We are Tara Agen and Beth Koppel, and we would like to represent you as Democrats on our Town Committee for District 11. A Democratic Committee member is a volunter position that helps identify issues from our District and organizes solutions for our Democratic elected leaders. More ...
This is a reminder that next Monday, Oct 6th, is our next Suffern Village Board meeting around Orange Ave development.
I encourage all of us in District 11 to attend and understand if our Village Board members will take the advice of our Suffern Planning Board.
It is critical we continue to understand if the good suggestions of our planning board will be thoughtfully aligned to by our Trustees and Mayor/Deputy Mayor.
Last Wednesday, Beth and I attended the Rockland County Democratic Committeeperson convention (that’s a mouthful)!
There is so much I could write about that overall experience, but I want to focus on the highlights.
1. My mother came with me and it was great to see how proud she was that I am getting more involved in my community. My Dad, who passed away 4 years ago, was smiling down on us.
2. I had two great supporters for both Beth and I, Tom Ciccone and Spence Berg. They sincerely enjoyed the experience, learned as much as we did, and I so appreciate them being there.
3. The convention ended due to the Chairman not recognizing due process and Roberts Rules of Order. All other towns had met, discussed their leadership team, their platforms and their next steps for November. Town of Ramapo is out of compliance with their bi-laws due to too many people not doing the right thing.
4. We have to get it together. This race is too close for comfort in November and Obama/Biden must be the priority to win.
Staying focused on good neighbors, good family and good times need to be brought back into our County and Town party systems. Stay tuned.
We are excited to invite our District 11 supporters that want to attend the Rockland County Convention this Wednesday, Sept 17th, at:
The Nyack Seaport
21 Burd Street, Nyack, NY
7PM Sharp!
As Town of Ramapo and Village of Suffern Democrats, we will also get to be a part of our new party movement inside our Town! The Town of Ramapo will have to meet at this convention, before all others, in order to make sure our newly elected members, like Beth and I, can bring forth new leadership and change to our Town! Your ability to join us would be a thrill and it could help with some of our proxy votes for newly elected members that had previous commitments on short notice for this meeting.
Please let us know if you can join us. tarajagen@yahoo.com or bkoppel@aq-solutions.com.
What a 48 hours, as I reflect today, Sept 11th, I am thankful for the opportunity to engage and support our neighborhoods and District 11 around Orange Avenue.To all those neighbors in the West Ward, on Chestnut Street, in the Park Avenue Condos, Park Ave, and lower Lafayette, many thanks for your input by email or your actual appearance at last night’s Village Planning Board meeting. Beth and I, with your support and help, organized our 1st ’solution’ for the Orange Avenue Project. We had created some questions that were circulated to help about 150 in attendance better understand the details of this plan and proposal. It was through your individual perspective, opinion and suggestions that resulted in a vote to approve the project moving forward; however, with additional citizen driven requests met:
Additionally, and more amazingly, it was identified that the citizens in the room want to help Suffern better understand what its downtown needs to bring residents to shop, eat, and be entertained. They want to bring their marketing, promotional and online skills to the Village and to compliment the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. Other citizens brought to light more parking problems and there is an opportunity for our Village Board to understand, embrace change and make Suffern more shoppable and visitable!Finally, many people moved here and believe that Suffern is on the brink of “cool.” All our answers to any problem or opportunity will be found amongst our citizens. Let’s look there and build bridges. -Tara
To all our District 11 voters! THANK YOU!!! The votes are in and Beth and i will be your new Democratic County Committee members. We are excited to serve with the Schoenlebers. We will be in touch to continue to understand what our neighborhood and District 11 needs to be the great place we all live.
The official results:
http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/BOE/ACCUME090908.HTM
Just a reminder of the Village Planning Board meeting tomorrow night. Many of you talked about a Suffern that continues to understand our West Ward, Orange Ave, Chestnut Ave, Park Ave and Lafayette needs! 7pm sharp at Village Hall.
Again, so many thanks for the support and embrace you have given us.
Tara
WOW…it’s all Beth and I had to say about our great event yesterday. Between canvassing and The Garden Party on Sunday, we have met hundreds of Registered Democrats and Neighbors in District 11 the last few weeks.
Yesterday was a complete treat where over 100 of you stopped by, met new friends, reconnected with old ones, and had a great time in the 23 Meadow Garden. We discussed everything from how to lose weight, to the Presidential campaign, to Orange Avenue to putting an old fashioned Merry-Go-Round where the Gazebo is in the Village.
We had terrific food supplied by Georgie Porgie’s on Chestnut (everyone said the meatballs were some of the best they ever tasted…so was their ziti); Dona Maria’s (the quesadilla’s and tortillas/salsa were a hit); Bagel Train (I just love their everything bagel anyday); Crumbs (my favorite Boston Creme cupcakes…but everyone loved the brownies!)…all District 11 businesses…thank you!
Finally, The DJ was terrific. And…what a treat for all…Spence Adams performed 6 songs from her repitoire…just amazing. The 23 Meadow Ave Garden’s 1st oudoor concert. Just think if we could do this scene at The Quarry….a much better use of that land if we can’t keep it open space (but that is another entry).
Remember, tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9th is the Democratic Primary. Please vote for Tara Agen and Beth Koppel.
As we prepared for our Garden Party Saturday morning, we also wanted to make sure we canvassed our neighborhood again. Beth had a blast getting soaked by Hanna, while I was piloting the car through the puddles. Thanks to all who continue to connect with us and validate that we just want to better understand how to connect with our Village elected officials, dialog around the issues that matter most to our neighborhood and begin to interconnect how we organize solutions, together, to make a difference in Suffern and Town of Ramapo.
We look forward to having folks stop by Tara’s Garden tomorrow for lively dialog and meeting new friends.
Sometimes, you just get lucky.
Tonight, during our canvass, we had the pure pleasure of meeting a new neighbor, and wonderful woman, Beatrice. She filled our heads with great feedback and ideas on how Suffern could be a better place for all.
Of course, it all started with ‘parking’…or the inability to park when guests visit her in the Village. She had excellent ideas for overnight parking, how to make our Village more lively, and how to make NJ Transit a better ‘neighbor’ to all of us, like residents have done in Spring Valley.
The best part about our visit is that with her actress and singing background, she will be part of our Garden Party on Sunday and bring her guitar, her voice and herself (including a great sense of humor) and share her talents with all of us, who are her neighbors, at our event. Lucky us!! 
Hi-District 11 is part of the Town of Ramapo/Rockland County voter districts. Think about this ‘map’ as a series of streets that represent different areas within our neighborhoods. District 11 includes: The West Ward (the neighborhood that sits over the train tracks on the side where you catch NJ Transit). Those streets include: W. Park Place, Meadow Avenue, N. Ramapo, Maple, W. Maltbie, Oak Terrace, Jersey Avenue, Dunnery Court, Ridge Ave and First Street. Across the tracks on the Downtown side of the Village, District 11 includes: Chestnut, Park Ave, Orange Ave, and Lafayette Ave.Tonight, Beth and I canvassed part of our district again. The issues are still the same and the overall need from our citizens is continued education around key issues like Orange Ave development, The Quarry Development, the One seat train to Midtown from Suffern, the upcoming Presidential election. We are excited for neighbors to stop by our “Garden Party” on Sunday, September 7th, from 11:30 am - 3:30 pm to continue to the conversation.We will be out tomorrow night talking to neighbors again. One message is clear, make sure you vote on Tuesday, September 9th for Tara Agen and Beth Koppel AND also make sure our neighbors attend the Village Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, September 10th at 7pm. It is critical we have neighbors make the effort to attend, understand, listen and contribute.Thanks to all those neighbors tonight who were so hospitable with their time and energy to talk.
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