A big civic conflict in small communities is often the issue of growth — how it happens and where and when. There are those who are pro business, or take to heart the mantra ‘build it and they will come’. Then there are people who advocate converting what is to what could be, such as redeveloping an historical village center. Some residents are Nimbys. Continue Reading

As most people in Sloatsburg know by now, the water main on Rt. 17 at Liberty Rock Road in front of the Sloatsburg Library broke again. Traffic crawled through the swampy village center Thursday morning as United Water subcontractors worked on the breach, with water main work continuing all day and into the evening. Continue Reading

The Twin Towers collapsed onto the streets of Lower Manhattan 11 years ago today, taking with them friends and family and a certain era in the continuing American story. On the local level, the event in New York City had very real consequences and each anniversary offers an occasion to look back and remember. Continue Reading

LoHud writer Gary Stern has continuing coverage of the fiscal slow-mo train wreck happening in the East Ramapo School District.

From budget shortfalls and lawsuits to board members preventing public access at school board meetings, the East Ramapo district is under increasing state and federal review.

In Stern’s Sunday, September 9, article he writes about “the single most divisive issue in East Ramapo — and the primary reason that the Orthodox community first sought a majority on the school board in 2005.”

Special education, or rather the dollars involved. Continue Reading

All across Sloatsburg streets are tagged with yellow badges in the shape of a fire department’s maltese cross. A mystery to many residents but very useful street art for a fire truck on the fly. The yellow street badges mark locations for Sloatsburg’s some 100 fire hydrants and were part of Dan O’Leary’s community service Eagle Scout project. Continue Reading

Sunday looks to be a perfect day for a bit of fiddle music and guitar picking. So, gather yourself, grab a lawn chair and head over to Harmony Hall for this year’s Highlands Bluesgrass Festival & Craft Fair in Sloatsburg. Continue Reading

Rockland County firefighters all have one thing in common. When those trucks from towns and villages make a midnight fire or rescue run, the men and women driving the trucks and answering the call are all volunteers. Duty doesn’t punch the clock and neither do volunteer firefighters, though most do have day jobs. Continue Reading

Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright’s eyes twinkled in that mischievous way when asked about an upcoming center stage ceremony to honor him at the Highlands Bluegrass Festival this Sunday, September 9th. The Friends of Harmony Hall are presenting the mayor with public kudos for his extensive support of the continuing restoration of the old Jacob Sloat Mansion. Continue Reading

There was a day when indoor plumbing was a thing of the future. Refrigeration was done with ice kept in ice boxes. And people did their business in little buildings outdoors, when mail order catalogues such as the Sears Roebuck were prized possessions. These structures could vary from fancy to plain and business simple. Continue Reading