HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY TO PRESENT LIFETIME SERVICE AWARDS AT 2014 ANNUAL DINNER

The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) is pleased to present Lifetime Service Awards at its 20^th Annual Dinner, to be held onMarch 23, 2014, at The View on the Hudson in Piermont. The awards are given for contributions to life in Rockland County, for preserving the history of Rockland County, or for service to and support of the Historical Society of Rockland County.

The 2014 Lifetime Service Award winners are:

·      The Benmosche Family, for their outstanding community service in the ongoing efforts to preserve and share Suffern’s Lafayette Theater, a unique place in Rockland County. Robert Benmosche and his son Ari purchased the building in 1999; in 2002, the family began restoring its interior, bringing back the theater’s luxurious prewar style while investing in modern projection equipment and concession areas. Thanks to the Benmosche Family’s continued support of, and belief in, this historic treasure, together with a new partnership with the Town of Ramapo, the Lafayette Theater is poised to continue to be the centerpiece of Suffern and a gem in the Rockland County community.

·      Howard H. and Ruth Schack, long-time members and supporters of the Historical Society of Rockland County, who have worked tirelessly to record and share the history of their native Spring Valley. Their essays have been published in the Society’s quarterly history journalSouth of the Mountains. They have also chronicled their family’s business success story, which began in 1898 when Howard Schack’s grandfather opened Schack Glass in Spring Valley, now an international company with offices and projects worldwide.

·      Stuart Gates, Municipal Historian for the Town of Stony Point; historian for the Rockland County Volunteer Fireman’s Association; and editor of that organization’s newsletter, The Trumpet. His encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the Fireman’s Association has made him the go-to resource at the annual firefighters’ parade.  Without a single written note, he recounts a library of information about each brigade, to the astonishment of everyone in the viewing stand.

The Annual Dinner features award presentations; a silent auction also will be held during the cocktail hour, and guests will enjoy musical entertainment and dancing. Proceeds from this annual event benefit the operating fund of the Historical Society of Rockland County.

For information about attending the dinner, advertising in the commemorative journal or donating auction items visit www.RocklandHistory.org or contact the Historical Society of Rockland County at 845-634-9629 or [email protected].