Conserve Gas and Save Money - Shop Locally

OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR

TOWN OF RAMAPO
237 Route 59
Suffern, New York  10901

(845)  357-5100     Fax: (845)  357-3877

Christopher P. St. Lawrence
SUPERVISOR

 CONSERVE GAS AND SAVE MONEY – SHOP LOCALLY!

April 28, 2008

Gas prices throughout the Country have reached crisis levels, with many gas stations nationwide charging $4.00 for a gallon of regular.  The American Automobile Association is urging its members to leave their cars at home and take public transportation.  Regular gas in New York State is selling for an average price of $3.66 per gallon – over sixty cents more than a year ago.  Runaway prices in the past have been blamed on rising demand and refinery outages, now the weakening of the dollar and record high costs for crude oil are to blame.  This week the cost of a barrel of crude oil reached $120.00.

Next time you fill up your tank, don’t just note the total cost of your purchase, compute how much it now costs you to drive one mile.  My Assistant, Phil Tisi, has a Jeep Laredo which costs him $60 per tank-full of gas to drive 300 miles.  Viewed in this context, Phil pays twenty cents per mile to travel daily.  The worst may still be ahead, because the cost breakdown of a gallon of gas is as follows:  53% reflects the price of crude oil, 19% is state/local tax, 19% is the cost of refining and 9% goes to pay for distribution and marketing.  The local gas station meanwhile gets only pennies per gallon.  Crude oil may hit $200 per gallon in the coming months.  Needless to say, doing business locally whenever possible both conserves gas and saves money.

Last week, the Persichetti Family re-opened the Sloatsburg Hardware Store, located on Route 17 in the heart of the Village.  The historical roots of the hardware store building dates back to 1911, throughout the years it served as a social club, movie theater, dance floor, community center, location of Catholic Church services and Sloatsburg School graduations.  The new Sloatsburg Hardware Store features personalized service, thousands of competitively priced hardware store items, and hometown ambience.  Whether it is a hardware store in Sloatsburg, the new RAVI’S Continental Restaurant in Suffern, or the re-opened homemade ice cream store in Airmont, I urge you to support local businesses and do your part in conserving gasoline.  Nationwide conservation is the only means to fight against outrageous “Big Oil” company profits and our dependence on the mid-east oil cartel, which is controlled by countries that loathe the United States.

Big Screen Classics Movie – Saturday, May 3rd at 11:30 AM – “Artists & Models” (1955) Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis star in this satire of mid-1950’s pop culture.  Pre-show organ concert with Jeff Barker at 11:00 AM, Ramapo Seniors are free and all other tickets are $7.00.  For further information call Phil Tisi at 357-5100 ext. 201.