No misses allowed here!
Whose got a beguiling smile, works two jobs, raises a family and volunteers in her spare time? It”™s Mrs. Hudson Valley, aka Jennifer Ferris of Mountaindale in Sullivan County.
Rockland native Ferris will represent the Hudson Valley at the Mrs. New York State Pageant in March, 2009. If she wins that title, it”™s off to Las Vegas for a shot at becoming Mrs. USA next summer.
The mother of two works as an administrative assistant for P&N Fire & Burglar Alarm in Monticello. She runs an event planning business from home, called I Do. On top of that, Mrs. Hudson Valley takes care of a husband, two children and spends her free time (does she have any?) volunteering for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Ferris doesn”™t like bullying and is a staunch advocate for getting the word out to parents and schools that it”™s not civilized behavior””at any age. For young children who bully ”“ and for those who are their victims ”“ the long-term consequences can be devastating. Ferris hopes to win the title of Mrs. New York and go on to become the next Mrs. USA so she can spread the word nationally and raise awareness about abuse. And even if she doesn”™t make it to the next level, she intends to keep on truckin”™ to spread the word to schools and communities all around the Hudson Valley.
“There is an increasing problem with depression in this country, especially in children, and I”™ve worked hard to create solutions to deal with this tragedy. Both sides of the bullying are suffering from some sort of mental abuse in those situations. It”™s a tender situation that needs more attention in the Hudson Valley, in New York state and in the nation.”
Who knows? Our next Mrs. USA may very well be a Hudson Valley native.
Getting ready for the “Quad”
Ice sculptures designed to mesmerize and hot air balloons offering rides in the skies are just part of what”™s in store for the upcoming Knickerbocker Ice Festival at Rockland Lake State Park.
Now in its third year, the event will be held on the weekend of Jan. 24-25. It has been chosen by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission as the official site of the 2009 kickoff of the state”™s Quadricentennial Celebration, marking the 400th anniversary Hudson”™s voyage up the river, along with the discovery of Lake Champlain and the invention of the steamboat, both celebrating their 200th anniversary.
The mid-winter celebration will not only feature marvels crafted of ice but will include a fireworks display over Rockland Lake on Saturday evening, art shows, campfires, music, food and more along the three-mile long stretch around Rockland Lake, once the ice-making epicenter during that industry”™s boom in the 19th century.
Ice sculptor Robert Patalano, owner of Knickerbocker Ice House, will create a 20-foot long replica of Henry Hudson”™s famous schooner for the event. Along with Palatano, ice sculptor Earl Covington will reproduce Robert Fulton”™s steamboat, the Cleremont. “Fulton”™s Folly,” the name tag bestowed on it by naysayers of the day, is celebrating its own 200th anniversary of its voyage up the Hudson in 2009.
To learn more about the weekend tribute to the Quad, visit HYPERLINK “http://www.knickerbockericefestival.com” www.knickerbockericefestival.com. Â
Five new businesses join our Hudson Valley family:
Bling Bling Chicken Wings ”“ Eat or wear around your neck, it”™s up to you.
Commercial Clean Las Vegas ”“They”™ll sweep up those pesky feather boas after the floor show.
Julia”™s Garden of Edenville ”“ Don”™t forget your fig leaf.
Pigeon Versus Statue ”“ The winged rat remains the odds-on favorite.
Fill my Boat.com ”“ Will it still float?
