Blue Rock School Celebrates Silver Anniversary with “Historic Palisades-Snedens Landing House Tour” Sponsored by Weld Realty

BY CAROLYN JOHNSON

West Nyack’s Blue Rock School is commemorating its 25th year by returning to its original home in Palisades for one day, Saturday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Blue Rock School and Weld Realty invite guests to take a walk back in time in the historic riverside community of Snedens Landing to tour the Caroline Heider House, the Adams ‘Block’ House and the Henry Dobbs House, among others.

This self-guided tour offers a rare opportunity to see some very historically significant and stately homes and gardens in this secluded enclave. The tour will culminate with a festive reception from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Blue Rock’s first home, the Palisades School House, now known as the Palisades Community Center. Before relocating to its current 4.5-acre campus in West Nyack in 1990, Blue Rock School was in residence at this historic, one-room schoolhouse built in 1870 on Oak Tree Road.

“In addition to being the school’s twenty-fifth anniversary, it also happens to be the year of our fifth biennial house tour, and it seemed befitting to hold it in the Palisades. We have an impressive selection of charming, historic homes where river views and lovely gardens abound. It will be a simply delightful day and the quintessential Mother’s Day gift,” states Blue Rock School House Tour Committee member, Beth Norman. Weld Realty’s Laura Weintraub notes, “As a Blue Rock parent, the idea of being able to use my skills as a realtor to help promote the Blue Rock house tour is wonderful. For me, it is the perfect opportunity to combine my interest in real estate and support Blue Rock at the same time.”

Tickets are $35 in advance and available at www.bluerockschool.org, and $40 the day of the tour at two locations− The House Tour Hospitality Center located in Upper Nyack at 7 Tompkins Court, and also at the Palisades Community Center at 675 Oak Tree Road, in Palisades, NY. Admission to the reception is included in the ticket price and will include wine and hors d’oeuvres. The reception will showcase Blue Rock School student artwork and a 25th Anniversary photo retrospective.

The House Tour Hospitality Center in Upper Nyack is a spectacular Mediterranean-style mansion with commanding views of the Hudson River where House Tour guests can start the Tour; pick up their program guide and map, as well as a free cup of coffee and pastry, compliments of the Art Café in Nyack.

Free parking and complimentary shuttle service to Snedens Landing will be available across the street from the Palisades Community Center on Oak Tree Road in Palisades at the Fred S. Keller School, which guests are highly encouraged to take advantage of as parking at Snedens Landing is very limited. Event is rain or shine, and all proceeds from the House Tour will go to Blue Rock School’s Scholarship Fund. The event typically has a number of sponsors. This year, Sabrina Feldman of Weld Realty (Nyack, Chestnut Ridge) generously offered to sponsor the event.

Blue Rock School is a progressive, independent day school serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade, and is located on a beautiful, four-acre, wooded campus in West Nyack, NY. The school was founded in 1987 with the purpose of providing a rich educational experience based on a child-centered and hands-on approach that nurtures children’s innate love of learning, allows them to follow their own natural curiosity, develop as independent thinkers and grow in a dynamic learning community.

At Blue Rock School, class sizes are small and students engage in a challenging academic curriculum that is balanced and fully integrated with the arts, nature and play. Blue Rock School also offers a six-week Summer Play Program that is open to the community. For more information call 845-627-0234 or visit Blue Rock School at www.bluerockschool.org. Weld Realty is located in Nyack, www.weldrealty.com

  Blue Rock School, palisades, rockland county