News
Blood drive October 13th
Rockland County will host our regular New York Blood Center Blood Drive on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, from 10:30 AM – 3 PM in the Auditorium of the Fire Training Center, 35 Firemens Memorial Drive, Pomona. The New York Blood Center has partnered with Home Depot and during the month of October all donors will be entered into a raffle to win a gift certificate.
Any assistance in promoting this event to the public is appreciated. Your coverage of the Blood Drive is also invited.
County Executive Ed Day is a long time donor and is scheduled to donate at 10:30 AM (I’m scheduled to donate at 10:45 as well). Sign up to donate here: https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/282545
Why Donate? From organ transplants to heart surgeries, today’s advanced medical care relies on blood transfusions. When one person donates a unit of blood, it can be separated into individual components to save multiple lives. Blood donors help meet the daily transfusion needs of cancer and surgery patients, accident and burn victims, newborns and mothers delivering babies, AIDS and sickle cell anemia patients, and many more.
Lake Suzanne Dam Groundbreaking
New City, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Executive Director of the Rockland County Drainage Agency Vince Altieri, County Legislator Phil Soskin and Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht broke ground on the $1.5 million Lake Suzanne Dam Upgrade project.
The dam was built by a hunting and fishing club, which is no longer in existence, approximately 80 years ago and its ownership defaulted to the Town of Ramapo and County of Rockland. The dam is being upgraded to modern standards with costs split evenly between the Town of Ramapo and County of Rockland.
“I am proud to be here today for this project which epitomizes intergovernmental cooperation. All throughout Rockland we are undertaking necessary infrastructure projects to bring our facilities up to date. We refuse to kick the can down the road for future generations. But we are doing so in the most financially responsible way possible,” said County Executive Ed Day.
WSP Engineering was contracted to perform an engineering analysis prior to updating the dam. They determined that the dam was not properly classified and were able to get the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to reclassify the dam from a “C” High Hazard Dam to a “B” Intermediate Hazard Dam which reduced construction costs.
“We are glad to partner with the County and County Drainage Agency on this project which will bring the dam into compliance with current regulatory standards while improving the quality of life for Town residents living around Lake Suzanne,” said Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht.
Breakdown of $1,493,600 project costs:
- WSP Engineering – $224,000
- Colonnelli Bros – $1,143,100
- Tectonic – $126,500
Rockland County Legislator Phil Soskin, who represents the area, said, “I want to thank everyone for all of their diligent work in getting this vital project to this point. My constituents, who are also my neighbors, can sleep better now knowing this new dam will be up to current standards, making it safer for all.”
Senators Skoufis and Martucci Urge Governor Hochul to Sign Pharmacy Rescue Package
Senators James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) and Mike Martucci (R,C,I-Hudson Valley/Catskills) called on Governor Kathy Hochul to sign the Pharmacy Rescue Bills.
This package of legislation includes four bills strongly supported by the Pharmacists Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) and local pharmacists in both Senators’ districts. All four bills passed the state Senate and Assembly with wide, bipartisan support.
The bills are: S3762, which relates to pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulation; S3566, which relates to the purchase of prescription drugs; S4807, which expands the immunization authorization of pharmacists; and S6603, which protects access to pharmacy services.
Senator Skoufis is the sponsor of S6603 and a co-sponsor of S3762 and S4807. Senator Martucci is a co-sponsor of all four bills. Both Senators Martucci and Skoufis voted to pass all four bills during the 2021 Legislative Session. The bills now await the Governor’s signature to become law. “When there’s a family facing a health crisis, big pharma won’t be out delivering local medications or opening their shops after hours to lend a hand. At local little league games, you won’t see CVS or RiteAid on the backs of those team t-shirts as sponsors.
This is a battle for the vitality of an entire industry, but more than that, for the character of our communities—our friends, neighbors, and local pharmacists,” said Senator Skoufis. “I implore the Governor to sign this package and save local pharmacies before it’s too late.” “With the backdrop of a global pandemic, it is more important than ever to support and strengthen the role of our community pharmacies. This package of legislation will level the playing field for them in what has become a battle of Wall Street vs. Main Street,” said Senator Martucci. “Our local pharmacists and their patients need these bills signed now, and so, I am strongly urging Governor Hochul to do just that.”
Back in May, Senators Martucci and Skoufis held a joint press conference with members of the Pharmacists Society of Orange County, local pharmacists, and patients at NeighborhoodRx Pharmacy in Slate Hill calling on the state to save mom-and-pop pharmacies. The Senators remain fully committed to improving the quality of healthcare provided by pharmacists, expanding patient access, saving taxpayers money, and leveling the playing field in the prescription drug industry.
Rockland County Office of Economic Development & Tourism Launches New Social Media Campaign
New City, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Director of Economic Development and Tourism Lucy Redzeposki announced that the Office of Economic Development and Tourism launched an expanded social media presence with distinct pages devoted to its different functions: Economic Development, Tourism and Film along with the interconnected and overarching brand of Rockland Commerce. The new social media campaign will begin this month.
The Office of Economic Development and Tourism launched the following social media brands: “Make It Rockland” for Economic Development, “Destination Rockland” for Tourism, “REEL Rockland” for Film and “Rockland Commerce” to highlight all of these interconnected efforts.
“We are excited to share new content and opportunities with residents, visitors and businesses. These three new pages are hyper focused on promoting the best that Rockland has to offer in economic development, tourism, and film. Our successful promotion of Rockland since I took office in 2014 has led to an incredible economic turnaround and these new pages will help us continue along that path,” said County Executive Day.
Rockland County’s tax assessment roll hit a low point in 2015 but has grown by $8 billion since then through the retention, expansion, and relocation of major businesses and projects.
Rockland County invites all residents, businesses, and visitors to “like” and “follow” the new brands on Facebook and Instagram. For more information, please contact the Department of Economic Development & Tourism at 845-364-2170 or by messaging one of the new social media pages.