Spring Valley Man Earns NY Liberty Medal

On Sun., Feb. 18, Spring Valley resident Jean Don- ald Mathieu received NY’s Liberty Medal for saving an 8-month-old girl, Isabelle Lacrete, and two women from an apartment building fire. State Sen. Bill Weber, R- Montebello, gave the medal to Mathieu during a meeting of the Haitian Cultural Pres- ervation, Inc., which assists Rockland County’s Haitian- American residents. The Lib- erty Medal is a top civilian honor awarded to people for heroic efforts. On Feb. 3, Ma-

thieu was driving home from work when he saw smoke. In the afternoon, a fire had start- ed at the Meadow Lane Apart- ment Complex on West Eck- erson Rd., located in Spring Valley, Rockland County. He climbed up a tree, ascended a fence, and dashed up a fire escape to the third floor apart- ment to save the baby and woman. The fire displaced at least five families and caused smoke inhalation in at least two residents. Fire officials are grateful that the building’s occupants got out safely.