News

Rockland’s sheriff is looking to meet with area state lawmakers and local police chiefs to discuss the criminal justice reform package set to take effect in January. Sheriff Lou Falco is opposed to many of the laws that were passed along with the state budget earlier this year, and he’d like to find out if some of them can be changed…

Rockland and Westchester state senator David Carlucci has spoken to the sheriff about his concerns, and, like the sheriff, he thinks there are some reforms that do need to be made…

Western Ramapo and Orange County Assemblyman Karl Brabenec called the laws – quote – “one of the stupidest pieces of legislation this year” and last week he recited from a list of the charges he said would no longer require bail…

The Sheriff’s meeting with the lawmakers and police chiefs is set for next Wednesday.

A Rockland man was arraigned Tuesday in Rockland County Court on charges of third-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child. Lohud.com says 39-year-old Yoel Oberlander, who is listed as a resident of Monsey and Monroe, is accused of improperly touching a 15-year-old boy’s genitals last June. He is reportedly being held in federal custody in New Jersey on accusations of violating his supervised release from prison. He’s been convicted of several sex crimes since 2002, and is reportedly listed as a Level 2 sex offender. His attorney said he would fight the new charges. He is due back in court in two weeks.

Funeral services have been set for New Hempstead’s Judith Johnson, a member of the New York State Board of Regents and former Director of Curriculum for the Nyack Public School District. She died at age 80 on Tuesday. Visitation will be this Sunday from 4:00pm – 7:00pm at RCC’s Cultural Arts Center. Services will be held Monday morning at 10, also at the RCC Cultural Arts Center. Regent Johnson was president Bill Clinton’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education and she was the first African-American to serve as the Peekskill School District’s Superintendent.

If you’re having issues with, or really like the experience that you have on Rockland TRIPS buses, or if you just want to learn more about how they can get you around the county, you’ll want to head to the RCC Senior Club meeting tomorrow. Walter Fiedler is with the Club, and says the guest speaker is Rockland County’s Transit Marketing Coordinator, Michael Prendergast, who will address the benefits and some of the issues the bus system sometimes has…

The meeting is being held tomorrow at noon at the RCC Tech Center Ellipse.

New Hempstead’s Judith Johnson, a member of the New York State Board of Regents and former Director of Curriculum for the Nyack Public School District, died yesterday. Regent Johnson was also president Bill Clinton’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Education and was Peekskill’s first African American Schools Superintendent. Three years ago, she spoke about education at Manhattanville College in Westchester…

Johnson is also a member of the Rockland County Civil Rights Hall of Fame. County Executive Ed Day praised her as a “fighter for the equal education for all children,” Clarkstown legislator Harriet Cornell called her a “brilliant educator and thinker,” and Congresswoman Nita Lowey said she was “the strongest advocate for children’s education.” She was 80 years old.