Events

Cornell Researchers Aim to Advance NY Winter-Storm Emergency Response

Published

6 years ago

March 2, 2021

ITHACA, N.Y. – Partnering with community organizations, Cornell University researchers are developing and planning a hyperlocal weather forecasting system designed to improve winter-storm emergency response and enhance natural disaster coordination for New York state’s rural communities.

Max Zhang, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, will lead the federally funded effort this spring.

The work is part of the new Civic Innovation Challenge, an $11 million effort led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The four-month challenge seeks to empower communities to achieve necessary local weather and disaster solutions, so that one day such plans may be scaled up regionally or nationally.

“In case of a winter storm or other kind of natural disaster, there is a suite of actions that must be prioritized,” Zhang said. “As upstate towns usually have a limited budget, we’re tying together technology and actions plans.”

For example: “Information is critical for the highway departments to decide where to send the plows and salt trucks first, and decide the correct priority of actions,” he said. “We aim to develop a transferrable priority-action model for all of New York and then perhaps to the rest of the U.S. through the national cooperative extension network.”

Zhang said his group will be partnering with civic and community partners across New York, attempting several innovations integrating computer vision, numerical weather forecasting and Internet of Things-based sensing packages.

Events

Rockland County Free Fall Festival Returns to West Nyack Oct. 18

Published

20 hours ago

October 14, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

The Historical Society of Rockland County will host its 13th Annual Fall Festival on Sunday, October 18, bringing a day of family activities, live entertainment, historic demonstrations and Revolutionary War reenactments to West Nyack.

Presented in partnership with Heritage of West Nyack and the Town of Clarkstown, the free festival will take place from noon to 4 p.m. at 131 Germonds Road, adjacent to Germonds Park.

The event will offer visitors an opportunity to experience local history, explore traditional crafts and enjoy seasonal activities for all ages.

Revolutionary War History Comes to Life

One of the festival’s featured attractions will be an encampment by Heard’s Brigade of the New Jersey Militia, offering a look at military life during the American Revolutionary War.

Visitors can explore 18th-century tents and watch demonstrations of open-fire cooking, militia drills and musket firing. Revolutionary War skirmish reenactments are scheduled for 1:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The festival will also feature tours of the historic Onderdonk-Tallman-Budke and Vanderbilt-Budke-Traphagen houses, along with a presentation by Clare Sheridan titled “Who Was Naut Kanniff? The Story of the Witch of West Nyack.”

Traditional craft demonstrations will include lacemaking by Mayra Petretti of the Metropolitan Chapter of the International Organization of Lace, Inc., as well as wool and flax spinning demonstrations by Celeste Sherry.

Family Activities and Fall Fun

Families can enjoy a variety of seasonal activities throughout the afternoon, including horse-drawn wagon rides scheduled from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The Horses R Us 4-H Club will offer pumpkin picking, decorating and painting, while Fred DePaul will present sheep-shearing demonstrations at 12:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Children can also take part in colonial-era games presented by Tom Hunt of Waterside Forge. Balloony Toony Entertainment will provide balloon animals, face painting and glitter tattoos.

Additional attractions will include free mini-golf, raffles, craft vendors and demonstrations. A pen-turning workshop hosted by the Hudson Valley Wood Turners will be available for participants ages 12 and older. Reservations are recommended, and interested participants can contact Len Stambler at Lstambler@gmail.com.

Live Music and Entertainment

Music will be part of the afternoon’s festivities, with balladeer Thaddeus MacGregor performing alongside Wee Jim the Limberjack. Additional musical entertainment will feature Scott Staton, Keith Olsen and Pat Keating.

Organizers invite residents and visitors to enjoy an afternoon celebrating Rockland County’s history, heritage and fall traditions.

Event Information

What: 13th Annual Fall Festival
When: Sunday, October 18, 2026, noon to 4 p.m.
Where: Historical Society of Rockland County, 131 Germonds Road, West Nyack, adjacent to Germonds Park
Admission: Free
Workshop reservations: Contact Len Stambler at Lstambler@gmail.com for the pen-turning workshop.

With Revolutionary War reenactments, historic house tours, traditional crafts, live music and family-friendly fall activities, the festival will offer visitors a chance to experience local history while celebrating the season.

Events

Spirit of Sobro Returns October 2 for 5th Annual Celebration

Published

2 weeks ago

September 30, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

Celebrating its fifth year, this popular community event is getting bigger, with the festivities expanding to a second block this year.

The event will stretch from Depew to the gas station, creating additional space for vendors and entertainment. Organizers say 45 vendors are expected, along with street performers, circus sideshows, live music, a DJ, drumming and more throughout the event.

One tradition will remain in place: the Tarot salon inside Modern Druid, which will be open throughout the evening.

Organizers are encouraging the community to come out, support local vendors and performers, and help make this year’s celebration the biggest and most fun yet.

Bring your friends, spread the word and come enjoy an evening of music, entertainment, shopping and community.