The Best Little Whorehouse in….Congers??

Summertime in Congers is a time of community gatherings. We meet at parades, carnivals, circuses, fireworks displays, the town pool, backyard barbecues and picnics. We have several playgrounds, 2 elementary schools, ponds, lakes, parks, houses of worship, pubs and restaurants. We live here, work here, play here. And now we can also pay for sex here. Somebody had the bright idea that the only thing missing from this idyllic town is a brothel. The Congers Lake Wellness Center located in the Dunkin Donuts strip mall on Route 303 opened its doors in June to the dismay of the people that live here. Under the disguise of a massage parlor a customer can enter through a discreet back door and buy a half hour or an hour of fornication with the woman or transvestite of their choice. The cops have supposedly raided the place once and claim there is nothing they can do to shut it down. The only recourse they have is to impose a fine with the fines increasing with each raid. Oh, now I get it, it’s all about the money…

Hey, last time I checked prostitution is illegal in the state of New York so whether you are a Congers resident, a Clarkstown resident or just a decent human being who doesn’t believe in the lawful exploitation of people who are possibly under-aged, illegal aliens, coerced or forced to perform, it is your responsibility to voice your concerns…LOUDLY! This is just a stepping stone to the demise of a wonderful town. Only worse things can follow.

The Clarkstown Town Supervisor is Alexander J. Gromack (also a resident of Congers). Please contact him. DO NOT sit idly by and think if you ignore it, it will go away!

Town of Clarkstown
Office of the Supervisor
10 Maple Avenue, New City, NY 10956

Office: 845-639-2050
Fax:  845-634-5456
Email: a_gromack@town.clarkstown.ny.us

Something Very Special Happened Last Night…

SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL HAPPENED LAST NIGHT…..I FELT GREAT, as I bundled up about to depart the Hot Nyack Yoga studio….Was it an aberration? A momentary phenomenon?  No…could it be the cumulative effect of about five or six weeks of visiting the hot yoga studio,,,, maybe?  And not every night mind you, perhaps a few times a week. I’ve experienced their various types of yoga (Hatha, Bikram, Vinyasa and Forrest) with little or no expectations but with an open mind and a strong willingness to try my best.  In the very beginning, I went through the motions (poses) at times feeling lost, few times as a pretzel want-to-be and other times, as teetering idiot, yet, there were no times when I felt any of the instructors (followers, believers, amazing people, I’ll call them) sharing my embarrassment or guilt, as an underachiever you see, -it isn’t about that at all.  I’m reminded of having gone to an awesome restaurant and having an exceptional dinner, only to be served by a less than compassionate waiter – the dining experience loses a lot.

Here at Hot Yoga of Nyack the opposite happens.  This IS an exceptional staff, not only because of their individual expertise but because their enthusiasm and support, bridges the gap between the “experience” and “getting it”…get it?  It is a practice that perhaps never gets truly mastered, however, these instructors never make you feel less than a ‘trying master’.  The teachers that I have experienced thus far seem to me to be exceptional, yet with some subtle differences and emphasis in the blending of the spiritual with the physical.  For this writing, I would be remiss if I didn’t in particular point out one such instructor, that being Erica Mather (Director of Forrest Yoga).  Last night, as every night, she is the epitome of that perfect blend of mind, body and spirit and done so, withperfect grace, no exception.  Yes, I think they are all great, but it was in her class that I departed last night with that certain extra special feeling of well being.  I realize it is a cumulative effect of all my yoga visits but I do think she adds that unique mystique that is quite captivating – so thanks to her (et al) and thanks to yoga, that I still feel great this morning…..

Meet Erica at:  ericamather.com  or at: www.hotyogaofnyack.com

Editor Note: Every few weeks we will ask a novice yoga “pupil” to comment on their perception of the class they take.

FURTHER THOUGHTS ON THE BLACK PANTHERS OF PIERMONT

As the winter season closes its icy hand around us, my thoughts turn to the oft talked about infamous black panthers of Piermont. Yes, the very beasts that had villagers clamoring at Town Board meetings with pitch forks and torches. Some crying for their heads on a pike, others wanting to abandon the town as not to disturb these mythical predators (forgetting the fact that the purported panthers were invaders from a foreign land). Why did all the supposed sighting take place in the spring and summer months? Now that a snow cover would provide irrefutable proof positive of their existence, they are nowhere to be seen! Could it be that panthers migrate, or maybe hibernate? Come to think of it Bigfoot and the New Jersey Devil also make themselves scarce during the winter time. Maybe they all hang in the Bahamas for the holiday season. Now the Abominable Snowman; that’s a different story, but then again, who else is hiking the Himalayas in the winter.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED…

West Nyack has become the winter home to a migratory group of bald eagles. It seems a flock of these majestic fishermen have settled in behind the Shop Rite on Rt. 59. It would appear they have been attracted by the open water of the Hackensack Creek. The velocity of the water, caused by the dam at the southern end of Lake Deforest, helps to keep this section of water ice free in all but the coldest of winter weather. There is also a large population of fish, especially carp, swimming in the creek. Eagles will scavenge most any food, but they are magnificent catchers of fish, their preferred meal. A bald eagle swoops down and can pluck fish up to several pounds in their talons without missing a wing beat. They then maneuver the fish to be facing head first making their often heavy meal aerodynamically correct as they fly off to a high perch to enjoy the hard earned meal. Bald eagles don’t develop their distinctive white head and tail until 5 years old. There is at least one immature eagle with the group, easily recognizable by a mottled plumage of brown and white. By itself, it could be mistaken for a hawk, but its large size is a dead giveaway to identification.

Many people have gone out and bought telephoto lenses for their cameras, binoculars, and spotting scopes to enjoy this natural spectacle from a distance. It is against federal law to harass or disturb eagles. The DEC thinks this group has traveled down from Canada, following open water as they go. Although many people think this year is a unique occurrence, Rockland has become home to several bald eagles every winter for at least the past several years. It would seem their proximity to the Palisades Mall has increased public awareness this year.

7th Annual Career Expo!

The Career expo is designed to broaden students knowledge base about the world of work and expose them to a variety of career paths and options. There will be stations with hands-on interavtive materials and/or visuals to represent the types of work performed in companies. There will be approximately 400 students visiting the stations in hopes to learn about different career areas. There are plenty of openings for volunteers in the area! Please call or email Rosalie Sauter if you wish to share the joy of your career with the children of BOCES.

Where?              

Rockland BOCES

65 Parrott Road

West Nyack, NY 10994

When? 

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

9:30am – 2:00pm

(Participant set-up beginning at 8:30)

 

Lunch will be served at the end of the day (1:00pm)

 

Contact:           

Rosalie Sauter

Email: Rosalie@baer-mcintosh.com

Phone: 845-627-4784

EVER GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING?

Yikes, especially when it comes to car servicing. Usually, you bring your car in to your favorite garage, or favorite dealer I guess) with a list of stuff to do. The favorite garage goes through the list and yes, often makes suggestions of additional needed items. It seems to me in the dealership world, there is a slightly different focus, nothing gets repaired… just replaced…and “they” live to replace….

I drove 29 feet in my Mercedes the other day and suddenly my dashboard was glowing like Xmas lights, yellow as they were, ABS, BAS and another. Some people call them idiot lights. While a surprise, it wasn’t a shock, as it happened once before in the past and my remedy was simple. I stopped, turned the ignition off, then back on and PRESTO, lights went off. This time, NO presto, even with the ignition off, I heard a loud noise, a cross between a vacuum cleaner and a fan that kept me cool last summer in the work shed. How is this possible with the ignition off (??) and the noise never ceasing. Concerned, I drive back the 29 feet, parked in lot, turned key OFF, then ON, then OFF then ON then OFF… the noise never stopped. I opened the hood and peeked in; an attempt to impress my wife….I noticed nothing…heard the noise emanating from underneath, lower left….but couldn’t see a thing….I did however, feel some heat, lots of heat……was wondering if my faithful Mercedes was going to blow up. I scanned the lot; did I park away from everything??

My dear mechanic and “favorite” garage, Palisades Car Care (Route 303, Blauvelt, NY) was closed this week, “On Vacation”. Why is it I only have trouble when either the mechanic is away or the doctor is out?? Anyway, wanting to stave off a potential parking lot explosion, I drove to a Mercedes dealer (notice, no name or address) for their input. Of course the first telephone conversation was about “you can bring the car in any time, no appointment needed……but we are so busy that we can’t look at it for a day or two and there are no loaners available.” Now this is Mercedes Benz, not the nearest Rambler dealer. I’m thinking, hmmmm, I’ll bring it there anyway, let it blow up in their lot, not mine, assuming I make it that far.

Wife and I each drove our Mercedes’ to the dealer, I in the sick one she in the healthier one. We left it there in the hands of their service advisor. In general, my experience has taught me that the Service Advisor is synonymous with a “work finder”  …Nowadays, at the dealership; it isn’t about fixing (remember that word??? Or repairing??) it is now all about “replacing”. If “we” suspect something is wrong, replace it – even if we have to replace every part and computer in the car, replace, replace, replace…..much more efficient than fix. I’m getting off the subject.

 In this case, I was finally called and summarily told that the car needed a new ABS pump (and make no bones about it) and while it is there, it also needed a new brake light switch…? That is like telling a cancer patient that is likely to expire very soon , that he also needs to have some work done to his bunion (please pardon the analogy).

Refusing to submit, then and there, to a $3600 estimate, we chose to pick up the car and wait the few days until Dave and Brian get back from vacation. We went back to Mercedes, picked up our car and guess what, the noise was stopped (or had stopped), the lights were still on, less of a bigger deal……??

The following Monday morning, dark and cold as it was, my car was on the doorstep of Palisades Car Care – in their hands. So a few days of their having the car in and out of their crowed bays and checking different related things, it all boiled down to a relay fuse that has some connection to the ABS pump. Violas……relay IN, noise gone, lights OUT!

Ok, so back to my initial point….Ever get something for nothing?….so at Palisades the oil was changed and NYS inspection performed….replaced wiper blades, all things I had asked to do, in addition to the mysterious diagnosis of the yellow warning ABS lights, which was repaired with the relay fuse, and not having to replace that $3600 ABS pump and guess what, now something was actually fixed NOT on my list……both outside rear view mirrors were swinging in the breeze as the little button that controls the swing, needed some TLC……

Ps: ok, I know what you are thinking, that somewhere in the mix of all the other services performed, I must somehow be also paying for the mirror repair…maybe…but guess what, if I was at the dealer, maybe they would want to replace the mirrors all together….or the car??  I have known Dave & Brian for well over 20 years….when it comes to fairness and competence, I know of none better….when it comes to expertise, be it a Mercedes, Jaguar or Chevrolet…to a Ferrari or Hyundai, I still cant! 

 

Palisades Car Care

596 Route 303

Blauvelt, NY 10913-1123

(845) 398-2009

Team GLINT wins Cook Off!

Recently people from New Jersey, New York and elsewhere, packed La Promenade in Tenafly, New Jersey, for a fun and festive charity event, hosted by the Post 21 Club. The competition was for 15 teams, to prepare a food dish, to be judged by a panel of experts based upon Presentation, Taste and Theme (each event has a theme, this year’s theme was GREEN).

The huge kitchen with at least 6 full functional works stations was in full swing.  Two heats compete, meaning the first half of the afternoon consists of half the teams entering the Cook Off, and two hours later, the last half take of the teams take over the kitchen….Sharply at 6:00pm, all work is stopped and the judges huddle until they pick a 5^th place winner, 4^th, 3^rd, 2^nd and finally First Prize…….

The drama built during the announcements of each winner with a discussion of their prepared dishes (each tray consisted of five plated masterpieces, which was presented and served to the judges) While the crowds enjoyed tasting all the dishes as well, each team prepared for an army of hungry guests.  Mr. Leeds (Harvey Leeds of Live Nation) is both co-host and moderator who provided the guests with a full array of wines, beer and soda/water refreshments, to also include a table of delicious appetizers and salads…

As the drama built, I was struck by the intro speech, as Mr. Leeds told the story of a close friend of his, two years ago, suggested he meet “this kid, who had a band” – something Harvey hears all the time.  After a year of pleading and calling by the bands manager, finally Harvey drove to their studio for a quick listen, after all, he couldn’t any longer duck these persistent calls. As the story goes, he sat down in the studio and the band played.   As Harvey says, “the band blew his socks off” and the rest is history in the making, as a coincidence, the first place winner was Team GLINT (the name of the band) and the manager of Glint that made all those phone calls, is now partners with Harvey in the future of Glint and the proud winner the first place winner in the cook off………Adam Blankfort, with his team of Caroline Walker and Tom McArdle, who this time, blew everybody’s socks off with a awesome presentation of baby lamb chops, over mashed potatoes and edamame with asparagus sticking straight up like a forest.

Palisades Indoor Farmers Market

Looking for a farmers market in the middle of the winter can be tough. Never fear! The Rockland indoor farmers market will open Saturday, February 6^th from 9am until 1pm. The market will be open every Saturday from the 6^th until May 15^th 2010. The market is located at 675 Oak Tree Road Palisades, NY at the Palisades Community Center. The market will offer seasonal vegetables and fruits, along with meat, chicken, eggs, baked goods, wine, cheese, nuts, jam, bread, coffee and much more! All of the food will be supplied by regional farmers and vendors.

For more information please email community.center@palisadesny.com or visit www.palisadesny.com and go to the events page.

Restyled French Toast

Not all French toast is the same, nor is it strictly a breakfast food.  Mine is surely a wonderful adventure for almost any meal, so give this a try; serve it with coffee or pair it with wine:  Take day old baguette  (or equivilant) and slice in nice round cuts, less than 1/2 inch thick (two loaves work, if any escape the first meal, you can refrigerate the rest for the next meal or snack).  Place all these slices in a huge bowl.  Next comes the batter:  In a huge bowl, (the amounts will vary according to the amount of French toast we are making – so use your own judgement – ) drop in 6 eggs, 1/4 cup of half n half, a big splash of vanilla, 1/4 + + cup on orange juice, many shakes of cinnimum and less shakes of nutmeg.  Now the essence of the frying:  Using a large skillet, get it very hot adding a tiny amount of olive oil, having already added a small tab of butter.  Spread this evenly around the pan.  Drop a very FEW slices into the batter and immediately remove and drain on the edge of the bowl, removing all excess batter, then fill up the pan with as many as you can, without overcrowding. After a moment or two, press each down firmly in the pan with a flat spatula.  Peek, is the down side brown yet?  Just before flipping, squirt a small amount of honey on each and a quick sprinkle of cinnimum, then flip.  Same procedure.  Press, squirt, sprinkle.  When both sides are nicely browned and slightly crisp, place on a cookie sheet in the oven so they stay warm.  Before the next batch, always stir up the batter.  This should be a constant step so that it stays mixed throughout the drenching. The serving:  With a pile filling up the cookie sheet, gather your plates, etc.  Place at least 6/8 slices on the plate and serve with two over easy eggs on top.  Forward all your thank you(s) to this station!

Robin’s Amazing Oatmeal Macaroons!

You won’t mind the pre-cook preparation for these amazing macaroons! As a healthier alternative to cookies, you can indulge in these sweet treats without the feeling of guilt! Although it has a two day prep to finish period, it is definitely worth the wait! Robin brought these into the office and everyone was extremely pleased with the deliciously sweet flavor.

Day before baking:

Ingredients – 4 cups oatmeal, 2 cups brown sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil

Preparation: Mix together and let stand overnight.

Day of Baking:

Ingredients – 2 eggs (well-beaten), ½ tsp salt, 1 cup chopped walnuts, 1 tsp almond extract

Preparation: Add to the mixture from the day before, and mix them all together. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Drop on greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 17-18 minutes or until medium brown. Let cool and enjoy!!

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