Rockland County Times - 135th Year, No. 16

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COUNTY TIMES ROCKLAND

THURSDAY, APRIL 21 — WEDNESDAY APRIL 27 2022

Fire at Harriman State Park

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Penguin Theater Premieres New P12 Play

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ROCKLAND’S WEEKLY JOURNAL

COUNTY TIMES ROCKLAND

ROCKLAND’S SOURCE FOR REAL NEWS SINCE 1888™ PUBLISHED WEEKLY - THURSDAY APRIL 21 - WEDNESDAY APRIL 27, 2022

135th Year, No. 16

Hillcrest Resident Found Guilty of Double Homicide in Valley Cottage By Joe Kuhn

Defendant Faces Life Without Parole

A Hillcrest man accused of a grisly double homicide was convicted of the crime on Tuesday, in the aftermath of a shooting that rocked Clarkstown . Robert C. Williams III 32, of Hillcrest, was arrested following a police investigation into the events of May 26, 2020, when noise complaints compelled Clarkstown police to visit the home of Kathleen Castor (27) and her mother Wanda Castor (63). Upon arrival, police discovered the residents murdered and Kathleen’s one month old daughter abandoned at the scene. Two years later, the Rockland County Districts Attorney’s office conclusively proved that Williams entered the apartment, at 104 Lake Road in Valley Cottage, N.Y., in possession of a loaded .40 Caliber firearm, and proceeded to shoot and kill Kathleen and Wanda Castor. An active duly served Order of Protection was in place for Kathleen Castor, who had a previous relationship with the defendant. Williams was found guilty of two counts of murder in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon, and two counts of criminal contempt. , “The events that unfolded on May 26, 2020, left the residents of Valley Cottage and Clarkstown in shock and anger. This senseless act of extreme violence was avoidable and resulted in a complete tragedy. I hope today’s guilty verdict brings some sense of justice to the Castor family. I commend the professionalism and assistance from the officers of the Clarkstown, Ramapo, and Spring Valley Police Departments on this case” said District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II Robert C. Williams A jury deliberated for two days before rendering a guilty verdict on all charges. Rockland County Court Judge Kevin Russo, who presided at trial, set sentencing for June 21, 2022, at which time Williams may be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

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Spring Cleaning: New County Office of Buildings and Codes to Crack Down on Litter The Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC) is investigating over 60 code violations across the Village of Spring Valley, for rubbish and garbage accumulation after receiving multiple complaints of rampant littering. Their effort, lead by OBC Director Ed Markunas, lead to the discovery of over 30 properties with more than 60 violations of the New York State Property Maintenance Code that included the accumulation of old tires, construction debris, furniture, and propane tanks. “My office has been tasked with protecting the health and safety of the Village of Spring Valley and we all know accumulating trash is more than an eyesore, it becomes a breeding ground for pests and rodents. We hope our swift action leads to cleaner neighborhoods throughout the village,” said Director Ed Markunas. As the issue poses a health safety risk, the Rockland Codes Investigations Unit (RCI), part of the Rockland County Department of Health is also responding to the issue and has at least five active cases with trash violations in the Village of Spring Valley. “This is not an easy job, but it is an important one,” said Deputy Health Commissioner Catherine Johnson Southern. “We face many obstacles from uncooperative building managers and landlords but are working on behalf of the best interests of the people of Rockland.” The Rockland County Department of Health RCI program is responsible for the enforcement of housing hygiene and occupancy regulations pursuant to the Rockland County Sanitary Code. RCI investigates all residential housing complaints, including allegations regarding single family dwellings, multiple dwellings, rental properties, and owner-occupied premises. Since its launch in 2015, RCI has assessed over $2 million in fines against property owners across Rockland and, unlike the Office of Buildings and Codes, has jurisdiction to respond and investigate complaints county-wide. “The property owners enabling these egregious conditions should be ashamed of themselves. I’m proud to see Director Markunas and RCI taking swift action on behalf of the families in the Village of Spring Valley,” said County Executive Ed Day.

Photo provided by Rockland District Attorney’s Office

BRIDGES Annual “In My Shoes” Gala will Celebrate the Arts; Event Scheduled for May 5th

By Jess Warren Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step into someone else’s shoes? One of Rockland’s very own non-for-profit organizations BRIDGES will be commemorating 35 years of providing services to people with disabilities at its annual “In My Shoes” event on Thursday, May 5th at the Crowne Plaza in Suffern at 6:00 PM. The purpose of BRIDGES is to empower people with disabilities in the community to live as independently as they can and to help remove barriers towards that independence. BRIDGES is one of 41 Independent Living Centers (ILC) operating in New York State under the auspices of New York State Education Department (NYSED). More than half of BRIDGE’s staff are people with disabilities. Throught their work with the progam the staff of BRIDGE’s has fostered an inclusive society for those with disabilities. “In My Shoes” is an event designed to expand that society ensure there is equal access to opportunities so people with disabilities can thrive in Rockland. In 2019, BRIDGES developed the idea of helping people understand what life is like with a disability by working with Nanuet High School students; for some participants that meant spending the day in a wheelchair, others walked around with blinders on, and some simulated life with a hearing impairment. The students said it positively changed their lives. They were able to step into the shoes of what a disabled person may encounter on a day-to-day basis. Ever since, they’ve been invited to additional schools and other facilities to have that important conversation. Carlos Martinez, the CEO/Executive Director at BRIDGES, said “It’s just about making an investment into BRIDGES and our mission. In asking us the questions and being engaged with us in how we prepare the community to be more accessible and more designed for the disabled community so that they don’t have to go through what they go through today in the future. We can do small things here in our communities to help improve accessibility.”

The event also honors people who have made a significant impact on our community. The 2022 honorees are Dr. Reji Mathew, Ph. D, LCSW, an Expressive Arts Therapist, Educator and Advocate, will receive the Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Leadership Award; Jeffrey Friedberg MT-BAC, LCAT, from Music for Life Creative Arts Therapy will be honored with the Empowerment Award; and Garner Arts Center will receive the Access Award. Corporate sponsors include Anchor Media Services, Atlantic Office Technology, Lia Toyota of Rockland and PDI. Individuals and corporations who wish to support the event and the agency’s mission can make a donation through the BRIDGES website at www.bridgesrc.org or by calling Nanci Goldman, Director of Special Events, at 845624-1366, Ext 127. Registration Ends on April 29th; tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased at www.bridgesinmyshoes2022.eventbrite.com. BRIDGES offers additional programs and services that focus on each individual’s right to autonomy and encourage active participation in community life according to the desires of each individual. They provide essential core services of Independent Living including Peer Counseling, Independent Living Skills Training, Information & Referral, Individual & Systems Advocacy and Transition Supports. Veterans program that is filled with staff who are veterans themselves. Within the BRIDGES organization, there are also mobility instructors that help individuals navigate transportation by using a cane or different devices. For more information about services and programs, contact BRIDGES at 845-6241366 or visit them at www.bridgesrc.org or in person at 2290 Palisades Center Drive in West Nyack.


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