On Air

ARC of Rockland is the grateful recipient of two large screen TVs donated by the Nanuet Fire Department. The televisions are located at Franklin Square, ARC’s post high school campus in Pearl River and ARC Careers, also in Pearl River.  “We are currently using the TVs to air instructional videos that reinforce classroom activities and lessons,” says Amy Hurwitz, Program Coordinator, ARC Careers. “We thank the Nanuet Fire Department for providing us with this excellent addition to our program. Mike Shumake, a job coach with ARC Careers is a member of the Nanuet Fire Department.

ARC Board Member Sonia Crannage, Esq.; Karen
Feinstein, ARC President; NYS Commissioner Burke
and ARC Board Member Irving Caminsky, PhD


Karyl Caplan, Executive Director, center, with NYS Commissioner Courtney Burke and Executive Directors
of other area agencies

Commissioner Burke Meets Rockland Execs.

Courtney Burke, Commissioner of the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, met recently with Executive Directors of Rockland County agencies helping people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities. Among those present were ARC Executive Director Karyl Caplan and several ARC of Rockland Board Members. The Commissioner provided an overview of Governor Cuomo’s State of the State 2012 address and responded to questions regarding upcoming changes in health care services. The January 10 event took place at Jawonio headquarters in New City.

Artist at Work

Thomas Dougherty puts the finishing touches on a ceramic piece in the art room at ARC headquarters in Congers.  Working with Mr. Dougherty is Judy Hetzl, Assistant with ARC Seniors. The ceramic items are created from liquid clay which is poured into a mold, dried and fired twice in a kiln, once before painting and once after painting. ARC artists choose from a variety of molds some of which have practical applications and some of which are decorative in nature.

Sharing Ideas

Guests from the Cyril Weinberg Center of AHRC in New York visited ARC of Rockland’s Senior Center on Wednesday, January 18. Over the course of several years, staffers from AHRC and ARC of Rockland have been exchanging ideas regarding the ways in which senior citizens with developmental disabilities can become involved in community activities. Pictured at left, the group admires quilts and hats made by ARC Seniors for donation to area shelters and hospitals. Valentina Shmulenson (second from right) heads up the Day Habilitation Program at AHRC. “We’ve learned a lot from you,” she told Juliet Asamoah, Director of ARC Seniors (fifth from left). Staff members from ARC Seniors have been invited to visit the Cyril Weinberg Center.