NEW CITY ‒ A 45-year-old Nyack woman faces a maximum of 21 years in state prison for causing a person's death when she crashed her car while drunk the Rockland District Attorney's Office said who authorities said has a history of drunken driving She drove drunk at speeds nearing 70 mph in a 30 mph zone District Attorney Thomas Walsh said in a Facebook news release on Tuesday She had pleaded guilty on April 23 in County Court despite the injuries suffered by her two passengers Mitchell had prior incidents of drunken driving in California Mitchell pleaded guilty to an indictment charging her with aggravated vehicular homicide leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death leaving the scene of an incident resulting in serious physical injury In exchange for her guilty plea on April 23 County Court Judge Djinsad Desir promised Mitchell a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison The District Attorney's Office recommended the maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years She remains in the county jail without bail pending her scheduled sentencing on July 22 She has been held without bail in jail since her arraignment on Sept “The actions of the defendant on that day resulted in the death and serious injury of two passengers in her vehicle," Walsh said "Traffic laws are in place to protect all drivers and their passengers The defendant has multiple prior driving under the influence convictions from California She will now be held accountable for her actions "I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victim and the continued recovery to the injured passenger,” Walsh said The Orangetown Police Department investigated the case while Supervising Assistant District Attorney Meghan Garvey and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic prosecuted and families with a hankering for fun and good food will find great eats and great values in Nyack during the village’s annual Nyack Restaurant Week Nyack Restaurant Week runs from April 23rd through May 1st for lunch and dinner During this week-long culinary celebration diners can choose their formats and flavors from participating restaurants offering a variety of options — such as discounts of up to 20% or special menus at special prices Before or after you dine, pair your fare with great shopping by browsing Nyack’s eclectic and exciting retail shops and services businesses Special thanks to our sponsors Nyack Chamber of Commerce, O&R, and Munn & Associates – Ameriprise Financial Services Nyack Restaurant Week is supported by the Village of Nyack; the Art, Crafts and Antiques Dealers Association (ACADA); Nyack Merchants United; Visit Nyack, Inc Please mention “Nyack Restaurant Week” at all participating businesses below in order to claim the special offerings Nyack Restaurant Week offers are good for both dine-in and pick-ups and cannot be combined with other promotions or offers Delivery services are not included in the promotion Enjoy fantastic deals for dine-in or take-out at the following participating businesses retail shops and services are coded in blue: Antique Masters | 1 South Broadway | 845-727-7700 | up to 65% off Bangkok Station Nyack | 12 Park Street | 845-358-9100 |50% off drink specials Black Parakeetz Paint, Swig & Sing | 298 Main Street | 845-793-3504 | 15% off in-house tickets for paint and sip and/or karaoke Brasserie D. | 108 Main Street | 845-353-2191 | Prix Fixe menu The Breakfast and Burger Club | 84 Main Street | 845-535-3159 | 10% off Monday-Friday Broadway Bistro | 3 South Broadway | 845-353-8361 | $45 3 Course Dinner Burger Loft | 3 N Broadway | 845-480-5905 | Any Burger & fries plus 1 beer or soft drink for $20 plus tax & gratuity By Land & Sea | 77 S Broadway | 845-353-4122 | Shop before or after you dine Bring in a receipt from a participating restaurant and receive 10% Off your purchase of $50+ during Nyack Restaurant Week Casa del Sol | 104 Main Street | 845-353-9846 | Special Menu Crystals on the Rocks | 11 S Broadway | 201-747-4748 | Bring in receipt from participating Restaurant Week restaurant and receive 20% off purchases of $20+ Colin Holmes Antiques | 87 Main Street | 845-358-2565 | 20% off store wide  Corner of Ukraine | 85 Main Street | 845-814-3424 |  Spin the wheel to get a free meal or other discounts Deli on the Hudson | 125 Main Street Suite #7 |  845-480-5162 | Turkey & Cheese on a roll with small coffee for $6.99 house special panini with french fries for $9.99 Dolce Vita | 66 Main Street | 845-539-3357 | Mention “Restaurant Week” and receive 20% off of total bill DPNB Pasta & Provisions | 21 North Broadway | 845-353-2167 | 15% off any online order when promo code “nyackfeasts” is entered at check out Farm at Hotel Nyack | 400 High Ave Flights and Pints | 159 Main St | 845-442-3474 | Pulled pork sliders with any pint of draft beer for $20 Roasted tomato and goat cheese quiche and salad with any glass of wine for $30 Gena Lisa Lingerie | 17 North Broadway | 845-358-4400 | Complimentary panties with purchase of pair of pajamas or purchase of 3 bras Glitter Thicket | 88 Burd Street | 845-596-7539 | Free cupcake with minimum $20 purchase Himalaya Tibetan Momo | 88 Main Street | 845-587-7844 | Mention “Restaurant Week” when you purchase an order of Momos (8 Momos) and get 1 Momo free Hippie Dippie Threads | 68 South Broadway | 845-494-6609 | Bring in a restaurant receipt from Restaurant Week and receive 15% off Homebody Books | 6 Park Street | 845-598-8053 | Buy one book get second book of equal or lesser value half off Kantina Kita | 145 Main Street | 845-570-2975 | Half off all shareable plates Karenderya | 248 Main Street | 845-875-755 | Mention “Nyack Restaurant Week” and get a 10% discount on your bill of $50 or more Kavos Grill | 116a Main Street | 845-535-3721 | Spend $50+ get 10% off (valid for dine-in only) King and I | 93 Main Street | 845-358-8588 | Knitting Nation | 30 North Broadway | 845-358-0100 | Mention Restaurant Week and get 20% off all “Jade Sapphire Cashmere” yarn and kits  La Promenade | 326 North Broadway | 201-567-2500 | Any croissant donut and small drip coffee for $5 – Valid before noon when you mention “Nyack Restaurant Week” The Local Taphouse of Nyack | 4 South Franklin Street | 845-353-2363 | $10 Signature Cocktails Little Dean’s Oyster Bar | 8 N. Broadway | 845-203-0500| Prix Fixe Menu for $45.95. See menu here Main Street Beat | 95 Main Street | 845-353-5426 | Spend $50+ and receive a coupon with a discount towards a future purchase Maura’s Kitchen | 81-83 South Broadway | 845-535-3533 | 20% off food only Maureen’s Jazz Cellar | 2 North Broadway | 845-535-3143 | 20% off 1 food item per table Visit maureensjazzcellar.com for event listing Mekong District | 125 Main Street | 845-535-3933 | 10% off orders of $50+ Metal & Stone Jewelers | 12 South Broadway | 845-358-4363 | Complimentary watch battery My Father’s House Southern Cuisine | 12 North Broadway | 845-875-7345 | $20 Chicken & Waffle Choose from Wing or Breast and any Flavor Waffle (Choose from buttermilk Nyack Diner Family Restaurant | 41 NY-59 | 845-358-5475 | 10% off final bill Nyack Fresh Market | 119 Main Street | 845-512-8877 | Deli Specials: Italian Combo $7.99 Olde Village Inne | 97 Main Street | 845-358-1160 | Complimentary OVI Irish coffee with purchase of entrée Pawpaw’s Dog House | 256 Main Street | 845-595-8282 | 20% off Daycare Pickwick Bookshop | 8 South Broadway | 845-358-9126 | 20% off all cookbooks Rising Above Bakery | @ RCC Culinary Institute – 5 North Broadway | 646-541-4595 | The Rock Shop | 98 Main Street | 845-535-3033 | Free guitar restrings all week with purchase of strings Saffron Trading Company | 14 South Broadway | 845-353-3530 | Mystery gift with purchase of $50+ Must mention “Restaurant Week Special” Scott & Joe | 2 South Broadway | 845-535-3736 (845) 353-3530 | Special Menu Somos Jewelry | 78 South Broadway | 845-348-0800 | 15-20% any in-stock gold or platinum jewelery Strawberry Place | 72 South Broadway | 845-358-9511 | Mention “Restaurant Week” to receive 15% discount Monday-Friday Sundays | 100 Main Street | 845-675-7704 | 20% off Taco Boys | 23 NY-59 | 845-512-8369 | Free dessert (churros Tarantella’s | 128 Main St Tree of Chocolate | 14  South Broadway Suite 2 |845-353-3532 | Purchase $25+ receive 2 pieces of Imported Belgian chocolate Turiello’s Pizza | 76 Main Street | (845) 358-5440 | 5% discount on all orders over $50 with mention of Nyack Feasts (Dine in / Cash only) Two Spear Street | 2 Spear Street | 845-353-7733 | 3 course Prix Fixe dinner menu $35 Val & Jess | 4 Park Street | 20% off jewelry Village Pizza | 64 S Broadway |  845-358-4811 | Spend $40 or more and get 10% off with promo code “Nyack’s Local Favorite,” Mix and match two personal pies with one topping each for $20 Lunch entree special only $12 – choice of pasta or salad ABOUT VISIT NYACK, INC. | COMMUNITY GROUPS | PRIVACY POLICY Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A man who has been convicted of DWI before is now facing a felony charge after police found him drunk behind the wheel of a car on the shoulder of Interstate 87 in Rockland County The events leading to the arrest began around 7:30 p.m when a trooper on routine patrol saw a vehicle stopped on the left shoulder of the Thruway near mile marker 18.8 in the hamlet of West Nyack the trooper smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Varma’s breath and observed other signs of impairment Varma was asked to get out of the car and perform a sobriety test He was then taken into custody and transported to police headquarters where he refused to submit to a chemical breath test Investigators later determined that Varma had a prior DWI conviction within the last 10 years elevating his new DWI charge to a felony offense He was then issued appearance tickets for the Town of Clarkstown Court and released to a sober third party Rockland County Business Journal Hear that vibrational sensation coming from Nyack It’s the sound of residents and Nyack watchers doing a happy dance to celebrate a $4.5 million NY Forward Award announced by New York State on Tuesday In New York’s Department of State’s announcement of grants to several municipalities it said “Nyack has the energy and diversity of a small city and the intimacy of a small country town.” The grant award will principally be applied to waterfront improvements which include creating a more seamless and appealing connection between the Hudson River and the rest of the village a nonprofit venture to transform a church into a community venue Nyack vied unsuccessfully for the New York’s larger $10 million DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) grants the Village of Haverstraw received the county’s only DRI grant the Village of Nyack pivoted and applied for the $4.5 million NY Forward grant which is designed for smaller municipalities Only Certified Pro-Housing Communities are eligible to receive NY Forward grants Nyack is one of only a handful of municipal governments in Rockland County certified under the state program The Village of Dobbs Ferry also received a $4.5 million NY Forward grant while the City of Poughkeepsie received a $10 million DRI award Nyack requested $6 million for a raft of projects that stress its maritime geographic advantage The award money will not cover every ask in the application and each project needs state approval The $6 million ask covers an estimated total cost of $14 million for all of the projects in the application How the $4.5 million will ultimately be allocated and spent will be determined through a Strategic Investment Plan the Village will be required to undertake “This is huge news for the people of Nyack,” said Mayor Joe Rand Nyack has long been seen as the jewel in Rockland County’s crown It benefits from its historic Victorian structures cultural institutions like the Hopper House a concentration of shops and restaurants on walkable streets the village has faced challenges with homelessness has been the largest recipient of the County’s tourism awards Rand says the Village has been addressing its ills through a campaign with Catholic Charities to raise money and awareness about homelessness He also said the Orangetown Police Department has become much more visible on the streets “There have been dramatic improvements,” said Rand We made the bold move of removing benches from Hezekiah Easter Veterans Square so we haven’t seen people sleeping or camping in the square The village will set its sights on creating a “Marina Commerce Center,” as its called in the grant application and the proposed waterfront walkway along the yet-to-be built Tidewater housing project The village is hoping to shore up and restore the bulkhead infrastructure at the marina as a precursor to attracting a waterfront restaurant a waterfront staple and a village-owned building was razed because the supports for the 1970s stick-frame wooden structure were inadequate for the commercial restaurant along with the walkway over the inlet that will connect the marina to Memorial Park as well as a riverfront walkway connecting the Clermont to the marina are the critical pieces of reviving Nyack’s underutilized waterfront asset Rand said portions of the grant should be used to make the waterfront and the heart of the village’s commerce more connected through beautification and signage There’s a disconnect between Nyack’s pedestrian streets and the waterfront; partially because there’s a steep drop along Main Street to get to the water the village hopes to use grant money to create visual continuity through streetscaping and signage The John Green House is also vying for grant dollars for its historic restoration project The village is hoping to use grant money for cosmetic improvements with lighting and art to the village gateway space under the Thruway Overpass The former First Reformed Church of Nyack needs HVAC work The First Reformed Church at 18 South Broadway has been reborn “The Angel Nyack,” a mixed-use performing arts and event space that will preserve the building allocate space on Sundays and holidays to the church and continue serving meals on Mondays and Wednesdays to those in need a nonprofit that will be run by a group of local citizens purchased the First Reformed Church of Nyack at 18 South Broadway for $2.5 million in 2024 Both Thomas Schneck and Susan Wilmink have been active in the community’s economic vitality while his wife Wilmink is the founder of the Nyack Wedding Collective Other hopeful projects that have asked for funding include assistance by the Nyack General Fire Protection Company #2 to convert an abandoned convent on Third Avenue to affordable housing units for firefighters The grant might also cover money to local organizations that support commerce and the arts as well as provide capital funding for storefront facade and sidewalk improvements “We are ready to hit the ground running,” said Rand but we are going to get a committee started The application detailed requests for state funding for various projects including: Public schools Manchester Valley (Md.) and Nyack (N.Y.) are ranked seventh and eighth in this week's USA Lacrosse High School Girls' National Top 25 with the Mavericks sweeping a pair of games at the Severna Park (Md.) Playday and the Redhawks soaring past Summit (N.J.) a week after dismantling New Canaan (Conn.) The top of the rankings are unchanged through the first six teams a few of whom had the chance to flex their muscles last week Anthony’s (N.Y.) continues to set the pace and picked up a valuable win over No 2 Episcopal (Pa.) won decisively over former No 6 Bayport-Blue Point (N.Y.) defeated Westhampton (N.Y.) with each team's previous ranking denoted in parenthesis Compiled by USA Lacrosse writers with input from coaches around the country rankings and records reflect results as of previous Sunday.  Also considered (alphabetical order): Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) USA Lacrosse is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 52-1765246) Nyack Restaurant Week, formerly Nyack Feasts returns for its fifth year April 23 with nearly 40 restaurants sporting cuisines that span the globe Diners can expect everything from French to Thai features discounts of up to 20% for brunch lunch and dinner as well as deals at local shops There's also a raffle opportunity where diners and shoppers have the chance to win one of five $100 gift cards when they participate in a brief feedback survey Participating dining establishments include: What's new: Rockland food scene bursting with fresh takes on tacos, burgers, more “We want to give our community and our visitors a dining and shopping option that doesn’t require a commute or paying a congestion tax " said Visit Nyack President Thomas Schneck “Nyack is a community where you can hear John Turturro or Sigourney Weaver at the Angel and then enjoy some Peruvian Ceviche a few steps away "There's truly something for everyone," added Nyack Chamber of Commerce Trustee Tristan Dunnigan citing the Asian Fusion stylings of celebrity chef Chris Holland at the recently opened Katina Kita as well as "the legendary Strawberry Place that has been serving the Nyack community since the 1970s." For more details, go to visitnyack.org/nyackrestaurantweek This is the story of the First Reformed Church of Nyack told in numbers Like churches in towns and cities everywhere this iconic Nyack house of worship tells the tale of dwindling congregations the challenge of maintaining large often historic structures and the much-needed mission to feed the hungry and poor Look around and you’ll see the sale of these buildings – snapped up by developers who convert them into for-profit uses including housing and other creative adaptive reuses (when they’re not torn down entirely) the First Reformed Church is on the cusp of a new life that incorporates elements of the church’s critical functions purchased the First Reformed Church of Nyack at 18 South Broadway for $2.5 million Financing for the acquisition in the amount of $2.675 million was provided 50 percent by the Susan Wilmink Revocable Trust and 50 percent by the Thomas Schneck Revocable Trust The sale of the church property was approved by the Rockland County Supreme Court in May Both Schneck and Wilmink have been active in the community’s economic vitality which relies on grants to promote the village Wilmink is the founder of the Nyack Wedding Collective The Angel Nyack’s name is a nod to Soup Angels of Nyack non-sectarian food assistance organization that has been operating the food kitchen in the church’s Pitkin room for 17 years “All churches with footprints that size struggle to survive.” Until recently ARC’s tenancy stabilized the building by leasing office space When the organization moved to 82 South Franklin Street They became increasingly distracted with the building The sale of the building to The Angel Nyack bought the church a longer lease on their mission The congregation will continue to have access to the church on Sundays and holidays for services and other functions the church reinvested $1.2 million for much-needed HVAC and roof renovations Around 1830 a group of local residents of Dutch Reformed faith began holding private religious services in Nyack They built their first church on this site in 1836 were formally received into the Reformed Church in America in 1838 incorporated as The First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church In 1901 the old structure was replaced by the present brick church with the landmark bell and clock tower Wilmink’s vision to transform the space into a venue for weddings entertainment and the arts isn’t a total departure for how churches like this one have always been used With its good acoustics and multi-functional spaces music and life’s milestones are a familiar part of a church’s function blueprints show The Angel Nyack’s plan includes removing the pews in the sanctuary to create a flexible open space for a variety of events Wilmink says the nonprofit is in talks with both Arts Rock and Music for Life to rent space in the building The Angel Nyack has been applying for grants to transform the space including incorporation into two unsuccessful $10 million DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) grants in which it was seeking $4 million for its retrofit The organization has applied for a New York Forward Grant Among its most pressing needs is a $600,000 HVAC project to include air conditioning in the middle room “This is a big responsibility,” said Wilmink “I wanted to do this because of all the things this building stands for: preservation Wilmink says the organization will initiate a capital campaign in early 2025 to help support the cost of the transformation She says a project like this one may require “cathedral thinking,” meaning its new vision may take time to evolve Church attendance nationally has been declining for decades; the pandemic has accelerated the decline The percentage of adults attending regular religious services has dropped to about 30 percent and the percentage of Americans who say they never attend religious services has jumped to 17 percent from 11 percent a decade ago up to 100,000 churches will close their doors in the coming years The reasons are two-fold: there are more church pews than there are people to fill them and most churchgoers prefer to be part of larger congregations flocking to packed-out megachurches while those congregations with 60 or fewer people struggle to survive author and social entrepreneur who works with churches on how to use their space titled “Gone for ­Good?: Negotiating the Coming Wave of Church Property Transition,” addresses the issue outline some of the changes facing smaller churches and the possible outcomes for former church buildings from affordable housing to hubs for social entrepreneurship Take the skateboarding enthusiasts who converted St Other abandoned churches are now roller rinks Airbnbs and even a cultural arts facilities connected to public schools Agnes Church was converted into the Connect Center Michelle Dinsmore transformed two churches—one into a vacation rental and the other into offices for the marketing studio she co-owns with her husband The adaptive reuse won a Historic Albany Merit award Stanislaus Kostka RC Church which merged into St shuttered in 2014) turned into music venue/co-working space Events sponsored at the Purpl includes open mic nights the First Reformed Church held its 100th annual Nativity pageant So while church attendance may be dwindling the community appreciates the continuity of holiday lure the architectural splendor that makes the village richer and the good works performed by those who help the hungry The village of Nyack is kicking off its monthly street fair rotation with its annual Springfest on Sunday The monthly event kicks off rain or shine from 10 a.m Sunday with nearly 200 vendors expected to line up along Main Street and Broadway selling everything from handmade jewelry and art to antiques skincare and food stands from the many restaurants in the downtown area as internationally acclaimed rock band and hometown heroes Coheed and Cambria will return to their hometown for the key to the village Of interest: Tatum Hopkins came to Nyack to make Broadway; Kristin Chenoweth predicts a Tony which showcased local bands from across the Lower Hudson Valley The band Coheed and Cambria formally began in 2001, named after two characters from the Armory Wars a science fiction comic written by Sanchez The band's eleventh studio album, Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe, was released on March 14. The album's lead single, "Someone Who Can," was even filmed in several locations throughout the village The band's upcoming tour North American tour with metal masters Mastodon and special guest Periphery kicks off in the United States on May 10 Performances in New York include May 26 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs and May 30 at Empower Federal Credit Union Ampitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse Coheed and Cambria to perform set at Nyack Street FairThe band will perform a set at the fair starting at 4 p.m at Hezekiah Easter Veterans Memorial Square on Main Street before being handed the key to the village Parking is free throughout the village on street and in village parking lots but be sure to arrive early as spaces tend to fill up fast. Directions to Nyack and parking info are available on the village website (The story was updated to clarify the band's back story and correct tour information.) Chef Chris Holland has never been to Asia yet Asian street food is his culinary specialty It's something the three-time "Chopped" champion dabbled in and eventually added to the menu when he worked at the since closed DVine Bar in Sparkill and it's on display at his "takoria" Kantina which he opened in October 2022 in the space that previously had been DVine. And now it's the focus — even more so — at Kantina Kita which will eventually have a 10-seat take-out-oriented fast food side is Holland's take on sushi with an emphasis on dumplings "Sushi has gotten boring," said the self-taught chef "You see the same thing over and over no matter where you go My goal is to reimagine sushi and to offer diners items they have never thought of before "And my take on things is always a little bit eclectic." Caffeine fix: Rockland's first drive-thru Starbucks to open as county gets more coffee shops What to expect at Kantina KitaThe two-in-one restaurant concept the general manager at Kantina who's now a partner in this venture Among the items: a Prime Filet Mignon roll with seared prime tenderloin salt and vinegar and potato crunchers on top; Crispy Enoki Mushroom with pickled bean sprouts mint and toasted rice and Salmon & Kimchi with gochugaru-cured salmon Dumplings include sweet potato (with coconut curry lemon and potato crunchers) and pork (with garlic Diners will also find bacon fried rice (with poached egg) Korean-style Wagyu cocktail dogs (with a ssamjang dripping sauce) wine and cocktails including a Kita martini Holland and DiBattista went with a calming simple industrial vibe for the space which features sage green walls the place he grew up in as that's where his lifelong love for Asian cuisine first developed (he lives in Dumont now) Because of its large Japanese and Korean community at the time he said he was the only Caucasian kid who "back then" ate everything at his friend's houses The décor also reflects Holland's love for the Hudson "I've always lived within two to three minutes of the river and I wanted the design here to evoke feelings of that," he said When his fast food concept opens in a few weeks Holland hopes it will also surprise diners (in a good way) with its dinner bento boxes and dumplings "Bento boxes have traditionally been offered for lunch," he said His out of the box thinking extends to his restaurant philosophy he and DiBattista will be paying servers a living wage instead of using a reduced salary that relies on tips "We hope to raise the quality of life for all of our staff," said Holland "All gratuities will be distributed among all of our employees I like the idea of tipping on the complete experience It always bothers me that I feel like I'm tipping to subsidize server pay now diners can feel like they are tipping based on their appreciation for service and not out of obligation." Wednesday to Sunday; with the addition of Monday hours down the road Prices: Hand rolls range from $5 to $14 with dumplings in the $8 to $13 range and sharables from $6 to $16 Good to know: The fast food take-out part of the restaurant will open next door sometime in mid-April featuring counter seating and elevated bento boxes as the restaurant is north of Sparkill where Holland's first restaurant Nyack has found itself — or maybe more accurately — played so well it has put itself into national polls The fact that a couple of local teams have managed not to be blown out by Nyack speaks well for girls lacrosse in the local area it's no surprise that unbeaten Nyack is still atop The Journal News/lohud rankings and the team that lost to it by only a goal See the entire top 10 and teams just on the outside below Note: The poll reflects games played through April 27 Nyack (10-0) — The RedHawks took down a good non-Section 1 squad in Wantagh open with Ridgewood (New Jersey) and also play Tappan Zee Nyack should expect four quarters of intensity But chances still seem high the RedHawks will have two more wins at week's end Rye (5-4) — After previously dropping games to both Nyack and New Canaan (Connecticut) by just a goal Rye got dismantled 12-2 by Darien (Connecticut) which USA Lacrosse most recently ranked as No But good teams can bounce back from bad losses — even really bad losses — and that's just what the Garnets did in beating Ursuline 14-6 to hand the Koalas just their second setback of the spring but Rye is clearly much better team than its 5-4 mark would indicate it will have to work this week to get by Bronxville and Yorktown Suffern (6-2) — Suffern took down Section 2's Bethlehem by four goals then routed North Rockland by a surprising 11 It also beat Section 9's Warwick but fell to another out-of-area team in Long Island's Mount Sinai by five Clarkstown South being sandwiched between two more out-of-area opponents are designed not to pad records but improve for playoffs John Jay-Cross River (5-3) — The Wolves don't always make things easy on themselves but more times than not they got by Somers by four goals before edging Horace Greeley by one they should probably have an easier time in their one game Greeley is coming off an impressive 2-1 week the squad with which it had been tied in last week's rankings then fell by just a goal to John Jay-Cross River which had been ranked several slots higher Last week's rankings: North Rockland joins top 10, Nyack holds fast to No. 1 slot Yorktown (7-4) — What does it take to fall out of the rankings then pop back up in a solid position just a week later That might have been the Huskers' best game of the season and had to help ease the pain of the previous week's loss to Pleasantville The big question is whether that 18-12 win over the Broncos will translate this week to either a win or at least a strong performance against Rye maybe the Wildcats will offer a good Section 1 team a game or vice-versa it's hard to compare RCDS to public school teams simply because they don't play one another But 10-0 is 10-0 and this is a program that has sent players on to college teams so the guess is this year's squad is a very solid top-10 team that might even belong somewhat higher than No Bronxville (6-5) and Pleasantville (8-2) — The Broncos had an interesting week with a 10-goal win over Mamaroneck and a one-goal win over Ursuline sandwiching a six-goal loss to Yorktown whose only Section 1 loss has been to Nyack Pleasantville went from scoring a combined 22 goals against Ursuline and Yorktown (10-9 and 12-6 wins both of which could considered upsets) to scoring just five goals in a 13-5 loss to Greeley The Panthers went on to romp in a couple more games and should win this week But next week Pleasantville will face a tough test in John Jay-CR Ursuline (6-3) — There's no shame in falling to Rye and Bronxville The fact this was back-to-back has to sting as does the fact while Bronxville was a one-goal affair the Garnets ran away with an eight-goal victory The Koalas had the chance to prove they were even better than a top-10 team and among the very best but couldn't do it There's plenty of season left and if you're going to drop back-to-back games Fox Lane (9-1) and Wappingers (7-2) — Strength of schedule is still a concern with the Foxes but to give credit where it's due a squad that early in the season edged Bronxville Something to be marked on every local high school lacrosse fan's calendar is next Tuesday's Fox Lane-Greeley game Its only game this week is against White Plains That could be close but the Storm will be favored Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, baseball, skiing, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy Nyack Fresh Market is ready for its closeup The grocery store's makeover, to be revealed at 11 a.m. April 26, comes seven weeks after a public meeting at Nyack Village Hall and the completion of over 500 electronic surveys by residents and shoppers and a new mural by local artist Bill Batson Other improvements include adding Nyack Farmers Market brands like Teagevity loose tea and Rebecca’s Paradise and Natural Beauty Projects They've also expanded their cheeses and grab and go sections as well as added new deli flavors and offerings Shoppers will also find enhanced senior discounts (now 10% off on Tuesdays and Thursdays) weekly special deals (think 10% off produce every Wednesday and discounts on beer and snacks every Friday) better customer service thanks to new hires and additional staff training and a new international aisle and pet section Delicious news: Nyack Restaurant Week starts April 23 and has deals at nearly 40 restaurants "We're wrapping up our improvements and are ready to show the village a new and improved Nyack Fresh Market," said owner Karina Zeor She said they took to heart the feedback from customers and hope they'll be pleased with the changes refurbishing a building that had previously housed the long-shuttered Riverspace theater as well as a meeting held at Village Hall that same month At the meeting Zeor told the crowd they were in danger of closing the fact that the owners cared so much and were willing to pivot was an example of "great corporate citizenship." "When they saw that their business plan wasn't working they opened up an honest dialogue with their customers and pivoted to meet the changing needs of our community," he said it's essential Nyack has a downtown supermarket "This was once a food desert for those without a car," said Nyack Chamber President Roger Cohen "Young people also need the job opportunities they offer We are so pleased that Nyack Fresh Market is such a good neighbor." If you goAddress: 119 Main St., Nyack, 845-512-8877, nyackfreshmarkets.com free samples and more when the market opens at 11 a.m NYACK ‒ The last downtown full-service supermarket closed its doors in 1980 a move repeatedly decried by village residents for the next four decades that doesn't necessarily mean they will come "Our market research wasn't the most efficient," said owner Karina Zeor who has taken over the market from her father embrace the opportunity to be very local." Bermeo during the 2023 opening celebrations said the goal was to be "a little bit of everything for everyone." So how does a business cater to everyone in Nyack one of the most diverse communities in the region That's what Nyack Fresh Market is trying to suss out More local business: ShopRite of New City welcomes former NY Giants player to grand reopening celebration Nyack Fresh Market seeks customer input from survey, community meetingThe store launched a community survey in early February and on Tuesday evening held a community conversation at Village Hall some standing in the back of the second-floor room Community members shared their impressions of the store — with Zeor smiling and nodding even through some sharp criticism She followed up with her own frank responses and didn't hide what's at stake at Tuesday's meeting "I want to be fully transparent," Zeor said to the crowd The survey garnered around 500 responses in its first two and a half weeks The village of Nyack has a population of around 7,250 The results will help determine what products they need to add (Zeor said early survey results point to a bigger focus on organic The Nyack Fresh Market Community Survey remains open. Find a QR code at the store or follow this shortcut to the survey: bit.ly/4keQyGe What the Nyack Fresh Market needs to fixEven before the survey and the community meeting Zeor had deduced a big issue: "We don't have a niche." Zeor admits the store has struggled to get the balance right "We just became a massive convenience store for everybody," she said with locals popping in sporadically for one or two odds and ends "We don't have a problem with foot traffic," Zeor said But if each shopper is making a $20 to $30 purchase Zeor said her team has figured out certain issues from observing consumer behavior and thinking about their own People who may want to walk to the store don't want to walk back home saddled with bags So the market has free same-day delivery for purchases of more than $75 Several at Tuesday's meeting said they were unaware of the service Zeor said the store wants to stock more local entrepreneurs' products may not meet the tamper-proof qualifications for a grocery shelf nor are many small businesses able to scale up to provide the quantity of products a supermarket needs Zeor said the store plans to hold a grand reopening celebration Of interest: Meet the first-generation farmers at Halal Pastures in the Hudson Valley The Bermeo family owns four other supermarkets in Rockland including Spring Valley Supermarket and its original store The Bermeo Group also owns the Mount Ivy Diner in Pomona Zeor said they are very proud of their immigrant roots — the family came from Ecuador when she was 7 — and their worth ethic Founder Wilson Bermeo started working at age 9 and is now transitioning ownership as he starts retirement The challenges seen in Nyack haven't been a problem at the other sites But those other stores are in neighborhoods with a more unified market The populations are majority Latino and have similar shopping habits and product interests Nyack has some of the wealthiest families and working-class families in the region Consumer desires lean toward organic and even exotic but there's also a demand for bulk products at affordable prices said that the store and weekly open-air venue for local farm-to-table vendors have created a kind of "synergy." The farmers market has long been held every Thursday in the municipal parking lot right in front of the store "You can get locally grown and artisanal goods from us and then all the staples you need for a complete meal a few steps away at Fresh Market," said Batson who is also consulting with the store on its restructuring project "We have been looking for ways for the Nyack Farmers Market and Fresh Market to collaborate long before we learned that they were struggling." Zeor and general manager Rodriguez pride themselves on the diversity of fresh fruits "Have you ever had a red banana," she asks a visitor and passes them out giving instructions about how to know when they are at the peak or ripeness Scott Young, co-owner of Scott & Joe a cheese/artisanal food/wine bistro establishment on Broadway in the village said he popped in Tuesday to pick up some items after he'd read about the efforts to re-envision the store and taken the survey "and I found it." Then he checked out the eggs — offerings range from quail to organic eggs with a blue hue to 18-egg family-size cartons — and Young said the prices were on track There was no egg-purchase limit, as is currently happening at some large retailers Zeor credited the company's connections with a variety of vendors Young said downtown businesses need to support each other And while he has a car and can go anywhere to grocery shop keeping a downtown supermarket viable enhances the community for everyone conversation with Elliott Forrest at Angel Nyack to benefit ArtsRock — would be a bit of snoozer Turturro plays Irving Baliff in the dystopian AppleTV+ series “Severance,” where workplace “innies” live lives their homebound “outies” know nothing about their work and home lives severed from each other Forrest could ask Turturro about what it was like to be directed by Robert Redford (in “Quiz Show”) and get a blank stare in response for whom Turturro created indelible characters such as writer Barton Fink bowler Jesus Quintana and escaped convict Pete Hogwallop from “Do the Right Thing” to “Jungle Fever” and beyond Any mention of "Severance" would be pointless that Turturro will be an open book about his career with Nyack’s Forrest who has headed ArtsRock — Rockland’s go-to arts presenter — for 16 years an on-air host for WQXR classical radio by day continues a hot streak of ArtsRock gala conversations having caught Brian Cox just as “Succession” was cresting to a finale fresh off “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Turturro’s a hot commodity on the heels of the release of “Severance” season 2 The May 2 talk will be followed by a meet-and-greet with food from Hudson House, Roost, Otto’s and Glitter Thicket. (Tickets and details at www.artsrock.org.) Bid on a signed ‘Lebowski’ bowling pin and lunches with starsIt being a fundraiser including two Broadway-celebrity lunches — with new Nyack residents (and Broadway composers) Jason Robert Brown and Georgia Stitt currently starring in “Gypsy” alongside Audra McDonald Turturro will sign memorabilia for the auction — including movie posters and a bowling pin bearing the likeness of his outrageous “Big Lebowski” character “We're just hoping people come and have a good time and hear about John's life and career and then raise a little money for ArtsRock as well,” Forrest said The invitation to Nyack came when Forrest crossed paths with Turturro last summer when he produced a six-episode podcast “It Happened Here 2024,” an adaptation of Richard Dresser’s novel starring Tony Shalhoub the podcast imagines the rise of a new fascism Billed as “a podcast from the future,” according to its release notes it “describes a country that still has Netflix and free two-day delivery Turturro's choice to do the podcast was just another example of an actor who picks his roles and collaborators with care Diving into Turturro’s career could occupy several evenings but Forrest realizes he will have to limit it to just part of one evening He said he’ll ask the actor about his longtime collaborations with Lee and the Coens “As iconic as his role is in ‘The Big Lebowski,’ I think he has three lines,” Forrest said “What’s that like to develop that character And then something like ‘Quiz Show,’ where he’s the center of it and put on a bunch of weight and has a different look and a higher voice.” The Brooklyn-born Turturro began his career on the stage and returns to it regularly something that will likely come up in Friday’s conversation “He continues to come back to the theater in New York which is eight shows a week,” Forrest said “Why does someone who could make a living doing movies continue to come to the theater Turturro’s appearance in Nyack isn’t the only connection to “Severance,” Forrest said like three blocks from my house,” Forrest said “And then Mark has a date with that woman and they’re at Hudson House Details: www.artsrock.org Peter D. Kramer is a 37-year staffer who writes long-form narratives on a variety of topics. His story looking back on the Oak Street fire in Yonkers won a national Headliner Award for outstanding news specials/feature column. Reach him at pkramer@gannett.com. Footage of platinum-certified prog rockers Coheed And Cambria receiving the key to the city of their hometown of Nyack, NY yesterday, April 13th, has been shared online. The village’s mayor and members of the local city council were on hand for the event, with the key itself fittingly being presented in the shape of a guitar. Yesterday was also declared ‘Coheed And Cambria day’ in the hamlet. The band went on to deliver an acoustic performance as part of an annual spring festival event in the hamlet. A post shared by BrooklynVegan (@brooklynvegan) "These bands are way too popular to be in arrears." "Guess you'll have to go Steal This Album if you want to hear it now.." Coheed and Cambria have been gifted a ceremonial key to the city of their hometown of Nyack In addition to receiving the key to the city the town has also declared that April 13th be known as "Coheed and Cambria Day." Vocalist and guitarist Claudio Sanchez performed in the town during the Spring Fest Street Fair to remember the event Coheed & Cambria performed at Nyack's SpringFest Street Fair today What a boost of positive energy into the community Thanks @johnelliotttv and @cbsnewyork for all the coverage this morning for "Coheed and Cambria" day in Nyack and us receiving the Key to the City today at Nyack SpringFest Seth Marks gambled on the future when some may have thought he must be smoking something funny But his hunch about the demand for legal cannabis seems to have been right By many accounts, Treehouse Cannabis at 28 Route 59 in Nyack That’s easier said than done given the tough licensure process not to mention the scarcity of locations in Rockland County where legal cannabis retailers can pitch a tent Marks and his family opened Treehouse Cannabis Rockland County’s first licensed and legal cannabis dispensary and debuted its very mid-century modern “glass house” retail outlet last August “Seth is a terrific operator,” said Nyack Mayor Joe Rand “Treehouse has been a wonderful addition to the Nyack business community He runs a terrific clean business that provides a service people obviously want.” Marks was fortunate to own a building in a corridor that Nyack deemed legal for retail cannabis dispensaries “I was lucky to have a piece of property that is zoned for the use and a place where the community doesn’t frown upon,” said Marks whose building was previously used as a car dealership The building sits amid a jumble of commercial and industrial uses on the stretch of Route 59 that is beyond the pedestrian part of Nyack’s Main Street (which is Route 59) “I was fortunate that I don’t have to rent or take out a loan starting up a cannabis enterprise takes deep pockets “It took at least $1 million to startup this business,” said Marks explaining how protracted and complicated the legal and bureaucratic processes are for opening a cannabis retail dispensary “You can’t have a get rich quick mindset.” Nearly three years ago, Nyack was one of only a handful of Rockland County municipalities that agreed to allow cannabis dispensaries to operate in its jurisdiction Every New York State municipality had to decide whether to “opt out” of allowing both or either cannabis dispensaries and/or cannabis lounges Most in Rockland demurred and passed laws to opt out Municipalities that didn’t “opt-out” effectively opted-in embraced opening dispensaries as an economic stimulus to the local economy While these progressive entities envisioned an opportunity to be competitive regionally Treehouse Cannabis has shown Nyack that cannabis can be a win for the Village coffers the Village netted $136,367 in tax revenue from the cannabis dispensary – even though Treehouse only opened its doors in August “If they maintain the pace of sales from the fourth quarter – which yielded $118,000 in tax dollars for the Village  – it’s possible to see about $400,000 in annual tax revenue,” Rand said Marks said the business took off from day one with patrons coming from all corners of the tri-state area we benefit from the location because people get off the exit and get right back on,” said Marks adding that roughly 30 percent of sales are generated from non-Rockland purchases Treehouse Cannabis sells a range of high-quality cannabis products sourcing their cannabis exclusively from New York farms “This is an industry where there is a lot of distrust.” What makes things more complex is that illegal cannabis is being peddled in Nyack and throughout Rockland County the Piermont Police Department and the Office of Cannabis Management in a joint sting operation shuttered the Hazy Joint on Route 9W where marijuana was being sold illegally The retailer was simply one of thousands of illegal marijuana sellers statewide and among a handful peddling illegally in Nyack adding to the confusion and chaos over New York’s bumpy rollout of legalized weed Nyack is abuzz over the prospect of a medical cannabis dispensary that is planning to occupy the former Starbucks site on the corner of Main and Broadway In a tense Village Board meeting last Thursday Nyack residents and others voiced concern over the Village’s zoning code that allows recreational cannabis dispensaries in the Village’s downtown retail corridor urged the Village to reject an application from the medical dispensary The location has been vacant for more than a year When the Village opted into cannabis retailing it originally limited dispensaries to the CC zone (the commercial corridor on Route 59 to the west of the Thruway overpass) where Treehouse is located the Village expanded dispensary locations to the DMU-1 and the DMU-2 essentially opening up most of the Village to retail cannabis Petitioners implored the Village to reconsider its previous zoning decisions and close downtown to dispensaries; and to revert the geographic area back to the CC zone saying that cannabis sales are legal in New York and views it like selling alcohol and tobacco the mayor said the board was not inclined to remove retailing from downtown at issue is whether the medical dispensary slated to occupy the former Starbucks site is later able to convert to adult use recreational sales While the board stands firm over cannabis sales in downtown it is considering imposing its own “proximity restrictions.” State law limits dispensaries in villages like Nyack from opening if an existing dispensary is within 2,000 feet the state can issue waivers from that limitation and allow multiple dispensaries to open within a shorter distance To add a layer of protection in the village the board is considering imposing distance limitations that it deems reasonable Marks says the prospect of additional dispensaries is good and shows that the product is taking hold and that will always give us an advantage,” said Marks We will focus on being the best and doing right by our customers.” April 13),internationally renowned rock band COHEED AND CAMBRIA will return to the village of Nyack the community that nurtured the bandmembers' talents and gave them their earliest notoriety to accept the key to the village and celebrate April 13 as the newly declared "Coheed And Cambria Day" COHEED AND CAMBRIA will perform a short acoustic set to commemorate the event Nyack's mayor Joe Rand and Nyack chamber of commerce trustee Tristan Dunnigan will give COHEED AND CAMBRIA the key to the village before the band plays for their hometown fans at Hezekiah Easter Veterans Memorial Park at 4 p.m COHEED AND CAMBRIA vocalist and primary songwriter Claudio Sanchez is a Nyack High School alumnus The band got their start at a weekly youth event sponsored by the Nyack Center called the Backdoor that showcased their talents in front of an audience composed mostly of teenagers from all over the tri-state area Claudio has a house in Nyack and his family still resides in Valley Cottage COHEED AND CAMBRIA lead guitarist Travis Stever is from Rockland County and lives full time in Nyack with his family His wife serves on the board of the Nyack Park Conservancy COHEED AND CAMBRIA drummer Josh Eppard is from Kingston New York and has been with the band since its days at a weekly event at the Nyack Center called the Backdoor which showcased local acts from across the Lower Hudson Valley COHEED AND CAMBRIA bassist Zach Cooper is originally from Pine Bush COHEED AND CAMBRIA's eleventh studio album "Vaxis – Act III: The Father of Make Believe" The official music video for the LP's lead single was filmed in several locations throughout the village COHEED AND CAMBRIA's North American tour with MASTODON and special guest PERIPHERY will kick off on May 10 Thanks @CBSNewYork and @JohnElliottTV for all the coverage this morning regarding Coheed and Cambria Day and the Key to the City dedication in #Nyack today! pic.twitter.com/u0Do1rU0Oc — Coheed and Cambria (@Coheed) April 13, 2025 As New York education leaders push back against the Trump administration's targeting of diversity comes to Rockland as keynote speaker at the Nyack NAACP's annual Freedom Fund gala Nyack NAACP President Nicole Hines said Young had been an education partner "Deep inequities persist in Rockland County schools," she said culturally responsive education – no matter the color of their skin we are still forced to fight for what should be a basic right." The event takes place from 6-10 p.m The Trump administration on April 3 gave state education leaders 10 days to certify schools weren't offering "impermissible" DEI programs; failure to do so could put schools at risk of losing federal funding New York State Education Department counsel sent a letter to the administration saying that New York wouldn't comply 'Now you know': NY won't back down on DEI in schools, officials tell Trump administration But he referenced SED's letter during an April 7 Board of Regents meeting and redoubled on a commitment to educational access for all children in New York "We will ensure that every child in New York state has access to the promise and power of education," Young said The chancellor quoted the late rapper Biggie Smalls: "If you don't know He is the first Black leader of the Regents in the panel's more than two centuries of existence community superintendent and senior superintendent in the New York City schools Young also served as a NYSED assistant and associate commissioner and a visiting professor at Long Island University This is not Young's first visit to Rockland County In February 2024, he attended a "Unity Together" gathering of hundreds of East Ramapo families to hear their concerns about the quality of public education in the district "No child in New York state should have to go through what the children are going through in this district," Young told those who gathered in the Salvation Army hall in Spring Valley "Hold us accountable for what we will do in these next weeks and months." He also has advocated for legislation to provide the state with stronger oversight in East Ramapo The Nyack branch of the NAACP was founded in 1928; it encompasses Clarkstown The 2025 honorees include Elizabeth Santiago Rockland County's family shelter; Kira Davenport Tickets for the fundraising event are $160, with discounts available. For more information about the Nyack NAACP and the Freedom Fund gala, visit nyacknaacp.org. Nyack schools' new leader will be the person who has been at the helm for the last eight months Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi is the district's third superintendent to be hired in as many years Ruiz-Giovinazzi is set to be officially named Nyack superintendent of schools at the Tuesday who has been interim superintendent since July 2024 In December, the board announced Ruiz-Giovinazzi was their "final choice" for superintendent But her official appointment wasn't announced until last week “We are beyond thrilled to reach this point and proven expertise is exactly what we need for Nyack right now,” Nyack school board President Jen Marraccino said in a statement “Her proven level of unwavering commitment and transformative leadership capacity has already been remarkable We are confident that the best is yet to come with ‘Dr Nyack's series of superintendentsCounting acting and interim appointees Ruiz-Giovinazzi has been operating as the fourth leader in three years for the district that encompasses parts of Clarkstown including the village of Upper Nyack and hamlets of Valley Cottage and Central Nyack and the Orangetown village of Nyack and hamlet of South Nyack Eudes Budhai departed the Nyack superintendency in June 2022 walked away with a $205,625 lump-sum payment and other benefits the district's recently retired superintendent who was appointed to Nyack's top job March 1 She left at the end of the 2023-2024 academic year was $255,000; the separation agreement with the board gave her roughly a year's salary Yom has since been appointed superintendent of Elmsford schools Ruiz-Giovinazzi was given a base salary of $255,000 according to district officials and documents Her salary as superintendent was not immediately available Ruiz-Giovinazzi began her career as a social studies teacher in DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx Ruiz-Giovinazzi had various administrative positions She was assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction and personnel in Carmel Central School District Ruiz-Giovinazzi came to Nyack as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction Ruiz-Giovinazzi holds a doctorate in education and policy from Fordham University; a master's in learning technology from Mercy College; and a BA in education from Manhattan College and it may be preparing to write a new chapter From its inception as a boutique hotel in 2016 and toughed it out through the COVID pandemic with hotel occupancy hovering between 50 and 60 percent the hotel has hired an attorney to assist in asking the Village of Nyack for a text amendment to allow new zoning uses in the existing manufacturing zone an Arizona-based company that owns the hotel Permitted uses in the “M” zone already include hospitals clinics or related health care facility uses The 133-room Hotel Nyack at 400 High Street operating under the Hyatt Joie de Vivre flag is the sole property sitting in the Village’s “M” (Manufacturing) Zone The Village Board seems supportive of the change as well as the loss of the hotel tax the Village collects and uses to promote local tourism The Village collects a 3 percent hotel occupancy tax on hotels/motels Also at issue may be the additional burden an assisted living facility would put on the Nyack Community Ambulance Corps hotels are currently operating at approximately 65 percent occupancy The Hotel Nyack is only operating at 58 percent occupancy according to the narrative submitted by the hotel in support of the zoning amendment said no plan exists to convert the hotel – the owners are seeking a zoning change “Although Petitioner has no current plans to close the hotel it is aware that the hotel is not attracting an appropriate level of business,” the applicant said in its narrative The Hotel Nyack is only operating at 58 percent of occupancy While the Petitioner believes that it can increase occupancy it also must face the fact that it may not be successful in doing so the empty building would be a burden on Petitioner and the Village Empty hotels do not pay taxes and tend to attract squatters.” the then-vacant warehouse that was at one time a plastics and metal manufacturer was converted to The Time Nyack Nyack’s first and only boutique hotel – setting up a world of promise for the village as the location for a hip the boutique development house behind the Pod 39 hotel and The Whitman the hotel brand and management company behind the the Dream Hotels the bankruptcy trustee Fred Stevens declared the debtor’s mortgage had matured without repayment vendors were refusing services for nonpayment a $5.9 million judgment lien was secured by a prior management company Stevens approved an $18.5 million sale of the The Time Hotel of Nyack to Juniper Time LLC a company affiliated with IMH Financial Corporation Nyack’s business community sighed a breath of relief Stevens called Juniper a “real industry player” that will maintain the integrity of the hotel and the continuity of jobs nothing in the sale stipulated that Juniper must continue to operate the hotel Arizona-based real estate investment and finance company that focuses on investments in commercial industrial and residential real estate and mortgages secured by such assets the company owns and operates one hotel in Arizona the celebrity-named steak and seafood restaurant at The Time Hotel in Nyack the rebranded “Hotel Nyack,” was rebranded again under Hyatt’s “Joie de Vivre” signature line in a franchise agreement owned and operated by restaurateur Joseph Smith had fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic though it was struggling prior to that while the Time Hotel cycled through bankruptcy and new ownership Many believed the rebranded hotel under the Hyatt flag and the new restaurant The Grille would usher in a new era for the hoteliers The restaurant later became FARM at Hotel Nyack The Hotel Nyack earlier this year sought benefits through the Rockland County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) to build out a 5,750 square foot rooftop food and beverage venue with an occupancy of 300-plus people and a PILOT program based on the economic benefits the new venue would bring the county through tourism and jobs The IDA authorized about $200,000 in benefits based on construction costs of about $2.1 million due to lackluster occupancy rates and financial constraints it is considering whether the property would be more suitable for assisted living Only one significant concern has been raised to date over the hotel converting to assisted living president of the Nyack Community Ambulance Corps said his organization is flooded with calls from other nursing facilities like the nearby Tappan Zee Manor He pointed out that the provision in the Special Permit that the new facility would be required to contract with a private ambulance company for non-emergency calls was illusory as no such vendor exists in Rockland County The current Ambulance Corps is already strained with limited resources McDowell suggested a fee to enable the Corps to expand and cover the costs of additional service would be a better option A vote on the zoning amendment was tabled until the issue could be studied further and the burden on the first responders mitigated Other issues discovered during a mandatory review by the Rockland County Planning Department were resolved by tweaking the proposed zoning proposal to address the number of permitted units and parking inconsistencies in the existing code Rockland News - It's Local that Matters NY — Best of luck to the new Nyack Flower Market Held every second and fourth Saturday going forward the market promises a vibrant mix of flowers It’s a fresh and festive addition to Nyack’s community calendar Come out and support this beautiful new tradition at the heart of the village Filed Under: Town of Clarkstown Copyright © 2025 · RockWeb Systems Inc. · All rights reserved. · Privacy Policy Nyack’s Village Board last week became the first village in New York State to opt-in to the state’s “Good Cause Eviction” (GCE) law Cities that have adopted the recently enacted law include Albany and Newburgh but no other villages have yet to adopt the newly enacted state law “We are the first village in the New York state to pass the GCE law,” said Nyack Mayor Joseph Rand adding it was an arduous journey but one with a satisfying end The GCE limits when landlords can remove tenants or deny them lease renewals. It specifies that landlords cannot raise rents above a statutory threshold of 10 percent or 5 percent plus the localized Consumer Price Index (CPI), whichever is lower. Localized CPI is based on the increase in “fair market rent” (FMR), which is determined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development published each year on or before August 1st For Rockland County the FMR for a one-bedroom unit is $2,451;  for a two-bedroom unit the threshold annual rent increase is limited to 8.8 percent “The highlight of the new law for tenants is that if your landlord raises your rent by more than 8.8 percent you can challenge the rent increase,” said Rand Tenants can still be removed or denied a lease renewal when a unit requires significant repairs or use the premises for an illegal purpose Other exemptions apply such as when a building is subject to demolition or a unit is being removed from the market or if a landlord wants to recapture a unit for his own use or the use of a relative the law applies to owners of one or more units including owner-occupied buildings of 10 or fewer units; units covered by other rent stabilization; units in public housing; condominiums and coops; units where the rent is 345 percent above the average rent for a similar unit; and units in buildings built after 2009 Last November, the village tracked rents over a five-year period from data based on the local Multiple Listing Service.  The study showed the average rental price is 32.7 percent higher than it was in 2019; the average price-per-square-foot is 39.5 percent higher than it was in 2019 and the average rental unit rents for 3.6 percent more than the listing price – indicative of a bidding war on existing rentals The average rental price in Nyack increased 9.2 percent from 2022 to 2023 “Good Cause Eviction provides fundamental protections to tenants who are not lucky enough to live in regulated housing,” according to Michael McKee landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants for any reason or no reason Tenants facing rent increases above the threshold or evictions in protected apartments will have the opportunity to defend themselves in court Landlords in these building cannot require a tenant to waive their rights under GCE law Such a waiver would be considered void in court Tenants without leases and month-to-month leases are also protected Newer developments in Nyack such as the Pavion Diana Place and The Montclare are exempt because they were constructed after 2009 “I am grateful to the board; this is dear to me,” said Alex Bursztein executive director with the Legal Aid Society “Evictions and being dispossessed are incredibly harmful to children “I want to stress that I don’t see this bill as ‘anti-landlord,’ at least not ‘anti-good-landlord,” Rand said “I supported this bill because I believe that allowing landlords up to an 8.8 percent yearly rental increase on renewals is reasonable particularly when we have such an affordability crisis in Nyack.” The village board passed the GCE law unanimously last week Village Trustees are continuing to take steps toward implementation of the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA) despite two unsuccessful attempts over the past year The ETPA requires the village to declare a “housing emergency,” which is defined as a vacancy rate below 5 percent in buildings constructed before 1974 with six or more units Municipalities can adjust the number of units under the ETPA to suit local needs The law would subject those buildings to rent stabilization buildings covered under the ETPA are exempt from the provisions of the GCE only the Village of Spring Valley and the Town of Haverstraw have opted into the ETPA the ETPA only applies to apartment complexes with more than 100 units the Village of Nyack made an error in calculating the vacancy rates the vacancy rate in the survey exceeded 5 percent The village continues to study the availability of rental units aiming to balance the interest of tenants without harming smaller landlords Statewide enabling legislation passed as part of New York’s 2024-2025 budget allows municipal governments outside New York City to opt-in to the GCE legislation and define its scope to suit local needs Prior to passage of the statewide enabling law municipalities attempted to pass good cause eviction laws but those efforts didn’t survive court challenges Opponents of the statewide law argued the law may hurt tenants prompting landlords to set higher qualification standards including requiring higher credit scores or higher incomes to rent apartments —  reducing rather than growing the number of units accessible to lower-income families  Opponents also proffered GCE might curtail investments in older buildings that require ongoing maintenance to sustain habitability subject to review and renewal by the State legislature The riverfront villages of Nyack in Rockland and Dobbs Ferry in Westchester each got a $4.5 million boost for plans to revitalize their downtowns The awards, part of New York State's Downtown Revitalization Initiative, were announced Tuesday, March 11. The city of Poughkeepsie received $10 million 10 New York municipalities received funds to help create "vibrant downtowns." The municipalities are all part of New York's "pro-housing community program" and the funding is part of New York's economic redevelopment program The municipalities' applications listed ideas for the grants from adding pollinator gardens downtown to drawing the arts with new public space Nyack: subsidized housing for firefighters to a gussied-up gatewayTouted by the state in its grant announcement for Nyack: a historic downtown that's home to an economically and culturally diverse population There's also a wide range of housing stock "This is an extraordinary day in the 143-year old history of our beautiful village," Nyack Mayor Joseph Rand said in a statement "This revitalization grant of $4.5 million is historically transformative and will make Nyack a better place to live Dobbs Ferry Mayor Vincent Rossillo said many had worked on the downtown revitalization plans in this tight-knit village. "This was truly a community-driven project," he posted March 11 on the Dobbs Ferry government website. He outlined possible uses of the grant in a message to the community: Bringing the historic Pickwick Theater back into public use as a performance space.Upgrading parks public spaces and sidewalks between the Dobbs Ferry Metro-North station and downtown.Improving the downtown by upgrading pedestrian thoroughfares and public spaces lighting and outdoor art."By better connecting our Metro-North station to our downtown creating new opportunities for visual and performing arts to flourish and public spaces along the train-to-downtown corridor we’ll make Dobbs Ferry an even more vibrant place to live work and visit," Rossillo said in a statement The next steps: the villages and state are going to work together to determine which projects receive NY Forward funding The Nyack school board announced Tuesday that Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi who has been interim superintendent since the summer Ruiz-Giovinazzi had been in the district since 2022 as assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction She took over as interim superintendent when then-Superintendent Susan Yom left acknowledged that its selection process for the top job had changed compared to previous superintendent searches we recognize that the results were not what we expected and did not result in long term retention of previous superintendents," a letter to the community stated was to select someone from inside the ranks "Her familiarity with the district culture students and families positions her to continue fostering progress without delay," the board statement said of Ruiz-Giovinazzi The district's track record provides context for the board's comments: Ruiz-Giovinazzi would be the district's third schools chief in under three years The school board did not say when a new superintendent will take office Yom was appointed to Nyack's top job March 1 She then left June 30 of this year after a tense and controversial tenure and the board reached a separation agreement that gave her roughly a year's salary Yom is expected to join Elmsford school district as superintendent on Jan who had departed the Nyack superintendency in June 2022 retired superintendent James Montesano took over in an acting superintendent role Any future salary estimate for the superintendent role was not immediately available Yom's departure at the end of the 2023-24 academic year came amid tense union negotiations and community complaints about leadership in the district. Teachers union members had walked out of a board meeting that spring and five unions issued a no-confidence statement in Yom black-and-red signs reading “Nyack Deserves Better” cropped up throughout the district which encompasses the Clarkstown hamlets of Valley Cottage Upper Nyack and Central Nyack and Orangetown’s village of Nyack and an unincorporated section of town Nyack school district has three elementary campuses The district had 2,787 students enrolled during the 2023-24 school year with 38% of students identifying as white; 34% native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander; and 7% The district has an 87% four-year graduation rate "I am beyond grateful each day to be serving this incredible community in real time," Ruiz-Giovinazzi said in a statement "Of course I am eager to start the new year by turning the page on 2024 and finalizing this process I plan to continue being engaged in the work of building trust and uplifting one another in education "We are confident in the decision to move forward with Dr Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi as our final choice and equally enthusiastic to provide an opportunity for the community to hear about the leadership vision for Nyack Public Schools that she has already shared with us," Nyack school board President Jen Marraccino said in a statement Ruiz-Giovinazzi is expected to present her leadership vision at a special board meeting at 6:30 p.m The DaVinci Center at Nyack High School is a dedicated space for digital media and filmmaking programs fostering creativity and innovation among students The center features a video studio and computers designed for video editing and learning new technologies within art It's a space where students can get hands-on experience in filmmaking and explore the latest technologies The program benefits from the involvement of alumni who return to the institution offering guidance and real-world experience in various aspects of filmmaking "We're really fortunate here because we have a lot of alumni who end up spending time coming back and even inviting them to their sets," said teacher Caitlyn VanderMaas More from our schools: Upper Nyack Elementary School students focus on empathy, character and team building Students can then come back to the equipment in the studio and apply what they’ve learned to their projects "It's a really beautiful back-and-forth,” VanderMaas said “That really gives them a taste of what their career path might be if they choose to go into this creative field.”  Read more in education: Science fair honors tradition of Black scientists with no two days and no two schools exactly alike our photographers find what makes our school days anything but ordinary the people and programs and events that make a difference Check back to lohud.com for our lohud in our schools feature each Monday While the girls high school lacrosse season seems like it just launched some teams have reached and even passed the halfway point of their regular seasons in terms of number of games played And so the clock is ticking on making up ground Records reflect games played through April 20 Nyack (9-0) — The RedHawks have essentially routed three of the four teams they've faced since their one-goal win over Rye The exception was against top-flight Summit Expect Nyack to have an easy time with Syosset But next week it should face a stiff challenge in Ridgewood New Jersey before facing largely Section 1 opponents Rye (4-3) — One might be hard-pressed to find a better team that's one game over .500 The Garnets may have dropped three games but each was by a goal That was Rye's third straight non-Section 1 opponent Connecticut this week before playing Ursuline Thursday in what may also be a tight game Suffern (4-1) — The Mounties won both their games last week including in overtime over Long Island's Wantagh Their schedule is heavy through the end of the month with out-of-area teams although expect rival North Rockland to come out hard in an upset bid Wednesday John Jay-Cross River (3-2) — After a bit of a respite which will no doubt be looking to bring its A game after its loss last week to Bronxville who fell by a pair of goals early in the season to Greeley But its biggest tests of the season to date come this week with games vs There's being good and there's being very good and these games may provide greater insight into who the Koalas are Bronxville (4-4) — The Broncos fell by two goals to Greenwich Connecticut but also beat Horace Greeley 12-7 which got off to a great start and now finds itself with three straight losses which can't be happy with its inconsistent start to the season which has every intention of working to stay in the top five the Broncos will need to come out strong in all three games Horace Greeley (5-2) and Pleasantville (6-1) — Greeley and Pleasantville will meet each other Tuesday in what has the potential for being a great game and is guaranteed to be a rankings-altering one Pleasantville basically passed its playing-with-the-big-dogs test last week falling by just a goal to Ursuline before beating Yorktown by six Greeley split with a disappointing five-goal loss to Bronxville before beating Greenwich Rye Country Day (9-0) — There has been no slowing the Wildcats it doesn't seem like a perfect season is any kind of pipe dream North Rockland (4-2) — The Red Raiders took down Wappingers by three goals last week then followed that with a win over Section 9's Pine Bush A win over rival Suffern this week would be a a decent-size upset but rivalries breed those kind of things and North Rockland has been playing well Wappingers (5-2) — The Storm bounced back from a three-goal loss to North Rockland to win their next two games Wappingers should win the two games it has next week before playing White Plains the following week in a game the Tigers would dearly love to win Mike Lawler's first town hall of the year is set to be a packed house with more than 700 people signed up for his fully booked forum at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack The event is at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, and it comes at a politically charged time. Democratic groups and unions plan to lead a protest outside the school to condemn Trump administration actions and Republicans' planned budget cuts. Lawler's office has set rules for the forum audience — no signs no video or audio recording — and warned that police and private security guards may remove anyone who violates the restrictions Only residents of New York's 17th Congressional District will be allowed in Everyone who registered in advance will be admitted if they show identification with an address that matches the one on their registration Walk-ins will be permitted if any seats remain The Rockland forum is scheduled to last up to two hours Audience members who want to pose questions will be chosen at random When are Mike Lawler's other town hall events?The Rockland County forum is the first of four Lawler plans to hold in each of the district's four counties The next is expected to be the following Sunday The initial site for that event — Westlake High School in Thornwood — was canceled for being too small after the registrations quickly filled up No dates or locations have been announced yet for a pair of town halls in Putnam and Dutchess counties in June Sign flap: Puppet poster at Mike Lawler protest spurs clash over antisemitism: What happened? Other Republican lawmakers around the U.S. have faced tough questioning from angry constituents at recent town halls. Democratic groups and voters in Lawler's district had been pressing him to hold such a forum, and they held two "empty-chair" town halls without him in Rockland and Westchester in March They have bristled at his restrictions on the audience on Sunday's event Lawler's office urged attendees to "be respectful" and said added security measures were needed "due to security concerns and threats made against the Congressman Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network NJ - The Valley Hospital has successfully completed its first implant of the .. NJ - Jersey’s Best magazine has named 43 physicians from The Valley Hospital .. NJ - Bergen magazine has named 258 physicians from The Valley Hospital’s medical .. NJ - The Relay for Life event is scheduled for June 6 this year the first games of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ will kick .. NJ - While the borough is making plans to add a cricket field to its list of .. NJ - Donate blood and you will be entered for a chance to win one of two epic .. NJ - It's EMS Week and if you're feeling stress as a first responded NYACK - First Reformed Church in the heart of downtown has been part of the fabric of Nyack for nearly two centuries the building's sale to the nonprofit The Angel Nyack continues the thread The 17,000-square-foot circa 1901 church building from soaring belltower to back offices to stunning sanctuary featuring stained-glass windows was purchased in December for $2.5 million according to documents filed with the Rockland County Clerk While big changes are planned for a facility that bills itself as an arts and events space "taking flight in the heart of charming Nyack," much will stay the same at the building that has a long tradition in the riverfront village said The Angel Nyack Board President Susan Wilmink during a recent tour First Reformed's congregation plans to continue Sunday services in the main sanctuary Two other congregations – House of Prayer and First Haitian – also will continue using space for their services Soup Angels of Nyack will also continue serving in the Pitkin Room The non-sectarian food kitchen provides sit-down meals in a dignified setting for all who want or need since 2006 Helping Hands: How a mobile kitchen and volunteers get hot meals to Rockland residents in need And the church's longstanding relationship with Nyack's rich music and arts community is expected to continue and flourish. ArtsRock, which sponsors programming around Rockland County, has a slew of events already booked "This acquisition represents a win-win solution for our community," Wilmink said providing much-needed space for celebrations – while maintaining our commitment to community service." The Angel Nyack has extensive plans to enhance former church facilities has great acoustics and a great sound system such as removing pews for space and shoring up the floor for dancing There's also a redesign planned for the Pitkin Room The new layout and decor will highlight soaring wood-beam ceilings and enhance the space Air conditioning will also be added in areas of the building now lacking it Roof repairs are ongoing and a general painting and cleanup is planned Wilmink said The Angel Nyack space will be "complementary" to other arts- and community-centered venues around the county, from the Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center, just blocks up Broadway, the Nyack Center, blocks down Broadway, and Rockland Center for the Arts (RoCA) and Garner Arts Center just a short drive away "There's lots of things that we can all do together." is dotted with office space on the first and basement levels that can be rented as studio space Wilmink said the artists in residence are provided a quiet space but also can partake in "the community of it all." That includes using the church's front lawn to display their works The church also has partnered with the Nyack Wedding Collective which is a group of creative types who can provide planning from florist to band to catering Those changes to the sanctuary and Pitkin Room are being done with an eye toward creating flexible wedding 'Micro weddings': How you can get hitched, celebrate Valentine's 'love week' and boost charity in Nyack The wedding part not only creates a revenue stream for the The Angel Nyack it also can support various other Rockland sites and service providers The sale to Angel Nyack has been "a blessing," said Skip Russell a senior elder and vice president of the consistory Russell figures the church ultimately would have had to sell the building commercially its members would have ended up joining another church at least for the next 20 years under a deal with the nonprofit The history of the church, first built on the Nyack site in 1836, runs deep. It's still a vibrant congregation. This past Christmas, the children of First Reformed Church of Nyack put on the church's 100th annual Christmas pageant Angel Nyack and First Reformed members fully expect to watch local kids in the 101st pageant in December "Through the faith of our congregation," he said The Angel Nyack Board of Directors includes Jeffrey Friedberg For more information, visit theangelnyack.com or email hello@theangelnyack.com 2025 at 10:58 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Village is working with the Rockland County Department of health to ensure that this situation is not repeated (Shutterstock)IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR DRINKING WATER From the Village of Nyack Water Department Nyack Water Does/Did Not Meet Treatment Requirements Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement Although this situation does not require that you take immediate action and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation Not Enough Disinfection During Treatment - In order to ensure proper disinfection water in the treatment plant must be in contact with enough chlorine or a similar disinfectant for a minimum amount of time On multiple days in December 2024 and January 2025 Although chlorine quickly kills most bacteria it is less effective against organisms such as viruses and parasites water needs to mix with chlorine for a longer time period to kill such organisms or the “contact time,” depends on the amount of disinfectant in the water and the temperature of the water You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions you would have been notified within 24 hours Tests taken during this same time period did not indicate the presence of bacteria in the water *Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms and parasites which can cause symptoms such as nausea are not caused only by organisms in drinking water If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist The Village is working with the Rockland County Department of health to ensure that this situation is not repeated Treatment guidelines have been provided to the Village to ensure proper disinfection is accomplished during seasonal water quality variations Nyack Water is conducting regular training on disinfection protocols and update standard operating procedures We sampled and are sampling disinfectant levels and have adjusted and will continue to adjust the amount of disinfectant added as necessary to maintain adequate levels please contact Thomas Lynch at 845-358-3734 or mailing address of 9 North Broadway Nyack You can also contact the Rockland County Department of Health at 845-364-2595 *Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.* This notice was provided by the Village of Nyack Water Department Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. There was a lot of attention paid to Eddie Sanchez's indictment following a St Patrick's Day 2024 slashing in downtown Nyack 25 after a jury took little time to acquit the 63-year-old of all charges accepting his claim of self-defense that was a far cry from the narrative put forth by the Rockland District Attorney's Office "They should have put this out there like they did at the beginning," Sanchez told The Journal News/lohud last week Sanchez was walking down Main Street looking at his phone two men confronted him and demanded it from him He recalls telling them he wasn't giving it up and that they should get jobs and their own phones leaving a deep gash that required more than 20 stitches to close getting into a neighbor's car down the block One witness recognized him as "Eddie" from Nyack Plaza "a bald Spanish guy with a mustache." Another noticed the color of the car he got into Police were pretty sure they knew who they were looking for and found Sanchez sitting in the car outside his building a short time later explaining to police right away what happened Or at least acknowledging his involvement when police picked him up that he hadn't slashed anyone ‒ and that he hadn't even been at the park that evening He was arrested on assault and weapons charges and five days later indicted on a more serious charge of first-degree assault that could have landed him in prison for up to 25 years Sanchez spent eight months at the Rockland County Jail but he was also kept on a probation violation having been arrested in early 2023 on a felony assault charge because he shot a man in his apartment Sanchez said the man had tried to force his way in so he aimed his shotgun at the floor and fired Sanchez was allowed to plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge and be sentenced to probation two months later That was because prosecutors realized the "victim" had broken into the building But Sanchez's stay in jail this year proved costly One of his three sons saw cancer return last year and his condition worsened over the first few months Sanchez was in jail Sanchez could not visit him in Puerto Rico as he was dying or attend his funeral he was punched in the eye by a fellow inmate including "Interactive Journaling." A cook by profession He signed a document proclaiming a switch in religion The confrontation with the two men in Veteran's Park was captured on surveillance video by a camera across the street But Sanchez says his lawyer was initially only given the final 12 seconds ‒ in which he clearly appeared the aggressor They said that was the only part of the video shown to the grand jury that indicted him When prosecutors turned over a fuller video He was told he would likely be sentenced to 20 years in prison if convicted at trial Prosecutors offered him a deal ‒ plead to assault in exchange for an eight-year prison term "I almost took it but when I thought of the whole video the jurors would see I had the courage to take it to trial." The man who was slashed testified at the trial that he was intervening in an argument between Sanchez and the other man Sanchez said the jurors saw him trying to walk away three times "so it was clear I wasn't the troublemaker." "They catch a lot of people but in this case it helped me prove my innocence." said the video was important but so was Sanchez's testimony and when it came time to show his frustration and indignation he did that in a way I never could have," Fullerton said A "not guilty" verdict came following about an hour of deliberations after jurors had asked to watch the video again He remains angry at prosecutors for not recognizing ‒ or ignoring ‒ the truth of what happened and that District Attorney Thomas Walsh's statement in announcing the indictment made Sanchez out to be Walsh did not go that far but did say that the indictment accused Sanchez of intentionally slashing the victim and that "extreme acts of violence like this will not be tolerated in our community." a spokesman for the DA's office declined to discuss any of Sanchez's criticism of the prosecution's handling of the case saying only that "the jury determines whether a defendant is guilty or not Sanchez's hardships are not completely over He must renew his driver's license after it was suspended because he let the insurance lapse while in jail The management company of Nyack Plaza is also trying to evict him They got a default judgement against him while he was still incarcerated Victorine Froelich and Alexander Bursztein got that lifted and are now fighting to make sure he keeps his apartment his Section 8 voucher so he can afford a place to live The eviction action was based on the criminal charges but I see the light at the end of the tunnel," Sanchez said