The July periodic campaign finance disclosure forms were due yesterday for any person or committee with an active account.

So while we focused primarily on this year’s candidates I took a peek at the statements of County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef and some of his rumored 2009 opponents.

Vanderhoef, a Republican now serving his fourth term in office, brought in more than $105,800 in contributions in the last six months—more than any of the people running for statewide office this year. He reported a balance of $166,577. 27 after opening with more than $131,200.

Much of his money came from corporate donations and several of his expenditures were on fundraisers.

Among the rumored challengers is Orangetown Town Supervisor Thom Kleiner, who’s getting really good at being charmingly coy when asked about the subject.

He raised nearly $41,000 this period, ending with a balance of $112,788.28. Ramapo Town Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence took in nearly $76,000 and Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack took in nearly $61,500.

That’s big money in an off-year compared with Haverstraw Town Supervisor Howard Phillips who took in just more than $1,200 and Stony Point Supervisor Phil Marino who raised about half that.

All five supervisor seats, now filled by Democrats, are up next year as well.

Stony Point Town Hall is closed again this afternoon because of some “smelly” air coming from an “inhibitor” installed on the wall, Supervisor Phil Marino said.

The town has been addressing mold issues in Town Hall’s basement. A contractor is working on it.

Town Hall also was closed yesterday afternoon and opened this morning. But it was closed again this afternoon because of the smell.

“I told people upstairs not to hang around and leave,” Marino said, adding that he intended to go back to Town Hall later this afternoon after his meeting with Haverstraw village Mayor Michael Kohut.

Not only “upstairs,” but Town Hall’s main building at 74 E. Main St. seems to be closed altogether. No one is taking phone calls at Town Clerk’s Office, which is on the first floor of the two-story building.

The Building Department, which is in a separate building, is open as usual.

OK, before I explain any further, I just have to share this wonderful photo shot by Bob Rooney of Suffern at the United Hospice of Rockland’s annual spring gala Sunday.

No, you’re not imagining things. That is a photograph of town supervisors Alexander Gromack (Clarkstown), Howard Philips (Haverstraw), Thom Kleiner (Orangetown) and Phil Marino (Stony Point), wearing muscle T-shirts and performing at the gala.

The gala honored Bill and Ginny Maloney of Vista Electrical Contractors Inc. and raised $129,000 (a record for UHR) to help build the agency’s first Hospice House in the county.

Here’s some other photos from the event, all shot by Rooney: Read more of this entry »

Its details remain secret because it’s a surprise, but the four town supervisors in Rockland have been meeting twice a week since the beginning of this month to practice their performance — singing and dancing — under the direction of two accomplished Broadway dancers.

“This Sunday night is our big performance,” said Stony Point Supervisor Phil Marino, while we were talking about various town businesses at his office this morning.

Along with Supervisors Howard Philips of Haverstraw, Alexander Gromack of Clarkstown, and Thom Kleiner of Orangetown, Marino will perform to raise funds for United Hospice of Rockland at its 2008 Gala at the Colonial Inn in Norwood, N.J.

Marino said he was excited about being part of the fundraising event because of his experience when his and his wife’s fathers were under the care of hospice.

“I can’t say enough nice things what hospice does. … It’s an honor and blessing,” said Marino, adding that he had some muscle sores on his body as a result of the recent practice.

Marino said the four supervisors and other dancers will practice this Saturday and will have a dress rehearsal Sunday prior to the event.

Connie Grunfeld of United Hospice of Rockland said she wouldn’t reveil the details of the performance, but for those who were interested in watching the show, tickets — $195 — for the gala were still available. But they would have to make a reservation by tomorrow (Friday) by calling her at 845-634-4974, she said. The door will be open at 6 p.m. and the dinner will be served at 7:30 p.m. The supervisors will perform about 8 p.m.

Photo by Vincent DiSalvio / The Journal News/LoHud.com 

Two supervisors in North Rockland want to meet the public this Saturday.

Haverstraw town Supervisor Howard Phillips will hold a “meet the supervisor and town elected officials� event from 10 a.m. to noon at the ShopRite store on Route 202 in Garnerville. Residents can bring their questions and concerns related to the town government.

Stony Point Supervisor Phil Marino invites residents to join the “Coffee with the Supervisor” session from 8 to 10 a.m. at Stony Point Town Hall at 74 E. Main St. People can bring their concerns and issues to discuss with Marino. Coffee will be served.

While Marino is having coffee with residents, Stony Point Town Clerk Joan Skinner will open her office for business from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. to accommodate residents who cannot make it to her office on weekdays.

Carl Gilpatrick, president of the Civil Service Employees Association’s Stony Point unit, said yesterday that the union had endorsed Democratic candidates for November’s local election.

Those candidates endorsed by the union were incumbent Supervisor Phil Marino; Town Board candidates Luanne Konopko and Tom Brown; and Patrick Kennell, who is running against Republican incumbent Highway Superintendent Larry Brissing.

Republican Jerry Rogers is challenging Marino.

Louis Vicari and James White, both Republicans, as well as George Potanovic, a Friend of Stony Point candidate, are also running for two Town Board seats, which will be vacated by Town Board members Fred Bohlander and Tim O’Neill.

“Friends of Stony Point,” an independent political party, recently chose its candidates for the November election.

The slate is a mixture of Republicans and Democrats.

For town supervisor, the party endorsed Jerry Rogers, a Republican.

Two seats are up for election on the Town Board, and the party chose James White, a Republican, and George Potanovic, president of the Stony Point Action Committee for the Environment, for those seats. Potanovic, a Democrat, is petitioning for a primary.

The party also endorsed Megan Carey for town clerk and incumbent William Franks for town justice, both Republicans, and Patrick Kennell, a Democrat, for superintendent of highways.

The party endorsed Mike Diederich for County Legislature representing District 1. Diederich, a Democrat, is petitioning for a primary.

Chris Holmes, chairman of the party, said he invited Democratic Town Supervisor Phil Marino several times to the party’s endorsement interview, but that Marino didn’t respond.