If you plan on taking a trip over to Congers Lake, be careful not to step on its latest resident! Clarkstown Supervisor George Hoehmann says photos of a large snake have been making the rounds online. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation identified it as a large, native black rat snake. They average between three and five feet in length, though they can be as long as eight feet. In a post on Facebook, Hoehmann said not to fret, the snake only feeds on small rodents, it’s not venomous, and poses no harm to people. If you do encounter it, just give it some space.
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Governor Announces “Conceptual Agreement” on $237 Billion 2025 Fiscal Year Budget
New York’s governor yesterday announced what she called a “conceptual agreement” on the $237 billion 2025 fiscal year budget that includes plans for new housing construction, addresses the migrant situation and crack down on illegal marijuana shops. In a surprise speech late yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul said the budget reflects needs now and in the future. On education, Hochul said the foundation aid formula for schools, including the “hold harmless” provision, would be studied and adjusted…
Other highlights in the governor’s budget announcement yesterday, creating a statewide tax incentive for multi-family housing; making $650 million in discretionary funds exclusively available to Pro-Housing Communities; providing incentives for communities that want more accessory dwelling units; there would be new efforts to fight toll evasion on the roads and fare evasion in the subways; the expansion of Medicare coverage for seniors and the establishment of “Empire AI,” a consortium to create and launch a state-of-the-art artificial intelligence computing center in Buffalo for New York colleges and universities to use and put the state at the technology’s forefront to advance AI for the public good. The Senate and Assembly still need to approve the budget before it goes into effect.
Report: Rockland Files Suit Against Owner of Evergreen Adult Home to Force Cleanup of Site
Rockland County filed suit Friday in New York State Supreme Court, to force the owners of the Evergreen Court Home for Adults in Spring Valley to demolish or vacate the premises immediately, or bring it up to code. That’s according to The Journal News. Evergreen burned to the ground following a fire three years ago that killed a resident and a village volunteer firefighter. The wreckage of the blaze remains fenced-in off Lafayette Street, the county argues one of the owners, Jacob Schoenberger of Monsey, has had enough time to clean it up. The Rockland Office of Building and Codes inspected the site twice in the last three weeks. They reportedly found four unsafe structures being lived in by vagrants; they found garbage, drug paraphernalia, open flame Sterno cans, human feces and mold; and no running water, heat, or electricity. An attorney connected to one of Evergreen’s owners told News 12 ongoing litigation is preventing the site from being cleaned up just yet.
Clarkstown Moving Forward with Demolition Plans for Former Nanuet Church
The town of Clarkstown is moving forward with plans to demolish a Nanuet Church it acquired years ago after settling a lawsuit with the religious school earlier this month. Clarkstown supervisor George Hoehmann says first the asbestos would need to be removed from the Grace Baptist Church, a process that could start in weeks and last a few months…
A yeshiva had sued the town for $10 million claiming the town violated its religious rights. Clarkstown settled that suit for $200,000. Hoehmann says after the church is demolished the town will go out to bid to construct housing on the site in accordance with Transit Oriented Development project.
Protesters Arrested After Demonstrations in Hudson Valley and Elsewhere Across US Shut down Roads, Bridges
15 people were arrested yesterday morning after they shut down a portion of I-84 by the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge during a protest calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. DailyVoice.com says they were charged with disorderly conduct and trespass. Traffic was backed up to East Fishkill. The bridge was closed for about 45 minutes so state police could clear the bridge and arrest the protesters. No injuries were reported. The action wasn’t limited to our area, as demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza blocked traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, they shut down San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge nearly five hours yesterday, and other demonstrations were held in Chicago and Seattle