The big Dakota Whiteout storm served up less snow and than predicted in the Western Ramapo hills. Once again, the Sloatsburg Public Works Department was out early and late — with the one DPW truck clearing roads after 3 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Although arguably one of the smallest villages in Ramapo, Sloatsburg’s DPW tends to keep the streets clear of wintry weather like clockwork.
There will be a Public Meeting at the Sloatsburg Fire Hall Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. on the Western Ramapo Sewer Extension Project for Pine Grove Lakes.
The Mayor of Spring Valley, Ramapo’s biggest village and on the town’s far eastern boundary, apparently took a political pounding Tuesday afternoon for allegedly ordering the village’s snowplows off the streets.
According to LoHud’s Steve Lieberman, the Spring Valley snow plow scheduling snafu caused both Town of Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence and Rockland County Executive Ed Day to intervene. It was not clear why Spring Valley Mayor Demeza Delhomme initially ordered the village’s Department of Public Works off the road — while expressing that Spring Valley residents should themselves stay home and off the roads.
“To be very clear,” County Executive Ed Day posted on Facebook, “no one in this County will be short changed under my administration. And special thanks to Highway superintendents Vezzetti and Sharon, along with Ramapo Supervisor St. Lawrence, for their efforts on the matter.”
After the plow snafu, Mayor Delhomme took to Twitter to communicate that Spring Valley streets were, indeed, being plowed.
At a recent Spring Valley Village Board meeting that ran until nearly 10:35 p.m., it was reported that Mayor Delhomme adjourned the meeting only to have it continue after his exit. Three Village Trustees remained in session and voted on some 12 resolutions not on the evening’s agenda, including a motion to authorize Spring Valley volunteer firefighters who are village employees to respond to emergency calls during their work hours.
Pine Grove Sewer Public Meeting
Get your questions answer down at the Sloatsburg Fire Hall Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. The Western Ramapo Sewer Extension Project, and accompanying representatives, will discuss the planned construction phase of Sloatsburg’ next big sewer construction project in the Pine Grove Lakes neighborhood.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals plant in Suffern to close shop
Rockland County Times Editor Dylan Skriloff has the details on the Tuesday afternoon Novartis announcement that the company intends to shutter the Suffern facility in 2017 — actually, the plan is to implode the building.
Novartis campus in Suffern, NY / Rockland County Times
The plant employs some 521 people in Rockland County.
Suffern Police Chief Clarke Osborn broke the news of the closure on his Facebook page Tuesday evening (who says social media doesn’t distribute the news in a timely manner?)
Osborn voiced his concern about what the plant closing might mean to the Ramapo Central School District via lost taxes.
“Hopefully a good ratable takes its place and that all of the hundreds of employees who work at this site find employment in a place that they desire,” Osborn wrote. “We have a great community, great schools and an awesome village in Suffern, we need to keep it that way.”
According to Ramapo Central School Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adams, Novartis paid a school tax for the current school year of “just over $2,500,000.“
“The loss of tax revenue from that property will certainly have an impact on all of our taxpayers,” said Adams in a statement.
Local social and new media practitioners being sued by Clarkstown politicians et al
Frank Sparaco / Ricky Flores/The Journal NewsLoHud writer Laura Incalcaterra recently reported on the efforts of contingent of Rockland County group to sue a popular New City Patch writer, Michael Hull, for defamatory statements. The legal action also charges Patch contributor Anthony Miele. The suit charges that Hull and Miele repeatedly mixed opinion and fact in articles that gave the impression that one or more of the parties involves in the suit engaged in criminal behavior.
LoHud writer Laura Incalcaterra recently reported on the efforts of contingent of Rockland County group to sue a popular New City Patch writer, Michael Hull, for defamatory statements. The legal action also charges Patch contributor Anthony Miele. The suit charges that Hull and Miele repeatedly mixed opinion and fact in articles that gave the impression that one or more of the parties involves in the suit engaged in criminal behavior.
The legal action is being undertaken by Rockland County Legislator Frank Sparaco, Rockland Republican Chairman Vincent Reda, along with Clarkstown Highway Superintendent Wayne Ballard and Mark Mondelli, owner of Mark’s Onsite Truck and Equipment Repair in New City.
Some people suggest the lawsuit by the Clarkktown contingent resembles a SLAPP case — strategic lawsuit against public participation.
The legal action was filed in November of 2013. Supporters of the writers have set up a legal defense contribution fund.
