There’s no argument that Sloatsburg is among the most bucolic of Rockland communities, sitting as does at the doorstep of Harriman State Park.

And so a recent interview with Mayor Carl Wright led this reporter to pine for the days when The Journal News ran a daily “quote of the day,” on the tail of the local Briefs column.

Wright was discussing the loss of several sycamore trees that stood in the way of the county sewer project.

“We love trees,” Wright said, “and trees love Sloatsburg.”

Now that would have been a nice quote of the day.

Nathan Oberman, a Ramapo Democratic Committee official and the town’s Receiver of Taxes, is contesting Republican Robert Romanowski’s petition to run against Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence in a GOP primary.

In an election law dispute filed in state Supreme Court in New City, Oberman also names the county’s two commissioners of elections. The Board of Elections had upheld the propriety of Romanowski’s petitions.

St. Lawrence, a Democrat, got the GOP endorsement over the objection of some Republicans who thought their party ought to come up with its own candidate. Feelings like that led Romanowski, a Monsey resident, to get more than 400 signatures supporting his candidacy.

In recognition of the renewed interest in the black panther(s) roving around Orangetown (and the inevitable sightings it will bring), I wanted to post a real photo Piermont Mayor Chris Sanders sent me a while ago, back when the panther was on the lip of every tongue and apparently lurking in every driveway. Most recently, The New York Times picked up the panther story over the weekend and The New Yorker wrote about it last month.

I’d also like to take a moment to ask the cartoonishly evil plutocrat from New Jersey who released this panther into the wilds of Snedens Landing (that’s the new rumor I’m hearing) to come forward and end the madness.

If you’ve got photos of your panther sighting, send them to my e-mail box, bfrubin@lohud.com.

Okay, here’s the photo:

Officials from Spring Valley and the wider community this morning dedicated the new Jay Street park, located at the intersection of Jay and Division streets in Spring Valley.

Among officials in attendance from Spring Valley were: Mayor George Darden, Village Attorney Bruce Levine, Deputy Village Attorney Ryan Karben, Community Development Director Rita Grayson, Trustee Anthony Leon, Deputy Section 8 Director Brendel Logan, Acting Department of Public Works Head Neil Vitiello and Zoning Board of Appeals member Moshe Hopstein.

Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, Orangetown Supervisor Thom Kleiner, Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci, County Legislator William Darden and Rockland’s Community Development Director Joe Abate also were present, along with other local leaders and area residents.

Sitting on about ¼ of a acre of land that the village acquired from Rockland County, the park — designed for children aged 2 to 5 years old — was constructed for about $220,000.

The money was furnished through a grant from Rockland County, Grayson said.

“There was nothing on that side of the village for young children, so we saw a need and sought the funding for it,” she said, speaking in an interview on Friday. “I think it’s a win-win for everyone.”

(In the photos below, Mayor George Darden addresses those gathered for the dedication, and children enjoy the new park.)

Swings, slides, a see-saw and other colorful playground equipment dominate the park. Flowers, grass and trees are part of the surrounding landscaping. Benches are situated at several spots around the facility.

Merle George, a Spring Valley activist who attended the dedication, especially liked that soft, spongy flooring designed to cushion falls covered much of the grounds.

“I think it’s beautiful,” she said of the park.

Concepcion Huerta of Chestnut Ridge was in the area visiting friends. She took her own two children, along with a friend’s two children, to the park and watched as they played happily.

“It’s very nice, beautiful for the kids,” she said.

The park is open from dawn until dusk.

Louis Mazzucca of Orangeburg submitted this photo of the Sons of Italy Rockland Lodge 2176 college scholarship awards event on June 24. The students who received the awards were Vincent Battiato, Jennifer Reynolds, Noelle DeNome, Elizabeth Rizzuto, Philip Hirsch, Luke Mennillo and Roberta Lee.

Nyack is now offering free parking on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m.

Local merchants Patti Aagaard and Marie Somos, who’ve created several collaborative business projects in Nyack, asked the village board to provide the free parking to help promote “Thursday Night Open Late.”

Merchants hope the initiative, which includes extended store hours and restaurant promotions, will make Nyack a destination on a relatively slow night in the week.

The free parking, which will cost the village about $400 a week in lost revenue, started last week and will continue on a trial basis until Jan. 1, 2010.

This week is honor your probation officer in Rockland County. Well, if you’re lucky enough not to have such a close relationship with a probation officer, then join the county executive in honoring the work done by probation officers.

The Rockland County Probation Department is taking part in New York State’s Probation, Parole & Community Supervision Week from July 19 to 25, according to a news release from the Rockland County Executive’s Office.

The objective is to recognize the work that probation, parole and community supervision professionals do for public safety and to make our communities a safer place to live.

In that regard, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef issued a Proclamation designating the week from July 19th-25th Probation, Parole & Community Supervision Week in Rockland County.

“We thank the staff in the Probation Department for their continuous hard work and vigilance in making our community a safer place to live,” Vanderhoef said in the news release.  ”We also recognize other community corrections professionals here in Rockland and throughout the region for their efforts.”

The Probation Department, under the direction of Director Jacqueline Stormes, also will have an employee recognition day, as well as other events throughout the week, to show appreciation for staff members.

The Haitian American Cultural and Social Organization Inc. (HACSO), will hold its 35th annual fundraising dinner on Aug. 15.

HACSO is a nonprofit in Spring Valley that provides the public with support services and assistance, including free basic health care, along with other social programs such as low-cost immigration and translation services.

Located at 25 S. Main St., HACSO is credited with having helped thousands of immigrants — many of whom hail from Haiti — navigate life in America.

The dinner will honor the community’s Fan’m Vanyan (which is Haitian Creole for brave or courageous women).

Honorees are: Marie Mygnon Alcin; Darlene Theodore-Beauvil; Linda Benoit; Marie L. Nicolas-Brewster; Florette Julien; Eugenia Nicolas; Josette Peterson; Monique Lecorps Philippe; Jacqueline Sanon; Seurette Sanon-Jules; Marie Edith Senatus and Caren Vilson.

The dinner will be 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Town and Country, 922 Route 9W, Congers. Tickets are $75 per person, and the cost is tax deductible.

For more information, call HACSO at 845-352-5897. Or check out their (newly redesigned) Web site at www.hacso.org

Martin Bagrosky of Thiells said he was excited when he recently witnessed the long-delayed project in Mount Ivy has finally restarted.

Bagrosky said he has been petitioning local representatives to finish the Mount Ivy renewal project, which is closely connected to the state Department of Transportation’s project to replace the Palisades Interstate Parkway bridge over Route 202.

In December 2006, the bridge replacement project near the PIP Exit 13 came to a halt after the DOT and the contractors, Rhombus Enterprises and Imperial Ironworks of the Bronx, couldn’t agree on how the bridge should be built. They eventually parted ways, and the contract was terminated in July 2007.

The new contract was awarded to ECCO III Inc. of Yonkers. The $13.36 million project was funded through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Under the project, a new single-span will be constructed, replacing the existing three-span structure. The bridge will also be wider, allowing for the addition of a southbound acceleration lane for the entrance ramp and wider shoulders. Route 202 in Mount Ivy will be widened from three lanes to five lanes from the bridge to the intersection with Route 45. The entrance and exit to the commuter parking lot on Route 202 will be moved to allow for more efficient ingress and egress. Two existing traffic lights will be replaced and a new signal will be installed. New drainage and stormwater systems will be installed.

The town has planned for a beautification project for the Mount Ivy area, installing new lighting for the Route 202 commuter parking lot. But the effort has stalled because of the delay of the DOT project.

Since my story about the trials of Kiladi Mutala ran in yesterday’s paper, I’ve been deluged with calls from people wanting to help the Mutalas. For those who haven’t followed the story, Mutala’s wife, Lenda, died suddenly on Dec. 23, leaving her husband and four kids bereft in more ways than one. She was the family breadwinner — Kiladi Mutala was pursuing a doctorate in philosophy while she worked. Now the father is working two jobs/60 hours a week to put food on the tabel and pay the bills, but still can’t make ends meet.

I’m telling people that if they want to help they can make checks payable to “Friends for the Mutala Family.” The fund was set up by Stephanie Ferrante-Hirsch, a realtor at Keller Williams Realty in New City. She and other friends held a fundraiser for the Mutalas in June and raised $2,500 for them. Checks can me mailed to her attention at Keller Williams Hudson Valley Realty, 18 Laurel Road, New City, NY 10956.

It’s official. County Legislator Jacques O. D’I. Michel is running for mayor of the village of Spring Valley.

The 69-year-old ordained minister joins a growing field of candidates for the Democratic primary election for the post.

He declared his candidacy on July 6 in front of Spring Valley’s Village Hall. Standing before a crowd of supporters, Michel introduced his trustee running mates: Yesly Sandoval — a political newcomer — and Dantes Jeantel, who has sought elective office before.

(Here is Michel (center) flanked by Jeantel (left) and Sandoval after the press conference to launch their campaign.)

County Legislator Joseph Meyers, and Bruce Levine — the Spring Valley village attorney and former county legislator who is challenging Christopher St. Lawrence for the post of Ramapo Town supervisor — also were on hand to endorse Michel.

When rumors began to swirl that Michel was running, he categorically denied them. In a conversation we had in May, Michel characterized the talk as “speculation,” and said he had not and would not consider running.

Michel has strong competition. Other candidates for the position as chief executive of Rockland’s largest village are: Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Noramie Jasmin, Village Trustee Demeza Delhomme, Bernard “Chip” Charles Jr., former Village Trustee and former Village Justice Margareth Jourdan, and Vilar Fonvil — who has run for mayor before.

The post pays just over $100,000 a year.

George Darden, the village’s controversial two-term mayor, said last month that he wouldn’t be running for re-election.

Former Spring Valley Mayor Allan Thompson has said he will seek the post on the Republican line.

Rockland Sheriff’s Department Senior Deputy Dennis J. Salemo just completed a training program on working civil cases, such as process serving, and enforcement of judgments, and other court orders like evictins, and mandate.

Salemo accepts certification of achievement from Chris O’Brien, executive director of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc.

The importance of the training is to ensure that records are exact and kept Sheriff’s Department civil unitskeep reocrds on judgments for court caes, fees collected and disbursements of judgements to creditors. These records also could be subjected to Comptroller’s Office audit and court overights.

Salemo, who works for Civil Unit Chief Mary Barbera, attended the 11th annual conference for civil unit personnel.

EndFragment->

Marie Lorenzini, a village trustee who is running for mayor this year, said she wanted to do something special for Flag Day, an often forgotten American holiday.

So, this year she asked to receive a U.S. flag flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., which she presented to the Nyack Fire Department after the volunteer firefighters’ parade a few weeks ago on Flag Day.

The firefighters will fly that flag at each Nyack firehouse through the year, until the flag will be brought back to Village Hall for Flag Day next year, where it will stay.

“It just was a nice thank you for them,” Lorenzini said about the firefighters. “That’s why I did it.”

RenewHaverstraw, a newly-formed nonprofit based in Haverstraw village, is holding a tag sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 19 at Haverstraw village’s Farmers Market. The proceeds from the sale would be used to operate the group, organizers said.

The organization consists of village residents who care about Haverstraw’s current and future. The group held a cleanup event in April, removing 60 bags of rubbish from the village streets and waterfront, organizers said.

The group is beginning to turn their attention to issues such as overcrowding, traffic, housing and crime. Members have attended meetings, including a recent public hearing for the Murphy Manor affordable housing development.