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Historical Society of Rockland Count To Present Historic Preservation Merit Awards; Will Recognize County For Land/Historic House Acquisition
The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) will present the 32nd Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards on. May 18th at HSRC’s historic Jacob Blauvelt Homestead in New City.
These awards are presented in recognition of outstanding historic preservation efforts in Rockland County. May is also National Preservation Month.
The awards:
- The Margaret B. and John R. Zehner Award – For contributions to the county’s history, and for underscoring the value of historic preservation to the community: Tim Adriance
- Preservation Leadership Award – For individuals, groups, and government agencies that display outstanding leadership or continuing contribution to the preservation of historic resources in Rockland County: Robert C. A. Sorensen
- Rehabilitation Award: The Bogert House, 77 Main Street, Tappan – Joseph Panzella and Andrew Rosenberg, Owners
- Adaptive Use Award: The Angel Nyack, formerly the First Reformed Church, Nyack – The Angel Nyack Board, Stewards
- Continuing Use Award: Central Presbyterian Church, Haverstraw – Rev. John Schneider and Church Elders, Stewards
- Commendation: Terri Thal, author – My Greenwich Village: Dave, Bob, and Me
- Commendation: Andrew Goodwillie, Myra Starr, Evelyn Fitzgerald, Tom Hackett, Jennifer Rothschild, Lola Esnard and Richard Esnard – Historical Trail Signs Project along the former Erie RR path, Nyack, South Nyack, Sparkill and Piermont
The preservation group will present an HSRC Preservation Award to The County of Rockland for its commitment to the preservation of Open Space and recent acquisition of the historic DePew Farm.
The awards underline the positive effects of preservation on the community. For example, the excellent adaptive use of an historic house of worship by a grass-roots organization will significantly enhance the vibrant arts and entertainment community in Nyack.
In addition to celebrating preservation achievements, the HSRC and the Preservation Merit Awards Committee will continue to work with members of the Rockland County Preservation Board and the County’s municipal historians to identify Rockland County’s most endangered places. This list will be shared at the Awards Ceremony.
“This effort to identify endangered places in Rockland, and to widely share information about them is critical,” said Clare Sheridan, committee co-chairperson. “Our hope is that by awarding preservation successes and highlighting critical preservation needs we can encourage strong, coordinated efforts to increase the chances of preserving historic places in our community.”
For more information on the award process, or to find out how to attend the Awards Ceremony and Reception visit www.RocklandHistory.org or contact the Historical Society of Rockland County at 845-634-9629 or info@rocklandhistory.org.
Dominican University New York Named an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications
Dominican University New York has been designated an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications, recognizing the University as a campus that fosters student success.
Opportunity Colleges and Universities are higher access, higher earnings institutions that prioritize and foster student success before, during, and after enrollment.
Dominican University New York is the only institution of higher education in Rockland County to earn this designation.
The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education. This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area.
In 2025, 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities, which is about 16 percent of all U.S. colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification.
“We are delighted to be identified as an Opportunity College and University,” said Manuel Martínez, Ph.D., President, Dominican University New York. “The University has always supported the belief that all young people should have access to higher education. Once students are on campus, we support them in the classroom and set them up for success in their future careers. This new designation is recognition of our efforts to prioritize and foster student success and I’m grateful to all of the administrators, faculty, and staff for their part in helping us earn this designation.”
Village of Haverstraw Launches Branding, Marketing, and Wayfinding Project with Destination by Design
The Village of Haverstraw has launched a comprehensive branding, marketing, and wayfinding signage initiative aimed at enhancing the Village’s identity, increasing visitation, and fostering economic growth. In 2021 the Village was selected as one of the Mid-Hudson Winners of the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program. This program included a grant to rebrand the village and its community. The Village is spending roughly $350,000 of its ten million dollar DRI grant to support the program.
To lead this effort, the Village has partnered with Destination by Design (DbD), a nationally recognized planning, branding, and communications firm from Boone, North Carolina, known for its community-driven approach to branding and placemaking. Over the coming months, DbD will collaborate with a local project committee to engage stakeholders, residents, and businesses to craft a unified brand that reflects Haverstraw’s authentic character and vision, develop marketing tools to promote the Village, and design user-friendly wayfinding signage to highlight Haverstraw’s assets.
A committee of Haverstraw’s diverse residents, including local business owners and creative individuals, chose DbD for its exceptional approach to community branding and deep understanding of the Village’s identity. After thorough consideration of proposals from over twelve firms, the committee expressed confidence in its decision.
“This project is about telling our story in a way that invites people in,” stated Michael Kohut, Mayor of the Village of Haverstraw. “We aim to celebrate what makes Haverstraw special—from our historic downtown and waterfront to our vibrant cultural scene—and ensure that both residents and visitors can navigate and enjoy all that we have to offer.”
The branding process will incorporate numerous public engagement opportunities, including workshops, surveys, and community events, to guarantee that the outcomes reflect the values and aspirations of the Haverstraw community.
