Palisades Free Library THE PALISADES NEWSLETTER 10964 JUNE 1997 NUMBER 157 OCEAN TO OCEAN FOR STERLING FOREST Local Students will bicycle from Seattle to New York 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 United States, 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.