A $54 million study has concluded that it’s cheaper to build a Tappan Zee Bridge replacement than to repair the current structure. Although the 150,000 daily riders have no reason to fear for their safety, transit officials say the TZB doesn’t meet current national standards.

A $16 billion replacement is planned, including a new bridge just north of the current structure (Cost: $6.4B), a 30 mile bus rapid transit from Suffern To Port Chester ($2.9B), and a one-stop rail link from Rockland County to Grand Central Station (6.7B).

The new bridge, first proposed by Governor Pataki in 1999, would open 2016 if environmental hurdles are cleared and funding is secured. The Bus Rapid Transit service would begin operation on “day one” of the bridge’s opening, according to NYSDOT Commissioner Astrid Glynn. Rail lines will follow later. Pedestrian and bike paths are also being considered as part of the plan.

Public meetings will be held next month prior to development of a Final Scoping Report. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be completed by 4Q 2009 followed by a Final Environmental Impact Statement in early 2010.

Rockland Community College will host transportation officials for a public meeting on the project on October 29.

Sources: Gothamist, Poughkeepsie Journal, BalconyNewYork

Michael Lovaglio at the water intake

Last week I met with Michael Lovaglio, the Superintendent of the Village’s water department. It was a very interesting experience, and a pleasure to meet Michael.

The short answer. If you are one of the 15,000 land owners that live in the Village of Nyack, South Nyack, in Central Nyack or the Hamlet of West Nyack, your water comes from the Hackensack River, just after it is released from the Lake DeForest reservoir. If you live anywhere else in Rockland County, except the Village of Spring Valley, your water comes from United Water.

The first thing I noticed is that its hard to find the water plant. And that is by design. After 9/11, part of the security plan is to keep the facility off any map.  It’s not like it will really stop a bad guy from finding it, and climbing over the security fence, and doing something bad, but there has to be a plan.

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NYDOT officials will tell us the results of their nine year $54 million Tappan Zee Bridge Study this morning: we need a new bridge. It’s something TZB commuters already knew.

The replacement will include some form of mass transit. The most expensive proposal, examined by the bridge study commission, will create a light rail line running from West (Suffern) to East (Port Chester) crossing the Hudson on the new TZB. Continue reading →

After twenty years of planning, fundraising and construction, Rockland County Muslims can now answer the call to prayer in a place they can call their own.

Source: NYT, September 25: Constructing a Dream in Times of Tumult

This was written by Thom Kleiner, Town of Orangetown Superintendent, about Nyack Park Conservancy.
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A little over a year ago, I wrote a column about the Nyack Park Conservancy, a young not for profit trying to make a difference along the waterfront of Nyack. I applauded their efforts, urged everyone to support them and predicted success. Last Saturday night, in the magnificent gardens of Pretty Penny, my premonitions about this scrappy group seem to be coming true.

It was a night when the rain chose to hold off just long enough, as the crowd of elegantly dressed people from all over Rockland , Westchester, New Jersey, Manhattan and even Massachusetts filled the legendary grounds of Helen Hayes old home. The occasion was the Nyack Park Conservancy’s third annual fundraiser and, like each one before it, this one topped the last. Guests sipped cocktails while wandering the halls of Pretty Penny, the current home of W. Graham Arader, a Manhattan art dealer of tremendous renown. Strings played as the guests entered, John Molino did his own fabulous music out back, white roses in silver cups deocorated small tables hung with crystals, high school waiters in Conservancy t-shirts passed h’ors d’oeveres and the guests had a fabulous time.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                    September 23, 2008

CONTACT:  Renee Cho, Riverkeeper 914-478-4501 x 239

rcho@riverkeeper.org

www.riverkeeper.org

 Lehigh Cement fined $50,000, ordered to halt illegal discharges

(Tarrytown, New York) Riverkeeper today commended the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for responding quickly to halt the illegal discharge of landfill leachate into wetlands and the Hudson River from Lehigh Northeast Cement Company’s closed cement kiln dust landfill in Catskill, NY.  On September 10, 2008, the DEC and Lehigh Cement entered into an Order on Consent in which Lehigh (1) admitted to violating provisions of the state Environmental Conservation Law, (2) agreed to pay a penalty of $50,000, (3) agreed to implement measures to contain and treat leachate from its landfill, and (4) agreed to remediate damage to adjacent wetlands where sediment deposited by the leachate was found to be up to one foot thick.

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“Corporate marketers want to own your baby: Learn how to stop them” is the first of a series of monthly forums for moms and mothers-to-be.  Laura Rose, founder of Active Moms of Rockland, will present a multi-media eye opening presentation in a baby friendly room this Tuesday at 12:30p. Bring baby if you wish and please come a little early for parking and sign-in. This is a free event open to mommies only (with babes 0-2 years).

“In the Know” was created as a forum to discuss issues effecting moms and babies, their health, environment, and wellbeing. Laura Rose is a certified health counselor, wellness facilitator, and  a mom of a 6 month old.
Tuesday September 23, 2008
12:30pm-1:45pm
“In the Know with Laura Rose”

Baby Room at the JCC of West Nyack
450 West Nyack Rd, West Nyack, NY 10994
845-362-4400 Ext 103

 Nyack News and Views is not partisan, but this should be fun!

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Our three-part celebration of artists and community begins with a cocktail reception, followed by an evening of performances at Riverspace Arts, concluding with “afterparties” with a “Get out the Vote” theme at The Nyack Center and other venues.

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• Toni Morrison – Nobel Laureate and author
• Bill T. Jones – Award winning choreographer & dance pioneer
• Bill Irwin – Two-time Tony Award winning actor & performer
• David Shire – Academy Award winning composer & actress Didi Conn with Lynne Wintersteller
• George Lamond, Soave – Recording Artists
• gabrielle lansner & company, modern dance collective
• And screening of a short film by Jonathan Demme

All proceeds from tickets to the performance will go directly to the Obama Victory Fund.

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Miele Sanitation should be fired as the village’s recycling vendor. For at least the 50th time since I moved to Nyack three years ago, I just got off the phone with them because they will not pick up my paper recycling. I have called three times this week alone, and when I just said that I might get a ticket because my bin is out on the wrong day I was told “too bad”. They are unprofessional and unreliable and should be fired.