FIRE PREVENTION WEEK IS OCTOBER 3 – 9

Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety™

NEW CITY, NY, – Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert remind residents to take some time during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire. Data shows that children under five and adults over 65 are at the highest risk for injury or death in a fire; however, fire safety is everyone’s concern.

Every year, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has a theme for fire prevention week. This year’s theme, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety” ™, is to educate everyone about simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.

“It’s important to learn the different sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When an alarm makes noise, a beeping sound, or a chirping sound, you must take action! Make sure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the alarms and knows how to respond,” said Dr. Ruppert.

“In addition to learning the different sounds these life saving devices make, all homes should have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms that are installed properly, tested monthly and replaced if needed,” said Christopher Kear, Director of the Office of Fire and Emergency Services.

The Rockland County Healthy Neighborhoods Program encourages all residents to embrace the 2021 Fire Prevention Week theme and wants to share the following safety tips to help you “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety”:

  • A continuous set of three loud beeps—beep, beep, beep—means smoke or fire. Get out, call 9-1-1, and stay out.
  • A single chirp every 30 or 60 seconds means the battery is low and must be changed.
  • All smoke alarms must be replaced after 10 years.
  • Chirping that continues after the battery has been replaced means the alarm is at the end of its life, and the unit must be replaced.
  • Make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms meet the needs of all your family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

The Healthy Neighborhoods Program (HNP) provides information about fire safety and offers free evaluations to identify and discuss health and safety issues in the home for eligible residents, including low-income residents, seniors, and at-risk families. HNP can also provide and install free smoke alarms, as supplies last to help address these issues. A brief home survey is required. HNP staff wear masks, are fully vaccinated, and adhere to social distancing guidelines during scheduled home visits.

For more information, call the Healthy Neighborhoods Program at 845-364-3290 or 845-364-3292 or visit http://bit.ly/2lJccKu. To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit www.fpw.org. 

SBA Adds Two More Counties; Business Recovery Center Relocates to Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce to Help Hurricane Ida Applicants

ATLANTA The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) today announced that it added Nassau and
Suffolk counties on Long Island to the disaster declaration making low-interest disaster loans available
to more businesses and residents affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida on Sept. 1-3, 2021.
Additionally, SBA relocated its Business Recovery Center (BRC) from Medgar Evers College to the
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Sept. 16.


Businesses, homeowners, renters and private nonprofit organizations in the following New York
counties of Bronx, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester are eligible to apply for
Physical disaster loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the
following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans: New York,
Putnam and Rockland in New York; Fairfield in Connecticut; and Hudson, Middlesex and Union in New
Jersey.


The BRC’s address and operating hours are indicated below:


The BRC at Medgar Evers College ceased operation at the close of business on Sept. 15.
Customer Service Representatives will be available at the BRC to answer questions about the disaster
loan program and assist business owners, homeowners and renters in completing their applications.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the SBA has established protocols to help protect the health
and safety of the public. All visitors to the BRC are encouraged to wear a face mask.


Location:


North Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce*
253 – 36th St., Suite C58, 4th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11232
Opens: Thursday, Sept. 16, 1 – 5 p.m.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
*At Industry City, Building 3, 4th floor

Businesses of all sizes and private nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or
replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other
business assets.


For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and
most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to help meet
working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available
regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.


Disaster loans up to $200,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or
destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace
disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.


Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase up to 20 percent of their physical damages, as
verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a sump
pump, elevation, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future
damage caused by a similar disaster.


Interest rates are as low as 2.855 percent for businesses, 2 percent for nonprofit organizations and
1.563 percent for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set
by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.


Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at
https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/, and should apply under SBA declaration # 17147, not for
the COVID-19 incident.


To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at
DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable,
applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video
Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.


Businesses and individuals may also obtain information and loan applications by calling the SBA’s
Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing) or
emailing DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded at
sba.gov/disaster.

Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration,
Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 4, 2021. The deadline to
return economic injury applications is June 6, 2022.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland Will Host Second Jeopardy Challenge

(ROCKLAND, New York) September 30, 2021) – Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland (CCCSR) is hosting the 2nd Annual Jeopardy Challenge Fundraiser. This year’s contestants will hale from the three Rockland Colleges – Rockland Community College, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Dominican College. The event will take place on Thursday, October 28, at 6:00 PM and ‘broadcast’ live on the Facebook and Instagram pages for CCCSR. This event will kick off the 25th Anniversary of CCCSR providing much-needed services in Rockland County.

The game will be played using a Jeopardy-themed template and Hawthorne resident and real-life Jeopardy Champion, Pasquale Palumbo, will be the host. The event will consist of three teams featuring students and faculty of the colleges. Two games will be played and categories will be sponsored by local businesses who can help select the questions for their category. Each College team will also be sponsored by local organizations. Everyone is encourage to participate by purchasing a $25 raffle ticket in honor of the 25th Anniversary.

“Last year’s Jeopardy Challenge was our first opportunity to raise funds during the pandemic and people really enjoyed watching our local ‘celebrities’ compete in the game. We are looking forward to hosting the three colleges this year and see who comes out on top,” stated Dan Eudene, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland.

More information about the event and the sponsorship opportunities available can be found at www.ccsrockland.org/jeopardy. For inquiries call Dan Eudene at (845) 942-5791 (ext. 1002) or email daniel.eudene@archny.org.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Rockland provides services to people of all ages, from every race and ethnic group. The organization’s focus is to provide life necessities, including food, shelter, and other emergency assistance to those in need. Catholic Charities also operates the County’s warming center during the winter months. The compassionate and professional staff speak English, Spanish, French and Creole, and assist people of all ages, races and religions in Rockland County. In an average year CCCSR provides 100,000+ meals through the Food Pantry. More information can be found at https://www.ccsrockland.org or by calling (845) 942-5791.

Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick presents local restaurant with Empire Award for community service

SUFFERN, NY – Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick presented a New York State Senate Empire Award to Banks Dastine, owner of Diddy’s Soul Food and Lounge in Suffern, recognizing his contributions to fostering a strong sense of community in Suffern and supporting frontline workers during the pandemic.

Diddy’s Soul Food and Lounge has hosted various community events surrounding creating conversation and engagement between community members. These events include a meet up between the Suffern police and the community during the height of civil rights activism in 2020. In addition, Diddy’s has hosted business meet ups for local small businesses and donated food to local frontline workers and first responders during the course of the COVID19 pandemic.

State Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick (D-Rockland/Westchester) said, “Mr. Dastine and Diddy’s have been a strong force for building community in Suffern – not just in the past year during the COVID pandemic, but also throughout Mr. Dastine’s career. It was an honor to provide Mr. Dastine and Diddy’s Soul Food and Lounge with this Empire Award from the New York State Senate.”

“I have failed a thousand times in building Diddy’s Soul Food & Lounge but this award from NYS Senator Elijah Reichlin-Melnick reminded me to never give up, to never stop doing good,” Dastine said. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart”

Banks Dastine is a Suffern resident and the owner of several small businesses while also serving the community as the Director of the Suffern Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Village of Suffern Zoning Board, and serving on the village’s Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Board. Mr. Dastine has authored more than six self-help books including: Rethinking Your Purpose and Building Lasting Bonds.

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