News

A new bill has been introduced in the New York State Senate by an area lawmaker that would provide lifetime healthcare through the state’s insurance exchange to anyone in New York who donates a kidney. More than 8,000 people in New York are waiting for a kidney transplant and only 347 people have served as live kidney donors this year so far. North Rockland state senator James Skoufis says New York’s kidney waiting list is the third longest in the country…

Allison McSherry is the spokesperson for organ donation support organization LiveOnNY, and says the group supports the bill…

And that was Nanuet’s Roxanne Watson, a heart transplant recipient, donor registration advocate, and, of course, the host of “Michael’s Gifts” heard Wednesdays at 9:30 here on WRCR. Senator Skoufis says the program will get money through a newly-authorized Kidney Donor Insurance Fund to be established during the budget process.

If you’re into art you’ll want to go to the Community Arts Association of Allendale, New Jersey, meeting tonight. Association V-P Rose Scaglione says tonight’s meeting will feature a discussion of works by Japanese artist Kumi Yamashita…

The group meets on the second Tuesday each month, that’s tonight from 7:30 to 9:30, at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Allendale. For more information visit CaaFineArts.org.

No one was hurt after a Sunday night fire in Suffern. News 12 says a townhouse on Chippewa Court was damaged by the fire around 7pm yesterday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The New York Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities held a public hearing on Veterans Mental Health last week in Clarkstown. 22 veterans take their own lives in the U-S each day, and Rockland’s Veterans Service Agency Director Susan Branam told the panel there are too many gaps in services that, if they were closed, could prevent some of those suicides…

Rockland and Westchester state senator David Carlucci heads up the committee and said the state needs to do better for veterans…

Sharon Bailey is a retired Major with the Air Force and works in Rockland with BRIDGES as the Veteran Outreach Administrator for their Vet-to-Vet Support Program. Bailey told the panel, something as basic as getting a job after service can make the difference in how veterans proceed with their lives…

The committee will take what they learned to help shape legislation to improve mental health treatment for veterans.

The Rockland County Highway Department begins a road resurfacing project today in Clarkstown. The project on Kings Highway from Maple Avenue to Lake Road starts with milling and raising manholes. Drivers should take alternate routes and follow detour signs. Delays can be expected beginning at 7:30 am.