News

The Villages: Cashless Tolling Amnesty and Combating Opioids

Published

January 29, 2018

This week in the villages: Now’s the time to make sure you’re paid, trained and enrolled. The Thruway Authority began an amnesty program for cashless tolling of customers who have outstanding violations. Learn how to save a life with training to combat opioids. There’s still save and sign up for Community Solar — find out more at a short Nyack Library presentation on Thursday. Supervisor Chris Day says “Orangetown is open for business” but New York State of Health Insurance open enrollment plan closes on Jan 31. Congresswoman Nita Lowey wants to hear from you about whether you prepaid your 2018 local tax.

Village of Nyack

A February First Challenge–$4,000 for Forty Trees!
The Nyack Community Tree Project has just received $2,200 for trees from the Rockland County Soil and Water Conservation District. Add to that the contributions received during the holidays, and there is only $1,200 to go to reach the goal of $4,000 for a February tree order for Nyack streets this spring. The order needs to be placed by Feb 5.
For a $100 donation, you can give the Gift of a Tree. A beautiful printed card will be sent to the recipient with a message inside letting them know that you have given the gift of a new tree to be planted somewhere within the village’s public spaces.

Any amount will help reach the goal of $4,000. You can donate online at NyackParks.org/nyacktreeproject/; or, checks may be mailed to Nyack Park Conservancy, P.O.Box 1014, Nyack, NY 10960.

Village of Upper Nyack

Donation Collection Extended
The village is still collecting items to be donated to the People to People Food Pantry and the Hi Tor Animal Care Center Monday through Friday, from 9a -12n, until Jan 31. For a wish list of items needed visit UpperNyack-NY.us.
March 20, 2018 Village Election
There are two trustee (two years) offices which will be vacant at the end of the current official year. They are to be filled at the village election on Tuesday, March 20, 2018.

“Orangetown is Open for Business”

Supervisor Chris Day is launching a program to highlight new and existing town businesses. Phase I includes Grand Opening ribbon cuttings for all new businesses in Orangetown as well as a “Featured Business Resident” listing. “With this first step, we will begin both highlighting our exceptional existing business residents that contribute so much to our community while helping to boost those entrepreneurs and organizations bringing new and exciting businesses to Orangetown,” said Day.

Local businesses can learn more by emailing Amanda Hyland or calling 845-359-5100 ext. 2293.

New York State Thruway Authority Cashless Tolling Amnesty Program

The Thruway Authority is offering this amnesty program to Tolls By Mail customers with passenger vehicles who have open violations issued between April 24, 2016 through Jan 31, 2018. These customers include those who were already referred to a collection agency or have had their registration suspended. Customers must pay their entire outstanding toll balance by Feb 26, 2018 in order to receive amnesty on open violations.
The violation amnesty applies to:

Customers who paid their toll bill in full but still have unpaid violations or fees.
Customers currently on payment plans (they will not have to make additional payments).
Customers currently in registration suspension settlements or those who have been referred to the DMV for registration suspension.
Customers with E-ZPass violations or other violations unrelated to the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge are not eligible for the amnesty program.

Drivers are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the most convenient and cost-effective way to travel New York’s roadways, bridges and tunnels by signing up for E-ZPass. To sign up for an E-ZPass account visit www.E-ZPassNY.com. New customers who purchase an E-ZPass On-the-Go at one of approximately 780 retailers across the state and register it between Thursday, Feb 1 through Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 will receive a $10 credit to their account after they take 10 trips on the NYS Thruway in six months.
Customers who don’t have an E-ZPass and use the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge can pay their toll before a bill arrives by visiting www.tollsbymailny.com and pay in a few short steps by providing their license plate number, along with a payment method and period of time traveled.
To ensure that all users of Thruway toll facilities pay their fair share, a series of enforcement measures are in place to combat toll payment evasion and chronic toll scofflaws. Customers who do not pay their tolls are subject to violation fees, registration suspensions, and other enforcement actions. For the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, if the first toll bill is not paid by the customer, a $5 late fee will be imposed on the second notice. If a second notice is also ignored, violation fees of $100 per toll will be imposed.

Combating Opioids Training – Thursday, Feb 1 at 6p

State Senator David Carlucci, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services and other non-profits are partnering to train you to combat opioids and save lives. After the training from Registered Nurse Ed DuBee, there will be a panel discussion with a broad range of experts. Every participant who attends the training will receive a Naloxone rescue kit and learn the skills necessary to save a life. The event will e held at Clarkstown South High School Auditorium, 31 Demarest Mill Road, West Nyack. Please RSVP at 845-623-3627.

Community Solar

If you’ve thought of installing solar but aren’t quite ready for the expense, decisions, and complications, Community Solar offers a hassle free, no maintenance and less expensive way to get your electrical energy covered by solar without actually installing solar panels on your own roof. There will be a short presentation at the joint Sierra Club/350 meeting at 7p on Thursday, Feb 1 at the Nyack Library where you can learn more.

New York State of Health Insurance Plans

The open enrollment period for New Yorkers who need health coverage through New York’s health care market, NY State of Health, ends Jan 31, 2018. You can enroll at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. The Nyack library has NYS Health Insurance Assistance on Monday, Jan 26 at 5p. Please call 845-364-2773 for an appointment.

Congresswoman Nita Lowey: Did you prepay your 2018 state or local taxes?

On January 9, Congresswoman Lowey introduced the SALT Deductibility Act with Republican Congressman Peter King to restore the state and local income tax deduction in its entirety. She also sent a letter to the IRS urging the agency to honor the effort, time, and money New York families put into prepaying their state and local taxes before December 31st by allowing a full deduction in tax year 2017. Take this one question survey to let her know if you prepaid your 2018 state or local taxes.