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Inside Press

Open to Public Viewing on June 24 and July 7: What Happened to Jackson Avenue — A Story of Urban Renewal in 1960s Nyack

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What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A Story of Urban Renewal in 1960s Nyack is a new documentary which captures the human impact of 124 predominantly Black families displaced from their homes, businesses and generations of accumulated wealth lost.

The first public screenings is Saturday June 24 at 8 p.m., and Friday, July 7 at 8 p.m. at the Nyack Center. Tickets are on sale, now. https://phoenixtheatreensembleorg.thundertix.com/events/213870

Per news direct here from the film’s producer Phoenix Theatre Ensemble in collaboration with Rivertown Films is a summary about the film and information about the gathering of artists and storytellers who have brought it to the screen:

“Urban renewal projects irrevocably changed the landscape of American cities and villages in the 1950s and 1960s. Although intended to stimulate economic and social ‘revitalization,’ many of these projects resulted in the destruction of entire communities.

Black parishioners in Piermont. Courtesy of the Leonard Cooke collection.

Nyack has its own urban renewal story, now told in a new documentary through interviews with people who lived the experience. What Happened to Jackson Avenue offers real-life accounts of the human impact–deeply felt by the124 Nyack families, nearly 80% Black, who lost their homes, businesses and generations of accumulated wealth to ‘eminent domain.’

“This film is essential to an understanding of Nyack’s history, and provides an important case study of how even a small village was shaped by the broader forces driving urban renewal policies in the 1960s,” said Elijah Reichlin-Melnick, Former NY State senator. The first public screenings will be held at The Nyack Center, located on South Broadway and Depew Avenue, on Saturday, June 24 and Friday, July 7 at 8 pm.

Tickets are on sale now for $25 in advance and $35 at the door. 

Urban Renewal Map Courtesy of the Nyack Library Local History Room

Panel discussions following the 60-minute screenings will give audiences opportunities to hear live from storytellers interviewed in the film, as well as the documentary creators. Nyack activist, artist and historian Bill Batson (also in the film) will moderate.

Nicole Hines, President, Nyack NAACP, will join the June 24 panel. Hines comments: “Fair housing and home ownership continue to be key issues for the NAACP and for everyone we represent. We hope this film will advance the discussion and motivate change.”

The documentary was produced by the Phoenix Theatre Ensemble, a New York City-grown theater company now with a home and annual live arts Festival in Nyack. The public screenings in Nyack are presented in collaboration with the Rivertown Film Society.

“This is a powerful film, and a service to our community as it acknowledges and learns from its history,” commented Don Hammond, Mayor of Nyack

Inspiration for the documentary sprang from a comment made by Batson in the summer of 2019 as he in stood in the main parking lot at the center of the village.

”This was Jackson Avenue. Our family home once stood here,” said Batson.

That spark set a creative process in motion–two-years of research, interviews, photography and editing undertaken by young filmmakers Hakima Alem and Rudi Gohl.

“June 12 marked the 60th anniversary of the assassination of civil rights pioneer and NAACP leader Medgar Evers,” said Batson. “And with Juneteenth just days away, this an especially good time to reflect on the past, present and future of our own community. What Happened to Jackson Avenue challenges us to look back, and look ahead.” 

ABOUT THE STORYTELLERS
Bill Batson is well known in the Nyack community as a leader, artist and historian. His grandmother’s family, the Avery’s, moved to Nyack in the late 1800s. They lived through, and spoke out against, urban renewal. His family home on Jackson Avenue was a casualty. Today, Batson is a columnist and featured contributor to Nyack News & Views, where his weekly Sketch Log chronicles the Nyack experience. Batson also manages the weekly Farmers Market for the Nyack Chamber of Commerce.

Faith Blount is a Nyack native who experienced urban renewal first-hand as a child. Her family lived with her grandparents in a house on Liberty street, with their dry cleaning business attached. While both their home and business were demolished during urban renewal, they received compensation for the residence only. Blount’s grandfather was a civil rights leader and founder of the NAACP chapter in Nyack. Blount is a teacher and a role model for young Black people wherever she goes.

Lonnie “Buster” Leonard is a Nyack native who grew up on Jackson Avenue in the 1950s. He experienced urban renewal as a teenager when he lost his home and saw his friends and community forced out. His family moved to High Avenue just before the demolition began. Their old home on Jackson Avenue was destroyed shortly thereafter.

Win Perry is a historian and architect who comes from a long line of Nyack locals. He currently resides in the house his family built in 1846. His grandson is the 12th generation of his family to live in Nyack. Perry worked for an architectural firm in Nyack during urban renewal and saw both sides of the process. Avid historian and past president of the local historical society, Perry currently serves as a member of the executive board. He was a member of the NAACP and has served as an educator on urban renewal and city planning. 

Barbra Williams was born in Anniston, Alabama and moved to Nyack in the early 1960s just before urban renewal got under way. She was an avid member of the protests against the project. In 1965, she managed the campaign that won Heziekiah Easter a seat on the Village of Nyack Board of Trustees–the first Black person elected to public office in Rockland County. Williams was inducted into Rockland County’s Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2016 for her work in fighting discrimination against people of color and the disadvantaged. She describes herself as a storyteller, memory keeper and “ancestor in training.”

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Hakima Alem is an Ethiopian writer and film director. She moved to Nyack in 2018, and now resides in New York City. Alem graduated from Bard College in 2021. Her work centers on the lives of women of color, human rights and international adoption. She has worked on several documentary films and with multiple nonprofits. Before directing What Happened To Jackson Avenue, she was an assistant editor for the film Muicha, The Voice of Bossa Nova and created her own film titled Black at Bard 2020. Moving forward, Alem hopes to publish novels and continue creating and directing documentaries and other films.

Rudi Gohl is a filmmaker, documentarian and editor based in New York City. Since graduating from college in 2021, Gohl has worked extensively in New York, filming and editing music videos, short films, plays and documentaries. Offering a wide range of creative possibilities, the documentary format is of particular interest to Gohl. He has recently worked with the musical artist Chandrika Tandon, and multi-cultural artist Eljuri. He currently works as a junior assistant editor and post-production assistant for the award-winning documentary company Show of Force.

Faith Blount is a Nyack native who grew up in the midst of Nyack’s Urban Renewal Program. Her family lived with her grandparents, who owned a house on Liberty street that had their dry cleaning business attached. During Urban Renewal, they were compensated for their home as a residence only, not as a business. The Blounts moved to Orangeburg shortly after. Photo by Rudi Gohl

Jackson Avenue. Young Faith (Courtesy of the Blount Family)

 

 

At its 27th Humanitarian Gala, BGCNW Celebrated “84 Years of Transformative Impact and a Record Breaking Day of Fundraising”

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The theme of the evening was real storytelling with the common thread being how the Club serves as a second home changing the trajectory of generations.

On June 2, 2023 more than 300 people joined in the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester’s (BGCNW) gala celebration. Club Co-Presidents, Anne Citrin and Emily Stoddard, who shared their own connections with the Club and commitment to being champions of children introduced the honorees Philanthropists Kimberly and Andrew Handler. Andrew, a former board member, shared “Every time I visit the Club it is still overwhelming for me to see how this place contributes so much to the lives of so many.” He received a standing ovation after his presentation.

One of the featured storytellers was current Aquatics Director and Club Alum Eric Mitchell who shared that he had a very tough home life while growing up and the Club was his sanctuary. He had a bike accident at 15 and was told he would not swim again. “The last remaining thing in my life that gave me purpose was now taken from me. My chances of going to college were gone. I was devastated and completely hopeless. The folks that are involved with this organization rallied around me, built me up, and pushed me forward, I eventually accepted a full athletic scholarship to swim at Old Dominion University, earned a Masters degree from Columbia in Sports Management, coached college swimming for 7 years before finding my way back to the Club and every day I have the chance to make a kids day more enjoyable and be there for them to teach resiliency.

Torell Nugent, Club Alum, BGCNW Board VP and Account Executive at Disney explained that “The Club became my safe haven, support system, and my home away from home. I discovered newskills and explored my passions outside of academics. It was through these activities that I learned the importance of diversity, community, and leading by example and the importance of resilience, perseverance, kindness, and integrity.”

The third featured storyteller is the longest-serving board member, 38 years, and fondly looked to as the community Patriarch, Stuart Marwell. Mr. Marwell is also a Club alum, past Board President, and currently President of Curtis Instruments, Inc. He explained that his story with the Club was a family affair. “Generations of my family have supported and benefitted from the Club for years and we look forward to making sure that other children and their families have the same opportunity. I enjoyed all that the club had to offer – Basketball, crafts, the trampoline where I had to learn trust for those who spotted for me, and helping with community service projects such as planting the willow trees along the stream in Leonard Park some are still there today.”

To add to the storytelling theme guests were encouraged to participate by leaving a message on the audio guestbook or video booth and were treated to book art centerpieces created by Club kids. The event journal highlighted 15 Club Tales; inspiring stories from Club alumni, volunteers, and staff members of all ages. An amazing time was had by all.

To lend your own support to the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester, visit their website at www.bgcnw.com or send a check to 351 Main Street, Mount Kisco, NY 10549. Give the gift of your time as a volunteer or mentor. For more information, contact Shantae Artis at sartis@bgcnw.com

News and photos courtesy of BGCNW

PARK AND READ: A New Westchester County and Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Collaboration

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Park and Read, a captivating summer read-aloud program aimed at fostering a love for reading in young children, is set to take place in picturesque Westchester County Parks. This engaging initiative, organized by Westchester County Director of Programs and Policies, Childcare & Education Roseanne Finizio in collaboration with the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival Executive Director Dawn Greenberg, offers an enriching experience for children aged 3 to 6.

Taking place on weekdays Monday through Thursday, from July 10 – August 10, at 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., the Park and Read program will feature interactive storytelling sessions in both English and Spanish. Experienced and noteworthy storytellers will bring stories to life, creating a vibrant and immersive environment for children and families to enjoy.

The first reader will be Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who said the program is just what kids need as they unwind in the summer: “The Park and Read program combines the joy of storytelling with the beauty of Westchester County Parks, creating a magical experience that fosters a love for reading. We are excited to inspire young minds to get lost in the joy of books.”

Finizio said: “As a former educator, I have witnessed the profound importance of reading and the transformative impact of reading to children. With the Park and Read program, I am delighted to have the opportunity to foster a love for reading among children and create memorable moments of joy under the summer sun.”

The program schedule is as follows:

·         July 10-13: Location: Willson’s Woods Park Venue: DeMatteo Terrace Address: 8 Bradford Road, Mount Vernon, NY 10553

·         July 17-20: Location: Glen Island Park Venue: Grass area outside of bathhouse (Pavilion 1 held for inclement weather) Address: Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10805

·         July 24-28: Location: Tibbetts Brook Park Venue: Grass area in front of bathhouse (Catering Hall held for inclement weather) Address: 355 Midland Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10704

·         July 31 – August 3: Location: Saxon Woods Park Venue: Grass area adjacent to children’s playground (Pavilion held for inclement weather) Address: 1800 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10605

·         August 7-10: Location: Kensico Dam Plaza Venue: Grass area outside of office Address: 1 Bronx River Parkway, Valhalla, NY 10595

The Park and Read program welcomes children accompanied by a guardian and admission is free. Pre-registration is not required; however, participants must adhere to the Westchester County residency rules.

Greenberg said: “The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is thrilled to partner with Westchester County Parks for this initiative. By bringing literature to the heart of nature, Park and Read aims to create a memorable summer experience for children while encouraging the practice of shared reading at home.”

For more information about the Park and Read program, please email RFinizio@WestchesterCountyNY.gov or call (914) 995-2501.  More information can also be found at https://parks.westchestergov.com/park-and-read

About the Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival: The Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival is an annual event held in Chappaqua, NY, that celebrates children’s literature and authors. With a mission to inspire a love for reading and learning, the festival brings together authors, illustrators and families for a day filled with literary activities, book signings and storytelling sessions.

News Courtesy of Westchester County’s County Executive Office

Sustainable Westchester Names Noah Bramson as its New Executive Director

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Mount Kisco, N.Y. –  After a thorough and rigorous search, Sustainable Westchester, the county’s leading climate action advocate and provider of renewable energy, today announced that City of New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson will take the helm of the organization as its next Executive Director effective January 2024. Interim Executive Director Jim Kuster will remain in place until Mayor Bramson completes his current term in office.

Mayor Bramson has led New Rochelle for the last 18 years, and is widely credited with advancing the city’s sustainability goals. Under his leadership, New Rochelle is experiencing its fastest growth in a century, serving as a regional and statewide model for environmentally-friendly, transit-oriented development.  Bramson was instrumental in adopting New Rochelle’s first-ever sustainability plan, GreeNR, now undergoing a comprehensive update to emphasize resiliency and climate justice.  And he has been a champion of open space expansion, including ongoing efforts to create new parkland on the Echo Bay waterfront and along the “LINC,” a reimagined Memorial Highway. 

New Rochelle was among the first large communities in New York to adopt the State’s Stretch Energy Code and is presently the second-highest scoring large community in the State’s Clean Energy Communities program.  In addition, as one of the founding Board Members of Sustainable Westchester, Bramson helped to establish the county’s innovative Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, with New Rochelle one of the first cities to secure clean, renewable energy through CCA.

“I am thrilled to join Sustainable Westchester as its new Executive Director,” said Mayor Noam Bramson. “Sustainable Westchester is among the most impactful public interest organizations in our region, with a dedicated, highly-capable staff, a record of meaningful accomplishment, and a vital, growing role in helping localities, the County, and all of New York achieve ambitious climate and environmental goals. It will be a privilege to advance such an important mission, while working alongside colleagues, both in and out of government, whom I respect deeply.”

“Westchester is one of the state’s foremost leaders in combating climate change and Sustainable Westchester is an integral part of this work,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer. “Noam’s leadership driving New Rochelle’s sustainability efforts has been exemplary, and he will be an asset to the organization and all they are doing county-wide. We wish him the best of luck in this new endeavor.”

Sustainable Westchester is a hub of innovative climate tech programs and expertise designed to help local municipalities achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets mandated by New York’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The nonprofit organization strives to improve clean energy solutions, save municipalities and consumers’ money, and promote equity and environmental justice within the communities it serves. Its popular and widely-used programs include Westchester Power; Community Solar; Building Decarbonization for commercial properties; Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure; EnergySmart Homes; GridRewards; and Zero Waste.

“New York State’s visionary climate objectives come with a host of unprecedented challenges and opportunities,” said Bramson.  “Sustainable Westchester is uniquely suited to make the most of this pivotal moment, position our region as a positive model, strengthen partnerships with aligned organizations and advocates, and encourage effective, collaborative policy-making at all levels of government.  It will be my goal to ensure that every municipality we serve has the information, tools, encouragement, and support to achieve our shared goal of a healthy, vibrant, equitable, and sustainable county.”

“Mayor Bramson’s vast experience in government and passion for leading impactful climate action initiatives will be of immense value to Sustainable Westchester as the organization continues to grow,” said Jim Kuster, who has served as Sustainable Westchester’s interim Executive Director since November 2022. “Under his leadership, we will strengthen and expand our innovative programming to help a broad range of municipalities meet the critical environmental and equity objectives contained in New York’s Climate Act.”    

“Mayor Bramson’s demonstrated track record of building consensus, attracting investment, and prioritizing healthy environments perfectly positions him to lead Sustainable Westchester’s continued growth and expand the great results we deliver to our members,” said Sara Goddard, Board Chair of Sustainable Westchester. “We are extremely excited to welcome him aboard.” 

 NEWS COURTESY OF SUSTAINABLE WESTCHESTER

About Sustainable Westchester

Sustainable Westchester is the county’s leading climate action advocate and provider of renewable energy. The nonprofit, membership-based organization is a hub of innovative climate tech programs and expertise designed to help local municipalities achieve greenhouse gas reduction targets mandated by New York’s landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Sustainable Westchester continuously strives to improve clean energy solutions, save municipalities and consumers’ money, and promote equity and environmental justice within the communities it serves. Its popular and widely-used programs include Westchester Power; Community Solar; Building Decarbonization for commercial properties; Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure; EnergySmart Homes; GridRewards; and Zero Waste.  

Celebrate Friday Night Pride on June 2 in Hastings-on Hudson

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The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, Destination Hastings, and Hastings Rainbow Families are excited to host the second annual Friday Night Pride, a free, joyful, family-friendly Pride festival in downtown Hastings on June 2 from 6 – 9 p.m. (rain date June 9th).

The Good Witch Coffee Bar (134 Southside Ave, Hastings-on-Hudson at the Metro North Station) will hold a pre-event from 3:45 to 5:45 with music and supplies for families to make Pride signs. At 5:45 p.m., families can take their creations and join in a march from The Good Witch up to Warburton Avenue to kick off the main event, led by Brooklyn all-female brass band, Brass Queens.The Friday Night Pride event centers on a concert in the middle of Warburton Avenue, featuring a bevy of musicians, dancers, and performers, ranging from local talent to Broadway stars. The show will be emceed by Broadway vet Jamie Karen and stage and recording artist Amy Lynn of Amy Lynn & the Honey Men, who will both also be performing. Other performers include Brian Harris, Jed Ilany, Sophia Rae, Lexy Casano-Antonellis, Kat Gang, the Hastings High School and Middle School choirs, the students of MK Dance, Marla Louissant from the national tour of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Obie-award winner James Jackson Jr., fresh off his starring role in Broadway’s Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning A Strange Loop.  Mayor Nicola Armacost will be opening the event, and performances will be interspersed with local LGBTQIA+ community members sharing their stories.Warburton Avenue will be lined with tables offering free activities, including a giant rainbow slide, face painting, kids’ crafts with Jodi Levine of Supermakeit.com, make-your-own spray paint art with graffiti artist Katie Reidy, a community paper quilt project with the Hastings Library, rainbow bracelet making with the Hastings-on-Hudson PTSA, dance activities with hip hop performers Brianna Luciano and Kiana Davalos, LGBTQIA+ Broadway trivia with Broadway Training Center, and much more. Village restaurants will be out selling dinner as well as Pride-themed specials, from boozy ice pops to rainbow popcorn. Westchester LGBTQIA+ organizations The LOFT, Center Lane, and Pride Works will all be in attendance, and local vendors will be offering rainbow cookie decorating, rainbow hair extensions, Pride flags and swag, and LGBTQIA+ kids’ books, among many other Pride-themed offerings. Plus drag artist Amber Guesa will be working her way through the crowd, ready for selfies, and taking the stage for a special kids’ performance.All are welcome to join us as we celebrate and strengthen Hastings as a community of love and equity!

 

Editor’s Note: The above news release has been republished in its entirety to help support Friday Night Parade in Hastings. It has neither been independently reported or fact checked. All questions should be referred to the sources cited within.