Our efforts have paid off and we're happy to announce the Grand Opening of the Dennis P McHugh Library held in Piermont NY March 10, 2007. Take a look at some News articles regarding the new Library.
Innovations Abound at Piermont Library
Based in part on The Journal News article
by Amisha Padnani, published August 24, 2007.
Explore Picturesque Piermont
( Peter Carr / The Journal News )The crowd applauds at the opening of the Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library in March.
The Journal News: Dennis P. McHugh Library opens this weekend in PiermontThe Journal News: Piermont opens its new library, named for fallen firefighter
Innovations Abound at Piermont Library
Posted: Mon, Sep 17, 2007
In a recent interview with The Journal News, Piermont Library Director Victoria A. Lees describes new programs, innovations, and increased usage since the opening of the new library building in March 2007.
"During our opening ceremony, I joked that we don't want the library obsolete when it opened," Victoria A. Lees tells The Journal News.
New Technologies
The library has introduced several innovations. These include new technologies such as the availability of free wireless Internet access (Wi-Fi) and Wi-Fi enabled laptops to borrow.
Spanish-speaking Community Reach
Also new at the library is a focus on Piermont's growing Spanish-speaking community. New Spanish-language books, DVDs, and other materials have been added to the collection, and a new Spanish-speaking program, Lingo Bingo, is among the several weekly events offered by the library.
For Teens
Teenagers form another group the library is reaching out to, according to consulting librarian Cheryl Wheeler. The library has a new "Teen Section" with a growing collection of popular books. There are new events for teens and a plan to add comfy furniture to the teen corner.
Preserving History
While the library looks forward to the future, it is also making efforts to preserve the past. Grace Mitchell, the library's local historian, is conserving and archiving many of Piermont's historical records.
Increase in Library Visitors
In the few months since the library opened in March of this year, more than 5,530 people have visited the new library. In comparison, a total of 2,324 people visited the old library in the entire last year.
Based in part on The Journal News article by Amisha Padnani, published August 24, 2007.
By JENNY HIGGONS
ROCKLAND MAGAZINE
Mark Vergari / Rockland MagazineThe exterior of the Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library.
(Original publication: May 31, 2007)Boutique Triple Play
1. Extreme Library Makeover. In March, the Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library—named after a New York City firefighter who died on September 11—replaced the old one that was in a cramped, untidy, and musty Victorian home on Hudson Terrace. The new digs are spiffy and spectacular, with the old two-floor layout replaced with a spacious, airy area that’s more convenient to strollers. The upgrades also include wireless access, improved shelving, handicapped accessibility, a child-friendly front desk, on-site parking, info on local history, and a more effectual circulation desk (25 Flywheel Park West; 359-4595; rcls.org/pmt).
Clothes Encounters
With last summer’s arrival of Paradise Blue, there’s no need to go to Manhattan’s SoHo for premium denim and contemporary designer clothing. Owners Rob Pennock and Lori Jacobs have sewn up the market by selling dresses and tops by the in-demand labels Joie, Ella Moss, Steven Alan, Mint, Cris, and jeans by Earnest Sewn, 7 for All Mankind, Citizens, True Religion, Paige, Big Star, AG, 1921, and Joe’s. Pennock says that most of Paradise Blue’s merchandise is unavailable elsewhere in Rockland. Bonus: You can even pick up fresh flowers at Aubrey Flowers and Goods, which occupies the back third of the store (510 Piermont Ave.; 365-2583).
Keyboard Connections
Launched in March, PositivelyPiermont.com serves as the modern-day village hub to connect residents and merchants of Piermont, Palisades, and Grandview. Among the features of the site: free classified ads, a local calendar, a recipe exchange, a guide to downtown Piermont, and a lively community discussion forum.
Extreme Library Makeover
In March, the Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library—named after a New York City firefighter who died on September 11—replaced the old one that was in a cramped, untidy, and musty Victorian home on Hudson Terrace. The new digs are spiffy and spectacular, with the old two-floor layout replaced with a spacious, airy area that’s more convenient to strollers. The upgrades also include wireless access, improved shelving, handicapped accessibility, a child-friendly front desk, on-site parking, info on local history, and a more effectual circulation desk (25 Flywheel Park West; 359-4595; rcls.org/pmt).
Take a Seat
The promontory that leads to Piermont’s pier lets visitors enjoy its refreshing breezes, fishing opportunities, and the occasional Al Pacino sighting. Alas, there’s nowhere to sit down. Nowhere, that is, until the installation of 12 new cedar benches last fall. Spread along the outcrop and strategically placed for optimal riverside views, the benches were the result of a new mayor-appointed parks commission.
A Three- (or Ten-) Hour Tour
This month, Paradise Boats begins running round-trip trips to the majestic Statue of Liberty. The captain, Coast Guard-licensed Bill Herguth, takes the helm of two crafts—a 26-foot sailboat that requires eight to 10 hours, and a 18.5-foot motor boat that does it in three—that he launches right from his backyard. While on board, you also get magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline (sailboat: $300 for six passengers; motorboat: $25 per person or $150 for six; 15 Paradise Ave.; 845-359-0073; paradisecanoeandkayak.com).
Depot Debut
Behold, Piermont-on-the-Hill station’s return to splendor! The 1,068-square-foot Ash Street stop served the Erie Railroad’s Nyack-Jersey City passenger line for almost 100 years before closing in 1967. But thanks to the hard work of the Piermont Historical Society—as well as countless donations and state aid—the building has been restored to its former glory. The renovation, finished in December, included extensive roof repairs, reconstruction of the fire-damaged nine-foot cupola, and the original colors of French-grey, olive-green and Tuscan-red.
Dental Do
Many people don’t relish getting their teeth worked on, but when dentist Rafael Caniza came to town in October, it made the trip a lot less painful. Using aroma therapy and flat-panel TVs in his treatment rooms and waiting areas, his relaxing living room-like environment almost makes a visit to the tooth doctor seem fun. Almost (449 Piermont Ave.; 365-4270; piermontdental.com).
Soft Touch
First there was “comfort food;” now there’s “comfort clothes!” That’s the idea behind the intimate, chic garments at the store Skin, which debuted in February. All of its wearable wares—bras, underwear, pajamas, robes, tank tops, dresses, and sweaters—are made from super-soft pima cotton and fashioned by owner Susan Beischel, who designed the stylish, super-comfy clothing so it can also be worn outside the house. With a sophisticated interior that seems straight out of Manhattan or Paris, Skin also carries jewelry, handbags, body lotions, and sensual oils (530 Piermont Ave.; 680-6090; skinlingerie.com).
Raising Your Spirits
Ever since Jung Kim bought Piermont Fine Wine & Spirits in November, villagers have enjoyed a retailer that carries a variety of high-end wines, such as Kaymus, Philip Togni, and Cake Bread. The shelves are also stocked with hard-to-find booze like Black Maple Hill whiskey, Hudson Baby bourbon, and Kracher dessert wine. Connoisseur Kim hasn’t gone totally high-end, though: You can also get a nice bottle of vino for $10 (503 Piermont Ave.; 359-0700; piermontwine.com).
Run to raise funds for Piermont library
By KHURRAM SAEED
THE JOURNAL NEWS
Gifts to make 9/11 loved ones proud
NYC firefighter's memory will live on in new library ... Piermont building will bear name of Sept. 11 victim
Nancy Cacioppo
The Journal News
PIERMONT - When the village's new library opens in two years, it will be named The Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library, after a victim of the World Trade Center attacks for whom reading, family and community were important. McHugh was a New York City firefighter assigned to Manhattan Ladder Company 13.
Library officials announced that a recent pledge of $500,000 from The McHugh Foundation moved the 15-year dream of a new library to an expected groundbreaking in spring 2003. Construction is expected to take a year to 18 months. A formal announcement of the foundation's pledge and the library's name designation will be at 12:30 p.m. June 29 at the library's future riverfront site at the Piermont Avenue and Ash Street. The public is invited.
"We're all overwhelmed by this turn of events," said Martin Gorosh, the library board's vice president. "This is a wonderful move by the McHugh family foundation. I hope we can complete our capital campaign over the summer."
The pledge brought the capital campaign total to more than $1.6 million - 80 percent of the $2 million goal. "The trustees, the staff and the Friends of the Library, who have worked so long, accept this gift with gratitude and a deep awareness of the responsibility we bear to honor Dennis McHugh," said Tom Gruenewald, president of the library board.
After a career in financial services, McHugh realized a long-held dream by joining the New York City Fire Department in 1998. McHugh, a resident of Sparkill, was a graduate of Tappan Zee High School and Iona College. In 1994, he married Una Hinchcliffe, a graduate of the College of New Rochelle and a reading teacher with the Nyack school district. They had three children, Chloe, Sophie and Joseph.
"Dennis loved to read, and it was something he really enjoyed sharing with our children,” said Una McHugh. "Long before she could read, he would take our oldest daughter, Chloe, to visit local libraries. They would attend special children's programs, explore what was on the shelves and check out books to read together at home."
In addition to naming the new building for McHugh, a memorial will be placed inside the library to honor all those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks.
The McHugh Foundation, established by the family and friends of Dennis P. McHugh, already has received a $300,000 commitment from the McHugh and Hinchcliffe families. McHugh's brother-in-law, Robert Hinchcliffe, said they would complete their pledge with children-oriented fund-raisers in the next several years. "Out of everyone's love for Dennis, we will continue to be actively involved in supporting programming for children and families when the new facility is open," Hinchcliffe said.
McHugh's brother, Brendan, agreed. "We can't think of a better way to celebrate his life than to help ensure that Piermont and neighboring communities can enjoy this wonderful new library," he said.
The new library will replace the present library on Hudson Terrace, which has been in use since 1910. It will include a spacious meeting area, an expanded children's section, exhibition space and computer access. A collection of local and Hudson River history, expanded stacks for more books and periodicals and panoramic views of the Hudson River will be included.
For more information about the library's capital campaign, call Martin Gorosh at 359-7081. For information about the Dennis P. McHugh Foundation, call Robert Hinchcliffe at
212-861-6984. Reach Nancy Cacioppo at ncaciopp@thejournalnews.com
An editorial in "The Journal News"
Reaffirmation of goodness.
(Original publication: June 14, 2002)
It is in the unfolding grace of God that individuals become heroes. Such blessing has been especially bestowed upon our Rockland, New York City and the nation since the first dangerous moment of Sept. 11.
There were so many local heroes in the national tragedy; indeed, each person who died or survived is one. Their sacrifice, the stories of the actions at the World Trade Center and the tremendous rescue, cleanup response and caring efforts by so many in the wake of Sept. 11 remind us constantly that the greater good of humanity has been demonstrated.
Evil cannot endure; it can raise its ugly head and destroy; but goodness will prevail.
And that grace is shown each and every day as the nation marks yet another 24 hours from the American horror. There is constant reaffirmation of good people.
We note two in Rockland: Welles Crowther of Upper Nyack and Dennis P. McHugh of Sparkill. Both perished at the World Trade Center.
Welles Crowther always carried a red bandanna in his back pocket, in his years at Nyack High School, at Boston College and as a volunteer firefighter with Empire Hook & Ladder in Upper Nyack. It was the red bandanna that marked his heroism Sept. 11.
The 24-year-old equities trader, who worked for Sandler O'Neill & Partners on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center, would become a rescuer, saving countless people trapped on the top floors of the burning south tower that morning before losing his own life.
He and his bandanna became a legend as Welles, the bandanna tied around his face, stepped out of the swirling clouds of smoke and crushing debris high up in the burning tower and led groups of wounded to safety, survivors recall.
"He spoke with such authority," says Judy Wein, who encountered the man on the rubble-strewn 78th floor. "He was calm, he showed us where the stairs were, he found a fire extinguisher, he carried people down the stairs and then went back up to help more."
"That face is always in my mind," adds Ling Young, one of a handful of people who escaped from the floors above the plane's impact. "He saved my life."
This fine young man, in the great moment of testing, gave his own life so that others might live. No one could have a better son, nor could Rockland.
Dennis P. McHugh was a New York City firefighter assigned to Ladder Co., 13, joining the department in 1988. A graduate of Tappan Zee High School and Iona College, he realized a lifelong dream by becoming a member of New York's Bravest.
He did his duty on Sept. 11, and now his family is continuing that, by noting the meaning of his sacrifice in the form of a $500,000 pledge from the McHugh Foundation to the Piermont Library building fund.
This amazing gift will help assure the opening of the new library building, which appropriately will be renamed The Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library.
The pledge moves the 15-year dream of a new facility to an expected groundbreaking in the spring next spring, with construction to take about 18 months. The pledge has brought the capital campaign to more than $1.6 million, 80 percent of the $2 million goal.
The offering is most appropriate. "Dennis loved to read, and it was something he really enjoyed sharing with our children," notes Una, Dennis' wife.
What a great gift to a community library and a continuation of a personal love that will help so many others.
Again, reaffirmation of goodness.
The Crowther and McHugh stories are just two of thousands on and after Sept. 11. If, in the national sadness, we tend at times to be depressed, may we recall so much uplifting goodness.
In that, there is the certain promise of a better future.