Category: Business

SUEZ Promotes Shari Gold to Conservation Manager

New City Resident to lead award-winning program

SUEZ announced today the appointment of Shari Gold as its new Conservation Program Manager for its utility operations in New York.

 In her new role, Gold, a 16-year veteran of the company, will lead the company’s efforts to encourage residents to reduce water use. The program offers rebates on the purchase of water-efficient household devices like toilets and washing machines and free water efficiency assessments for commercial customers. 

“As we enhance our focus on sustainability, Shari is the perfect person to lead our conservation efforts in New York,” said Chris Graziano, vice president and general manager of SUEZ operations in New York. “Her experience with SUEZ coupled with her knowledge of our New York service area and passion for conservation make her the perfect fit in this important role.”  

Since joining SUEZ in 2005, Gold has held multiple roles within the company including Planning Supervisor and Proposal Specialist. Most recently, she oversaw all business development proposal activities as senior proposal specialist. 

Gold will lead the company’s conservation efforts in Rockland and Westchester counties and will work with community, business and environmental leaders to implement the program. Gold will develop and manage all communications and marketing initiatives designed to promote the program.

“Water conservation has never been more important,” said Gold, who is a resident of New City. “I am committed to building on the success of our current programs while creating new and innovative ways to promote conservation in our communities.”

Customers can learn more about the customer conservation program by visiting suezconserve.com.

The New York division serves about 500,000 customers in parts of Rockland, Westchester, Orange, Putnam and Tioga counties in New York as well as 19,500 people in the towns of South Kingstown and Narragansett in Rhode Island.

RCC Visual and Performing Arts Students Receive Lightsaber SAFD Credentials

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY (September 10, 2021) – Each semester, the RCC Visual and Performing Arts Department holds Skills Proficiency Tests (SPT) for students enrolled in the Theatrical Stage Combat courses. Last month, the school held its first SPT in Lightsaber. Christopher Plummer, Director of RCC’s Cultural Arts Theatre is a Certified Teacher with the Society of American Fight Directors (SAFD) and held the certification tests along with Patricia Maloney-Titland, Professor in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. “The SPT certification test is a rigorous demonstration and examination of their new skill sets and each student challenged themselves in new and wonderful ways.” Plummer says. “While the students studied martial techniques associated with longsword, the focus of the course was Lightsaber and it was a huge success!” 

Lightsaber is a unique course that incorporates other aspects of performing theatrical stage combat. Each student had to create their own character and costume that could inhabit the Star Wars universe—from their names and appearance to their home world and complete backstory.

“Eight people were eligible to take the test and former SAFD President, Fight Master and Broadway Fight Director J. David Brimmer came to adjudicate the students. I am thrilled to report that they all earned their certification in Lightsaber (Broadsword) with the Society of American Fight Directors—and they accomplished all of this while wearing masks, not an easy feat!” The students were: 

  • Iris Bonhomme (Returning Adult Student)
  • Michael Boakye
  • Mason Brebnor
  • Francisco R. Carmo
  • Marco Flores
  • Ryan McNeill
  • Ryan Pompei
  • Charlie Sutherland

In addition, working with Patty Maloney and the Visual and Performing Arts department, the theatre has added the capability to film full stage scenes against a giant green-screen and green/blue chroma flooring. “The students had the opportunity to film their fight scenes to be fully edited into a Star Wars spectacle for the VPA’s Cinema and Film Studies program,” Plummer says, noting that it also allows clients to use the 40′ x 40′ space in an entirely new way.

“We were also able to use this equipment to film a scene from The Taming of the Shrew to round out our 24th season for the Rockland Shakespeare Company. This is all a thrilling addition to the opportunities available to students in the RCC Visual and Performing Arts department.”

When all the film footage has been edited, the department is planning on holding an intimate premiere in the CAC Theatre by the end of the summer or early in the fall semester. A firm date will be announced once the footage has been edited and the final cuts of the scenes have been completed. 

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York                          

Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Thanks to the school’s affordable tuition, students who begin their career journey at RCC and then transfer to a four-year college can save up to $100,000 on their education. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through its new Career Skills Academy. More information can be found at www.sunyrockland.edu.

Association for Visually Impaired, Inc. is now an affiliate of BRIDGES!

(West Nyack, NY) September 9, 2021 – Association for the Visually Impaired, Inc. (AVI) is now an affiliate of Rockland Independent Living Center, Inc., also known as BRIDGES. AVI assists persons of all ages who are visually impaired or blind to lead independent lives in their homes as well as in the community.

The mission of BRIDGES is to provide advocacy and leadership toward a more accessible, integrated community, promoting health and autonomy for people with disabilities. “AVI was a natural fit based on our mission to help those with any level of disability to lead a more independent life. AVI’s services and supports will expand our reach and network, reduce costs, and allow more people access to needed services,” states Carlos Martinez, Executive Director of BRIDGES.

AVI’s team of professionals help individuals and their families learn the techniques they need to remain active and independent in their communities. Services are provided by qualified personnel including Vision Rehabilitation Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Instructors, a social worker as well as Teachers for the Visually Impaired.

“The AVI Board is excited about this affiliation and eventual merger with BRIDGES. This transition helps to ensure the continued provision of vital services to those served by AVI now and in the future, as well continuity of service with AVI’s program staff under BRIDGES’ umbrella. We believe that combining these two agencies will provide more comprehensive services and supports for blind and visually impaired individuals throughout the Lower Hudson Valley.” Bob Heiferman, Board Member.

“We are very pleased to continue our longstanding relationship with AVI under the management of our partners at BRIDGES”, said New York State Commission for the Blind Associate Commissioner Brian S. Daniels. “We are confident that AVI will continue to deliver quality vision rehabilitation services to the residents of Rockland, Orange, and Sullivan Counties.”

BRIDGES is a community-based, peer-driven, cross-disability, non-profit organization dedicated to advocacy and leadership on behalf of people with disabilities. It is one of 41 Independent Living Centers (ILC) operating in New York State under the auspices of New York State Education Department (NYSED). Each ILC adheres to a national philosophy of Independent Living that seeks to empower individuals with disabilities to make autonomous decisions regarding all aspects of living and advocates to ensure equal access to opportunities desired.

For more information visit www.bridgesrc.org or call (845) 624-1366.

RCC Culinary Arts Center to Offer Free 8-Week Series: Purchasing & Preparing Nutritious Food Economically

(ROCKLAND COUNTY, New York) September 8, 2021– A series of classes on how to purchase and prepare delicious and nutritious food will be held at the RCC Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center in Nyack this fall. The food and the classes are free and open to individuals who are food insecure and having difficulty feeding themselves or their families. Classes will be held on Mondays from 9 am to noon from September 20 through November 15. There will not be a class on October 11, Columbus Day.  

Participants will learn about nutrition and have hands-on preparation of the recipes that they can take home to their families. Expert instructors will help participants gain the skills and confidence they need to prepare nutritious food on a budget. RCC’s classroom kitchen features 10 workstations with state-of-the-art equipment as well as a teaching station equipped with audio and video technology so that students can easily hear and see exactly what the steps are for each lesson.

Nutritional information and recipes will be provided by Katherine Schwarz, an experienced professional educator in nutrition, public health and the environment, who specializes in community work with impoverished populations. Cooking demonstrations and lessons will be conducted by Mark Davidoff, the Director of the Hospitality & Culinary Arts Center, and supported by RCC’s Hospitality & Culinary Arts students. To register, email Mark Davidoff at mdavidof@sunyrockland.edu, and indicate that you would like to enroll in the class.

The Purchasing & Preparing Nutritious Food Economically series is generously sponsored by Orange & Rockland and supported by Rockland Community College, ShopRite and Flik.

About Rockland Community College, State University of New York

Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Thanks to the school’s affordable tuition, students who begin their career journey at RCC and then transfer to a four-year college can save up to $100,000 on their education. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through its Career Skills Academy. More information can be found at www.sunyrockland.edu.

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