Permits OK'd for New City Festival, Italian Festival

The Clarkstown Town Board on Tuesday approved permits related to the New City Chamber of Commerce's upcoming New City Festival and the Congers-Valley Cottage Rotary Club's Italian Festival.

With a unanimous vote, the board granted permits to let both organizations sell alcoholic beverages on public property. The permits are required by the town's local codes.

The New City Festival is set for Sept. 19, from noon to 6 p.m. in the rear parking lot of Clarkstown Town Hall, 10 Maple Ave., New City. The festival usually takes place in front of the Rockland County Courthouse on Main Street in New City, but was moved to the Town Hall lot this year because of the ongoing downtown New City rehabilitation project.

That project is revamping Main Street with new sidewalks, lighting, landscaping and other improvements. Work on the current phase of the multi-million-dollar project is expected to continue until late November.

In the future, the Chamber of Commerce is hoping to have the festival on Main Street, creating a street fair atmosphere.

The 2010 festival is slated to include live entertainment on the town's Showmobile, a food court and a wide variety of craft and specialty vendors featurig jewelry, handmade items, a Henna Tatoo Artist, hand-painted glassware and novelty toys. The event also is set to include a "bounce house" for kids, clowns and facepainting.

The Congers-Valley Cottage Rotary Club is set to have its fourth annual Italian Festival at the old Congers train station, 20 Burnside Ave., Congers, on Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On the menu for the festival: Fresh, locally-produced specialties including sausage and peppers, pizza, Italian subs, pasta dishes, Italian barbeque items, cannolis, zepolles, biscotti, Italian ices, wine tasting and more. The Italian Festival also features a beer tent including seasonal specialties.

The festival also includes musical acts, entertainers and activities for kids including a "bounce house" and pumpkin painting.