|
A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger
|
Dear Friends,
School is out, summer is here, and there is so much to enjoy in our county, including farmers' markets, fairs, festivals, and endless ways to connect with nature and the outdoors. Last weekend, Ulster County hosted Mountain Jam for the first time, drawing thousands of people to Belleayre Mountain for a three-day music festival. My thanks to our County Departments of Health, Emergency Services, Planning, and DPW, the Sheriff, and the Town of Shandaken for making sure it went off without a hitch!
|
|
 |
Less fun was last week's heat wave, with the heat index exceeding 100 degrees. We want to make sure everyone is safe and has opportunities to cool off in times like these — especially our most vulnerable residents. Two cooling centers are available on high-heat days, at 2nda Iglesias Church in Kingston and at the Trudy Center in Ellenville. I also encourage residents to take advantage of opportunities to cool off in the water. Our free Nature Bus provides transportation on Saturdays to swimming destinations at Kingston Point Beach and Minnewaska State Park, and we are now offering daily UCAT bus service in New Paltz to the County pool. And for the first time this year, seniors receiving Medicaid and families receiving SNAP can receive free pool season passes.
Lots happening as we kick off summer — read more about County happenings below!
All my best,
|
|
Recent News & Events
Sarah Kramer-Harrison to Serve as County's First Director of Arts, Culture, and Open Spaces
We're excited to introduce you to the County's very first Director of Arts, Culture, and Open Spaces — Sarah Kramer-Harrison! The new position recognizes the importance of the arts and cultural sector in Ulster County as an economic driver and educational and community asset to be supported and nurtured. Sarah will be part of the Office of Tourism team, promoting arts and culture events across the County, creating a resource hub for artists, identifying opportunities to bring arts events and programming to County parks and open spaces, and working with County departments to integrate the arts in County initiatives and programs — from public health to youth programming to economic development.
Sarah is uniquely positioned to lead this work, with extensive experience in both the arts and County government, and a track record of integrating the arts in programming in her prior positions with the DA's office and Crime Victims Assistance Program. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music, a Master of Education from Marist College, has led youth and elder-focused arts programs for more than 20 years, and is an accomplished musician.
Safe Start to Summer Returns for 2025
On July 1, the County kicked off its "Safe Start to Summer" road safety campaign — now in its second year — to promote safe driving as the busy summer season begins. Running from July 1 through July 14, the campaign includes both an educational outreach effort and enhanced enforcement of traffic laws by the Ulster County Sheriff and participating local police departments at high-risk locations throughout Ulster County.
We urge you to share our road-safety messages that will be posted during the campaign on the County government Facebook and Instagram pages, and help us create a culture on our roads of vigilance, mindfulness, and respect for all road users!
|
|
New County Funding Opportunity for Projects to Support, Improve the Lower Esopus Creek
Ulster County, in collaboration with the Hudson River Foundation, is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for projects identified in the Lower Esopus Stream Management Implementation Plan that address water quality impairments and are ready for near-term implementation. This is part of a multi-year initiative to restore and protect the health of the Lower Esopus Creek, a vital natural resource flowing through the towns of Olive, Marbletown, Hurley, Ulster, and Saugerties, as well as the City of Kingston and the Village of Saugerties.
You can watch the recording of a recent webinar to learn more about this opportunity! Interested applicants must first submit a Letter of Interest through the Hudson River Foundation’s online application by Friday, July 25.
Congratulations to the 2025 Ulster County Black Business Honorees!
County Executive Metzger was honored to present Certificates of Recognition to awardees at the 2025 Ulster County Black Business Community celebration, which recognizes Black business and community leaders for their exceptional contributions to our County. Bryant “Drew” Andrews, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Creative Education, received the Black Business Excellence Award; Minya Dejohnette, owner of Kingston Acupuncture & Wellness received the Black Business Leadership Award; Pastor Doris Schuyler of Riverview Missionary Baptist Church received the Maude Bruce Community Impact Award; and Calief Housen, founder and CEO of Career InTouch, a youth mentoring organization, received the Young Black Leader Award.
Thank you to the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Black History Month Kingston, and the Ulster County Office of Tourism for organizing this inspiring evening, and to Ulster Savings Bank for hosting it!
New State Resources to Bring Underserved Youth to the Ulster County Fair
County Executive Metzger welcomed New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball to the Ulster County Fairgrounds last week to announce new state funding for counties to promote the County Fair and youth access. A $25,000 grant will enable Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Saugerties and Kingston to bring young people to the fair who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend. The Ulster County Fair is a great opportunity to learn about the agricultural arts, animal husbandry, and, of course, have fun! The County Fair runs this year from July 29 to August 3.
Art from the County Jail, Now on Display at Unison Arts in New Paltz
The community is invited to stop by Unison Arts in New Paltz to see a unique art show — Voices Unbound — a collaboration of the organization's Art Spark Program and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office that brought art instruction into the County jail for incarcerated women. County Executive Metzger joined Sheriff Juan Figueroa and his team at the show's opening last week, where a quilt made collectively by the women was on display, together with collages and drawings - some playful and others very moving, giving expression to their hopes and dreams for themselves upon release.
The women learned drawing skills and visual storytelling from Unison Arts staff — another innovative program in the Ulster County jail to help set individuals up for success in life, along with the GED, financial literacy, and pre-apprenticeship programs.
Help Honor Human Rights Heroes in Ulster County
The Ulster County Human Rights Commission is pleased to announce the launch of its Annual Human Rights Community Recognition Award to recognize both an individual and organization or business in Ulster County who have demonstrated a commitment to protecting, supporting, and advancing human rights in our community.
We invite the public to submit nominations for individuals and organizations or businesses that exemplify the values of equality, dignity, and justice for all. All nominations and supporting materials must be received by Oct. 1, 2025.
|
|
|
Thousands of miles of roads crisscross Ulster County: Local roads and streets in your community, County routes winding through towns and villages, and State highways connecting Ulster County with other counties — each maintained by a different level of government depending on whether they cross local or county lines. With climate change, we are seeing more extreme temperature swings as well as major storms and flooding that cause more severe wear and tear on roads. Knowing who is responsible for a particular road helps residents understand where to direct questions, concerns, or requests for service.
You can identify County roads by a number on blue-and-yellow pentagon-shaped road signs, though the roads often have local names as well. There are 846 lane-miles of County roads, which tend to have narrower travel lanes and variable shoulder widths. The County also owns and maintains 158 bridges, as well as numerous culverts that keep stormwater from flooding County roads. The County is responsible for all maintenance, paving, signage, drainage, and snow removal on these roads.
In addition, the County adopted a Complete Streets policy in July 2009 to help make County roads more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly to the extent possible within right-of-way constraints. Road safety improvements have been a priority of County Executive Metzger. One upcoming project will create culverts that allow for wider shoulders for pedestrians and cyclists along a stretch of Zandhoek Road in the Town of Hurley.
State roads are marked with black-and-white circular signs and include well-traveled routes, such as Route 28, Route 32, Route 9W, Route 212, and Route 44/55. These roads typically have wider travel lanes, consistent shoulder widths. They are owned and maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).
To determine who maintains a particular road, the NYS Roadway Inventory System Mapper and Ulster County Road Map are helpful tools.
County Road Projects
This summer, Ulster County is paving approximately 60 miles of roadway across various locations as part of its regular maintenance program. A number of major bridge and culvert projects are also scheduled for construction in 2025, including:
- Woodstock Culvert (Town of Woodstock)
- Cape Avenue Bridge (Village of Ellenville)
- Plank Road Culvert (Town of Shandaken)
- Marshall Bridge (Town of Rochester)
- Sully Bridge (Town of Woodstock)
For current road and bridge closures and restrictions in Ulster County, view the interactive road and bridge status map. For general questions and more information, contact the Ulster County Department of Public Works at (845) 340-3500. To report a concern or road hazard on County roads, call (845) 340-3102.
Join Us on the Free Nature Bus on Saturdays!
The Ulster County Nature Bus runs every Saturday through the end of September and is completely FREE for both transportation and admission to parks and preserves. Nature Bus destinations are accessible for people of all ages and abilities.
🗓️ Sat., July 5
📍River Route — The Nature Bus departs from Kingston Plaza, with a stop at Garraghan Drive. Destinations include Sojourner Truth State Park, Kingston Point Beach, Black Creek Preserve, and the Walkway Over the Hudson State Park.
🗓️ Sat., July 12
📍Ridge Route — From New Paltz, the Nature Bus picks up riders at the NYS Thruway Park and Ride, New Paltz Gardens, and New Paltz Trailways; from Ellenville, the Nature Bus departs from Liberty Square. Destinations include the Mohonk Preserve Testimonial Gate Trailhead, Mohonk Preserve Visitors Center, and Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Make the most of your trip by wearing appropriate footwear, and don’t forget to bring water. Each bus has a bike rack (first come, first served), and helmets are required when biking in state parks. Only service animals are allowed. For questions, call UCAT Dispatch at (845) 334-8458.
Community Members & Employers in Ulster County - Take Our Survey!
The Ulster County Workforce Development Board (WDB) is proud to be selected as the first WDB to receive the Rural Welcoming Initiative Fellowship by Welcoming America — a recognition of the Board's commitment to supporting newcomers to the County — whether they're from another county, state, or part of the world. As part of the initiative, the WDB is planning a welcoming celebration during the week of Sept. 12-21.
Your thoughts and feedback are needed for the Ulster County Workforce Development Board's Welcoming Week Celebration! Complete our survey before Thurs., July 31, if you are:
|
|
Ulster County Offers EMS Equipment Grant Program - Apply Today
Ulster County has created a $500,000 Equipment Grant Program for local EMS agencies to enhance response. Eligible EMS transport agencies can apply for grants for advanced cardiac monitors and mechanical chest compression devices to help deliver high-quality prehospital care when every second counts. Other goals of the program include:
- Strengthening frontline response
- Supporting high-level training and readiness
- Building a more sustainable and resilient EMS system
Learn more and apply before the deadline: Fri., July 18.
Apply for a Rewarding Job with Ulster County
Consider a career in public service and earn a living by making a difference!
Visit the civil service portal and apply today to join our team. We’re currently hiring for these critical roles:
Ulster County Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer and fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
|
|
|
|
|
