Fire Prevention Open House
Town of Ramapo
Ramapo Town Hall
237 Route 59
Suffern, NY 10901
845-357-5100
www.ramapo.org
October 15 is White Cane Awareness Day
BRIDGES/AVI celebrates White Cane Awareness Day every year on October 15.
White Cane Awareness Day, a national observance in the United States, is celebrated on October 15 of each year since 1964. The mission of White Cane Day is to educate the world about blindness and how the blind and visually impaired can live and work independently while giving back to their communities, to celebrate the abilities and successes achieved by blind people in a sighted world and to honor the many contributions being made by the blind and visually impaired. It also reminds people about the how the white cane is an important tool in helping the blind and the visually impaired live with greater independence and serves as a reminder to people that motor vehicles and pedestrians should yield the right of way to blind or visually impaired people using canes.
Join BRIDGES/AVI on October 15th for activities and information on blindness and visual impairment. The theme is “No Limits.” – The event is Free.
On Saturday, October 15, BRIDGES is teaming up with Visions to raise awareness about blindness and visual impairment. Enjoy activities, refreshments, and guest speakers.
Saturday, October 15, 2022, 9am – 11am at Visions Center on Blindness located at 111 Summit Park Road, Spring Valley. For more information visit www.bridgesrc.org or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bridges-and-visions-white-cane-awareness-day-tickets-425302359807
How White Canes Work
We use our senses of hearing and touch to explore and understand the world around us. The white cane makes our hands and arms longer, so that we can assess the situation, and move quickly and confidently. The white cane allows us to avoid obstacles, find steps and curbs, locate and step over cracks or uneven places in the sidewalk, find doorways, get into cars and buses, and much more.
What to Do When You See Someone Using a White Cane
When you see a blind person using a white cane, remember that the cane is our tool to safely and independently navigate the environment. There’s no need to shout warnings or try to physically steer us so that our canes won’t bump into things. Remember that we are using our canes to explore what is around us. If we need any help or direction, we will ask. If you are driving or cycling and see someone using a white cane, you must follow the law and stop to give that person the right of way.
The History of White Cane Awareness Day
While it was not uncommon throughout history for blind people to use a stick or cane to navigate, society largely didn’t accept that blind people could travel by ourselves until recently. In the 1960s, the National Federation of the Blind became a leader in fighting for the rights of the blind and in pioneering innovative training programs using the white cane. At their urging, the United States Congress adopted a joint resolution in 1964 designating October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day and recognizing that white canes enable blind people to travel safely and independently.
While the white cane does keep blind people safe (because drivers and other pedestrians can easily see it), it is also a tool that blind people use to explore and navigate our environment. For this reason, the emphasis of White Cane Safety Day has shifted over time away from safety, and toward independence and equality. We believe that it’s important to celebrate this history and recognize the white cane as the tool that allows the blind to “come and go on their own” as President Lyndon Johnson said back in 1964.
To emphasize the shift in focus from safety to independence, and to continue to use the white cane as a symbol, we refer to this day as White Cane Awareness Day.
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Applications Available
NEW CITY, NY – Rockland County families with low incomes can apply for grants to help pay for their heating bills under New York State’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
“HEAP offers a lifeline to individuals and families who struggle to pay their heating bills,” said Commissioner Joan Silvestri. “With the cold winter months approaching, it is important to get this assistance to those who need it most.”
The amount of the benefit depends on income and family size and payments are made directly to the utility company. To be eligible, single persons living alone must have a monthly gross income no higher than $2,852.
Monthly income limits for larger households are as follows:
Regular HEAP:
Residents do not have to be facing a shut off to receive a regular HEAP benefit. The one-time per HEAP season regular benefit ranges from a $21 – $50 renters benefit to a maximum of $976 per household when heating with oil, kerosene, propane and $476 for gas and electric.
The 2022-2023 HEAP season opens Tuesday November 1, 2022, and is scheduled to close March 15, 2023, or until program funds are exhausted.
Early outreach applications were mailed to all non-Temporary Assistance or SNAP (TA/SNAP) households who received a Regular HEAP benefit for the 2021-2022 season. A phone interview is not required for these applicants, but the households must provide updated proof of any earned income.
New and returning HEAP applicants can apply online at www.mybenefits.ny.gov or by mail. New HEAP applicants will be called for a phone interview. Please call the HEAP Department at 364-3480 or 364-3212, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. if you want a paper application or if you have any questions.
The following organizations can assist clients with completing a HEAP application:
Community Improvement Council (Spring Valley) 845-354-4100
Community Outreach Center (Monsey) 845-356-9600
WestCOP (Haverstraw) 845-738-0688
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and social security or citizenship status cards for the entire household; their latest fuel bill, shut-off notice, if applicable; rent receipt or mortgage statement; last four pay stubs; proof of other income, SSI, SSA, Unemployment Insurance, Workers’ Comp, etc.; proof of child support; and wages or current school schedule for all children in the household 18 years of age and over. If you are self-employed, in addition to the above you may provide your 2021 taxes and three months of your most recent business and personal bank records to verify income.
Emergency HEAP:
A one-time emergency benefit may also be available for those households that are without the means to pay their bill and who have received a Termination Notice from their utility provider. Households heating with oil, kerosene, or propane may receive an emergency HEAP benefit if they have ¼ of a tank or less of heating fuel. The emergency benefit ranges from a $185 heat related benefit to a maximum of $900 per household for heating with oil, kerosene, propane.
The emergency benefit is $585 for gas and electric accounts. Applications for Emergency HEAP will be accepted from January 3, 2023, through March 15, 2023, or until program funds are exhausted. If program funds allow there may be an addition Emergency HEAP benefit available later in the HEAP season.
Residents who receive a Termination Notice from their utility provider should fax the notice to the HEAP Unit at 845-364-3130 or can email a copy of the notice to RocklandHEAP@dfa.state.ny.us. Households heating with oil, kerosene, or propane should contact the HEAP department if they have ¼ of a tank or less of fuel so they can apply for an emergency benefit.
Everyone should provide a daytime phone number along with the Termination Notice. TA/SNAP recipients should also include their Case Number. Individuals will be contacted for an Emergency HEAP phone interview to determine if they are eligible for the emergency benefit.
OBC Reaches Resolution in Country Village Towers Lawsuit
All Violations Will Be Resolved By October 30, 2022
New City, NY – Rockland County and the owners of the Country Village Towers Apartment Complex in Spring Valley report that they have reached a resolution of their dispute. By way of background, the County after assuming oversight of the Village of Spring Valley Code Enforcement functions charged the owners and managers of the Country Village Towers including Village Towers Corp., NBM Management, LLC, and Weinreb Management, LLC., owned by Jacob Weinreb, with numerous alleged violations of the NYS Uniform Code. During the course of the ensuing hearing the parties were able to reach a resolution of the remaining alleged violations. Many of the open violations have been cured and under the settlement, the buildings’ owners will cure all remaining violations and pay a fine of $25,000.00.
The lawsuit challenged the administrative court Rockland County uses to prosecute fire and building code violations and determine the fines issued against property owners. Administrative tribunals are utilized statewide to expedite the legal process compared to the traditional court system and are used by the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Environmental Conservation, and many other state agencies.
OBC will conduct follow-up inspections to confirm any outstanding violations have been cured.
“We are working with ownership parties, including Weinreb Management, LLC to resolve any outstanding issues and they have diligently responded to the Notice of Violations. We’re pleased that we were able to reach a resolution of this matter and ensure continued compliance with health and safety measures, including the Uniform Code within the borders of the Village of Spring Valley,” said Thomas E. Humbach, County Attorney.
“We’ve said countless times that compliance is our number one priority,” said Ed Markunas, Director of Office of Buildings and Codes. “Reaching this agreement is a positive step forward in achieving that on behalf of the health and safety of residents, visitors and first responders.”
The Office requests that the public submit complaints regarding Building and Code violations within the Village of Spring Valley to 845-364-3700 or by email to BuildingsAndCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.
Pumpkin Decorating & Halloween Party
