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This Rockland Post Office Only One In Hudson Valley Open On Labor Day This Rockland Post Office Only One In Hudson Valley Open On Labor Day
This Rockland Post Office Only One In Hudson Valley Open On Labor Day Believe it or not, you can send a letter on Labor Day, Hudson Valley residents. In some cases, you may need to travel a bit to do it, and even cross a bridge. Hint: Make that the new bridge. The Postal Service’s Palisades Postal Store at the mall in West Nyack is the only post office in the Greater Hudson Valley that is open on Labor Day.  Full postal retail services are available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with U.S. Passport application acceptance hours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Although there will be no regular mail service on Monday, Sept. 4, Priority Mail Express will be delivered on Labor Da…

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by Jeanne Muchnick
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Bergen County Bellhop Competing On 'Survivor' Bergen County Bellhop Competing On 'Survivor'
Bergen County Bellhop Competing On 'Survivor' NORTH ARLINGTON, N.J.— A lifelong "Survivor" fan from North Arlington will be competing on the show this season for the "Heroes Vs. Healers Vs. Hustlers." Ryan Ulrich, 23, says he's wanted to play since he was six years old.  "It's much more than a game to me, it's a passion, I obsess over it," he said. "Life does not give you many opportunities to test yourself like Survivor is designed to." The bellhop has held internships with both houses of Congress and the British Consulate. He aspires to attend law school. Ulrich feels his ability to get along…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Meet Chelsea From New City, First Driver To Cross New TZB Meet Chelsea From New City, First Driver To Cross New TZB
Meet Chelsea From New City, First Driver To Cross New TZB Chelsea Leigh of New City said it was "just crazy luck" that she was the first person to drive across the new Tappan Zee Bridge early Saturday morning. Having just gotten off of work as a police officer with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Leigh said she was just cruising home around 1:30 a.m. when she was stopped along the bridge by New York State troopers.  She said she sat in traffic for about 15 minutes while workers were moving cones and then a trooper told her she was the lucky one to be the first person to drive across. "I couldn't believe that I was the fi…

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by K Reakes
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New Rabbi Joins Historic Spring Valley Synagogue New Rabbi Joins Historic Spring Valley Synagogue
New Rabbi Joins Historic Spring Valley Synagogue SPRING VALLEY, N.Y. -- Michael Dick, the newest rabbi at Congregation Sons of Israel in Spring Valley, has led from the pulpit from all over the world. Dick was recently named rabbi at the historic synagogue, one of the oldest in Rockland County, having previously served in Manhattan, Ohio, Switzerland, Germany, and England. He replaces Daniel Epstein. "It came out of the blue," Dick said about his appointment to the traditional synagogue. "But it seems to be working for us." The new rabbi is hoping to increase the visibility of the synagogue. Dick said many people driv…

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by Sam Barron
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Rockland County TeenWorks Program Celebrates 92 Graduates Rockland County TeenWorks Program Celebrates 92 Graduates
Rockland County TeenWorks Program Celebrates 92 Graduates ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. --  Ninety-two young people were congratulated for a job well done on Thursday by Rockland County Executive Ed Day, following their completion of the county's TeenWorks program. “TeenWorks is more than just a summer job,” Day told the group during graduation at Rockland Community College. “It’s a way to help your community become a better place.” The TeenWorks program, run by the Rockland County Youth Bureau, is a 7-week pre-employment program that offers training and work experience to teens and young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. Teens who successfully comple…

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by K Reakes
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Bergen Mom Discovers Medicaid Dropped Her While Hospitalized For 2nd Stroke Bergen Mom Discovers Medicaid Dropped Her While Hospitalized For 2nd Stroke
Bergen Mom Discovers Medicaid Dropped Her While Hospitalized For 2nd Stroke FAIR LAWN, N.J. — Nicole Fiduccia DeFontes of Fair Lawn has suffered three strokes since May that she knows of. The single mom of two has adrenal adenomas — tumors in her adrenal glands — which cause an over-secretion of hormones leading to high blood pressure and strokes. Each time it happened, DeFontes was hospitalized. And each time, she was discharged without a plan because she doesn't have insurance. After the second stroke, the 44-year-old woke up in a hospital bed at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, and was told that medicaid had dropped her, too. The fact that she suffers fr…

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by Cecilia Levine
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Bergen Teen Gets Her Swing Back With New Liver From Mom Bergen Teen Gets Her Swing Back With New Liver From Mom
Bergen Teen Gets Her Swing Back With New Liver From Mom HILLSDALE, N.J. -- You'd never know from watching 14-year-old Hailey Juillet of Hillsdale play tennis that at one point in her life, she could barely lift a racquet.  She was seven when she was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a serious autoimmune disease which blocks and damages bile ducts in and around the liver.  Complications include extreme exhaustion, constant stomach pain as a result of an enlarged spleen and jaundice. On June 29, 2016, Hailey, who started tennis lessons when she was eight, underwent a life-saving liver transplant at New York's Mount Sinai Hospit…

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by Jeanne Muchnick
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Stony Point Community Rallies Behind Family Of Boy With Enlarged Heart Stony Point Community Rallies Behind Family Of Boy With Enlarged Heart
Stony Point Community Rallies Behind Family Of Boy With Enlarged Heart STONY POINT, N.Y. -- The Stony Point community has come together to help the family Brandon Padilla, an 11-year-old boy who suffers from Noonan Syndrome. A GoFundMe was launched for Padilla's family, having raised more than $2,000, with the goal of helping them buy a car so they can go to doctor's appointments.  The family has had car trouble and is not near public transportation. Padilla's family includes his mom and two older siblings. Noonan Syndrome has caused Padilla to be born with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart.  At three months old, Brandon underwent a heart transpla…

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by Sam Barron
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Rockland World War II Vet Presented With Service Medals Rockland World War II Vet Presented With Service Medals
Rockland World War II Vet Presented With Service Medals ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- For Alfred Magnatta, it's an honor that's long overdue. Magnatta, a New City resident, who served in World War II, was presented with five overdue service medals by Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-Harrison).  Magnatta was presented with the Air Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Air Force Recruiter Ribbon, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign with four bronze service stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. While serving in the Army, Magnetta achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and flew 25 missions in England between 194…

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by Sam Barron
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Rocklander Celebrates Her 101st Birthday In Monsey Rocklander Celebrates Her 101st Birthday In Monsey
Rocklander Celebrates Her 101st Birthday In Monsey ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- A lucky Rockland resident not only reached her 101st birthday, she was also presented with the county's Award of Excellence, by Rockland County Executive Ed Day. During the special celebrations for Laura Nochomovits at the Northern Metropolitan Nursing Home in Monsey,  family, friends and fellow residents gathered to celebrate, including four generations of her family.

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by K Reakes
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Name Of Bergen Man Who Committed Suicide Survives On Kickball Field Name Of Bergen Man Who Committed Suicide Survives On Kickball Field
Name Of Bergen Man Who Committed Suicide Survives On Kickball Field FAIR LAWN, N.J. — A group of friends from Fair Lawn are standing up to suicide in the name of their friend who took his own life nearly two years ago. The John Macko Foundation was organized in August 2015, two months after John Philip Macko of Carlstadt, Wyckoff and Paterson committed suicide at 26 years old. On its Facebook page, the group urges suicide awareness and prevention, and has raised thousands of dollars collectively over the years for a scholarship and a bench in Macko's name at Memorial Park. Click here for more on the John Macko Foundation.

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by Cecilia Levine
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Spinal Cancer Forces Ramsey Chef To Shutter Restaurant Spinal Cancer Forces Ramsey Chef To Shutter Restaurant
Spinal Cancer Forces Ramsey Chef To Shutter Restaurant RAMSEY, N.J. — More than $2,340 had been raised on a GoFundMe site as of Thursday evening for the chef of Ramsey's Local Seasonal Kitchen, Steve Santoro. Santoro is battling spinal cancer and is undergoing surgeries and treatments, which have forced him out of work, according to site founder and his close friend, Vincent Barcelona of Old Tappan. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

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by Cecilia Levine