Winter Solstice morning Friday brought an odd warm rain that created flash flood warnings and fast water throughout Rockland County. The Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department was out in the early downpour responding to a call on Sterling Mine Road that turned out to be a false alarm. Just as the trucks arrived back at the village station, at approximately 8:30 a.m., the department got another emergency call regarding a partially submerged vehicle adrift in the Ramapo River. Continue Reading

There’s a new Tudor-style bus shelter going up in Tuxedo, complete with shiny copper trim and spacious windows. Eventually, the bus stop will feature a $10,000 town clock.

Times Herald-Record reporter John Sullivan recently wrote that “the chateau,” as one Tuxedo resident called the shelter, will cost the town $63,000. According to Sullivan, Tuxedo Supervisor Peter Dolan, a member of the Tuxedo Local Development Corp. that spearheaded the project, said that the shelter is part of an effort to promote a municipal identity and replaces the worn-out open roadside shelter that was located directly across from the Tuxedo train station. Continue Reading

The ancient calendar is calling, and so is the Ramapo Saltbox house at the end of Torne Valley Road in Hillburn. The Saltbox Environmental Research Center (ERC) has sent out an open invitation to gather for a holiday party and traditional Solstice Celebration on Sunday, December 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

You bring the food and drink, and the Saltbox will provide music, stories and offer year end wishes to the four corners — as well as relief, should time continue after the end of the Mayan Long Count Calendar. Continue Reading

Members of the Suffern High School Select Choir

Sloatsburg — The room was bustling and full for the noon buffet of homemade foods and desserts. The Senior Center in Sloatsburg was in celebration mode Wednesday afternoon, with nearly 50 members taking part in the end-of-year party that also doubled as a passing of the presidential torch. Continue Reading

There’s controversy brewing out there regarding craft beer, which has experienced a sustained revival lately, along with home brew kits. Popular bar craft brands Blue Moon and Shock Top are not technically craft beers as both are produced by big-label breweries SABMiller and AB-InBev.

The very definition of craft beer involves small, independently brewed suds with a low production but higher quality beer. One of the features of craft beer is the surprise quotient. With each popped top, you’re not quite certain what you might get. Continue Reading

It’s that time of year for Pine Grove Lakes residents to gather for the Annual Homeowners’ Meeting. And with a recent notice from the Town of Ramampo that sewers might, just might, finally be coming to the Grove in 2013, the annual meeting could be the place to go to get answers. Continue Reading

Students were thinking pink this fall and figured out creative fundraising activities that brought in the dough — for a good cause.

Students at Suffern Middle School and Suffern High School mounted a series of events for cancer awareness, screening and treatment that collectively raised more than $8,500. Continue Reading

Ken Hayward described the delivery of a five pound Hershey’s chocolate bar to his store as a simple mistake. But it did give him a good idea.

When one of Hayward’s vendors was delivered the giant chocolate bar, the vendor figured that Hayward would know just what to do with the giant prize. So, he took it to Hayward’s Deli & Market, located in the central village on Rt. 17. “He gave me a big bar,” Hayward said. “I thought, well, I don’t want to give this to one family. Let me see if I can turn this into a $100.” Continue Reading

The fun and cookies offered a brief relief from the business at hand at last week’s special Village Board Reorganization meeting, which saw new Trustees Thomas Buckley, Jr. and Dan O’Leary sworn in.

The annual meeting is also where the mayor makes any appointments to boards or commissions. Continue Reading

One downside to Sloatsburg is Rt. 17 snaking through the central village, creating traffic backups and reducing the impulse to walk around. But there is an upside to having a river of cars flow by. And John Brownell out of Southfields has found a nice little oasis in the middle of that river. Continue Reading