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A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger |
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Dear friends,
Last Friday, governments, airlines, businesses, and institutions worldwide were impacted by the largest computer outage in history, caused by an update to CrowdStrike, a widely used cybersecurity program. I want to commend the rapid response and great work of the County's Information Services Department, which labored through the wee hours of the morning and day to successfully bring 464 computers and 46 servers back online--each device requiring a technical fix. I also want to commend our 911 dispatchers, who were immediately affected by the outage shortly after midnight. They quickly moved to manual call handling and didn't miss a beat.
We’ve got lots going on, with news and events to share, and I hope you enjoy this edition of the newsletter!
All my best,
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Recent News & Events
Disability Pride Month Celebrated by Ulster County
Chief Diversity Officer Esi Lewis joined the Ulster County Legislature last week during a Legislative Session to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and has helped reduce barriers to inclusion in society. Lewis provided an update on ThinkDIFFERENTLY, a County program to promote a supportive and inclusive County for individuals of all abilities by supporting community events that expand family-friendly opportunities for people with special needs and their families. A great example of the spirit of ThinkDIFFERENTLY is the ‘Sensory Safe Space' at the upcoming Ulster County Fair (July 30-August 4), designed to be a sensory-safe environment offering families a break from the bright lights, noise, and crowds at the fair.
On Saturday, Disability Pride Month was celebrated with a parade in Kingston, organized by the Resource Center for Accessible Living (RCAL) and Harambee. Chief Diversity Officer Lewis presented the organizations with a Certificate of Recognition and was joined by Human Rights Commissioner Joe McDonald, Office of Employment and Training Coordinator Alicia McDonald, and Legislators Peter Criswell, Gina Hansut, Greg McCollough, and Megan Sperry.
More than 1 in 4 Americans have some type of disability, and we continue to strive to make Ulster County inclusive and accessible in all realms of life.
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UCAT Bus Ridership Sees Dramatic Rise with Free Fares
A recent report from Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) shows a dramatic rise in the use of public transit in Ulster County since the introduction of free fares in October 2022--a testament to the success of the free fare initiative. The first six months of 2024 saw more than twice as many riders as the first six months of 2022, and ridership is on track to grow further in 2024.
In a Daily Freeman article on the program, Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger commented that the costs of free ridership are minimal because state funding for public transit increases with increased ridership, while the benefits to our residents are great: "Providing affordable access to bus service expands education and employment opportunities for people without personal transportation, fosters independence for seniors who no longer drive, and contributes to our ongoing efforts to reduce harmful emissions and alleviate road congestion."
Swift Response to Global and County-Wide IT Outage
On Friday, July 19, Ulster County and the world experienced its largest IT outage in history. The incident was first detected at 12:35 AM by the 911 Emergency Services Dispatchers, who found their workstations displaying a blue recovery screen. Under the direction of Robert Boughton, the team switched to manual call handling as outlined in the continuity of operations plan, ensuring that emergency calls were managed seamlessly.
By 2:30 AM, it was discovered that a global update from CrowdStrike had caused the widespread "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD). Deputy County Executive Jamie Capuano arrived on the scene to help coordinate the response by the Information Services Department, together with IS Director Alan Macaluso. The fix required physically accessing each impacted computer and server to execute specific commands manually. The team worked through the night and into the day on Friday, successfully patching 464 computers and 46 servers to ensure services were back online. Thank you to all our hard-working teams who brought us back online!
Ulster County Awarded Funds from New York State to Replace Bridges
The Bridge NY Program awarded the Ulster County Department of Public Works $5 million to replace the Denning bridge over East Branch Neversink River in Town of Denning and $1.5 million to replace the Samsonville Road culvert carrying the tributary to the Mombaccus Creek in the Town of Rochester.
Upgrading infrastructure is more than routine maintenance; it's a vital step toward climate resilience. As we replace culverts and bridges, they must be designed to handle not only today's storms but also the increasing stream flows anticipated due to climate change. Properly sized culverts and bridges protect our infrastructure investment, keep roads open during emergencies and flood events, and benefit the aquatic organisms that live in our streams.
Congratulations to the Ulster County Department of Public Works engineering staff on this successful application and thank you to the New York State Department of Transportation for this award and all the awards to Ulster County this year through the Bridge NY Program.
Celebrating 30 Years of Enhanced 911 Services
On July 11, 1994, at 9:11 AM, Ulster County became the first in the Hudson Valley to offer Enhanced 911 Services, which automatically provides dispatchers with the caller's location and phone number for more efficient and effective emergency responses. Today, Ulster County's 911 dispatchers handle an impressive volume of calls and incidents: 69,297 emergency 911 calls, 56,000 non-emergency calls, 22,993 fire incidents dispatched, 16,971 EMS incidents dispatched, and 51,716 law enforcement incidents dispatched (data from 2023.)
We extend our deepest gratitude to Emergency Service employees for their dedicated service around the clock to ensure that people get the urgent help they need in an emergency.
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Deising Bakery Donates Over $15K to People’s Place
County Executive Metzger presented a Certificate of Recognition to Eric and Peter Deising of Deising’s Bakery for their generous contribution of $15K from the now-famous John Oliver Cake Bear challenge to People’s Place, a Kingston-based organization dedicated to helping residents in need. Eric Deising said they sold more than 2,700 cakes, with requests from as far away as New Zealand, happily parlaying the Bear Cake fame to benefit a worthwhile local cause. We appreciate all who were involved in this wonderful local effort, including the Ulster County Chamber of Commerce for organizing the check presentation ceremony, John Oliver and Last Week Tonight for the additional $10K contribution to People’s Place, and for the incredibly fun Cake Bear challenge.
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Cast Your Vote for the 2024 I Voted Sticker Contest
During July, cast your vote for your favorite design for Ulster County’s “I Voted” sticker. The winning artwork will be selected from the top vote-getters and announced on September 9. Stickers will be distributed during the November 5 General Election to all voters in Ulster County.
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Employment Workshop - Obtaining a Job Offer After Involvement with the Justice System
On Thursday, July 25 from 3 PM - 5 PM, the Restorative Justice Center and Office of Employment & Training will host a workshop to help you navigate job opportunities and apply for positions with Ulster County. Register today.
Upcoming Virtual Workshops and Town Hall Meetings on the County’s Arts & Culture Plan
Let us know how you engage with arts and culture and how Ulster County can better serve our creative individuals, businesses, and communities. Attend an upcoming town hall meeting or virtual workshop to learn more about the Ulster County Arts & Culture Plan and how you can help. Upcoming events include:
Virtual Workshop - Cultural Organizations & Centers
📅 Thursday, July 25
🕕 12 PM - 1:15 PM
Virtual Workshop - Economic & Workforce Development
📅 Monday, July 29
🕕 12 PM - 1:15 PM
You can learn more about the project and discover additional events throughout July and August on Participate Ulster.
Join the Planning Department at the Phoenicia Farmers’ Market | Sunday, July 28
Join us at the Phoenicia Farmers’ Market on Sunday, July 28 from 10 AM to 2 PM! Stop by our table to chat with the Ulster County Planning Department and engineering consultants from Barton & Loguidice about the exciting Shandaken Rail Trail project, stretching from Galli Curci Rd. to Belleayre Beach.
Learn more about this project, share your thoughts, and contribute your ideas for the trail. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Join Us On the Nature Bus - Upcoming Routes for July 27 & August 3
Take advantage of Ulster County’s free Nature Bus to visit one of our County's amazing natural attractions! Walk, hike, bike, swim, picnic, and explore at some of our County’s outdoor destination favorites.
📅 Saturday, July 27 - River Route
📍 Kingston Point Beach (Activities include: Walking, Biking, Swimming, and Playground)
📍 Sojourner Truth State Park (Activities include: Walking, Hiking, and Biking)
📍 Shaupeneak Ridge (Activities include: Walking, Hiking, and Biking)
📍 Walkway Over the Hudson State Park (Activities include: Walking and Biking)
📍 Black Creek Preserve (Activities include: Walking and Biking)
📍 Esopus Meadows Preserve (Activities include: Walking and Hiking)
📅 Saturday, August 3 - Ridge Route
📍 Sam’s Point Preserve (Activities include: Hiking)
📍 Lippman Park (Activities include: Walking and Biking)
📍 Minnewaska State Park Preserve (Activities include: Hiking and Biking)
The bus and destinations are FREE to the public, plus the bus is equipped with a bike rack (first come, first served.)
Midtown Market on the Kingston Midtown Linear Trail | Saturday, August 3
The Midtown Business Alliance (MBA), in partnership with Ulster County and the City of Kingston, is thrilled to announce the Midtown Market, a community happening you won’t want to miss on Saturday, August 3, from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Midtown Linear Park, between Cornell Street and O’Neil Street in front of the mural. The event will feature live performances by Noop and the FREEQÛENCY Collective.
This exciting new market is open to everyone and is free for vendors to participate. The Midtown Business Alliance invites local businesses, artisans, community information tables, and food vendors to join us in creating a lively and diverse marketplace. To participate, vendors must provide a vendor permit and liability insurance. Learn more information on the vendor application, in English and Spanish.
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Attention Artists, Makers, Supporters, and Fans of the Arts– We Want to Hear from You!
Take our survey to help shape the Ulster County Arts & Culture Plan and let us know your thoughts on how arts and culture can create a more equitable, thriving, and prosperous County. The final plan will reflect input from all ages and backgrounds, providing well-defined goals and strategies that align with broader community needs, including economic prosperity, social equity, environmental protection, and cultural vitality. The survey ends August 31 and is available in English and Spanish.
Seeking Public Input for our Community Climate Action Plan
Ulster County is developing a county-wide Community Climate Action Plan to reduce climate-damaging emissions and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable, and more resilient county. We can’t do it without you!
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Services for Women, Infants & Children in Ulster County
The Ulster County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program is here to help income-eligible women and young children who may be at nutritional risk, providing healthy food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, or a caregiver of an infant or child up to five years of age, WIC may be able to help. Call (845) 340-3965 for more information.
Job Openings in Ulster County
Consider a career in public service and earn a living by making a difference! We have some exciting positions open in the County government. Visit the civil service portal and apply today to join our team, and please help us spread the word! Here are just some of the rewarding positions we're hiring for:
- Assistant County Attorney ($86,932/year)
- Bus Drivers($50,010/year)
- Commissioner of Health/Director of Public Health ($120,000-$183,511/year)
- Director of Housing & Homelessness ($75,000/year)
- And more!
The Ulster County Government strictly adheres to the principles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Americans with Disability Act.
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