Yeshiva World News

Is your child riding a bicycle without a helmet? The Community Outreach Center, in partnership with the Rockland County Department of Health, will be distributing free bike helmets to residents of Rockland County as part of the Child Pedestrian Safety Program.

The helmets will be given out on Thursday, July 17th, from 1:30 – 3:30 pm, at the Haverstraw WIC office, located at 26 New Main Street in Haverstraw. Bring your children with you to the helmet giveaway so that their helmets can be fitted correctly. The helmets will be given out first come, first serve as supplies last.

Bicycle helmets are important safety gear required for all bike riders no matter how young or old they are. In Rockland County it’s the law to wear a helmet every time you are on a bike.

“To be safe, make sure the helmet is worn the right way. It should sit on top of the head in a level position, and should not rock forward, backward or side-to-side. The helmet straps must always be buckled, but not too tightly. Properly worn bike helmets can reduce the risk of head and brain injury,” said Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Rockland County Commissioner of Health.

Adults and parents should be good role models and wear helmets too. Don’t let children ride without supervision until they have shown you they always follow the rules of the road and wear their helmet.

For more information and other childhood injury prevention tips, visit the Safe Kids website at www.safekids.org or call the Health Department’s Childhood Injury Prevention Program at 845- 364-3865.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

Ramapo Police Department report that on Monday evening July 14th at approximately 8:30, police officers were dispatched to a possible Burglary in progress at 33 New County Road, in the Village of Airmont. As responding officers arrived on scene and began to investigate the report, another burglary in progress was reported from the resident at 5 Laura Drive, also in the Village of Airmont. Responding police officers were able to locate a vehicle which was believed to be involved in the reported burglaries. Subsequently, Ramapo Police arrested one male for both burglaries.

The suspect, Jude Bonneau, of 45 Parkway Trailer Court, Pomona, NY was arrested and charged with two counts of Burglary 2nd, two counts of Criminal Mischief, and Possesion of Burglary tools.

Ramapo Detectives and Rockland Co Sheriffs are investigating the case and are currently working with other agencies in regards to similar incidents.

The suspect was arraigned in Airmont Criminal Court and is currently being held at Rockland County Jail.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

Early Saturday morning, police officers from the Ramapo and Suffern Police Departments were stopped along the north side of Route 59 about 1/10 of a mile east of Hemion Road. The officers were speaking with two individuals on the sidewalk and grass area on the north side of the road when a car, a 2009 Honda Civic, traveling westbound on Route 59 struck a stopped Ramapo Police car. The police car was pushed onto the sidewalk and grass area striking two of the four police officers who were in that area. The two officers were thrown a short distance away from the police car. The Honda then rolled over before coming to rest back on its wheels facing in an eastern direction.

The two officers, PO Raymond Smith of Ramapo PD and PO Lance Weinstein of Suffern PD both sustained injuries. They were both transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. PO Weinstein was treated and released. PO Smith was admitted to the hospital for treatment of his internal injuries.

The driver of the Honda, Iliana Negron (21 years old) of Suffern NY was also taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, where she was treated and released. Negron was arrested at the scene. She is currently charged with Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated and Vehicular Assault 1st Degree. She will be arraigned later this date.

The crash is being investigated by Ramapo Police accident investigators.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

Ramapo Police report that on Friday evening July, Police received a call from the alarm company indicating a burglar alarm activation at # 1 Midway Road in the Village of Chestnut Ridge . Responding Police units apprehended two suspects at the scene and arrested both suspects after a burglary was confirmed.

Suspect one is identified as Jermin Fordyce 238 Prospect Ave Englewood, NJ 07631 and he is charged with DWI, Burglary 2nd, Possession of Burglar Tools, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property and False Personation.

Suspect two is identified as Corey Degroat 250 Franklin Rd Englewood, NJ 07631 and he is charged with Burglary 2nd and False Personation.

Both suspects are being held pending arraignment and the investigation is continuing.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

On Wednesday evening around 11:25pm, a Ramapo police officer was struck by a motor vehicle while on a traffic post near the intersection of Pomona Road and Summit Park Road in the Town of Ramapo. The vehicle was a 2007 Subaru operated by Robert Mahoney, a 24 year old male resident of Stony Point, NY. The operator was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated and is currently being processed at the Ramapo police stationhouse. His arraignment date will be July 31st in Ramapo Justice Court. The accident is being investigated by the Ramapo PD Accident Investigation Unit and any additional charges may be determined at a later date.

The officer was transported to a local hospital by ambulance and is expected to be treated and released for his injuries.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

Environmental groups are urging a state board to reject New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to use clean water funds to help finance the construction of the new Tappan Zee Bridge.

Cuomo wants to use $511 million in loans from a clean water fund on the $3.9 billion bridge project. The plan must be approved by the state’s Public Authorities Control Board.

On Wednesday several environmental groups wrote to the board urging it to defeat Cuomo’s proposal, arguing that it would be an inappropriate use of funds intended to pay for drinking water, sewage and other water projects.

The letter was signed by leaders of 11 groups including Environmental Advocates of New York, the Hudson River Fisherman’s Association and the Natural Resource Defense Council.

(AP)

On July 7, 2014 at approximately 4:30 p.m. the Clarkstown Police Department arrested Kevin Koronowicz, 29, from Congers for burglary third. Koronowicz is accused of burglarizing a maintenance facility located at the Palisades Center Mall. An alert security officer observed an unknown male inside the facility and called police. A search was conducted and Koronowicz was found hiding. He was placed under arrest and transported to Clarkstown Police Headquarters.

After further investigation, Koronowicz was charged with 2 additional counts of burglary third (felony) and two counts of petit larceny (misdemeanor) for burglarizing the same maintenance facility on June 17 and 24. On those dates assorted maintenance supplies totaling over $3,500 were stolen.

Koronowicz was arraigned in Clarkstown Justice Court before Judge Ugell and remanded to the Rockland County Correctional Facility in lieu of $15,000 bail. He is due back in court on July 11, 2014 .

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

After years of neglect, work is about to begin to repair the crumbling New Jersey section of the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

Repaving crews could be on the job later this month or early August, said Steve Schapiro, spokesman for New Jersey’s Department of Transportation.

The agency is picking up the $11.2 million tab because the Palisades Interstate Park Commission, the road’s owner, doesn’t have the money to fix it.

READ MORE: LOHUD

All motorists are advised that NORTH AIRMONT ROAD, between Route 59 & NYS Thruway (Exit 14B) will be closed from Friday, July 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM until Sunday, July 20, 2014 at 4:00 PM. This closure will expedite the upgrade of the Norfolk-Southern Railroad Tracks on North Airmont Road. Local traffic and businesses will have FULL ACCESS to the roadway up to the work zone. FULL ACCESS to the NYS Thruway via detour will be available.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

Nearly everyone who lost power during last night’s storm has had their electricity restored.

An Orange and Rockland Utilities spokesman says there are only scattered outages at this time. O&R’s Mike Donovan say nearly 12,000 homes were without power at the height of last night’s wild weather.

In Rockland, much of West Haverstraw was completely in the dark for most of the evening.

The pounding rain was also responsible for flood-like conditions along part of Route 202 and several side streets.

[By Rockland County Executive, Ed Day]

Friends,

When the Legislature announced intentions this spring to open the Rockland County Charter for revisions, my Administration immediately started work on several meaningful reforms. While any changes to the Charter require legislative approval, I expect one critical proposal to be given thoughtful and complete consideration: term limits.

A 2013 poll conducted by the Siena College Research Institute found eight out of ten registered voters in New York believe state law should limit how long state senators and assembly members can serve. Other recent surveys have yielded similar results at the federal level. A study by “The Washington Post” found term limits favored by more than 70 percent of the American public. Even as close as Westchester you will find term limits for County legislators and the County Executive. Despite the shrill screams from entrenched politicians, you will also find that government and the county still functions quite nicely!

Here in Rockland County, I realize term limits are all about good government. I made it known early in my campaign that I would “self limit” by seeking only two terms as your County Executive. The principle of rotation is a check against the belief that any elected leader is indispensable. I offer the same philosophy for our legislators. None should serve more than three consecutive four-year terms. Simply put, the notion of a permanent governing body is bad for our residents.

As the headlines continue to be dominated by news of criminal investigations, felony indictments and patronage scandals, I believe term limits will help to choke the insidious growth of political corruption. It’s easy to see how backroom deals, favoritism and cronyism lead to bad decisions and gridlock at all levels of government. Often times, the people’s business is done for the satisfaction of special interests and, sadly, the people have grown tired of government’s “business as usual” attitude. Term limits would help bring an end to an era in which money and influence sways proposed legislation and election ballots. And bear in mind any current legislator would be unaffected for TWELVE years as this rule cannot be grandfathered in!

My Administration is working hard every day to change the culture within this organization. We’re also working to improve the public perception of Rockland County. From an economic standpoint, any effort to purge politics of careerism would help to restore the trust placed in our people by our residents, the media and the financial markets, which continue to watch us closely.

Term limits alone will not remedy the dysfunction that can make local politics so repellant. I do believe, however, that limits encourage fresh ideas and help prevent endemic wrongdoing. President Ronald Reagan was an ardent supporter saying, “Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be political.”

If the residents of Rockland County are asked to decide on revisions to the County Charter, I will insist the changes include issues critical to the people and term limits is at the top of my list.

Best,

Ed Day.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

On July 2, at approximately 4:20 pm, a Ramapo Police Officer on patrol observed a forged NYS Inspection sticker on a 1998 Nissan Maxima, while the vehicle was being operated on Slinn Ave., in the Town of Ramapo. The officer conducted a traffic stop on this vehicle. The vehicle operator, Marquita N. Fleming, age 30, of Spring Valley NY was arrested and charged with Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the 2nd degree, a Class D Felony. She was arraigned before Hon. David Stein in the Town of Ramapo Justice Court. She was ROR’d and directed to appear in Ramapo Court on July 10, 2014 at 10:00 am.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)

Ramapo Police Department patrol units responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident in which a pedestrian was struck. Upon arrival, patrol units found that a pedestrian was crossing the street when he was struck by a vehicle driving on North Saddle River Road in the vicinity of Lane Street within the Town of Ramapo. The victim was hit by the front bumper of the vehicle, and landed on the hood of the car, breaking the windshield. The victim is a 58 year old male. He was transported to Westchester Medical Center by Hatzolah Ambulance Corp. He is currently listed in stable condition. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperating with the Ramapo Police Accident Investigation Unit. The accident is currently under investigation.

(YWN Monsey Newsroom)