The Nyack Library Construction project continues to progress. Steel for the new infrastructure has been erected including the new Young Adult Room (1st level), Children’s Room (2nd floor) and the Adult Reference Room (third level). The project is scheduled to be finished by November, 2008.

More information and pictures are available at The Nyack Library Expansion blog.

The Journal News reports that Nyack’s taxi services are overcharging for local fares to try to keep pace with rising gas prices. And the village is considering a fare increase to help out.

In Nyack, the local government that wants to talk about a fare increase, Mayor John Shields said. That is because the village Board of Trustees is sick of getting reports that cabdrivers are charging riders more than the $3 fare they’re allowed to charge, he said.

He said many of the reports come from people who do not want to file a police report.

The cab companies, AA Nyack Taxi and Nyack Taxi Service, have not been willing to present their business records to the board so the board can consider an increase in fares. Managers at the two taxi companies could not be reached last week.

Shields said the board has been receiving complaints for several years and he does not have a feel for whether the illegal charges have become more common recently as gas prices have surged past $4.

Source: Journal News

Marine units from Rockland and Westchester joined helicopters combing the Hudson above and below the water yesterday looking for one or boaters after a 38 foot $300,000 “cigarette boat” was found capsized near the Hudson River IAO Rockland Lighthouse Sunday morning. The rescue operation was called off after the sheriff’s department determined that the boater had swum ashore and walked home.

Lennon Duffy, 26, of Upper Nyack was taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla for treatment of head and face injuries

Source: EMTBravo, Journal News, News12 photo

Youthfest opens The Friends of The Nyacks “Mostly Music” series on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008. Everyone is invited to Memorial Park will host an evening of fun, games, food, and music featuring local bands and free burgers from 6p to 9p.

Scheduled events include:
6:00pm - FREE burgers and hotdogs for kids
6:30pm - Jeffrey Friedberg, the Bossy Frog
7:00pm - Illegal Rock
7:15pm - Aqua Mellon
7:40pm - Damsels
8:30pm - Sons of an Illustrious Father (recently featured as one of Rockland’s Idols in Rockland Magazine

For more information, visit The Friends Of The Nyacks.

LoHud presents a weekly video podcast, Rockland Week In Review, covering the top stories from the week ending June 20, 2008. Nyack stories include

• Nyacks Seeks Anti-Gang Funds from Other Nyacks
• Steelworker Hurt at Rt 59 Shoprite

I’m attaching the text of an ode I adapted/modified for the Hudson from an ‘Ode to an Irish river’. I have hopes the ode could be disseminated as part of Nyacks contribution to the planned 2009 Hudson-Champlain celebration. Copyright is under application. Feedback would be welcomed.

Continue reading →

Deck replacement work continues this week on the Tappan Zee Bridge Wed-Sat (June 18-21) this week as part of a planned project to replace 40 percent of the deck, focusing on the two right outside lanes in each direction from the Rockland County.

• Wed June 18: At 8p, the two right northbound lanes and an additional right northbound lane closing at 9p
• Thu June 19: At 10p ,the three right northbound lanes will be closed.
• Fri June 20: At 10p, the two right northbound lanes will close. An additional right northbound lane will close at midnight.
• Sat June 21: At 11p, the two right northbound lanes will be closed, with an additional right northbound lane closing at midnight.

Source: NYS Thruway Authority, June 16

A construction worker was hurt today working at the construction site at the Route 59 ShopRite in West Nyack. The accident occurred when a corner post collapsed on the high lift in which the worker was sitting.

Source: Journal News, Brian Duddy

Police evacuated the McDonald’s and two hotels in Central Nyack on Friday as a safety precaution as firefighters worked to cap a propane leak on Rt 59 and Waldron Ave.

Clouds of noxious fumes could be seen escaping from an underground propane tank for two hours at about 7pm Friday night. Local police, volunteer firefighters from seven surrounding communities and the Rockland County hazmat team worked together to arrange evacuation, dose the leak with water and eventually cap the leak by 11:45p.

Source: Journal News, Brian Duddy Photography

Police say they have arrested the Spring Valley ring leader behind last month’s mini-riot in South Nyack.

Orangetown police Detective Lieutenant James Brown says Malcolm Pitt, an 18 year old from Spring Valley, is believed to be the ringleader of the Spring Valley gang that came to Nyack on April 16.  Jesse Jones and Malcolm Dupree, both 19 and from Spring Valley, were also arrested in connection with the incident.

All three were charged with first-degree attempted gang assault and two counts of second-degree assault. A fourth teen has been accused of wielding an axe during the incident. Nineteen year old Karl Dubuisson of Nyack was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony offense.

Source :Journal News, May 15