Rockland County Business Journal Rockland County’s future is being written today and community leaders are invited to attend the upcoming Economic Development Forum hosted by the Rockland County Office of Economic Development and Tourism with support from the Rockland Industrial Development Agency (IDA) and the Rockland Business Association (RBA) This is an opportunity for the public to directly engage in conversations about how Rockland County can grow thoughtfully balancing economic opportunity with preserving the quality of life that makes our community so special The trained and talented JCC staff will provide on-site childcare for children 4-9 years old The evening forum is designed especially for Rockland residents who want to share their ideas and hopes for the County’s future Topics will range from affordable housing and small business development to environmental stewardship Some of the most common questions already submitted by registrants reflect the key issues shaping our county’s future: These questions reflect a community that cares deeply about maintaining Rockland’s character while embracing smart “An engaged and involved citizen provides a voice to counter a more vocal minority of ‘no’ that often is the only voice heard at a public hearing.” The forum is not just about discussion it’s about helping residents become empowered to shape the future they want to see Rockland’s economic health is closely tied to issues like affordable housing With only 7% of Rockland’s housing stock built since 2010 and nearly 60% of renters facing a housing cost burden a strong nonprofit sector with many services that families seek and proximity to major transportation hubs We want to hear your voice and build our future together The Summit organizers stress that this is not just a meeting for government officials or business leaders—it’s for everyone who cares about Rockland’s future Whether you’re a small business owner or simply someone who cares about your neighborhood Participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the economic development tools available hear about successful revitalization efforts and discuss what strategies might work best for Rockland’s diverse communities building vibrant downtowns that offer housing and walkable streets can protect suburban neighborhoods while fueling local business Join Us on May 14th! What will Rockland look like in 5 or10 years Let’s not wait for the future to happen to Rockland County Heidi Vandiver is the Operations Manager of the Rockland Industrial Development Agency Read also: The Heart of the Community: Why Downtowns Matter (April 3, 2025) and Engaged Citizenship…Why An Educated And Involved Public Is Key To The Economic Development Of Our Community (March 27 Katherine Sullivan got what she'd been craving since last November: a chance the Italian composer and contemporary of Mozart I have been out of my skin to get back into this role even if it was for another 60 seconds," said Sullivan who played Salieri in Brewster High School's production of "Amadeus" last November She got that chance at Sunday's second annual Eastern Student Artist Guild awards honoring 15 non-musical plays at 14 theater programs from Westchester For more than two hours in an auditorium on the campus of Iona University from best actors in a drama to best actors in a comedy to best theater for social change From our archive: 'Amadeus' on stage: Jealousy and genius in Brewster Sprinkled among the awards were short speeches by the school directors extolling the work of their students and the power of the non-musical play to pack a punch and speak to its audience who oversees the theater program at host Iona announced that every student honored at Sunday's award ceremony was eligible to receive a $2,000-a-year renewable Iona scholarship There were also performances by those honored as best actors in drama and comedy Bennet fretted over her daughter's marriage prospects (Zoe Greenberg in Scarsdale's "Pride & Prejudice"); Grandpa Vanderhof preached the power of not chasing money (Gabriel McCabe from Westlake's "You Can't Take It With You"); Francis Henshall found himself in a bind with two demanding bosses (Matt Gutierrez from Eastchester's "One Man alone on the stage for nearly three minutes transporting the audience to the Vienna of the 1780s when Salieri first encountered the music of Mozart and was tormented by jealousy and the higher instruments above it wailed and warbled But the squeeze box went on and on and the pain cut deeper into my shaking head until suddenly I was running More than a part she playedThe role was more than a role for Sullivan and missed an entire year and a half of school she talked about how that absence motivated her “I watched everybody do what I wanted to do and I watched everybody get to be a part of what I wanted to be a part of,” she said “As soon as I got the opportunity to do it again has just given me so much motivation to do this in the best way I possibly can.” Sullivan spoke about how playing Salieri was a watershed moment "I don't think that I will ever be able to give a performance that justifies what this show gave me I'll never be able do enough for the show to match what I got out of it," she said "This experience marked such a change in my life and such a beginning in my life I've never felt so purposeful and I've never felt so excited to see what my life is going to turn out like The 2nd Annual ESAG Award winnersHere is the list of students recognized by the Eastern Student Artist Guild Awards Honorable Mention of Best Actors in a Drama: Maya Leone Bornstein Children’s Shakespeare Theatre; PJ Cravinho Best Stage Manager: Amelia Jimenez and Sophia Tellez Two Guvnors,” Eastchester; “Radium Girls,” Port Chester; “Treasure Island,” Fordham Prep Best Student Written productions: Theatrum Justitiate's script for "At the Table," Fordham Prep; Emerson Riter Best Production Team: Carmel for “Trap” — Téa Sedlarcik (director) Alex Cuccia (production designer and costume manager) Danica Day and Ashlyn Pinto Najera (stage managers) Dakota Crosby (assistant technical director Kate Roberts and Casey Crosby (projections) Anabella Marte (prop design and construction) Best Student Director: Annabelle Rosenbluth for “Hollywood Ending” at The Masters School Best Ensembles in a Comedy: “Murder's in the Heir” at New Rochelle (full cast); “One Man Two Guvnors” at Eastchester (Matthew Gutierrez Jaden Advani); “Peter and the Starcatcher” at Valhalla (Leonidas Toth Best Ensembles in a Drama: “Radium Girls,” Port Chester; “Radium Girls,” Harrison; “Trap,” Carmel; “Theatrum Justitiae At the Table,” Fordham Prep; “The Great Gatsby,” Rye Neck; "Romeo and Juliet," Children's Shakespeare Theatre; "Antigone," The Masters School Best Supporting Actors in a Comedy: Mike Arreaga Best Supporting Actors in a Drama: Arianna Arocho Children’s Shakespeare Theatre; Lucette Ow Best Classical Productions: “Pride and Prejudice,” Scarsdale; “Romeo & Juliet,” Children’s Shakespeare Theater Two Guvnors,” Eastchester; “Peter and the Starcatcher,” Valhalla; “You Can’t Take It With You,” Westlake Best Drama Productions: “Amadeus,” Brewster; “The Great Gatsby,” Rye Neck; “Radium Girls,” Harrison; “And Then There Were None,” Pelham Memorial; “Treasure Island,” Fordham Prep Peter D. Kramer is a 37-year staffer who writes long-form narratives on a variety of topics. His story looking back on the Oak Street fire in Yonkers won a national Headliner Award for outstanding news specials/feature column MA – Rockland Trust announced plans to open a new corporate headquarters at One Technology Place in Rockland consolidating five current office locations into one 140,000-square-foot hub The new space will bring together teams from offices in Hanover supporting greater collaboration and operational efficiency and this new headquarters is an investment in them,” said Jeffrey Tengel “By bringing teams into one central location we are creating new opportunities to collaborate and deliver exceptional service.” Approximately 500 employees will work at the new site which features modern amenities like a full-service cafeteria previously served as the headquarters for EMD Serono “We are thrilled to welcome Rockland Trust,” said Mark Flaherty and we look forward to a long-standing relationship.” Rockland Trust will maintain its broad network of branches across Massachusetts and Rhode Island The Bank also plans to expand north of Boston following its upcoming merger with Enterprise Bank News & Reviews News Wire Cumberland & Knox is new name for Maine Switching’s Rockland Branch Company also seeks to operate long-dormant 'Lower Road' between Brunswick and Augusta to forestall abandonment Maine — Maine Switching Services on Monday (April 28) finalized a lease agreement with Maine’s Department of Transportation that will allow freight operations to resume on the 56.6-mile state-owned former Maine Central branch between Brunswick and Rockland The operating entity will be known as the Cumberland & Knox Railroad (CKRR) named for the counties where the route’s endpoint cities are located Cumberland & Knox has submitted a proposal to operate the “Lower Road,” a 33.5-mile is ready to resume freight service after being purchased by Heidelberg Materials Maine Switching’s government affairs manager tells News Wire the company has loaded railcars at plants in Pennsylvania and South Carolina that are ready to ship to the Thomaston factory for processing Midcoast’s last operation on the branch occurred in October 2024 Maine DOT has made regular hi-rail inspections but highway crossing signals have been shut off we are reactivating and testing track circuits and equipment,” Kelly says “When cars show up for Dragon [at the CSX Brunswick interchange] Potential customers have resorted to trucking and have told us they would like to move back to rail as soon as possible.” Motive power assigned for initial CKRR operations has not been determined but Kelly thinks it will likely be a Maine Switching GP9 “It is the continued goal of CKRR to offer passenger rail service on the Rockland Branch.” The railroad “is currently determining the best excursion rail operations and when it will be most practical to commence any excursion passenger rail.” Maine Switching never said it planned to operate regularly scheduled passenger trains in its proposal to Maine DOT with or without direct involvement by Amtrak or the Downeaster’s Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority would come with costly liability insurance requirements that laws currently don’t require of excursion service Reactivating “Lower Road” operations “recognizes the essential need to support freight and passenger operations on the Rockland Branch,” Cumberland & Knox states in a press release Maine Switching Services president Joe Feero adds “Limited space in the Brunswick terminal area make expansion of rail support facilities limited.” The Lower Road once hosted the majority of Maine Central’s passenger trains to Waterville and Bangor; other trains operated on tracks CSX now owns via Lewiston But the heavily treed route Cumberland & Knox seeks hasn’t seen activity in more than a decade except for some Midcoast railcar storage near Brunswick The release notes acquiring the line will “better position CKRR to capture the growing demand for rail tourism expand on the success of the growing rail cycle industry and work with business and community partners to develop freight traffic.” Such a plan portends sequencing capital improvements that won’t require the kind of substantial upfront expenditure the Downeaster needed when it launched Boston-Portland Staking out a claim to operate what is now dormant trackage attempts to rebut widespread efforts by Maine’s increasingly vocal trail-only proponents who seek to rip up inactive or lightly-trafficked state-owned rail routes “Cumberland & Knox has engaged in open dialogue with advocates of rail removal to collaborate on possible solutions to meet the needs of both rail usage and recreational trail interests along the Lower Road corridor.” Feero adds “We envision that the Lower Road to Augusta and beyond will be well-suited for hybrid passenger rail … and welcome the opportunity to partner with Maine DOT to explore various options before rail is removed from the corridor.” Asked to elaborate on what “hybrid” might mean “We are looking into what is practical for us and the state for some kind of passenger service on the Lower Road that is consistent with all of our needs.” the state abandons the railroad only to have the industry open back up a few months later That’s why the Bay Coast railroad was ripped up by trail nuts Imagine if every public entity that owns rail infrastructure made rash decisions like that The revival of the Rockland Branch may happen but forget the “Lower Road” thru Augusta The tracks are still in place in most places but the cost to rehabilitate the line will be exorbitant even for a tourist operation the grade crossings are paved over in Hallowell and the line is covered in gravel and turned into a horizontal parking lot in downtown Augusta (I believe that there is a clause in the contract between the state and the city that if the state ever was to revitalize the railroad line the state would have to replace the lost parking spaces on a one for one basis.) Most of the ties in certain areas have rotted into the ground and will need replacement a tourist operation was started using a Budd car but gave up after a while because of the lack of passengers and track conditions I think the town can sweat a few parking spaces if more people start to use public transportation no barrier should be seen as too large if the state already plans to build a new station in Portland to align more frequent service toward Brunswick They’re no better than the worst NIMBY Members enjoy 15% off any purchase in our store. Join Today Get updates and special offers via email from Trains.com brands though a house and utility pole were damaged According to Rockland Police and witnesses vehicles were stopped on south Main Street waiting for another vehicle to make a left-hand turn That's when a northbound pickup truck drove up behind the line of traffic skimmed a utility pole at Main and Crescent streets before skidding past half of the Maritime Farms parking lot and swerving into a house across from the gas pumps The skimming of the utility pole left wood chips and other debris in the roadway the truck narrowly missed a motocycle and its driver by mere inches and the impact by the truck into the house was loud enough to shake nearby residences and startle occupants who are long accustomed to the thudding of vehicles driving over the railroad tracks and the occupant of the truck was eventually taken to jail based on a determination that the driver had "some sort of substance" in the system according to Rockland Police Chief Tim Carroll Rockland Fire and EMS also responded to the scene Firefighters assessed the structure of the house for obvious signs of safety hazards Their method of patching was dependant on further assessment after the truck had been hauled from the scene by Camden Exxon emergency units had left the scene by 8:15 p.m Thanks to our readers and especially our supporters who help to keep PenBayPilot.com an open and accessible community hub Your support is even more critical during rapidly changing times While we work hard to keep you informed about the Midcoast community We are grateful to those who already participate Join for as little as $2.99 per month and support local journalism on a community hub that serves everyone X Palisades Mall Is Hosting The Rockland Arts Festival February 9th Don’t Miss: “Steel Magnolias” A Story Of Strength Resilience And Friendship February 7th “The Death Of King Shotaway” A True Story In Celebration Of Black History Month February 1st At Harmony Hall-Jacob Sloat House “Steel Magnolias” A Story Of Strength Resilience And Friendship “Significant Other” A Funny Bittersweet Rom-Com At The Elmwood Playhouse Nyack January 17th – February 8th Clarkstown High School Seniors Celebrate College Decisions on 2025 Decision Day Lakewood Students Walk the Runway for a Greener Planet CBS Sports Reporter and Clarkstown North Alum Tracy Wolfson Visits Alma Mater Give Back – Donate Gently Used Items and Help Reach 1,000 Bags for a Great Cause A Message From “Dom Togo” New City No One Should Go Hungry – We’re Here to Help Nyack Chamber of Commerce Presents Spring Fest Street Fair April 13th Happy National Puppy Day Shower Your Furry Friend with Love and Consider Adoption American Cancer Society Relay For Life Rockland County Dominican University April 11th Bold Rock Your Socks for World Down Syndrome Day March 21st Rockland Community College Your Gateway to a Career in Construction March 27th Free Breast Cancer Screening Montefiore Nyack Hospital May 9th Stay Cool This Summer with HEAP Cooling Assistance – Apply Today Rockland County Legislators Approve Firefighters’ Memorial George Hoehmann Shares Update: West Nyack Road Temporarily Reopened as Project Nears Next Phase PHOTOS: Rockland County Executive Ed Day Hosts Fundraiser Announces Re-Election Bid to Enthusiastic Supporters Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann Announced His Re-Election Campaign New City Attorney Nabeela McLeod Announces Candidacy for Rockland County Family Court Judge Senator Bill Weber Sworn in for a Second Term New City Attorney Nabeela McLeod To Run For Rockland County Family Court Savor the Flavor: Nyack Restaurant Week Returns April 23 – May 1 Turiello’s in Nyack is Celebrating 45 Years in Business Supervisor George Hoehmann Talks Construction At New Site For “Chick-fil-A” In Nanuet Down to Earth Living Is Offering Free Workshops To Get Your Garden Ready For Spring Down To Earth Living The Many Benefits of Indoor Plants for Health Don’t Miss: North Rockland Verse The Harlem Wizards Charity Game May 8th Haverstraw Police Join Forces with Community for Annual Sports and Law Enforcement Day Officer Genito and The Ramapo Police Department Were Honored for Excellence in Impaired Driving Prevention Car Crashes Into Webster Bank in Nanuet for Second Time in Recent Months; No Injuries Reported Rockland County Sheriff’s Marine Unit Upgrades Fleet with New High-Tech Patrol Boat Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and Consumer Protection Joint Investigation Leads to Arrest in Fraud Case Haverstraw Police Department Arrests Pomona Man on Weapon and Drug Charges Stony Point Police Department Needs Your Help in Identifying This Individual Rockland County Teams with NYS Police to Take Down Online Child Traffickers in Bold Operation RCDAO Arrest a New City Man for Possessing a Ghost Gun and High-Capacity Magazines More Than a Game: North Rockland Lacrosse Stands for Mental Health May 3rd Tommy Linehan Makes History with 300th Point Becomes Tappan Zee Lacrosse’s All-Time Leading Scorer Suffern High School Hockey Team Are New York State Champions North Rockland Varsity Girls Bowling Team Capture The Division 1 Championship with Thrilling Final Victory Sacred Heart CYO Girls Basketball Team Wins Rockland County CYO Championship The Ramapo Police Department received top honors at the 2025 New York State Law Enforcement Recognition Event and NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Officer John Genito was awarded the Recognition of Excellence for his outstanding work in drunk and drugged driving enforcement—his second time receiving this award The department also earned the Department of the Year Award (101–250 officers category) recognizing its strong commitment to impaired driving prevention through enforcement and education Volunteer Firefighters Save New City Home from Fire on Scott Drive If anyone told West Nyack resident Vinnie Cann five years ago she'd be co-running a business a home-based heirloom baked goods/jam company with her youngest daughter and did so while being seven months pregnant," Cann said but it’s amazing what you learn about your child when spending that much time together." Working side by side with one's offspring is It's also a learning experience as parents often value their son or daughter's fresh energy and creativity while the younger generation appreciates the wisdom and guidance a parent provides we wanted to highlight — and celebrate — those mother-child relationships and the Westchester and Rockland businesses they run together Birdie's Batch, West NyackBirdie’s Batch was born out of COVID after Sara Cann was laid off from the Fireman Hospitality Group in New York City a frequent presence at the Piermont and TASH Farmers Markets officially started in June 2020 selling a range of goodies More: For this autistic 24-year-old Westchester resident, food is all about connections that last year Vinnie won two bronze medals in The Dalemain World Marmalade Awards held in England for her Cara Cara marmalade and Dark and Stormy marmalade she won another two bronze medals for her Meyer Lemon marmalade and Monarch marmalade (a lemon marmalade made with gin "I’ve always known how talented my mom is — a bit of a jack-of-all-trades woman," said Sara "But it’s been really empowering to see her talents shine on a broader platform." Brianna Cunney and her mother Kerri Cunney have been business partners since 2022 though Brianne admits her mom was a force from the beginning in helping her start her company (she officially founded it as Pop-A-Licious in 2021 later rebranding it to Bri Marie's Gourmet Popcorn in 2023) has deepened their relationship in ways they didn’t expect "We’ve seen each other in high-pressure situations it’s brought out more empathy," said Brianna We both bring different strengths to the table and trust each other’s judgment That foundation makes collaboration not just easier They're also considerate of each other's boundaries and make it a point to have honest conversations too — we don’t take ourselves too seriously A shared understanding is what's help Maura and Tyrone Azanedo keep their Peruvian restaurant humming — 13 1/2 years and counting which features everything from stews and roast pork to various styles of rice and beans (along with plenty of homemade hot sauce) is meant to offer a taste of the family's culture and traditions the business has also enriched their mother/son relationship "It's taught us the importance of really listening and making sure we’re both on the same page," said Tyrone "Communication isn’t just talking; it’s making sure your message actually lands and is understood that’s been huge for us — not just as business partners Nothing like 'Nadas': Mother-son duo open Colombian empanada spot in Westchester Carlos and Olga Santos have worked together for the better part of a decade their (since closed) Colombian restaurant in Port Chester as well as at Nadas: the rainbow empanada company they started during the pandemic which recently opened a storefront in Harrison Carlos admits their relationship has shifted over the years I wanted to build something outside of what she had created," he said I realized what a blessing it is to work with her There's no one I trust more and no one that always has my best interests in mind "Working with her is the honor of my life." Zachary Bonder has been working with his mom selling pies on the side of the road in Warwick while she baked a few feet away in their kitchen they have five locations throughout Westchester giving each other space and being aware of each other's strengths and weaknesses There's also peace of mind in knowing they've got each other's backs More: Your definitive guide to waterfront, patio, dog-friendly dining in Westchester, Rockland "My mother and I have a deep soul connection," said Bonder "We're able to channel and understand each other's strengths and bring them out in each other," he said The best part (aside from the fact that pies make people happy) is that working together doesn't always feel like work Said Bonder: "We take care of each other." Reilly's Public House, PiermontIrish hospitality is at the heart of Anne and Kevin Reilly's mission "We want every guest to come here to feel like family," said Kevin who admits he learned that lesson from his mom Just as important: keeping their work and personal life separate we try to leave work at the door," said Anne "It’s important to me to still just enjoy being mom and son and that’s what keeps everything running smoothly." always dreamed of opening a cozy coffee shop where her 21-year-old son she's enjoyed teaching him new skills (POS system etiquette) while he's helped her and the staff maintain a positive "It's been a gift to see what we've created as a family," Humphrey said "Seeing him gain more confidence each day and witnessing the support of the community is truly amazing." Rockland County residents Greg and Milka Pereira are opening 202 Cannabis Company this week The opening reception will take place May 7th at 2:30 at 202 Cannabis Company at 81 West Ramapo Road in Garnerville in the Town of Haverstraw Haverstraw is the only town out of Rockland’s five that chose to allow cannabis retailing when towns and villages in late 2021 were asked to make the decision to either “opt out,” which would have made dispensaries illegal precluding legal dispensaries within unincorporated town limits Piermont and Haverstraw jumped on the bandwagon retail dispensaries and paraphernalia shops are zoned to operate “as-of-right” in the C-Commercial Zones which largely hug West Ramapo Road and a stretch of Thiells-Mt retailers and paraphernalia shops also are as-of-right uses in the Town’s PIO-Planned Industrial Office zone which includes Cambridge Plaza and a small section off Quaker Road across from the Hudson Valley Humane Society which trains and assists individuals to secure state certification for home-based daycare centers which are regulated by the Department of Health and the Offices of Childcare and Family Services Urban Outreach also offers NYS DMV certified impaired driver programs (IDPs) NYS court approved alcohol education programs (AEPs) and Mother Against Drunk Driving victim impact panels (VIPs) “Opening this dispensary is a dream come true but it’s more than just about selling safer high quality cannabis,” said Gregory Pereira Co-Owner & COO of 202 Cannabis Company “As someone who works closely with those struggling with drug addiction I know how powerful cannabis can be in helping individuals especially veterans quit addictive pain killers It means so much to me to be able to give back and to help others get their lives back on track,” “This dispensary is the start of something huge and I am so excited for customers from across Rockland County and the whole Hudson Valley to enjoy what we have to offer.” The location for 202 Cannabis Company was approved by the Town of Haverstraw through a series of land-use hearings in 2024 under the name Blaze 420 originally sought late night hours with Saturday operations running until midnight The late night hours have been scaled back until 10 pm No consumption will be allowed onsite at the dispensary will have internal and external security cameras monitoring the site 24 hours a day and frosted windows and doors preventing visual access of cannabis products from the outside of the building customers have to be 21 or older and show valid identification and no cannabis inventory will be kept in the retail area — cannabis only changes hands when an order is ready to be filled — like in a drugstore Treehouse Cannabis on Route 59 in Nyack was the first dispensary to open in the county in 2024 Owner Seth Marks transformed a former car showroom he owns into a dispensary but started sales with home delivery The Village of Haverstraw has approved a new dispensary at 35 Route 9W is planning on purchasing a garage at 147 Route 9W The Village only allows dispensaries in its HB zone along Route 9W — effectively barring them in the central business district Towns and villages hosting cannabis dispensaries share directly in the sales tax generated by retail cannabis sales Sales tax on cannabis in New York is 9 percent which passes on 75 percent of the sales tax revenue to the town or village hosting the dispensary the Village of Nyack netted $136,367 in tax revenue from sales from April through December at Treehouse Cannabis The Nyack Village Board has been holding hearings on modifications to the Village code to set local proximity restrictions on adult-use cannabis dispensaries in the Village limits The New York State Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) regulations prevent dispensaries from opening within 2,000 feet of another dispensary in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 residents Proposals at the state level may reduce that proximity limitation to 1,000 feet OCM has the ability and a track record of issuing waivers for adult-use dispensaries allowing a new dispensary to open within another dispensary’s proximity protected area The proposal being considered by the Village trustees would establish a rule similar to the state rule as – 2,000 foot dispensary-to-dispensary proximity restrictions so that if OCM’s rulemaking changed or narrowed the restriction the Village code would still enforce a 2,000 foot limitation 50 operating dispensaries have so far contributed nearly $4 million in regional adult-use tax revenue Republican rep. Mike Lawler once again faced a night of boos and jeers at a public town hall after an energetic crowd of about 600 packed the auditorium of Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School in Somers on May 4 New York state troopers were among the tight security detail at the event, the second of four town halls planned by the congressman in the 17th congressional district which includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties as well as parts of Westchester and Dutchess Members of the audience asking questions were allowed 30 seconds each Questions ranged from Lawler's bipartisanship to hot topics such as spending cuts Only members of the media were allowed to record the town hall From May 4: Lawler faces another raucous Town Hall: 'Stand up to the authoritarian Trump regime' Video shows police carrying woman out of Lawler town hall in SomersThe video below shows footage of a woman being carried out from the town hall by police "Whether you agree with me or not or," Lawler addressed the crowd "Whether you actually wanted to listen tonight Read a recap of the May 4 town hall in this story Mike Lawler faced another raucous audience at his packed Town Hall meeting in Somers The crowd of about 600 constituents on Sunday evening jeered and heckled Lawler at times as he explained his positions on a broad range of issues — from the future of Ukraine and President Donald Trump’s tariffs to the deportation of undocumented migrants and the impoundment of funds authorized by Congress There was tight security in the auditorium of Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School which included a slew of New York State troopers who patrolled the auditorium to keep the peace Two women were carried out by state troopers to stop their heckling The Town Hall had strict rules: no recordings of the meeting were allowed and questioners were allowed just 30 seconds for their questions Dressed in his signature blue blazer and jeans Lawler touted his bipartisan record in Congress during his first term He noted that the 17th Congressional District which includes Rockland and Putnam Counties was among only 35 of 435 Congressional districts considered competitive for the 2026 election cycle Cortlandt Manor resident David Weinberger questioned Lawler’s bipartisan prowess in Washington but meaningful bipartisanship is in votes taken not in the fig-leaf of co-sponsored bills,” he said “Now is your time to stand up to the authoritarian Trump regime.” Lawler said his bills were passed with support from both sides of the aisle “Bipartisanship is a two-way street,” he said “It’s not just Republicans acquiescing Democrats There has to be a give-and-take on these issues.” Mike Lawler questioned on Trump administration's funding cutsLawler, who represents a swing district that will be hotly contested in 2026, also faced a tough crowd at last week's Town Hall in Rockland County He plans Town Halls in Putnam and Dutchess in June Several constituents asked about the Trump administration’s slashing of funding for programs authorized by Congress and proposed cuts in funding to NPR and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting There were groans throughout the hall when Lawler said that he planned to meet on Monday with the Department of Government Efficiency which has spearheaded many of the reductions Lawler said the budget cuts will have to come before Congress under the federal impoundment law which requires a vote by Congress to defund programs that were previously authorized “That’s the constitutional process,” Lawler said Lawler said that he has supported Trump’s tariff policy as a way to fight back against trade barriers put in place by Japan He noted that Congress and the courts have given deference to the executive branch to enact tariffs Constitution gives the power to impose tariffs to Congress Attendees pressed Lawler on what the Republican-led Congress plans to do to regain control over those levies More: Mike Lawler faces sharp questions at raucous town hall in Rockland. How he answered Lawler said that the administration is in the process of negotiating deals on the tariffs during the 90-day pause imposed by Trump on tariffs they have to be putting out trade agreements,” he said The issue of immigration loomed large on Sunday When asked about his position on due process in deportation cases Lawler said he supports the constitutional rights of all individuals in the United States More: Mike Lawler said he 'secured' $33M for Hudson Valley community projects. What happened? who was deported to a prison in El Salvador Lawler said he supports the Supreme Court’s ruling instructing the government to facilitate Garcia' return But Lawler said Garcia’s return would not free him because he has an outstanding deportation order that needs to be addressed “He’s going to be released to be deported again,” said Lawler Lawler reminded the heavily Democratic audience that President Barack Obama deported 3 million migrants during his time in office “I don’t recall this level of pushback when Obama deported that many,” said Lawler Lawler held the meeting at Kennedy Catholic Preparatory School along Route 138 a narrow country road that kept protestors away from the site About 80 anti-Lawler activists stood in a light rain a mile away by the Goldens Bridge train station brandishing signs criticizing Lawler and Trump Standing with the protestors were two of five Democrats seeking the party’s nomination to face Lawler in 2026 — Mike Sacks and Rockland County Legislator Beth Davidson Davidson walked along the line of protestors with a bullhorn “The national Republicans have been calling our protests an attempt to disrupt the democratic process,” she said He opened the meeting by telling his constituents that he was glad they came “I appreciate you taking the time  to be here,” he said Sign up for Wilson's weekly newsletter for insights into his Tax Watch columns David McKay Wilson writes about tax issues and government accountability. Follow him on Twitter @davidmckay415 or email him at dwilson3@lohud.com We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at info@midcoastvillager.com or call us at 207-594-4401 NEW CITY ‒ A 45-year-old Nyack woman faces a maximum of 21 years in state prison for causing a person's death when she crashed her car while drunk the Rockland District Attorney's Office said who authorities said has a history of drunken driving She drove drunk at speeds nearing 70 mph in a 30 mph zone District Attorney Thomas Walsh said in a Facebook news release on Tuesday She had pleaded guilty on April 23 in County Court despite the injuries suffered by her two passengers Mitchell had prior incidents of drunken driving in California Mitchell pleaded guilty to an indictment charging her with aggravated vehicular homicide leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death leaving the scene of an incident resulting in serious physical injury In exchange for her guilty plea on April 23 County Court Judge Djinsad Desir promised Mitchell a sentence of seven to 21 years in prison The District Attorney's Office recommended the maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years She remains in the county jail without bail pending her scheduled sentencing on July 22 She has been held without bail in jail since her arraignment on Sept “The actions of the defendant on that day resulted in the death and serious injury of two passengers in her vehicle," Walsh said "Traffic laws are in place to protect all drivers and their passengers The defendant has multiple prior driving under the influence convictions from California She will now be held accountable for her actions "I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victim and the continued recovery to the injured passenger,” Walsh said The Orangetown Police Department investigated the case while Supervising Assistant District Attorney Meghan Garvey and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic prosecuted NEW CITY ‒ The Rockland County Sheriff's Office is getting a new boat to cruise the Hudson River waves enforcing maritime laws and responding to emergencies The Rockland Legislature approved the purchase on April 22 Department of Homeland Security’s 2024 FEMA Port Security grant The 17-member Legislature and the county executive had earlier accepted the federal funding which covers the cost of training and new technological equipment The 27-foot boat will allow the Sheriff's Office Marine Unit to retire a 26-year-old vessel that has been reconditioned twice over the years to keep it afloat The new boat will be purchased from Safe Boats International of Bremerton The boat's arrival in Rockland could not be determined on Thursday so it's unknown if the vessel will be river-ready when the summer boating season starts Rockland Sheriffs' new boat will replace 1999 vesselA new vessel for the Marine Unit is long-time coming Friedman chairs the Legislature Planning & Public Works Committee “The Sheriff’s Office needs this new boat because the current 1999 boat is well beyond its better days,” Friedman said in a news release “It’s also important to understand that the Sheriff’s Office uses their boats not just for routine river patrols such as taking impaired operators off the water but also for emergency responses to plane crashes The department needs the right tools for the job The Marine Unit has two boats with enclosed cabins that can be used year-round as long as the Hudson River isn’t iced over The unit operates a smaller boat without an enclosed cabin that can operate in shallow water All of the boats have equipment that can be used for enforcement or search and rescue Drunk driving in Rockland: Nyack woman faces up to 21 years in prison for driving drunk, leading to passenger death Rockland Sheriffs' Marine Unit provides security enforcementRockland's river patrol officers cruise 33 miles of the Hudson bounding Rockland from Bear Mountain to Palisades The officers attempt to ensure safety among sailboaters and rescue services while interacting with all emergency services and environmental agencies It also provides security at the Bear Mountain and Gov Coast Guard and the Governor’s Hudson River Estuary Law Enforcement Task Force the Marine Unit responded to 525 incidents The unit also works with other law enforcement units from riverfront communities and companies that assist boaters Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@lohud.com Twitter: @lohudlegalRead more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers Freight operations are resuming on the Rockland Branch railroad The Unity-based company Maine Switching Services finalized a lease agreement with the Maine Department of Transportation earlier this week to begin using the nearly 57-mile long freight line "We are reactivating signaling systems at railroad crossings to allow for freight rail to resume," said Finn Kelly government relations manager and spokesperson for Maine Switching Services "We do have customers who are actively wanting to move their products now." Customers include Dragon Cement Products in Thomaston which will use the freight line again to move products The Rockland line's previous operator, Midcoast Railservice, stopped operations in August after Dragon Cement stopped production A subsidiary of the German company Heidelberg Materials is closing on its acquisition of Dragon Cement Maine Switching Services is not yet proposing to add passenger rail service on the Rockland branch though Kelly said it remains a goal for the company It's also exploring the possibility of offering scenic train excursions Midcoast Railservice had been working with Amtrack, Maine DOT and the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which operates the Downeaster, to add passenger service between Rockland and Brunswick. But those plans died out when Midcoast ceased operations last summer submitted a proposal with Maine DOT to restore rail service on the 33-mile stretch from Brunswick to Augusta The company said the corridor is viable for passenger rail But the proposal is at odds with recommendations from the Lower Road Rail Use Advisory Council The council wants DOT to remove the railroad track and construct a recreational trail from Brunswick to Gardiner Kelly said Maine Switching Services is talking with trail advocates and believes both groups could achieve their respective goals They want to see environmentally friendly and accessible transportation and those are the same things that we want," Kelly said The Legislature is considering a bill that would authorize DOT to remove the tracks for trail construction NEW CITY - A 23-year-old Spring Valley man faces a decade in prison after admitting in County Court that he sexually abused an 8-year-old boy for several years the Rockland District Attorney's Office said on Friday Timothy King pleaded guilty on April 29 in Rockland County Court to first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child for two years starting in 2018 at a home in the Ramapo village King told the judge under questioning that the sexual abuse included oral and anal sexual conduct as well as sexual contact underneath the child’s clothing Walsh said the child told family members about the abuse in 2024 King was arrested after an investigation by the Spring Valley police with assistance from the New York City Police Department and the Rockland District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit King faces a 10-year prison sentence on July 29 and five years of supervision after his release from County Court Judge Djinsad Desir King will also be added to the New York State Sex Offender Registration after a post-release hearing and live under registered sex offender requirements Also in Rockland: Nyack woman faces up to 21 years in prison for driving drunk, leading to passenger death “The young children of Rockland County must be protected and their abusers held accountable," Walsh said sends the message that sexual predators are not welcome in Rockland.” Supervising Assistant District Attorney Gerard M Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers The Historical Society of Rockland County (HSRC) will present the 32nd Rockland County Executive’s Historic Preservation Merit Awards on May 18th at HSRC’s historic Jacob Blauvelt Homestead in New City These awards are presented in recognition of outstanding historic preservation efforts in Rockland County The preservation group will present an HSRC Preservation Award to The County of Rockland for its commitment to the preservation of Open Space and recent acquisition of the historic DePew Farm The awards underline the positive effects of preservation on the community the excellent adaptive use of an historic house of worship by a grass-roots organization will significantly enhance the vibrant arts and entertainment community in Nyack In addition to celebrating preservation achievements the HSRC and the Preservation Merit Awards Committee will continue to work with members of the Rockland County Preservation Board and the County’s municipal historians to identify Rockland County’s most endangered places This list will be shared at the Awards Ceremony “This effort to identify endangered places in Rockland and to widely share information about them is critical,” said Clare Sheridan “Our hope is that by awarding preservation successes and highlighting critical preservation needs we can encourage strong coordinated efforts to increase the chances of preserving historic places in our community.” For more information on the award process, or to find out how to attend the Awards Ceremony and Reception visit www.RocklandHistory.org or contact the Historical Society of Rockland County at 845-634-9629 or info@rocklandhistory.org Dominican University New York has been designated an Opportunity College and University by the Carnegie Classifications recognizing the University as a campus that fosters student success Opportunity Colleges and Universities are higher access higher earnings institutions that prioritize and foster student success before Dominican University New York is the only institution of higher education in Rockland County to earn this designation The Opportunity Colleges and Universities designation is part of a newly developed Student Access and Earnings Classification published this month by the Carnegie Foundation and the American Council on Education This new classification examines the extent to which institutions foster opportunities for student success by measuring whether institutions are enrolling students reflective of the communities they serve and how the earnings of those students compare to peers in their area 479 institutions have been identified as Opportunity Colleges and Universities colleges and universities that are in the Student Access and Earnings Classification “We are delighted to be identified as an Opportunity College and University,” said Manuel Martínez “The University has always supported the belief that all young people should have access to higher education we support them in the classroom and set them up for success in their future careers This new designation is recognition of our efforts to prioritize and foster student success and I’m grateful to all of the administrators and staff for their part in helping us earn this designation.” The Village of Haverstraw has launched a comprehensive branding and wayfinding signage initiative aimed at enhancing the Village’s identity In 2021 the Village was selected as one of the Mid-Hudson Winners of the New York State Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) program This program included a grant to rebrand the village and its community The Village is spending roughly $350,000 of its ten million dollar DRI grant to support the program the Village has partnered with Destination by Design (DbD) known for its community-driven approach to branding and placemaking DbD will collaborate with a local project committee to engage stakeholders and businesses to craft a unified brand that reflects Haverstraw’s authentic character and vision develop marketing tools to promote the Village and design user-friendly wayfinding signage to highlight Haverstraw’s assets A committee of Haverstraw’s diverse residents including local business owners and creative individuals chose DbD for its exceptional approach to community branding and deep understanding of the Village’s identity After thorough consideration of proposals from over twelve firms the committee expressed confidence in its decision “This project is about telling our story in a way that invites people in,” stated Michael Kohut “We aim to celebrate what makes Haverstraw special—from our historic downtown and waterfront to our vibrant cultural scene—and ensure that both residents and visitors can navigate and enjoy all that we have to offer.” The branding process will incorporate numerous public engagement opportunities to guarantee that the outcomes reflect the values and aspirations of the Haverstraw community Maine (WGME) -- An 18-year-old and several juveniles are facing charges for car burglaries in Rockland police arrested 18-year-old Timothy Gleason and charged him with felony theft burglary of a motor vehicle and violation of conditions of release police say several thousand dollars’ worth of camera equipment and other items were stolen from unlocked cars a juvenile was charged with theft and police say two more juveniles are expected to face criminal charges Gleason is being held at the Knox County Jail Mostly cloudy with a few scattered showers lingering overnight Initial emergency dispatches called for a motor vehicle accident with injuries - The Berks County Coroner's Office was called to the scene of a Rockland Township crash Tuesday afternoon The single vehicle accident happened around 12:30 p.m confirm one person was ejected from the vehicle A man was killed in a crash in Rockland Township Email notifications are only sent once a day By GARY GERARD HAMILTON - Associated Press Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device New York State is focused on affordable housing opportunities Commissioner of the New York State Office of Homes & Community Renewal (HCR) told a large crowd last week at the Third Annual Rockland County Housing Forum She said New York State is pouring millions of dollars into funding and finding affordable housing opportunities statewide Rockland County’s track record to date is anemic with only 14-state supported housing units built to date Visnauskas talked about the success of the Governor’s Pro-Housing Communities and how those participating municipalities could tap into millions of dollars of state money to support initiatives that promote housing growth and development within certified communities Funds can be used to leverage and alleviate financial barriers associated with affordable housing development The money can also be used for various infrastructure projects and placemaking investments that will increase the available housing supply attendees broke into smaller groups to study issues like Fair Housing and Grayfields (the Adaptive Reuse of Underutilized Spaces) and Rockland County’s Comprehensive Plan Adam Bosch (President & CEO of Hudson Valley Pattern For Progress) and Charlotte Abadir (Development Director with T&H Investments) covered the adaptive reuse of existing underutilized properties which are environmentally contaminated sites eligible for remediation tax credits.) Rockland County is land-starved for new housing developments Competition for available property for residential development is driving land costs higher and regulatory and zoning restrictions stall new housing which drives prices of existing homes beyond the reach of buyers looking for starter housing The only exception to stalled development is market rate The Grayfields speakers urged stakeholders to consider taking a new look at older under-utilized properties like closed schools These sites have infrastructure in place – water road access – and wouldn’t impact existing open space Rockland County has an abundance of Grayfield properties from empty anchors at the Palisades Center (a shopping mall facing foreclosure and a likely sale) underutilized land at the Shops at Nanuet (recently sold by Simon Properties to a local developer) but under-utilized parcels like the former HNA center in Palisades or the former Pfizer campus in Pearl River lies with local government and outdated comprehensive plans zoning codes and poorly functioning land-use boards Comprehensive plans and zoning codes that prohibit or foreclose alternative uses for under-utilized properties stifle development The problems also lie with local government officials misunderstanding the importance of PILOTs to developers the local Industrial Development Authorities can approve and impose PILOT agreements on local government But Rockland is unique — the IDA cannot impose a PILOT agreement Developers must negotiate with local villages delay and politics into every new housing project seeking participation As Abadir demonstrated in her presentation a developer would have second thoughts about a project if the zoning had to be changed to accommodate housing The costs and delays could add years to a proposal that made sense for the community and the developer The speakers also discussed the role of Planning Boards and said that they are not arbiters of approval – their role is to comply with SEQRA (the State Environmental Quality Review Act) and ensure the project complies with the town’s codes They say land-use boards are where projects go to die or be beaten into some reduced versions of the original plan to satisfy angry NIMBY constituents what to do about NIMBY-ism and maintenance of the status quo NIMBYs argue that increasing the supply of housing will decrease the resale value of the existing housing stock to their detriment But Alexander said there is a cost to a community that chooses to do nothing about new housing options; and that doing nothing is seldom the right option Communities need to grow to be sustainable there is no one to share the ever increasing costs of simply existing Paul Welsh is tilling his vegetable garden where he will grow tomatoes four chickens are blissfully murmuring on a perfect spring evening bright daffodils and exotic tulips show off their explosive riot of colors in lovingly tended flower beds This is Welsh’s pastoral oasis of beauty – a slice of Rockland that has survived Welsh’s split-level brick house at 423 Beach Road has witnessed brick pits turn to fishing holes before becoming landfills on either side of his homestead Large swaths of giant weeping willows were sacrificed when the Joint Regional Sewerage Board The Welshes lived across from a steel factory and surrounded by massive scrap yards – one right next door But now Welsh is beside himself with frustration as he endeavors to fight a 454,000 square-foot warehouse proposed on top of an uncapped construction landfill and to protect a portion of land that he has stewarded for decades from the animal shelter that Rockland Green is building in a pre-existing warehouse – both on Ecology Road I just want to retire and work on my art.” Welsh has been attending contentious planning board/zoning board meetings in the Village of West Haverstraw, where residents living to the west of the proposed “Grassy Point Bend” warehouse and the potential impact of stirring up an uncapped construction and demolition debris landfill that was never properly closed but needs to be capped before anything can be built  The 34.1 acres of vacant land is bordered by East Railroad Avenue “I remember when that was a fishing hole,” said Welsh referring to the late 1970s after the brick pits were retired and before it became a dumping ground for construction fill “If this turns into a 24/7 warehouse with constant truck traffic the Village of West Haverstraw Planning Board unanimously voted to accept a Final Draft Scoping Document for a Draft Environmental Impact Statement from the developers The vacant acreage sits in the Village’s PLI (Planned Light Industrial) zone Welsh has another fight on his hands – one that affects just his homestead – the only remaining house on Beach Road in Haverstraw The western strip of land his family has been using for decades does not belong to him Rockland Green acquired the acreage when it bought the warehouse But a significant portion of Welsh’s hand-made wooden garden enclosure along with flora and his favorite sugar maple tree are under threat because he may or may not have a legal claim to it Rockland Green bought 3.4 acres from Beach Road Industrial LLC to convert an existing 15,000 square-foot warehouse into a $40 million (over 30 years of taxpayer bonding) 25,000 square-foot shelter that is underway after the tax-supported public authority tapped a North Carolina contractor last December In 2022, after Rockland Green secured a change of its charter to include animal management, the vacant warehouse became a fast target for acquisition for Phillips’ future animal shelter. Rockland Green conducted less than a cursory search countywide for the place to locate the proposed shelter But Welsh figured the gentleman’s agreement he had with Smith would carry forward – after all Welsh grew up in Haverstraw and remembers how things were always done who raised three children in the house on Beach Road knew whom to call and how to get things done “I remember one time the town broke a water main which caused damage to the house,” recalled Welsh “My mother got on the phone and ‘Tilli,’ (former Town Supervisor Phillip Rotella) who came down here with a bag of cash and said go ahead It’s not possible to check the veracity of that memory but what Welsh meant was that there were unspoken pacts when people needed things to get done — promises were honored who lives with his disabled brother and his brother’s caretaker at the house he realized he’d lose some 25 remaining willows that he’d always thought of as part of his “backyard.” “I met with Phillips and Damiani a few months ago and told them about the deal I had with Bruce,” said Welsh the contractors showed up and began staking out the project It became clear they planned to cut right through Welsh’s garden and other flora The contractor’s plan to install three tall lighting posts along the rim of the property will destroy a 40-foot prized sugar maple not to mention disrupt what’s left of Welsh’s rural slice of paradise Hoping to resolve the issue with another “gentleman’s agreement,” Welsh met with Jerry Damiani who have indicated they will give the homeowner some leeway to protect what he’s built Welsh says Rockland Green has agreed to build a privacy fence but added he wants the agreement in writing because he’s not sure that the promises will be kept Welsh said Phillips was trying to gauge whether Rockland Green could buy his house Rockland Green had already purchased the warehouse and had paid Smith $225,000 for a year’s rent before the purchase was completed Welsh told Phillips straight out: the house is not for sale California and New York City but this oasis is his home now and forever He calls it a “honeypot” because the taxes are low he finished an auxiliary building on the property to house a very impressive man cave – which has a woodworking Welsh tells of colorful memories of growing up in the house The Tappan Zee bridge steel was welded across the street at Kevin’s steel The young Welsh witnessed strikes; one time the FBI came to the house He also recalls “we were surrounded by garbage and dust and the Hudson was so polluted that you couldn’t swim in it The Welshes also put up with flooding from the Minisceongo Creek which inundated the house with three feet of water during Hurricane Sandy (both Welsh’s house and the new animal shelter sit in a FEMA designated flood zone) and the building of the water treatment plan in the 1970s who is fighting to protect what he has inherited from his late parents Asked whether living in the house poses environmental concerns and my mother’s sickness was tied to environmental issues.” But his father Welsh said he has no plans to uproot and leave the house though a recent appraisal valued it over $500,000 We are now accepting applications for the NYS Trooper Entrance Exam! Please visit joinstatepolice.ny.gov to learn more in partnership with Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Ramapo Police Department successfully conducted an undercover operation targeting individuals involved in the online exploitation of children resulted in the identification and apprehension of multiple suspects engaged in illegal activities related to child exploitation and trafficking The detail deployed highly trained Investigators to infiltrate online platforms where these crimes are often facilitated Investigators were able to identify individuals attempting to exploit vulnerable children through the internet and meet them in person the following six individuals were arrested and charged with various offenses A historical investigation will continue into each of these individuals that were exposed during this investigation Remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash $150,000 partially secured bond and ordered to appear in Montebello Village Court on April 11 Remanded to the Rockland County Jail in lieu of $7,500 cash $30,000 partially secured bond and ordered to appear in Montebello Village Court on April 11 Mike Lawler faced a barrage of pointed questions from constituents at a raucous town hall gathering that was as combative as expected after weeks of anticipation at Clarkstown South High School was Lawler's first of the year and he was peppered with queries about the Trump administration's opening months and the budget cuts congressional Republicans are planning Many of his responses were met with skeptical jeers though he was cheered at times by supporters who attended the din from the audience nearly drowned out Lawler's remarks and Clarkstown police officers converged on audience members who were shouting Several people were forced to leave the auditorium for being disruptive when the first questioner told Lawler he describes himself as moderate yet supports the policies of "this authoritarian administration" — setting off a roar of applause and cheers such as tariffs "that are going to make everything more expensive for us" and the recent deportation of a 2-year-old U.S "We in this community are being harmed by this," the woman asked "What are you doing to stand in opposition to this administration And what specifically are you doing that warrants the label 'moderate?'" started his long response by talking about the affordability crisis and explaining why Congress was trying to cut the budget The audience seemed to grow more impatient and noisy as he moved on to tariffs and kept talking for several minutes ended that answer with a defense of the administration's tariffs as a negotiating tool to open overseas markets for U.S we need a negotiation between our country and other countries to reduce overall tariffs including agricultural products," Lawler said "We want to be able to sell those in Europe." The first of four town halls Mike Lawler plans to holdMore than 700 people had signed up in advance for the town hall which was fully booked and expected to mean a packed auditorium But plenty of seats in the back were empty when the event began one in each of the four counties in New York's 17th Congressional District The Rockland County forum on Sunday was the first to be followed by one in Westchester County on May 4 and two in Putnam and Dutchess counties in June Lawler was joined on stage Sunday by two moderators: Orangetown Supervisor Teresa Kenny and Ramapo Deputy Supervisor Brendel Logan-Charles Kenny rankled the crowd at the outset by refusing to extend the 30-second time limit for each question and admonishing that the gathering was "not a town hall meeting in the sense of a public meeting," but a "private event." Pressed about potential Medicaid funding cuts by Congress Lawler repeated his promise to vote against any budget proposal that would strip eligible recipients of coverage He said about 25 like-minded House Republicans take that stance which is more than enough to block such a step in their party's narrow majority That was one of two red lines he drew as his unmovable conditions for the upcoming budget measure The other was his determination to raise the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions — known as SALT — in the tax provisions of the bill "I will not support a reconciliation bill that cuts Medicaid benefits to eligible recipients and I will not support a reconciliation bill that does not lift the cap on SALT He also reiterated his support for two potential Medicaid changes that are meant to cut costs: imposing a work requirement on able-bodied adults without children and prohibiting coverage for undocumented immigrants He ruled out other options Republicans have weighed such as lowering the minimum federal share paid to states for Medicaid Lawler threw a couple jabs at the Biden administrationLawler kept his composure in a fairly hostile atmosphere and seemed to warm to the sparring as the night went on A few times he redirected the anger cast at the Trump administration by lobbing criticism at the Biden administration which did not go over well with the audience One instance came when he was asked how the military could be left in the hands of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he was found to have texted sensitive military information using the Signal commercial app Lawler said he had criticized that blunder while defending as successful the operation in Yemen that Hegseth was reporting arguing that Austin's oversight of that operation was a more serious offense than Hegseth's reckless texting Lawler was grilled about actions taken by the Trump administration and the role he or Congress as a whole was taking in response One person asked that in reference to the recent deportations of three children citizens and one of whom is being treated for cancer Another drew loud applause by demanding what Congress will do to "help the courts" if the administration flouts court orders "Where is your line on all these illegal actions?" one woman asked Lawler said the administration should comply with the Supreme Court order regarding the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was deported from Maryland to an El Salvador prison He also argued that the executive branch had accumulated too much power over time and that both Congress and the judiciary — co-equal branches of government — "have to reassert their rightful power." That time there was loud applause in agreement New scorecard: Lawler ranked as most effective House freshman in bill scorecard. What goes into report? Lawler said he has voiced objections directly to the Trump administration when he opposed something it had done One instance was its effort to cut funding for a medical program that benefits 9/11 first responders and others sickened by exposure to toxins at Ground Zero I have no problem pushing back against the things they're doing," he said Chris McKenna covers government and politics for The Journal News and USA Today Network With spring in full bloom and National Bike Month underway the Rockland County Department of Health reminds all bicyclists that safety starts with a helmet wearing a properly fitted helmet is the most effective way to prevent serious head injuries in the event of a crash More than half of those who died were not wearing helmets making it a great time to remind everyone how to ride safely For more information about bicycle safety, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – Bike Safety Montefiore Nyack Hospital is offering free breast cancer screenings on Friday These screenings are available to uninsured women aged 40 and over who meet eligibility requirements The event is funded by the Cancer Services Program of the Hudson Valley and Montefiore Nyack Hospital The Breast Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital offers 3D digital mammography which can detect up to 41% more invasive breast cancers The center has been granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and is designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR) For more information about the services provided at The Breast Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, To register and check eligibility, call 845-348-8511 or visit montefiorenyack.org/breast-center The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Cooling Assistance Benefit is a great resource for eligible New York households who need help staying cool during the warmer months It can cover the cost of purchasing and installing an air conditioner or fan for those who qualify Here’s a quick summary of what you need to know: ✅ What it covers: The purchase and installation of an air conditioner or fan.✅ Who qualifies: Income-eligible households with at least one member who has a documented medical condition worsened by heat.✅ How to apply: Email: [email protected] Online Info: otda.ny.gov/programs/heap 🕒 Tip: This benefit is provided on a first-come first-served basis and only while funding lasts—so it’s a good idea to apply as early as possible finalized its deal with the Maine Department of Transportation this week to operate the 56-mile Rockland Branch there have been six different operators on the line Maine-based short line operator stated that it would begin operations “immediately.” Maine Switching Services was selected by Maine DOT earlier this year after the previous operator, Midcoast Railservice, ceased operations due to the loss of its largest freight customer. Since 1990, the scenic former Maine Central branch has had six different operators “As a small business established in Maine we are dedicated to supporting industrial and economic growth along the Rockland corridor,” said Maine Switching Service President Joe Feero the short line had already secured a commitment from Dragon Cement to resume rail service from its facility in Thomaston Dragon’s owners had previously planned to shut down that facility but last year it was sold to a German company that is hoping to keep it open and utilize rail Maine Switching Services stated that it also plans to speak with other customers along the route about putting their freight back on the rails After Midcoast Railservice ceased operations the remaining customers were forced to truck their materials to the CSX Transportation yard in South Portland Maine Switching Service plans to start excursions along the route, although it has not provided any details on what that might entail. It has also shown interest in operating a connecting segment of state-owned track that runs from Brunswick to Augusta Maine Switching Services was founded in 2022 and operates the state-owned Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad and provides switching services at paper mills in Rumford and Skowhegan Portland & Seattle E-1 4-8-4 700 will be under steam for the first time in nearly a decade this week plans to acquire Minnesota Commercial Railway Locomotive 1616 is the second unit UP has painted to honor a U.S Railfan & Railroad Magazine takes you trackside Planning to tune into the Kentucky Derby on May 3 from the Lower Hudson Valley The purse is at $5 million. Nineteen horses are slated to run. Coverage of the iconic competition’s 151st edition airs Saturday on NBC 4 New York (Optimum and Spectrum channel 4) and on USA Network (Optimum channel 38 Coverage at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, starts at noon on USA Network, according to NBC Sports’ website. Cover starts at 2:30 p.m What to know about the Kentucky DerbyThe Kentucky Derby is the first leg of horse racing's iconic Triple Crown the last leg of which takes place in Saratoga in June Saturday, May 17, is the Preakness Stakes at Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course. Then the final leg of the Triple Crown is June 7 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga County It was relocated from its usual home at Belmont Park due to renovations at that facility Justify was the last to win the Triple Crown, taking each of the Kentucky Derby The Kentucky Derby was first held in 1875, with Aristides the winner, USA TODAY Network's Louisville Courier-Journal reported. USA TODAY Network's Louisville Courier Journal Mike Lawler's first town hall of the year is set to be a packed house with more than 700 people signed up for his fully booked forum at Clarkstown South High School in West Nyack The event is at 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 27, and it comes at a politically charged time. Democratic groups and unions plan to lead a protest outside the school to condemn Trump administration actions and Republicans' planned budget cuts. Lawler's office has set rules for the forum audience — no signs no video or audio recording — and warned that police and private security guards may remove anyone who violates the restrictions Only residents of New York's 17th Congressional District will be allowed in Everyone who registered in advance will be admitted if they show identification with an address that matches the one on their registration Walk-ins will be permitted if any seats remain The Rockland forum is scheduled to last up to two hours Audience members who want to pose questions will be chosen at random When are Mike Lawler's other town hall events?The Rockland County forum is the first of four Lawler plans to hold in each of the district's four counties The next is expected to be the following Sunday The initial site for that event — Westlake High School in Thornwood — was canceled for being too small after the registrations quickly filled up No dates or locations have been announced yet for a pair of town halls in Putnam and Dutchess counties in June Sign flap: Puppet poster at Mike Lawler protest spurs clash over antisemitism: What happened? Other Republican lawmakers around the U.S. have faced tough questioning from angry constituents at recent town halls. Democratic groups and voters in Lawler's district had been pressing him to hold such a forum, and they held two "empty-chair" town halls without him in Rockland and Westchester in March They have bristled at his restrictions on the audience on Sunday's event Lawler's office urged attendees to "be respectful" and said added security measures were needed "due to security concerns and threats made against the Congressman A good politician knows how to listen and show compassion even if he disagrees with his constituents A good politician knows when to veer off script because people need soothing and authenticity more than soundbites This is where Congressman Mike Lawler fell short during his Town Hall gathering of more than 700 residents Sunday afternoon at Clarkstown South High School anyone paying attention could feel the restive atmosphere in the room barely got to outline the rules of decorum standing up” before it became patently clear the crowd would not abide a freshman Congressman who has built a high-profile in the Republican party in his district and in Washington D.C. had more than ample forewarning to grasp that people are scared and feeling helpless in visceral and existential ways and have been showing these emotions with bold behavior in protests and at town halls nationwide People on both sides of the aisle are worried about the government safety net and the general daily chaos that spills from Washington D.C These atypical times call for more than just pat responses or politic-speak because Hudson Valley constituents are craving a leader who can push past jargon and rhetoric worried Americans want soothing and action and said ‘let’s have a conversation’,” said George Pejoves They say we’re yelling or heckling and that we’re hostile – but we’re his constituents and we’re upset and angry and we don’t feel like he is listening to us.” Lawler is the kind of politician who is comfortable when he is campaigning or explaining wonky policy But the fraught Town Hall tension required him to connect to pain and the bone-chilling fear people are grappling with Rather than de-escalating the temperature in the room It was not usual for the crowd to howl with displeasure repeatedly particularly each time Lawler endeavored to shift blame to the Biden administration or to other Democrats He didn’t read the room: this was not a political rally The Congressman most lacked credibility when he said: “We are a strong united country.” As Lawler knows we have never been more divided and so a slogan like that made him sound tone deaf and hollow around 10 people were chosen by a raffle to ask a question over the Trump administration’s policies and behavior particularly pointing to his flouting of court orders and deporting people without due process Lawler expressed agreement with agitated constituents over issues such as the illegal deportation effort of Kilmar Abrego Garcia the Maryland man the administration claims is tied to a violent street gang Lawler also said he believes in restricting stock trading in Congress misuse of the Defense Secretary using the SIGNAL to discuss war plans and the efficacy of vaccinations and medical research for AIDs and autism Responding to concerns over Pete Hegseth’s use of an unrestricted APP “The Secretary was confirmed by the Senate the operations themselves have gone well.” Then he shifted the discussion to Biden’s Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s failures which were interrupted by a roar of loud boos and “blah blah,” because most of the attendees did not come out to hear politics-as-usual and we want to know what you are doing specifically.” The speaker raised the issue of ICE recently deporting a child who is an American citizen receiving treatment for a rare form of cancer “My record speaks for itself,” citing that he is considered one of the most bipartisan members of Congress “I do work with my colleagues.” Then he spoke about the economy saying: “we have an affordability crisis everything went up.” He talked about record inflation and interest rates and mortgage costs But he did not address the deportation of children who are American citizens missing a crucial opportunity to address a humanitarian crisis he toed the Republican administration’s line that tariffs will reduce barriers to other countries and stimulate manufacturing in the United States The most intense questions were raised about threats to Medicaid Many took issue with Lawler’s vote for the Senate’s $1.5 trillion budget He responded by saying the government’s debt is not sustainable and that children and grandchildren will be saddled down the road but I continue to show up to serve this community,” he said defensively but then acknowledged that Medicaid is a program that must be protected He also said Social Security has not been touched plan to safeguard the program.” Lawler said the program “is intended to help those who need it – it’s not for long-term support The congressman was unapologetic about illegal immigrants saying: “New York State spent more than $1.2 billion on illegal immigrants It’s not a proper use of taxpayer money,” again laying the blame at Biden’s feet One speaker spoke passionately about Trump’s efforts to consolidate executive power “The administration deported three children Lawler said Congress and the judiciary must assert rightful power – to which the audience chanted “do it “This should not happen in the United States and I fundamentally believe the courts are going to weigh in And if the return (of Garcia) is not facilitated the courts will hold numerous people in contempt.” a speaker told Lawler he was a retired software engineer who worked in the poultry industry and now drove ambulances He told Lawler he is worried about cuts to federal agencies like the FDA and food safety “I know what it’s like to save lives,” he said What are you going to do to make sure you’re successful.” again missing an opportunity to connect with a man whose voice cracked with emotion “It’s not enough for Democrats to resist or hate the administration including former Clarkstown Councilwoman Shirley Lasker “The rules were that you weren’t supposed to shout or call out but people were yelling and booing from the beginning,” said Lasker “Lawler’s staff would tell you you had three chances or they’d take you out and two cops came by and told us to get out of our seats and leave.” She told the cops she was a former public official you’re going to have to carry me out of here.” She remained seated until the end Banking will soon replace biotech just off Route 3 in Rockland as Rockland Trust consolidates several of its offices south of Boston into one major headquarters Chief executive Jeff Tengel told Rockland Trust employees on Thursday that the bank will consolidate offices in Hanover Norwood and two in Rockland into a new location at One Technology Place in Rockland in the fall of 2026 Rockland Trust has leased 140,000 square feet in the two-building complex the US biotech arm of German conglomerate Merck KGaA “Joining forces under one roof will help us build meaningful connections and foster a vibrant atmosphere that energizes our work while inspiring innovation and efficiency,” Tengel said in a note to staff “This milestone represents a significant investment in our people said the moves represent a net increase in office space — the five offices to be exited total up to about 100,000 square feet — resulting in a slight overall increase in costs Rockland Trust owns its current 22,000-square-foot headquarters and will put that property on the market; the other spaces are leased Roughly 500 employees are expected to make the move including around 70 who work at the Hanover headquarters The bank will offer designated desks to people who commit to coming into the office three days a week; Tengel said he expects the vast majority will take him up on that offer “We’re going to have close to 500 people all in one place,” Tengel said “It’s important for the culture to collaborate together in person It makes a big difference if you’re walking into a room and sitting with your colleagues .. We think the in-person stuff does matter.” news that proved to be a “game changer” for Rockland Trust’s real estate search the former biotech building offers a fitness center and cafeteria the relocation will add about five minutes to his employees’ commute bank executives considered offices in Quincy and other places that are further away from Rockland and Hanover but opted against those to avoid more disruptions The pending move also means that Rockland Trust’s headquarters will end up back in its namesake town not far from where the bank started more than a century ago “A lot of people are happy that it’s in Rockland,” he said Jon Chesto can be reached at jon.chesto@globe.com. Follow him @jonchesto. Home Delivery Gift Subscriptions Log In Manage My Account Customer Service Delivery Issues Feedback News Tips Help & FAQs Staff List Advertise Newsletters View the ePaper Order Back Issues News in Education Search the Archives Privacy Policy Terms of Service Terms of Purchase Work at Boston Globe Media Internship Program Co-op Program Do Not Sell My Personal Information and proud smiles filled the campuses of Clarkstown High School North and South as the district celebrated Decision Day a nationwide event recognizing high school seniors’ post-graduation plans honors students as they announce the next chapter of their academic and professional journeys Known as “Decision Day,” the celebration gives seniors the opportunity to share where they’re headed after graduation—whether it be college Clarkstown’s Class of 2025 displayed their next steps with pride donning gear from institutions across the country and posing for photos with peers and teachers who supported them along the way Clarkstown Central School District made sure to remind them of where their journey began “No matter where our learners’ college and university selections may take them we are so proud to have been an important first stop on their academic journeys,” the district shared in a message to families and the community you were—and will always be—Rams and Vikings.” The event not only celebrated the achievements of the seniors but also served as inspiration for underclassmen showing them what’s possible through hard work Clarkstown continues to recognize the resilience Congratulations to all the Rams and Vikings—past CBS Sports’ lead NFL and NCAA reporter and proud Clarkstown High School North graduate (Class of 1993) returned to New City this week to speak with students at her former school Addressing Career and Technical Education (CTE) and journalism classes Tracy shared her journey in sports broadcasting—from her toughest on-camera moments to the career-defining “I made it!” experiences Students proudly wore gear representing their favorite teams as they listened to Tracy’s insights and advice A special thank you to Tracy for generously taking time to answer students’ questions and for inspiring the next generation of journalists and broadcasters And kudos to Student Council President Aiden Dobrosielski for helping bring this exciting event to life