Orangetown police said a commercial van owned by Local Tofu was reported stolen around 8:30 p.m. tonight from 100 Nyack Center. The blue Ford E350 Econoline van had a refrigeration unit on the top,  New York plates 62356JX. Police had no description of the suspect or suspects. The words Local Tofu were printed on the van's [...]

Dozens of members from the county's unions attended County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef's state of the county address tonight, many standing against the back wall after not finding any available seats.

The unions, the Civil Service Employees Association in particular, have been a noticeable presence in recent months during high profile meetings, including the budget presentation.

Vanderhoef, [...]

County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef will go before the County Legislature at 8 p.m. tonight to deliver his annual state of the county address.

Being traditionally protective over the speech's content, his office has leaked nothing about any bombshells or new ideas. The only previews Vanderhoef, a Republican, would give was the affordable housing would be [...]

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel's office announced today that the Internal Revenue Service would open sites and be available by phone to assist residents who are eligible for the upcoming economic stimulus payment, but who don't regularly file an income tax return.

On Saturday, the IRS will assist residents with the 1040A form that residents are filing [...]

In an interview today about his upcoming state of the county speech, Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef said that he's done waiting for the County Legislature to collaborate with him on the Housing Opportunities Commission, which would study and implement plans for affordable housing for Rockland's middle income residents.

It's a proposal he's requested for [...]

Legislator Joseph Meyers' resolution requesting Congress to review and amend the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, also known as RLUIPA, will go up for a vote before the full Rockland County Legislature on Tuesday night.

The measure has passed through two committees. The resolution was Meyers' first as a county legislator, though [...]

Minutes after Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned over his purported role in a pricey prostitution ring, Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, a Republican, issued the following statement:

"This is a very sad day, but it marks a new beginning for New York state," he  said. "The Spitzer tenure is now over, and the Paterson tenure now [...]

Legislator Joseph Meyers' resolution to request that Congress review and amend the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000, also known as RLUIPA, has passed on Legislature committee and has one more to go before going to the full body.

The resolution, which does not request legislators take a stance on the merits of [...]

You learn something new every day. When perusing the new Legislature bio of Joe Meyers, D-Airmont, I stumbled across this snippet of info: Meyers is an identical twin, 11 minutes old than his brother, Alan.

Maybe I'm slipping because I've covered Joe for the last year and I never knew that.

Also did not know he taught [...]

County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef can have a lot of fun with his state of the county address this year. It's scheduled for April 1—April Fool's Day.

Oh the possibilities—he could announce that he's John McCain's running mate. He could announce a new initiative to dissolve the five towns (actually, some in the county would applaud [...]

I was pleasantly surprised today to find that the Rockland County's Veterans Service Agency Web site has been completely re-designed.

Gone is the drab, county-issue page that most of the departments are using. In it's place is a patriotic, user-friendly site with downloadable forms and links to newsletters and support groups.

The site even offers a link [...]

In Rockland, at least.

Today, Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef proclaimed Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2008 as Knights of Pythias Day in Rockland County.

The international fraternal order has an active branch in Rockland County that performs various acts of community service, including the donation of supplies, coats and scholarships to residents in need.

For more information on [...]

They should for anyone dining tonight at Del Arte Restaurant in Orangeburg.

As part of a fundraiser to support breast cancer research, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, Rockland Community College President Cliff Wood and Orangetown Town Board Member Denis Troy, among other notable Rocklanders, will be serving food starting at 7:30 p.m.

The John Carollo Cooking Class [...]

You really can't make this stuff up.

Clarkstown police were called to the Palisades Center tonight after it was reported that a man stole 100 bras from Victoria's Secret. The theft happened around 7:30 p.m. and police got only a vague description. The bras were estimated at $4,000 in value.

So many jokes…

County Legislator Ed Day, R-New City, is scheduled to give his first report as minority leader at tomorrow night's Legislature meeting. I haven't gotten any hints yet as to what might be in it (I don't think its finished yet.) But keep an eye on Friday's paper for details.

The Legislature is meeting on a Thursday [...]

After enduring several accusations of political patronage and wrongdoing, former Legislator David Fried very quietly started his job as Sheriff James Kralik's public safety advocate on Monday.

The $65,000-a-year position, new this year, was created by Sheriff James Kralik, a Republican, to go after grant money and build community relations. Kralik has said since the position [...]

One day after Rockland for Obama opened its Rockland headquarters in Spring Valley, elected officials and community members are planning a gathering to show their support for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential run.

The group will meet at 4 p.m. tomorrow (Thursday)  on the steps of the Allison-Parris County Office Building at 11 New Hempstead Road [...]

Okay so he personally won't be working out of the Spring Valley location, but Barack Obama's supporters say having a headquarters will allow them to reach more people before Tuesday's primary.

The official opening of the Rockland for Obama will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at 250 Route 59 in the village.

In a news [...]

Legislator Jay Hood Jr., D-Haverstraw, has announced that he chose newly-elected Legislator Jacques Michel, D-Spring Valley, as the vice chair of the Public Safety Committee.

Hood is new to the Legislature himself, having been appointed in July and elected in November. Hood is a lawyer and doesn't have a law enforcement background, but Michel does and [...]

Raphael Ziegler, chairman of the Rockland County Taxi and Livery Coalition, said he's disappointed that legislators once again tabled a proposal to make Rockland County the sole licensing agency for taxis, limousines and the like.

Legislator Ilan Schoenbeger, D-Wesley Hills, and Vice Chairman William Darden, D-Hillcrest, said at last night's meeting that more time was needed [...]

Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell, D-West Nyack, has made a few changes in the committees and their leadership.

She created one new committee on economic development to be headed by Majority Leader Michael Grant, D-Garnerville. The committee will deal with the "stimulus, development and revitalizaton of Rockland County's economy" according to a new release issued by Cornell.

Newly [...]

The staff of the County Clerk’s office is collecting donations to pay for the medical care of Tomkins Cove resident Christopher Riello, the son of staff member MaryEllen Riello. Christopher Riello was critically injured in a car accident Dec. 16 on the Palisades Interstate Parkway.

He was walking along the highway when he was hit by [...]

The County Legislature at last night's meeting honored four of its members who won't be returning next year: Legislators Patrick Withers, D-Suffern, Bruce Levine, D-Montebello, David Fried, D-Spring Valley, and Theodore Dusanenko, R-Valley Cottage.

While the contributions of Levine, Withers and Fried were appropriately noted, the farewell was notably geared toward Dusanenko, also fondly referred to [...]

County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef formally approved the $667.8 million 2008 Rockland budget today, but had some strong words in a response to the Legislature, which passed the budget last week.

Firing back at the Legislature's Budget and Finance Committee, which had pointed a finger at the county's administration for rising debt in the Department of [...]

At last night's County Legislature meeting, outgoing Legislator Theodore Dusenenko, R-Valley Cottage, gave up his turn to lead the room in a prayer to P.T. Thomas, president of the Civil Service Employees Association's Rockland unit.

Keep in mind that Dusanenko will step down from the Legislature next month after more than three decades in the seat [...]