Dominican College Presents Little Shop of Horrors

Students are busy rehearsing for the March 3 and March 4 performances of Little Shop of Horrors.

The musical comedy hit Little Shop of Horrors was presented by the Aquin Players of Dominican College on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 8 p.m. in St. Dominic鈥檚 School.听This听theatrical sensation has devoured the hearts of audiences around the world听 before coming to听 to听Rockland County

Little Shop of Horrors is a sci-fi-horror comedy-rock musical with an early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop style composed by Alan Menken and written by Howard Ashman. The musical takes place in New York City during the 1960s and is based around Seymour Krelborn, a clumsy and dejected orphan working at Mushnik’s Flower Shop in urban Skid Row. Seymour happens upon a strange plant which he names 鈥淎udrey II鈥� in honor of his fellow coworker and longtime crush, Audrey. Much to Seymour鈥檚 surprise, the strange Venus fly trap transforms into a manipulative, foul-mouthed, R&B vocalist who has an appetite for human flesh and blood. Over time, however, Seymour discovers Audrey II desires more than just blood, what it really wants is world domination!

When Dominican College Junior John Ameen is asked what it was听like to play the character Seymour, he laughs saying, 鈥淪eymour is funny, nerdy, and awkward, it鈥檚 a very different role for me but I鈥檓 enjoying it!鈥�

Director James Filippelli, Musical Director James Quaranto, and Choreographer Melissa Lucido would like to recognize cast and crew members both onstage and backstage for their hard work and dedication. Even though practice and preparation for any musical can be stressful, Dominican College freshman Rebecca Birmingham, who played the character of Audrey, says 鈥淭he cast is full of lighthearted people who make every practice enjoyable.鈥�

听

Ensemble:

Danielle Gulston 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Victoria Ficuciello听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shaylene Cruz

Elizabeth Roach听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Elena Ivers听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Elise Karasik

Jillian Pianghi听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Dashelle Disha 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Rebecca Birmingham

Christine Ditzel听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Julius Fontanes听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Aaron Hassan

John Ameen听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Alex Yang听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Justin Genardi

Luis Bermudez听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Jason Magee听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

 

February 28, 2017

Dominican College Presents Little Shop of Horrors

Students are busy rehearsing for the March 3 and March 4 performances of Little Shop of Horrors.

The musical comedy hit Little Shop of Horrors was presented by the Aquin Players of Dominican College on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 8 p.m. in St. Dominic鈥檚 School.听This听theatrical sensation has devoured the hearts of audiences around the world听 before coming to听 to听Rockland County

Little Shop of Horrors is a sci-fi-horror comedy-rock musical with an early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop style composed by Alan Menken and written by Howard Ashman. The musical takes place in New York City during the 1960s and is based around Seymour Krelborn, a clumsy and dejected orphan working at Mushnik’s Flower Shop in urban Skid Row. Seymour happens upon a strange plant which he names 鈥淎udrey II鈥� in honor of his fellow coworker and longtime crush, Audrey. Much to Seymour鈥檚 surprise, the strange Venus fly trap transforms into a manipulative, foul-mouthed, R&B vocalist who has an appetite for human flesh and blood. Over time, however, Seymour discovers Audrey II desires more than just blood, what it really wants is world domination!

When Dominican College Junior John Ameen is asked what it was听like to play the character Seymour, he laughs saying, 鈥淪eymour is funny, nerdy, and awkward, it鈥檚 a very different role for me but I鈥檓 enjoying it!鈥�

Director James Filippelli, Musical Director James Quaranto, and Choreographer Melissa Lucido would like to recognize cast and crew members both onstage and backstage for their hard work and dedication. Even though practice and preparation for any musical can be stressful, Dominican College freshman Rebecca Birmingham, who played the character of Audrey, says 鈥淭he cast is full of lighthearted people who make every practice enjoyable.鈥�

听

Ensemble:

Danielle Gulston 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Victoria Ficuciello听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Shaylene Cruz

Elizabeth Roach听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Elena Ivers听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Elise Karasik

Jillian Pianghi听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Dashelle Disha 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Rebecca Birmingham

Christine Ditzel听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Julius Fontanes听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Aaron Hassan

John Ameen听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Alex Yang听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Justin Genardi

Luis Bermudez听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Jason Magee听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

 

February 28, 2017

Students and Administrators Volunteer in El Salvador

A team of students and administrators traveled to El Salvador in January to volunteer at a day camp in the rural village of Sol Naciente.听 The camp in Sol Naciente was founded by a Dominican Sister, Sr. Flor Buruca, O.P., of Amityville, NY, a native of El Salvador.听 One of the four students on the trip was senior Adriannie Asencio, who is President of the Student Government Association.听 Adriannie volunteered with the group of children who were between two and six years old.听 鈥淪aying goodbye to the kids was very hard, but it made me aware of how important keeping in touch is, 鈥� she said.听 鈥泪t made me sad to see that the children were also crying before we left.鈥�

Thanks to two College administrators, plans are also underway to build a new well that will bring clean drinking water to three communities in El Salvador. Vice President of Institutional Advancement Dorothy Filoramo is the past president of the Pearl River Rotary. While the students were working in the day camp, she and Director of Residence Life听 Ryan O鈥橤orman met with community leaders to cement plans to build a new, deeper well.听

Filoramo said it was during last year鈥檚 service mission that they discovered the communities needed more than the water filtration systems they handed out to residents. 鈥淭he well is running dry. It services three communities and each gets water every third day, even though it鈥檚 dirty water.听 So what we discovered was they needed a new well,鈥� she said.听 The Pearl River Rotary has raised $25,000 and plans to get a matching global grant from Rotary International to fund the project.听 The new well is expected to be completed in the next two years.听

February 21, 2017

Expansion of Hennessy Center Moving Forward

The $5 million expansion of the Hennessy Center is well underway. Since construction got underway in September, below-ground facilities have been relocated, the site has been excavated, and the concrete floor and walls have been poured.

The Hennessy Center expansion will include a new, regulation-size NCAA gym on the same level as the current gym, with batting cages that can be lowered from the ceiling. A new lower level will have a fitness center, dance studio, weight room, and coaches鈥� offices. Plans call for the current exercise room to become an Athletic Training Lab for students in the Athletic Training academic program.听

鈥淲e have the highest praise for the way Holt Construction has managed the project so far,鈥� said Bill Fallon, Clerk of the Works. 鈥淐onstruction is on schedule and slated for completion by the end of June.鈥�

More than half of the money needed for the expansion has been raised. The College recently launched a new fundraising campaign to raise the remainder of the funds.听 If you are interested in donating, or would like to learn more about the Hennessy Center project, please contact Dorothy Filoramo at dorothy.filoramo@duny.edu.

听

 

February 21, 2017

Student Spotlight: Alma Godinez, Class of 2017

Alma Godinez is a Senior commuter student pursuing a Social Sciences degree with an emphasis in Psychology concurrently with minors in History and English. Originally from Woodbridge, Virginia, she moved to North Bergen, New Jersey with her family when she was 9 and later graduated from North Bergen High School in 2013.

While she was first attracted to Dominican College by the offer of a generous merit scholarship, Alma fell in love with the campus upon her first visit. Her fondness for the College reinforced her desire to succeed in the classroom, and impressively she has made the Dean鈥檚 List every semester, earning the right to wear the prestigious white tassel at graduation. She also has been inducted into various honor societies including Psi Chi Honor Society in Psychology, Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society in Social Sciences, and Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society in History.

Her academic achievement is all the more impressive because Alma has accomplished all of this while working full-time as a legal assistant at a small immigration law firm and performing volunteer work, including serving as a pro bono Spanish translator on asylum interviews during summer breaks and working as a special needs assistant at the Chambers School in New Jersey. Her extracurricular passion, debating, has further enriched her collegiate experience. She was voted President of the Dominican College Debating Society for her Senior year and has earned multiple trophies in intercollegiate competition.

Alma feels humbled by what she has experienced and achieved at Dominican College and by the support and encouragement she has received from her family. Because of their devotion and her own hard work, Alma will be the first college graduate in her family. As she prepares to say a tearful farewell to Dominican College, she already is planning the next phase of her life journey. She will begin law school in the fall and one day become an attorney working in the public sector so that she can pursue her passion to help others, especially young immigrant children and other unrepresented minorities in her community.

Favorite DC Moment: Earning the praise of the toughest debate judge after two years

January 23, 2017

Federal Reserve Bank of NY Leaders Present Positive “Outlook on the Economy”

Joseph Tracy, Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor to the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, spoke at the sixth annual “Outlook on the Economy: National and Regional Perspectives.”

Two senior leaders from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York were optimistic during their annual presentation  鈥淥utlook on the Economy: National and Regional Perspectives鈥� on January 13, 2017,  in the Fury Lecture Hall in the Prusmack Center. 

Joseph Tracy, Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor to the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York,  and Jason Bram, Research Officer, Regional Analysis Function,  spoke about the latest economic indicators.

Tracy said the firming in inflation, and the healthier labor market may prompt the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to consider normalizing monetary policy. He explained the key issue for policymakers, 鈥泪f they start raising interest rates, will the economy continue to make progress, toward particularly the inflation objective, without harming in some sense the employment objective?  Or is there a risk that those interest rate increases could stall the economy?鈥�

Tracy is the Chair of the Regulatory Oversight Committee for the Global Legal Entity Identifier System (GLEIS). His primary research interests include unions and collective bargaining, as well as housing and urban economics.  Previously, Tracy was an associate professor at Yale University and Columbia University. 

Bram focused on regional indicators and said that although the Rockland County housing market has not come back yet, there are encouraging anecdotal reports for the lower Hudson Valley Valley. 鈥淭here鈥檚 been a big pick-up in activity, apparently. So demand has picked up, it just hasn鈥檛 come into prices yet, 鈥�  he said.

Bram鈥檚 research and analysis focuses on the U.S. economy, with a primary emphasis on the Federal Reserve鈥檚 Second District, which includes New York State, northern New Jersey and southwestern Connecticut, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He produces the regional Beige Book reports, and uses monthly business surveys to monitor and analyze current and emerging economic trends and issues of concern. 

This is the sixth year that Dominican College has presented 鈥淥utlook on the Economy.鈥�

 

 

January 17, 2017

Student Chosen for Selective NY Program for Aspiring Filmmakers

Senior Joseph Key, shown above, took part in an interactive workshop to promote the inclusion of diverse voices in the entertainment industry.

Senior Joseph Key was one of just 31 students chosen statewide to participate in Pitch NY 鈥� a听 program for aspiring filmmakers, producers, and writers. During the day-long interactive workshop, the students heard from industry leaders, pitched听their ideas, and got advice.听 The workshop took place at NBCUniversal鈥檚 30 Rockefeller Plaza studios.听

While Joseph is a Nursing major, he explains that he has two passions in life 鈥� nursing, which he finds very fulfilling, and filmmaking, which allows him to express his creativity. Before attending Dominican College, he spent one year at the New York Film Academy. In his free time,听he听produces videos and short films and shares them on the internet.听

Joseph is very grateful that he was given the opportunity to participate in this workshop. 鈥泪 听didn鈥檛 realize the stakes until I actually got there and they told us that they received hundreds of applications, 鈥�听 he said.听

The event, hosted by the Governor鈥檚 Office of Motion Picture & Television Development and NBCUniversal Studios, in collaboration with the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, is the latest State initiative to promote the inclusion of diverse voices in the entertainment industry.

听

 

December 7, 2016

College Hosts Symposium on the Safety of Our Water

water-panel

There was a wide range of water safety topics discussed at the Fourth Annual Healthcare Symposium, 鈥滻s Your Water Safe Enough? What You Need to Know鈥� on Friday, November 18, 2016, in the Prusmack Center.听

A panel of experts educated residents about the safety of water for drinking and recreation.听While public water is highly regulated, they said homeowners with private wells should test their water frequently.听

Dr. Daniel Miller, Water Supply Program Manager with the Rockland County Department of Health, also cautioned that water filters should be used properly. He explained that activated carbon filters that fit into a pitcher or onto your faucet work by absorbing contaminants to a site on the carbon. 听鈥淎nd when you saturate all those sites, they start releasing all those contaminants back into the water.听 That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 extraordinarily important 鈥� and a lot of people just don鈥檛 do it 鈥� to change those cartridges.鈥� 听

As far as the safety of the Hudson River for recreation, Dr. Andy Juhl, a Lamont Associate Research Professor with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, said although the Hudson River is cleaner that it was years ago, there is room for improvement. 鈥淎 typical location of the Hudson would still have unacceptable water quality because of sewage contamination about one out of every five days,鈥� he said. He stressed that the tributaries of the Hudson River are actually more contaminated than the Hudson, and the Sparkill Creek is among the worst

Other panelists included: Dr. Steven Chillrud, Senior Doherty Research Scientist, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory; Hon. Harriet Cornell, Rockland County Legislator; and Dan Shapley, Water Quality Program Director, Riverkeeper. The program was moderated by the former Health Commissioner for Rockland County, Dr. Joan Facelle.听

鈥淲e are asked to be good stewards of our water supply so that our water can remain safe for generations to come,鈥� said Dr. Facelle as she concluded the program. 鈥� We need to continue to work on conservation, on monitoring and testing, regulation and enforcement, ongoing research and improved infrastructure, so that we can ensure a safe supply in the future.鈥�

听

 

November 21, 2016

Businesses Get Tips on Securing Government Contracts

bus-w-gov2

Paul Brennan, Rockland County Director of Purchasing, and Lin Simeti, Program Director, REDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center, were among the panelists at the November 17 program, “How to Make Government Your Customer.”

Local business leaders interested in doing work for government agencies attended 鈥淗ow to Make Government Your Customer鈥� on Thursday, November 17, 2016, in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall. The program was sponsored by the Palisades Institute.听

The first panel addressing 鈥淪teps to Becoming a Government Provider鈥� included: Paul Piperato, Rockland County Clerk; Lin Simeti, Program Director, REDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC); and Paul Brennan, Rockland County Director of Purchasing.

Simeti explained that PTACs were started by the Department of Defense to assist small businesses with procurement. 鈥淭hey set up a program to actually help small businesses get through the process and guide them so that they have the opportunity to bid and government has the opportunity to have a wider pool of vendors.鈥� The local PTAC in Pearl River helps businesses with one-on-one counseling, and has a free bid match system to notify businesses of local, state, or federal contracts that may interest them.听

Brennan stressed that in the public sector, businesses have the right to see past contracts and pricing so that they are not bidding on contracts 鈥渂lind.鈥� Among his suggestions:听 read the entire solicitation, give yourself enough time to fill it out, ask questions, be sure to have the proper insurance, and don鈥檛 give up.听

A second panel of successful local government contractors spoke about how they have overcome challenges. Those panelists included: Ellie Kassner, President, W.H. Kassner, Inc.; Marcelo Reggiardo, Principal, Alianza, Services, LLC; Nick O鈥橞rien, Vice President, Concept Print; and Harry Campbell, President, Biofeedback Resources International.

The aim of the Palisades Institute of Dominican College is to encourage leaders in business, government, and not-for-profit agencies to integrate the concepts of Leadership, Quality, and Ethics to achieve long-term success.

 

November 20, 2016

Annual Honors Convocation and Alpha Chi Induction Held

alpha-chi6

David Daniel, the President of the Dominican College Chapter of Alpha Chi, delivered the Honors Convocation Address.

Dominican College鈥檚 most accomplished students were recognized during the annual Honors Convocation and Alpha Chi Induction on Monday, November 14, 2016, in the Hennessy Center.

The Alpha Chi Honor Society is a national honor society which recognizes academic excellence, leadership, and service. Alpha Chi is open to juniors and seniors in all disciplines and is highly selective. During the ceremony, the inductees lit candles from a Candle of Knowledge and were presented with a white stole around their necks.

David Daniel, a senior nursing student and the President of the Dominican College Chapter of Alpha Chi gave an inspiring Honors Convocation Address. The theme throughout his speech was that there is greatness inside each and every student.听 He told a story of a young boy who was able to save his friend from drowning in an icy pond.听 When responders questioned how the small boy could possibly break a large branch to help save his friend, an older man replied, 鈥淭here was no one to tell him that he can鈥檛.鈥�

Daniel then spoke to the students. 鈥泪f you can move away from naysayers, If you can push away the idea that it鈥檚 not possible,听 you will be sitting here and the next thing you know, when you move to the next phase of your life, you鈥檒l be amazed at what you can do, because there is greatness inside of you,鈥� he said.听

In addition to the Alpha Chi induction, students were honored for being on the Dean鈥檚 List for one to three years.

听

听

November 15, 2016

New Club Raises Awareness of Disabilities

dining-in-dark-030

Students ate blindfolded at the Dining in the Dark event sponsored by the new club Equal Access for All so they could experience how it feels to be blind or visually impaired.

A new Student Activities Club called Equal Access for All caught the attention of听Dominican College听students with its first event 鈥� Dining in the Dark. During the event, students and a few administrators ate dinner while blindfolded to understand the challenges faced by people who are blind or visually impaired.听

The President of the fledgling club, Jose Del Orden, is blind himself and said he hoped the event was both interesting and memorable. 鈥淭he goal of this club is to spread awareness of disabilities in ways that are new and not only educational, but also entertaining, 鈥�听 he said.听

Freshman Alayna Heegan was among those in attendance and spoke as she struggled to eat her salad. 听 鈥泪 feel like it鈥檚 all over the table,鈥� she said.听 鈥泪鈥檓 getting of better understanding of how blind people feel and definitely will try to help them out.鈥�

星空传媒 50 people attended the event 听on Thursday, November 3, 2016, in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall.听听

 

November 10, 2016

Upcoming Business Forum on How to Make Government Your Customer

pi-panel2Local business leaders interested in doing work for government agencies are invited to attend 鈥淗ow to Make Government Your Customer鈥� on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at Dominican College.听 The program is sponsored by the Palisades Institute and will take place in the Lawrence Room of Rosary Hall, 480 Western Highway, Blauvelt, NY, with breakfast at 7:30, and the听forum running from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.听听

There will be two panel discussions. The first panel addressing 鈥淪teps to Becoming a Government Provider鈥� includes: Paul Brennan, Rockland County Director of Purchasing; Paul Piperato, Rockland County Clerk; and Lin Simeti, Program Director, REDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center.

The second panel is made up of successful local government contractors who will speak about 鈥淐reating Growth and Overcoming Challenges.鈥� Panel participants include:听 Ellie Kassner, President, W.H. Kassner, Inc.; Marcelo Reggiardo, Principal,听 Alianza Services, LLC;听 Nick O鈥橞rien, Vice President, Concept Print; and Harry Campbell, President, Biofeedback Resources International.

The aim of the Palisades Institute of Dominican College is to encourage leaders in business, government, and not-for-profit agencies to integrate the concepts of Leadership, Quality, and Ethics to achieve long-term success.

For more information and to register, call (845) 848-7806 or visit .

November 2, 2016