Authorities have figured out who the private Monsey school bus driver was who was reportedly seen on security video passing a truck and almost hitting another school bus head-on. That’s according to News 12, though the driver was not fired, given a ticket or identified publicly. Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht told News 12 the bus driver “was contrite” but couldn’t be ticketed because police didn’t witness the infraction first-hand. Other videos of similar incidents are under investigation. There have been several accidents in the area over the last five months involving children who were struck, two incidents resulted in fatalities. Two Monsey bus drivers were reportedly ticketed, and one was fired, in two of those incidents.
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News Briefs: Spring Valley Woman Charged with Attempted Murder
It was a chaotic scene in the early-morning hours Sunday in Nanuet after Clarkstown Police got a distress call involving a domestic assault. A little after 4:30 Sunday morning, Clarkstown Police say they found a 33 year-old man and a 29 year-old woman, both with stab wounds. The male said he had been stabbed by his ex-girlfriend, who had initially fled the area, but eventually taken into custody. Police said the man indicated the woman was also stabbed during an altercation in a house on Spring Brook Road. Both were bleeding severely, with police applying medical aid to the man’s leg. Both victims were taken by Nanuet Community Ambulance Corp. and Spring Hill Community Ambulance to nearby hospitals for treatment. Blanca Rincon-Hoyos of Spring Valley was charged later Sunday afternoon with two counts of Attempted Murder and several other charges. She was arraigned in the Town of Clarkstown Justice Court with bail set at $50,000. She was taken to the Rockland County jail pending future court appearances. Clarkstown Police urge anyone experiencing domestic violence issues or witnessing such incidents to seek help by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).
Spring Valley Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting Rockland Correction Officer
A Spring Valley man faces three years in state prison after pleading guilty last week to assaulting a Rockland Corrections Officer. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh says 21 year-old Shaquille Gage refused to comply with multiple verbal instructions given to him by Rockland County Corrections Officers, he then became aggressive and punched one in the face. Two separate struggles ensued during which Walsh said Gage continued to resist corrections officers. An officer required treatment for his injuries at a local hospital. Gage remains at the Rockland County Jail, he’ll be sentenced July 10th.
North Rockland PTA to Host “Meet the Candidates” Night Tonight
Rockland school districts will have budget votes and school board elections next Tuesday, May 21st. In the North Rockland school district, the PTA is hosting a “Meet the Candidates” event tonight at the North Rockland High School Library at 7pm. Two incumbents, Richard Fernandez and Mary Romano, are running for three-year terms, opposed by Joseph Call and Kimmie Schultz Von Hein, respectively. The proposed budget is just over $284 million dollars.
Report: Ramapo Police Seeking IDs of Bus Drivers
Ramapo police are working to identify the school bus driver or drivers in Monsey who have been caught on video allegedly driving dangerously. That’s according to News 12. There have been several accidents in the area over the last five months involving children who were struck, two incidents resulted in fatalities.
Cost Savings Coming for Rockland Commuters Plus Increased Ferry Service on Weekends in Haverstraw
An increase in ferry service from Rockland to Westchester is coming, but it’s not going to be very helpful for those looking to cut their transportation costs during the week as congestion pricing is set to begin on June 30th. New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA announced late Friday the creation of a pilot program that they called “an alternative to driving to New York City.” Under the program, Metro-North will begin weekend service for the Haverstraw-Ossining ferry service. Rockland County Executive Ed Day says that’s of no help to weekday commuters…
In a statement, Haverstraw Mayor Michael Kohut said the increased ferry service was long overdue, adding it would help grow “the west side of the Hudson as a tourist and day-tripper destination.” The pilot program does also offer what the state called “massive” monthly UniTicket discounts up to 90 percent on the ferries and buses that cross the Hudson River, and a 25 percent decrease in parking rates for Orange and Rockland residents using Metro-North’s garage in North White Plains.
Report: Area Group’s Suit Against Chestnut Ridge’s Zoning Laws Bounced
A federal court has ruled that a local group lacks “associational or organizational standing” and therefore cannot challenge the village of Chestnut Ridge’s 2019 zoning laws, which allow neighborhood houses of worship. That’s according to the Journal News. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reportedly decided the group Citizens United To Protect Our Neighborhoods, or CUPON, failed to show how the law allowing houses of worship directly harmed them. CUPON has a second court case pending in the New York Appellate Division. Chestnut Ridge officials did not comment.