TIMELINES 12/1/16

Winning Lotto Ticket Sold in Airmont

The Drug Mart on Route 59 in Airmont sold the winning Nov. 5 New York Lotto ticket worth $15.8 million. The six winning numbers – 5-11-15-23-26-42 – were drawn from a Quick Pick, the lottery terminal that randomly selects numbers. The drug store owner said most of the people who purchase lottery tickets at the store are repeat customers, so he hopes the winnings go to one of them. The winter has until Nov. 5, 2017 to collect the winnings.

Spring Valley Board Wants to Turn Tax Assessment to Ramapo and Clarkstown

The Spring Valley village board is proposing abolishing their tax assessor’s office and using data collected by the towns of Ramapo and Clarkstown instead. But Spring Valley Mayor Demeza Delhomme and Deputy Mayor Emilia White are against it. Trustees Vilair Fonvil, Sherry McGill and Asher Grossman want to cut the duplicative process of having Spring Valley assess properties after the two other towns already do. Grossman wants to save the village money, but White doesn’t want to give Ramapo the job of assessing property in Spring Valley, when Ramapo is under investigation for fraud.

Fire Damages Monsey Synagogue

A fire broke out in attached laundry room at a Monsey home that is used as a synagogue on Sunday Nov. 27 damaging the property at 58 Main St. According to Monsey Fire Chief Andrew “Tony” Layman, the fire began at 7 p.m. and it appeared the fire started in the dryer. Firefighters controlled the flames in about half an hour. No one was injured and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Giving Tuesday

There’s Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and now Giving Tuesday. In 2014 it began as an idea in the 92^nd Street Y, a community center for Jewish life, and has since spread around the country. It’s become a global day for non-profit fundraising and donations. According to The New York Times, in 2015 $117 million was raised for charities in more than 70 countries. The hashtag #GivingTuesday is used to encourage others to donate and give back to NGOs, local non-profits and governmental organizations.

TZ Bridge Update

Crews are adding the cables that support the new bridge’s main span roadway on the Westchester bound end. When all 192 cables are installed supporting the road deck, the bridge will have its cable-stayed structure. These cables are installed on the eight 419-foot towers and anchored to the main road deck, creating enough tension to support the bridge. The Rockland-bound portion is expected to be completed by summer 2017, and the entire bridge should be complete in 2018 according to Thruway Authority officials.

Trump Saves 1,000 U.S. Jobs

President-elect Donald Trump reached a deal with air conditioning company Carrier Corp. to keep almost 1,000 jobs in Indiana. A huge part of Trump’s campaign was promising workers he would keep jobs, with manufacturers like Carrier, in the United States. Carrier announced in February it was going to move its’ manufacturing to Mexico, a plan that would have laid off workers beginning in 2017. Another company, United Technologies Electronic Controls, announced it was going to move manufacturing operations to Mexico, taking 700 jobs from Indiana with it. Both companies belong to United Technologies Corp.

Suez Introduces Pilot Program to Fix “Earthy” Water

Rockland residents have been complaining about taste and odor issue with their drinking water for months. Now, Suez New York, which provides water to approximately 300,000 customers in Rockland is testing out a pilot program at Lake DeForest to test and analyze water-treatment techniques. The program will run for one year and costs about $300,000. Only about 30 percent of Rockland customers have noticed any water quality issues. Suez spokesperson Bill Madden said it’s because those customers have been receiving surface water directly from the lake, and not underground well water. County Executive Ed Day met with Suez officials and was encouraged when he heard about the pilot program.