Legoland in Orange County is reportedly paying a 6-figure fine to the state for dozens of environmental violations before the park has even opened. News 12 says the Goshen-based theme park will pay $346,000 to settle DEC violations including oil spills and construction runoff into a nearby creek. A specific date for the grand opening has not yet been announced due to the evolving CDC and state and local government pandemic guidance, though the Legoland website says they’ll open in “2021.”
New York Inches Closer to Passing Adult Use Marijuana Law, Rockland Sheriff Says It Shouldn’t Happen
New York is on the cusp of legalizing recreational marijuana for adult use. State lawmakers reached a deal Saturday and it’s expected to be voted on and signed into law any day now. It would expand the state’s existing medical marijuana program and set up a licensing and taxation system for recreational sales. Of the 13% marijuana sales tax proposed, 9% would go to the state, 3% to the municipality where the sale is made, and 1% to the county. Rockland sheriff Lou Falco has many reservations about the concept and is firmly against it…
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s administration estimates legalization could eventually bring the state about $350 million annually and create 30,000 to 60,000 jobs. Individual New Yorkers could grow a limited number of plants for personal consumption, and local governments could opt out of retail sales.
Rockland to Get State-Run COVID Vaccination Site
New York State will establish an additional state-run mass vaccination site in Rockland County at Rockland Community College’s Eugene Levy Fieldhouse to further grow New York’s vast distribution network. The site is in development and is expected to open Thursday, April 1 with appointments opening at 8 am Tuesday, March 30. Hours of operation for the Rockland Community College site are 8 am to 7 pm, seven days a week.
Appointments can be made here: https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/
“The opening of Rockland Community College as a mass vaccination site will have an immediate impact on our county as we continue to grapple with one of the highest infection rates in New York State. I appreciate all of our residents and the local elected officials who spoke out in support of our efforts of opening a mass vaccination site and I thank the Governor and his staff for listening to our concerns and stepping up to help protect the people of Rockland. We are making progress in our battle against this disease and with the increased availability of vaccine through this site we expect a significant benefit to local residents. I encourage Rocklanders to take advantage of this opportunity to get vaccinated right here in their home county; we spent months fighting for this site and now we must put it to use,” said Rockland County Executive Ed Day.
“I am grateful that Rockland County will finally be home to a state-run mass vaccination center. After months of lobbying the State Department of Health and the Governor’s office, and introducing legislation to make it happen, New York has finally decided to put a state-run mass-vaccination site in Rockland, at Rockland Community College. This long overdue decision will have a tremendous positive impact on ensuring equal access to the COVID vaccine for Rockland residents. I urge all eligible Rocklanders to sign up for a vaccine appointment as soon as possible so we can finally put this pandemic behind us,” said Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick.
“Rockland County has been an epicenter of this pandemic with some of the highest infection and death rates. Without access to a large, centralized center, we’ve seen significant gaps in vaccination rates that has allowed the virus to continue to rage on. This vaccine center will help us secure an appointment for folks that have been unable to travel or navigate the system and ensure the vaccine gets to every corner of the County. Hopefully this center is the tool we need to start to come out of this health crisis and build back our community,” said Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski.
Power Outages, Road Closures, Follow Strong Storms Late Sunday
Strong, gusty winds and heavy rain knocked out more than 15-hundred O&R customers since late Sunday afternoon. Right now about 188 customers remain powerless, most of them in the New Square area, and crews are working to get them all back online. There is a wind advisory in effect until four this afternoon. The winds could gust up to 50 miles an hour. Route 306 appears to have been shut down between Brick Church Road and Grove Street in Monsey, and Maple Avenue is closed between South Grandview Avenue and West Street, and North Airmont Road between Montebello Road and Spook Rock Road. These closures could be storm-related. We’ll have more details as soon as they are available.
Fire Officials Express Concern for First Responders’ Mental Health Following Last Week’s Fatal Spring Valley Blaze, Funeral Services Set for Jared Lloyd
Officials continue to wait for a full report on the status of the alarm system and cause of the fire that destroyed an assisted living facility in Spring Valley last week that killed one resident and a volunteer firefighter. At a press conference Friday, Chief Ken Conjura of the Columbian Fire Engine Company No. 1 in Spring Valley said the fire alarm system at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults was set to “test” though he could not explain why. Chief Conjura said despite the danger, his volunteers did their job as they were trained to do…
Published reports have speculated the system was shut off during Passover cleaning earlier that night, but the owners of the facility have said the alarms were working. On Friday’s “Who Wants to be a Volunteer” program, Rockland County Director of Fire and Emergency Services Chris Kear said he was concerned about the mental well-being of all the first responders involved…
Kear said the overwhelming support from the community has been helpful to everyone involved. In a ceremony Friday afternoon, Spring Valley Mayor Alan Simon and Legislator Toney Earl thanked first responders for their efforts and bravery. Meanwhile a GoFundMe page set up for the family of fallen firefighter Jared Lloyd, a 15-year veteran of the Spring Valley’s Columbians Fire Engine Co. No. 1, has crossed the half-million dollar mark, it’s currently at $546,272 since it launched Wednesday evening. A funeral service will be held at Palisades Credit Union Park in Pomona at 11AM Saturday morning.