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July 4, 2008

Feature Stories

 

Front_Cover_July_4th_Banner web.jpg

Legislature upholds

Vanderhoef veto of green

building procedure law

By Matthew Emma

 

The Rockland County Legislature has voted to uphold a veto handed down by County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef of a proposed local law aimed at establishing a Rockland County Governmental Green Building Procedure.

 

The lawmaking body, at Tuesday’s meeting, reached this conclusion after a brief discussion on the matter.

   This proposed local law, co-sponsored by legislators Alden Wolfe and Connie Coker would have mandated that all major building projects in Rockland County be designed, constructed and certified to at least the Silver standard as set forth by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ratings system created by the United States Green Building Council leadership.

   Wolfe believes the legislation is necessary to ensure that County buildings environmentally-friendly, energy conserving and as clean and healthy as possible for the many people who visit and work in them on a daily basis.

   Wolfe said he is confident that, by going forward with this law, the County government would be setting an example for others to follow.

   While understanding the intent of the law, as well as the need for clean and environmentally-respectful construction projects within the County, Vanderhoef found the legislation flawed.

   In a June 20 memo to Legislative Clerk Laurence Toole, Vanderhoef said the proposal sets conditions outside the County’s ability to control them, which has the potential to lead to non-compliance with the law and all the potential problems such a situation could bring about.

   In responding to Vanderhoef’s veto, Wolfe said he was more disappointed than angry and questioned the process by which information is exchanged between the Legislature and the County Executive’s office.

   Wolfe said that, when he first introduced the law, he brought it to Vanderhoef’s attention and welcomed his input, but didn’t receive any feedback about the County Executive’s reservations until very recently.

   Wolfe inquired to members of Vanderhoef’s staff, some of whom were present at the meeting, why there was such a lack of communication and, if the goal is to serve the people of Rockland County, information has to be shared from the beginning of the process.

   “We need to put people over politics,” Wolfe said.

   “Although the vote was 11-6 in favor of the overriding the veto, the motion failed because a two-thirds vote, or 12 Legislators voting in favor would have been necessary to complete the override. The vote ran completely along party lines with Democratic Legislators voting in favor of the override, while the Republicans voted against it.

 

 

Clarkstown preserves

historical landmark

By Matthew Emma

 

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Standing at the entrance to the  “Storms Tavern” Dutch Colonial style home dating to 1805 are (l-r): Alex Gromack, Town of Clarkstown Supervisor; Eric Singer, Principal, Eric N. Singer Architects P.C. of Pomona and John Cooney, Jr., President of Tilcon New York which owns the property.  Tilcon invested $300,000 in a year-long restoration of “Storms Tavern” when it learned of its historic significance.

 The Town of Clarkstown, a local company and a group of historical enthusiasts recently teamed up to preserve one of the oldest and most historically significant sites within the municipality’s borders.

 

Supervisor Alex Gromack joined members of the Town’s Historical Review Board and representatives of the Tilcon corporation to celebrate the restoration of the Storms Tavern on June 26 at the property’s 407 Storms Road location in the hamlet of Valley Cottage.

   The Tavern, a Dutch Colonial built in 1805, has a very long and storied history. Town historians say the structure served as a rest stop for travelers in the 19th century who traversed the old Kings Highway, connecting New York City to Albany.

   The Tavern may also have been one of the Underground Railroad stops for slaves seeking freedom to Canada during the Civil War and, in addition, provided a haven for a number of notable American writers and artists, including William Styron.

   In 2005, Tilcon, a Rockland-based company that produces crushed stone used for construction purposes, acquired the Tavern property, unsure of its future.

   However, in light of the Tavern’s historical importance, instead of demolishing the structure, the company came to the decision to preserve it in the interest of the community.

   “When we were informed of Storms Tavern’s historical significance, we decided that a renovation would be the right course of action,” said Tilcon president John Cooney, Jr. “This is a significant investment for our company. Given the history of the house and our commitment to the community, we moved forward with the project.”

   What followed was a $300,000 undertaking that included the removal of modifications made to the Tavern by previous owners, as well as repair to areas of the structure impacted by time.

   All of the work that was done was conducted with careful attention, so as not to alter the original historical character of the property.

   “The quality of the workmanship in repairing and sanding of the stairs and floors demonstrates a respect and love of the past,” said Clarkstown Historical Review Board Chairman Robert Knight.

   ”I can’t think of anything in Clarkstown which is of more historical significance,” said Councilman Ralph Mandia. “Thanks to Tilcon and the Town’s Historical Review Board for their work on this property, which is a storied inn along the old King’s Highway.”

   “I was so pleased with the extensive restoration Tilcon has done on Storms Tavern,” Gromack said. “I appreciate the efforts of Tilcon to bring back the original historical charm of this special piece of history. In their efforts to restore this historical landmark, Tilcon has demonstrated their commitment to being a good neighbor to the residents of Clarkstown.”

 

 

Rockland County Department

of Health sees results

with new programs

By Philip Umbrino

 

Steps to a HealthierNY is part of a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative entitled Steps to a Healthier US, launched by the Department of Health and Human Services.

 

This five year cooperative agreement program aims to help Americans live healthier, longer, and better lives by reducing the burden of diabetes, overweight, obesity and asthma and addressing three related risk factors: physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use.

   Rockland County is part of a four county project led by the New York State Department of Health through funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result of this initiative, it was hopeful that Rockland County residents would take personal responsibility for their health as well as take social responsibility to adopt healthy lifestyles and reduce the burden of chronic diseases throughout the entire community.

   When the Steps program began four years ago, sixty percent of adults and twenty five percent of children were overweight in Rockland County. Over seven percent of the population was diagnosed with diabetes, and twenty two percent of adolescents said they had been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their life. Because each county was charged with determining how to best achieve better health outcomes in their neighborhoods, Rockland created nine programs focusing on the following areas: Asthma, Corner Stores, Diabetes, Schools, Tobacco, Weight Loss, Worksite Wellness, Restaurants, and Walking.

   Those working for the programs and the community members who were both approached and volunteered to participate have already made significant gains in helping Rockland County become healthier. Since their implementation, nearly 10,000 Rockland residents have participated in an ongoing countywide walking challenge. Eighty restaurants are promoting nearly 950 healthier menu options, including shops like Mia Cucina in Blauvelt.

    “This is a fantastic program,” said Mia Cucina’s owner. “Requests for whole-wheat pasta have increased so that now I order one case of whole-wheat pasta once a week. Prior to this program, I only ordered it once a month.”

   Fifty seven businesses and organizations have committed to providing healthier food and exercise breaks at their meetings and activities, and over fifty schools have introduced and implemented nearly 200 changes in school policies that support healthier eating, exercise and health education for students.

   Anyone hoping to learn more about health and exercise, diabetes registry and information, or steps to take to have their own businesses part of the Healthier Steps program should visit their website at www.rocklandsteps.org, where plenty of information is available.

 

Rockland organizations

given Commuter Choice Awards

By Matthew Emma

 

Four Rockland County-based organizations were recently recognized for offering their employees commuting options which help to lessen traffic congestion and air pollution.

 

Last week, the Regional Commuter Choice Awards were handed out to employers from across the New York metropolitan region for encouraging members of their workforces to move away from traveling to work in single occupancy vehicles and into transportation methods like carpooling and public transport.

   Nominees for the Commuter Choice Awards are judged by the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council (NYMTC), which sponsors the honors, along with other local and state transportation and environmental agencies. Recipients are recognized in three categories: Outstanding Achievement, which is given to companies/organizations that have implemented a comprehensive commuter benefits program with a high rate of employee participation; Leadership, which is presented to companies/organizations whose commuter benefits programs has made a significant contribution to the environmental and economic health of the region they operate in; and Innovator Award, which is given to a company/organization that has implemented a new or unique commuter benefits program within the last 12 months.

   County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef joined NYMTC Executive Director Joel Ettinger and representatives of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) June 25 at the Pearl River Train Station to pay tribute to Rockland County’s winners for 2008.

The Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to the County of Rockland, Dress Barn and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University; the Leadership Award was given to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University; and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals was recognized with the Innovator Award.

   “We applaud the winners and their efforts to provide their employees with options to help them ‘green’ their commute,” Ettinger said. “The more we can get people out of single occupancy vehicles and reduce congestion, the better it will be for our environment.”

   The employers honored are part of a public-private partnership whose efforts will help us meet the challenges ahead and ensure the future growth and prosperity of Rockland County,” Vanderhoef said. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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