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Rockland County High School Student Creates Initiative To Help Protect The Environment And Shares It Locally And Throughout The World

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1 year ago

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Madeline Abrams, a high school junior at Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, has created an initiative to capture rain water using discarded plastic water bottles through an irrigation system she developed for vegetable gardens, farms and landscapes.

During the past year, Madeline has presented her rain harvesting system virtually through Rotary Clubs to 45 communities in the Tri-State area, California, the Southwest and also to countries in Africa including Uganda, Namibia, Lesotho, Angola and South Africa. Through those presentations, she’s adapted her invention to the needs of the local area. Interestingly on one of the calls with a Rotary Club in Lesotho, she learned that porcupines eat plastic bottles which led to an adjustment in her plans for connecting rain barrels to hold the captured water. Her rain harvest system was published in an article in an international Rotary magazine that covers the country of Uganda.

Last month in recognition of Earth Day, Madeline gave a Zoom presentation supported by public libraries in New York, New Jersey, Boston, Hartford, Palo Alto and San Francisco making her Earth Day program available to their patrons. The attendees engaged in a discussion following the presentation regarding ways to bring Madeline’s invention to their communities. 

On a recent call with a college professor who leads service trips to El Salvador, Madeline learned that plastic water bottles are regularly burned with other garbage releasing toxic fumes in the process. Madeline’s invention helps with water conservation and also helps to reduce the negative environmental impact that can occur from burning plastic. 

Madeline’s goal is to share her rain harvest system with as many communities as possible and to help increase awareness about plastic waste, water conservation and a unique way to repurpose plastic water bottles.  

Madeline has created her Harvest Every Drop website (http://harvesteverydrop.com Madeline is an impressive young woman with a strong sense of service and a desire to make an impact in the world.

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North Rockland HS Senior Analyse Veras Awarded Prestigious NROTC Scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

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1 week ago

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May 30, 2025

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THIELLS, NY – Analyse Veras, a standout senior at North Rockland High School and Cadet Lieutenant Commander in the school’s NJROTC program, has been awarded the highly competitive Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Scholarship, covering 100% of college tuition, room and board, textbooks, uniforms, and more at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).

Following her graduation from RPI, Analyse will serve a minimum of five years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy, furthering her dedication to leadership and national service.

Out of thousands of applicants nationwide, only 20–30% are selected for the NROTC Scholarship, making this a remarkable achievement. Analyse stood out among the elite for her academic excellence, strong moral character, and exceptional leadership potential developed through years of NJROTC training and community involvement.

This milestone not only highlights Analyse’s personal achievements, but also reflects the strength and excellence of North Rockland’s NJROTC program, which continues to develop future leaders with a commitment to service, discipline, and integrity.

Photo by North Rockland Central School District.

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Pearl River Public Library Appoints Nancy Aravecz Shah Director, Meet-and-Greet Scheduled for June 10

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May 29, 2025

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PEARL RIVER, NY – The Pearl River Public Library (PRPL) invites local residents to meet its newly appointed director, Nancy Aravecz Shah, during a special Meet-and-Greet event on Tuesday, June 10. The community is welcome to stop by for light refreshments and conversation anytime during the two-hour window between 4p.m. and 6 p.m. The library is located at 75 East Central Avenue in Pearl River.

A distinguished librarian and library director, Ms. Shah has spent several years in the public library environment and higher education and joins PRPL from the Florham Park Public Library in Morris County, New Jersey where she served as Director. After a
comprehensive regional search to find a leader with the experience and vision necessary to propel the library forward, the Pearl River Public Library Board of Trustees unanimously approved her appointment on April 28.

In her most recent leadership position in Florham Park, Ms. Shah was instrumental in building partnerships with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations and local businesses to support and enhance library services. She also led the planning and
preparation for a major renovation project, ensuring both materials and staff were ready for the transformation.

Previously, Ms. Shah served for nearly six years as a Senior Librarian at the New York Public Library – Jefferson Branch in Manhattan.

Ms. Shah holds a Master of Library and Information Science from Kent State University, a Master of Arts in English Language and Literature from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts in English, cum laude, from Wagner College with a minor in History.

“The Pearl River Public Library is an absolutely amazing community resource,” said Shah. “I am so impressed by the many offerings it provides. Just seeing all that this library team is able to achieve from its temporary space has been inspiring.”

With a strong commitment to access, education and preservation, Ms. Shah brings valuable expertise that will greatly benefit the library and the community it serves.

Said Shah, “I feel honored to have been chosen to lead the Pearl River Public Library as it embarks on the next phase of its renewal project. I can’t wait to see this institution realize its fullest potential in its new space. I am looking forward to getting to know this community and the PRPL team. I’m ready to dig in and get to work.”

Ms. Shah succeeds Interim Director Edward Falcone.

With more than 10,000 active cardholders, the Pearl River Public Library provides equal access for all to vast educational, cultural, literary, historical and digital resources.

Photo by Pearl River Public Library.

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