Mario Cuomo Bridge

The Villages: Is There Lead In Your Soil? Free Testing, Saturday

Published

October 8, 2018

This week in the villages: The first step toward protecting your family from lead poisoning is to know whether and where the risks lie. On Oct 13, the public is invited to the Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Open House in Palisades where you can bring soil samples from your yard or local parks to be tested.
Pickleball anyone? The Nyack Rec Dept invites pickleball players and wannabe players to Memorial Park on Wed at 9a for the first “drop in” pickleball session.
Upper Nyack wants public input on plans for the Cason Preserve. Roadwork on the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge continues with single lane closures. Nyack is holding another village-wide sidewalk sale. Nita Lowey announced funding increases for childcare and early childhood learning and $300K in federal funding to Orangetown to combat opioid abuse.

Village of Nyack

Columbus Day, Monday, October 8 – no trash collection in the Village of Nyack. The DPW will be picking up trash on Tues Oct 9.

Autumn Sidewalk Sale

Nyack’s autumn sidewalk sale will be held Saturday, October 13 from 10a-6p. Shoppers can shut down their computers for some real brick-and-mortar browsing. Great deals will be available from dozens of retailers and restaurants. The sale runs rain or shine. Retailers interested in participating can contact Village of Nyack Recreation Director Melody Partrick at 914-629-9748 or recreation@nyack-ny.gov.

Pickleball on Wed Mornings

Following a successful pickleball demonstration day to gauge interest in the sport, the Village of Nyack is starting pickleball drop-in play on Wed mornings at 9a on the basketball court in Memorial Park.

Village of South Nyack

Save the Date – Public Hearing for a Local Law Amendment Regarding Police Residency

The South Nyack-Grandview Police Department’s Board, the governing board for the joint police department, has asked that both the South Nyack Board of Trustees and the Grand View Board of Trustees to hold a public hearing to amend our local law regarding where officers live. There will be two hearings which will both be held on Monday, October 15 at 7:30p. One in South Nyack at the Firehouse (2nd floor), 90 Depot Place and one at 204 Hudson Terrace in Piermont.

Village of Upper Nyack

Public Input Session on Cason Preserve – Thursday, October 11 at 7p

Come to Upper Nyack Elementary School on 10/11 to share your ideas for the Cason Preserve. 336 N Broadway, Upper Nyack. Please RSVP at www.uppernyack-ny.us.

Town of Orangetown

Nita Lowey Announces Orangetown Awarded More Than $300K to Combat Opioid Abuse

Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced last week that Orangetown would be awarded $300,338 in federal funding to combat opioid abuse.
“The opioid epidemic is impacting families and communities here in New York and across the country and necessitates swift action,” said Congresswoman Lowey. “With this $300,338 in federal funding, the Town of Orangetown can save lives of those struggling with opioid use by connecting them with the treatment and support services they need.”

Town of Clarkstown

Suez Tour Day

On Saturday, October 13 from 10a-2p, take a tour of Suez’s water treatment facilities and walk to the top of the Lake DeForest dam. This is event is free and open to the public (age 6 and over). Please wear appropriate closed toe shoes. Park on Suez property on Strawtown Rd just north of Old Mill Rd.

It’s Science Saturday at the LDEO open House on 10/13

Although lead has been banned from paint and gasoline for several decades, the toxic metal still lingers in many backyards in New York and New Jersey. Soil tests will be led by Lamont research professor Lex van Geen and students from Columbia University and Barnard College. Their team has been studying lead levels in Brooklyn backyards and they hope to soon expand to other neighborhoods.

Whether you’re an aspiring young scientist or a long-time science enthusiast, the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory invites you tor their open house on Sat Oct 13 from 10a-4p. Tour a lab, participate in hands-on earth science demonstrations, and learn from world-renowned researchers about their latest discoveries. A $5 donation is recommended.
You can also bring a soil sample to the open house for lead testing. To learn more about how to collect the sample and what to do *if* it’s contaminated, visit OpenHouse.LDEO.columbia.edu.

Rockland

Nita Lowey Announces Historic Funding Increases for Child Care and Early Childhood Learning

Last week, Congresswoman Nita Lowey visited Riverview Nursery School in South Nyack to announce historic federal investments for child care and early childhood learning in the Fiscal Year 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) funding bill, which was recently signed into law as part of a “minibus” spending package. During the visit, Lowey toured the nursery school and participated in a roundtable discussion on the federal funding increases and the advantages of investments in early childhood education.

Mario Cuomo Bridge News

Single-Lane Closures Scheduled

Tappan Zee Constructors (TZC) is scheduled to continue concrete slab installation on the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287) near the Rockland landing and roadway improvements on the eastbound span. The work will require single-lane closures near the bridge in both directions. Specific lane closure times are listed in the chart below.

Lane Closures Near the Bridge

DATE:	CLOSURES BEGIN:	CLOSURES END:	LOCATION:
Tues. 10/9	4:30 a.m. – One left lane	3 p.m.	Northbound (I-87/I-287) from exit 9 to exit 10
Tues. 10/9	10 a.m. – One right lane	3 p.m.	Southbound from exit 11 to exit 9
Wed. 10/10	4:30 a.m. – One left lane	3 p.m.	Northbound from exit 9 to exit 10
Wed. 10/10	10 a.m. – One right lane	3 p.m.	Southbound from exit 11 to exit 9
Thur., 10/11	4:30 a.m. – One left lane	3 p.m.	Northbound from exit 9 to exit 10
Thur., 10/11	10 a.m. – One right lane	6 p.m.	Southbound from exit 10 to exit 9

River Road Work

TZC continues painting operations to the steel girders over River Road in South Nyack, requiring single lane closures and brief, periodic traffic holds. Additional operations include the installation of utilities, sidewalk and curbing. Travelers should expect brief traffic stops between 7a and 5:30p, Monday to Friday. The temporary stops are required to safely install the painting platform over the roadway. Flag persons are on site to facilitate the lane closings and maintain traffic safety. School busses and emergency vehicles are given priority throughout the closure period. Cyclists and pedestrians should follow flagger’s instructions.

Shared Use Path

In preparation for the bridge’s bicycle/pedestrian path and overlooks, TZC is scheduled to install rebar and form work on the northern side of the westbound span. The work follows the temporary shift in Rockland-bound traffic to the southern side of the westbound span, allowing TZC to build the path behind temporary concrete barriers. At the Rockland landing, a segment of the Esposito Trail from Clinton Avenue and South Franklin Street to Village Hall is closed for the construction of the side path. Pedestrians and cyclists are being detoured to South Broadway and through Elizabeth Place Park. The detour will be in place for up to two months. Additionally, crews will continue drilling and installing piles along Hillside Avenue, necessitating temporary lane closures. Flag persons will keep traffic moving by alternating the directional flow between east and west. Ramp construction will also continue for the new connection between Interchange 10 and Hillside Avenue.