Are you ready to make your voice heard in the pretty-much-but-unofficially-already-decided, presidential primaries? Well, early voting in New York State starts here in Rockland on Saturday. Five polling centers will open on the 23rd through the 30th at town halls in Clarkstown, Haverstraw, Orangetown and Ramapo. In Stony Point, you can early-vote at Kirkbride Hall. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have Presidential Primary Elections on April 2nd. Only voters who are enrolled in either of those two parties can vote in this election. For more information click here.
News
Jazz Fundraiser Saturday at RCC to Benefit Local African-American Community Organization
You can get your jazz fix Saturday at a special fundraiser at RCC. Anthony Burrows is the Fundraising Chairman of Rockland Ques, a local group that supports the health, housing, civil rights, and education needs of African-Americans. Burrows says they focus on young men here in Rockland, to help them get on the right path…
Their “Jazz R&B Vibes” fundraiser featuring the duo, “Acute Inflections,” is being held Saturday, March 23rd at the RCC Cultural Arts Center at 7pm. Net proceeds will support the organization’s operations and help fund their mentoring and scholarship programs. For ticket information visit RocklandQUES.com.
News Briefs: Details Emerge After Two Bodies Found Shot in North Rockland, Man Arrested After Nyack Shots-Fired Incident, Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse At Rockland Lake State Park
More details are coming to light following Tuesday afternoon’s apparent murder-suicide in North Rockland. Stony Point Police Lieutenant Greg Becker says 35 year-old Colleen Williston was apparently shot and killed by 38 year-old Sean Kelly in their Rosetown Road home in Tomkins Cove. Their bodies were found in an upstairs bedroom. Becker says the investigation thus far suggests that after shooting Williston, Kelly then turned the gun on himself. Becker says detectives are looking into what the motive for the shooting might have been, and whether it was related to an earlier complaint when Kelly called the police regarding Williston and their two young children. That led to an investigation by Rockland’s Child Protective Services, which was ongoing at the time of the shooting. Becker says the children were not home at the time. This investigation is ongoing.
Man Arrested After Nyack Shots-Fired Incident
Orangetown Police arrested a man Tuesday in connection to a shots-fired incident in downtown Nyack. That’s according to The Journal News. Gunshots were reportedly heard around 4:30 Tuesday near the Nyack Plaza apartments. An officer saw a 60 year-old man discard a bag in a nearby recycling bin. The bag apparently had the gun used in the incident, in which shots were fired in the air following an argument. Three bullet casings were reportedly found at the scene. The man was charged with possession of a firearm but it’s not clear who fired the shots.
Bronx Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse At Rockland Lake State Park
A 45 year-old Bronx man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing a seven year-old girl while at a birthday party at Rockland Lake State Park almost seven years ago. Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh says 45 year-old Francisco Lopez-Gomez attacked the girl while she was changing out of her bathing suit in a family member’s vehicle. He’ll be sentenced on the sole count of First-Degree Sexual Abuse in June.
Rockland Haitian Community Concerned Over Developments in Haiti
Tension is on the rise in Rockland’s Haitian community as political unrest continues to disrupt life in the Caribbean nation. The Associated Press reported armed gangs launched new attacks yesterday in the suburbs of Haiti’s capital of Port-au-Prince early yesterday. Seema Rock is the co-host of a Haitian-themed show heard here on WRCR every Sunday morning, and says right now it’s still too soon to even get medical supplies or relief to those trapped amid the violence…
AP reported yesterday the U.S. State Department said it completed its first evacuation of American citizens, 15 were airlifted to neighboring Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic. Gunmen have set fire to police stations, forced the closure of Haiti’s main international airport and stormed the country’s two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. Dozens have been killed and some 17,000 residents have been left homeless. New leadership for the nation is part of the next steps as a transitional presidential council seeks to bring in an interim prime minister and a council of ministers. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has said he will resign once the council is formed.
“Pocketbook BINGO Fundraiser” to Support The Penguin Plunge Comes to Dominican University in Orangeburg Friday
A fundraiser is being held tomorrow night in Orangetown to benefit The Penguin Plunge, which held their big Hudson River event earlier this month. Barbara Noyes runs the Plunge and encourages everyone to come out to tomorrow night’s “Pocketbook BINGO Fundraiser” at Dominican University in Orangeburg…
The event is being held at 7pm at Dominican University, doors open at 6pm. For a $50 donation you get tricky trays, a 50-50 prize, pocketbooks for purchase, Bingo and much more. For more information call 845-323-2464 and ask for Maureen.