This week in the Villages we take a look at the restoration of Nyack’s oldest remaining Dutch Colonial home. Plus, other Nyack and Rockland-centric stories, links, notes, weather predictions, upcoming meetings, and more. Thanks for being here!

A Facelift for The John Green House

You probably know it as the ancient fenced-off stone building held together by an elaborately-constructed series of wood support beams at the bottom of Main Street.

That’s the John Green House, the oldest remaining Dutch Colonial sandstone still standing (barely) in the village, which was built around 1819 by its multi-talented namesake. (According to the John Green Preservation Coalition, the building served “as business home for John Green, sloop captain, lumber dealer, steamboat entrepreneur, church founder and turnpike trustee.”)

Now, thanks to a $75,000 state grant and thousands more in donations by supporters, the once-crumbling home is now one step closer to being restored and quite a bit more handsome with a fresh facade.

Last week, supporters, including Nyack Mayor Don Hammond, former New York State Senator (and now candidate) Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, who sponsored the successful application for state funding for this portion of the work, as well as board members of the John Green Preservation Coalition, celebrated the completion of the facelift — the first major step in a “multi-phase, multi-year” project.

The facade phase restoration work was completed between May and September. It’s unclear when the next phase will begin.

But for now, we here at Villages will celebrate the coalition’s hard work and dedication in getting the ball rolling. (Not to mention being less concerned about the structure’s ability to withstand a really strong wind.)

For more information on the project, go to the John Green Preservation Coalition’s website. (Slideshow photos by the multi-talented Andrea Swenson who may or may not be working on her sloop captain’s license.)

Stay tuned and be in touch!

In other news:

The biggest national story this week was the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy who, a week earlier, cut a deal with Democrats to prevent a government shutdown. This means Congress, now speaker-less, can’t pass any new legislation until McCarthy is replaced.

To discuss what’s going on in Congress, Rockland’s only representative, Mike Lawler (NY-17), and his predecessor (and now 2024 opponent) Mondaire Jones, both wrote opinion pieces for lohud to try. (Note: these were published before McCarthy was bounced from his position.)

Here’s Lawler’s take.

Here’s Jones’s take.

ICYM NNV’s weekly features: Bill Batson’s latest “Nyack Sketch Log”; Mike Hays’ most recent “Nyack People & Places”; and our coverage in our last edition of “The Villages”; Our latest Nyack Schools Report. If you haven’t read it yet, please check our vision for the future of Nyack News & Views and how you can help build our coverage and capacity.

Weather prediction (through Oct. 9)

Rain on Friday and Saturday, then should clear up for cool crisp temperatures on Sunday and Monday’s Indigenous Peoples Day. [Click here for the National Weather Service‘s latest 7-day forecast for the Nyack area. Click here for the latest Air Quality Index report for Nyack.]

4+ Months Later: Still looking for answers in the death of Sean Harris

We continue to look into the case of Sean Harris, who died under suspicious circumstances after an hours-long standoff with police on May 30.

Watch the video from Truth 2 Power below to learn more about what happened and why family, friends and police reform advocates say they want answers.

Here’s our breakdown of what happened.

Here’s Lohud reporter Nancy Cutler’s in-depth piece on Harris and his mother’s suspicions about her son’s death here.

Village updates

Nyack

• Here’s the list of all upcoming meetings posted for the Village of Nyack.
• If you could use help paying your water bills, click here.
• Drop off humanitarian aid for victims of the war in Ukraine (including first aid, painkillers, blankets, baby food, diapers, non-perishable food, antibiotics and more, at Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway (or at the Orangetown town hall, 26 W. Orangeburg Rd.).

Upper Nyack

• Click here for updates from the Village of Upper Nyack.

South Nyack

• Thanks to reader request, we have re-added South Nyack, which dissolved as an official village earlier this year. Please send us info about what’s going on in South Nyack at info@nyacknewsandviews.com.

Orangetown

• There are several meetings this week in Orangetown, click here to find out what, when and where.

• Check out the draft chapters of Orangetown’s new 2023 Comprehensive Plan.

• Help limit greenhouse gases and curb pollution by joining this new food scraps recycling program.

• Check out the Orangetown YouTube channel.

Clarkstown

• The Technical Advisory Committee, which “evaluates the technical adequacy of land development applications and decides their readiness for Planning Board review,” meets most Wednesdays, including this Wednesday, from 10 am to noon, in the town hall’s Historic Map Room.

• For a calendar list of all Clarkstown meetings and events, click here.

Other Local Updates

South Nyack advocates have filed a petition with the town of Orangetown seeking to show support for a new Elizabeth Place Playground — the grassy play area and dog park just south of 87 and right off the Esposito trail. After South Nyack dissolved in March, the town found the playground equipment at Elizabeth Place was unsafe and not compliant with ADA regulations and removed it. A new ADA compliant park has been proposed and advocates want to see the proposal approved and implemented. Click here to read and/or sign the petition.

Nyack Schools

Check out our latest Nyack Schools Report, a new regular feature we will post bi-monthly.

Find out what else is going on in Nyack-area schools at Home Page – Nyack Public Schools (nyackschools.org)

Rockland-wide

A rare polio case was recently discovered in Rockland County last summer. Here’s some info on how to protect yourself:

• New Yorkers can pre-register for a free polio vaccination appointment here or call 845-238-1956 to schedule. Walk-ins will also be accepted.

• Vaccines are also available through local healthcare providers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers.

• For more information on polio including symptoms and spread, visit NYSDOH’s page here.

• New Yorkers can learn more about the polio vaccine available in the U.S. at CDC’s page here.

• The Reviving Rockland Restaurants Grant Program will reimburse businesses between $5,000 and $25,000 for past expenses or fund future expenses for eligible outdoor dining COVID-19 mitigation equipment. Eligible entities include restaurants, food stands, food trucks, bars, saloons, lounges, taverns, bakeries, delis, cafes, breweries, wineries, and other similar places of business. For more information and to download an application visit rocklandgov.com.
• Fill out this survey to help the county provide better digital services.

Musical Outro

Check out the Scott Wendholdt/Adam Kolker Quartet at Maureen’s Jazz Cellar this Friday, Aug. 4th. Here’s a taste:

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