VCJC News & Notes 8/29/25

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

1. Shabbos schedule
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 8/29/25 @ 7:14 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 8/30/25@ 8:17 pm

   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.
   

2. Shabbos parsha
   Here’s a short summary of this week’s parsha.

   Parashat Shoftim 5785 / פָּרָשַׁת שׁוֹפְטִים

   30 August 2025 / 6 Elul 5785

   Parashat Shoftim is the 48th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading.

   Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9

   Shoftim (“Judges”) discusses guidelines of leadership, opening with a command to appoint judges and continuing to detail laws of kings, priests, and prophets. It also describes laws relating to cities of refuge for accidental killers, false witnesses, warfare, and the rite performed in a case of unsolved murder. [1]

   
   

   
   

3. 2025 High Holiday Greetings - Act NOW!
   VCJC is again offering ads to be run in the Center Light for you to wish your friends and neighbors a Healthy, Happy New Year.  See our blog post about. Note that the deadline is 8/31/25 - and earlier is better!

   
   

4. A Plea from the NY Blood Center

   
   

   This summer was and continues to be one of our most challenging and certainly August even more so with last-minute Vacations and back-to-school preparations for many of our donors.

   While I know that you have already run a blood drive this summer at Van Cortlandt Jewish Center, I am hoping you might help as we head into and out of the Labor Day Holiday.  We are hopeful you can assist NYBC by making an additional push in your area to increase donor participation at NYBC open blood drives and Donor Centers and share our blood drive locator.  Please help us meet the needs of our area’s patients. The number 1 reason people don’t donate is that they were not asked.  Any messaging you can share with members of your organization to make this ask would be greatly appreciated.

   From all of us at NYBC — thank you for your generosity, your time, and the hope you give to so many.

   With deep gratitude,

   Michele Lariviere

   Sr. Director, NYBC Donor Recruitment

   
   
   
   
    

5. From the Derfner Judaica Museum
   Join Us for Fantastical Realities and Related Programs this Fall

   
   

   Reception and Artists' Talk

   Sunday, September 14, 1:30 p.m. in person

   R.S.V.P. art@riverspring.org or 718-581-1596

   
   

   AND

   
   

   OPEN HOUSE NEW YORK: Guided Exhibition Tour

   Sunday, October 19, 1:30 p.m. in person

   Reserve a spot art@riverspring.org or 718-581-1596
   

   
   

   To learn more about Open House New York, click here.

   
   
   AND

   Creating Fantastical Spaces

   Join the Museum's Senior Curator for a Free Virtual Talk

   Tuesday, October 28, 2 p.m. on Zoom

   Click here to register
    

   5901 Palisade Avenue

   Riverdale, New York 10471

   718-581-1596

   www.derfner.org
   

6. Buy a shirt, support VCJC
   JpodPlus, operated by Jack Kleinfeld, will donate all profits made from the sale of its Bring them home, NOW!, T-shirt to VCJC.  The shirt is available in adult, youth long sleeve and youth short sleeve tees. The shirts are available in several colors and will be shipped directly to the buyer from the Print On Demand manufacturer.  The adult version in black is shown below along with a few of the available colors.
   Other shirts and Print on Demand products can be seen at the store site.

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463 

Governor Hochul Announces Construction Underway on $53 Million Milk-Bone® Plant Renovation

Represents One of the Largest Private Sector-Backed Investments in Buffalo’s East Side

Project Creates 17 New Positions Bringing Total Workforce to Nearly 300

Governor Kathy Hochul announced construction is underway on the $53 million renovation of The J.M. Smucker Co.’s Milk-Bone® manufacturing facility located in Buffalo’s East Side. The investment, most of which will be in the form of new processing equipment in the 550,000-square-foot Urban Street plant, further cements Milk-Bone’s manufacturing presence in Buffalo and represents one of the largest private sector investments in the city’s East Side. The renovation will expand production capacity and allow the company to create 17 new positions — in addition to the 280 jobs at the facility today — in order to meet increasing consumer demand.

“Milk-Bone has been a major employer on Buffalo’s East Side since 1957, so we’re very happy with its decision to invest in upgrading its facility and to add new jobs,” Governor Hochul said. “The investment made at the Buffalo site is well timed to respond to the growth of the billion-dollar pet treat industry and represents a significant vote of confidence in New York’s business environment, our talented, highly trained workforce and our outstanding quality of life.”

The J.M. Smucker Co Buffalo Manufacturing Facility Manager of Plant Operations Todd VeRost said, “We are very pleased to continue to invest in expanding our Buffalo manufacturing facility to support our loyal Milk-Bone® fans and their four-legged family members. In addition to enhancing our ability to deliver for our consumers, our dedicated team in Buffalo is proud to build on our strong track record as a leading area employer and to maintain our commitment to making a positive impact in this community.”

The investment in the Buffalo facility includes an additional production line, a state-of-the-art oven, grinder, cooker, and additional processing equipment. The project also includes freezer expansion of approximately 897 square feet to accommodate the increase in raw materials and production at the site. Construction to support the renovations has started and is expected to be completed by April 2027. The company is planning to hire up to 17 new full-time permanent employees to staff the new line.

To help facilitate the company’s investment and expansion in Buffalo, Empire State Development (ESD) has agreed to provide Big Heart Pet Brands Inc., a subsidiary of The J.M. Smucker Co., up to $500,000 in performance-based Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits to support the creation of new jobs. 

NYC Council Announces Results of Investigation into Out-of-State Ghost Plates

 

Investigation finds vehicles with ghost plates are most prevalent in the Bronx and accrue more fines and serious traffic violations

The New York City Council released “Plate and Switch,” a report detailing the Council Oversight & Investigations Division’s (OID) investigation into the ways out-of-state license plates, some of which are “ghost plates,” can be used to skirt enforcement and accountability across the five boroughs. Between March and April of 2025, OID investigators surveyed more than 3,500 parked vehicles across 50 square blocks in 10 police precincts. These precincts were chosen due to the high percentage of summonses issued to out-of-state license plates. Out of the over 3,500 vehicles observed, 768 did not have New York State license plates. Among the vehicles lacking New York license plates, one in five either had temporary plates, plates that did not match the vehicle registration, or no plates at all. This issue was most prevalent in the Bronx, followed by Brooklyn and Queens, with Staten Island and Manhattan having the least number of offenders.

A ghost plate refers to any license plate that obscures the true ownership of a vehicle, including fake or improperly registered plates that may otherwise appear legitimate at a glance. Drivers using ghost plates can avoid traffic tickets, tolls, accountability for crimes, and evade enforcement systems altogether. While many vehicles without New York State license plates belong to tourists or commuters, others display fraudulent, expired, mismatched, or even no plates at all.

The investigation found that vehicles with mismatched or “no hit” plates committed more traffic and parking violations, and owe more in outstanding fines, than vehicles with matching out-of-state plates. On average, vehicles with mismatched or “no hit” plates owed $667.68, in comparison to $268.08 for vehicles with matched plates. Overall, vehicles with ghost plates paid less than 20% of the fines they incurred, underscoring the lack of traceability and accountability that results in the loss of millions of dollars in fees and fines each year. The research further shows that cars with ghost plates are more likely to commit infractions such as toll evasion, and there are reports of ghost vehicles fleeing from crash scenes and being used to perpetuate violent crimes. They also accrued, on average, significantly more violations for speeding in school zones and blocking fire hydrants.

The full report can be found here.

“The use of ghost plates, especially those from out of state, to evade responsibility for violations and fines has become too commonplace throughout our city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council’s investigation into this systemic problem underscores the need for more coordinated enforcement and policies to ensure bad actors who are more likely to commit traffic violations that jeopardize our public safety are held accountable for their actions. I thank the Council staff for their hard work on this important investigation that will help inform the ways our local, state and federal partners can move forward to confront this issue.”

The report comes at a time when state and local officials have made enforcement against ghost plates a priority. The findings, outlined in the newly released report, demonstrate that ghost vehicles are a systemic, citywide problem, with improperly registered and untraceable cars on streets across all five boroughs. Additionally, OID’s investigation shows that the ghost vehicle plate problem is not only limited to temporary or obscured license plates, but also includes the intentional use of out-of-state plates to defy traffic laws and enforcement.

“This investigation shows just how widespread the problem is, from mismatched plates to cars with no plates at all, racking up unpaid tickets and blocking fire hydrants. It is unacceptable that online marketplaces still allow the sale of fake or fraudulent plates that fuel this crisis. The City Council will continue to push for stronger enforcement and tighter oversight so we can keep our streets safe, ensure fair use of curb space, and hold bad actors accountable.” 

Key findings from the Council’s Oversight & Investigations Division investigation into out-of-state ghost plates include:

•   Of the over 3,500 vehicles surveyed, 768 had out-of-state plates.
  •   Of these 768 vehicles, 530 had plates that matched their vehicle.
  •   Nearly one in five of the 768 displayed license plates were not registered to the vehicles.
•   More than a quarter of the 786 out-of-state vehicles raised concerns:
  •   126, or 17%, had problematic plates that either returned no registration or a registration that did not match the vehicle
  •   48, or 6%, carried out-of-state temporary or dealer plates
  •   64, or 8%, had no plates at all
•   The Bronx exhibited the highest concentration of ghost vehicles (73 of 242), followed closely by Brooklyn (54 of 193) and Queens (50 of 179).
•   Staten Island (12 of 81) and Manhattan (1 of 73 vehicles) had substantially lower numbers of ghost vehicles.
•   Vehicles with mismatched plates owed nearly two and a half times more in outstanding fines than vehicles with properly matched out-of-state plates—$667.48 compared to $268.08.
  •   This disparity is tied to payment behavior: vehicles with valid plates paid 63% of the fines they incurred, while those with mismatched plates paid only 16%.
•   On average, vehicles with mismatched plates accrued 49% more camera violations for Speeding in School Zones and received 74% more Blocking a Fire Hydrant violations than vehicles with matched plates.

QUEENS MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO ACCEPTING OVER $3,000 FROM TWO UNDERCOVER DOI INVESTIGATORS POSING AS TLC LICENSE CANDIDATES IN EXCHANGE FOR HELPING THEM CHEAT ON A TLC LICENSING EXAM

 

Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), issued the following statement on the guilty plea by AHOINSOU DJOGBESSI, 51, of Queens, N.Y., on charges related to his acceptance of over $3,000 from two undercover DOI investigators (“Undercover 1” and “Undercover 2”) posing as applicants for drivers’ licenses issued by the City Taxi and Limousine Commission (“TLC”), in exchange for DJOGBESSI agreeing to take the TLC licensing test for the Undercover Investigators and helping one of them pass the test. DOI investigated this matter with the office of Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, which is prosecuting the case.

DJOGBESSI was charged in a criminal complaint in July 2024 and indicted in July 2025 on charges that included Impairing the Integrity of a Government Licensing Examination, a class D felony, Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony, and several class A misdemeanors. DJOGBESSI pled guilty today to one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony. As part of the plea, DJOGBESSI agreed to pay a $4,500 fine. He will be sentenced on September 9, 2025.

Commissioner Strauber said, “Facilitating cheating on exams required to obtain a City license in exchange for cash is a crime and undermines City regulations, including those involving public safety. With this guilty plea the defendant is held accountable for his conduct. I thank the Queens District Attorney’s Office for its partnership and commitment to ensure the integrity of City processes, and the TLC for its cooperation in this investigation.” 

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said, “It is imperative that all drivers learn the rules of the road and follow them, especially those who operate livery cars and are entrusted with keeping passengers safe. This defendant skirted the law by helping undercover investigators posing as TLC license applicants bypass mandated training and cheat on the licensing exam. Thank you to our partners at the Department of Investigation and for their work on this investigation.”

According to the criminal complaint, Undercover 1 visited DJOGBESSI’s office in August 2022, where DJOGBESSI explained that he could facilitate and expedite the TLC application process, and guarantee a passing test score on the TLC licensing exam, in exchange for a fee. In total, Undercover 1 paid $2,370, plus a TLC application fee of $257.04, to DJOGBESSI between October and December 2022. On December 20, 2022, DJOGBESSI met Undercover 1 at a TLC testing location and escorted Undercover 1 to a computer. Approximately 32 minutes into the 120-minute exam, DJOGBESSI walked over to Undercover 1’s computer station, indicated that he should move over, then crouched down at Undercover 1’s station below the cubicle wall and answered 79 of the 80 examination questions in eight minutes. With approximately 30 minutes of the exam remaining, DJOGBESSI instructed Undercover 1 to leave the room, at which point Undercover 1 was informed by another individual that he was free to leave and should check his email for exam results. Undercover 1 ultimately received a passing score on the exam. Later, in May 2024, Undercover 2 appeared at DJOGBESSI’s offices and paid a first installment of $1,270, plus a TLC application fee of $257.04, to DJOGBESSI, pursuant to an agreement that DJOGBESSI would provide the same package of services to Undercover 2.

Commissioner Strauber thanked Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz and her dedicated staff, including Assistant District Attorney Manaal Khokhar and Bureau Chief Christine Oliveri, both of the District Attorney’s Public Corruption Bureau, which prosecuted the case. Commissioner Strauber also thanked TLC Commissioner David Do and his staff for their cooperation and assistance. 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation to Pay Up to $40M to Resolve Criminal Charge Related to the Sale of Adulterated MicroCool Surgical Gowns

 

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (Kimberly-Clark), a U.S.-based multinational consumer goods and personal care company, has agreed to pay up to $40.4 million to resolve a criminal charge relating to the company’s sale of adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns.

“Kimberly-Clark betrayed the trust placed in it by consumers and healthcare providers when it chose to defraud the FDA and bring adulterated surgical gowns to market for its own financial gain,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This resolution demonstrates the Criminal Division’s unwavering commitment to holding corporations accountable when they threaten the integrity of our healthcare system. This resolution, in which the company has agreed to pay up to $40 million, sends a clear message that those who endanger patients and medical professionals will face significant criminal penalties.”

“Companies that sell medical products cannot misrepresent the safety and quality of those products,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously enforce laws that protect patients and medical professionals.”

A criminal information filed today in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas charges Kimberly-Clark with one count of introducing adulterated surgical gowns into interstate commerce with an intent to defraud and mislead. According to court filings, a Kimberly-Clark employee conducted fraudulent testing on Kimberly-Clark’s MicroCool gowns to avoid having to submit a premarket notification to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after Kimberly-Clark made a change to the gowns. A premarket notification is meant to show FDA that a medical device is as safe and effective as an already legally marketed device. Based on the fraudulent testing, Kimberly-Clark sold the gowns after the change without a new premarket notification, marketing the gowns as providing the highest level of protection against fluid and viruses.

Under the terms of a deferred prosecution agreement filed with the criminal information, Kimberly-Clark will pay up to $40,400,000, which consists of a monetary penalty of $24,500,000, a forfeiture of profits of $3,900,000, and up to $12,000,000 in victim compensation. The deferred prosecution agreement resolves a criminal investigation into Kimberly-Clark’s sale of its adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).

According to court documents, surgical gowns sold in the United States are subject to regulation by the FDA, which recognizes a system of classification set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) — known as the ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard. The ANSI/AAMI PB70 standard was first established in 2003 and revised to be more rigorous in 2012. Under the standard, the highest protection level for surgical gowns — AAMI Level 4 — is reserved for gowns intended to be used in surgeries and other high-risk medical procedures on patients suspected of having infectious diseases. To establish compliance with the standard, a surgical gown needs to demonstrate blood-borne pathogen resistance in each of several critical zones, including the sleeve, by preventing fluids from penetrating the gown.

As part of the deferred prosecution agreement, Kimberly-Clark admitted that, with an intent to defraud and mislead and to avoid filing a 510(k) premarket notification with FDA for its MicroCool gowns, an employee of Kimberly-Clark directed the preparation of test samples for the surgical gowns that did not meet the requirements of AAMI Level 4 testing. Kimberly-Clark further admitted that between late 2013 and late 2014, it sold millions of adulterated MicroCool surgical gowns labeled as AAMI Level 4 after the fraudulent testing and without a new 510(k) FDA premarket notification. In total, Kimberly-Clark sold approximately $49,000,000 worth of adulterated MicroCool gowns to customers in the United States and abroad.

As part of the criminal resolution, Kimberly-Clark agrees to continue to cooperate with the Justice Department and to report any evidence or allegation of a violation of section 510(k) of the FDCA. Kimberly-Clark has further agreed to strengthen its compliance program and abide by reporting requirements, which require the company to submit a report to the government regarding the status of Kimberly-Clark’s enhancements to its compliance program and internal controls, policies, and procedures aimed at deterring and detecting violations of section 510(k) of the FDCA, and the status of its remediation efforts.

The government reached this resolution with Kimberly-Clark based on a number of factors, including the nature and seriousness of the offense conduct and Kimberly-Clark’s failure to timely and voluntarily self‑disclose the offense conduct to the Department. In addition, Kimberly-Clark fully cooperated with the investigation conducted by the government, including by conducting a thorough internal investigation, meeting requests from the government promptly, making factual presentations to the government, and producing extensive documentation to the government.

The government considered that Kimberly-Clark ceased manufacturing surgical gowns when it spun off its healthcare division in November 2014, as Halyard Health, Inc., which later became Avanos Medical, Inc. It also considered that it did not uncover evidence that patients suffered physical harm because of the misbranding.

The criminal case was investigated by the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.

Trial Attorneys David Gunn, Max Goldman, and Amanda Kelly of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, and Jacob Foster, Acting Chief of the Criminal Division’s Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting health care fraud (HCF) matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s HCF enforcement efforts can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.'s Family Fun Day & Back To School Giveaway is BACK

 

Friends,

Even though summer is winding down, it doesn't mean that the fun has to end!

Join me, and Team JZ, for a FREE Family Fun Day and Back-To-School Giveaway on Saturday, September 6th. There will be FREE games, fun for all ages, and FREE backpacks for your child*!

Here are the details:

WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 2025

WHERE: Mazzie Playground - 2484 Williamsbridge Rd.

TIME: 12pm - 4pm

Looking forward to spending an afternoon together as we close out another incredible Bronx summer.

In Gratitude, 

John Zaccaro, Jr

*Children must be between the ages of 4 and 12 and accompanied by an adult.

Mayor Adams Visits Haffen Park for Prayer Vigil

Haffen Park in the Bronx was the scene of shooting this past weekend where five people were shot, one person was killed, three people are in serious condition, and a young girl is in critical condition at Jacobi Hospital. There was a vigil by community members on Tuesday, and one by Elected officials on Wednesday, but Thursday Mayor Eric Adams came to Haffen Park to announce the placement of more police officers from the recent graduating class to the Bronx. 

Deputy Inspector Muhammad J. Ashraf of the 47th precinct where Haffen Park is located told me that he received forty new police officers from that graduating class, but he said the new officers are limited in what they can do until they get enough patrol experience, they must be with a supervisor. 

There have been several shootings around the Bronx this past week making it one of the bloodiest weeks for Bronx precincts. Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said "I'm tired of the Vigils, thirty percent of citywide shootings are in the Bronx, and we don't have thirty percent of the city's population. Mayor Adams called for more programs for the youth to keep them out of gangs. Bronx Borough Commander Chief Gurley said people are getting shot all day, thirteen-year-old girls and twelve-year-old boys are carrying guns now and using them on other children.  

This reporter asked Mayor Adams about the 3,123 crimes in the 47th precinct in 2024, whereas the entire borough of Staten Island had the same amount of crime as the 47th Precinct, but has four precincts. While quoting from the CompStat report for the week ending 8/24/2025 that showed a 12.03% increase in overall crime compared to the previous year I asked the mayor when would the Bronx be getting more police precincts since three other Bronx precincts the 40th, 43rd, and 44th also had more than 3,000 reported crimes in 2024. Mayor Adams said that the logistics of such a project has to be investigated fully, but that the city was looking into adding a precinct to the Bronx. After the press conference there was a prayer vigil by the mayor and some family members. 

Mayor Eric Adams arrives at Haffen Park in the Baychester section of the Bronx surrounded by staff and media.

Mayor Adams speaks on the shootings that took place a few days ago in the park and other areas of the Bronx and city. Next to Mayor Adams is a mother who lost her child to a random shooting in 2022. 

Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson spoke from her heart about what shootings like this does to families and communities. She added that the Bronx has more than its share of these shootings.

Bronx Borough Commander Chief Gurley talks about how thirteen year old girls and twelve year old boys are now carrying guns and using them on other children. 

 

Governor Hochul Suspends Construction-Related Lane Closures for Labor Day Weekend

Lane Closures Suspended from Friday, August 29 at 6:00 a.m. to Tuesday, September 2 at 6:00 a.m.

Motorists Urged To Slow Down and Move Over for All Vehicles

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended from 6:00 a.m. on Friday, August 29, to 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2, to ease travel throughout Labor Day weekend. Suspension of roadside construction during a weekend of increased traffic also helps protect the safety of highway workers, including those in organized labor, during a holiday that honors the ideals of the labor movement.

“New Yorkers will be out this Labor Day weekend enjoying everything our state has to offer, and we want everyone to have a safe and memorable holiday weekend,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all New Yorkers to plan their trip ahead of time, drive sober, stay alert, obey the speed limit and adhere to the Move Over law while on the road.”

Drivers should be aware some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers or for emergency repairs. The construction suspension aligns with New York State’s Drivers First Initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work.

Motorists must follow the State’s Move Over Law, which was expanded in March 2024 to require drivers to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped along the roadway. The Thruway Authority and New York State Department of Transportation urge motorists to stay alert while driving, slow down and move over when they see a vehicle on the side of the road. The lives of motorists, roadway workers and emergency personnel depend on it.

Additionally, New York State Police and local law enforcement are participating in the national “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement campaign, which runs through Monday, September 1. The enforcement targets impaired and reckless driving through increased patrols and check points.

Text stops, including park-and-ride facilities, rest stops, service areas and parking areas along State highways support the State’s effort to reduce distracted driving.

The Thruway Authority reminds motorists that every service area located on the Thruway from the lower Hudson Valley to the Pennsylvania State line is now open as part of the $450 million redevelopment of 27 service areas, with the exception of one service area on I-87 southbound which is closed and under construction. Fuel services are open at all locations. Motorists can view the service areas and plan their stops on the Thruway Authority's website and on the free mobile app, which is available to download for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app also provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert emails, which provide the latest conditions along the Thruway.

Follow the Thruway Authority on Twitter @NYSThruway and on Facebook at New York State Thruway Authority.

Travelers can also check NYSDOT's 511NY before traveling by calling 5-1-1, visiting the 511 website, or downloading the free 511NY mobile app on iTunes or Google Play. The free service allows users to check road conditions, view more than 2,000 traffic cameras, and link to air and transit information. The app features Drive mode, which provides audible alerts along a chosen route while a user is driving, warning them about incidents and construction.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee urges drivers to use the  STOP-DWI Have a Plan app to help them get home safely. The free app allows users to designate a driver, call a cab or ride share and to review the consequences of impaired driving. Users can even use the app to report a drunk or drugged driver. The app is available for Apple, Android and Windows smart phones.