The Rockland County Department of Health wants to remind residents that daylight saving time will end for the year at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, November 3. This is when we “fall back” and gain an extra hour of sleep. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to sleep on Saturday night.

Besides changing your clocks, this is also a good time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to make sure that they are in good working order, not expired and if battery operated replace the batteries with new.

The Health Department’s Healthy Neighborhoods Program can assist low-income residents, seniors, and at-risk families with replacing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms or changing the batteries, at no charge, as supplies last. For more information, call (845) 364-3290 or visit the Healthy Neighborhoods Program.

Remember, too, that after the time change, it can be darker earlier in the evening, so be extra careful. This can make it harder for both drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to see and increase the risk of a crash.  Also, adjusting to the new schedule can take a few days, and people may be more tired than usual when it’s dark. Visit the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee for more information about drowsy driving.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day and Commissioner of Social Services Joan Silvestri announce the opening of the Rockland County Warming Center, located at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center in Pomona, for the upcoming winter season. The center, which will be operated by the Department of Social Services (DSS), can provide shelter for up to 75 homeless single adults.

“This Warming Center remains a critical resource in protecting our most vulnerable residents from the harsh conditions of winter,” said County Executive Ed Day. “I am incredibly proud of the collective efforts that make this possible, and I commend our dedicated team for their unwavering commitment to the well-being of those in need.”

Guests at the Warming Center will have access to not only a warm, safe place to rest but also essential services such as showers and laundry facilities. In addition, staff will be on-site to assist individuals with benefits and referrals to other support programs.

Starting in November 2024, the Warming Center will operate during nighttime hours when the wind chill drops below 35°F. Beginning December 1, 2024, the center will be open every night, with daytime operations triggered only if the wind chill again falls below 35°F. This schedule will continue through March, then during the month of April,  the center will revert to night-only operations under the same temperature criteria.

Transportation to the Warming Center will be provided from the following locations:

• Nyack: 7:00 p.m. at Broadway and Burd Street, in front of the First Reformed Church of Nyack.
• Haverstraw: 7:30 p.m. from the Commuter Parking Lot across from Village Hall.
• Spring Valley: 5:30 p.m., 6:10 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. at the Spring Valley Bus and Train Station.
• Pomona: 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Building L Bus Shelter on the Health Center campus.

For more information, please contact the Rockland County Department of Social Services at (845) 364-2332 or 845-608-6670.

Additionally, the Department of Social Services will continue to operate the long-standing Emergency Family Shelter, providing services for children and families in need.