Port Jervis News...

Issue 26 — February 2, 2012
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Police Bike To DC To Honor Fallen Comrades

PORT JERVIS — For the first time, city police officers will participate in an annual bicycle tour to Washington, D.C. to honor officers who have died while on duty.

On May 9, city bicycle patrol officers Jason Vicchiariello and Christopher Sargente will depart with fellow New York and New Jersey officers from Florham Park, N.J., the regional staging point in the 15th annual Police Unity Tour.

The 320-mile caravan will take four days. Officers from all over the nation will meet in Washington to celebrate “Police Week.”

In Washington the officers will participate in special events, such as a candlelight vigil at the granite National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall. During a service, the names of all the officers are read.

The wall was erected to honor officers killed in the line of duty.

Officer Patrick R. Montuore of the Florham Park Police Department organized the first tour in 1997. His goal was to bring public awareness of police officers who died in the line of duty and to honor their sacrifices.

That year, the tour attracted 18 officers. By 2011, the tour attracted 1,200.

Vicchiariello said that a few years ago the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund raised enough money to build the National Law Enforcement Museum, where a Hall of Remembrance is located to further honor those who died in the line of duty. Last year, enough was raised to repair the monument and to re-etch some of the names, which had worn off.

Each officer is riding in memory of a fallen officer: Sargente is riding for John MacKechnie, a PJ officer who was killed on duty in 1949. Vicchiariello is riding for Jason Conklin, an officer from Tuxedo Park, in Orange County, who was killed in 1997. Vicchiariello said that he and Conklin were classmates at the regional Police Academy located in Rockland County.

Vicchiariello said that the primary purpose of the annual trip is to raise public awareness of the sacrifices made by officers who paid the ultimate price.

Vicchiariello and Sargente are riding up to 20 miles a day three times a week to adjust to the lengthy journey. They will be using their own bikes on this trip.

For further information go to www.policeunitytour.com, write Police Unity Tour Inc., PO Box 528, Florham Park, New Jersey 07932, or call (973) 443-0030.


City Wants $3.5 Million To Clear Up Froggy-Tasting Water

PORT JERVIS — The city council and Dept. of Public Works (DPW) are seeking $3.5 million funding to permanently fix the bad odor and bad taste in the city drinking water caused by algae build-ups.

Council DPW Committee Chairman Gerry Oney briefed the council on this initiative at the most recent council meeting held at City Hall.

DPW Director Vince Lopez said that the city water plant treats the water with chlorine and ozone. This treatment reacts with the algae and emits a gas that leaves the water with a bad taste and odor.

The city also has used an aeration system in the reservoir to reduce the algae growth, but this has not turned out to be a long-term solution.

Some years, the algae blooms in hot weather and grows too fast.

Oney said city research and studies have shown that the $3.5 clarifier system is needed. This clarifier requires its own building. This building would be located between the two existing water-plant facilities located on Reservoir Avenue.

The city has lobbied the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, for the funds, but so far, the USDA has not committed to fund the project. The city is also seeking other funding sources.

In other DPW matters, Oney reported that the city is continuing its Inflow Infiltration (II) testing requested by New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP).

DEP complained that the city sewer system apparently was taking in stormwater and adding it to the total city effluent going into the city’s wastewater treatment plant. This additional load is costing DEP.

PJ floated a bond for various public works projects in 2009, of which $250,000 was earmarked for the II testing, according to City Clerk Treasurer Robin Waizenegger.

Lopez said that testing for leaks started last year and is continuing. A city sewer line appears to be allowing rainwater and stormwater to infiltrate. Ideally, the stormwater should be 100 percent handled by the city’s stormwater-drainage system. The city has both sewer lines and stormwater lines.

Lopez said that most cities have one line for both, but Port Jervis has two. He noted that so far, the city is finding that the stormwater is not the only grey water that is getting into the sewer system. Some of the additional load is coming from people pumping out their basements. This is not legal, according to city code.

Lopez said that the council could take some action regarding the scope of all the issues affecting infiltration, but the study needs to be completed before mitigation takes place and council takes further action... for complete story, get this week's issue.

Police Investigating Rash Of Vandalism

PORT JERVIS — Port Jervis police are concerned about two new rashes of vandalism, drive-by shootings targeting downtown store windows and graffiti around the city.

Police Chief William Worden said that his detectives suspect the window vandals cruised by the stores in a small sedan, peppering glass store-front windows with BB or air-gun pellets.

They succeeded in cracking some of the windows in the city.

The graffiti vandals spray painted a smiley face and signed the word “Beast” on the sides of buildings, mailboxes, masonry retaining walls, street signs, and other fixed objects around the city. Police are not sure if the graffiti and drive-by are related, but are investigating all the incidents. Call police at (845) 858-4003 with information.

Total anonymity is assured.

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