The 9 Biggest Stories Of 2017 In The Hudson Valley

We took a look back at 2017 for the most significant stories of the year in the Hudson Valley. One of them was actually about the safety of the river and another about getting across it. There were two big health issues this year: drinking water and Hepatitis. The other top stories include a crime, a scandal, the local impact of new federal immigration policies and a business decision with massive economic and environmental impacts.

No more nuclear power in the Hudson Valley

Ending 10 years of fighting, Entergy, New York State and Riverkeeper announced in January that the Indian Point nuclear power plants would close by 2021. Entergy said it was a business decision. The state and the environmental watchdog group dropped all their legal challenges to the plant’s continued operations. The announcement sent shock waves through the community, as school, library and municipal officials faced the loss of most of their tax base and hundreds of people faced the prospect of unemployment. In the past 11 months, task forces have begun discussing workforce issues and exploring what can be done with the property once the plants are offline with the spent fuel rods all in storage onsite. Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino even filed suit, arguing the state’s secret negotiations with Entergy violated public process. He withdrew the suit after he lost his bid for re-election.

New bridge, new toll system

After four years of watching an amazing engineering and construction feat, we got to drive across the Tappan Zee on one span of the new bridge. Then the New York state Legislature agreed to name it after the current governor’s father, former Gov. Mario Cuomo. That gave a lot of people already stressed about current events a chance to fixate on something local. They stopped admiring the MCB and began circulating petitions objecting to the name. Meanwhile, everyone is getting used to the new tolling systems — specially the new Toll By Mail that takes photos of cars that don’t have EZ-Pass. And the cameras still roll as work on the second span and the demolition and recycling of the old TZB continue.

The public water supply continued to be a focus of concern

After the drinking water crises in Newburgh and Hoosick Falls came to light, the New York State departments of Environmental Conservation and Health began testing water systems near facilities suspected to be frequent users of perfluorinated compounds — mostly found in firefighting foam. The state targeted certain counties including Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland, and worked with county health departments and water operators to ensure levels do not exceed the health advisory level.

At the beginning of 2017, higher water rates went into effect in Rockland County, part of a 3-year, $4 million hike that targets high-use customers of SUEZ for higher rates. The hike was part of a 5-year plan approved by the New York State Public Service Commission in January to reduce water demand in the county, end the fighting over the desalination plant and delay the need to develop additional water resources to meet Rockland's long-term water needs. Midyear, SUEZ began offering a conservation rebate program to residential and business customers in the county in a collaboration with O&R Utilities. In December, a scientist hired by the the county’s Task Force on Water Resources Management presented his preliminary assessment of the Ramapo and Hackensack watersheds, which the Task Force said was a significant first step in a comprehensive watershed assessment and management plan to ensure an adequate local water supply.

Hudson River anchorages

Concerns over Coast Guard plans to turn the Hudson River into a parking lot for oil-laden barges were eased in 2017, after an outcry from local and state officials as well as concerned citizens. The U.S. Coast Guard had wanted to create 43 new places for barges to anchor at 10 sites on the river between Yonkers and Kingston. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, D-Cold Spring, said Admiral Steve D. Poulin of the U.S. Coast Guard announced June 28 it would "suspend future rule making decisions" regarding the designation of additional anchorages sites, which effectively killed the proposal.

Vallaha Metro-North crash findings

The National Transportation Safety Board made its final ruling in 2017 on the Feb. 3, 2015, accident involving an SUV at a grade crossing in Mount Pleasant and a Metro-North commuter train. The fiery crash killed five train passengers and the driver of the SUV; also 13 people were injured when, around 6:30 p.m. the packed northbound train smashed into the 2011 Mercedes Benz ML350 that drove forward after the safety gates came down. The NTSB determined that the driver of the Mercedes — Ellen Brody — was the cause of the deadly crash. “For undetermined reasons,” the NTSB said, Brody moved onto the tracks while the crossing warnings were activated and as the gates closed. An additional contributing factor was Brody stopping, getting out of her vehicle and going to the back of the car where the gate had come down, reducing the time she had to get herself and her car out of the way. The electrified third rail coming loose and penetrating the railcar and subsequent fire was also a factor in the severity of the crash. The NTSB released its findings in a public session Tuesday, July 25. Also in 2017, Mount Pleasant officials proposed closing that crossing as part of a plan to address five grade crossings in a 2-mile stretch.

Kayak killer released from prison

Time will tell, but the prison chapter of Angelika Graswald’s saga since she was accused of killing her fiancé Vincent Viafore while kayaking on the Hudson River in April 2015 may be over. Graswald was released from prison Dec. 21. She was sentenced Nov. 8 to 1-1/3 to four years. Time served counted toward her sentence; she had been held in the Orange County Jail since her arrest. Graswald had pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide. Still on the horizon is a lawsuit filed by Viafore’s family and the possibility that she could be deported to her native Latvia once she’s finished serving parole.

Sports radio co-host accused of fraud

“Boomer and Carton” radio co-host Craig Carton was arrested Sept. 6 and was charged with defrauding investors out of millions of dollars by running a “Ponzi-like” ticket scheme. Authorities said he and an accomplice used the money to pay personal debts. Carton has disputed the charges but resigned from his popular WFAN radio show.

Hepatitis A infections affect restaurant patrons

Food safety was a concern in the Hudson Valley during 2017. In June, diners at Monteverde at Oldstone, a restaurant and event space in Cortlandt Manor, were exposed to Hepatitis A through an ill employee. The patrons included a wedding party with guests from 11 states. The Westchester County Health Department treated more than 130 people at clinics. A popular Port Chester restaurant and bar was forced to close briefly when an employee tested positive for Hepatitis A between Oct. 12 and Oct. 23. Four customers and one employee of bartaco contracted the disease. During the window of time in which preventive treatment is an option more than 1,700 people were vaccinated against the illness. People who had eaten at bartaco were able to go to the Westchester County Center for vaccinations. A Yonkers couple filed a lawsuit against the restaurant after it was determined they were infected with Hepatitis A after eating there Sept. 10. A class action lawsuit has also been filed against the restaurant. Another incident of hepatitis A infection occurred at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club, located in Briarcliff Manor, between Oct. 27 and Nov. 4. The county once again offered free preventive treatment.

President’s immigration policies affect Hudson Valley

President Donald Trump’s administration made immediate changes in immigration policies that had impacts in the Hudson Valley. As for illegal immigrants, ICE’s enforcement division made several arrests locally, including one in July that netted 13 Hudson Valley residents. The most controversial was the removal of an Ossining High School student the day of his prom. His mom was picked up a couple of days later. Despite efforts by both attorneys and the country he left to refute ICE’s characterization of him as a gang member because he had fled gang violence, and to obtain a reprieve so that he could complete his high school education, he and his mother were deported. Federal officials also stopped extending the refugee program under which thousands of Haitians had been allowed into the USA after the devastating earthquake. Hundreds of Haitian families in Rockland County are affected.

Patch staff writer Michael Woyton contributed to this article