Congers, NY, – Join the free annual “Live, Love, Latch! BYO Basket Picnic” in celebration of World Breastfeeding Week on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Congers Memorial Park, located at 6 Gilchrest Road in Congers. This event is more than just a celebration, but a time to share experiences and learn interesting facts about lactation and human milk feeding while making it fun for families.

The event is hosted by several Rockland County Lactation Coalition partners, including the Rockland County Department of Health, La Leche League of Rockland County (LLL), The New York Milk Bank, Lower Hudson Valley Perinatal Network, and Montefiore Nyack Hospital. For details on the picnic and registration, visit https://flow.page/rocklandlivelovelatch2024. For questions, contact [email protected].

Human milk provides essential nutrients and antibodies that boost infants’ immune systems, protecting them from childhood illnesses like ear infections and diarrhea. It also helps to protect against chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, asthma, and childhood obesity.

“The proven health benefits of providing human milk to babies make it not just important but essential for us to work together to help reduce barriers lactating families face. It is crucial to foster a culture in the community where lactating individuals feel empowered and comfortable to provide human milk for their babies wherever they are at any given moment. World Breastfeeding Week is an ideal opportunity to engage in activities that advocate for, safeguard, and support all lactating individuals,” said Laurie Messinger, IBCLC, Coordinator of the Rockland County Department of Health Lactation Promotion and Support Program.

Are you looking to be a part of the movement to help change the social norm around breast/chestfeeding in Rockland? Do you know about your labor and civil rights laws that protect lactating individuals? The Rockland County Department of Health can assist your worksite, childcare center/home, or pediatric or obstetric practice in becoming lactation-friendly. Our free services include lactation training for staff, assistance in setting up lactation rooms, and providing educational materials.  For more information or to become a Rockland County Lactation Coalition member, call the Health Department’s Lactation Promotion and Support Program at 845-364-3786, email [email protected], or visit http://rcklnd.us/lactation.  For more information on all events recognizing National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and World Breastfeeding Week in 2024,

visit http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/NBM and http://worldbreastfeedingweek.org/.

New City, NY – County Executive Ed Day and the Rockland County Department of Public Transportation have announced that Transport of Rockland (TOR) will launch the TOR Weekend Ferry Connection bus service starting on Saturday, July 6^th. The bus service will provide connecting transit service for Metro-North Hudson Line customers who travel to Haverstraw via the Haverstraw-Ossining Weekend Ferry, enabling them to travel beyond the Ferry Landing via public transit. The TOR Ferry Connection will also provide service for Rockland residents who want to use the Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry to travel to Westchester or to NYC via Metro-North Hudson Line trains from Ossining.

The TOR Weekend Ferry Connection bus will serve Metro-North’s Haverstraw-Ossining Weekend Ferry service pilot program, which began on May 25^th and is expected to operate through November 10^th. The TOR Ferry Connection will meet each of the ferries arriving and departing the Haverstraw Ferry Landing on Saturdays and Sundays. Weekend ferry customers can board the TOR Ferry Connection upon arrival at the Haverstraw Ferry Landing. The Ferry Connection enables easy access to downtown Haverstraw, which is approximately one mile from the Landing, and then travels through the Village of Haverstraw to the Village of West Haverstraw to serve the Garner Arts Center, south on Route 9W to serve Rockland Lake State Park in Valley Cottage, then to downtown Nyack before heading west on Route 59 to serve the Palisades Center mall in West Nyack.  At Palisades Center, the bus will serve the stores bus stop at Macy’s as well as the Commuter Parking Lot.

“Rockland County is happy to be able to host visitors from around our region, who are able to use the new Haverstraw-Ossining Weekend Ferry Service to travel to Rockland,” said County Executive Ed Day. “With the TOR Weekend Ferry Connection bus service, those visitors now have a way to travel from the Ferry Landing to the various destinations and attractions Rockland has to offer.”

“This is the perfect time to launch this new service – with summer in full swing and so many opportunities to enjoy our Hudson River waterfront, arts centers, restaurants, shops and more,” Rockland County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “This effort means visitors can leave their cars at home but still have a reliable way to visit the many cultural, recreational and historic landmarks that help make Rockland County the special place we all love. Likewise, Rockland residents will have a special way to travel across the Hudson to visit the east side and even travel further into New York City if they choose. Thanks to all who have helped make this new service possible.”

“We are pleased that our Department was able to work quickly to put the TOR Weekend Ferry Connection into place,” said Rockland County Public Transportation Department Acting Commissioner Doug Schuetz. “Thanks to the hard work and efforts of our staff and bus operator, and with operating assistance funds from Metro-North, TOR can now provide this valuable service.”

“This new bus route combined with the weekend ferry service offers visitors and residents a convenient option to explore Rockland’s unique tourism assets,” said Lucy Redzeposki, Director of Economic Development and Tourism. “Expect the unexpected in beautiful Rockland County!”

“The Village of Haverstraw is thrilled that the County of Rockland has recognized this opportunity to promote tourism along the Hudson River provided by the start of the weekend ferry service,” said Village of Haverstraw Mayor Michael Kohut. “Now those from the east side of the Hudson can have the chance to explore Rockland’s river communities at their leisure and Rocklanders can enjoy the opportunity to explore Westchester and beyond via Metro-North.”

Customers using this TOR connecting service will be able to transfer to other transit options at TOR transit hubs in the Village of Haverstraw, downtown Nyack and at Palisades Center to access additional destinations. The TOR Ferry Connection schedule also includes a final evening trip to Palisades Center for Metro-North customers who may stay beyond the 8:20 pm departure time of the last ferry back to Ossining. This provides an option for Metro-North customers to return to the Hudson Line at Tarrytown via the Hudson Link bus from Palisades Center or downtown Nyack.

The TOR Weekend Ferry Connection schedule features 26 trips per day for both Saturdays and Sundays, including 13 Southbound trips that meet all ferry arrivals and 13 Northbound trips that meet all ferry departures at the Haverstraw Ferry Landing. The service operates between 8 am and 10 pm. The service is provided by the Rockland County Department of Public Transportation and Metro-North Railroad, in partnership with the Rockland County Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Village of Haverstraw.  The TOR Weekend Ferry Connection service is fare free.

Go to www.rocklandbus.com for more information and to sign up for free Transit Alerts. For trip planning assistance, call the Transit Information Center at (845) 364-3333, Monday-Friday from 9 am and 5 pm.