The former president of the Sloatsburg Volunteer Ambulance Corps faces up to three years in prison after pleading guilty yesterday to stealing more than $70,000 from the corps. Rockland’s District Attorney says 54 year-old Matthew Gannon could get that sentence reduced significantly if he pays the money back before he is sentenced in October. Gannon admitted to transferring money to two personal checking accounts, and admitted making payments directly from Ambulance Corps accounts for unauthorized personal items, including to ACE Hardware, the Jets and Albany State University. He is due to be sentenced October 26th.
Former Clarkstown Police Detective Wins Lawsuit, Nearly $1 Million from Town
A former Clarkstown police sergeant, Stephen Cole-Hatchard, got nearly a million dollars after winning a federal lawsuit against the town and the supervisor, whom he accused of retaliating against him for looking into a dismissed officer’s contribution to the supervisor’s political campaign. That’s according to the Journal News. Supervisor George Hoehmann says he respects the jury’s decision…
Former detective Cole-Hatchard had claimed he was punished for exercising his freedom of speech rights. The trial ended late last month in White Plains federal court.
MLK Center in Spring Valley to Host Food Distribution Tonight
The Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center in Spring Valley is holding a free food distribution event tonight. The event is open to any Rockland County resident. The food distribution begins at 5pm tonight and runs until supplies run out. You can drive up or walk up to the building. The Center is located at 110 Bethune Boulevard in Spring Valley. They could always use volunteers and donations, for more information on how you can help, call 845-425-8910 or visit their website www.mlkmpc.org.
NY Boulders Lose Rain-Shortened Exhibition Game Against Team Israel
In Frontier League baseball…the New York Boulders played team Israel in an exhibition game before the team heads out to Tokyo for the Olympics. The game attracted fans from far and wide, including Richard Plutzer, who came all the way from Plainview, Long Island…
The start of the game was delayed for about two hours as rain moved through Pomona. Protesters and counter-protesters caused a minor stir in the parking lot, but once the rain stopped the action was all on the field inside Palisades Credit Union Park, where thousands came out despite the rain to cheer on the team. In the top of the 5th and final inning, former MLB All-star Ian Kinsler came up for Team Israel with a man on third leading the Boulders 6-1…
And that was Marc Ernay with the call on the Boulders Radio Network. The Boulders were unable to make up the deficit and lost 7-1. Next up for the Boulders, they’ll start a three-game home stand against Team Quebec, game time tonight 7pm, and you can hear all the action right here on AM 1700 WRCR and WRCR.com. Team Israel’s next game is Wednesday against the Bristol Blues at Dunkin Donuts Park in Hartford, Connecticut.
Area Business Groups Bringing Back In-Person Events
Area business groups are looking to get back to in-person meetings, at least two are holding their first tomorrow since the pandemic stopped the world in March 2020. North Rockland Chamber of Commerce acting president Tom Ossa says area business professionals are ready to start meeting face-to-face once again…
The group is holding a breakfast at 7:45 at the Stony Point Pancake Factory. Visit NorthRocklandChamber.org for pricing information and to register.
The Rockland Business Association is taking a different approach, as CEO Al Samuels feels summertime isn’t the most popular time for business meetings…
Samuels says monthly luncheons will start up again in September and they’ll hold their annual golf outing that same month at New City’s Paramount Country Club.
But the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce is also ready to start up again. President Peter Gallo says they’ll get up and going again tomorrow evening with a free event at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern…
The Mahwah Chamber’s free Summer Bash Barbecue will be on the outdoor patio at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern tomorrow at 5:30pm, weather permitting. For more information and to register visit Mahwah.com.