|
A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger |
|
|
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I attended a meeting of the Ulster County Police Chiefs Association, where I proposed a "Safe Start to School" road safety campaign to build on the momentum of our successful "Safe Start to Summer" campaign launched at the end of June. We are seeing too many tragic and avoidable crashes on our roads, and if we can change driving behavior, we can save lives. More to come on the “Safe Start to School” campaign next month!
In this newsletter, we have news to share about a new County grant program for life-saving equipment for youth sports and camps, rail trail improvements in Rochester and Wawarsing, opportunities to provide input on the County’s Arts and Culture Master Plan and a County Community Climate Action Plan, and more.
All my best,
|
|
Recent News & Events
Ulster County Successfully Secures $1.6M for Pine Hill to Restore Historic Hotel
Ulster County’s Economic Development Department successfully secured a $1.6 million Restore New York grant for the restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Wellington Hotel in the hamlet of Pine Hill, in the Town of Shandaken’s historic district. The project, which is being developed by RUPCO, will create 10 workforce housing units, a café, and a food market for the area, restoring the beloved historic building as an economic and community anchor.
“As a County government, we are committed to helping our Catskills communities thrive,” said County Executive Metzger when announcing the award.
|
|
County Executive Metzger Responds to Central Hudson’s Proposed Rate Hike
Central Hudson last week submitted a proposal to the State Public Service Commission for a rate hike for next year, almost immediately after a new rate increase went into effect for this year. The utility is asking for another 4.6% increase in electricity rates and 5.8% in gas rates beginning in July 2025. County Executive Metzger released a statement questioning the increase, which Fortis-Central Hudson argues is driven primarily by the need to replace aging infrastructure.
“Grid reliability and resilience must be a top priority, but ratepayers should not be made to pay the price for years of underinvestment by Fortis-Central Hudson, and shareholders should be on the hook for a greater share of the costs,” said County Executive Metzger. The County Executive's Office will be monitoring the rate case closely and pressing for a reasonable and fair rate plan that makes appropriate investments in grid resilience without imposing an unfair financial burden on residents and small businesses.
Celebrating Recent Improvements to the O&W Rail Trail
Last week, the County Executive and Legislators cut the ribbon with the Open Space Institute (OSI) and Towns of Rochester, Wawarsing, and the Village of Ellenville on 5.3 miles of trail improvements to the glorious O&W Rail Trail for folks to enjoy, recreate, and get around safely between Kerhonkson and Accord and in Ellenville/Wawarsing without needing a car. The County dedicated approximately $1.2M in American Rescue Plan funding to this project, in partnership with OSI, which managed the project and contributed resources. Check out these beautiful trails, accessible by people of all abilities, if you haven't already!
Ulster County Launches AED Grant Program for Camps and Youth Sports Programs
Ulster County announced a new $250,000 AED Grant Program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act to support youth sports programs and summer camps. This initiative aims to enhance safety by providing up to $5,000 per organization for the purchase/reimbursement of Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) and training personnel in their use.
An amendment to New York State Public Health Law now requires all summer camps and youth sports programs to have at least one AED on-site and a certified individual present. This grant program will help non-profit (501c3) camps and youth sports programs meet these new requirements, ensuring they are equipped to respond to cardiac emergencies.
Grant Details:
- Up to $5,000 per organization for equipment and training
- Available to non-profit camps and youth sports programs that are not municipally operated
- Application deadline: October 15, 2024
- To apply, organizations must submit a Cardiac Emergency Implementation Plan.
For more information, email AEDGrant@co.ulster.ny.us.
Good Things Are Happening on the Midtown Linear Trail
On Saturday, Laura Nordstrom from the County Executive’s team stopped by the Summer Midtown Market, a fun community event on the Midtown Linear Trail in Kingston, organized by the Midtown Business Alliance and featuring local makers, artists, food vendors, and musical performances. This community-led initiative emerged from conversations through the Midtown Linear Park Taskforce facilitated by the County Executive and Mayor Steve Noble to activate the trail with more community activities. Other initiatives of the Task Force include the installation of security cameras on the trail, regular patrols by City police on foot or bike, a Trail Stewardship Committee, and a plan in the works for a new park along the trail near Cornell St.
This County-owned trail is the first urban rail trail in Ulster County and a great community asset for Midtown Kingston to enjoy!
|
|
Ulster County Celebrates 73 New Firefighters at Graduation Ceremony
On July 29, the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services and Ulster County Fire Services held a special graduation ceremony for 73 new volunteer firefighters who successfully completed the County’s rigorous professional training. Graduates gained essential knowledge and skills in fire prevention, hazardous materials response, vehicle and wildland firefighting theory, and initial company operations, providing a well-rounded education for aspiring firefighters to operate safely and effectively.
Our volunteer fire departments welcome new volunteers, and you can register now for the next training program with our Department of Emergency Services!
In other good news for our local fire departments, we congratulate the Kripplebush and Rifton Fire Companies on receiving $500,000 and $114,285 in grants, respectively, from Congressman Pat Ryan for facility, safety, and operations improvements!
|
|
Progress on the Shandaken Rail Trail Project - Now Accepting Comments
The first phase of the Shandaken Rail Trail project will convert an approximately 2.65-mile segment of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad Corridor into a multi-use non-motorized transportation and recreational corridor between the hamlets of Pine Hill and Highmount in the Town of Shandaken.
Our Ulster County Planning Department staff and engineering consultants gathered great feedback and insights on the project from more than 60 community members at the Phoenicia Farmers' Market. The trailhead and parking lot concepts are now live on Participate Ulster, and we invite you to share your thoughts. Comments will be accepted until August 30.
Department of Mental Health Office Hours – August 15 & 22
A representative from the Ulster County Department of Mental Health will be hosting neighborhood office hours in Kingston and Modena this month! Take advantage of this opportunity to receive one-on-one naloxone training and valuable opioid prevention materials, and learn about the array of services our Department provides.
📅 Thursday, August 15
🕕 10 AM - 1 PM
📍 Peoples Place, 17 St. James Street, Kingston, NY
📅 Thursday, August 22
🕕10 AM - 2 PM
📍 Plattekill Public Library, 2047 Route 32, Modena, NY
Whether you're seeking connections to support or simply want to educate yourself and your community, this will serve as a great opportunity to get connected to the Department of Mental Health! For more information, contact Jillian Nadiak-Bruck at jnad@co.ulster.ny.us.
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 - Funders & Philanthropy
🗓️ Thursday, August 8
🕛 12 PM - 1:15 PM
Virtual Workshop - Government
🗓️ Friday, August 9
🕛 12 PM - 1:15 PM
In-Person Town Hall - Kingston
🗓️ Tuesday, August 27
🕛 5:30 PM - 7 PM (Doors @ 5:15 PM)
📍 Kingston City Hall, 420 Broadway
|
|
Join Us on the Nature Bus - Upcoming Routes for August 10 & 17
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, August 10 - Mountain Route
📍 Ashokan Rail Trail (Activities include: Walking and Biking)
📍 Catskills Visitor Center (Activities include: Walking and Fire Tower Climb)
📅 Saturday, August 17 - 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)
The bus and destinations are FREE to the public, plus the bus is equipped with a bike rack (first come, first served.)
|
|
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!
|
|
Loan Repayment Program for Nurses
If you graduated from a nursing program with student loan debt, you may be eligible for up to $25,000 of loan relief by serving a community in need. The Nurses Across New York Loan Repayment Funding through the NYS Department of Health (DOH) is available for nurses who commit to work in an underserved area for a three-year period, at which point $10,000 for LPNs or $25,000 for RNs will be made available to reduce or eliminate any outstanding debt from their nursing education.
This information is being provided for the benefit of Ulster Residents, these programs are not operated or controlled by the County of Ulster.
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)
- Director of Housing & Homelessness ($75,000/year)
- Deputy Director of Emergency Communications/Emergency Management ($79,606/year)
- UCAT Bus Drivers ($50,010/year)
- And more!
The Ulster County Government strictly adheres to the principles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Americans with Disability Act.
|
|
|
social
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
