Local Schools Celebrate Catholic Schools Week

BY CAROLYN JOHNSON Research has shown that Catholic schools in the United States do an extraordinary job cultivating in their students the resources for social mobility, regardless of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, typically at a fraction of the tuition private schools charge. In fact, they do so at a fraction of the tuition public schools […]

Father-Daughter Writing Team Takes Westfield, New Jersey’s The Town Book Store by Storm

By Carolyn Johnson The first real snow storm of the season didn’t stop Armand Miele, 83, and his daughter and co-author Donna Miele, from traveling to Westfield, New Jersey for their first public appearance since launching Armand’s heartwarming autobiography, Born Minus: From Shoeshine Boy to News Publisher, An Italian-American Journey. The event took place on […]

One door closes, another opens in Chestnut Ridge

BY CAROLYN JOHNSON I recently wrote about how disheartening it was to see many small businesses closing in a strained economy. Within days of writing that article, I heard wonderful news: two renowned yogis are opening a yoga studio in the same area where a beloved local store had closed. I recall the adage, “one […]

The Jokes Were Silent, the Laughs Were Loud at Rivertown Film’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration

By Carolyn Johnson Rivertown Film celebrated its tenth anniversary on December 15 at The Nyack Center with two silent film classics and a performance by village resident and master of physical comedy Bill Irwin. This uniquely talented actor whose many credits include “Mister Noodle” on Sesame Street and Broadway’s “Waiting for Godot” and “Who’s Afraid […]

Every Day Should be Small Business Day

BY CAROLYN JOHNSON, LIFESTYLE EDITOR I am most grateful and excited that I was recently hired as the Lifestyle Editor at The Rockland County Times, the independent local Rockland newspaper that Armand Miele managed to save from bankruptcy in the 1990s. I look forward to engaging with you via the newspaper, website and Facebook page, […]