News digest

County says River Road could re-open by year’s end HARRIMAN — There is a light at the end of the River Road closure. Orange County Department of Public Works Commissioner Charles W. Lee said this week that he expects the projected time line to re-open the road is late fall or early winter. The commissioner said the county is currently working on plans and technical specifications and expects to re-open the road by the end of the year. River Road is one of the Village of Harriman’s main thoroughfares; county engineers ordered it closed Aug. 30 after Hurricane Irene slammed the area. John Karl, Harriman’s DPW chief, said the Ramapo River is flowing under the footings of the county-owned bridge. The footings, he explained, support the bridge on the northeast side of the Veterans of Foreign Legion Hall. “The county told me three weeks ago - it will be a long term closure,” Karl said. “There hasn’t been any construction done at the site - just barricades put in place.” The road closure has resulted in long backups on other alternative roads, particularly Larkin Drive and Grove Street. Harriman’s Mayor Steve Welle has been inundated with calls. “It is an inconvenience to a lot of people,” the mayor said. “Everybody has been asking me, but the county has not given us any indication at this time when the road will re-open.” - Claudia Wysocki Book Garden to close for the winter season tomorrow MONROE — Book Garden customers should stock up for their winter reading because the Book Garden is closing for the season tomorrow, Nov. 5. Because the shop has no heat, it’s only open seasonally. Tomorrow, the shop is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature a “clearance sale.” Customers can fill a bag of books for $5; or two bags of books for $7. The shop will reopen in April, when it’s expected that heat will no longer be necessary. To learn more, call 783-4411. Monroe Free Library’s Fall Fest rescheduled for Saturday Monroe — The Monroe Free Library’s Fall Fest, cancelled last Saturday because of the freak October snow storm, has been rescheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 5, beginning at 2 p.m. This is a free family event open to everyone that will be held on the lawn of The Book Garden, the used bookstore adjacent to the library. Cider and doughnuts will be free (while supplies last). Parents are reminded to bring cameras to take pictures of their kids. Activities include a petting zoo and pony rides. Kids can get tattoos, make masks, bob for doughnuts, play games, get faces painted and more. Library staff will lead Halloween crafts. The headline performer is Jester Jim, who will take the stage at 3:30 p.m. The forecast for Monroe this coming Saturday, at least according to the Weather Channel’s Web site, calls for a sunny day, with high temperatures only reaching 50 degrees or so. There is, however, no precipitation in the forecast.