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Governor Hochul Awards $1.8 Million in Grants, 2 Projects in Rockland County

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ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – Governor Kathy Hochul announced grant awards totaling more than $1.8 million for 26 projects to help communities along the Hudson River Estuary improve water quality, enhance environmental education and advance stewardship of natural resources. The grants, which include two projects in Rockland County, complement the Governor’s comprehensive plan to protect communities from the impacts of climate change by investing in resilience.

“New York State is investing in projects that will improve resiliency and protect our natural resources both in the Hudson River Valley and across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “These 26 local grants will provide dozens of communities support to improve recreation, expand river access and education, and preserve and protect this iconic river for future generations of New Yorkers.”

Two Projects in Rockland County

– The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York: $75,245 for “Hudson River Education: Extending the Pathway into Climate,” a project that supports summer high school interns in Rockland County Potential Environmental Justice Area communities to deepen their science connection as they work on climate change impacts on the Hudson River. 

– Village of Nyack: $17,000 for “Nyack Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan,” to conduct a vulnerability assessment and create an adaptation plan for Nyack residents and businesses that will address climate change hazards. The assessment will include frequency and duration of heat waves, increasing intensity of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, storm surge, and climate change-related disease. 

Now in its 21st year, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025. To date, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program awarded 643 grants totaling more than $28 million. Funding for DEC’s Estuary Grants program is provided by New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. Governor Hochul’s proposed 2024-25 Executive Budget maintains EPF funding at $400 million, the highest level of funding in the program’s history. 

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s sustained efforts to bolster community resiliency to climate change’s impacts, $1.8 million in grants awarded today for 26 projects will help Hudson River Valley communities develop plans to both protect residents and natural resources from severe weather driven by climate change while strengthening ecosystems. These grants build upon local conservation efforts and priorities to sustainably improve water quality and protect the Hudson River.”

Photo by Rockland County Photographer Owey Cramsie Jr.

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Daylight Saving Time Ends on Sunday November 3rd

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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.

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The Warming Center is Ready for Guests

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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.

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