News

Eleven people have been arrested in connection with what Rockland’s acting District Attorney is calling a large-scale heroin trafficking operation based in Haverstraw. Kevin Gilleece says the suspects ran a tightly-knit narcotics ring from private homes in Haverstraw and West Haverstraw, one of them right near an elementary school, and catered almost exclusively to buyers in Rockland County. Since the investigation began last June, the Rockland County Drug Task Force and Haverstraw Police have recovered several pounds of heroin, over 23-thousand dollars in cash, and drug paraphernalia. The ring allegedly sold several “brands” of heroin, including “True Religion,” “Sexy Lady,” and “Pitbull.” The defendants range in age from 23 to 60 and face various drug charges, with the top count carrying a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in state prison.

Republican members of the New York State Assembly held a press conference earlier this week to outline their budget priorities for the upcoming year. Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, whose district covers Stony Point and parts of Orange County, says everyone in the state should have a property tax cap, otherwise New Yorkers will continue to relocate to tax-friendlier states…

Assemblyman Karl Brabenec, whose district covers western Ramapo and parts of Orange County, says many of their proposals have bi-partisan support, particularly the “aid to municipalities” funding…

The budget deadline is just one month away.

Today is the deadline for seniors 65 and older to file income verification paperwork for the Enhanced STAR program, which provides a tax break for eligible property owners. Stony Point supervisor Jim Monaghan says the new procedure this year requires seniors to complete a form with their local tax assessor to verify their income and make sure they qualify…

The form needs to be done by 4pm today.

The five current candidates for District Attorney are expected for a “Candidates Forum” tonight in Spring Valley. Former prosecutor Patricia Gunning, former Assistant D-A Victor Alfieri, retired State Supreme Court Judge Thomas Walsh, Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski and retired U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps attorney Michael Diederich, are all running in a primary for the Democratic nod. Walsh is also on the Republican line. The Forum is being held tonight from 7-9pm at the Louis Kurtz Civic Center on Main Street in Spring Valley.

Voters in nine villages go to the polls on Tuesday March 19th to elect mayors, trustees and judges. There are contested races in Airmont, Chestnut Ridge, Hillburn and Pomona. For the complete list find this article on our website. In Airmont, Mayor Phillip Gigante and his two trustee running mates dropped themselves from the ballot after they admitted they didn’t have enough petition signatures.

Airmont

Mayor

Ralph J. Bracco Sr.

Nathan R. Bubel

Trustee (two seats)

Brian M . Downey

Migdalia Pesante

Ronald L. Roberti

Angela M. Thompson

Chestnut Ridge

Trustee (two seats)

*Paul Van Alstyne

Anthony L. Shaut

*Grant Valentine

Steven J. Wasserman

Grand View-on-Hudson

Mayor

*Lawrence R. Lynn

Trustee (two seats)

*Jonathan Bell

*Jane Lattes

Hillburn

Mayor

*Craig M. Flanagan Jr.

Joseph P. Tursi

Trustee (one seat)

*Eleanor J. DeGraw

Bernadette A. Tarantino

Kaser

Mayor

Allie Pinkasovits

Trustee (two seats)

Shulem Fliegman

*Eugene D. Neiman

Montebello

Mayor

*Lance Millman

Trustee (two seats)

*Stacy Caridi

*Evan Kuperman

New Square

Mayor

*Israel Spitzer

Trustee (three seats)

*Yakov Berger

*Abraham Kohl

*Jacob Unger

Justice

*Stuart Salles

Pomona

Mayor (choose 1)

Ian Banks

Lloyd Ecker

Trustee (two seats)

Ilan Fuchs

Susanne Kernan

Carol McFarlane

Joanne Robinson-Filas

Upper Nyack

Mayor

*Karen Tarapata

Trustee (two seats)

Laurie Dodge

*Michael Esmay