a positive ^_ ^^_ iting use to daylight hours effect on wildlife, shelter­ to establishing volunteer ing and providing habitat 15 CONTINUOUS MILES OF trail-ranger programs to for endangered species TRAILS WOULD PROVIDE AN instituting regular police and promoting environ­ patrols. UNBROKEN PATH FOR LOCAL mental education. The success of While Mr. Rose says HIKING AND BIKING. Orangetown's new park there has been no major depends on the efforts of opposition to the park- community groups to land's development, he is assist in its clean-up, aware that homeowners maintenance and adjacent to the park have patrolling, says Mr. Rose, expressed concerns about who notes that the depart­ strangers having access to ment is hoping to affect their property and the an Adopt-a-Park program effect of the trail on prop­ similar to highway pro­ erty values. "We're listening," he survey found that no issues could grams where groups "adopt," and says. "These questions have to be be directly linked to the trails. thereby maintain, their portion of dealt with and alleviated." He The most serious violations were the road. hopes that statistics from the con­ graffiti and tagging at underpass­ But the price is a low one to servancy's studies of the impact es, but none of these incidents pay for year-round benefits, he urban trails have had on property were focused toward other trail adds. With a modest amount of values and public safety will do users, and they usually occurred participation, Palisadians can just that. where there were no other peo­ reap the rewards of being tied According to Patrick Kraich, ple on or around the trail. into the park network that has, the Eastern Community Affairs Typically, said the police officers, for nearly a decade, graced Coordinator for the conservancy lawful trail users served as eyes neighboring hamlets and upped in Washington, these studies, and ears for the community. the quality of life. And next based on surveys with communi­ The studies concluded that spring? Already the possibilities ty officials, police officers, prop­ rail-trails are beneficial, rather seem endless. erty owners and buyers, and than detrimental, raising property real-estate brokers, have conclud­ values and lowering crime by Kathryn Shattuck Papay ed that rail-trails are generally virtue of tidying and drawing

5 SOUTH ORANGETOWN SCHOOL NEWS

OPERATING BUDGET PASSES SUMMERSTAGE SUMMER PROGRAMS Once again, this On May 7, the voters of South summer students in the South Orangetown school district will be able Orangetown approved the proposed to register for workshops in the creative and performing arts. school budget of nearly $37.4 million. Administered under the auspices of the South Orangetown Central While the vote was relatively close School District, all workshops will be held atTappan Zee High School. — 1,319 voted yes while 1,136 voted no — residents of Palisades and the JULY PROGRAMS: other river towns of Piermont, Summerstage Kindergarten, for entering kindergarten students. Sparkill and Grandview overwhelm­ Two half-day workshops per week (5 weeks) in creative theater, music ingly approved the budget, with 388 and movement games, culminating in a performance. yes votes and 190 no votes. The new budget will serve to Summerstage Juniors, for students entering first grade. Five half day maintain the school district's contin­ workshops per week (5 weeks) in creative theater, music and ued commitment to a comprehensive movement games culminating in a performance. program for our children.Among its Summerstage Players, for students entering grades 2 to 5. Morning highlights are: increased support for theater workshops including acting, singing, movement and comedy, the Reading Recovery program for culminating in a performance. early elementary students with read­ ing difficulties; increased support for Summerstage Troupers, for students entering grades 6 to 12. the special education co-teaching Theater workshops and rehearsals leading to an evening of model; providing a new initiative for a "Summerstage Trouper" theater using the all-star, no-star policy. Gifted and Talented program at the AUGUST WORKSHOPS elementary schools; maintaining com­ mitment to computer instruction and "Rocking Teen" Shakespeare, for students entering grades 6-12. support; continuation of selected Production of a Shakespeare play, adapted for teens, which will use Advanced Placement and honors Shakespeare's language and also incorporate contemporary teen music classes at the high school; and rein­ and movement styles. statement of the diving team. Artsmarts, for students entering grades I to 5. Five half-day work­ The budget amount represents shops per week (2 one-week sessions). Students explore their an increase of 4.25% over last year's creativity based on experiences working with writing, art, acting, allotment. Primarily, these funds are music and storytelling. devoted to instructional expense August TV Live, for students entering grades 6 to 12. Hands-on TV (71%), general support (12%), trans­ workshop in theTappan Zee High School studio, including TV portation (5%), debt service (4%), and production, script writing, story boarding, and acting for the screen, interfund transfer (1%). Finally, a small culminating in a cable TV broadcast and a field trip to a NYC film amount of money will be used for or TV shooting location. selected capital improvements, such as and sidewalk repairs; fixing Photography Week, for students entering grades 6 to 12. Hands-on auditorium seats and classroom photography course culminating in a photo exhibit and desk-top furniture; and accessibility for published photo album. the disabled. For more information about these programs, please call 914-426-1858. BULLETIN BOARD

Lynn Seidler hosted a book Authors Marina Harrison and Lucy Sparkill. This atmospheric book signing for Marina Harrison and Rosenfeld (left and right) and nook is a great spot for rainy Lucy Rosenfeld at her store, Lynn Seidler (center). days. The knowledgeable propri­ Aubrey Flowers, on June I st in etors, George and David Hiller, Piermont. Marina and Lucy have can tell you nearly anything about just published Garden Wb/ks, a substances for safe disposal. Now most of the books in stock. book about touring gardens along that you know this, how can you the East Coast. A large turnout possibly not rush down to your ARTS NEWS enjoyed elegant snacks and basement and get started on On Sunday, May I8,jacquelyn bought up personally dedicated straightening out those shelves Dreschler performed as a fea­ copies of the latest book put out and cleaning everything up... tured soloist in a special Pops by the two authors. A review concert given by the Rockland appears in this issue on page 11. The Orangetown Historical Symphony Orchestra. She played Museum and Archives will be the flute in a performance of the The Palisades Church is running a holding a reenactment of a mid- Mozart Concerto for Flute and food collection drive for hun­ Victorian wedding on the front Harp; soloist LisaTannebaum gry families and needy people in lawn of the museum at noon on played the harp. The two women Rockland County. They have col­ June 14th, at 213 Blue Hill Road had to work closely with each lected less than 200 pounds of in Pearl River. A reception will other and with the orchestra to food since December, although follow at the 76 House in Tappan, carry off the work. In the third the goal is to collect a full ton by and an encampment of the 40th movement of the piece, they the end of the year. Please bring New York Volunteer Infantry, a played a lovely, free-sounding nonperishable food (in cans etc.) Civil War Regiment is also fea­ cadenza that they had written. A to the Parish House to help out. tured. The exhibit, "Sentiment, large and enthusiastic audience Marriage and the Home in the attended the concert, which was DID YOU KNOW?? If you need Mid-Victorian Era" will continue given in the auditorium at to dispose of hazardous house­ through the summer, ending on Rockland Community College. hold wastes, such as paint thin­ September 3. Alice Gerard ner, pesticides, or other noxious chemicals, you can call the After the recent library book Jackie's sister Jocelyn Dreschler Rockland county Solid Waste sale, the unsold overflow over­ DeCrescenzo will give a reading Management Authority in Pomona flowed into The Dragon and of her short story "Road Kill" at at 364-2444 to schedule an the Unicorn Bookstore in the Hopper House on June 14th appointment to drop off your at 5:30pm.

^'••TVVTVTVTVTTTVVVTVTTTTTVfT,affTVVTTTTTTTTVVTTTVVVVVTT?Tri.i^ SCIENCE FICTION SERIAL STORY BY TYLER YAMIN, AGE 9 STUFByKIDS

far ^HO FEU- so ELEVEN- story a? Our ABOV PORT s{/P& fTHO^ JOViM .WWS't£R \ous H1^ ^^4*^£SoU***- * DlM£1 •^H"* .His MO^ ALSO- 11L ft=# 1 ^^•W****T . it is the season of spiders, Atffi> F£U- the season of frogs and... PART 2 mosquitos... toads too. ohn saw the violet woods ahead of hot in the sun, cool in the pool, him and slowed down. He saw a water balloons bursting all day long, stream, and drank from it. As soon Jas he drank from it, he turned a shade of birds trilling and rushing headlong into song, red. He tried it again, but this time he you swim, swim, swim, fell unconscious, and woke up to see his it is great refreshing fun. mom looking at him. you stay outside so long, She said, "What happened? I think we that houses become extinct. should go to where we started. Maybe by Paula De Crescenzo we can get back in time for the birthday party." SOMEDAY They went back towards the portal, John first. When he did, he flipped head Small white flashes over heels into the air. He never came Against the bark back. His mom tried, and the same thing Waving dashes In the rising dark happened. Three hundred feet up, she saw John floating down with a parachute. White-tailed deer. "Where did you get that?" she asked. Alexander Lalire age 7 "At the gas station, two miles up," They stand he answered. Motionless "Gas station?" m I see their eyes Th 0(¾ And their ears "Never mind." And their minds On the ground, there were not any They see me very well marks of falling through. Only there I look away was a TV. The TV had swirling colors, Slowly like the portal. "Let's try it." Returning John looked doubtful. John put My eyes I see his hand through. He went They are still watching through, and a bat came out. Me. Then his mom turned into a mos­ quito. The bat ate her, but said, After a moment "Moms taste yucky." Then every­ That seems eternity thing in dimension 4 turned nor­ Tommy Griffin They turn their heads mal. They saw that if they thought about something, it And swish their tails as if to say We'll come again appeared. They thought about home...and it came. Someday. Then everything turned back to normal. Maryam Moody THE END age 12 8 1 LIBRARY NEWS I

NEW BOOKS "GO WILD! READ..." is the theme of the 1997 Summer Reading Program to be held at Palisades Free Library. A series of Wednesday Non-Fiction programs will include a variety of activities, including crafts and Devlin Goodbye Descartes Garcia Marquez News of a Kidnapping nature programs, to encourage children six years old and up to come Gates Jr. 13 Ways of Looking at a Black Man for an enjoyable time at the library and keep up their reading skills Harrison The Kiss over the summer. The program will be fun, relaxed, and non-competi­ Hoffman Inventing Mark Twain tive. A "Read-to-Me Club" for preschoolers will also be part of the Kubler Ross Wheel of Life summer activities. Love Dr. Susan Love's Hormone Book Sign-up sheets for programs and craft activities will be available Nuland The Wisdom of the Body in the library early in June. Please come in or phone. Salzman/West Struggles in the Promised Land The reading part of the program will begin on Wednesday, June History of the Breast Yalom 25. Come to the library, borrow some books, and go wild reading. This annual program is sponsored by the libraries in New York State in Fiction order to encourage year-round reading. Beattie My Life, Starring Dara Falcon Bellow TheActual For more information, phone 359-0136 or visit the library. DeMille Plum Island Looking for the Magazine Index Computer? Donleavy The Lady Who Liked Clean Then look for the PAC (Public Access Terminal) on the Reference floor. The Restrooms indexing and abstracting of over 400 popular general interest magazines as Jong Inventing Memory well as the current 2 months of the New York Times and the Wall Street Mailer The Gospel According to the Son Journal are available in one place. A librarian will be happy to assist you. McBain Nocturne Perry Shadow Woman Monthly Book Club Truscott Heart of War The book discussion group meets one morning a month at the library. Call Westlake TheAx Nancy Hall at 359-6237 for information.

Reference America's Garden Book SUMMER SCHEDULE: Encyclopedia Americana 1997 Mon - Wed 3 pm - 9 pm Yale Guide to Children's Nutrition Thurs 10 am - noon Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants and 3 pm - 9 pm Best Doctors in America Fri 3 pm - 5 pm Northeast Region, 1996-97 Sat 11 am-5 pm Cat World: A Feline Encyclopedia Sun (closed June 15-Labor Day Weekend) and many new juvenile books

LIBRARY PLANT SALE The annual spring plant sale took place on May 10, in spite of the threat of occasional sprin kles of rain. As in previous events, there were plants, food, used books for sale and two raffles-one for the grownups, and one for the kids. Lucky winners enjoyed meals at local restaurants including 3B in Nyack, and kids won free videotape rentals from Piermont Pictures, free miniature games from 9W Golf, and free meals at Wendy's.

ADIOS, BOB! The library board of directors would like to express its heartfelt thanks to departing Treasurer and board member Bob Williams, who, with his wife Andrea, has recently moved to Pride's Crossing, Mass, north of Boston. His hard work and sound advice has been greatly appreciated by all. Many thanks also to Palisadians Didi Conn and David Shire, who together provided us with a wonderfully successful fundraiser and a great day of fun for local children (see review of this event on page 3)

9 BOOK REVIEW: GARDENWALKS

GARDENWALKS is the latest volume in Harrison and Rosenfeld's series of guidebooks on places of interest and beauty one can visit within range of New York. This delightful book takes you through 101 of the most beauti­ ful gardens from Maine to Virginia. GARDENWALKS is divided into three sections. The first consists of short thoughtful essays on garden styles. It is a very useful beginning and one that the visitor will refer to again and again to help interpret the design, function and point of view of the selected garden. It is easily the section of the book that will make you want to transform your own garden into a place of wonder. To think it might be possible to model your own garden on the first topiary garden ever recorded, nearly two thousand years ago, by Pliny! Each garden description is filled with nuggets of his­ tory, descriptions of unusual plantings and the special dis­ coveries of the authors. Helpfully, there is an appendix that lists the gardens by style—including categories such as Colonial and Federal Period, Gardens Children will Enjoy, Gardens with "Garden-Rooms", Rock, Rose, Eccentric,

Local History m he latest project of the Library's the Revolutionary War, and descriptions of old m Historical Committee is the facsimile roads and buildings, of houses and their inhabi­ publication of Winthrop Gilman's Local tants. Genealogies of local families are among the History. This is a remarkable document most important of Gilman's entries: the older peo­ by a remarkable man. Gilman, a New ple he spoke with often had records and family tradi­ m TYork banker, came to live in Palisades in 1861. tions going back to the earliest days of the nation. And m From then until his death sixty-two years later, he there are ephemera, too, such as an invitation to the concentrated his enormous intellectual vigor on Demonstration and Shredded Wheat Luncheon held to the history, institutions, families and personalities benefit the Library! of the tiny hamlet. The Committee hopes that facsimile copies of m Local History is part notebook, part scrap- Local History will be available later this year. The m book — the raw material of history. It includes estimated cost is $25 - $35, depending on how maps, photographs, drawings, and recollections of many copies are produced, how many inserts are people who had formerly lived in the village. included, and so on. To reserve a copy, please call I There are notes on events in Orangetown during Alice Munro Haagensen at 359-0097. m

10 Topiary, Wildflower, and Water. The second section takes the reader on a delightful excur­ sion down the East Coast from Maine to Virginia to visit a variety of public and private gardens. One of the most striking facts that emerges after reading this section is the enormous amount of care and expense Americans have been lavishing on the natural landscape for quite some time. Just a short driving distance from Palisades are three unique gardens: Skylands Botanical Garden in Ringwood, NJ features % acres of showcase gardens including an intriguing Winter Garden, designed as an eye feast for "even the dreariest winter day;" Ringwood Manor is a 33,000 acre estate in the Ramapo Mountains that features ornate sculpture gardens; and Waterford Gardens is a commercial venture dedicat­ ed to water gardens in Saddle River, NJ. The final section is really the prelude for Harrison and Rosenfeld's next book. It is an enticing but tantalizingly brief sketch of a small sample of marvelous gardens in other parts of the country. We hope they are hard at work on this book because once the reader hits the garden road there is no stopping. This inspiring book should be at the top of everyone's summer reading list. GARDENWALKS by Marina Harrison and Lucy Rosenfeld is published by Michael Kesend Publishing, New York, NY. To order, call 800-488-8040. —Milbry Polk

JUNE CRADS Congratulations to all the graduates! Dawn Fallon graduated from the Academy of the Holy angels in Demarest, N.J. and will attend Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Connecticut, majoring in Communications. Jake Seidler is graduating from the Hackley School in Westchester, and will attend Kenyon College in the fall.Tappan Zee High School graduates are as follows: Kristien Barreto will begin Rockland Community College next fall and plans to go on to study law. Joe DiChristina will also attend RCC, taking the general program of study. Margaux Guerrard will go to Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania in September, majoring in theater. Daniel Guzman will enter SUNY Oneonta College in the fall and plans to major in psychology. Samantha Hahn has chosen Syracuse University, where she will enroll as an art major, working toward a BFA degree. William Loweree will attend lona college in New Rochelle in the School of Business Administration, and plans to try out for the college team. Jean-Christophe Jouas grad­ uated from the United Nations International School in Manhattan and will attend SUNY Oneonta in upstate New York.

11 CRISTINA BIAGGI LEADS PROGRAM ON THE GREAT GODDESS

n Saturday March 22, a panel of cussed modern African incarnations of the women involved with studies of the Goddess in the worship of Osun, the Yoruba OGreat Goddess in prehistory, culture, Goddess of fresh water, and Olokun, the and art presented a program on that topic in Goddess of the Sea in Nigeria. the Kaufmann Theater at the American Virginia Dare, another resident of Museum of Natural History. The program Palisades, talked briefly about music as part began with a brief invocation to the Goddess of rituals celebrating the Goddess and then by Donna Hermes, an urban shaman. Donna sang a song honoring Wangari Maathai, a used New York City water Kenyan woman who "was responsible for and incense in her ritual starting the Green Belt movement in Africa. and ended by asking the She urged the audience not to abandon their audience to chant "Mom." own creativity, but to celebrate it by joining Dr. Cristina Biaggi, the with others to make music. Virginia finished organizer of the event and her presentation by dividing the audience a resident of Palisades, into three parts and asking them to sing a followed with an archaeo­ round, fubilate Dea. Although the sound was logical and architectural a little ragged, most of us participated and overview of the Goddess enjoyed this group activity. Next the actress in prehistory. She showed and activist Olympia Dukakis told of her dis­ slides of representations of the deity dating covery of the from Neanderthal culture to the Neolithic. Dr. Goddess in early Biaggi, author of Habitations of the Great Greek religion —OFTffE— Goddess, believes that during this pre-patriar- and of the ways GREAT, chal period, in contrast to later periods, that that discov­ GODDESS women were respected and treated as equals. ery have influ­ Donna Wilshire, who came next, drama­ enced her life tized three versions of the Goddess in early and her work in Greece. Barefoot, ululating and beating a the theater. drum, she described temples dedicated to The event Hera as a virgin, Hera the mother, and closed with Hecate, the crone. Ms. Wilshire is the author another short talk of the book Virgin Mother Crone: Myths and and ritual by the urban shaman Donna Mysteries of the Triple Goddess. Members of Hennes, who handed out blue corn seeds for the audience joined her in invoking and the large and enthusiastic audience, mostly praising the goddess at the end of her pre­ made up of women, to take home and use as sentation. She was followed by Mei Mei they saw fit. Sanford and Adeline Igho Apena who dis­ —Alice Gerard

12 'J Families cin d Work 1 1 1 r^ c "FIT H •^'^ptf *jB instil uie in the National Spotlight

""T~"his is the year that late- ference on brain development 1 breaking research into the in 1996 attended by 150 of the w » J^'Spi 1 early development of nation's leading brain scientists, infants' brains has jumped over child development and early F M- .'JP^^i the traces of academic publica­ education experts, business tions into the mainstream leaders and policy makers. media, including Washington The "I Am Your Child" cam­ growth of involvement has and Hollywood. How could paign that grew out of this is been so fast that Galinsky bare­ this possibly happen? It's not now seeking to reach out to ly has time to sit down and easy to get jaded reporters and the public at large to spread a catch her breath. She kindly editors of the mainstream press positive message about how to made time to speak with 10964 to switch from the tabloid beat cherish and love young babies, about the initiative in between to the "Mommy track." not only because it's the right trips and phone calls all over However, Palisadian Ellen thing to do, but because it's so the country. Currently there Galinsky, who is the president important for basic brain devel­ are 126 national organizations of the Families and "Work opment. The initiative that that have gotten involved and Institute, a nonprofit research Galinsky has spearheaded has 50 coalitions have been formed group in New York City, has led the White House to hold a to take up the message of the gotten everyone in the country "Conference on the Brain" in campaign. talking about good parenting April, has gotten ABC to run an In response to a question skills, the importance of chil­ hour-long program on child about her greatest frustrations dren, and even, heaven forbid, development directed by Rob with the whole process, she about the importance of loving Reiner, and has gotten mentioned the heavy time pres­ one another. Newsweek to devote a special sures and the difficulty of find­ The momentum began two issue to child development. ing ways to sustain the good and a half years ago, when Two goals for the campaign work being done over the long Galinsky was visiting Rob as visualized by Galinsky, run. However, she also spoke Reiner and he told her about Reiner and others have been to of the immense sense of gratifi­ his long term dream to do keep partisan ideology out of it cation she feels for having something about increasing and to keep rigorous scientific helped to get Americans to take public awareness of the impor­ accuracy in it. Outreach to all up discussion of a positive tance of early childhood par­ parents, no matter what their issue that will have so much enting skills. As the idea of a situation in life, has been the impact on so many tiny little full blown public awareness overriding dream of all lives. Clearly, this is a master­ campaign developed, AT&T involved in the effort. ful effort to help children and lent its corporate backing and Meanwhile, everything has their parents make the best of a FWI sponsored a national con- happened so quickly and tough, tough world. Greta Nettleton.

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11 Medical Park Drive, Suite 106 • Pomona, New York 10970 Tel 914-362-2115 • Fax 914-362-2102 10964 Newsletter Standard Mail P.O. Box 201 Permit #9 Palisades, NY 10964 Palisades, NY 10964

TO BOXHOLDER PALISADES, NY 10964

"Armadillo" by Danny Griffin

Palisades Community Center is available full-time for meetings, parties, classes and events.

Contact Caroline Tapley YouCo m at 359-0013 *•*»*<*your fid *er SuPportfancial T~r

ABOUT 10964 This community newsletter publishes news and information of interest to the people of Palisades. 10964 is always looking for new talent—we need your writing, your editing, and your computer layout skillsl If you are interested in helping out, please contact any one of our staff members. Our next issue will be put together in early September following an organizational meeting right after Labor Day.

Staff Members: Judy O'Neil-Castagna, Ellen Chayet Kidd, Jocelyn De Crescenzo, Carol Elevitch, Alice Gerard, Susan Gersony, Greta Nettleton, Andrew Norman, Kathryn Shattuck Papay, Milbry Polk, Caroline Tapley, Gina Vermandel, Mary Tiegreen, Margaret Umbrino and CellenWolk. Editor: Greta Nettleton Design & layout. Mary Tiegreen

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