There’s nothing quite like an open political race to define candidates. With no incumbent to spar, the various personalities and characters of the candidates usually rise to the surface and take center stage. The race for Rockland County Executive got down to business this past Monday night when all three Democratic candidates met to present themselves to a hometown crowd at the Orangetown Democratic Committee meeting. Continue Reading

With the world seemingly roiling around it, the Ramapo Central School District has been a refuge of academic excellence and diverse student activities and programs. Parents and students alike have enjoyed the fruits of state grants and federal grants, as well as expanding school budgets. Now the cuts are coming. Continue Reading

Local media operative Richard Gandon apparently knows a good story when he sees one. Gandon has booked Julie Wiener and Hella Winston for his Friday Ramapo Times/Rockland Star Community News Hour on WRCR AM1300. The writers are behind the months-long investigative three-part article now running in the Manhattan-based The Jewish Week that delves into possible chicanery involving E-rate funds for private schools — including Rockland County. Continue Reading

In a case of dueling releases, Rockland County Legislature Chairwoman Harriet Cornell (D) and Legislator Ed Day (R) took whacks at each other this week. The topic was gun control. Continue Reading

Now Rockland County pistol permit holders can just say no. Or at at least they can officially request that their personal information remain exempt from public disclosure.

After public upheaval and outcry following The Journal News’ December article that included an online version with interactive map of Westchester and Rockland pistol permit holders, the New York State Legislature took action. Continue Reading

It might be a slow shuffle in slippers but Sloatsburg is inching into the internet age. For the local digerati, the village just hooked up the Municipal Building and Municipal Pool with wifi hotspots. Continue Reading

Haas Pharmacy, located in the center of Sloatsburg, looks perfectly positioned. The business has a convenient drive-thru window, ample signage and personalized service for walk-in customers. But owner Larry Haas would like a little more. He wants his pharmacy to be top of mind for village residents whenever they think prescriptions, because that’s the lifeblood of any pharmacy. Continue Reading

The Rumor Mill: An odd bit of news began leaking its way to the public Saturday evening when News12 anchor Tara Rosenblum tweeted around 7 P.m. that a Suffern Middle School student was “caught with a ‘hitlist'”. By 11 p.m. News12 reported the news online with the following headline: “Sources: Suffern Middle School student caught with hit list.” Continue Reading

All those Sloatsburg Community Pool members out there, here’s a chance to have your two cents counted. Sloatsburg Village Trustee Peter Akey, who shares village cultural and recreational oversight, is soliciting community advice on tree replacement at the village pool. Continue Reading

Residents of Tuxedo, NY face a peculiar situation. The local high school, built up over the last 30 years into a quietly elite academic institution, may lose a chunk of its student population next school year. Or not. Continue Reading