Rockland is mourning the loss Saturday of George Drescher, the Director of Fire and Industrial Training at the Rockland County Fire Training Center. He also served as Deputy Superintendent of Highways in Clarkstown and was a part-time patrol officer for the Villages of Haverstraw and South Nyack, on top of the many other hats he wore in service to the county. Visiting Hours will be held at the West Nyack Fire House tomorrow and Wednesday from 4 to 9 pm. Firematic Services will be held Wednesday at 7 pm. A Mass of Christian burial is Thursday morning at St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Nyack. He was 70 years old.

The New York State Thruway Authority has decided to freeze the tolls on the Tappan Zee Bridge through 2021, but you’ll need to have EZ-Pass to take advantage of that. Rockland and Westchester state senator David Carlucci says it’s a bit of a double-edged sword…

The Thruway Authority says the rate for Rockland and Westchester residents will remain at $4.75 until the beginning of 2022 for cars. The commuters’ rate will be $3.15 in 2021 and then $3.45 in 2022. This still faces approval, and the Thruway Authority will be holding public hearings throughout the year to get residents’ feedback.

The biggest item on the new Orangetown supervisor’s plate is a new comprehensive plan for the town. In particular, supervisor Teresa Kenny says she wants to focus on revitalizing downtown Pearl River…

Kenny says the plan shouldn’t revolve around train or other transportation issues and wants the community to be involved. If you are interested in participating, contact the supervisor’s office at 845-359-5100 x2261 or send an email to supervisor@orangetown.com.

Long-time Stony Point Police Lt. Daniel Hylas has retired. Supervisor Jim Monaghan says his last day on the job was Friday.…

It’s possible – quite possible…that they celebrated his retirement with some ice cream…

That, of course, was Forrest Gump…Monaghan says Hylas will remain a fixture in town.

Rockland’s five town supervisors held their first in a series of summits with the goal of bringing people together to talk about the ways they could get rid of hate. The summit comes in the wake of the Hanukkah attack last month in Monsey. Hundreds came out to the event at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern yesterday afternoon. Monsignor Emmett Nevin opened the event and said that to deal with an uncertain future, it is good to look to the past…

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson of Monsey says it’s time to get beyond the lip service, and talk to each other so we can all learn to make a better society…

Organizers had been getting flack for scheduling the first event in the afternoon, but hundreds managed to show up. Stony Point supervisor Jim Monaghan reminded everyone that the lofty goals of the supervisors’ group won’t be solved in one afternoon…

The attendees broke into smaller groups to discuss the top issues in their town and the county that lead to hatred, how those issues are being handled, and how they could be handled better. Rockland County Pride Center Executive Director Brooke Malloy moderated the event, and says getting people together to talk was the first of many steps…

The next meeting is scheduled for the evening of April 30th in Clarkstown, though the location is still to be determined.

Tom Walsh was sworn-in as the new Rockland County District Attorney yesterday at a ceremony at the county office building in New City. Walsh says combatting the opioid crisis is among his priorities…

Walsh says he’s also planning on going after those who avoid paying taxes to recoup the losses to the county. Walsh also honored retiring Detective Lt. James Stewart, who is calling it a career after serving Rockland for 47 years. He worked on many cases over the years, including the Brinks robbery.

A blood drive in Spring Valley this weekend is honoring the memory of Harper Fried. She’s the late granddaughter of friend-of-the-show, Sandy Fried. She was killed when a piece of heavy furniture toppled over onto her. Fried says the goal of the “Harper Smiles” organization, is to save lives by educating people about the dangers that furniture can pose to little kids, and the blood drive helps drive home the “save-a-life” message…

The blood drive is Sunday from 11 to 5pm at the Spring Hill Community Ambulance Corps on Brick Church Road in Spring Valley. To register, send an email to blooddrive@springhillems.org or call 1-800-688-0900. Walk-ins are welcome, as well. “Harper’s Law” was officially signed into law in New York State last August, requiring furniture retailers to sell tip-restraint devices for certain furniture. For more information about Harper Smiles visit their website, HarperSmiles.com.

A Rockland man was found dead inside the car he was driving Tuesday after crashing into a building in Spring Valley. Police believe he was the victim of a homicide. Published reports say the unidentified Spring Valley man, believed to be in his 20s, crashed into a building near the Prospect Garden Apartments. No other details were available, so if you have information contact the Spring Valley Police Department at 845-356-7400.

Orangetown’s former supervisor has a new job, and it’s here in the county. After serving one term, Chris Day decided not to run for re-election. Howard Phillips is the head of the Rockland Solid Waste Management Authority, and says he’s got the ideal experience to be director of inter-governmental relations…

We reached out to Day for comment, but he’s been even busier than usual lately, as he also became a dad again earlier this month.