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A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger |
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to take this opportunity to share resources and assistance available to support our residents' mental health and wellness. I also invite you on behalf of the County Mental Health Department to drop by our team's monthly traveling "office hours" around the county. Tomorrow, May 16, our staff will be at the Town of Ulster Library from 1 to 5 PM, and on May 23 at People's Place in Kingston from 10 AM to 1 PM. Drop in and find out what resources are available for you or a loved one. Mental health care is just as important as physical health care!
You'll find more resources for mental health below, as well as news about the County’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a planned workforce innovation hub at iPark-87, a second round of grants coming for homeowners to build an "ADU," and more!
All my best,
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Recent News & Events
An Update from the Ulster County Truth & Reconciliation Commission
“History … does not refer merely to the past … history is literally present in all that we do.” - James Baldwin, Unnameable Objects, Unspeakable Crimes, 1965
The Ulster County Truth and Reconciliation Commission, comprised of professors, local historians, and educators, was created three years ago with the support of then-County Executive Pat Ryan and Radio Kingston to conduct primary historical research into slavery in Ulster County and chronicle the lives of individuals of African descent, with the goal of providing a more honest and expansive understanding of the legacy of slavery in Ulster County.
Commission members and advisors include:
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Albert Cook (Co-Chair) has been a member of the Social Studies Department at New Paltz High School for 25 years, where he currently teaches World History, AP American History, and Black History. He also has been an instructor in the Urban Education Initiative at Vassar College and lectured throughout the region.
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Susan Stessin-Cohn (Co-Chair), co-author of “In Defiance, Runaways from Slavery in New York’s Hudson River Valley, 1735–1831,” and former professor of social studies education at SUNY New Paltz, is currently the Historian for the Town of New Paltz, and recipient of the Bruce Dearstyne Award for excellence.
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Ashley Hurlburt-Biagini is a local research historian and web developer. She is the former Manager of Collections and Archives at Historic Huguenot Street, where she co-curated various exhibits, and co-authored “In Defiance”, alongside Stessin-Cohn.
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Philip White is a recent graduate of SUNY New Paltz and the son of a local historian and has been involved since the fall of 2022 in researching the history of slavery in the Hudson Valley.
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The Advisory Board includes Erica Brown, Taylor Bruck, Debra Bruno, Jimmy Buff, Wendy E. Harris, Donna Jeffress, Esi Lewis, Esq., Jonathan Palmer, Kitt Vanderzee Potter, and Philip Timbrouck.
Next month, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will make a website available to the public through the County Clerk’s Office that will include a database of all primary documents, an interactive map containing the locations of historic houses in Ulster County known to have been involved in enslavement, an overview of historic Black burial grounds, and an extensive collection of stories chronicling the lives of historic personages of African descent.
Ulster County Executive, UCEDA, and Educational Leaders Announce Planned Workforce Development Hub at iPark 87
In a major announcement on Monday, Ulster County, Ulster BOCES, SUNY New Paltz, and SUNY Ulster are joining forces in an unprecedented partnership to create a hub for workforce training and development at iPark-87, the site of the former IBM complex in the Town of Ulster. The vision is to create opportunities for students and residents at all levels of education and a pathway into meaningful jobs through partnerships with employers, laying the foundation for a diverse, sustainable, and resilient economy for our county and region.
The hub will include a new Sustainable Ulster Workforce Innovation Center–a collaborative undertaking involving Ulster County, educational partners, community-based organizations, and employers–-as well as a new Ulster BOCES Career and Technical Center. National Resources, the owners of iPark-87, will remodel and fit out 150,000 sq feet of space in the former IBM building complex for the new workforce development hub.
The County’s Annual Report Now Available to the Public Online
Each year, the County Executive prepares an annual report to the Legislature on the work of the County’s 26 departments, and we’ve now created an online version for the public in an accessible format for you to review. It’s a great way to learn more about what your County government does, and what’s been accomplished over the last year.
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Healthy Ulster Explores Social Media's Impact on Youth Mental Health for Mental Health Awareness Month
Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association point to growing evidence that social media is causing harm to young people’s mental health. The Ulster County Department of Health's Healthy Ulster Radio show welcomed nationally renowned expert, Dr. Yann Poncin to explore and discuss this issue further, including steps that parents can take to help protect their kids. Dr. Poncin is the Medical Director of Youth Services, Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, and Assistant Professor at the Child Study Center at Yale University's School of Medicine.
Ulster County and RUPCO Awarded $5 Million to Continue Successful “Plus One” Home Program
We're thrilled to announce that Ulster County, in collaboration with RUPCO, has secured a $5 million grant to continue the highly successful Plus One ADU Program, and will be opening a second round of applications for homeowners this summer. Eligible homeowners who earn 100% or less of Ulster County's Area Median Income can receive financial assistance of up to approximately $110,000 for ADU construction or rehabilitation of a housing unit on their property, which can be attached to a home, above a garage, or free-standing.
ADUs have multiple benefits, including providing rental income to homeowners and an affordable way for renters to live in residential neighborhoods. Building an ADU can also enable older homeowners to “age in place,” providing housing on-site for a caregiver. They are also a “green” housing solution because of their scale and close proximity to existing residences. There are many great reasons to consider an ADU if they are permitted in your municipality. The following communities have zoning that supports ADUs: City of Kingston, Town of Woodstock, Town of Saugerties, Town of Rosendale, Village of Ellenville, Village of New Paltz, Town of Lloyd, and Town of Ulster.
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Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency Recognized During Compost Awareness Week
Ulster County Executive Metzger recognized the Ulster County Resource Recovery Agency (UCRRA) during Compost Awareness Week for its contributions to diverting food scraps and yard waste from the landfill and turning that waste into high-quality compost that enriches the soil for our farms and gardens.
Since 2012, the organization has diverted over 31,000 tons of organic waste from landfills, producing nearly 18,000 tons of compost, and avoided approximately 1,080 metric tons of methane emissions--a potent greenhouse gas contributing to climate change--that would have otherwise been generated by landfilling this waste. Thank you, UCRRA, for your commitment to environmental stewardship, and for inspiring us all to embrace practices that help fight climate change, reduce waste, and enrich the soils of our County’s farms and gardens!
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Ulster County offers a variety of mental health programs and resources for our residents, including for youth. We're here for you! Learn more about available programs and how we can help.
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Department of Mental Health Office Hours – May 16 & May 23
A representative from the Ulster County Department of Mental Health will be hosting neighborhood office hours on two upcoming dates in Kingston and the Town of Ulster 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, May 16
🕕1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
📍 Town of Ulster Public Library, 860 Ulster Ave, Kingston, NY
📅 Thursday, May 23
🕕 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 People’s Place, 17 St. James Street, Kingston, 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.
Join Us On the Nature Bus - Upcoming Routes for Saturday, May 18 & Saturday, May 25
Explore the County's natural treasures and destination favorites with the Nature Bus! Both transportation and admission to the sites are entirely free. Join us on these upcoming routes:
📅 Saturday, May 18 - Mountain Route
📍 Ashokan Rail Trail (Activities include: Walking and Biking)
📍 Catskills Visitor Center* (Activities include: Walking and Fire Tower Climb)
*It’s also Invasive Species Work Day at the Catskills Center from 9 AM to 1 PM!
📅 Saturday, May 25 - 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)
*It’s also Mayfest and Makers Market at Walkway Over the Hudson from 12 PM - 5 PM!
Prepare for your Nature Bus adventure by remembering to bring your helmet for biking, pack snacks and water for nourishment, apply sunscreen for protection against UV rays, wear appropriate attire and footwear for comfort and safety, and ensure your phone is fully charged for navigation and communication.
Upcoming Department of Mental Health Open House – Wednesday, May 22
The Ulster County Department of Mental Health is pleased to invite the community to their Open House on Wednesday, May 22 at their new home on the 4th floor of 368 Broadway in Kingston.
📅 Wednesday, May 22
🕕 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
📍 Ulster County Department of Mental Health, 368 Broadway, Suite 401, Kingston
We look forward to welcoming our residents to visit our new space, meet our staff, and learn about available programs and services! Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please call (845) 340-4110.
National EMS Week: May 19-25
Throughout National EMS Week and every day, we extend our deepest appreciation to our EMS heroes for their work to safeguard our community's health and well-being. From emergency response to compassionate care, their professionalism and dedication shine bright. Thank you for your service, Ulster County EMS agencies!
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Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) Route Optimization Plan
We are charting a course for Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) to better serve our residents' needs — and we want to hear from YOU as we embark on this effort! UCAT and the Ulster County Transportation Council are undertaking a comprehensive assessment of our public transit system — including routes, schedules, and services — and we need your input. Whether or not you take the bus, please take our brief survey to help us improve service in our County– available in English or en Español.
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Grant Opportunity to Support Veterans Experiencing Homelessness
If you work with an organization that can host a “Stand Down” event to provide services and supplies to veterans experiencing homelessness, there are funds available to cover the costs. Learn more about this opportunity sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS).
This information is being provided for the benefit of Ulster Residents, these programs are not operated or controlled by the County of Ulster.
Now Hiring Lifeguards for Ulster County Pool – $18/hour
Make a splash with us at the Ulster County Pool and help create a safe and enjoyable experience for all. We're seeking lifeguards to join our team for the upcoming season. As a lifeguard, you'll be responsible for performing first aid, rescue work, and enforcing preventive water safety measures effectively. We're seeking individuals who are not only skilled swimmers but also possess strong observational skills and a commitment to public safety.
Pay is $18.00 an hour. Applicants must have an American Red Cross Lifeguarding Certificate or its equivalent, and an American Red Cross Basic Life Support CPR Certificate or its equivalent. Ready to dive in? Contact Lisa Lamark at llam@co.ulster.ny.us or (845) 340-7368 to apply and be part of our lifeguard team this summer!
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Job Openings in Ulster County
Ulster County is Hiring! 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.
The Ulster County Government strictly adheres to the principles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Americans with Disability Act.
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