This week in the villages: New precautionary and mandatory standing quarantine orders have been announced to separate sick people from healthy people and prevent the spread of COVID-19. These orders also inform healthcare personnel (HCP) and essential personnel (EP) when they may return to work. Nyack Mayor Don Hammond is requesting that everyone wear a mask when out in public. And South Nyack and Upper Nyack are holding virtual public hearings on their 2020-2021 budgets. And for something less serious, voting begins on Tuesday for participants in the Town of Clarkstown’s Got Talent competition.
Rockland County
New Standing Precautionary and Mandatory Quarantine Orders
Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert announced two new Standing Quarantine Orders (precautionary and mandatory) to separate sick people from healthy people and prevent the spread of COVID-19. These orders also inform Healthcare Personnel (HCP) and Essential Personnel (EP) when they may return to work to help prevent staff shortages that would negatively impact the operation of healthcare facilities and essential businesses.
These orders direct persons with either precautionary (suspected) or mandatory (positive COVID-19 test results) quarantine to travel directly to–or remain quarantined at–their residence (or other place as ordered by the Rockland County Department of Health (RCDOH)). And the orders explain how long the person, depending on symptoms, must remain quarantined at home. If these legal quarantine orders are not followed, residents may be fined up to $2,000 per day. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring their child(ren) complies with these quarantine orders, or they will face the same fines.
The Standing Quarantine Orders are in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOh) and are outlined on rocklandgov.com.
Here’s where you can get additional information for employers, employees, and residents:
- For more information and testing questions call the New York State 24-hour hotline at 1-888-364-3065.
- For emotional support call the New York State COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline at 1-844-863-9314 from 8a – 10p, 7 days a week or call the Rockland County Department of Mental Health at 845-364-2955, M-F 9a – 3p.
- For local information and resources call 2-1-1
- Visit the county’s COVID-19 page
Coronavirus Virtual Town Hall
Senator David Carlucci will be hosting a Virtual Town Hall on the coronavirus (COVID-19) with Dr. William Greenhut, Emergency Medicine Physician and Association Director of the Emergency Department at Montefiore Nyack Hospital via Facebook Live on Mon, Apr 13 at 4p.
Mass Transportation Changes
Beginning Mon, Apr 13, 2020, Metro-North will operate on an hourly schedule on the Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven Lines on both weekdays and weekends. The new schedules may be found on mta.info/mnr.
Also effective Mon, Apr 13, 2020, in conjunction with Metro-North’s East of Hudson rail service modifications, the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry Service will be suspended and replaced with substitute buses until further notice. The special bus schedule may be found on web.mta.info.
For further information on transportation schedule changes, visit the Rockland County Public Transportation Transit Alerts page.
Rockland County Legislature
The Rockland County Legislature voted 17-0 this past Tuesday to approve financing several for the following capital improvement projects:
- Construction of Human Rights Memorial, Dutch Garden County Park, New City, $125,000.
- Purchase of a Bobcat earth-moving machine, $100,000.
- Design & construction of garage exhaust systems at County Fire Training Center Administration and Materials Storage Building, $275,000.
- Replacement of a fire engine, $600,000.
- Sheriff’s countywide license plate-reader system, $3.75 million.
- Improvements to Lake Suzanne dam on the Pascack Brook in Ramapo, $2 million.
- Various drainage-related improvements as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, $1.4 million.
- Sparkill floodplain remediation, $100,000.
Rockland County Legislature Chairman Alden H. Wolfe says the county will borrow issue bonds to pay for these projects.
Village of Nyack
#Masks4All
Nyack Mayor Don Hammond asks that all residents continue to observe Governor Cuomo’s Mar 22, 2020 Executive Order that non-essential businesses close and outdoor activity be limited. He is now recommending that everyone who ventures outside either for work or necessary health and nutrition, to please follow the Center for Disease Control’s Apr 4, 2020 recommendation to wear a cloth face covering.
Your mask keeps people safe from you. Many transmissions of the virus are from people who have no symptoms and don’t know that they are sick. Your neighbor’s mask keeps you safe from them. Wearing a mask alone does not prevent transmission. You should still stay home and only venture out for critical needs. Practice six feet social distancing when you are outside. Wash your hands vigorously with soap. Keep a distance from anyone who is sick and distance yourself if you feel the onset of symptoms. Repeatedly reusing a single-use mask is not advisable. The virus can be transmitted from any object that can not be properly sterilized. When using a cloth mask, wash it regularly with soap.
- Making a Cloth Mask – Nyack resident, Mario the Magician, has made a video showing you how to easily transform a piece of cloth into a face covering.
- How to Get a Free Cloth Mask
- Call 288-3186 and leave your name, address, and the number of masks you require for your family. Speak slowly and clearly and a Village of Nyack employee will arrange delivery.
- Visit Nyack Mask Makers and complete the request for a mask form and a Village of Nyack employee will arrange delivery.
And if you are in the position to donate time or resources to the effort to provide #freemask4all in Nyack, please visit Nyack Mask Makers.
A Show of Support for Montefiore Nyack Hospital
In order to provide a tiny bit of joy to the staff of Montefiore Nyack Hospital, it is looking for musicians from the community who would be willing to do a short, solitary set of music during the hospital shift change around 7:15a and 7:15p each day. The musician would stand on the corner of Haven Court, near the hospital (but a very safe distance away), and play or sing a set of their choice.
Interested musicians and vocalists may sign up here. The sessions will also be shared with the hospital on a Facebook page that recognizes the bravery of our first responders and hospital employees. If you have any questions, please contact Melody Partrick, Recreation Director, Village of Nyack.
COVID-19 Changes
Nyack Village Hall remains closed to both employees and the public until further notice, and the Department of Public Works will be picking up the trash as scheduled – Mondays & Thursdays. Contact information for Village Hall staff may be found at nyack-ny.gov.
Changes to Bulk Pickup
Staying home has given many people the opportunity to get a jump on spring cleaning. As a result, the garbage crews have been picking up a lot of excess trash and bulk items the past few weeks. At this time, the DPW is working on a modified staffing schedule. All residents are asked to please limit any bulk to one or two items. If possible, please hold the bulk until the next collection–always the first Friday of the month–and hopefully everyone will be accommodated in a month or so. The primary goal is the safety of the crews, while balancing the needs of the residents.
The Village of South Nyack
Tue, Apr 14 Board of Trustees Meeting and Public Hearings
There will be a tele-meeting of the South Nyack Board of Trustees on Tue, Apr 14 at 7:30p, including public hearings for a proposed local law authorizing a property tax levy in excess of the limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c, the tentative 2020-2021 village budget, and a proposed local law related to a landscaper registry. Copies of the proposed laws and the tentative 2020-2021 budget may be found on southnyack.ny.gov. If you wish to attend via teleconference, the dial in number is 267-930-4000 and the participant access code is 389-930-058. If you are unable to attend via teleconference and wish to submit a comment or question please email Mayor Bonnie Christian.
The Village of Upper Nyack
Public Hearing on Tentative 2020-2021 Village Budget
A public hearing on the tentative 2020-2021 budget for the Village of Upper Nyack will be held on Thurs, Apr 16, 2020 at 7:30p via teleconference. A copy of the tentative budget is available on uppernyack-ny.us.
Leaf Bags and Bulk Pickup
Leaf bags are now available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings ONLY. Bags will be placed on the front porch of Village Hall and are first-come-first-served until the supply is depleted. Currently, there will be a limit of 10 bags per visit and you will not have to sign for bags at this time.
To reduce potential exposure to coronavirus by DPW staff, leaf bags will be picked up no sooner than 24 hours from the time they are placed at the curb. Hard surface bulk items, such as white goods, will be picked up after a minimum of 72 hours outdoors. We regret the inconvenience. This is only a temporary restriction.
Request for Bids to Paint the Exterior of Upper Nyack Village Hall
The Village of Upper Nyack is seeking bids to paint the exterior of the village hall. Sealed bids may be submitted at Village Hall, 328 N Broadway until 11a on Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at which time bids will be publicly opened and read. Information for interested bidders may be found on uppernyack-ny.us. The public bid opening will be held by video/tele conference either by computer (Meeting ID: 445 143 9332, Password: BidOpen414) or by telephone at +1 929-436-2866 (Meeting ID: 445 143 9332, Password: 285204).
Town of Clarkstown
The Town of Clarkstown State of Emergency remains in effect until further notice. All town departments will only remain open to the public for telephone inquiries, electronic communications, and electronic filings. In-person appointments with the public will be made on an emergency basis only. The Clarkstown Town Court is closed.
To reduce exposure risks to Clarkstown’s emergency service professionals, town officials are asking the public to only call the police for emergencies. If you are quarantined (mandatory or self-imposed) in your home due to possible or confirmed COVID-19 exposure, PLEASE advise the 911 dispatcher so it may be relayed to responding units. Officers will be initiating the interview process from outside your home and practicing social distancing when possible.
All senior centers and community centers remain closed until further notice.
Tele Town Hall Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 3p
Join Supervisor George Hoehmann and Dr. Mark Geller of Montefiore Nyack Hospital on a group telephone call to ask any questions or bring up any concerns you may have. Call 845-203-6304 to join or watch on FB live.
Congers Lake Walkway and All Town Parks Closed
The Congers Lake walkway and boardwalks, as well as the dog park and all town parks, are currently closed for the expected apex of this event through Mon, Apr 20, 2020.
Community Centers
The Clarkstown Recreation Department has been filming activities for residents to enjoy while home and social distancing. They will be broadcast every day on the Town of Clarkstown Government Access Channels (Cablevision/Altice Channel 78 and Verizon Channel 35). A schedule for the week may be found on town.clarkstown.ny.us. There will be other recreation activities broadcast on FB Live on the Town of Clarkstown Recreation & Parks led by recreation staff and volunteers on Facebook live at 11a each day. All of these will also be on the town YouTube Channel.
Clarkstown Mulch Site Open
Residents of the Town of Clarkstown may pick up compost and wood mulch during regular park hours for use at their residence at Germonds Park, 185 Germonds Rd, West Nyack.
Clarkstown’s Got Talent Contest – Time to Vote
20 acts were submitted and now it’s time to vote. The videos will air several times on the Town’s Government Access Channel (Channel 78 Optimum, Channel 35 Fios) from Tue, Apr 14 at 9a to Fri, Apr 17, 2020 at 5p. They will also be on the town’s YouTube page. To vote click the link to vote under the Youtube video. Winners will be announced the following week.
Area Scholarships
Arts Camp @ RoCA Scholarship
The deadline for scholarship applications for the Arts Camp at RoCA four week session from July 27 through August 21, 2020 for those with significant financial need is April 15, 2020. Priority is given to children who have not been to the camp before.
The day camp serves children entering grades K-9 in September, 2020 and operates Monday through Friday from 9:45a to 4p. The camp does not provide transportation or lunch. Scholarships are not transferable or redeemable for cash.
Both a camp application and a summer day camp scholarship application must be completed to be considered. Acceptance is not guaranteed. Please read the camp brochure for complete details. If you have any questions about the scholarships or completing the forms, please call Amy at 845-358-0877 ex. 18 between the hours of 9a and 5p Monday through Friday or email Amy@rocklandartcenter.org. Applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 1st.
