Juneteenth celebrations in Spring Valley, Haverstraw: Rockland Angle

Nancy Cutler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News
·1 min read

Hope you had a chance to get out to some of the Juneteenth events over the weekend.

At Spring Valley's Memorial Park, ForTheCulture Foundation hosted a full slate of entertainment (and a bouncy castle!) to mark the news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reaching people in Texas in June 1865, almost two and a half years after it was signed.

Jazmine Leon is a board member of ForTheCulture Foundation. The nonprofit, created in 2020 by Spring Valley High School graduates, has offered support through the region. The group hosted a Juneteenth event on Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Memorial Park in Spring Valley.
Jazmine Leon is a board member of ForTheCulture Foundation. The nonprofit, created in 2020 by Spring Valley High School graduates, has offered support through the region. The group hosted a Juneteenth event on Sunday, June 19, 2022, at Memorial Park in Spring Valley.

In Haverstraw, Juneteenth, also called Freedom Day, was celebrated with weekend events at African American Memorial Park on Clinton Street. This was the seventh year that events were hosted in the village by the Haverstraw African American Connection.

A Little Free Library was installed at Haverstraw's African American Memorial Park and dedicated on Sunday, June 19, 2022. The library, along with a bench and patio space, was the Eagle Scout project for Samuel Colton of Troop 97 in New City.
A Little Free Library was installed at Haverstraw's African American Memorial Park and dedicated on Sunday, June 19, 2022. The library, along with a bench and patio space, was the Eagle Scout project for Samuel Colton of Troop 97 in New City.

The events included the unveiling of a Little Free Library, with a bench for reading and relaxing. The special reading space by the river was courtesy of Samuel Colton of Boy Scout Troop 97 in New City, who made this his Eagle Scout project.

Lots of Little Free Library spots dot Rockland. Where's your favorite?

Have a news tip, story idea, feedback? Contact Nancy Cutler at ncutler@lohud.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rockland Angle newsletter for Monday June 22 2022