Pearl River Week in Review: Orangetown Budget Under Cap, Alumni Events

Nearly two weeks ago, the Orangetown Council adopted a 2013 budget with the understanding that the tax increase over 2012 would be 4.8%.

Last week, they announced by the way the state measures increases, Orangetown's will go up an average of 1.66% for residents, meaning the town budget will come in under the state-mandated 2% cap. 

All five members of the council came out to declare that good news, but the disagreement over who was responsible for cutting the budget to that level led to controversy. 

That was just one story brought to you by Pearl River Patch over the past week. Here is a look more:

• Orangetown Councilman Paul Valentine joined County Legislator Ed Day (R-New City/Pomona), Legislator Cris Carey (R-Bardonia) and Stony Point Councilwoman Luanne Konopko, a Democrat, in announcing a plan to revamp the community college chargeback program and reduce the cost to taxpayers.  Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski (D-New City) and Clarkstown Councilman George Hoehmann (R-Nanuet) are also involved in the plan.
• In sports, Carol Dyer provided a look back at Pearl River High School's fall sports as most of the winter teams began practice. 
• Pearl River alumni took to the athletic facilities at the high school, including the Little Brown Jug Alumni football game loss to Nanuet and the men's basketball alumni game. 
• The Pearl River Alumni Association's 11th Annual Christmas Tree Sale runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 10 on the Central Avenue Field. 
• The Pearl River Chamber of Commerce announced it will be donating 20% from sales of Cash on the Town gift certificates to People to People until Dec. 31. 
• Nov. 29 in Pearl River. 
• Orangetown Police investigated a report of a man in a white van following a boy from his bus stop to his home in Tappan. 
• As usual, Black Friday drew crowds of shoppers. 
• Raffaele's Pizzeria in Pearl River was among the many businesses in the county taking advantage of Small Business Saturday. Others, such as .  
• The weekly Grab and Go Kids Planner provided family-friendly ideas for this past weekend and this week.