Visit the library anytime we are open for our Art Show of the Month- Frances Wells: The Hudson: The River that Flows Both Ways. All are welcome!  The show will be up throughout the month of January. Frances shares, “I’ve lived on the Hudson, in Nyack and in Piermont, since 1984. My paintings are an attempt to capture its beauty in different seasons and times of the day.”

Congratulations to the winner of the Spotlight Auction for Dinner at Otto’s.  Your generous support of the Library is greatly appreciated.  Enjoy the special night at Otto’s!

At the intersection of Piermont Avenue and Ash Street sits a sight that is both familiar and new. Otto’s Full Service is an American cuisine restaurant and bar, inspired by the building’s history as Gerhardt’s Automotive Repair. After 85 years of operation, David Gerhardt closed his beloved auto shop that had been a staple in our village. What he may not have counted on was that the new owners, David and Jill Kaliff, actually loved the property in its authentic state, and have since sought to preserve and enhance its original character. The end result is a new life for an old building, one that “elevates the humble,” in Jill’s own words.

When David and Jill first bought the property in 2018, they originally intended for it to be the corporate headquarters for David’s technology consulting business, Xyster Consulting. But then the pandemic hit in 2020, and the concept of the workplace shifted overnight. David and Jill knew the building had to change, and turning it into a restaurant was an opportunity for them to try something new. They were introduced to Phil Iannuccilli from the Greenwich Country Club who joined the team as executive chef. With Jill as the interior designer, Phil as kitchen designer and David as the general contractor overseeing a close-knit team of workers, they underwent a complete renovation within nine months to open the restaurant in August of 2022.

Jill chose the original, distinctive, neon clock (which still hangs in the window) as the jumping-off point for the design of the new space. After peeling off all the layers that had been added throughout the years, they painstakingly restored the original architectural details, such as the art deco moulding that curves around the roof and the beautiful wood ceiling beams that had been hidden behind acoustic ceiling tiles. Jill also reused vintage items such as her grandfather’s reupholstered couch, but added bold, poppy accents from the clock’s color palette to create a unique space that is both modern and retro. She sought to not only preserve the history of the building, but also to pay homage to the village’s role in military history. Piermont was known as “Last Stop USA” during World War II, so for Jill, it was important “to reflect how this building witnessed so much of our nation’s history.” David and Jill chose to name their new restaurant after Otto Gerhardt, the mechanic whose family had owned the building since 1938.

In transforming the village auto shop into a restaurant, David and Jill are not only honoring the building’s history, but they are also coming full circle with their own past. Both David’s and Jill’s first jobs were in the restaurant industry — David began washing dishes in a Chinese restaurant where he worked his way up the ladder and became part owner in two Chinese restaurants in New York City, and Jill was the hostess at Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, serving under Executive Chef Emeril Lagasse. Their vision for Otto’s, supported by Chef Phil’s diverse and delicious menu, was to create a place where they themselves would want to go — a place that brings people together as a community. Otto’s is a testament to David and Jill’s love of Piermont and its history. We invite you to come inside and experience an appreciation of the past in a refreshing new way.

Support the Piermont Library by bidding on this unique dining experience offered by Otto’s:

• A 3-course meal for 4 guests
• 2 bottles of wine (chef’s pairing choice)
• Special seating at the chef’s table in the Bay Dining Room
• The opportunity to meet owners David and Jill Kaliff

Valued at $500

Bidding starts at $200

*Note: Gratuity not included

To bid on the item up for auction, click here

Join us on Zoom this Tuesday at 6:00 pm for Janet Mandel Art Talks: Augusta Savage. Augusta Savage overcame poverty, racism, and gender discrimination to become a luminary of the Harlem Renaissance. Her sculptures celebrated African American culture, and her work as an arts educator and political activist catalyzed social change. This talk will explore Savage’s lasting legacy by examining her remarkable life and affecting works, as well as those of the younger artists she inspired.

Registration on our website event calendar at piermontlibrary.org

Legal Notice for Piermont Library 2023 Elections

PIERMONT LIBRARY TO HOLD ANNUAL ELECTION DECEMBER 13, 2023

On Wednesday, December 13th, 2023, Piermont voters will be asked to elect three trustees for
the Dennis P. McHugh Piermont Public Library. The vote will take place at the library, 25 Flywheel Park West. Polls will be open from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

At present there are three known candidates for three trustee positions:

Victoria Panetis
Vicki Panetis has been a Piermont resident for 8 years and has gratefully served on the library board since January 2021. She graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS in Finance and Marketing
and is running for her second term.

Kelly Ruby
Kelly Ruby is currently the Program Coordinator for the Arts Council of Rockland. She has lived in
Piermont since 2015 and is running for her third term on the Library Board.

Ed Stanford
Ed Stanford worked for over 40 years in educational publishing, most recently as the head of the Higher Education Group at McGraw-Hill. He has served two terms on the Piermont Library Board. He also served for 21 years on the South Orangetown School Board. He has lived in Piermont for 45 years.

Voters will be asked to approve an increase to the annual Piermont Library tax levy from $295,800 to $301,716. This represents a 2% increase or an average annual tax increase of $5.02 for the average Piermont taxpayer. The Fiscal Year 2025 total budget starting July 1, 2024 is $436,520.

This increased funding will help pay for costs associated with live and virtual programming, and existing library services including the purchase of new releases of adult and children’s books, movies, music as well as e-books, digital audiobooks and downloadable music services.
 

The Library has continued to serve the Piermont community and continues to add new resources and programming to our offerings. The Library continues to seek new ways to serve our patrons and welcomes any ideas the public may have.

The Library offers a wide range of programs for all ages, free film showings, canasta and mahjong lessons and open play, exhibits by local artists, book talks, game nights, local history exhibits, student art exhibitions, concerts, cultural events, adult summer reading programs, and much more. Information about the library, its services and the election is available at www.piermontlibrary.org.

Library Activity Statistics, 2022-2023
 Of 2,512 Piermont residents 1,313 hold library cards
 180 programs offered with a total of 3,124 people attending.
 18,224 holdings circulated (11,025 physical items and 7,199 e-books, digital audiobooks
and other digital content)
 19,256 visitors to the library

The Piermont Library is looking for two Piermont residents to work during our annual library election on Wednesday December 13th from 10a-8p.  You do not need any prior experience and will be trained the day of the election.  Your help is greatly appreciated and you will be compensated for your time.  Please call us if you are interested 845-359-4595.  Thank You.