Orangetown, NY – Supervisor Kenny extended warm birthday wishes and presented a certificate to Orangetown resident Charlotte Swift on her 103rd birthday. Happy Birthday, Charlotte!
Birthday Wishes to 103-Year-Old Orangetown Resident Charlotte Swift
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Lake Sebago to Be Rebuilt by 2027- Budget $78 Million
SLOATSBURG, NY – Lake Sebago, which opened in 1952 and was once likened to a “miniature Jones Beach,” is situated at the southwest corner of Harriman State Park. Plans for a significant overhaul of this once-popular site are now underway, with a budget of $78.1 million set for completion by 2027
This project will be financed by the Environmental Bond Act passed in 2022. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is responsible for the design, bidding, and construction of this project.
The New York Times reported on its inauguration, highlighting the area’s natural charm that even attracted local wildlife.
The development of this 1,600-foot curved beach, which cost $900,000, involved the importation of 4,000 yards of fine white sand. This beach attracted numerous visitors each summer.
However, Hurricane Irene in 2011 caused significant damage to the beach, surrounding structures, and roads, leading to its closure. While the main access road remains closed, the area is still accessible to hikers, and boat rentals are available at the Sebago Cabin Camp.
Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced Sebago’s restoration as part of the NY SWIMS initiative, aimed at enhancing access to pools and water bodies across New York State.
The restoration timeline, as provided by the governor’s office, includes:
- From 2025 to 2026: Construction of roads, bridges, a wastewater treatment facility, and restoration of the stream flowing into the lake.
- From 2026 to 2027: Construction of the beach, bathhouse, and picnic area.
West Nyack Man Sentenced to 15 Years in State Prison for Fatally Stabbing Missing Person from Orange County
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II has announced that Joseph Janulewicz, a 65-year-old resident of West Nyack, New York, has been sentenced in Rockland County Court before the Honorable Anne B. Bianchi to fifteen years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. This sentence is based on Janulewicz’s guilty plea, which he entered on November 22, 2023, to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree in connection with the homicide of Brian Romney.
On June 10, 2022, a relative of Brian Romney reported him as missing to the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department. This report was made when Romney failed to arrive at his relative’s home as expected on June 8, 2022, and had not been in communication with family and friends since that morning. The New York State Police became involved in the missing person investigation. Brian Romney’s vehicle was discovered on June 15, 2022, in West Nyack, NY, in close proximity to East Street.
The investigation led the New York State Police to execute a search warrant at the residence of Joseph Janulewicz, located at 35 East Street in West Nyack. On June 16, 2022, they discovered the deceased body of Brian Romney concealed in a tarp inside a storage room within Janulewicz’s residence. Romney had suffered multiple stab wounds, and the Medical Examiner ruled his death as a homicide.
In his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he intended to inflict serious physical injury on Brian Romney when he repeatedly stabbed him, including delivering a fatal wound to his back, which resulted in his death. Janulewicz then acknowledged that he concealed Romney’s body in a blue tarp inside his residence until it was discovered by the New York State Police.
District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II commended the New York State Police, with assistance from the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department, for their dedicated and exceptional investigative work in this case. He noted that the defendant has been removed from the streets and will serve a lengthy prison term for his actions.
The case was investigated by the New York State Police and the Village of Greenwood Lake Police Department, while the prosecution was conducted by First Assistant District Attorney Doreen Lloyd and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic.
Extensive Restoration and Improvement Project at Memorial Park in Nyack
The Village of Nyack is excited to announce a significant yearlong restoration and improvement project for our beloved Memorial Park, situated along the scenic Hudson River waterfront. While this initiative will temporarily close parts of the park for most of 2024, it promises to bring lasting benefits to the residents of Nyack and Rockland County.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the groundbreaking of this project on January 18th, 2024, at 2 PM at the Gazebo. We will be joined by representatives from the County government, including County Executive Ed Day, who provided the funding for this essential work. Our Village Government, along with the dedicated members of our Nyack Parks Commission and Nyack Parks Conservancy, will also be present at this event.
Here is an overview of the project’s key aspects, presented in a FAQ format:
Q. What improvements are we making?
We are undertaking extensive improvements, including:
Great Lawn Restoration: A comprehensive restoration of the Great Lawn, including re-seeding to its roots, will take place. This will involve the entire lawn, including the small baseball field and the pathway from Piermont Avenue down to the lawn.
ADA Access Road and Entry Gate: The creation of an ADA-compliant access road from the parking lot to the playground and bathrooms, along with an ADA pathway to the Splash Pad.
Playground Resurfacing Project: Safety surfacing will be installed in certain playground areas, while others will continue to have woodchips. All fall zones will have safety surfacing.
Playground Equipment: Installation of a new playground for 2–5-year-olds, relocation of the entry gate, and construction of a new ADA asphalt walkway within the playground area.
Q. What parts of the park will remain open during the work?
During the construction, the public will still have access to several park features, including the upper park lawn along Piermont Avenue, the public bathrooms near the Playground, the basketball court, the skatepark, the gazebo, the waterfront picnic area, the viewing pier, and the pathway entrance from the Marina Parking Lot.
Q. Which parts of the park will be closed, and for how long?
The Great Lawn will be closed for re-seeding, expected to begin after April 15, 2024, and will remain closed until at least September to allow the new grass to establish. The exact reopening date depends on weather conditions and other factors.
The Playground will be closed from mid-January and is expected to reopen in April or May.
Q. What about the Fourth of July Fireworks?
The Great Lawn is unlikely to be open for the Fourth of July fireworks. However, the fireworks show will be moved offshore to a barge in the Hudson, expanding the viewing area and making them visible from various park locations, including the waterfront picnic area, Memorial Park parking lot, basketball court, skatepark, Playground, and parts of the Marina Parking Lot.
Q. What about the summer “Music on the Hudson” concerts?
The “Music on the Hudson” series will likely continue, but it will be hosted on the upper lawn of Memorial Park.
Q. How is it being funded?
This project is fully funded through the county’s Rockland Resilient Recreation Grant Program, which received funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The Village of Nyack received nearly $795,000 in ARPA funds for Memorial Park Improvements.
Q. Who is performing the work?
The project was awarded through competitive bidding to Paladino Concrete Creations, with design work by H2M Architects and Engineers.
Q. Who made the decisions about the work?
Decisions regarding Memorial Park improvements were made collaboratively by the Village administration, the Village Board, and the Nyack Parks Commission, in coordination with Rockland County government, which provided funding. Public input from multiple Village Board meetings throughout 2023 played a significant role in guiding these decisions.
We look forward to the transformative improvements this project will bring to Memorial Park and appreciate the support of our community and the County of Rockland. Stay tuned for updates in our weekly newsletter regarding any changes to the schedule. Let’s make our park even more beautiful and accessible for everyone to enjoy!
New York Ranks Second to Last in U.S. for Business Start-Ups – Forbes
In a recent analysis by Forbes Advisor, New York State has been ranked as the second-worst state in the United States for starting a business. The comprehensive study evaluated states based on a variety of factors critical to business success.
Forbes Advisor’s team assessed 18 different metrics categorized into five main areas: Business Costs, Business Climate, Financial Accessibility, Economy, and Workforce. Each metric contributed to a total score out of 100, weighted according to its perceived impact on the business environment.
Business Costs (30% of Total Score)
This category evaluated several financial factors including taxes and operational expenses:
- Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Property Tax (each 3%)
- Formation Fee (9%)
- Minimum Wage (9%)
- Number of Natural Disasters (3%)
Business Climate (20% of Total Score)
The business climate was assessed using data from the Small Business Administration (SBA) and Bureau of Labor Statistics, focusing on:
- Total Growth in Small Business Since 2020 (8%)
- Business Survival Rate (8%)
- Number of Businesses per SBA Location (4%)
Financial Accessibility (20% of Total Score)
This metric looked at the availability of business funding, based on:
- Average Funding (20%)
Economy (15% of Total Score)
The state’s economic health was measured by:
- Per Capita Personal Expenditures (6%)
- Gross Domestic Products per Capita (3%)
- Cost of Living Index (6%)
Workforce (15% of Total Score)
The workforce quality and availability were gauged using several indicators:
- Unemployment Rate (4.5%)
- Percent of Population of Working Age (4.5%)
- Percent of Degree-level Workers (3%)
- Number of Universities and Colleges Per Capita (3%)
New York’s low ranking in this study highlights significant challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the state. High costs, regulatory complexities, and competitive pressures are some of the factors contributing to this position. However, this is just a brief overview of the factors contributing to New York State’s ranking in Forbes Advisor’s analysis. The detailed study can be found at Forbes Advisor.