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Suffern's Grace VanderWaal Wins Best New Artist At Disney Music Awards Suffern's Grace VanderWaal Wins Best New Artist At Disney Music Awards
Suffern's Grace VanderWaal Wins Best New Artist At Disney Music Awards SUFFERN, N.Y. -- Grace VanderWaal is continuing to make her mark. The 13-year-old Suffern singer, who won America's Got Talent last summer, won her first ever award, taking home Best New Artist at the Radio Disney Music Awards. "Now that this is happening, I forgot everything I wanted to say," VanderWaal said when she accepted her "Arty.". "This is a lot heavier in real life. It's really crazy. I was just on AGT and I would never think in the past year I would be up here getting my first award. I want to thank every single one of my fans." VanderWaal also perf…

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by Sam Barron
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Community Rushes To Support Rockland Family After Father Dies Suddenly Community Rushes To Support Rockland Family After Father Dies Suddenly
Community Rushes To Support Rockland Family After Father Dies Suddenly ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- The Pearl River community is coming together for the Ceresnik family. A crowdfunding page has been set up for the family following the sudden death of Marty Ceresnik, a 38-year-old Pearl River resident. Ceresnik was married to his wife Laureen and had two children, Marty, 7 and Jenny, 5.  As of Friday afternoon, the campaign has raised $23,300 from 119 donors. Ceresnik worked at LiquiTech and was an avid sports fan who loved to coach his children and go skiing, fishing or play baseball and golf. He was also a member of the Pearl River Elks. "Please donate. Thi…

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by Sam Barron
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Rockland Recognizes 'King Of Trash' Rockland Recognizes 'King Of Trash'
Rockland Recognizes 'King Of Trash' ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- He might not look like a king, but Suffern resident John LaPlaca is known as the "King of Trash," around Rockland County for helping to keep the county clean.LaPlaca has picked up more than 1,000 bags of trash from the county's roads, streams, and parks every year for the past 19 years. To honor him for his efforts, Rockland County Executive Ed Day named LaPlaca the "Outstanding Environmental Volunteer for 2017" during a special ceremony on Thursday. In addition to a plaque, a tree was planted in his honor at Kennedy-Dells County Park.

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by K Reakes
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Oh, Baby: New City Actress Performs In Fairfield County Oh, Baby: New City Actress Performs In Fairfield County
Oh, Baby: New City Actress Performs In Fairfield County NEW CITY, N.Y. --  New City actress Lisa Spielman is returning to the stage in the spring musical, "Baby," written by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.  The production, directed by Carin Zakes and produced by Nova Hall, at the Darien Arts Center (DAC) in Darien, Conn, is being showcased April 21, 22, 28, 29 and May 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., and April 23 and 30 at 2 p.m. in the theater's Weatherstone Studio. The story examines how parents-to-be experience the emotional stresses and triumphs, as well as the desperate lows and comic highs that accompany the anticipation and arrival of a …

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by Jeanne Muchnick
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What Your Neighbors Think: Ramapo's Favorite Places For Good Eats What Your Neighbors Think: Ramapo's Favorite Places For Good Eats
What Your Neighbors Think: Ramapo's Favorite Places For Good Eats RAMAPO, N.Y. -- Looking for some good eats in Ramapo? Look no further. Here are the three favorite places to grab some grub in the area, according to Yelp. Mia’s Kitchen  Where: 83 Lafayette Ave. Phone: (845) 547-2427 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.; Sun. Closed What People Are Saying:  ''This was the perfect place to fuel up for lunch. We were headed to the airport and knew we had a long day ahead. We were able to get healthy, reasonably priced, tasty food to hold us over for the afternoon. There were many gluten free options. Foods were labeled clearly for severa…

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by Tea Zagorscak
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Trump's Original Apprentice, Rockland Resident, To Wed At Citi Field Trump's Original Apprentice, Rockland Resident, To Wed At Citi Field
Trump's Original Apprentice, Rockland Resident, To Wed At Citi Field The head of Procida Funding & Advisors and Trump's original apprentice will be getting married at Citi Field in June, the New York Post reports. Piermont resident Billy Procida, who also owns property in Sleepy Hollow and Beacon, recently took over for the company which filed for bankruptcy, and is renovating neglected structures that have amounted "hundreds" of violations, the article says.  Last week Procida was in the basement of an apartment building when an arsonist set fire to it, the New York Post reports. To read the story, click here.

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by Cecilia Levine
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Rockland Welcomes New Eagle Scout Rockland Welcomes New Eagle Scout
Rockland Welcomes New Eagle Scout ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. --  North Rockland High School graduate William McIsaac was congratulated Monday on becoming an Eagle Scout at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor by Rockland County Executive Ed Day.  For his community service project, McIsaac replaced the old instrument cabinets at North Rockland High School with new ones and made a trophy cabinet. “This project saved the school district thousands of dollars and provided both students and teachers with updated facilities,” Day said. “Your hard work and creativity will be enjoyed by your school for years to come.”

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by K Reakes
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Ed Day Honors Rockland Eagle Scout Ed Day Honors Rockland Eagle Scout
Ed Day Honors Rockland Eagle Scout ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. --  Rockland County Executive Ed Day spoke at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor and Ceremony for Montebello resident Jared Sidney Simon on Sunday, March 26, at Beth Haverim Shir Shalom in Mahwah, N.J. Jared's project benefited the Hudson Valley Humane Society in Pomona. He built and installed three doggy decks to provide rescue dogs with a comfortable, dry place to rest. He led a team of 35 volunteers who worked on the project and raised $2,629 in donations. “Your hard work and dedication has made your community a better place,” Day told Jared. Day also congratulated Jar…

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by Ken Davis
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Retired Ramapo Police Dispatcher Recalls Long Career Of Helping Others Retired Ramapo Police Dispatcher Recalls Long Career Of Helping Others
Retired Ramapo Police Dispatcher Recalls Long Career Of Helping Others RAMAPO, N.Y. -- Former Ramapo police dispatcher Eileen Maschak has spent a lifetime dealing with emergencies, both small and large. The Rockland mother of two has also just about heard and seen it all during her 33 years as a fire and police dispatcher. Weekends and holidays? She has worked too many away from her family and friends to recall. But when Maschak, who officially retired last Saturday, and hung up her headphones for the last time, she had no regrets – except, maybe, that she wasn’t fast enough on her feet. “I was halfway out the door, but I turned around to answer one last cal…

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by Carol Reif
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Birthday Parties First, Then Camps: Local Moms Launch Booking Site Birthday Parties First, Then Camps: Local Moms Launch Booking Site
Birthday Parties First, Then Camps: Local Moms Launch Booking Site ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- Visit any mom's Facebook group page and you'll find the same question over and over again: Where should I go or who should I hire for my children's birthday party? Mom of two Claire Gilvar was one of them. As was Meryl Lefkowitz. So, it seemed only natural that when the two were introduced by a mutual friend, they got to discussing it. Gilvar, who, like Lefkowitz, has a background in public relations and events, had been conceptualizing an idea, which she and Lefkowtiz then tweaked. The result? Booked Parties, a children's birthday party resource website and bookin…

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by Jeanne Muchnick
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Ramsey 11-Year-Old Competing On Food Network's 'Chopped Junior' Ramsey 11-Year-Old Competing On Food Network's 'Chopped Junior'
Ramsey 11-Year-Old Competing On Food Network's 'Chopped Junior' RAMSEY, N.J. — An 11-year-old girl from Ramsey will compete on Food Network's "Chopped Junior" at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Sophie learned to cook Portuguese food from her mom, grandma and aunt at a young age, and soon started experimenting and loved how fun cooking could be.  She continued to develop her skills by watching Food Network and taking classes.  One day, Sophie hopes to become a chef and run a restaurant focused on healthy eating. When she's not in the kitchen, Sophie likes to run track and make movies with her sister. She is also in the Heart and Sole running program, part …

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by Cecilia Levine
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Community Rallies For Toddler Of Late Ramsey DPW Worker Community Rallies For Toddler Of Late Ramsey DPW Worker
Community Rallies For Toddler Of Late Ramsey DPW Worker RAMSEY, N.J. — More than $6,500 had been raised as of Tuesday evening on a GoFundMe page for a 3-year-old girl who recently lost her Ramsey-born dad. Dennis Kelly, formerly a DPW worker, died on March 12, 2017, leaving behind, Samantha, who was "most special to him," the page says. Michelle Stich Kelly of Ho-Ho-Kus launched the site in Dennis' memory. Dozens of friends and family members left heartfelt sympathies on the page for the Kelly Family. "Seeing this was like getting punched in the stomach, we had a lot of great times and would still randomly keep in touch, he'll b…

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by Cecilia Levine