As we close 2024, I am reminded of the song “Seasons of Love” from the
Broadway musical Rent. The song is both catchy and philosophical, contemplating
time as viewed in increments of minutes in a typical year. The refrain offers,
“525,600 minutes, how do you measure, measure a year?” The song speaks of
snapshots concluding that we must measure our life, our year in love. Since 2024
was a leap year, it was actually 527,040 minutes, not as catchy as the song, but
eventful nonetheless. As we embark upon 2025, allow me to take the measure of
the year—2024.
This past year was one filled with change, both good and bad with some very sad
losses. Our town saw a fair bit of unexpected tragedy, starting with the news of
the horrific events involving the Morgan family. This tested the faith of many
people and brought the community together to grieve and start the healing
process. The Clarkstown School District along with our administration did what
we could to offer an opportunity for people to connect, mourn and seek to move
forward. I could not be prouder of Clarkstown as people came together to
support one another. If that tragedy were not enough the sudden and
unexpected death of our beloved friend and Councilman Mark Woods on May
17 th , 2024 was an added tragedy of a life cut short. Mark had much to offer; did
much to help so many and is so dearly missed. While not looking to be maudlin, I
must offer one added personal loss, that of my eldest sister Dianne who passed
away in Florida in July after a lengthy chronic illness. Coming from a large family,
it was the first loss of a sibling and forever changed the complexion of my family.
It forces one to look inward and outward, take stock of what is truly important,
and remember the moments one shared.
On a more positive note, we had so many new ventures and opportunities that
came to fruition. In our Parks and Recreation completed the construction of a
new athletic field at the former Rockland Country Day School that will allow
greater use for our youth and finished a huge overhaul of the Central Nyack
Community Center. Many new programs were started and we had perhaps the
finest summer concert season ever. We completed the installation of charging
stations at Town Hall as well as the installation of a 110KW solar system on the
roof that will meet nearly forty percent the electric needs of Town Hall. In 2024
we approved the overhaul of the Germonds Park complex which will be
completed in 2025 with new turf fields, added parking, and facilities. We also
approved the long-awaited West Nyack revitalization project, some twenty-plus
years in the offing, that will transform the hamlet once complete with new
sidewalks, drainage, green space, parking and better roadway connectivity. We
had another successful budget year with the reaffirmation of the highest
municipal bond rating for a town in Rockland County. Overall, despite the
aforementioned losses, it was a pretty good year for our town.
On a national level the term unprecedented comes to mind. We saw things we
have not witnessed in a generation, including the withdrawal of an incumbent
president from running for re-election, leading to perhaps the most hotly
contested election in modern history. Somehow, we survived it, as well as the
eclipse, an East Coast earthquake, and the many natural disasters that offered
times for people to come together. It was a year filled with ups and downs and
change.
Yet, it all begs the question, how do we truly measure a year? I believe that the
song lyrics offer the answer. We measure a year in snapshots, in seasons of love. I
believe what I will take away in the 527,040 minutes of 2024 will be snapshots of
love. A community and country coming together, new beginnings, and sad
goodbyes, in short it was a year filled with minutes that were momentous, joyous,
sad, and certainly eventful. It fills me with hope and gladness for all that was and
will be going forward. In his famous ESPY Awards speech, the late great basketball
coach Jim Valvano spoke about the fullness of a day. He offered that one should
take time every day to contemplate; to think, to laugh, and have your emotions
moved to tears. He famously said if we do that every day, namely, think, laugh
and are moved to tears it will be a pretty full day. As viewed from this
perspective. I trust the 527,040 minutes of 2024 allowed you time to think, laugh
and cry. It is my prayer that the 525,600 minutes we are about to embark upon
known as 2025 will allow you all that and more. Let 2025 be a season of love,
where we think, laugh and yes cry as we measure a year. A Blessed and Happy
New Year to all in our beloved Town and Country!
