The Village Board approved a budget which will include a sharp rise in parking ticket prices from $12 to $25. If the unlucky recipient pays the ticket within four days it will be reduced to $15. The new prices will take effect September 1.

In November of 2007, Nyack hired Dean Dykeman to conduct a tree inspection for village’s 300+ trees. (see PDF Report)

The contract was for only $3,000 so it was a “drive-by” visual inspection with no measuring, borings, etc.

The report suggested removing about 20 trees and dozens in dire need of pruning.

The report suggest the Village needs a tree management plan including:

• Annual Inspection of all village trees
• Development of a tree removal and replanting program
• An annual budget for tree care
• Designation of a certified arborist to help manage the village trees

Click to Enlarge

Ever wonder how to get rid of your pile of batteries, your old paint cans, computer, oil, etc.? Rockland County has a facility to take all your old electronics and nasty substances.

It’s located on Firemen’s Memorial Drive in Pomona, right off of Exit 12 of the Palisades. Click on the image to view details on what items are accepted and times the facility is open.

Nyack, N.Y.––The Rev. Patricia Ackerman, founder of Over the Rainbow Institute for Living Ethics, in partnership with leaders throughout Rockland, is inviting the community at large to an event in Nyack’s Memorial Park by the river entitled Healing The Moment: Reclaiming Our Youth and Community. The rally, featuring celebrities, musical performers, spiritual and community leaders, will take place Sunday, April 27th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in Memorial Park. “In response to recent racially painful events in our village, we are bringing together our youth, parents, grandparents, and all families and friends for a town wide gathering for several hours. We hope the time will provide an opportunity for healing, education, and guidance, to address the community’s most serious concerns,” said Rev.Ackerman. Continue reading →

The Journal News says parking tickets are up since Muni Meters were installed but the actual number of paid violations is flat. The Nyack Parking Authority wrote 14% more citations this year than last in 2007, however, many of the initial violations during this transition period were subsequently dismissed due to complaints about insufficient instructions explaining how the new meters work.

Source: Journal News, April 24

Click on the image below
The Village Board has authorized bonding for a major reconstruction project for the public off-street parking along Artopee Way, behind Riverspace. About half of this $700k capital project will be dedicated to fix drainage issues, which is currently flooding Nyack Plaza Community Housing. Also, about 60 new spaces will be provided with a better layout. The bus stop, currently on Cedar street, will be moved to Artopee Way near Franklin behind the bank.

Continue reading →

Nyack will have many events from Earth Day on April 22 to the big day on Saturday, April 26 with a community cleanup and parade. See more information HERE.

Written by Nan Gunderson for the Nyack Villager

At their March 6 meeting, the firm of Hakim Associates sat down with Nyack’s Streetscape Steering Committee to unveil their design concept for our downtown. The plan consists of new lighting, repaved sidewalks, additional bump-outs to accommodate more trees, additional crosswalks, benches, planters, trash cans and other amenities. The first phase of work will begin with Main Street between Franklin and Broadway. As funds become available, the rest of the downtown will be restored. Once the Steering Committee completes its work, the village will schedule a meeting to present the final plan to the community. A special thank you must go to members of the former Downtown Nyack Coalition who worked for two years to help make this happen.

Nyack, April 17 — Police told local residents in South Nyack to stay indoors Tuesday afternoon to avoid a fight involving 40-50 people in two gangs which resulted in injuries and possibly two stabbings. Orangetown police said some of the participants were armed with knives, bats and an ax. One of the injuries resulted from someone being hit in the head with a hammer. Five arrests have been made.

Police say gang members from Spring Valley, reportedly members of the Bloods, came to the village on April 15 seeking retribution following an incident at Nyack High School, when someone in a Nyack street gang pulled a girl’s red bandanna from her neck.

Sources: WCBS/AP, The Journal News, The Daily News

Updates:

• Commentary from Orangetown’s Supervisor Thom Kleiner and Police Chief Kevin Nulty, April 22, 2008
• Orangetown Police Chief and Nyack Schools’ Superintendent meet about gang-related incident, Inside Rockland, April 22
• Nyack confronts gang issues, Journal News, April 19
• Gang Violence ‘Never Happens Here.’ But This Time, It Did.
  New York Times, April 18
• More on Why It Happened, Journal News April 27

Written by Nan Gunderson for the Nyack Villager 

Did you know that residents are responsible for replacing the curbs adjacent to their property line? Did you know the Village of Nyack has a program that splits the cost of replacing a crumbling curb?

How this works-First, you need to get on the list kept by John Cincotta, the Village Treasurer. When your name comes to the top of the list, you are notified and the village arranges for a contractor to come and do the work. The village splits the cost with you, each paying 50%.

The catch-There is a limited amount of money in the village coffers for this program each year, so the wait can be a long one. You may choose to replace the curb yourself at your own expense.