This week in the Villages: We make a few New Year’s resolutions for improving our coverage in 2023, Plus, other local news, a weather prediction, a Covid update, upcoming meetings and much more. Thanks for being here!
Tis the season to make lofty resolutions for the coming year that you probably won’t keep. Eat healthier. Drink less. Read more. Try not to go ballistic over your tween daughter’s metastasizing TikTok habit. (Just me?)
Well, we here at Nyack News & Views recently got together to discuss our plans for improving local news coverage and storytelling in 2023. (Hint: we will be way more awesome!)
While we can’t divulge everything — email us (info@nyacknewsandviews.com) to discuss offline — here’s quick sneak peek at a few of our goals for the year ahead.
(1) Figure out what’s going on at the former Nyack College campus and Yeshiva of Viznitz D’Khal Torath Chaim. We know there are now schools and a daycare being run there, despite a lack of initial building permits. But what is the long-term plan? How can they weave themselves into the fabric of the Nyack community? Would it be cool to sled there when it snows? We aim to find out.
(2) How are South Nyackers feeling one year after the dissolution of their historic village? The anniversary of their absorption by Orangetown is coming up in March. How have things changed besides the old village hall turning into a cute coffee shop?
(3) Get to know Rockland’s only congressional representative, Mike Lawler. Now, apparently our relationship with the Lawler camp hasn’t been super cozy in the past. But that’s the past. This is 2023 and with a new year comes a fresh start, right? We both agree on the whole Tappan Zee Bridge thing. I’m sure we can work something out. Plus, we will definitely need some insight into whatever the heck will be going on in the new Republican-“controlled” House.
Lawler voted 15 consecutive times last week for Kevin McCarthy before seeing the California representative finally elected speaker this past Friday night / Saturday morning (way past my bedtime). We can’t wait to ask him about the Republican agenda, which he recently described in a tweet as “stopping the Biden agenda.” (To be fair, in the tweet he also mentioned “strengthening our economy; securing our border; restoring safety to our communities.” See! Totally even handed over here!)
We’re also excited to talk to Lawler about his freshman New York Republican co-worker and complete man of mystery, George Santos. Just a guess, but I bet Lawler won’t want to get into specifics — probably because he (or anyone else) doesn’t know anything specifically true about Santos’ background, which Santos has said included relatives fleeing the Holocaust, an apparently non-existent family financial firm that led to a $700,000 personal donation to his campaign (this could be important) and a fake pet rescue operation (this is just sad).
We’ll be in touch, Mike!
Stay tuned and let us know what you would like us to cover in 2023 (email us at info@nyacknewsandviews.com) …
Quote of the week
“I have a great problem with flip-flopping. If (term limits) was good when you were a councilman it would be good now. I get it. No one wants to lose their job.”
Attorney L’Tanya Watkins to Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann, who sued his own town to overturn a term limits law that he advocated for and voted for in 2014 as a councilman.
Video of the week: Nyack’s award-winning composer Tania León in the spotlight
In other relevant news:
- More from Rockland Biz Journal‘s Tina Traster on the convoluted story of George Hoehmann’s attempt to keep his job by overturning a term limits law he voted for back in 2014.
- Meet the Lohud‘s all-Rockland high school football team, which includes Nyack quarterback and defensive back Mike Fowler.
- Read Dan Cohen’s lovely trip down into Maureen’s Jazz Cellar for open mic night;
- Check out our latest Nyack Schools Report with notes from the December Nyack School Board meeting, including details about Nyack’s new culturally responsive teaching plan.
- Read Dan Cohen’s lovely trip down into Maureen’s Jazz Cellar for open mic night
- Check out our latest Nyack Schools Report with notes from the December Nyack School Board meeting, including details about Nyack’s new culturally responsive teaching plan.
ICYM NNV’s weekly features: Bill Batson’s latest “Nyack Sketch Log”; Mike Hays’ most recent “Nyack People & Places”; and our coverage in last week’s “The Villages”; Jessica Goodman’s latest Nyack Schools Report. If you haven’t read it yet, please check our vision for the future of Nyack News & Views and how you can help build our coverage and capacity.
Weather prediction (through 2023)
Looks like sunny days with temperatures in the 40s at the beginning of the week will give way to rain on Thursday and Friday (with temps climbing into the 50s) and then a mostly clear Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend back around the 40s. [Click here for the National Weather Service‘s latest 7-day forecast for the Nyack area.]
Covid Update! (threat level: High)
According to CDC data of recent hospitalizations and cases, Rockland’s community threat level of Covid-19 remains considered “High.” With a high designation, the CDC recommends wearing masks indoors while in public and on public transportation. (CDC stats updated 1/4/23 — back on 12/4/22 the threat level was considered “medium”.)
To find out what case and hospitalization trends look like in your town, click here.
Here’s the CDC’s data on Rockland.
Village updates
Nyack
- Here’s the list of all upcoming meetings posted for the Village of Nyack.
- If you could use help paying your water bills, click here.
- Drop off humanitarian aid for victims of the war in Ukraine (including first aid, painkillers, blankets, baby food, diapers, non-perishable food, antibiotics and more, at Village Hall, 9 N. Broadway (or at the Orangetown town hall, 26 W. Orangeburg Rd.).
Upper Nyack
- Click here for updates from the Village of Upper Nyack.
South Nyack
- Due to reader request, we have re-added South Nyack, which dissolved as an official village earlier this year. Please send us info about what’s going on in South Nyack at info@nyacknewsandviews.com.
Orangetown
- Check out the draft chapters of Orangetown’s new 2022 Comprehensive Plan.
- ICYMI: Here’s the official resolution Orangetown enacted with regards to the sale of two South Nyack properties, which appears to say the proceeds will go toward wiping out South Nyack’s debt, which is what South Nyack officials were lobbying for as the dissolution date approached.
- Help limit greenhouse gasses and curb pollution by joining this new food scraps recycling program.
- Check out the Orangetown YouTube channel.
Clarkstown
- The Technical Advisory Committee, which “evaluates the technical adequacy of land development applications and decides their readiness for Planning Board review,” meets most Wednesdays, including this Wednesday, from 10 am to noon, in the town hall’s Historic Map Room.
- For a calendar list of all Clarkstown meetings and events, click here.
Other Local Updates
South Nyack advocates have filed a petition with the town of Orangetown seeking to show support for a new Elizabeth Place Playground — the grassy play area and dog park just south of 87 and right off the Esposito trail. After South Nyack dissolved in March, the town found the playground equipment at Elizabeth Place was unsafe and not compliant with ADA regulations and removed it. A new ADA compliant park has been proposed and advocates want to see the proposal approved and implemented. Click here to read and/or sign the petition.
Nyack Schools
- As we mentioned already, Nyack schools will be led by Susan Yom, starting in January.
- Check out our latest Nyack Schools Report, a new regular feature we will post bi-monthly.
- Find out what else is going on in Nyack-area schools at Home Page – Nyack Public Schools (nyackschools.org)
Rockland-wide
A rare polio case was recently discovered in Rockland County. Here’s some info on how to protect yourself:
- New Yorkers can pre-register for a free polio vaccination appointment here or call 845-238-1956 to schedule. Walk-ins will also be accepted.
- Vaccines are also available through local healthcare providers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers.
- For more information on polio including symptoms and spread, visit NYSDOH’s page here.
- New Yorkers can learn more about the polio vaccine available in the U.S. at CDC’s page here.
- The Reviving Rockland Restaurants Grant Program will reimburse businesses between $5,000 and $25,000 for past expenses or fund future expenses for eligible outdoor dining COVID-19 mitigation equipment. Eligible entities include restaurants, food stands, food trucks, bars, saloons, lounges, taverns, bakeries, delis, cafes, breweries, wineries, and other similar places of business. For more information and to download an application visit rocklandgov.com.
- Fill out this survey to help the county provide better digital services.
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