Each year communities nationwide join together to raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse by wearing a red ribbon from October 23rd to 31st, which is the National Red Ribbon Week. Various activities have been scheduled throughout the month of October to celebrate the Red Ribbon Campaign.
The campaign provides communities with a forum to bring together parents, schools and business to find new and innovative ways to keep kid’s drug free.
The 2021 National Red Ribbon Week Theme, Drug Free Looks Like Me™ created by Marin Wurst, a 7th grader at Solon Middle School in Solon, Ohio, the Theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free!
The first Red Ribbon Celebration was organized in 1986 by a grassroots organization of parents concerned about the destruction caused by alcohol and drug abuse. The red ribbon was adopted as a symbol of the movement in honor of Enrique “KiKi” Camarena an agent with the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration who was kidnapped and killed while investigating drug traffickers. The campaign has reach millions of children and has been recognized by the U.S Congress.
Thank you to the Rockland Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependence, Inc. for providing the red ribbons our officers are wearing this week!
Rockland County
Allison-Parris County Office Building
11 New Hempstead Rd
New City, NY 10956
Phone: (845) 638-5122
Website
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Tour de Force honors Sgt. William Brautigam
On Saturday, October 30, 2021, at 10:30am at Stony Point Town Hall, 74 East Main Street, Stony Point, NY the Tour de Force and the Rockland County Shields will be honoring and remembering NYPD Sergeant William Brautigam. Sgt. Brautigam, a Stony Point resident, died on January 31, 2021 at 47 years old after a courageous battle with cancer. While in the police academy, Brautigam and other recruits were mobilized to help after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Sgt. Brautigam’s wife and children will be in attendance on Saturday to accept a donation from the Tour de Force.
Each year, the Tour de Force raises funds to benefit the families of Law Enforcement officers killed in the line of duty nationwide.
Skoufis and McDonald Code Enforcement Legislation to Alleviate Red Tape & Reduce Blight Signed Into Law
Senator James Skoufis (D-Hudson Valley) and Assemblymember John T. McDonald III (D-Cohoes) joined local officials and representatives from the New York State Conference of Mayors on Thursday to announce the signing of their code enforcement legislation (S1633/A3028) into law.
When faced with having to demolish distressed structures, local governments have previously been required to seek approval for building condemnation from a Supreme Court in the judicial district where the property is located. For resource-strapped municipalities, Supreme Court approvals can be a lengthy, complicated, and costly affair. This law provides that local governments will now be able to pursue a condemnation approval from civil, city, district, or county courts instead, allowing municipalities to more quickly and efficiently perform necessary demolitions, reducing blight, and improving neighborhood safety.
This legislation was first introduced as part of a package of code enforcement reforms following a lengthy 2019 investigation by the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee, chaired by Skoufis.
“When a structure gets to the point of no return, we expect our local governments to step in to properly enforce code and fire prevention laws,” said bill sponsor Senator Skoufis. “This new law will help cut through red tape and reduce barriers that often keep municipalities from doing what’s necessary to keep residents safe. I thank Assemblymember McDonald for his commitment to this issue and I thank Governor Hochul for signing this important reform.”
“As a former Mayor, I fully understand the challenges that localities face in addressing blight, especially when it comes to dealing with serial code violators and bringing them to court,” said bill sponsor Assemblymember McDonald, “that is why I believe that this new law that Senator Skoufis and I sponsored is a step toward ensuring that tenants have quality and safe housing and gives our local officials more tools in the toolbox to remedy blight and get properties in the hands of responsible owners. I thank Senator Skoufis for his partnership on this issue and want to recognize his thorough Investigative Report on Code Enforcement, which paved the way for this legislation. Thank you also to the New York State Conference of Mayors for their support and assistance on this issue and I appreciate Governor Kathy Hochul signing this measure into law.”
“NYCOM thanks Assembly Member McDonald and Senator Skoufis for championing this important legislation,” said Peter A. Baynes, Executive Director, New York State Conference of Mayors (NYCOM). “One tool local officials use in dealing with distressed and neglected properties is the equitable powers of the New York court system. However, until now, only New York Supreme Courts could issue injunctive relief to correct property violations. Unfortunately, seeking redress from a Supreme Court is a time-consuming and costly endeavor for local governments. Now, with these amendments, city, county, and district courts will also be authorized to issue orders directing the remediation of Uniform Code violations, greatly facilitating the ability of local officials to make their communities safer, while at the same time reducing the caseload of our overloaded Supreme Courts.”
Rockland County Marks 10th Year of Collaboration with Local Wendy’s
Celebration and Virtual Events Planned for November 17th
New City, NY, – County Executive Ed Day and Commissioner of Social Services Joan Silvestri announced that for the 10th year in a row staff from the Rockland County Department of Social Services’ (DSS) Children’s Services Unit will join with local Wendy’s locations in Nanuet and West Haverstraw on November 17, 2021, to celebrate National Adoption Month and to increase awareness of the need for foster families.
Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas (1932-2002) was adopted as an infant. This experience had a lifelong impact on him and as a result he spent much of his life promoting the cause of adoption. In 1992, he founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption based on his belief that every child deserves a safe, loving, and permanent family.
During the month of November, Wendy’s restaurants in Nanuet and West Haverstraw will provide free meals to foster and adoptive families in Rockland County in honor of Dave Thomas. The restaurants are operated by Wenesco Restaurants owners Kevin Woodside and Phillip Anastos who are carrying on Dave Thomas’ legacy in our community. With their continued support of adoption, the Department of Social Services is joining them to increase awareness of the need for foster families.
Foster home recruitment is a key element to the success of adoptions in our diverse county. Over the past 10 years, 77 children in Rockland County havebeen adopted by their foster families.
“We are grateful to Wendy’s for partnering with us for the 10th consecutive year to raise awareness of the need for caring and loving foster homes and to recognize the tireless efforts and compassion of our adoptive and foster care parents,” said Joan Silvestri, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services.
Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, Rockland County Foster and Adoptive families are invited to pick up their food from either the Wendy’s in Nanuet or West Haverstraw on November 17, 2021. Families will participate in a virtual support group facilitated by Trudy Kent, MSW. Mrs. Kent is a Rockland County adoptive parent, as well as a Family Support Worker at the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York. In addition, an informational session on how to become a foster parent in Rockland County will be facilitated virtually by Demetrius Travis at 5:00 PM. Interested parties should contact either ana.duran@dfa.state.ny.us or demetrius.travis@dfa.state.ny.us to confirm their attendance.
“Fostering a child is an opportunity to make a real difference in a young person’s life,” said County Executive Ed Day. “It is truly a special gift for both you and the child and I urge anyone who has ever thought of being a foster parent to reach out to us and get more information.”
Anyone interested in becoming a Foster Parent can visit our website: https://rocklandgov.com/departments/social-services/foster-care/
Ed Day Endorsed by New York State Association of PBAs
New City, NY – Ed Day, Rockland County Executive today announced the endorsement of the New York State Association of Police Benevolent Associations.
“The New York State Association of Police Benevolent Associations is pleased to offer our strong endorsement of Ed Day to remain Rockland County Executive. As a former member of law enforcement himself, Ed knows the job and understands the risks taken every day by our members to protect and serve the people of this great state,” said President Michael O’Meara. “We are proud to stand with Ed and we know he has our back every day.”
“Words can’t express how proud I am to receive the endorsement of the NYS Association of PBAs. I will continue my commitment to those in law enforcement and will have the backs of those who risk their lives to protect the citizens of Rockland and this great state,” Day said.
Ed Day is seeking his third term as Rockland County Executive. During his tenure he has turned an inherited $138 million deficit into a $90 million surplus, created the Rockland Center for Codes Investigations, and led Rockland through the COVID-19 pandemic through his “Safety First, People Always” initiative.