Recent News & Events
Celebrating the Center for Well-Being, a Major Step Forward for Mental Health Care in Ulster County
Last week, we cut the ribbon today on the Ulster County Center for Well-Being at 368 Broadway in Kingston — a multi‑service hub for all ages that brings together behavioral health services, crisis response, a children and family mental health clinic, and victim support services under one roof.
Here’s what you’ll find:
First Floor – Crisis Support Center (People USA)
- Available 24/7 with no appointment needed, offering crisis stabilization, clinical evaluations, peer support, immediate intervention, and coordination of follow‑up care.
Second Floor – Access: Supports for Living – Behavioral Health Urgent Care, and the Ulster County Crime Victims Assistance Program (CVAP)
- Walk‑in mental health and substance use urgent care for adults and children, including evaluation, counseling, medication management, safety planning, and referrals for longer‑term treatment.
- The Crime Victims Assistance Program provides confidential, survivor‑centered support for any Ulster County resident who has experienced crime, including crisis counseling, safety planning, assistance navigating reporting options, and connection to resources.
Third Floor – Children’s Way Counseling Center (Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie)
- A new youth mental health clinic serving ages 5–21, offering psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention, medication treatment, individual and family therapy, and care coordination to support healthy development and family stability.
Fourth Floor – Ulster County Department of Mental Health
- Administrative offices and program coordination for Ulster County’s behavioral health system, community programs, prevention initiatives, and regional partnerships.
Bringing the Center for Well-Being into fruition was a major effort over several years involving many partners. We are deeply grateful to the Ulster County Department of Mental Health, our partners at People USA, Access - Supports for Living, the Children’s Home, the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS).
For more info, visit ulstercountyny.gov/center-for-well-being
New Affordable Homes for Seniors at Silver Gardens in Highland
 In good news on the housing front, we celebrated the opening of Silver Gardens in Highland, a new affordable community for seniors, with on-site supportive services, transportation, and direct access to beautiful Franny Reese State Park. The development is a partnership of RUPCO and Gerondini LLC, and more than half the units are dedicated to older adults who once lacked stable housing or struggled with homelessness. All units are wheelchair accessible.
Ulster County was proud to provide grant support for the building's geothermal heating and cooling system which, together with its energy-efficient design, will help ensure long‑term sustainability and affordability (no electricity bills for residents!) Thank you to New York State Homes and Community Renewal and other state and local partners for helping to make this 57-unit community a reality. Most of all, congratulations to the seniors who now call Silver Gardens home. To learn more about available units, visit rupco.org/property/silvergardens.
Seedling Childcare Center Opens Its Doors at Golden Hill
 With childcare such a huge need in our area, we were very happy to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for "Seedling", a childcare center operated by Family of Woodstock on Golden Hill. The Center is part of a community housing development on the former site of the old Ulster County Jail, with 164 units of beautiful, quality housing constructed through a partnership of Pennrose, Family of Woodstock, and the County government.
The childcare facility is open to the wider community as well as to the working families living at Golden Hill, and meets needs of working parents like care for children as young as six weeks old, and extended weekday operating hours. The facility itself is beautiful, with hand-crafted wooden furniture made by the Bruderhof and great indoor and outdoor play spaces.
Spaces are available, and parents can get more information here. Supplemental financial assistance is available to qualifying families.
Visiting Farms Damaged by April’s Terrible Frost
 This April, huge temperature swings damaged fruit crops across Ulster County. Temperatures shot into the 80s, pushing apples, peaches, cherries, grapes, apricots, nectarines, and other stone fruits into an early bloom, then quickly dove into the low 20s. This sudden freeze struck fruit buds right when they are most vulnerable, and may cause enormous losses for this year’s harvest.
Earlier this month, County Executive Metzger and Legislator Laura Donovan (D-11, Marlborough) joined NYS Ag & Markets Commissioner Richard Ball and his team, and representatives from Cornell's Hudson Valley Research Laboratory, the Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District, and the Farm Bureau to visit orchards and vineyards whose crops were severely damaged by April's frost.
Severe temperature swings like this are directly tied to climate change, and threaten our food security and local economy. That’s why the County is working to put programs in place to help farmers facing these challenges. The County is strongly supportive of Senator Michelle Hinchey’s proposed Farm Security Resiliency Grant bill, which provides support to farmers who have suffered devastating weather-related losses.
Thank you to Weed Orchards and Winery, Fjord Vineyard, and Hudson River Fruit Distributors in Marlborough as well as the other farmers who joined us to discuss the impacts they’re facing.
Department of Emergency Services Creates ‘Autism Preparedness Bags’ for Local First Responders
 The Ulster County Department of Emergency Services has assembled and distributed 120 ‘Autism Preparedness Bags’ to every EMS ambulance in the County (as well as one for each fire and law enforcement agency), in the event of an emergency response at a residence or site with a child with autism or sensory issues. The bags contain stress relief toys, earmuffs, sunglasses, a dry erase board, a non-verbal communication chart, and resources for first responders.
This initiative, spearheaded by Ulster County Commissioner of Emergency Services Everett Erichsen, was inspired by nine-year-old Ledger Greyson Mann of Virginia, a child with autism who used his own savings to create emergency kits for first responders after recognizing how overwhelming emergencies can be for people like himself. County Executive Metzger, Commissioner Erichsen, and Assistant EMS Coordinator Patrick Rose spoke with Ledger and his family over Zoom to commend his efforts and share how his idea is helping shape our approach to emergency response. Thank you to Ledger for the idea, and to the Department of Emergency Services for launching this program!
County Executive Speaks in Support of State Bill Fighting Plastic Waste
 On Tuesday, County Executive Metzger joined State Legislators and consumer and environmental advocates from across New York State calling for passage of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA), sponsored by Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick. PRRIA would require plastic companies to reduce overall packaging use, improve recyclability, fund recycling infrastructure, support municipal recycling programs, and eliminate toxins in packaging materials.
The legislation has broad approval from New Yorkers, according to a Siena poll, and is a top priority of the bipartisan New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC). The chemical industry has been lobbying hard against the bill because it would prohibit certain toxic and dangerous chemicals from being used in the manufacturing of plastic packaging, which studies have found are leaching into food and beverage products. Senator Michelle Hinchey and Assembly Member Sarahana Shrestha both co–sponsor the bill.
New Paltz Supervisor Receives the First Ever Ulster County Housing Leadership Award
 Last week, County Executive Metzger presented the inaugural Ulster County Housing Leadership Award to New Paltz Supervisor Tim Rogers in recognition of the major strides the Village made to preserve and expand housing when he served as Mayor. The Village took a number of important steps, including creating a mixed‑use Neighborhood Business Residential district, adopting an inclusionary zoning policy and short-term rental regulations, and investing in the necessary water and sewer infrastructure.
The award — hand‑made by local stone carver Nils Kulleseid of New Paltz and sculptor and furniture-maker Kieran Kinsella of Rosendale — is designed to be passed from one honoree to the next each year. It was presented at last week’s Housing Smart Communities Forum, organized by the Ulster County Planning Department and attended by representatives from 14 municipalities participating in the County’s Housing Smart Communities Program.
Congratulations to Supervisor Rogers and the Village and Town of New Paltz on this well-deserved recognition!
SUNY Ulster Celebrates 62nd Commencement
 County Executive Metzger and Legislator Debra Clinton delivered remarks at SUNY Ulster’s commencement on Saturday, welcoming a graduating class full of potential into their next chapter. Education opens doors and changes lives, Ulster County is proud to have a community college that gives students of all backgrounds and ages, regardless of means, the chance to gain the knowledge and skills to pursue their dreams. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Dozens of Residents Attend Public Hearing in Support of Mask Law
Thank you to the more than two dozen Ulster County residents who came to the public hearing Tuesday night in Legislative Chambers, and all those who spoke passionately in support of our proposed local law creating a baseline standard of identifiability for law enforcement. This has been common practice locally and should be for all law enforcement, including federal agents.
Congratulations to the May Veteran of the Month
 We are proud to recognize Clintondale resident and Army Veteran Don Stauss as our May Veteran of the Month. Don enlisted in 1966, and soon found himself serving with the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi Base Camp. He navigated a year of intense mortar activity before returning home to a new assignment at West Point.
While at West Point, Don met his wife, Carolann. They got married in 1970 and have had two children and four grandchildren over their 56 years together. After leaving the military, Don’s simple desire to join the New Paltz Volunteer Fire Department’s softball team turned into a distinguished 35-year career in public service. He spent 11 years as a full-time firefighter at the Castle Point VA before challenging himself at age 43 to become the oldest cadet in the Poughkeepsie Fire Department academy. He served there faithfully until his retirement at age 65.
Today, Don remains a pillar of selfless service. An avid fly fisherman, he volunteers with the Catskill Mountain Trout Unlimited club and the HVNCVR, teaching fellow veterans the basics of fly fishing. When he isn't on the water, you can find him volunteering weekly with Ulster County Habitat for Humanity or serving as a Fire Commissioner for the Clintondale Fire District. Please join us in congratulating Don Stauss for his extraordinary dedication to his country and his neighbors!
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