Sportsman Fees Increasing Buy Now & Save!

As the licensing agent for fishing and hunting licenses in Clarkstown, I would like to inform the public that newly adopted state legislation has approved an increase in sporting license fees for this fall. Additionally, the minimum age for Senior License types has been raised from 65 to 70. Therefore, if you are 65-69, a Sportsman license will now cost $47 next season, plus a Deer Management Permit (DMP) and a Turkey Permit will cost $10 each this fall. In view of the changes, please consider purchasing a Lifetime Senior Sportsman License for only $50 by September 30th, if you are 65 or older. The $50 fee entitles you to a lifetime license, including DMP and Turkey Permit fees waived forever. All purchases must be made by September 30th, the last day of the 2009 season, at the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s Office, 10 Maple Avenue, New City.

Weekend Office at New City Library!

Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci is pleased to announce that he will be offering weekend hours, in the form of a mobile office, on Saturday, July 18th. Therefore, the residents of Clarkstown will have the benefit of utilizing the Town Clerk’s services on a day that might be more convenient for them, without having to take time off work. Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci believes setting up mobile offices in different locations throughout Clarkstown will serve as a further convenience to the residents of Clarkstown, so that they may complete multiple errands at the same time.
The next mobile office location will be on Saturday, July 18th, at the New City Library, from 11AM – 1PM. Forms and applications will be available, free Notary Services, dog licenses will be processed with proof of rabies vaccinations, Super Saver bus tickets will be sold, and handicapped parking tags will be issued.
David Carlucci stated, “By providing a mobile office, Clarkstown’s residents will be able to accomplish two tasks at once. They can do business with the Town Clerk’s Office while enjoying a good book!” Future dates and locations of the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s mobile office and weekend hours will be available on our web site, www.clarkstownclerk.com, where you can also sign up to receive Town Clerk Carlucci’s new e-mail newsletter. For further information, please call Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci at (845) 639-2010

Personal Democracy Forum 2009

Last week I had the good fortune of attending the Personal Democracy Forum (PDF) with more than 1,000 top, technologists and entrepreneurs to network, exchange ideas, and explore how technology and the internet are changing democracy, and society. Google awarded me with a fellowship to attend this conference free of charge. At PDF I met with many influential people leading the way in the technology field. One of the great things about a conference such as PDF is that it is a great way to learn about new IT tools. As Town Clerk, I am always amazed by how often newly deployed tools take so long to be utilized by government. I know that government moves slow for a reason, and sometimes, that may be good. However, I believe that by embracing new web 2.0 IT tools, we can reduce the cost of government, and at the same time, make it more transparent and accessible to the public.
A speaker of most interest to me was Vivek Kundra. Vivek Kundra is the Chief Information Officer for the United States. Kundra’s job is to manage what will be $76 billion in spending to maintain 10,000 government systems as well as 800 active projects to build major new systems for the federal government. I was very happy to hear that Kundra is a fan of open source software and may one day declare it "safe" for federal consumption. While many agencies use it, many people that do not know much about it will tell you that it is not a great idea. In most cases, this is due to a lack of understanding about computer security. I personally believe that if we can get our state and local governments to start using more open source software we can save the taxpayer a good amount of money and at the same time improve efficiency at the local level.
Kundra also released a new IT Dashboard available for public consumption at www.it.usaspending.gov. This is a really interesting site for anyone interested in open government. The IT Dashboard is a new website enabling federal agencies and the general public to view details of federal information technology investments. If you would like to talk more about the PDF conference or anything mentioned here please Skype me at david.carlucci or just pick up a phone and call me at 845-639-2010.

Call Your Clerk For Free!

Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci has added a new service to make the Clerk’s Office even more accessible. Now you can save minutes on your phone bill and call your Town Clerk for free using Skype. Skype is a software program that allows users to make telephone calls via the internet. As long as you have a free Skype account you can go to www.clarkstownclerk.com, hit the green call me button, and you are instantly connected to your Town Clerk’s office. Please call Clarkstown Town Clerk David Carlucci at 845-639-2010 for more information or questions.

July 4th 1774: The Other 4th of July!

Every American knows the significance and importance of the 4th of July. It is the day our forefathers officially declared their independence, thereby breaking the ties between the colonies and the mother country forever. However, how many Americans know the significance of the other 4th of July, the one that took place two years to the date before the signing of the Declaration of Independence?
Rockland, then part of Orange County, has always been notable for being a hotbed of revolutionary happenings. Major battles took place on our soil and vital supplies and troops passed through our county on their way to war. One famous, or infamous, location is Tappan’s Yoast Mabie’s Tavern, currently known as the Old ‘76 House. I say infamous, for this is where Benedict Arnold’s conspirator, Major John Andre was later confined. Nonetheless, Yoast Mabie’s Tavern should be remembered for another pivotal event, the adoption of the Orangetown Resolutions.
On July 4, 1774, the seeds of dissent were sown, when a meeting of the freeholders and inhabitants of Orangetown and the Province of New York took place at Mabie’s Inn and a precursor to the Declaration of Independence was adopted. While the Orangetown Resolutions stopped short of declaring war, they were probably deemed just as treasonous by the British. Although they declared themselves to be “true and loyal subjects” to the king and were ready to “defend his crown,” the Orangetown Resolutions called for a cessation of all exports to and from England and the West Indies. They felt this was their only way to protest Parliament’s taxes and for shutting the port of Boston.
So, as we watch our fireworks, enjoy our barbecues and otherwise celebrate the brave men in Philadephia who declared our freedom and liberty on a hot July 4th in 1776, let us not forget the brave people of Rockland who took the first steps to achieving that liberty. Though the dates may be coincidental, the 4th of July, 1774 should be remembered and honored by all Rocklanders, indeed, by all Americans.

HELP OUR ANIMALS & HELP OUR PLANET!

Did you know that millions of new printer cartridges are sold each year and only 5% of the empty cartridges are being recycled? That means 95% of them end up in our already-limited landfill sites as trash. By recycling our used ink cartridges we will help to save our natural resources. Incredibly, just to make a new ink cartridge, utilizes 2.5 ounces of oil and the plastics used in their manufacture can take over 1000 years to decompose! According to the EPA, fewer than 20 percent of cell phones are recycled each year, when recycling just a million cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to taking 1,368 cars off the road for a year. We need to recycle today for a cleaner tomorrow.
Combining my concern for our environment and for animals, I am pleased to announce that the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s Office will be helping to do its part to raise funds for the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center. Residents of Clarkstown will be able to drop off their empty ink cartridges and old cell phones to the Town Clerk’s Office at 10 Maple Avenue, New City. Through a joint effort with a recycling center, the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center will receive a donation for every recycled ink cartridge.

The Hi-Tor Animal Care Center of Pomona, also known as the Hi-Tor Animal Shelter, is supported largely by private donations. Their mission is to provide temporary care and shelter to lost, abandoned, and unwanted companion animals. They also provide a humane education program in order to promote kindness to all living beings. The Hi-Tor Animal Shelter strives to make this a better world for both animals and people. Funds from this program will help offset general costs, which include animals in their care and other animal welfare programs.
I think this is a wonderful way of both helping our environment and helping the Hi-Tor Animal Care Center in their efforts to care for Rockland’s animals. Rather than having all those empty ink cartridges and old cell phones filling up our landfills, imagine how much good they could do, simply by dropping them off at the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s Office. For further information, please contact the Clarkstown Town Clerk’s Office at 639-2010 or visit our web site, www.clarkstownclerk.com.