Volume 2, Issue 2
Table of Contents

Cover Story:
Banking On Change
Rockland’s financial institutions adapt to a changing county’s needs

Feature Story:
Give Him Credit
Palisades Federal Credit Union CEO/President Mark Welshoff just wants to save you money

RBD Round-Up:
What's Your Opinion?
County Exec Signs Ban on Smoking in Cars. Do You Agree?

DEPARTMENTS:

Economic Round-Up
• The Smart Investor
Your portfolio is doing great, so why rebalance?

Retail Round-Up
• Delinquencies Decline
Credit card loan delinquencies decline In first quarter of 2007
• New In Town
Businesses opening or expanding in Rockland and Orange Counties
• Why Are The Chains Everywhere?
Retailers who reinvent themselves stay successful

Invest in Your Community
• Red Cross Honors Volunteers
Two award recipients from Rockland County
• Dress Success
Local dentist helps disadvantaged woman get her life together
• School Supplies Drive
Rockland County Board of Realtors annual drive is here
• Non-Profit Calendar

Dedicated Section:
Rockland Business Association:

The President’s Desk
Time To Celebrate!
RBA marks 40 years of community involvement

Call For Memories
RBA asks for your help to celebrate its 40th anniversary

RBA Happenings
• Committee and Council Info
• Calendar of Events
• New Members

Recently, County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef signed legislation banning smoking in cars when children under 18 years of age are present. In an attached memo, Vanderhoef said: "The harm to our children exposed to second hand smoke is indisputable and, although so obviously inappropriate, smoking in cars with children present should not be tolerated."

The County Exec did concede that, "Generally speaking, government should be careful when attempting to intervene in the conduct or behavior of individuals in private settings. Free choice in life in is a fundamental element of our democratic society. Indeed, passing laws to regulate what otherwise might be considered ‘individual common sense’ is to be avoided," Vanderhoef said.
But threats to invasions into the privacy of individuals and their personal behavior are outweighed by the protection of children’s health, similar to seatbelt and children’s car seat laws.

Enforcement of the ban could be tricky, but bringing awareness to the mere potential for enforcement, said Vanderhoef, might be enough of a deterrent.

What’s your opinion? Send it to editorial@rbdigest.com. We’ll print your comments in the next issue.