A Message from Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger

Dear friends, Winter Storm Fern barreled through our County last weekend, dumping over 20 inches of snow in many areas, and I want to thank the men and women staffing our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) throughout the storm. The County Emergency Services, Health Department, Social Services, Public Works,  Sheriff’s Office, and Central Hudson were all on site to coordinate emergency responses. A special thanks to the EOC leadership team — Commissioner of Emergency Services Everett Erichsen, Emergency Management Director Mike Madison, and Deputy County Executive Jamie Capuano.  Lastly, I want to thank all of YOU, our residents, for following the travel restrictions during the storm. The roads were very hazardous, and we were able to keep them clear of traffic for emergency vehicles and plows.  It's a bear of winter, with frigid temps expected over the weekend, and both Ellenville and Kingston Warming Centers will be operating 24/7. Stay safe and warm, and thank you for being part of our community. All my best,

Recent News & Events

24/7 Crisis Support Center Opens in Kingston

We’re thrilled to announce a transformative addition to Ulster County’s mental health services — a new Crisis Support Center that provides around-the-clock support seven days a week for youth and adults in crisis. The Center is located on the first floor of the Ulster County Center for Well-Being at 368 Broadway in Kingston, and is operated by People USA in partnership with our Department of Mental Health. 

Services include clinical assessments, timely intervention, peer support, and coordinated follow-up care, with the goal of reducing immediate risks and helping individuals move toward lasting recovery. The Center offers a safe and welcoming space where people can feel comfortable and supported, and will reduce visits to the hospital emergency room.

The idea for a crisis support center was first proposed by Eve Walter, our Public Health Director, back when she served in the County Legislature, and has been three years in the making! Thank you to the Legislature for your ongoing support, and to Mental Health Commissioner Tara McDonald, Deputy Commissioner Katrina Williams, Special Projects DIrector Joleen Darby, and our partners at People USA for all their work to make this center a reality. 

Ulster County Celebrates Black History Month

February is Black History Month, and this year marks the 100th anniversary of the national observance. Monday evening, we hosted a public celebration in the lobby of the County Office Building with music, song, poetry, and words shared by faith leaders and community and youth leaders. County Executive Metzger issued a Proclamation declaring Black History Month as a County observance, and illuminated the building in red, green, and yellow in honor of the resilience and achievements of Black people throughout the country's and County's history. 

Thank you to Chief Diversity Officer Dina Suggs for organizing the celebration, and to all the community partners who participated, including Harambee, MyKingstonKids, the Center for Creative Education, the Dr. Margaret Wade-Lewis Center for Black History and Culture, the SUNY New Paltz Black Studies Department, St. Paul AME Zion Church (Ellenville), the Ellenville NAACP, My Brother’s Keeper and My Sister’s Keeper (Ellenville), Riverview Missionary Baptist Church (Kingston), and former Ulster County Poet Laureate Kate Hymes. And a shout out to Di Sweet Spot, which provided the delicious refreshments!

County's Food Access Fund Distributes $130,000 to 32 Food Pantries

County Executive Metzger and Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley last week announced the distribution of $130,000 in funding to 32 community-based food assistance providers through the Ulster Food Access Fund — a voluntary fund we set up in the fall as frontline hunger-relief organizations struggled to meet demand in the face of federal cuts to food banks.  We are grateful to our community, which always steps up for those in need!  

Local pantries and organizations received grants ranging from $1,500 to $10,000, depending on the numbers they serve. Congratulations to all of the recipients! They include: 

Angel Food East in Kingston; Ascension Holy Trinity/Mission Center Food Pantries; Atonement Lutheran Church; Beyond the 4 Walls Outreach Program; Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster; Christ Lutheran Church; Church of St. Mary & St. Andrew in Ellenville; Clinton Avenue United Methodist Church; Ellenville Regional Hospital; Esopus Community Foundation; Family Outreach Food Pantry in Highland; Good Neighbor Food Pantry of Woodstock; Happy to Help Food Pantry in Kingston; Helping Hands Food Pantry in Gardiner; Hudson Valley Current; Hudson Valley National Center for Veteran Reintegration; Kingston Emergency Food Collaborative; Kingston Outreach Services; Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry at the Wallkill Reformed Church; Olivebridge Food Pantry; Phillies Bridge Farm Project; Reservoir Food Pantry; Rochester Food Pantry; Rosendale Food Pantry; St. Augustine Church; St. Paul AME Zion Church; SUNY New Paltz; the Salvation Army of Greater New York; Ulster County Community Action Committee; Ulster Heights Methodist Church Food Pantry; Windows of Heaven Food Pantry; and Woodstock Meals.

County Executive Previews Upcoming Initiatives at RVBA Annual Breakfast

County Executive Metzger got to connect with local businesses and share some upcoming 2026 County initiatives at the Rondout Valley Business Association’s annual breakfast. Two new County Revolving Loan Fund programs to expand access to low-cost capital for our businesses and farms, a new “Main Street Forward” program to support business corridor planning and projects, workforce development programs, a Sustainable Tourism Strategic Plan, and events and programs our Tourism team is organizing around the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War, 2026 World Cup, and more. 

Thank you to RVBA for supporting our Rondout Valley businesses, and a big thank you to Mohonk Mountain House for hosting!

Annual Anti-Human Trafficking Forum at SUNY Ulster

Each year during Human Trafficking Awareness Month, the Ulster County Interagency Council on Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking holds an informative forum on a different theme, and this year the Council focused on the timely topic of undocumented immigrants and their particular vulnerability to trafficking and exploitation, which thrives in a climate of fear and isolation. The keynote speaker, Renán Salgado, the Anti-Human Trafficking Director of the Kingston-based Worker Justice Center of New York, provided valuable context, and we appreciated his insights from many years of experience.

A special thanks to Social Services Commissioner Mike Iapoce and Secretary to the Commissioner Beth LaValle for their work in organizing the forum on behalf of the Interagency Council, and a big thanks to SUNY Ulster for hosting! For more information about the County's Interagency Council, visit ulstercountyny.gov/Departments/Social-Services/IACDVHT.

Ulster County Emergency Services Dept. Hosts Statewide EMS Leadership Training

The EMS Division of the Department of Emergency Services hosted the New York State EMS Leadership Training Course last weekend at the County's training center in Kingston. Twenty-two EMS professionals from Ulster County and around the state participated in the 16‑hour program taught by NYS Division of State Emergency Medical Services instructors and developed with support from the New York State Office of Rural Health. The training focused on strengthening leadership capacity within the EMS community, and we were proud to host this program in Ulster County!

St. Joseph Confirmation Preparation Class Brightens the Holidays for Home Bound

The 7th and 8th graders in the Confirmation Preparation class at St Joseph Church in New Paltz brightened the holidays for home-bound seniors by making them holiday cards (over 350 of them!), which the Ulster County Office for the Aging (OFA) distributed through the home-delivered meals program. The County Executive joined Sister Philomena and OFA's Sue Koppenhaver and Christine Noble to thank the kids, and present each of them with a Certificate of Appreciation for this wonderful act of kindness.

Congrats to John Nilsen, Veteran of the Month

Congratulations to John Nilsen, retired Post Commander of the Rosendale/Tilson American Legion Post 1219, on receiving the Veteran of the Month Award from our Veteran Services Department! An Air Force veteran and 3rd generation Ironworker for 42 years, John has been a strong advocate for veterans and played an important role in creating the Ulster County Veterans Cemetery in New Paltz as well as the Veterans' Monument in front of the Ulster County Office Building. He also served in leadership positions in the local union before retiring as an ironworker. We appreciate John’s dedicated service to his country, community, county, and the labor movement over many years.

For more information about VSA programs, visit: ulstercountyny.gov/VSA.

Celebrating State Grant Funding for Rondout and Marbletown Community Centers

On January 22, County Executive Metzger joined DASNY President Robert J. Rodriguez and state and local representatives and community members at the Albert Brown Community Center in Kingston to celebrate nearly $4.5 million in BRICKS grant awards to Kingston, Marbletown, and Red Hook for major improvements to their community centers. Also in attendance was the family of the Center’s namesake, Albert Brown! Thank you to Governor Hochul and DASNY for these major investments to renovate and improve these vital community spaces, and congratulations to Kingston, Marbletown, and Red Hook!

County Spotlight: Department of Public Works Snow Removal

It’s been a snowy winter so far, so today we are shining a light on the Highways and Bridges division of our Department of Public Works — the crews that have been out on the roads, day and night, keeping roads clear and safe, and helping keep the economy and community running! 

Mobilizing for the Storm 

For the DPW snow removal team, led by Field Operations Manager Ryan Beesmer and Construction Supervisor Dylan Babcock, work begins days before a forecasted storm. The team takes inventory of their vehicles and supplies like salt and sand. As the storm begins, nearly 50 plow drivers head out on different routes across the county. Road maintenance leaders and section supervisors track progress and manage intersections, while the maintenance and mechanical staff make sure all the equipment stays running throughout the storm. The plows usually run their routes multiple times depending on the duration and intensity of the snow, trying to find a sweet spot of safety and efficiency.  

As Winter Storm Fern blew in last weekend, the crew were fully assembled at the substations by 7 am Sunday, and plowed throughout the storm until 2:30 PM the next day — over 30 hours of plowing that only paused now and then during whiteout conditions, when driving was too hazardous. Once plowing was done, the crew began hauling snow from County parking lots so government operations could resume by Tuesday.

Sorry About Your Mailbox... 

The snow removal team recognizes that, for all the good they do, sometimes there’s collateral damage. “We totally own the fact that sometimes drivers get over a little too far and knock over a mailbox,” says Supervisor Babcock. Manager Beesmer also wants to remind everyone to check that their mailbox posts are in good condition so the snow doesn’t blow them over. You can find the County’s mailbox damage protocol here. 

The team also understands the frustration when plows push snow in front of driveways after they’ve been shoveled out, though unfortunately, there is not much choice when working to keep the roads clear. “I totally understand the fact that you just shoveled your behind off, and now you gotta go back out for another six inches of snow at the end of your driveway,” Babcock says. Commissioner of Public Works Brendan Masterson reminds us that the drivers share in our pain: “The first thing they have to do after their shift is shovel out the end of their driveway.”

We Love Snow 

One would think the plow crews would not be a fan of so much snow, given that it can keep them out of their warm beds and on the roads all night, but that is not the case! “There’s always a love for snow when you’re in this job,” Babcock says. 

Thank you to the DPW crews for keeping us safe. We appreciate you!

Upcoming Events & Happenings

February Lunch and Learn: Early Baseball and Black History in Ulster County

The Ulster County Clerk’s Office and the Ulster County Restorative Justice & Community Empowerment Center are pleased to announce the first quarterly “Lunch and Learn” program! The event starts on Thursday, February 12 at 12 PM at 733 Broadway, Kingston. This panel presentation focuses on the remarkable early history of baseball in Ulster County — a topic that sheds light on the roots of our national pastime and reveals a remarkable story of Ulster’s Black community in the mid-19th century.

Panelists for the talk include Daniel Torres of the Ulster County Vintage Base Ball Association, Ulster County Historian Eddie Moran, and Ulster County Archivist Jon Palmer. Physical seating for the event is limited to 25 attendees, and the program will also be made available through zoom. Those interested in attending or viewing the event should email Kim Mapes, Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator, at kmap@ulstercountyny.gov to reserve an in-person seat or request a link for the zoom broadcast.

📅 Thursday, Feb. 12
🕕 12 PM (noon)
📍 Ulster County Restorative Justice & Community Empowerment Center, 733 Broadway, Kingston

Participate Ulster: We Want to Hear From You!

Nominate a Senior of the Year

Each year, the Office for the Aging honors two Seniors of the Year. OFA is now seeking nominations for the 2026 Senior of the Year award! Please consider nominating a notable senior in your life that has demonstrated a long-term commitment to Ulster County. You can find more info and the nomination form here. If you have any questions, please call OFA at (845) 340-3456.

Connect, Engage & Serve: Opportunities and Resources

Extreme Cold Coming; Ellenville Warming Center Temporarily on 24-Hour Schedule

Ulster County is facing dangerously cold weather this week, with the coldest conditions expected Friday through Sunday. Life-threatening cold and wind chills will impact the entire county, especially overnight and in higher elevations.

The Ulster County Warming Center at the Hunt Memorial Building, 124 Canal St, Ellenville, is being temporarily activated to a 24-hour schedule beginning 9 AM on Thursday, Feb 5 until 9 AM on Monday, Feb 9. It will then return to its regular 5 PM — 9 AM schedule. 

The Ulster County Warming Center in Kingston is open 24/7 at 2nda Iglesia La Mision Church, 80 Elmendorf St, Kingston. The center can be contacted directly at (845)-334-0551. Law Enforcement agencies or any other organizations that come in contact with or becomes aware of any individuals that are in need of sheltering can bring them to the warming center. 

• The Family of Woodstock Hotline can be reached at (845) 338-2370. 
• Here are some other tips for staying safe in this cold weather: 
• Limit time outdoors; dress in layers, cover exposed skin
• Check on elderly neighbors and those without heat
• Bring pets indoors
• Protect pipes: Allow faucets to drip, open cabinet doors under sinks
• Check your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors
  Use heating devices safely: Keep space heaters 3 feet from combustibles; never use generators or grills indoors

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.

• Bridge Crew Worker I – $30.77/hour
• Social Welfare Examiner Trainee (NY HELPS) – $24.60/hour
• Bus Driver - $25.32/hour

The Ulster County Government strictly adheres to the principles of the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and Americans with Disability Act.