This week in the villages: Don’t despair about the impact of climate change. There’s something you can do locally that can make a difference: join Nyack’s Climate Action Task Force and and work with like-minded community members to build a more sustainable future. • South Nyack becomes the first river village to formally take steps to establish a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. • What’s up next on the MCB TZB SUP? The Bike / Ped Shared Use Path will open later this summer. However, there’s a debate about what “open,” means. There’s a debate about what “open,” means.
Village of Nyack
Message from Nyack Mayor Don Hammond
The number of record high temperature events in the United States has been increasing, while the number of record low temperature events has been decreasing, since 1950. The U.S. has also witnessed increasing numbers of intense rainfall events. Courtesy NASA
Climate change is a global issue which has serious local implications, too. It threatens our infrastructure, our health, and our natural resources. Fortunately, there are things we can do in our community that can make a difference. I am inviting you—residents, business owners, and community leaders—to join the Village of Nyack’s Climate Action Task Force to create a plan to prepare for these impacts and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.
Nyack’s Climate Action Plan will lay out how we can convert to clean energy in our buildings and vehicles, reduce energy use, change the transportation landscape, manage our waste, improve air and water quality, reduce risk to life and property, and preserve our quality of life.
Over the next ten months, we will develop the plan. Yes, it will involve some time and effort. But we want to make it enjoyable too, with opportunities to meet new people and learn new things. We need the creativity, perspectives and community connections of members of the whole Nyack community to make it a high impact plan that we can be proud of, based on a shared vision of a better future.
We are all in this together. Let’s work as a community to address the impacts of climate change and build a more sustainable future. Please contact Sustainability Coordinator, Marcy Denker (mbdenker@gmail.com), to learn more and get involved. — Nyack Mayor Don Hammond
40 neighbors near Nyack and Piermont went “Rolling By The River” on June 2, 2019, for a “slow roll” community cycling event to Nyack Beach State Park.
Mario Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge Shared Use Path
and Bicycle Commuting
The Village of Nyack’s Sustainability Committee and the Rockland Sierra Club are asking Governor Cuomo and NYS Thruway Director Matthew Driscoll to permit 24/7 operation of the Bike/Pedestrian Shared Use Path when it opens in the next few months. Last week, Nyack Sketch Log columnist Bill Batson shared a few reasons why this is important, and how you can help by signing the Change.org petition, 24/7 Commuter Bicycle Access for the Mario Cuomo Tappan Zee Bridge.
Village of South Nyack
For decades, O&R has been the default electric supplier in the Nyacks but individual residents have no ability to bargain with O&R over the cost or type of electric. That is changing. The New York State “Reforming the Energy Vision” program is transforming the availability of electricity products and services within the state, with the goal of shifting the whole of New York towards a more sustainable, cleaner energy strategy. As part of that program, the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) model now allows municipalities to seek a cheaper, greener electricity supply on behalf of residents. To do that, villages may band together and use the combined buying power of their residents to find better options for electricity. In addition to directly benefitting residents through cheaper, 100% renewable electricity, a CCA program helps a village become a “Climate Smart Community” which in turn opens up new grant funding opportunities.
The Village of South Nyack became the first river village in this area to formally take two steps on the path towards a CCA. In mid-May, the Village Board adopted a local law to establish a CCA program. Last week, the Board passed a motion empowering the mayor to sign a service agreement with a company to run the CCA program. The chosen company, Joule Assets, has set up the Westchester Power CCA, the Hudson Valley Community Power CCA and the Finger Lakes Community Choice CCA. Each of those CCAs is an aggregation of multiple municipalities and enjoys cheap electricity rates for 100% green, renewable electricity–all at a cost that is cheaper than the utility rate for dirtier fossil fuel-based energy. — Andrew Goodwillie, South Nyack Village Trustee
Town of Clarkstown
Have coffee with Town Supervisor, George Hoehmann, at Hartells Deli, 326 N Broadway, Upper Nyack on Saturday, June 8 from 9 to 11a. This is an open forum to ask questions or bring up any issues, concerns, or ideas you may have.
Mario Cuomo Bridge News
Overnight Lane Closures
Tappan Zee Constructors, LLC (TZC) is scheduled to continue roadway improvements near the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Operations require multiple overnight lane closures on the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-287). Work on the southbound exit 9 (Tarrytown – Sleepy Hollow – US Route 9) off- ramp requires a temporary off-ramp closure on the overnight of Thursday, June 6. Drivers will be detoured approximately one mile west to exit 8A (Elmsford – NY Route 119 – Saw Mill River Parkway North) to access the northbound Thruway and the northbound exit 9 off-ramp (see map below). At least one lane will remain open at all times. Specific lane and ramp closure times are listed in the chart below.
Lane Near the Bridge
| DATE: | CLOSURES BEGIN: | CLOSURES END: | LOCATION: |
| Mon. 6/3 | 8p – Two left lanes 11p – Three left lanes |
5a, Tues. 6/4 | Southbound from exit 11 to the bridge |
| Tues. 6/4 | 9p – Two left lanes 11p – Three left lanes |
6a, Wed. 6/5 | Northbound from the bridge to exit 11 |
| Wed. 6/5 | 9p – Two right lanes 11:59p – Three right lanes |
6a, Thurs. 6/6 | Northbound from the bridge to exit 11 |
| Thurs. 6/6 | 9p – Two right lanes 11:59p – Three right lanes |
5a, Fri. 6/7 | Southbound near exit 9 |
| Thurs. 6/6 | 9p – Ramp closure | 5a, Fri. 6/7 | Southbound exit 9 off-ramp |
| Fri. 6/7 | 10p – Two left lanes 11:59p – Three left lanes |
6a, Sat. 6/8 | Southbound from exit 11 to the bridge |
Bicycle/Pedestrian Path
At the Rockland Landing, daytime paving of Hillside Avenue from the New York State Thruway ramp to near the South Franklin Street Extension in South Nyack will continue this week, weather permitting. Two-way traffic will be maintained during commuting hours while one-way traffic control measures will be in place during the operation.
Here are the municipal events in South Nyack and the Village of Nyack and the Nyack Public Schools meetings for the week of 6/3. There are no meetings scheduled in Upper Nyack this week.
Village of Nyack
- Mon 6/3, 7p: Planning Board Meeting
- Tue 6/4
9a: Mayor Hammond’s Monthly Meeting
5p: Justice Court
- Thurs 6/6, 9:30a: Justice Court
Nyack Village Hall is located at 9 N. Broadway.
Village of South Nyack
- Mon 6/3, 5:30p: Justice Court
- Tue 6/4, 7:30p: Zoning Board of Appeals
South Nyack Village Hall is located at 282 S Broadway.
Nyack Public Schools
Tue 6/4, 7:30p: Board of Education Meeting
The Board of Education Meeting will be held at Nyack High School, 360 Christian Herald Rd, Upper Nyack.
