Community

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: How to Support Survivors and Raise Awareness

Published

1 year ago

October 5, 2025

Each October, communities across the nation come together to observe National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) — a time to support survivors, remember those we’ve lost, and raise awareness about the devastating impact of domestic violence.

Established in 1989 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), DVAM serves as a powerful reminder that domestic and relationship violence is a widespread issue — affecting individuals of every race, gender, age, and socioeconomic background.

Throughout the month, we unite in purple — the official color of DVAM — as a symbol of courage, survival, and hope. Campaigns like #PurpleThursday, educational events, vigils, and advocacy efforts are taking place nationwide to shed light on the issue and encourage prevention through education and support.

Why DVAM Matters:

1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
Domestic violence is not always physical. It can include emotional abuse, financial control, isolation, and more.
Survivors often face systemic barriers to safety, housing, and justice.

How You Can Help:

Wear purple on Purple Thursday (October 17, 2025) to show solidarity with survivors.
Learn the signs of abuse and how to support someone experiencing it.
Share resources and amplify the voices of survivors.
Support local shelters and advocacy groups working on the front lines.

This month and every month, we stand with survivors. Together, we can break the silence, challenge harmful norms, and build safer communities for all.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit www.thehotline.org for confidential support 24/7.

Community

Italian-American Heritage Month Celebrated in Rockland County

Published

6 days ago

October 2, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

October is a time to celebrate the history, traditions and contributions of Italian Americans—and in Rockland County, that heritage runs deep.

Every October, communities across the United States recognize Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, honoring generations of Italian immigrants and their descendants who have helped shape American life.

In Rockland County, Italian-American heritage can be found throughout the community—in family-owned businesses and restaurants, churches, civic organizations and generations of families who have made the county their home.

The story is part of a much larger American immigration experience. Beginning in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, millions of Italians came to the United States seeking opportunity and a better future. Over generations, Italian-American families established roots, built businesses, entered the professions and became active members of their communities.

Their influence extends far beyond food and family traditions. Italian Americans have made significant contributions to the arts, entertainment, science, business, education, public service and countless other areas of American life.

A Heritage Passed Down

For many Rockland families, heritage is preserved through traditions shared from one generation to the next—from recipes and family gatherings to photographs, stories and the memories of relatives who came to America.

Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month was first designated by Congress in 1989, establishing October as a time to recognize Italian-American history and contributions. The observance also coincides with Columbus Day, traditionally celebrated on October 12 and now observed federally on the second Monday of October.

While Christopher Columbus remains a significant historical figure for many Italian Americans, his legacy and the consequences of European exploration are also subjects of ongoing historical discussion. The heritage month provides a broader opportunity to recognize the experiences and accomplishments of Italian Americans themselves.

For Rockland County, October is a chance to celebrate a heritage that remains very much alive—not only in the traditions of previous generations, but in the families, businesses and communities carrying those traditions forward today.

It is a celebration of where those families came from, what they built, and the legacy they continue to pass on.

Community

Free AI Smart Glasses Available to Visually Impaired Veterans

Published

1 week ago

September 29, 2026

Rockland Report Admin

Visually impaired veterans in the community may be eligible to receive free AI-powered smart glasses through a program being distributed by the Suffern Free Library in partnership with TechSoup.

The Ray-Ban Meta Gen 1 smart glasses are designed to provide hands-free assistance for people with low vision. According to the program information, the glasses can read text, books and signs aloud, describe a user’s surroundings and assist with hands-free navigation.

The glasses can also be used to take photos and video and to play music.

Who Can Qualify?

The program is available to veterans who:

Have low vision
Own a smartphone
Attend one of the required training workshops

Participants must complete a training session to learn how to use the technology and its accessibility features.

Upcoming Training Workshops

Training sessions are scheduled at the Suffern Free Library on the following dates:

September 22 at 4:30 p.m. with Senator Weber
September 30 at 1:30 p.m. with Senator Weber
October 27 at 4 p.m.
October 28 at 11 a.m.

Interested veterans are encouraged to register online through the Suffern Free Library.

The library is located at 210 Lafayette Ave. in Suffern, New York. For additional information, call 845-357-1237 or visit the library’s website.

The program is being offered as an effort to provide veterans with technology that may help them navigate their surroundings and perform everyday tasks more independently.