Sloatsburg — The waters of the Ramapo River ran fast and murky this past August, overflowing into central Sloatsburg, washing hot tubs down river, overturning diesel tanks, and flooding many Village residents and businesses. Hurricane Irene’s storm surge added to already swollen waterways from summer rains, creating flood conditions along the Ramapo and Mahwah rivers. Continue Reading

This off-the-beat coverage could be called “Pictures That Rarely Make The Papers.” The Sloatsburg Fire Department has uploaded a collection of interesting photos on its FB site showing the department in action over recent years. Some of the images are quite spectacular while others demonstrate the mundane aspects of managing an emergency situation. In any case, the photos are a good introduction to the fire department as well as show the very present dangers of firefighting. Continue Reading

Sloatsburg — They lived placidly through the turbulent Nixon White House years and made it through disco and punk rock. They survived spandex, shoulder pads and big hair fashion of the 1980s. They outlasted nearly 20 Sloatsburg Fire Chiefs and withstood the tenure of former Sloatsburg Building Inspector John Layne. Neither Hurricane Floyd flooding in 1999 or Tropical Storm Irene this past August could uproot them. Impervious to all weather, they grew and guarded swimmers from view. Continue Reading

There are many spots around Sloatsburg that are familiar but still hidden in plain sight. Whether a unique set of steps or a building or place, certain spots just evoke a sense of Sloatsburg today and yesterday. Similar to historical documents or places, Secret Sloatsburg Spots is a semi-regular feature that explores images and objects that make up the DNA of the village. Continue Reading

January is a busy month around Sloatsburg, with school activities picking up and the Sloatsburg Library’s winter schedule kicking in. What follows is a brief roundup of activities in and around Sloatsburg for the month. Continue Reading

Sloatsburg — From the outside, the fitness center could be mistaken for a high-end auto or machine shop. The space looks and feels different from your typical gym — it’s wide open with high ceilings that bounce light off glossy white walls. A green turf carpet covers the floor for running, and there is a lot running. And where a typical gym is clotted with equipment, this gym has a smaller weight section, mostly free weights to focus on a full range of motion. There are power sleds for pushing, big hanging bags for kicking, medicine balls to bounce and toss, ropes to swing and climb and for resistance training. Continue Reading

As you probably have heard by now, 2012 heralds the final year of the Mayan Long Calendar and some say the end of time itself. We can’t vouch for that. What we do know with certainty is that this coming Saturday is New Year’s Eve and the very last day of 2011. And it will be the end of the year as we know it. That is, for all you followers of the Gregorian calendar. Continue Reading

The Village is alive in the evening hours this holiday season, lights strung colorfully into all sorts of scenes. Some simple, many festive. More than a few competitively creative. From the bluff above the pool and Flats below, to Pine Grove Lakes and down along the Presidents streets and around Sloatsburg Elementary School, yards are blinking and decorated and spirited. A stew of themes are on display as days and nights notch us closer to a new year, fresh start, pause for reflection, continuation, change. Continue Reading

Sloatsburg — Inside the Sloatsburg Fire Hall, full bags lined in straight rows were neatly coded with particular messages. Boy 12. Family of 4. Girl 8. Family of 6. Clothes and gifts were being readied from made-to-order lists by children in the Sloatsburg area, lists collected from Sloatsburg Elementary School, Saint Joan of Arc Church and the Sloatsburg United Methodist Church. The Fire Hall this time of year is the inner workings of Sloatsburg’s version of Santa’s Workshop Continue Reading

The sounds of holiday singing were heard throughout the day Sunday at the Waterwheel Restaurant and Cafe in Tallman as carolers and students sang for their supper, entertaining friends and family. Continue Reading