Spring Valley's Main Street named for Sandra Wilson, slain Finkelstein Library guard

SPRING VALLEY – A stretch of Main Street in the heart of the village will now be known as Sandra L. Wilson Memorial Highway, honoring a well-known security guard who was slain while on duty at Finkelstein Memorial Library.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation on Oct. 7 to rename  the road in memory of Wilson, who was viciously attacked and stabbed to death while working at the library that serves this diverse village and the East Ramapo school district.

The bill to rename a portion of Route 45, called Main Street in the heart of the village, was sponsored by state Sen. David Carlucci and Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee. 

Wilson, 52, was at her security post on the library's third floor on Feb. 18, when, according to police, she told Blanchard Glaudin to turn down the music he was playing on his phone.

Witnesses said Glaudin attacked her. Wilson was stabbed several times with a kitchen knife, police said.

Library patrons tackled and held down the suspect on the third floor of the library until police arrived, according to officials. 

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In the days after the attack, the main entrance to the library along Route 59 was covered with notes, flowers, candles and stuffed animals, all in remembrance of Wilson, who had worked at the library for more than a decade, as a part-time clerk and then later as a certified security guard.

Patrons and co-workers alike remembered Wilson for her smile and bright spirit.

Glaudin, 26, was indicted Oct. 6 on attempted rape charges tied to an incident that occurred months earlier. He was accused in November 2019 of attacking and choking a woman at Montefiore Nyack Hospital.

Glaudin had been released from jail on the attempted rape accusation in December when the Rockland District Attorney's Office declined to hold a preliminary felony hearing to maintain his bail. Current DA Thomas Walsh had said he was investigating why Glaudin's prosecution on the attempted rape charge didn't happen, but has yet to release any findings.

Nancy Cutler writes about People & Policy. Click here for her latest stories. Follow her on Twitter at @nancyrockland.