What’s going on in Rockland County from Thursday, January 8th – Wednesday, January 14th
Email gillian@rocklandcountytimes.com with events!
Orangetown
NYACK: Elmwood Playhouse, Perfect Arrangement
January 16th
Elmwood Playhouse presents, Perfect Arrangement. The show will be performed from January 16 – February 7, 2026. Written by Topher Payne and directed by Paul Russo. The façade of two couples comedically unravel amid government scrutiny. Tickets on sale!
This event will take place
January 16th from 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Learn more elmwoodplayhouse.com/show/perfect-arrangement/ or call (845) 353-1313 for more information. Elmwood Playhouse, 10 Park Street, Nyack, NY 10960 United States
NYACK: The Nyack Center, It Was Just An Accident
January 14th
Rivertown Film presents, It Was Just An Accident. Directed by Jafar Panahi. Winner of the Palm d’Or at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, and the first film by Jafar Panahi since his most recent imprisonment in Iran, It Was Just An Accident is a moral dilemma of a man who has a random encounter with someone he suspects was his torturer while in prison. To decide what action to take, if any, he contacts others who were tortured, possibly by the same man. What begins as a minor accident sets in motion a series of escalating consequences, and questions are raised about the way that tyrannical rule corrupts a society. Special Discussion Post-Film: Stay for a discussion via Zoom with cinematographer Amin Jafari. Tickets on sale!
This event will take place January 14th from 8:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. Learn more at rivertownfilm.org or call (845) 358-2600 for more information. The Nyack Center, 58 Depew Avenue, Nyack, NY 10960
Ramapo
SUFFERN: Lafayette Theatre, Classic Movies at Lafayette Theatre – 2026 Season Opens!
January 9th-11th
Attention movie lovers! The 2026 Classic Movie Series Returns to the Lafayette Theatre! January-March! This year’s line-up features such classics as All The Presidents Men, A Streetcar Named Desire, Dirty Harry, The Wizard of Oz, When Harry Met Sally & Misery in honor of the late director Rob Reiner, and so many more! From January 9th – 11th, Labyrinth (Fathom Event) will be playing. Tickets on sale!
Tickets are $10 and can be bought online or in person. All The Presidents Men will play January 18th at 1 p.m, and 4pm. Learn more at lafayettetheatre.ticketspice.com or call (845) 547-2120 for assistance. Lafayette Theater, 97 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, New York
Haverstraw
GARNERVILLE: Hudson’s Mill, Latin Night at Hudson’s Mill
January 16th
Get ready to dance the night away—Latin Night is back at Hudson’s Mill! Featuring DJ Diaz spinning the hottest Latin beats: salsa, reggaeton, merengue, bachata, and more. Bring your energy, your best dance moves, and your friends for a night full of rhythm, flavor, and fun. Dinner & late-night bites available. Experience the heart of the Hudson Valley with the heat of Latin Night—don’t miss it!
Registration is required to attend. Call 845-429-5700 for reservations. This event will begin on January 19th from 9:00 p.m. Learn more at hudsonsmillny.com or call 845-429-5700 for assistance. 55 W Railroad Ave Bldg 19, Garnerville, NY 10923
Clarkstown
WEST NYACK: Palisades Center, National Skating Month Event
January 17th
Celebrate National Skating Month this January at the Palisades Center Ice Rink! Enjoy a month filled with fun activities for skaters of all levels! Don’t miss the National Skating Month Special Event: Featuring a DJ Skate Party! Whether you’re learning to skate, enjoying time with family, or looking for a unique way to stay active, the Palisades Center Ice Rink is the perfect destination. Don’t miss this opportunity to lace up your skates and join the fun!
Please call 845-232-1028 to make a reservation to attend this event. Visit palisadescenter.com/event/national-skating-month-event/ for more informaiton. Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994
WEST NACK: Palisades Center, Levity Live, Anthony Rodia
January 16th – 18th
ANTHONY RODIA is a first generation Italian Comedian born and raised in Westchester NY. He has always had a way of turning any situation into comedy! Using Social Media as his platform, Anthony has exploded onto the Comedy scene out of nowhere, making quite a name for himself and building a large fan base. He is known for his hilarious skits, song parodies, And his weekly “Road Rage Wednesday” using his popular character “Uncle Vinny.” He is an energetic, theatrical, off the wall comedian who never holds back and always finds a way to relate to his audience. With his stories, accents and unique delivery, he is sure to have you falling out of your seat with laughter! His videos have been viewed over 10 million times on Social Media.
Tickets can be purchased online at levitylive.com This event will take place at January 16th – 18th. Call 845-729-0448 for assistance. 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, NY 10994
Stony Point
TOMPKINS COVE: Bear Mountain, Bear Mountain Ice Rink
January 16th
The Bear Mountain Ice Rink is open for the 2025-26 season! Nov. 21, 2025-March 1, 2026. As the holiday season approaches, the Palisades Interstate Park Commission welcomes all to the rink voted “Best of the Hudson Valley 2020-2024!” The beautiful outdoor rink is nestled against Bear Mountain with views of the Hudson River and the picturesque Bear Mountain Bridge, and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Open Friday-Sunday. Featuring public skating, private lessons, skate rentals and more!
This event will take place till March 1st from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Learn more at visitbearmountain.com or call 845-786-2731 for more information. 99 Service Rd Tomkins Cove, NY 10986
Library Section
Orangetown
TAPPAN: Tappan Library, Winter Ice Rink
January 16th
Build a snowy ice rink for mini ice skaters–without getting cold!
Registration is required. This event will take place January 16th from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Learn more at southorangetownlibraries.com or call 845-359-3877 for assistance. 93 Main St., Tappan, NY 10983
NYACK: Nyack Library, Nature, Art, and Service as Medicine with Journalist Julia Hotz
January 20th
Be sure to jump start your new year with us as we chat with journalist and author Julia Hotz about her book The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging.
The Connection Cure combines diligent science reporting, moving patient success stories, and surprising self-discovery to help us discover the lasting and life-changing power of social prescribing. at matters to you?” Science shows that social prescribing is effective for treating symptoms of the modern world’s most common ailments—depression, ADHD, addiction, trauma, anxiety, chronic pain, dementia, diabetes, and loneliness. By integrating age-old medicines like art, nature, movement, and volunteer service into patient’s daily lives, social prescriptions are radically changing health and healthcare in more than thirty countries. Julia Hotz travels around the world to survey them —sea-swimming lessons for depression, “culture vitamins” for anxiety, a fishing club for ADHD, a farm-based day-care for dementia, a phone-buddy program for social isolation, and many more. Register today to find out how you can use the wisdom of social prescribing to live your best life!
Registration is required. This virtual event will take place January 20th from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Learn more at nyacklibray.org or call 845-358-3370 for more information. 59 S Broadway, Nyack, NY 10960
PEARL RIVER: Pearl River Library,
Lifelong Learning – Culture Club – Surrealism: What’s Up With That?
January 15th
When the dust began to settle after WWI, a group of shellshocked young artists, writers and thinkers decided to stop making sense. The logic and reason of the status quo had nearly done in their generation. Now it was time to let loose the wonderment of the subconscious, to act on impulse, to overturn the apple cart. We’ll look, listen and talk about this very surprising, arresting and transformative ism of the art world.
Registration is required. This event will take place on January 15th from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Learn more at pearlriverlibrary.libcal.com or call 845-735-4084 for assistance. 75 E Central Ave, Pearl River, NY 10965
ORANGEBURG: Orangeburg Library, Teen Snowy Mountain Corkboards
January 21st
Craft a cork board giving mountain vibes and tiny goat pushpins to match. Functional & fun! This program is for Grades 6-12 only.
Registration is required for this event. This event will take place January 21st from 4:00 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Learn more at orangeburglibrary.org or call (845) 359-2244 for more information. 20 S Greenbush Rd, Orangeburg, NY 10962
Ramapo
SUFFERN: Suffern Free Library, Memory Lane: Making MLK’s Dream a Reality
January 17th
Join us for a powerful Memory Lane celebrating unity and racial equality through the iconic soundtrack of American history. Featuring unforgettable performances of classics from James Brown, The O’Jays, The Impressions, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and many more. Experience how Motown, Folk, and Rock & Roll artists—from Diana Ross to Elvis and Richie Havens—used music to bridge divides and address social change. Jeff Sherer will present audios and visuals. All are welcome. Registration is recommended.
In the event of inclement weather, call the Library at (845) 357-1237 before heading out.
Registration is not required. This event will take place January 17th from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. . Learn more at suffernfreelibrary.libcal.com or call 845-357-1237 for assistance. 210 Lafayette Ave, Suffern, NY 10901
Haverstraw
HAVERSTRAW: Haverstraw King’s Library, Indoor S’mores
January 20th
Teens! Let’s forget the cold and pretend it’s Summer with S’mores! Taste your way through s’more fixins and find out which are your favorites. For grades 7-12.
Registration is required. This event will take place January 20th from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Learn more at attend.finkelsteinlibrary.org or call 845-786-3800 for assistance. 10 West Ramapo Rd., Garnerville, NY 10923
Clarkstown
NANUET: Nanuet Public Library, Rock City
January 17th
Join teachers from Nanuet’s Bach to Rock for fun activities like sing-alongs, story time, and instrument exploration.
Registration is required. Walk-ins will be welcome in programs if space allows. This event will take place from January 17th from 10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Learn more at nanuet.librarycalendar.com or call 845-623-4281 for assistance. 149 Church Street Nanuet, NY 10954
Stony Point
STONY POINT: Rose Memorial Library,
Resin Earrings
January 14th
Join us to create a pair of resin earrings. We will have different colors to play with, as well as metallic leaf foils. You can also choose to bring small trinkets, beads or dried flowers if you want to embed them…
Registration is required online. If you require assistance registering, call 845-786-2100, ext. 11. If you cannot make it, please cancel at your earliest convenience. This event will take place January 14th from 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Learn more at rmla-ny.whofi..com or call 845-786-2100 for more information. Garnerville Arts Center55 W Raolroad Ave, Garnerville , NY 10923
Town of Clarkstown Introduces MyClarkstown App
The Town Of Clarkstown is always aspiring be a government of action for all residents. One of the best ways to ensure responsiveness to concerns in our community is through your participation. You can always make use of the Town’s innovative resources and instantly report any issues through the MyClarkstown App.
From potholes and broken streetlights to code violations and illegal housing, the MyClarkstown App allows you to communicate with you local town government about any day-to-day municipal problems and see them solved in a timely manner. You can download MyClarkstown from the App Store.
The app also features tabs with a town calendar, places, including shopping, parks, schools, and libraries, and elected officials.
In a time where digitized information has taken the forefront, it is interesting to see how local governments adapt to remain connected to residents.
Bridge Club Seeking Members!
New Bridgers Club seeking members! They gather every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Reform Temple of Rockland, 330 North Highland Avenue in Upper Nyack. If interested, please reach out Ann Singer by phone at 845-323-8820 or email at gplcady326@gmail.com. If you do not have a partner Ann will find one for you.
Tappan Zee Senior Club Fun!
The RCT would like to extend their gratitude to the Tappan Zee Senior Club for inviting us to speak to their members this past Tuesday.
Sierra Lidén, Managing Editor, described the intricate process of putting together the RCT weekly, as well as the several substantial changes we’ve added this past year.
As Community Editor, connecting with our readers is the best and most important part of the job.
We were excited to receive such constructive feedback and recommendations from the group and are looking forward to implementing many of them.
Thank you, Tappan Zee Senior Club, for your hospitality and the exciting anecdotes.
If you would like for us to come speak at your senior club, please reach out to gillian@rocklandcountytimes.com or editor@rocklandcountytimes.com. Some of our favorite updates and additions have come from these events.
Mourning Lt. John Hickey
John Edward Hickey Jr., age 66, passed away on January 2, 2026.
Born on July 27, 1959, in Suffern, NY, John was the son of Helen and John Hickey Sr. He spent most of his life in West Haverstraw before later residing in Stony Point with the love of his life of 44 years, Dee.
John lived a full and energetic life defined by hard work, humor, and a deep commitment to his family and community. A true jack of all trades, his career reflected both versatility and an unwavering work ethic. Over the years, John worked at Letchworth Village, helped paint the Tappan Zee Bridge, drove a cement truck for Keahon Brothers, worked for Abby Ice, served as a school bus driver, and was a golf course ranger at West Point. He also co-owned PJ’s Deli with a close friend and was the inventor of the Display-a-Cap.
John dedicated much of his professional life to public service and law enforcement, answering a lifelong call to protect and serve his community. He began his career as a part-time police officer with the Village of Haverstraw and the Town of Ramapo while simultaneously working full-time with Rockland County Corrections. John later joined the Town of Haverstraw Police Department as a full-time officer, where he proudly served for 29 years, rising through the ranks to Lieutenant. During his tenure, he also served as a D.A.R.E. officer in the North Rockland Central School District. Even in retirement, John continued to serve as Deputy Chief of the Town of Highlands Police Department.
Athletics were a lifelong passion for John. He was an avid golfer, continued playing flag football well into his 50s, and was a diehard New York Jets and Mets fan. A regular at the gym who loved lifting, he took great pride in staying strong and active. He also devoted countless hours to coaching youth sports, including Haverstraw Little League, St. Peter’s CYO basketball, and North Rockland Pop Warner football, leaving a lasting impact on generations of young athletes. Most recently, he served as an assistant varsity football coach at North Rockland High School from 2021 to 2025.
Above all else, John was a devoted family man. He was a loving and supportive husband, an exceptional father, and the biggest fan of his children and grandchildren, proud of each of them and all they accomplished. Those who knew him will remember his easygoing nature, his love of being outdoors in the sun, and his incredible sense of humor.
John is survived by Dee, the love of his life, whom he married in 1981. He was a proud father to Johnny (Lauren), James (Amanda), Justin (Stephanie), and Bela (John), and an adoring grandfather to Justin Jr., Falon, Sawyer, Benjamin, Jack, and Hayden, each of whom brought him immense joy and pride. He is also survived by his sisters, Peggy Hickey (Linda) and Tammy Bitts (Jimmy); his brother-in-law, Fred Ricker (Aimee); mother-in-law Judy Ricker; and many cherished nieces and nephews whom he loved deeply. He is further remembered by extended family members and countless friends whose lives he touched in meaningful and lasting ways.
Visitation services will be held at T.J. McGowan Sons Funeral Home in Garnerville on Sunday, January 11, from 2:00–6:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, January 12, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Peter’s Church in Haverstraw.
In lieu of flowers, a John Hickey Memorial Scholarship Fund will be established for students of North Rockland High School.
Spotlight on Rockland Theater
Misery
Written by William Goldman
Based on the novel by Stephen King
Antrim Playhouse
Running February 6th- 22nd
Experience the gripping intensity of Misery, the thrilling stage play adaptation of Stephen King’s iconic novel. Follow the chilling tale of renowned author Paul Sheldon, who finds himself trapped and at the mercy of his obsessive fan Annie Wilkes after a tragic car accident. As the tension mounts and secrets unravel, witness a battle of wills like no other, culminating in a riveting showdown that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Go to antrimplayhouse.com or call (845) 533-5616 for more information.
32 Old Tappan Rd, Tappan, NY 10983
Perfect Arrangement
Written by Topher Payne
Directed by Paul Russo
Elmwood Playhouse
Running January 16th – February 7th
Set in the 1950s, this comedic play follows two gay couples, Bob and Jim, and their respective “wives,” Millie and Norma, who work in the U.S. State Department. To avoid persecution during the Lavender Scare, they maintain a carefully constructed façade of heterosexual marriage. Their charade unravels when they are assigned to identify “sexual deviants” within their ranks, forcing them to confront their identities and the fragility of their so-called perfect arrangement.
Go to elmwoodhouse.com or call (845) 353-1313 for more information.
10 Park Street Nyack NY 10960
Seeking Volunteers at Elmwood Playhouse!
Elmwood Playhouse is looking for friendly, reliable volunteers to join our Hospitality Team — helping to sell coffee, tea, and light refreshments before performances and during intermissions of our upcoming production of Perfect Arrangement.
It’s a simple, enjoyable way to be part of the excitement, meet fellow theatre lovers, and help create a warm, welcoming atmosphere for our patrons. No special experience is needed — just a smile and a helping hand!
Here is a list of slots we currently have available:
Friday, January 16 (7:00 PM report time)
Saturday, January 17 (7:00 PM report time)
Sunday, January 18 (1:00 PM report time)
Friday, January 23 (7:00 PM report time)
Saturday, January 24 (7:00 PM report time)
Sunday, January 25 (1:00 PM report time)
Friday, January 30 (7:00 PM report time)
Saturday, January 31 (7:00 PM report time)
Sunday, February 1 (1:00 PM report time)
Thursday, February 5 (7:00 PM report time)
Friday, February 6 (7:00 PM report time)
Saturday, February 7 (7:00 PM report time)
If you’d like to volunteer or learn more, please reach out to Nancy Logan, Hospitality Chairperson, at hospitality@elmwoodplayhouse.com.
Maureen’s Jazz Cellar!
FROSTY TUESDAYS OPEN MIC – JAN 13
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
DOORS & SIGN-UP @7:00
SHOWTIMES @8:00
COVER CHARGE- $5 (People seated must order food or drink- $10 minimum)
DEAD NIGHT WITH NICK DUNBAR AND SAD COWBOY – JAN 15
Featuring Nick Dunbar, Sean Ronan, Eric Cohen, Dave Lockhart & Cory Metrick
DOORS @7:00
SHOWTIME @8:00
COVER CHARGE- $15.00
CD RELEASE PARTY – JAN 16
Featuring Vinnie Cutro, Erick Storckman, Andrew Beals, Brad Hubbard, Neil ”Nail” Alexander, Charlie Dougherty, Nadav Snir-Zelniker, & Joel Newton
DOORS- @7:00
SHOWTIME- @8:00
COVER CHARGE- $30.00
PETER FURLAN CD RELEASE PARTY – JAN 17
Featuring Vinnie Cutro, Erick Storckman, Andrew Beals, Brad Hubbard, Neil ”Nail” Alexander, Charlie Dougherty, Nadav Snir-Zelniker, & Joel Newton
DOORS- @7:00
SHOWTIME- @8:00
COVER CHARGE- $30.00
LATE NIGHT PIANO BAR WITH THE BUDMAN – JAN 17
DOORS @9:45
SHOWTIMES @10:00
NO COVER CHARGE
FROSTY TUESDAYS OPEN MIC – JAN 20
DOORS & SIGN-UP @7:00
SHOWTIMES @8:00
COVER CHARGE- $5 (People seated must order food or drink- $10 minimum)
On the Big Screen
Avatar: Fire and Ash – Action / Fantasy
The conflict on Pandora escalates as Jake and Neytiri’s family encounter a new, aggressive Na’vi tribe.
Is This Thing On? – Drama/ Comedy
Facing middle age and an impending divorce, Alex finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene, while his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices she made for their family.
I Was a Stranger – Drama
Tragedy strikes a Syrian family in Aleppo, starting a chain reaction of events involving five different families in four different countries.
Greenland 2: Migration – Action/ Thriller
In the aftermath of a comet strike that decimated most of the planet, the Garrity family must leave the safety of their Greenland bunker to traverse a shattered world in search of a new home.
Town Meetings
Orangetown – January 20th, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.
Town Board Regular Meeting
More information at orangetown.com
26 Orangeburg Road
Orangeburg, NY 10962
Ramapo – January 21st, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.
Town Board Regular Meeting
More information at ramapo.org
237 Route 59,
Suffern, NY 1090
Stony Point – January 13th, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.
Town Board Regular Meeting
More information at townofstonypoint.org
19 Club House Lane
Stony Point, NY 10980
Clarkstown – January 20th, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.
Town Board Regular Meeting
More information at clarkstown.org
10 Maple Ave.
New City, NY 10956
Haverstraw – January 13th, 2026 @ 7:00 p.m.
Town Board Regular Meeting
More information at townofhaverstraw.org
1 Rosman Road
Garnerville, NY 10923
Streaming Favs
The Housemaid – Thriller/ Mystery
on YouTube
Hoping for a fresh start, a young woman becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy couple who harbour sinister secrets.
The Pitt – Medical Drama
on HBO Max
A realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Last Thing He Told Me – Thriller
on Apple TV
Hannah must forge a relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter, Bailey, to find the truth behind why her husband has mysteriously disappeared.
The Hunting Party – Procedural Drama
on NBC
After a secret prison hidden underneath the Wyoming countryside suffers an unexpected explosion, the nation’s worst serial killers are once again at large.
Pluribus – Drama
on Apple TV
The most miserable person on Earth must save the world from happiness.
Upcoming Events at Big Red Books
Big Red Books is a general interest bookstore. We aim to be at the center of the Nyack community in an enriching social and artistic environment, engaging in the lives of our local patrons and organizations by sharing our appreciation for books, art, learning and personal growth. Big Red Books provides a supportive space for local authors and artists to celebrate and promote their work. We host author readings, gallery openings, live music, poetry nights, book clubs, writing workshops, children’s story time, school visits and book fairs. Find a full list of events at bigredbooks.net. 120 Main Street Nyack, NY 10960
Wednesday Jan 14th, 2026 at 6:30 pm
An Evening of Poetry with Iain Haley Pollock & Carey Salerno
Iain Haley Pollock is the author of three poetry collections, Spit Back a Boy (2011), Ghost, Like a Place, and the forthcoming All the Possible Bodies (Alice James, September 2025). He has received several honors for his work including the Cave Canem Poetry Prize, the Alice Fay di Castagnola Award from the Poetry Society of America, a NYSCA/NYFA Artist Fellowship in Poetry, the Bim Ramke Prize for Poetry, and a nomination for an NAACP Image Award. He serves as Director of the MFA Program in Creative Writing at Manhattanville University in Purchase, NY.
Carey Salerno serves as the executive director & publisher of Alice James Books where she has been dedicated to broadening the spectrum of the American poetic voice since 2008. She is the author of The Hungriest Stars (2025), Tributary (2021), Shelter (2009), and a co-editor of Lit From Inside: 40 Years of Poetry from Alice James Books (2013). She serves as co-chair for LitNet: The Literary Network and teaches publishing arts and poetry writing for the University of Maine at Farmington. Salerno is a frequent guest of writing programs, conferences, and festivals, where she conducts consultations and delivers talks on publishing arts, editing, poetry, manuscript compilation, and other topics. You may find her essays, poems–and articles and interviews regarding her literary and publishing work–in print and online, including in NPR, Poets & Writers, and American Poetry Review.
Wednesday Jan 21st, 2026 at 6:30 pm
Jewish Voices Series: Sam Sussman In Conversation with Ross Benjamin
Sam Sussman grew up in the Hudson Valley. He graduated with a BA from Swarthmore College and an MPhil from the University of Oxford and has lived in Berlin and Jerusalem. His writing has been recognized by BAFTA and published in Harper’s Magazine. Sam has taught writing seminars in India, Chile, and England and participated in the PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature. He lives in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan and his native Hudson Valley.
Ross Benjamin is a translator of German-language literature. He received a Guggenheim Fellowship for his translation of Franz Kafka’s Diaries, and he was awarded the Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize for his rendering of Michael Maar’s Speak, Nabokov. His translation of Daniel Kehlmann’s Tyll was shortlisted for the 2020 International Booker Prize. His other translations include Friedrich Hölderlin’s Hyperion, Joseph Roth’s Job, and Daniel Kehlmann’s You Should Have Left and The Director.
Upcoming Events at Sparkle Bookstore
The Sparkle Bookstore, a new independent bookshop at 642 Main St., Sparkill, NY, 10976, will be hosting several community events in the next few weeks of the fall. This release highlights upcoming November events. See the full schedule at https://sparklebooks.store/events.
Thursday January 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Wheeltown with Kathy Good
Join us in the Snack Bar for some cozy (well, maybe sometimes slightly disturbing) winter vibes as Kathy reads and performs from her work in progress, Wheeltown.
Friday January 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Board Game Night with Banditos Gaming
Join us for an evening of tabletop fun at Sparkle Bookstore, hosted by Banditos Gaming! Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or a total beginner, you’re welcome at the table. We’ll have a curated library of games available and folks on hand to teach rules, facilitate play, and match players with games that suit their interests. No experience necessary, just bring your curiosity and a willingness to play.
Saturday January 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Reading with Michael Swanwick
Mischling the thief races through time to defeat three trolls before the sun rises for the first time and turns the inhabitants of her city into stone . . . A scientist is on the run from assassins because her research in merging human intelligence with sentient AI is too dangerous . . . An aging veteran obtains a military weapon from his past: a VR robotic leopard, through which he rediscovers the consequences of the hunt . . . In the biggest heist in the history of the universe, a loser Trickster (and the girlfriend who is better than he deserves) sets out to violate every trope and expectation of action possible.
Discover the vast worlds and pocket universes of Michael Swanwick, the only author to win science fiction’s most prestigious award, the Hugo, five times in six years.
Michael Swanwick is one of the most acclaimed science fiction and fantasy short-story writers of his generation. In addition to the serial Hugos, he has won the British Science Fiction and World Fantasy Awards. Swanwick’s stories have appeared in original collections (Gravity’s Angels, Tales of Old Earth, and “Not So Much,” Said the Cat) and in anthologies and magazines including OMNI, Penthouse, Amazing, Asimov’s Science Fiction, and New Dimensions. His work has also been translated into more than ten languages. He lives in Pennsylvania.
Purchase books in advance here or in-store on the day of the event.
Sunday January 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Interactive Reading with Author Victoria Oltarsh
Join award-winning children’s book author Victoria Oltarsh for a reading from her middle-grade fantasy novel The Boy and the Secret of the Stars! In an interactive reading, children are invited to participate in the story with props and costumes that the author will provide — or to just sit and listen, let the stars be in your eyes! Victoria has been affectionately called the “fairy godmother of storytelling” for the magical experience she brings to her readings.
Recommended for readers and lovers of stories and the stars aged 5 to 12.
Victoria is a professional drama and playwriting teacher and theatrical director. The Boy and the Secret of the Stars won the award for Children’s Sci-Fi Fiction in the BookFest Book Awards 2025.
Rockland Lake’s Icy Past and Future
with Timothy Englert
Timothy Englert, founder of Rockland County’s Knickerbocker Ice Festival, will share stories about Rockland Lakes illustrious past as the ice box of New York City and how it became world famous a century before it became a state park.
With the festival returning in 2026 on the weekend of January 24-25, he will share how he and the late Robert Patalano created the ice festival that thrilled thousands from 2007 to 2013 with huge ice sculptures along the banks of the Rockland Lake.
Timothy Englert is the creator of the Knickerbocker Ice Festival at Rockland Lake, as well as The Knickerbocker Bench, a modern interpretation of the venerable log bench, which can be found along trails and in parks throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond. He was a development executive for the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) and a documentary filmmaker with a career spanning two decades. His favorite films are the many shorts he made about the PIPC’s illustrious history.
This event will take place January 11 at 1 pm sharp at Lower-level Community Room, HSRC History Center, 20 Zukor Road, New City, NY 10956.
Giving Back in Rockland
Food Bins
The County of Rockland, and the Towns of Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown, Ramapo and Stony Point also launched a countywide food drive. Please only donate nonperishable, unopened, and non expired items. Donation bins are available at the following locations:
Robert L. Yeager Health Center Building A Lobby
50 Sanatorium Road, Pomona
Allison-Parris County Office Building
11 New Hempstead Rd., New City
Clarkstown Town Hall
10 Maple Ave, New City, 2nd Floor Lobby
Haverstraw Town Hall
1 Rosman Road, Garnerville
Orangetown Town Hall
26 W. Orangeburg Rd., Orangeburg
Ramapo Town Hall
237 Route 59, Suffern/Airmont
Stony Point Town Hall
74 East Main Street, Stony Point
Rockland Community Against Hunger (RCAH)
Louis Kurtz Civic Center, 9 N. Main Street, Spring Valley
17 West Board Street, West Haverstraw
Nyack Food Cupboard
16 Jefferson St, Nyack
Catholic Charities Community
Services of Rockland
78 Hudson Ave, Haverstraw
Clover Stadium
1 Phil Tisi Way, Pomona
Clothes Bins
Going through your closet? As the weather gets colder, donate your old coats and jackets to those who are in need. Let’s give back to our neighbors as the holiday season nears.
Helping Hands for the Homeless of Rockland
Darden Center, Spring Valley, NY 10977
Nanuet Donation Box
Nanuet Mall S, Nanuet
People to People
121 W Nyack Rd STE 1, Nanuet
To make a monetary donation:
https://uwrc.org/food/
Sign up to volunteer:
https://www.rocklandhunger.org/get-involved/rocklandhunger.org/get-involved/
Food Drive Helping Neighbors in Need
Thank you to all the generous residents who donated to the recent food drive helping People to People Feeding Rockland’s Hungry. Your kindness to help neighbors in need truly makes a difference in our Town. Clarkstown DEFM staff helped deliver all the donations. Rockland is grateful for a caring community.
To donate food or clothes, read above to make a real difference in Rockland.
Boy Scouts Salute
At the Reorganization Meeting of Orangetown, Boy Scout Troop 55 and Cub Scout Pack 55 presented The Colors and led the audience alongside US Navy Veteran, John Gray, in saying the pledge of Allegiance. Thank you boys for your service in our community on this special occasion.
Community News 1.8.2026 added by Gillian DeStefano on
View all posts by Gillian DeStefano →
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