Knickerbocker Ice Festival at Rockland Lake State Park Slated to Launch

Knickerbocker Ice Festival at Rockland Lake State Park Slated to Launch Hudson Valley Quadricentennial

Event Will Feature Ice Replicas of Henry Hudson’s Half Moon and Robert Fulton’s Clermont Amidst a Host of Festivities from Balloon Rides and Fireworks to Live Music and Dancing

Bear Mountain, New York - November 24, 2008 – The Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) has announced that the Knickerbocker Ice Festival (January 24-25, 2009) at Rockland Lake State Park has been selected as the official launch site of the Hudson Valley Quadricentennial—a year-long celebration that marks the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson and Samuel de Champlain’s voyages along the river and lake that bear their names, as well as the 200th anniversary of Robert Fulton’s successful steamboat voyage on the Hudson River. The Knickerbocker Ice Festival, now in its third year, celebrates Rockland Lake’s history as the epicenter of the ice trade in the 19th century—long before the invention of the household refrigerator. Known for its sparkling, clear water, Rockland Lake was the preferred source of ice for New York City as well as international destinations. “Because the Hudson was the major trade conduit for the Knickerbocker Ice Company, which harvested most of its ice from Rockland Lake, the ice festival is the perfect venue from which to launch the Quadricentennial celebration,” said James Hall, Executive Director, PIPC. The three mile paved path around Rockland Lake will showcase multiple attractions, intended to emphasize the festival themes of community, resourcefulness, and sustainability. The festival will feature a 20-foot ice replica of Henry Hudson’s ship the Half Moon by ice sculptor Robert Patalano, a Rockland native. Emmy-winning and internationally famed ice sculptor Earl Covington will reproduce Robert Fulton’s steamboat the Clermont. Weekend festivities include: Pleine Air Art...local artists capture the beauty of the park on Saturday; art goes on sale Sunday Fireworks over Rockland Lake Saturday eve · Hot Air Balloon Rides: Tethered balloons rise over Rockland Lake with the Hudson as a backdrop · Tour of the Ice Gallery: images from the PIPC's archives frozen into blocks of ice · Live music and dance performances Demonstrations of rustic furniture making Warm food and beverages Tours of Knickerbocker Ice House #3, an historic remnant from the 19th Century ice trade Campfires and warming stations And more

ROCKLAND’S UNEMPLOYEMENT RATE ON THE RISE by Ken Mahoney

ROCKLAND’S UNEMPLOYEMENT RATE ON THE RISE by Ken Mahoney

Rockland’s unemployment rate is slowly creeping closer to New York City’s at 4.9% for the month of October. This latest Labor Department report reflects a 1.2% rise year over year. Figures for the month of November may go up further in light of this week’s layoff announcements out of Wyeth Pharmaceutical of Pearl River and U.S Gypsum of Stony Point. The city still leads most Hudson River counties with at 5.7% jobless rate.

HEARING ON COUNTY’S PROPOSED $714.5M BUDGET SET FOR TOMORROW by Ken Mahoney

HEARING ON COUNTY’S PROPOSED $714.5M BUDGET SET FOR TOMORROW by Ken Mahoney

Rockland Legislature’s Budget & Finance Committee meets tonight for the final time before the scheduled public hearing on the county’s proposed 2009 budget. Property owners tomorrow night will have an opportunity to comment on the $714.5 million dollar spending plan, which raises the county’s share of property taxes 9.85%. Budget & Finance Committee members this evening continue their item by item review and will be looking specifically at funding to contract agencies and not-for-profits.

Thank a veteran today!!!

Thank a Veteran today

Please go visit this web site.

We are all very thankful of what our veterans have done for us!!

http://www.co.rockland.ny.us/vets/veterans.html

ROCKLAND SEPTEMBER HOME SALES SHOW IMPROVEMENT by Ken Mahoney

ROCKLAND SEPTEMBER HOME SALES SHOW IMPROVEMENT by Ken Mahoney

There’s some good news today for those looking to sell their home and others concerned about retaining their property’s value. New York State Association of Realtors has announced an increase in September 2008 single-family Rockland home sales compared to the same month last year. Rockland home sales for that period rose 10%. Statewide figures did not reflect an upward trend, going down 4% year over year. Orange and Westchester counties did not fair well, each experiencing a decline in September ’08 compared to September ’07 of 15 or more percentage points.

Election Results by Ken Mahoney

NATIONAL, STATE & LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS, By Ken Mahoney

Barack Obama yesterday was chosen to be our nation’s 44th president with the support of Rocklanders who favored him over John McCain 65,143 to 58,199.

Local voters yesterday helped return each of Rockland’s three democratic congressional incumbents back to office for another two-year term. District 17th House Representative Eliot Engel garnered nearly the twice the votes of challenger Robert Goodman, 46,644 to 23,706. The margin of victory was somewhat smaller for 18th District Congresswoman Nita Lowey, who received 13,845 votes to Jim Russell’s 8,185. In the 19th congressional district, John Hall retained his seat against Kieran Lalor 6,886 votes to Lalor’s 4,987.

Voters also returned N.Y. Republican Senator Tom Morahan to Albany for another two-year term. Morahan secured 69,205 votes to Democratic challenger Gregg Julian’s 41,298. Uncontested and contested Assembly representatives maintained their seats in districts 94-97. Republican Nancy Calhoun won the 96th district with 4,027 votes against Richard Randazzo’s 2,192. In the 97th district, Ann Rabbitt held on to her seat against Jerome Sommor’s challenge 3,317 to 2,355.

The only contested town race was for Clarkstown Justice. Democrat Rolf Thorsen was selected to fill the seat vacated in the passing of Justice Joel Flick. Thorsen received 19,541 votes to Republican Daniel Weisberg’s 15,007.

Turning to Rockland village races, Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright was reseated for another term against Marino Fontana 974 to 337. Incumbent trustees in both Sloatsburg and Suffern were reelected. In Sloatsburg, John Reimer and Barbara Bernsten were returned to the board and in Suffern, John Meehan and Andrew Haggerty were given another term. Mark Lablanco won an unexpired term on West Haverstraw’s village board 1,729 votes to David Barbera’s 1, 298.

Election Day in Rockland by Ken Mahoney

TODAY’S THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR OR SUBMIT ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Today is the last day to apply for or submit your absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections. Voters can visit election offices on New Hempstead Road in New City through 5 o’clock.

Tomorrow is General Election Day and polls throughout the county will be open from 6AM ‘til 9PM. Polling locations can also be looked up online or by calling the Board of Elections at 845-638-5172

Rockland Real Estate improves in the month of September by Ken Mahoney

Rockland Real Estate improves in the month of September

There’s some good news today for those looking to sell their home and others concerned about retaining their property’s value. New York State Association of Realtors has announced an increase in September 2008 single-family Rockland home sales compared to the same month last year. Rockland home sales for that period rose 10%. Statewide figures did not reflect an upward trend, going down 4% year over year. Orange and Westchester counties did not fair well, each experiencing a decline in September ’08 compared to September ’07 of 15 or more percentage points.