This week in the villages: This Satuday marks the Tappan Zee Bridge’s birthday, but the “blow out” event may happen sometime in 2019. Tuesday is election day to select a Nyack Joint Fire District Commissioner for a five year term. South Nyack is holding a public hearing on Tuesday for a proposed local law and Congers Lake Memorial Park becomes a magical winter wonderland on Thursday.
Tappan Zee Bridge Birthday Is Saturday. Big “Blow Out” Event Under Consideration for 2019
December 2011, Tappan Zee Bridge “birthday cake” photo on still waters of the Hudson River. Photo Credit: Dave Zornow
On Dec 15, 1955 New York State Governor Averell Harriman and Actress Helen Hayes joined the mayors of Nyack, South Nyack, Suffern and Tarrytown leading a motorcade of 400 cars to dedicate the Tappan Zee Bridge. Just a few days before the 63rd anniversary of its opening, Tappan Zee Constructors is requesting permission to take down the remainder of the bridge with explosives because what’s left is too unstable for workers to safely dismantle. READ MORE at As Others See Us: Blowing Up The Tappan Zee Bridge.
Nyack Joint Fire District Commissioner Election
The annual election of one Fire District Commissioner will take place on Tuesday, Dec 11 from 3 to 9p at the Park Street Firehouse, 13-15 Park St, Nyack. The elected Fire District Commissioner will serve a five year term from Jan 1, 2019 to Dec 31, 2023. All residents of the Nyack Joint Fire District who are registered to vote with the Rockland County Board of Elections before November 19, 2018 are entitled to vote in this election. There are two candidates running: challenger Jennifer Knecht and incumbent commisoner Peter Wortendyke.
Village of Nyack
Benchmarking Energy Use
The Village has begun benchmarking energy use for Village Hall, the Department of Public Works, and the Nyack Water Plant using EPA Portfolio Manager. Reports for this first baseline year can be found on nyack-ny.gov. Any steps the Village takes to increase efficiency and conserve energy will be reflected in future annual reports.
Free Saturday Parking
To support small businesses in the village, there will be free parking village-wide on Saturdays through December 29, 2018.
Nyack Homeless Project
The Nyack Homeless Project continues to collect coats, hats, gloves, new socks, toiletries, and boxed/canned food through December 22 with donation boxes at the following locations:
- Nyack
Village Hall – 9 N Broadway
Nyack Library – 59 S Broadway
YMCA Nyack – 39 S Broadway
Grace Church – 130 First Ave
Starbucks – 80 Main St
Anointed Cuts – 2 S Broadway
Maria Luisa – 77 S Broadway
- West Nyack
JCC Rockland – 450 W Nyack Rd
Burlington Coat Factory – Palisades Mall
- Nanuet – Jolene Cleaners – 243 S Middletown Rd
- New City – Animal Medical – 22 New Hempstead Rd
- Pearl River
Askenas Chiropractic – 67 S Main St
Vision Sports Club – 37 Jefferson Ave
Village of South Nyack
Public Hearing Regarding a Proposed Local Law
There will be a public hearing regarding a proposed Local Law in relation to Entity Disclosure in Land Use Applications on Tuesday, Dec 11 at 7:30p in Village Hall. The Board of Trustees will hear from those in support of this proposed law and any objections to the proposed law at that time. More information on this amendment may be found on southnyack.ny.gov.
Village of Upper Nyack
Visit the Hester Haring Cason Preserve with the Mayor – CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
On Saturday, Dec 15 at 10a, walk with Mayor Tarapata at the new open space acquisition, the Hester Haring Cason Preserve. Access is restricted to accompanied walks at this time, while the property is cleaned up. Meet the group on N Midland, just north of Locust Dr. RSVP to Village Hall at 845-358-0084 or sign up online.
Town of Clarkstown
Winter Wonderland Opening Night
On Thursday, Dec 13 at 6p, there will be a tree lighting at the opening night of the Winter Wonderland at Congers Lake Memorial Park. Enjoy horse drawn wagon rides, a bounce house, a visit from Santa, a lego train display and more. Light refreshments including s’mores will be available. The Winter Wonderland LED light display will be open daily from Dec 13 through Jan 1 from 5 to 9:45p. Bundle up and take a stroll through the beautiful park and enjoy the holiday light display.
Town of Orangetown
New Town Hall
At a recent town board meeting designs were unveiled for a new Town Hall building. The current Town Hall was constructed in 1961, never updated, and has substantial structural issues. The cost to repair the current structure would be equal to the amount it would cost to build a new one. Building a new Town Hall on the same property, connected to the Police Department by an atrium, would allow the Town to consolidate departmental operations and to sell the building on Greenbush Road, where the Orangetown Building Department is currently located, which could in turn generate at least $50,000 a year in utility savings plus the profit from a sale. The Town will need to issue a full design and engineering RFP, and if the Town Board moves forward on the construction plan, it would take approximately four to five years for the project to be completed. Please visit www.orangetown.com to view the initial building design plans for the anticipated new Town Hall facility as well as a copy of the public presentation which discusses the current condition of Town Hall, potential next steps, and draws a cost comparison between bonding for repairs and capital improvements to the existing Town Hall Building with that of potential new construction.
Mario Cuomo Bridge News
Overnight Roadway Work
Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) is scheduled to continue roadway improvements on the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) at the Westchester landing, requiring overnight double-lane closures on the northbound/westbound Thruway. The four northbound/westbound lanes on the Thruway temporarily pair off to allow for work in an expanded median. Following the traffic split, all lanes merge on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Specific lane and ramp closure times are listed in the chart below.
Lane Closures Near the Bridge
| DATE: | CLOSURES BEGIN: | CLOSURES END: | LOCATION: |
| Mon. 12/10 | 7 p.m. – One right lane 8 p.m. – Two right lanes |
7 a.m., Tues. 12/11 | Northbound from exit 9 to exit 11 |
| Tues. 12/11 | 7 p.m. – One right lane 8 p.m. – Two right lanes |
7 a.m., Wed. 12/12 | Northbound from exit 9 to exit 11 |
| Wed. 12/12 | 7 p.m. – One right lane 8 p.m. – Two right lanes |
7 a.m., Thur. 12/13 | Northbound from exit 9 to exit 11 |
| Thur. 12/13 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 9 p.m. – Two right lanes |
7 a.m., Fri. 12/14 | Northbound from exit 9 to exit 11 |
| Fri. 12/14 | 8 p.m. – One right lane 10 p.m. – Two right lanes |
8 a.m., Sat. 12/15 | Northbound from exit 9 to exit 11 |
Bicycle/Pedestrian Path
At the Rockland Landing, a section of the Esposito Trail from Clinton Avenue and South Franklin Street to South Nyack Village Hall remains closed for the construction of the side path. Pedestrians and cyclists are being detoured to South Broadway and through Elizabeth Place Park. Additionally, crews will continue construction of a retaining wall along Hillside Avenue, necessitating temporary lane closures. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between east and west. Crews have begun drilling and installing piles at Elizabeth Place Park for construction of a highway noise barrier.
Here are the municipal events in Upper, South and the Village of Nyack and the Nyack Public Schools meetings for the week of 12/10.
Village of Nyack
- Tue 12/11
5p: Justice Court
6:30p: Community Block Grant Development Committee Meeting
- Thurs 12/13
9:30a: Justice Court
4:30p: Board of Water Commissioners Meeting
6:30p: Village Board Pre-meeting Workshop
7:30p: Village Board Meeting
Nyack Village Hall is located at 9 N. Broadway.
Village of South Nyack
- Mon 12/10, 5:30p: Justice Court
- Tue 12/11
6:30p: Police Board Meeting
7:30p: Board of Trustees Regular Meeting / Public Hearing
- Wed 12/12, 7:30p: Planning Board Meeting
- Sat 12/15, 9:30a: Mayor’s Meet & Greet
South Nyack Village Hall is located at 282 S Broadway.
Village of Upper Nyack
- Mon 12/10, 6p: Architectural Review Board Meeting
- Thurs 12/13, 7p: Board of Trustees Workshop
- Sat 12/15, 10a: Walk the HHC Preserve with the Mayor (N Midland, north of Locust Dr) – CANCELLED
Upper Nyack Village Hall is located at 328 N Broadway.
Nyack Public Schools
Tue 12/11, 7p: Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education Meeting will be held at the Upper Nyack Elementary School, 336 N Broadway, Upper Nyack.
