BY SCOTT WATERS

SUFFERN – Community members and volunteers were out in full force on Friday collecting donations for the 29th Annual Suffern PBA/D.A.R.E. Holiday Toy Drive. The volunteers were very successful raising thousands of dollars that will go directly toward toys for local children in need. Members of the Suffern Police Department and Village DPW were also assisting volunteers. You can drop off a toy or gift card at the Suffern Police Department – located at 61 Washington Ave, Suffern until December 20.

Jared Lloyd’s son turned six yesterday. Hundreds of first responders from Rockland County, Orange County, and New Jersey drove by his house to wish him a happy birthday. Lloyd died Tuesday morning as he helped save over 100 lives in a major fire at the Evergreen Adult Home in Spring Valley. 

Over 150 pieces of first responder apparatus gathered for the 40-minute-long parade. 

The New York Mets also offered condolences to Lloyd’s family in a statement on Twitter Thursday morning. The statement reads: “We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of #Mets fan and hero, Jared Lloyd. Jared, a volunteer firefighter, was killed while rescuing elderly residents from a nursing home. We salute his bravery and sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”

An online fundraiser has been set up for Lloyd’s two sons. Over $305,000 was raised as of Thursday morning. 

Donations can be made at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/firefighter-jared-lloyd-fundraiser?utm_campaign=p_cf%20share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&fbclid=IwAR2O3DuOMHSn14xr6n7dRozJYy15fh673e3KF5zxesainr8EmM7qiQgyZ4w 

This welcome news comes on the heels of another update from the Governor, who earlier that day stated that beginning Tuesday, March 30 at 8:00 a.m., all New Yorkers 30 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

In its announcement, the state government reported that more than 2 million total COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered at New York State-run and FEMA-assisted mass vaccination sites. Across New York, more than 9 million total doses have been administered in total. 

Despite that progress, New York saw a 64 percent increase in new COVID-19 cases last week. Rockland health officials reported 198 new cases of the virus in that time-frame, bringing the county total to 43,130.

“Today we take a monumental step forward in the fight to beat COVID,” said Cuomo. “As we continue to expand eligibility, New York will double down on making the vaccine accessible for every community to ensure equity, particularly for communities of color who are too often left behind. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but until we get there it is more important than ever for each and every New Yorker to wear a mask, socially distance and follow all safety guidelines.”

Update: Judge David S. Zuckerman set Kezek’s bail to $100,000 Thursday afternoon. Kezek was then remanded to County Jail and will return to court on June 17.

Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced an additional felony indictment of a Rockland County Corrections Officer, which stems from a continuing investigation into criminal activity in the County Jail. A Rockland County Grand Jury handed down the charges late last week.

John Kezek, 35, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Florida, NY was indicted on Criminal Sexual Act 1st (B felony), Criminal Sexual Act 3rd (E felony) and Official Misconduct (A Misdemeanor). The charges were prompted by allegations made by a female victim who came into contact with Kezek while working in his official capacity.

“The latest indictments of Mr. Kezek reveal an evil course of conduct, leaving the victims to put their lives back together,” said Walsh. “My office will continue to pursue justice for the victims of sexual crimes.”

Last year, Kezek and another Rockland County Corrections Officer, Christopher Taggart, 39, of New City, were indicted on multiple charges of misconduct. Kezek was previously charged with 5 counts of Official Misconduct (misdemeanor), as he allegedly sexually harassed more than one female minority inmate. 

Taggart was indicted on 21 counts of Official Misconduct and two counts of Promoting Prison Contraband (felony). He allegedly engaged in inappropriate relationships with female minority inmates. 

The District Attorney’s Office is protecting the victims’ identity, and asks that anyone who may have witnessed these incidents to send an anonymous tip by either downloading the Rockland County CO DA Tip 411 app, or by contacting law enforcement. Informants can also text the keyword ROCKLANDCODA to 847411, along with their tip information. 

“Rockland will not tolerate this horrific behavior,” said Walsh. “I would like to personally thank Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco for his assistance in this investigation.”

Executive Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Devlin is prosecuting this case. 

Wonder Girls, a non-profit that aims to lift middle- to high-school girls’ community spirit, is hosting a Wellness Day at Varsity House, 337 Blaisdell Road in Orangeburg on Sunday, June 27 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Featuring Allison Jackson, fitness/nutrition coach and founder of Allison Jackson Fitness, Dr. Arantzazu “Zazu” Cioce, Physical Therapist,/PT/CAPP-OP and founder of Phoenix Physical Therapy and Yudy Veras Bueno, a spiritual guide/author who calls herself the “Joyful Shaman,” the three speakers will share their experience  as female entrepreneurs with a new generation of self-driven young women. The mid-morning event is sponsored by Goya Foods, Phoenix Physical Therapy and Varsity House Wonder Girls is also offering a virtual event on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00pm. Join Gynecologist | U.S. Army Captain Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins for a one-hour free health workshop for high school girls, parents and educators via Zoom with a Q&A to follow. Visit www.wondergirlsusa.org to reserve a spot for Wellness Day and for the Zoom chat with Dr. Perkins.

LATHAM, NY (10/07/2019)– Major General Raymond F. Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces recent awards and individual recognitions for members of the New York Guard state defense force for their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of New York State’s Military Forces.

Capt. John Mauro from Suffern, NY, serving with the 10th Area Command, received the 6-month Service Ribbon during recent unit training events.

The New York Guard is a force of 500 uniformed volunteers, organized as a military unit, who augment the New York National Guard during state emergencies. They provide administrative and logistics support to the National Guard. Members of the New York Guard have been involved in flood control efforts along the Lake Ontario shoreline this summer.

It took four years of planning, tough decisions and a commitment to make things right, but it all paid off when the Village of Suffern was advised on October 8, 2019 that Moody’s Investors Service upgraded the Village of Suffern rating from Baa1 to A2.

“The Village Board and I worked with Treasurer Michael Genito, department heads, employees and volunteers as a team to bring the Village back from the abyss and this is something Suffern can be truly proud of. Due to outstanding financial leadership of Treasurer Michael Genito, the village’s dedication to fiscal stability was recognized by Moody’s two-step upgrade in Suffern’s rating from Baa1 to A2”, said Mayor Markunas.

At the end of May in 2015, according to the Office of State Comptroller’s Fiscal Stress Monitoring System, the Village had the dubious distinction of being “the most fiscally stressed Village in the State of New York”. The Village of Suffern ended that fiscal year with no cash in the General Fund. In November 2015, Moody’s assigned a rating of Baa3 to the Village’s debt which was just one step above non-investment grade, otherwise known as “junk bonds.” The Baa3 rating reflected the Village’s distressed financial position characterized by a sustained negative fund equity position for four years prior to 2015, a negative cash position, and a reliance on cash flow borrowing to sustain operating liquidity.

“According to the New York State Comptroller’s Office, the village has no designation of fiscal stress”, Michael Genito explained. “As I have noted many times before, we are implementing multi-year plans to get us out of fiscal stress and into financial stability and viability. We are now out of the worst of it, but we are continuing to work hard to stay the course to achieve even better ratings.”
In 2016, the Mayor and Village Board asked Treasurer Michael Genito to develop a financial plan to bring the village back to financial stability. The plan developed by Treasurer Genito included the issuance of deficit bonds to inject cash into the village treasury and allow the village to pay vendors and employees. Budgets no longer included phantom revenues and unrealistically low expenditure estimates. New financial policies were developed and existing ones updated, and more importantly, were enforced to ensure that everyone kept to their budgets. The team effort included everyone – the elected officials, department heads, employees and volunteers, and that team effort paid off.
The first good news came in May of 2018, when Moody’s upgraded the Village from a Baa3 to a Baa1 rating. It is highly unusual for a municipality to gain a two-step increase, but as the Moody’s report pointed out, “The upgrade to Baa1 reflects a significantly improved financial position driven by deficit financing and improved budget management…”

And now on October 8, 2019, Moody’s upgraded the Village from Baa1 to A2, an additional two-step increase, in part because the village “…benefits from significantly improved fiscal management as evidenced by strong operating results over the past three fiscal years.”

As noted in the Moody’s reports, Suffern still has challenges, especially with its Sewer Fund operations and maintenance, but the village has taken the necessary steps to ensure compliance with all environmental requirements while providing dependable sewer service to its residents and businesses. “Our hard work is paying off “, said Mayor Markunas. “And, we
will continue to do what is best for our residents, businesses and those who come to the Village of Suffern to enjoy all that it has to offer.”

The Moody’s report on Suffern may be accessed at:
https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-upgrades-Suffern-NYs-GOLT-issuer-rating-to-A2–PR_906072837

BY KATHY KAHN 

Rockland residents were treated to a special showing of “The Irishman,” Martin Scorsese’s newest film detailing the life and times of International Teamsters’ union leader Jimmy Hoffa, who went missing in 1975. (His remains have never been found, and he was officially declared dead in 1982.)

Part of the film takes place on Route 59 in the village of Suffern and features the Lafayette Theatre, with both the street and theatre set revamped to reflect late 1940’s, the decade in which the story begins. Other locations in and around the county were used—the sell out crowd in the Lafayette Theater cheered when they saw the vintage movie house on screen.

After a question & answer session with the film’s executive producer, Richard Baratta, the audience settled back to watch the “kings of crime movies”—Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Al Pacino—do their thing in the 3 ½ hour-long film, which will debut on Netflix the evening of Wednesday, November 27—just in time for Thanksgiving.

BY SCOTT WATERS

SUFFERN – Community members and volunteers were out in full force on Friday collecting donations for the 29th Annual Suffern PBA/D.A.R.E. Holiday Toy Drive. The volunteers were very successful raising thousands of dollars that will go directly toward toys for local children in need. Members of the Suffern Police Department and Village DPW were also assisting volunteers. You can drop off a toy or gift card at the Suffern Police Department – located at 61 Washington Ave, Suffern until December 20.

Jared Lloyd’s son turned six yesterday. Hundreds of first responders from Rockland County, Orange County, and New Jersey drove by his house to wish him a happy birthday. Lloyd died Tuesday morning as he helped save over 100 lives in a major fire at the Evergreen Adult Home in Spring Valley. 

Over 150 pieces of first responder apparatus gathered for the 40-minute-long parade. 

The New York Mets also offered condolences to Lloyd’s family in a statement on Twitter Thursday morning. The statement reads: “We are deeply saddened to learn about the passing of #Mets fan and hero, Jared Lloyd. Jared, a volunteer firefighter, was killed while rescuing elderly residents from a nursing home. We salute his bravery and sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with his loved ones.”

An online fundraiser has been set up for Lloyd’s two sons. Over $305,000 was raised as of Thursday morning. 

Donations can be made at this link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/firefighter-jared-lloyd-fundraiser?utm_campaign=p_cf%20share-flow-1&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&fbclid=IwAR2O3DuOMHSn14xr6n7dRozJYy15fh673e3KF5zxesainr8EmM7qiQgyZ4w 

This welcome news comes on the heels of another update from the Governor, who earlier that day stated that beginning Tuesday, March 30 at 8:00 a.m., all New Yorkers 30 years of age and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine.

In its announcement, the state government reported that more than 2 million total COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered at New York State-run and FEMA-assisted mass vaccination sites. Across New York, more than 9 million total doses have been administered in total. 

Despite that progress, New York saw a 64 percent increase in new COVID-19 cases last week. Rockland health officials reported 198 new cases of the virus in that time-frame, bringing the county total to 43,130.

“Today we take a monumental step forward in the fight to beat COVID,” said Cuomo. “As we continue to expand eligibility, New York will double down on making the vaccine accessible for every community to ensure equity, particularly for communities of color who are too often left behind. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but until we get there it is more important than ever for each and every New Yorker to wear a mask, socially distance and follow all safety guidelines.”

Update: Judge David S. Zuckerman set Kezek’s bail to $100,000 Thursday afternoon. Kezek was then remanded to County Jail and will return to court on June 17.

Rockland County District Attorney Tom Walsh announced an additional felony indictment of a Rockland County Corrections Officer, which stems from a continuing investigation into criminal activity in the County Jail. A Rockland County Grand Jury handed down the charges late last week.

John Kezek, 35, of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Florida, NY was indicted on Criminal Sexual Act 1st (B felony), Criminal Sexual Act 3rd (E felony) and Official Misconduct (A Misdemeanor). The charges were prompted by allegations made by a female victim who came into contact with Kezek while working in his official capacity.

“The latest indictments of Mr. Kezek reveal an evil course of conduct, leaving the victims to put their lives back together,” said Walsh. “My office will continue to pursue justice for the victims of sexual crimes.”

Last year, Kezek and another Rockland County Corrections Officer, Christopher Taggart, 39, of New City, were indicted on multiple charges of misconduct. Kezek was previously charged with 5 counts of Official Misconduct (misdemeanor), as he allegedly sexually harassed more than one female minority inmate. 

Taggart was indicted on 21 counts of Official Misconduct and two counts of Promoting Prison Contraband (felony). He allegedly engaged in inappropriate relationships with female minority inmates. 

The District Attorney’s Office is protecting the victims’ identity, and asks that anyone who may have witnessed these incidents to send an anonymous tip by either downloading the Rockland County CO DA Tip 411 app, or by contacting law enforcement. Informants can also text the keyword ROCKLANDCODA to 847411, along with their tip information. 

“Rockland will not tolerate this horrific behavior,” said Walsh. “I would like to personally thank Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco for his assistance in this investigation.”

Executive Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Devlin is prosecuting this case. 

Wonder Girls, a non-profit that aims to lift middle- to high-school girls’ community spirit, is hosting a Wellness Day at Varsity House, 337 Blaisdell Road in Orangeburg on Sunday, June 27 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Featuring Allison Jackson, fitness/nutrition coach and founder of Allison Jackson Fitness, Dr. Arantzazu “Zazu” Cioce, Physical Therapist,/PT/CAPP-OP and founder of Phoenix Physical Therapy and Yudy Veras Bueno, a spiritual guide/author who calls herself the “Joyful Shaman,” the three speakers will share their experience  as female entrepreneurs with a new generation of self-driven young women. The mid-morning event is sponsored by Goya Foods, Phoenix Physical Therapy and Varsity House Wonder Girls is also offering a virtual event on Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00pm. Join Gynecologist | U.S. Army Captain Dr. Kerry-Anne Perkins for a one-hour free health workshop for high school girls, parents and educators via Zoom with a Q&A to follow. Visit www.wondergirlsusa.org to reserve a spot for Wellness Day and for the Zoom chat with Dr. Perkins.

Rockland County’s Pathway to Peace, also known as Derech Shalom Center, is a non-profit mental health clinic offering professional support to help individuals navigate complex mental health challenges across New York State. What began as a local non-profit offering case management services for families in crisis quickly evolved into an expansive support network of various therapeutic interventions for families and individuals.

Pathway to Peace is committed to accessible and inclusive mental health services for all age groups, including children, teens, adults, families, and seniors. They offer services in multiple languages and accept all insurances to ensure affordability for everyone. Their specialized programs address substance abuse and recovery, LGBTQ+ support, postpartum care, and court-mandated services, helping diverse communities navigate life’s challenges.

The HR Director, Yael Zola, highlights the complexities faced by families experiencing divorce. “In dealing with families going through divorce, we noticed a trend: There are significant mental health issues for both parents and children,” said Zola. “Nobody seemed to be addressing it, so we decided we needed to.”

The clinic started by offering emotional, social, and societal support for children impacted by divorce. Founded in 2021, Pathway to Peace is now an Article 31 Mental Health Clinic that extends its services beyond divorce-related matters to address issues such as ADHD, depression, anxiety, trauma, family crises, couples counseling, and more.

The center is located in the historic Montebello Mansion, eliciting a sense of warmth and communal support–a stark difference from the clinical feel of most mental health clinics. Before evolving into Pathway to Peace, their services were based in New City. The purchase of the Montebello Mansion was a strategic move to create a home-like setting and positive environment for therapy. “The idea is that therapy should feel like home, with warm, friendly, and cozy rooms,” explains Zola.

Pathway to Peace offers in-person, virtual, and home visits to meet each client’s unique needs. Their friendly team includes licensed therapists, case managers, psychiatrists, and peer specialists. With its fireplaces and couches, it offers comfort, while the presence of security on-site adds the feeling of safety and professionalism.

The clinic’s accessibility and inclusivity efforts were highlighted in a podcast interview done by Montebello Media between Pathway to Peace and the Rockland County Times on the YouTube channel, @MontebelloMedia6278. Tiana Hernandez, HR Coordinator & Community Engagement Specialist, emphasized their commitment to making services accessible. “We want to ensure people feel heard and supported throughout the entire process,” said Hernandez.

In an initiative to create an open dialogue around mental health issues, the media team visited New York City to raise awareness about available mental health resources. Hernandez emphasized the significance of understanding the public’s perspective on their needs from a mental health support service. “It’s crucial to know what resources are available, how accessible they are, and what people want out of these services,” expressed Hernandez. At Grand Central Station, they engaged the public to put on a creative display, spelling out “Therapy” to emphasize the benefits of mental health support.

To register for therapy services, clients fill out a registration package with their basic information and insurance details. They then speak to the intake team for a brief consultation to match their needs with the appropriate services. They can be reached at 845-523-9300 and ptp@thedscenter.org.

Pathway to Peace continues to evolve, committed to meeting the diverse mental health needs of Rockland County with compassion and dedication to their clients.

Pathway to Peace is open seven days a week at 75 Montebello Rd, Suffern, NY 10901, near Suffern High School. For more information, visit, (https://peace.pathwayto.org).

Serenity Community Care serves as a beacon of support and hope for families in need throughout New York State. With effective care management, Serenity Community Care helps people navigate life challenges by ensuring they receive comprehensive care tailored to their unique health and wellness needs.

These services are designed to support clients who experience chronic developmental, mental, and physical health diagnoses. To be eligible for care management services, a person must be suffering from at least two diagnosed chronic conditions related to either mental and/or physical health. This includes conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. People who also qualify for services include individuals with Serious Emotional Disturbances (SED), Serious Mental Illness (SMI), Sickle Cell Disease, and HIV/AIDS.

Serenity Community Care’s mission is to connect clients with essential resources, including housing, nutrition support, financial assistance, transportation, medical and mental health care, and specialized therapies. Many families often seek care management because they lack a strong support network. Serenity Community Care strives to fill this gap by providing comprehensive, community-based support. Assistance involves identifying and accessing available healthcare and social services to address the underlying issues that may contribute to an adult, child, or a family’s struggles. When applicable, community support can include helping the individual secure local subsidized housing, WIC, medical care referrals, mental health referrals, and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).

Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) is a program geared toward children who do not have a network of support and are at risk of hospitalization. HCBS involves connecting the child with mentors and support specialists in home and community settings. The mentors, equipped with a tailor-made service plan, work directly with the child to help them develop crucial skills and healthy habits. Ultimately, with this service, families will be able to operate more harmoniously, and the children will be able to develop into functional adults.

One notable success story involves a client who was bullied at school due to family struggles. Serenity Community Care connected him with role models skilled in counseling who taught him sports like baseball and football, to help him gain confidence and acceptance among his peers, as well as coaching him on how to react in situations where he felt bullied.

The ultimate goal of Serenity Community Care is to address both immediate needs and long-term goals. The agency’s holistic approach extends to everyday life skills, helping families find balance in areas such as healthy eating and household management. The full list of Serenity Community Care’s services include:

• Community Habilitation
• Day Habilitation
• Caregiver/Family Advocacy and Support Services
• Respite (both Planned and Crisis) 
• Prevocational Services
• Supported Employment
• Palliative Care (Examples: Expressive therapy, massage therapy, art therapy, etc)
• Counseling and Support Services
• Pain and Symptom Management
• Adaptive and Assistive Technology
• Vehicle Modifications
• Environmental Modifications
• Non-Medical Transportation

Serenity Community Care’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive community is evident in their comprehensive approach to care. By addressing the multifaceted needs of their clients, they strive to create a brighter future for individuals and families in New York. Their team includes multilingual staff, and they accept most insurances, including Medicaid.

To register for care management services with Serenity Community Care, clients can fill out a registration package with their basic information and insurance details. After submitting the package, the intake team will conduct a brief consultation to match their needs with the appropriate services. They can be reached at 833-523-8400 or intake@serenitycc.net. The website is www.serenitycc.net.