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Lake DeForest Reservoir Recognized As An American Landmark
American Water Works Association (AWWA) has recognized Lake DeForest in the Town of Clarkstown as an American Landmark.
The AWWA’s landmark designations recognize sites that represent safe and sustainable water systems in the United States. Lake DeForest’s selection underscores not only its technological innovation at the time of construction, but also its ongoing importance in ensuring clean, reliable water for our town and beyond, according to the Town of Clarkstown.
To celebrate this honor, Veolia held a ceremony earlier this month unveiling two signs at the Freedom Causeway parklet near where Congers Road intersects with Ridge and Strawtown Roads. One sign celebrates the lake’s designation as a state landmark and one for this year’s designation as an American landmark.
“Lake DeForest plays a critical role in our ability to supply Rockland County with reliable drinking water, Chris Graziano, Regional President of Veolia New York. “It has also offered generations of customers a beautiful place to escape into nature for birdwatching, fishing and hiking. We’re grateful and excited that the AWWA has recognized Lake DeForest for the important and long-lasting benefits it brings to our community.”
Construction of the reservoir began in 1952 and was completed in 1956. It was named after Benjamin F. DeForest, a former president of the Hackensack Water Company, which later became part of Veolia (formerly United Water and SUEZ).
Lake DeForest collects water from various sources, including the Hackensack River and its tributaries. Water is drawn from the reservoir and treated at an adjacent surface water treatment plant, which has an average treatment capacity of 10 millions gallons per day (MGD). It provides about one third of Rockland’s drinking water.
Over its nearly seven decades, Lake DeForest has also become a popular recreational destination for the local community. Through Veolia’s Watershed Recreation Program, more than 800 people register each year to access the reservoir for fishing, hiking and bird watching from mid-April through the end of November.
To celebrate the vitality of the reservoir as an indispensable resource, Veolia opens up the reservoir for community kayaking during its annual Veolia Lake DeForest Day. This event, in its ninth year, also features a kayak challenge between Rockland County’s local volunteer fire departments. This year’s event will be held on Saturday, June 28.
MTA to Reinstate Weekend Service for Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry Beginning Saturday, May 24 through Oct. 12
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will resume weekend service on Metro-North Railroad’s Haverstraw-Ossining Ferry for the second year.
This “pilot” program will offer hourly service across the Hudson River beginning Saturday, May 24, with ferries timed to connect at Ossining with trains to and from New York City. The schedules will remain in effect through Sunday, Oct. 12.
Ferries will not operate on Memorial Day, Independence Day or Labor Day.
“The Haverstraw-Ossining weekend ferry is a great way to experience the beauty of the Hudson Valley,” said Metro-North Railroad President Justin Vonashek. “The 15-minute, 5½-mile ride allows everyone to fully enjoy the majestic scenery along the Hudson River – something you can’t do behind the wheel of a car. And it extends Rockland residents’ alternative to driving into New York City into summer weekends, as well as opening Haverstraw’s attractions to visitors from the east side of the river.”
“The ferry has been a tremendous boost to tourism in both Ossining and Haverstraw and we encourage people to take advantage of it,” said Mayor of the Village of Haverstraw Mike Kohut. “It’s a great way to travel and enjoy a beautiful weekend in the Hudson Valley. Please come and take advantage every chance you get so the ferry can continue to operate year after year.”
The ferry will operate hourly service between 10:23 a.m. and 7:46 p.m. on weekends.
An adult one-way ticket on the Haverstraw- Ossining ferry costs $4.50. Seniors (62 or older), people with disabilities, and Medicare recipients pay $2.25 with appropriate ID. Children 5 and under ride free on the ferry. Children aged 6-11 pay $2.25 A 10-trip ferry ticket is available for $38.25.
Launched last May, the weekend ferry service facilitates access of the Metro-North Railroad to Rockland County and serves as an alternative to driving to New York City. During the opening weekend in May 2024, the ferry averaged 240 riders a day. In June, that grew to an average of 284 riders daily, and in July, ridership reached an average of 455 riders a day on the weekend. The ferry set a record of 822 riders on Sunday, July 21.
As part of the return of weekend ferry service, Metro-North continues to offer discounts on monthly ferry tickets as well as three other ways to cross the Hudson into Orange and Rockland Counties: the Newburgh-Beacon Ferry, the Newburgh-Beacon bus, and the Hudson Link bus service between Rockland County and Tarrytown and White Plains via the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.
Regeneron To Purchase 23andMe®’s Assets for $256 Million
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced it has been named the successful bidder in the bankruptcy auction for substantially all of the assets of 23andMe Holding Co., a human genetics and biotechnology company. Regeneron intends to acquire 23andMe’s Personal Genome Service® (PGS), Total Health and Research Services business lines, together with its Biobank and associated assets, for $256 million and for 23andMe to continue all consumer genome services uninterrupted. Subject to bankruptcy court and regulatory approvals.
23andMe will be operated as a wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and continue operations as a personal genomics service. Regeneron’s purchase does not include 23andMe’s Lemonaid Health business.
“Regeneron was one of the first biotech companies to bet its future on the power of DNA, fueling our drug discovery efforts so as to deliver some of the world’s leading and most innovative medicines, including treatments to prevent blindness, for allergic diseases from asthma to atopic dermatitis, for several forms of cancer, and even for Ebola and COVID-19,” said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D. Ph.D., co-Founder, Board co-Chair, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Regeneron.
Regeneron acquired the former Avon campus in Suffern in 2023. The property sold for $38.875 million. The 235,000 square foot building complex on 10 acres was the corporate headquarters and global innovation center for Avon Corporation.
Regeneron plans to spend about $70 million on infrastructure and reconstruction of the existing Suffern facility.
Hudson River Watershed Alliance Will Hold WaveMaker
The Benefit will celebrate four people and organizations who have made an extraordinary contribution to the Hudson River Watershed: Beth Roessler of the Hudson River Estuary Program, John Gebhards of the Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance, Groundwork Hudson Valley, and Kate Meierdiercks, PhD of Siena College.
The Awards Benefit will be held June 11th at The Falcon, 1348 Rte 9W, Marlboro, NY from 6-8:30 pm.
The event will include a celebration with music, food, drinks, and good company. A panel discussion with the honorees will be featured at the event, which the accomplishments of the honorees. Live music will be provided by the Broken Heartstrings Trio, who perform traditional and postmodern Django-style jazz manouche.
Beth Roessler is being honored for her leadership of the Trees for Tribs program to protect and restore healthy vegetated buffers along rivers and streams. Since 2011, Roessler has led planting projects at 322 sites, working with almost 8,000 local volunteers to plant over 56,700 trees, shrubs, and live stakes along rivers and streams throughout the Hudson River estuary watershed.
John Gebhards will be recognized for his 30 years of leadership to protect open space and clean water in Orange County, Newburgh, and the Quassaick Creek watershed. He is stepping down from his long-time role as Executive Director of the Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance.
Groundwork Hudson Valley will be celebrated for their community-centered work, including improving the Saw Mill River watershed, supporting climate and flood resilience in Yonkers, developing youth leadership and career opportunities, and more.
Kate Meierdiercks will be acknowledged for her collaborative work to improve watershed science and coordination across the region, provide valuable opportunities for students, as well as her leadership as an outgoing Hudson River Watershed Alliance board member after over nine years of volunteer service.
“WaveMakers inspire others and build momentum,” said Emily Vail, Executive Director of the Hudson River Watershed Alliance. “We’re thrilled to recognize the achievements of this year’s very deserving awardees and celebrate their successes with our community.”
The Hudson River Watershed Alliance’s mission is to unite and empower communities to protect shared waters. Based in Kingston, NY, the Hudson River Watershed Alliance works across the Hudson River watershed to support watershed groups, help communities work together on water issues, and communicate as a collective voice.
For more information and to register, visit http://hudsonwatershed.org/wavemaker
