The Journal News from White Plains, New York • Page 11

i SECTION County students debate free speech Page B3 Obituaries What's Ahead New York City B2 B2 .85,6 Thursday, March 14, 1991 Rockland Journal-News, Rockland County, N.Y. ROCKLAND BRIEFS omeless man admits killing janitor only inexpensive items were stolen from the law office. Expensive equipment was undisturbed, although Willis' car was stolen from the parking lot behind the building. Telephone MM! the streets again." Paige pleaded guilty yesterday before County Court Judge William Nelson. The plea came just as a hearing was to begin on whether the prosecution could present to a jury statements Paige made to the police.

Shortly after Paige's arrest, a defense lawyer said Paige was drunk at the time of the burglary and the slaying of Willis, making him unfit to stand trial. Paige's statements proved he was alert and knew what he was doing, Gribetz said. Paige was surprised when Willis showed up for work at the law offices at 52 S. Main and killed Willis to prevent the janitor from identifying him, Gribetz said. Willis worked part time as a janitor and full-time with Lederle Laboratories in Pearl River to support himself and his handicapped daughter.

They lived on John Street in Spring Valley, just a few blocks from the office building. Willis murder left his daughter, Helen, emotionally devastated and with many financial problems, according to family members. Helen Willis said it was ironic that a homeless man killed her father because of the many times he offered money to homeless people at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey bus terminal when traveling to Manhattan. Spring Valley police said Paige frequently slept in parked school buses. Although Paige is from Danbury, he spent most of his time in Spring Valley, police said.

Police Lt. William Steinmann said Paige knew the village well, and had broken into the same building a few days before the Oct. 28 burglary. "He knew it was an easy target for him," Steinmann said. What initially baffled police was that By William Demarest Staff Writer A 24-year-old homeless man who broke into a Spring Valley law office and spent hours calling telephone sex lines admitted yesterday that he killed a 64-year-old janitor who surprised him during the burglary.

Anthony M. Paige will receive a prison term of 20 years to life when he is sentenced in April on a charge of second-degree murder for the Oct. 28, 1990, strangling of Albert "Alby" Willis of Spring Valley, authorities said. District Attorney Kenneth Gribetz said he and the dead man's family plan to ask the state Parole Board that Paige never be paroled. "We have videotape proof that Mr.

Paige knew what he was doing and he knew the consequences," Gribetz said. "This is a man who should never be allowed out on ROAD TO RECOVER records also showed that the burglar spent hours calling "1-900" telephone sex lines. The case was largely a mystery until Nov. 3, when a police roadblock on Route 9W in South Nyack stopped two men in Willis' car. Paige and Ka- Paig reem Simmons, 20, of Jackson Avenue in Nyack, were arrested.

Simmons was not connected to the murder or burglaries. He pleaded guilty to possessing the stolen car, and was sentenced to six months in jail. Library project almost finished Pearl River building 3 times former size By Henry Frederick Staff Writer A $2.5 million renovation that has tripled the size of the Pearl River Public Library should be completed by the end of this month, says Library Director Carolyn Johnson. Construction crews are completing the installation of electrical wiring and ceiling tiles, as well as painting the interior, Johnson said yesterday. The new heating and ventilation systems will be tested over the next few weeks, and grass will be replanted later in the spring, she said.

The library at 80 Franklin originally built in 1962, totals 26,000 square feet with the renovation, compared to its former, The main core of the library, particularly the adult reading areas and circulation check-outs, was a major focus of the expansion. An activities room for library programs and community groups was also added. Automatic doors were installed in the main entrance for easier accessibility for handicapped patrons, people pushing baby strollers and those carrying many books. The expansion was necessary because the library staff of 16 and the materials housed had become too cramped, Johnson said. The 15-year bonding to finance the project, was approved by Pearl River school district voters in December 1986, but the voters rejected buying new library materials.

Johnson was pleased with patrons' and staff's patience with noise, dust and interrupted service caused by the renovation. The library was closed March 1-6 to relocate the children's library within the building. It was also closed for two-week intervals last spring and fall for heavy construction, Johnson said. People frequenting the library yesterday were pleased construction was nearly complete. Thirteen-year Pearl River resident Marie Boyle visited the library with her daughter, Shannon, 17, who was doing a Please see LIBRARY, B2 Peter Carr Staff PhotoWarren Inglese A crew from J.

Fletcher Creamer Sons relocates water mains yesterday to facilitate road improvements along East Main Street in Stony Point scheduled to begin in April. Temporary inconvenience the price of Stony Point road improvements John Goldsmith and Robert Doscher Local men wind up firefighters' group terms NEW CITY Two county men are serving their last year as officers in their sections of the state Volunteer Firemen's Association, the time in the association's history that officers have been from the same county. Completing two-year terms are Robert "Rusty" Doscher of Pearl River, president of the Southern New York Volunteer Firemen's Association, and John Goldsmith of Stony Point, president of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association. Goldsmith, 48, directs 16 counties in the state, while Doscher, 65, oversees nine. Doscher was the first person in the county to be president of his section.

Although they will leave their positions in June, the men say they won't forget their tenures in the association. "I enjoyed it," Doscher said. "It's a great experience." "I couldn't buy better friends than the ones I made through the association," Goldsmith said. School annex tours 'NYACK A new addition to the Valley Cottage Elementary School will be dedicated Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The community is invited to the ceremony and to tour the building from 1 to 3 p.m.

Tours will cover the new computer lab, media center, gymnasium and classrooms. The addition is part of Nyack's facilities improvement program approved by taxpayers in 1986. "This dedication is the culmination of the hard work, commitment and support of the entire community," said Richard Kohlhausen, president of the Nyack Board of Education. Girl Scouts honored STONY POINT Local Girl Scouts were honored Tuesday night at the Town Board meeting. The board welcomed five Scouts and Brownies, and their leaders, to the meeting and proclaimed this week Girl Scout Week in Stony Point.

The Girl Scouts were founded in 1912, and are celebrating their 79th anniversary this month. Tree-seedling program NEW CITY Rockland officials are urging residents to help control such problems as erosion by planting young trees and new ground cover under the county's annual tree-seedling program. The county's Soil and Water Conservation District is making available evergreens, deciduous hardwoods and groundcover to Rocklanders. "As current events have shown, our planet's environment and wildlife have been stressed," said Eve Nudelman, a district spokeswoman. "You can show you care about a healthy world by planting seedlings, caring for them and watching them grow." Residents can pick from among 10 varieties of plantings, which can help reforest, stop erosion, create shade, provide windbreaks for energy conservation, and supply food and habitat for wildlife.

Bundles of up to 10, 12-inch seedlings are available for as little as 8. To order trees or ground cover, call Nudelman at 638-5084. TODAY'S QUOTE "It's what prepares our young people to be active citizens in a democracy." Nicholas O'Han, headmaster of the Rockland Country Day School, discussing the merits of a countywide student debating group. See story on this page. Subcontractors Raines and Welsh and Sons, and J.

Fletcher Creamer Sons, are relocating gas and water mains to facilitate the renovations. That portion of the project should be finished in a week. Drainage will be installed over the first month of the work, McGuinness said. The street will then be torn up at the beginning of May. "We will start about 100 feet off (Route) 9W and work toward the river," McGuinness said.

The street pavement will be removed to a depth of 2 feet, and 6 inches of gravel will be poured as a temporary road surface. Motorists will have to use Please see ROAD, B2 By Jane DeNoyelles Staff Writer Improvements to Stony Point's East Main Street will begin April 1, but along with increased drainage, new sidewalks and replacement of the bridge, will come detours and other inconveniences lasting up to 10 Vi months. Residents heard that from Joseph McGuinness, project manager for Ben Ciccone of Poughkeepsie, during a Town Board meeting Tuesday. Ciccone had the lowest bid on the project, $1,248,966, of which 90 percent will be paid with federal funds. The state will pay the remainder.

The work is to begin April 1, and last until the end of August, McGuinness said. Road work 1 I STONY POINT -J ya'n St i Lowland Hill Rd HighviewAv. Stall graphicJohn Cornell Historic Nanuet train station destroyed by fire MM IM UJUWIIIIIMiMMP lllllLimBlHIIIUIIimJUIimiWIlllNIII Lll 4 frail llfii xty "rT-m -J 1 Blaze called 'suspicious' By Tim Henderson Staff Writer Fire destroyed a historic train station in downtown Nanuet early today. A firefighter at the Nanuet firehouse next door noticed the blaze about 12:40 a.m. After the blaze was extinguished about 2 a.m., firefighters entered the boarded-up station and found no one inside, Clarkstown police said.

Nanuet Fire Chief Ted Mese-role said a homeless man had been living there recently, but may have moved out to a nearby hotel. Pearl River firefighters stood by as Nanuet firefighters worked to tear down eaves and bits of slate roof where fire still lingered. A 75-foot "snorkel" hose attacked the fire from above through charred remnants of the roof. Meserole said the fire was "obviously suspicious," and that a town fire inspector would search for clues when firefighters were finished. No cause had been determined early today, police said.

Please see FIRE, B2 The old Nanuet train station was destroyed by an early morning fire today..