The Stormwater Consortium of Rockland County has released the following information.
Stormwater regulations
Rockland County
Allison-Parris County Office Building
11 New Hempstead Rd
New City, NY 10956
Phone: (845) 638-5122
Website
Looking for Events? Visit the Rockland County Tourism Map
Rockland Arts Festival – Celebrating the Best of Local Art
West Nyack, NY – Rockland County and its surrounding areas are overflowing with talented artists and creatives. The Rockland Arts Festival gives artists working in a variety of media the opportunity to display and sell their artwork while connecting directly with the community.The festival website honors 130 talented local artists, offers 8 free virtual arts events and an in-person arts celebration. The family-friendly live virtual events include art demonstrations, music concerts, studio tours and arts enrichment programs.
The Rockland Arts Festival Celebration will be held in-person at the Palisade Center’s East Court, 1st floor near H&M, 1000 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack, New York. The in-person arts celebration will take place on Saturday, February 5th, 2022, from 1pm to 3pm.
This free community event features the outstanding talents of regional and emerging local artists. Festival attendees will have the opportunity to meet the 30-plus artists and shop their works with an array of mediums ranging from jewelry, fiber, glass, and ceramics to photography, watercolor, and mixed media. With its strong emphasis on making the arts accessible for all, the festival brings together the best in local art to the public in an interactive and festive environment for all ages. There will by live music and free refreshments. The event is wheelchair/handicap accessible with bathrooms on premises. Parking is free.
The Rockland Arts Festival has been made possible due to the outstanding efforts from the Palisades Center and artist/curator, Lisa D’Amico. For more information please visit, www.rocklandartsfestival.org
Black History Month Events at Rockland Community College
Virtual Events Celebrating the contributions of African Americans
Rockland County, NY (February 3, 2022) – Rockland Community College is celebrating Black History Month with enriching and engaging events throughout the month of February as well as throughout the year. Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements of Black Americans and to recognize their role in the history of the United States. All events are virtual and free. For more information visit this link https://sunyrockland.edu/media/black-history-month/
Thursday, February 3rd 1:00 pm EST
Black History Webinar – The Great Equalizer: Blacks in Higher Ed
African Americans have always recognized the value of education and its power for transforming lives and communities. During the earliest years of slavery, African Americans were prohibited from learning to read or write. Following the Civil War the demand for education spread throughout Black communities and resulted in the formation of institutions of higher learning specifically designed for the Black population. Blacks are currently closing the gap in terms of college completion but there is still much work to be done. This session will explore the historical impact of Blacks in Higher Education.
For more information and to register, go to https://www.blacksinhighered.org/page/TheGreatEqualizer2022
Check the Vibe Tuesday – African-centric Attire
Members of the RCC community are encouraged to wear their favorite African-centric attire and post photos of themselves on social using the hashtag #weareblackhistoryrcc.
Thursday, February 10th 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EST
Fireside Chat with Dr. Shamika Mitchell – Blacks in Comic Book History
Join us for an interview and talk back with Dr. Shamika Mitchell, RCC Professor of English, as she discusses the history of Blacks in comic books and graphic novels.
For more information and to register for zoom https://sunyrockland.edu/event/fireside-chat-with-dr-shamika-mitchell/
Tuesday, February 15th All Day
Check the Vibe Tuesday – Rep Your HBCU
Calling all alumni and supporters of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)! We invite you to wear gear representing your favorite HBCU, take photos and post on your social media using the hashtag, #weareblackhistoryrcc We also invite members of the RCC community to share their thoughts on their favorite HBCU by clicking on our Padlet
Thursday, February 17th 2:00 PM EST
Racial Healing for Students of Color with Dr. David P. Rivera
The college years are exciting times—offering academic opportunities, rewarding relationships, and the pursuit of lifelong achievements. Navigating the college experience is often accompanied by race-related stress, which can impact a student’s ability to succeed. In particular, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) students can face experiences such as imposter phenomenon, microaggression, an invalidating campus climate, and mental health stigma. Being aware and becoming equipped to handle these concerns can help you not only survive but thrive. This workshop will provide you with information on the types of issues you might face, how to cope to maintain your physical and emotional wellbeing, answer questions about monitoring your health, and provide best practices for seeking assistance and available resources. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas throughout the session.
For more information and to register for zoom https://sunyrockland.edu/event/racial-healing-for-students-of-color-with-dr-david-p-rivera/
Tuesday, February 22nd 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EST
The ABCs of Greek Life: Discussing the Impact of Black Greek Lettered Organization and Multicultural Fraternities & Sororities
Created in the early 1900s, Black Greek Lettered Organizations and multicultural fraternities and sororities have served as the foundation of social engagement and public service in the Black community. Join us for a panel discussion in which members of these organizations discuss their reasons for becoming Greek, their perspectives on the impact of these organizations, and the benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority.
For more information and to register for zoom https://sunyrockland.edu/event/the-abcs-of-greek-life/
Thursday, February 24th 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm EST
Black Music Appreciation: Lunch Time Vibes
Join us for lunch and tunes as we rock out to the musical stylings of DJ Natalie Scott. We will have a selection of curated playlists highlighting Black musical artists through the decades.
For more information and to register for zoom https://sunyrockland.edu/event/black-music-appreciation/
About Rockland Community College, State University of New York
Rockland Community College, State University of New York, offers a safe, supportive learning environment for thousands of students from diverse backgrounds who appreciate small class sizes and personal attention from a distinguished, award-winning faculty that includes Fulbright scholars and SUNY Distinguished Professors. Thanks to the school’s affordable tuition, students who begin their career journey at RCC and then transfer to a four-year college can save up to $100,000 on their education. RCC is also proud to provide career training and professional development to adult learners looking to change careers or upgrade their skills through its new Career Skills Academy. More information can be found at www.sunyrockland.edu.
Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland begins the New Year with 2 Generous Donations
HAVERSTRAW/February 3, 2022 — Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland is celebrating their 25th year of helping families across the county, regardless of their faith or religious beliefs, with the basic necessities of food, shelter and emergency assistance so they can live a life with dignity. Their work is made possible by the generosity of individual and corporate donors all year long.
Throughout 2021, The Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce hosted a membership drive to attract new members and retain existing ones. The Chamber selected one member at random each month to receive $50 and then highlighted that member on their social media accounts. In December, they selected one member to receive $500 and Catholic Charities was the lucky winner.
“We are so proud to be a member of the Nanuet Chamber. They demonstrate their community commitment all year long by supporting various nonprofit organizations and we feel very fortunate that we were chosen to receive the big prize,” stated Daniel Eudene, Executive Director of Catholic Charities which also runs the Warming Center for the County in Pomona.
The Chamber, now in its 8th year, has more than 100 members across the county including many nonprofits, small businesses, larger corporations and area chains. Membership information can be found at www.nanuetchamber.com. The check presentation was held in front of the CCCSR’s community garden in January. Dan Eudene was on hand to receive the check from Jerry Tuchband, President of the Greater Nanuet Chamber and George Mollo, Treasurer of the Chamber.
Recently, the 30 chapters of Master Networks with over 700 members, established a Community Fund to support local nonprofit organizations. Master Networks is a networking group with a mission to lead a movement of learning-based, service-oriented entrepreneurs and business leaders. They have a commitment to educate, equip, and empower members so that they are inspired to create and design a legacy beyond the business. For the Rockland Community this is a win/win.
Several months ago, Community Council Executive Director and Rockland resident Barry Dorfman, saw a commercial indicating that the number one requested item in homeless shelters is socks. He brought the idea of collecting socks to the Community Council of Master Networks and everyone agreed it was a great idea. Members were encouraged to donate men’s, women’s, or children’s socks to be given to Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland to distribute to individuals and families in Rockland. More than 500 pairs of socks were collected and stored at Mike Guarnieri’s office and eventually donated to CCCSR and picked up by Dan Eudene.
Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes Update
Proposed Budget, Director Appointment and Intermunicipal Agreement Submitted to County Legislature
New City, NY, – County Executive Ed Day submitted the proposed $1.5 million budget for the Office of Buildings and Codes to the Rockland County Legislature for their approval. The budget includes funding for staff, contractors, equipment, computer software and printed materials. Projected revenue for the budget comes from the fees associated with code enforcement inspections. The budget is intended to be revenue neutral and could be amended in the future to include possible New York State aid funding.
“This budget prepares for all eventualities, and we have already had discussions with our State Senators and Assembly Members about securing New York State aid to ensure that no county tax dollars go towards fixing Spring Valley’s issues. While we have been Ordered by the New York State Department of State to undertake this unprecedented task, it would not be right to ask county taxpayers to foot the bill,” said County Executive Ed Day.
The County has identified a need for at least 12 Full and Part-time Building and Fire Inspectors and 5 support staff who will work under the supervision of the Director of the Office of Buildings and Codes to clear Spring Valley’s backlog of outstanding inspections. Additional contractors could also be hired as part of this process. The Director of the Office of Buildings and Codes will report directly to the County Executive’s Chief of Staff and will be closely supported by the Office of Fire and Emergency Services and the Law Department.
The Office of Buildings and Codes main office will be on the 2nd Floor of Building A in the Robert Yeager Health Complex in Pomona. This space had been vacant and is currently being remodeled and upgraded.
“We will soon be empowered to ensure strict enforcement of New York State Building and Fire Code within Spring Valley. The County will not hesitate to issue fines to those in violation of State codes. But fines are not the goal, they are just another tool we will use to ensure compliance and correct dangerous conditions that threaten the lives of residents, visitors and first responders,” said County Executive Day.
Former NYPD Police Officer and Suffern Mayor Ed Markunas is being appointed (pending County Legislature confirmation) to serve as the Director of the Office of Buildings and Codes. During his time as Mayor Ed Markunas oversaw the Village’s Building Department and developed and implemented the Village of Suffern Code Initiative (modeled after the incredibly successful Rockland Code Initiative) which combatted code, housing, and fire safety issues.
“Ed Markunas is incredibly qualified to oversee this new Office and serve as its Director; he is a man of impeccable character. He has served in the NYPD, the US Coast Guard and directly managed Suffern’s Building Department while he was Mayor. Ed Markunas has been involved in our update calls with NYS and Spring Valley for weeks, helped to develop the budget and determine staffing needs and has already provided significant insight. I have full faith in his ability to manage this situation and resolve many of the issues facing the residents and businesses of Spring Valley,” said County Executive Ed Day.
Also submitted to the Rockland County Legislature was an Intermunicipal Agreement (IMA) between the County and the Village of Spring Valley. The proposed IMA lays the groundwork for the transfer of control of the Building Department back to the Village without delay after the issues within Spring Valley have been corrected as Ordered by the New York State Department of State (NYS DOS). However, NYS DOS has not yet detailed under what specific circumstances control of the Building Department will be returned to Spring Valley.
The IMA focuses on four main areas which will reduce County costs; allow staff and code enforcement personnel of the Village to work under County oversight while remaining employed by the Village; borrow equipment and vehicles from the Village; allow the County access to the Village’s recordkeeping software (Municity); any revenue (fees or possible fines) collected that surpasses the operating costs incurred by the County will be returned to the Village.
“All staff performing inspections will be operating under the direct oversight of my Administration and Director Markunas with a strict zero tolerance policy. Any Village employee who does not comport entirely with the rules and regulations of New York State will be removed from participating in our effort. The true bad apples of the Village Building Department which are under indictment, have not and will not be part of this process,” said County Executive Day.