Suffern Mayor John Keegan thinks it would be a good idea for residents to have a chance to tour the former Tilcon New York guarry where a developer wants to build at least 440 condominiums.

It’s a place that’s been off limits for decades while the quarry operated, so few residents have had a chance [...]

There’s something missing as summer vacation approaches.

It’s usually a time to set up golfing dates, plot travel routes to untested courses, and search the pro shops for a new wedge or fairway wood that could knock off a couple of strokes.

Instead, thoughts run to the most recent fill-up at the gas station — a Jersey one, [...]

It’s may not be news to folks in Suffern who’ve kept tabs on such things, but it could be years before the Army Corps of Engineers, along with the states of New York and New Jersey, approve a multi-prong effort to keep the Mahwah River at bay.

The year 2013 was a date that Gerald Levitus, [...]

The Ramapo Planning Board on July 15 will be reviewing proposed subdivisions, rabbis residences and houses of worship. The meeting begins at 8:15 p.m. in Town Hall, 237 Route 59, Airmont.

Among the agenda items are public hearings for both the preliminary subdivision approval and final subdivision approval of a plan for seven lots on a [...]

The July 10 Ramapo Zoning Board of Appeals meeting will have something for just about everyone interested in development issues in the county’s most populous town.

Developers of the proposed Ramapo Hills subdivision of 263 condominiums will be taking a second crack at getting variances for their project off Route 17, just south of Sloatsburg.

Variances from [...]

Should the owners of Patrick Farm be required by the town to scale back their development plan and provide a park for the town?

That was the suggestion of one resident at a Town Board session this week. The meeting was held to decide what environmental issues would be reviewed as part of Scenic Development’s plan [...]

The second-most populous village in Ramapo appears to be at the cusp of a condominium construction craze.

Not only is the village looking to develop condominiums in an urban renewal site along Orange Avenue, but a builder has proposed as many as 440 in a spent quarry between Lafayette Avenue and the Thruway.

The latter plan is [...]

Requests to permit restaurant tables on village sidewalks were approved this week by the village board, but not one for a bench outside an ice cream parlor.

Tables and chairs, it seems, are OK because, as Mayor John Keegan said, they’re carried in at night.

It has worried village officials — this precedes the current administration — that [...]

Two incumbent Democratic trustees will likely be for up re-election next year – John Meehan and Andrew Haggerty.

Last year, a mayoral election year, the Democratic ticket ran unopposed.

Does one-party government work well enough for Suffern? Are there issues on which the incumbents – the entire village board and mayor – could be challenged? Have the [...]

The town of Ramapo is negotiating with the privately owned Ramapo Land Co. for the purchase of property that includes a hamlet.

The hamlet, known as Ramapo, is tucked between Route 17, the New York State Thruway and Torne Valley Road. It includes 16 houses that are now owned by the Ramapo Land Co.

Christopher St. Lawrence, [...]

Do you think Suffern needs a full-time mayor? The only other Ramapo village with a full-time mayor is Spring Valley.

Both are “full-service” villages with their own police and highway departments. Suffern also has its own water and sewer facilities.

Spring Valley Mayor George Darden is paid about $102,000 annually. Suffern Mayor John Keegan, who is part-time, [...]

Suffern’s village board will have a public hearing on Wednesday – 7:30 p.m., May 7, Village Hall, 61 Washington Ave. – on a planned 12.7 percent increase in water rates.

The idea is to reduce a deficit that grew to $631,000 since 2006. There was no deficit in 2005.

Village officials have blamed decreasing water use and [...]

Hillburn and the county are at odds over rebates that would be paid to Hillburn residents annually for 30 years. Hillburn Mayor Brian Miele said the village residents were to get the rebates – currently worth $80 per household – in return for allowing the county to build a sewage treatment plant in the village.

County [...]

I’m preparing an article about Israel’s 60th anniversary. I’m looking for people who would be interested in being interviewed, particularly folks who were either there at the beginning, or have lived there for some time in their lives.

You can reach me at 845-578-2445 or jawalsh@lohud.com.

While preparing its upcoming budget, the village will consider imposing larger water rate increases for commercial users than residential ones. The aim would be to reduce a $631,000 Water Department deficit, which has been blamed on increasing costs and decreasing consumption.

As it is now, all users pay the same rates.

Do you think there should be [...]

Just wondering how folks around Ramapo feel about a street clock that the town paid to install in Suffern, one of seven installations that Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence said were part of a beautification campaign.

Suffern Mayor John Keegan thinks the town ought to remove the recorded greeting: “This is Ramapo Supervisor Christopher P. St. Lawrence [...]

The Watcher is interested in knowing if there are potholes in your neighborhood that you’ve reported to the municipal highway department, and that have gone unfixed.

The Planning Board on Tuesday, Feb. 5, will be looking at a revamped plan for active-senior housing off Highview and Carlton roads.

In all, 102 units are proposed, down from 132 the developer wanted last year.

The catch is that it needs a zone change because the 11 acres can only accommodate about 14 houses under the [...]

It’s never too early to plan for your Fourth of July festivities, or, as they’re referred to in Ramapo, the Celebration of Liberty and Pride Event.

So, the Town Board on Jan. 23 made its musical pick for the occasion, a program regularly held at Rockland Community College.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes got the nod [...]

Three weeks after the Preserve Ramapo slate was swamped by the incumbent Democrats and their lock on the Monsey area bloc vote, plans are being made to seek criminal prosecution against those who tampered with the challengers’ election signs.

Preserve Ramapo activist Michael Castelluccio said the Rockland District Attorney’s Office and the state Board of Elections [...]

The Suffern Village Clerk’s Office will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of every month. The office normally closes at 4 p.m.

Is there a demand for this in other communities? What about other offices as well? Should more government offices have expanded hours?

Over the past few years, Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence directed his clout Suffern’s way on numerous occasions, for what would seem to be the benefit of residents.

He worked to get Avon Products to keep its research and development operation going in the village. He arranged to acquire the Tilcon quarry as a way to [...]

The Ramapo Democrats appear to be an efficient bunch. In less than 24 hours after their convention on Wednesday night, campaign signs were seen on roadsides touting their full Town Board slate.

The convention was held to pick a candidate to replace the late Harry Reiss on the board, and Itamar Yeger, a New Hempstead village [...]

I was surprised today to get in the mail my business card folder that I must have dropped on a sidewalk somewhere in Hillburn.

A Rockland Avenue resident – there was no name on the envelope or on a note inside – was kind enough to mail it to me.

Thanks a lot, whomever you are.

The Route 306 corridor from Monsey to Route 202 has been drawing quite a bit of attention from developers lately.

A 700-plus student yeshiva is planned at the Grandview Avenue intersection, about a quarter mile north of a proposed 78-apartment adult student housing project connected with a yeshiva.

Near that site is a proposed 162-unit senior citizen [...]