NY STATE HEALTH EMERGENCY PLAN IN EFFECT FOR SWINE FLU by Ken Mahoney

NY STATE HEALTH EMERGENCY PLAN IN EFFECT FOR SWINE FLU by Ken Mahoney

New York State’s health-emergency preparedness plan is in effect, as new cases of the Swine Flu are confirmed in several states. So far, eight cases of the virus have been confirmed in New York – although they’re much milder than the ones that have left more than 100 dead in Mexico. The state preparedness plan is aimed at identifying and treating new cases quickly. New Yorkers are advised to keep our hands clean – by washing often with soap and warm water, or with alcohol-based cleaners.

COUNTY UPDATES HEALTH-WELLNESS WEBSITE by Ken Mahoney

COUNTY UPDATES HEALTH-WELLNESS WEBSITE by Ken Mahoney

Rockland County is offering residents a one-stop health-and-wellness data bank. The county health department says, if you need health-related information, including educational videos, a list of upcoming family-related events, and even free classes on how to manage an illness, go to the department’s newly-updated website, www.rocklandsteps.org.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS TOPIC AT S.V. MEETING TOMORROW by Ken Mahoney

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS TOPIC AT S.V. MEETING TOMORROW by Ken Mahoney

New York’s top housing official comes to Rockland for a meet-and-greet tomorrow. State Housing Commissioner Deborah VanAmerongen will join representatives of civic and business groups, developers and government for a discussion of how to create and preserve affordable housing in Rockland. The session is slated for 12:30 to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the county’s Office of Community Development at 185 North Main St., Spring Valley

FORECLOSURE RELIEF FOR ROCKLAND MONEY-STRAPPED HOMEOWNERS by Ken Mahoney

FORECLOSURE RELIEF FOR ROCKLAND MONEY-STRAPPED HOMEOWNERS by Ken Mahoney

Some Rockland property owners who face foreclosure may have won some breathing room from the County Legislature. An estimated 500 Rocklanders are currently in danger of losing their homes for failure to pay county taxes. That’s more than ten times the normal number, thanks to the current economic slump. Current law offers a payback program – easier terms for homeowners who can deposit 20% of the taxes they owe. But county legislators voted last week to lower that buy-in amount to 5% through the end of this year.

HAVERSTRAW-NYC RIVER COMMUTES TO END NEXT MONTH by Ken Mahoney

HAVERSTRAW-NYC RIVER COMMUTES TO END NEXT MONTH by Ken Mahoney

Service ends May 1 for Rocklanders who’ve been using the New York Water Taxi to commute each day from Haverstraw to Manhattan and back. The ferry service says ridership has been too low – about 250 passengers a month, compared with nearly a thousand on the Yonkers-Manhattan route – to pay for the Haverstraw runs to continue. This ends a two-year pilot program that’s cost nearly $7.5-million dollars so far.