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A 32 year-old Hillcrest man was arrested over the weekend in the shooting
murders of two Valley Cottage women. Clarkstown Police say Robert Williams III was arrested based on an investigation that spanned several states and included many law enforcement agencies. Williams was charged with two counts of second degree murder and other charges stemming from the May 26th killings of 63 year-old Wanda Castor and her 27 year-old daughter, Kathleen Castor. He was arraigned in a video conference Saturday and is being held in the Rockland County Jail. If you have any information about the murders, contact the Clarkstown Police Detective Bureau at 845-639-5840.

Hillburn’s mayor, the village board, and the entire village is devastated and in mourning following the passing of long-time former mayor Brian Miele on Tuesday. Hillburn’s current mayor, Joseph Tursi, ran down a long list of Miele’s accomplishments, including building a new youth center, improving the area’s water system and standing up to former governor Mario Cuomo who at one time wanted to completely shut down the 4th Street Bridge for repairs. Mayor Tursi called Tuesday “Hillburn’s saddest day”…

Miele was a trustee from 1975 to ‘77, then served as mayor from ‘77 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2009. He also served in the legislature from 1991 through ’99. He was 70 years old.

Updated – 5/27/20 12:27pm: Former Hillburn Mayor, Ramapo legislator and former Ramapo Central School District administrator Brian Miele died yesterday. In 2014, Miele pleaded guilty to several misdemeanors, stemming from his approval of nonexistent educational credits that boosted the pay of his daughter and wife, who were both teachers in the school district. According to the Journal News, prosecutors estimated Miele cost taxpayers $2.6 million, initially charging him in a 187-count indictment carrying a maximum of 25 years in prison. Ramapo supervisor Michael Specht said his thoughts and prayers are with the Miele family. No other details about the cause of death were available. He was 70 years old.

In an interview with WRCR, Hillburn’s current mayor, Joseph Tursi, went down a list of accomplishments Miele had, including building a new youth center, improving the area’s water system and standing up to former governor Mario Cuomo who wanted to shut down the 4th street bridge for repairs. Mayor Tursi called Tuesday “Hillburn’s saddest day.” Miele was a trustee from 1975 to ‘77, then served as mayor from ’77 to 1998 and again from 2003 to 2009. He also served in the legislature during a good portion of the 90’s. He was 70 years old.

Orangetown Police arrested Jason Max Jabouin on charges of second degree murder and other charges for the fatal shooting of 30 year-old Ryan Franklin of West Haverstraw on Friday morning in Nyack. The shooting took place at 10:05 am on South Midland Avenue. The 33 year-old Jabouin, of West Haverstraw, was nabbed early Saturday morning after a traffic stop at in Maryland.

The Mid-Hudson Valley is on track to meet all seven metrics required to begin phase one of the state’s regional phased reopening plan starting Tuesday, May 26th. The governor said Saturday that the Mid-Hudson Valley has now identified enough contact tracers to meet the state’s guidelines, and the tracers are being trained in preparation for the Mid-Hudson Valley entering phase one, which includes construction; manufacturing and wholesale supply chain; retail for curbside pickup and drop-off or in-store pickup; and agriculture, forestry and fishing.

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that Rockland County is now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. The Governor previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatments to resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term, and a total of 51 counties can now resume elective surgeries.