The partnership has purchased the development rights (PDR) on the farm to preserve its use for agricultural purposes in perpetuity; the total estimated cost of the acquisition of a conservation easement at Caora Farm is $410,702. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets contributed $284,100; Dutchess Land Conservancy provided $43,350; Scenic Hudson Land Trust contributed $12,371.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Caora Farm is a prime example of what makes Dutchess County such a special place for all who live and visit here. The farmers are focused on economic growth and investment, and our Partnership for Manageable Growth program provides critical assistance, preserving farmlands to ensure agriculture remains a vital economic engine in our county. This process will ensure Dutchess County’s rich farming tradition for years to come.”

The property is home to a woman-owned and operated diversified sheep farm. Kathleen Weathers and Michele Ferraro own and operate Caora Farm and are committed to sustainable, small-scale farming and community engagement.

The farm has been expanding each year at a manageable and sustainable rate, with its wool products sold locally and regionally. The farmers actively seek novel markets for their wool, such as for housing insulation and creating pressed felt products.  Caora Farm is also part of the scenic viewshed visible from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.

Dutchess County Legislator Gregg Pulver, who represents the towns of North East, Stanford, Pine Plains and Milan, and chairs the Dutchess County Legislature's Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, and a member of the Dutchess County Agricultural Advisory Committee, said, “Preserving farmland has long been a priority for County Executive Molinaro, my legislative colleagues and myself. This investment in the Caora Farm is the most recent embodiment of that commitment. Part of the scenic viewshed along the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, Caora Farm is a true treasure, and this conservation easement ensures that it will be protected for generations to come.”

Working sheepdogs are a significant component of the Caora Farm operation; annually, Caora Farm hosts a three-day sheepdog trials competition, which is open to the public at no cost. Through this and other outreach events, Caora Farm remains actively engaged with the community, educating them about agriculture.

Ms. Ferraro and Ms. Weathers said, “We are infinitely pleased that Caora Farm will remain in agriculture in perpetuity. Preserving farmland is one of the greatest things that we can do for future generations. We have both lived and worked in Dutchess County for three decades so it is even more meaningful. This is such a rich and special landscape, embedded in a community that cares. We are delighted.”

This is the fifth of six such transactions, funded through the Partnership for Manageable Growth, the Dutchess County Legislature authorized in March 2016; the Legislature approved two additional projects earlier this year.

Scenic Hudson Land Trust Executive Director Steve Rosenberg said, “Hudson Valley farms give us so  much — nourishing food, beautiful working land, rural traditions, jobs and lower taxes. Scenic Hudson  thanks the farmers, Michele Ferraro and Kathleen Weathers, for making this commitment to conserve their land. Ensuring the future productive capacity of this farm is critical to the region’s ability to a ramp up efforts to secure sources of fresh, local food for the Hudson Valley and New York City. We’re grateful to New York State, Dutchess County, and the Dutchess Land Conservancy for providing essential support for this project.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “The Farmland Protection Program has helped keep thousands of acres of prime agricultural land in use for current and future farmers, ensuring the sustainability of our food supply and strength of our industry. Since Governor Cuomo took office, the State has not only reinvigorated the program, but has committed historic funding to this important effort, and it is exciting to see yet another farm permanently protected as a result.”

DLC President Becky Thornton said, “We are so happy to help Michele and Kathleen realize their dream of protecting their working sheep farm.  It is extremely gratifying to see another part of the beautiful Harlem Valley protected, ensuring that this ecologically rich area and its farming tradition remain for future generations. We thank our partners, Dutchess County, New York State, and Scenic Hudson, for their work on the project and for recognizing the importance of preserving our area’s agricultural heritage. Woman-owned and operated farms account for only 18 percent of farms in New York State and 33 percent of farm operations in Dutchess County, which makes it especially important to ensure their viability for the future.”

Each year, the Dutchess County Fair, New York State’s second-largest county fair, hosts nearly half a million patrons, and offers visitors a chance to enjoy live entertainment, carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, horticultural displays, and so much more.  However, for some individuals and families with special needs, the lights, sounds, and crowds can make it difficult to enjoy all the Dutchess County Fair has to offer, particularly those individuals with sensory processing issues.   The flashing lights and loud music, in addition to waiting lines for rides, can cause stress and anxiety.

The Fair is offering special needs families early entry to the fairgrounds on Thursday, August 24th starting at 9am, an hour before the official 10am start time.    Families will have the opportunity to enjoy the fairgrounds, including the animal barns on Livestock Hill and the 4H Exhibit Hall, ahead of the crowds.   While not all of the attractions and exhibits will be open at 9am, the soft opening provides families a chance to ease into their day at the Fair as the fairgrounds “wake up for the day,” ahead of the arrival of the crowds.

Additionally, the carnival midway area will open at 9:30am and will be “sensory sensitive” until 11:30am.    The flashing lights, music and other sounds and noises will be turned off until 11:30am to give individuals who are impacted by sensory processing disorders a chance to enjoy the rides without the drawbacks that wait time, lights and sounds can cause.  

Dutchess County Fairgrounds General Manager Andy Imperati said, “The Dutchess County Fair is proud to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ and offer a fun experience for every family!    These adjustments make it a little easier for families with special needs to come and enjoy the Fair, and that is our goal.”

County Executive Molinaro’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, launched in 2015, is a call to action to help make Dutchess County a community that is supportive and inclusive for individuals of all abilities.

The Dutchess County Fair runs Tuesday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 27th, opening at 10am each day.   Admission and ride tickets can be purchased online, at an advance sale discount rate, or on-site. Children under 12 are free.   On Thursday, August 24th, special needs families coming to enjoy “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” Day should enter the Fair at the main ticket gate.  For more information and a full schedule of the Dutchess County Fair’s events, see: http://dutchessfair.com/dutchess-fair/

The County-Wide Shared Services Tax Savings Plan features 35 projects that collectively can provide over $25 million in taxpayer savings in 2018 and 2019 if all projects are successfully implemented. The plan features  a broad spectrum of projects including shared salt and paving material purchasing, motor vehicle repair, website development and maintenance, shared court facilities, Drug Task Force efforts, municipal solar farms and much more.     The projects range from two municipalities partnering together to county government-led projects with multiple local municipalities and school districts partnering in shared efforts.    The plan even includes a regional project with Dutchess and Ulster counties partnering to expand their Conflict Defender Swap program into Family Court, projected to save nearly $70,000 over the two-year period. 

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has promised matching funds for shared service projects where eligible.   Dutchess County will seek to draw down these promised funds to provide greater taxpayer relief as soon as New York State provides eligibility guidelines.

Dutchess County Government has long been a leader in shared service and consolidation efforts, having reduced the size of county government over several years and cutting the county property tax levy each year for the last three years.  Key in those efforts has been the Municipal Innovation Grant Program - specifically designed to incentivize municipalities to share service, evaluate consolidation opportunities, establish a regional delivery of services, and implement other efficiencies.  Since 2013, County Executive Molinaro and the Dutchess County Legislature have allocated nearly $7 million through the Municipal Innovation Grant Program, funding more than 50 projects.

County Executive Molinaro said, “We have built a culture of collaboration and shared services in Dutchess County that has benefited our residents with greater efficiency and cost savings.   This new state imposed mandate was burdensome and unnecessary - a duplication of existing efforts - however, we are grateful to our local and school district leaders who came together to develop this plan.  Together, we crafted a plan that serves as a model for communities across New York and, with promised matching funds, can deliver additional tax relief.”

Collectively, the shared services panel spent more than 1,470 hours formulating the County-Wide Shared Services Tax Savings Plan.  The plan follows the format required by New York State Division of Budget.   The State’s mandated format unrealistically assumes there will be no changes to any of property tax levies for the participating municipalities or the county.   Additionally, since the required timeline for the plan submission forced it to be created separate from the municipalities’ and the county’s budget process, it is impossible to accurately represent what the true impact on individual’s or business’s property tax bill may be.     The savings reflected in the plan may be offset by other cost increases that are likely to occur such as health insurance or increased state imposed mandate costs.

Town of Rhinebeck Supervisor Elizabeth Spiniza said, “This plan represents a lot of work and time invested by local leaders.  Though it was frustrating to be mandated to adhere to the unrealistic format that the State required, I appreciate County Executive Molinaro bringing us all together to continue the strong commitment and momentum we have all made with shared service efforts.    Rhinebeck has been proud to partner with Dutchess County on a variety of projects over the years through the Municipal Innovation Grant Program and the Community Development Block Grant program to improve our community and save taxpayer dollars.  While most of the projects in this plan are ones we were already developing or would have done in the future, it was a welcome opportunity to collaborate and brainstorm for new ideas, despite the bureaucracy of yet another state mandate.”

The County-Wide Shared Services Tax Savings plan has been submitted for review to the Dutchess County Legislature.   The Legislature will hear a presentation on the proposed plan at its August 10th committee meeting.    Additionally, there will be three public hearings for residents to learn about the plan and offer their feedback: 

• August 2nd at 7pm at Dover Town Hall, 126 East Duncan Hill Road, Dover Plains (following “County Government on the Road Information Fair” at 6pm)
• August 30th at 6pm  at the Wappinger Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappinger
• August 31st at 10am in the Dutchess County Legislature Chambers, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie

Following the public hearings, the shared services panel must approve, modify or disapprove the plan and submit it to the state before the September 15th, 2017 submission.

“We are looking forward to a great evening in Dover with valuable information for residents to take advantage of all of the programs and services county government has to offer,” said County Executive Molinaro.  “We will also present our Shared Services Plan that we spent the last few months working on collaboratively with local city, town and village officials as well as school districts and BOCES.    This is an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about the extensive shared services already in place and the new ideas for improved efficiency and cost savings for taxpayers.”

More than a dozen Dutchess County departments and agencies will take part in the Information Fair from 6pm to 7pm, including:

• County Executive’s Office
• County Legislature
• County Clerk
• Sheriff’s Office
• Comptroller
• Public Works
• Behavioral & Community Health
• Community & Family Services
• Office for the Aging
• Human Resources
• Veterans Services
• Emergency Response
• Traffic Safety & STOP-DWI
• Central Services

 
Additionally, a representative from the Office of the New York State Comptroller will have a table at the event to provide assistance and information to residents on a variety of topics, including how to obtain unclaimed funds.

At 7pm, County Executive Molinaro will present the County-Wide Shared Services Tax Savings Plan and seek feedback from residents about the proposed plan.    The plan is the result of  multiple meetings of the shared service panel, consisting of local city, town and village officials, along with representatives from school districts, BOCES, and special improvement districts, held over the past few months.   The proposed plan is available on the County’s Countywide Shared Services Initiative website.

The plan has been submitted for review to the Dutchess County Legislature.   The Legislature will hear a presentation on the proposed plan at its August 10th committee meeting.     In addition to the August 2nd public hearing at Dover Town Hall, there will be two other public hearings for residents to learn about the plan and offer their feedback.  Those hearings are as follows:

• August 30th at 6pm at the Wappinger Town Hall, 20 Middlebush Road, Wappingers Falls
• August 31st at 10am in the Dutchess County Legislature Chambers, 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie

Following the public hearings, the shared services panel must approve, modify or disapprove the plan and submit it to the state before the September 15th, 2017 submission deadline.

Poughkeepsie… Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro has announced Dutchess County has completed acquisition of a 39-acre farmland conservation easement that expands the iconic Shenandoah Farm in East Fishkill, in partnership with the Dutchess Land Conservancy, Scenic Hudson Land Trust and Hudson Highlands Land Trust, through the Partnership for Manageable Growth (PMG). Funding was approved by the Dutchess County Legislature in March 2016, based on recommendation from the Dutchess County Planning Board.
 

The County, through the Partnership for Manageable Growth, contributed $80,000 toward the purchase of the development rights of the Manne property, which abuts the Shenandoah Farm, ensuring the land remains open and available for farming for current and future generations. The Dutchess Land Conservancy contributed $56,317, and Hudson Highlands Land Trust and Scenic Hudson Land Trust contributing $26,677 each. At the closing for the conservation easement, the Manne property, which has been leased by the Shenandoah Farm for many years, was purchased by and made part of the Shenandoah Farm, further ensuring its continued use for agriculture.
 

County Executive Molinaro said, “Through the Partnership for Manageable Growth, Dutchess County is able to preserve farmlands that are key to keeping our agricultural heritage alive for generations to come. Agriculture, as a whole, benefits Dutchess County in various ways – from our economy and aesthetic beauty, to our communities’ charm and the health of our residents – and farming remains one of our strongest industries. Dutchess County continues to be positively affected by the farmlands we preserve through the Partnership for Manageable Growth.”
 

The Shenandoah Farm is owned by the multi-generation Jackson family, who have a long history of dairy farming in East Fishkill. The establishment of a conservation easement on the Manne property enabled the Jacksons to purchase these properties for continued farm use. Shenandoah Farm is a Century Farm and a Dairy of Distinction, producing approximately 2,300 pounds of milk each day (just under one million pounds per year), which is sold to Hudson Valley Fresh, a dairy cooperative. Corn, alfalfa and hay are also grown on the farm. As part of the “Gateway to Dutchess County” located at the southwest junction of Interstate 84 and the Taconic State Parkway, the farm vista signals arrival in pastoral Dutchess County and as a symbol of the County’s agricultural and natural heritage. More than 500,000 cars pass by this farm each week on the Taconic State parkway and I-84.

Dutchess County Legislator John Metzger said, “The Shenandoah Farm is a true treasure in East Fishkill. Agriculture is a challenging industry, and I am proud of Dutchess County’s commitment to local farms. These investments pay huge dividends – strengthening our local economy and enhancing our quality of life with healthy food options and environmental protection.”

Selling development rights encourages property owners to permanently preserve their land for agriculture, providing important funds to reinvest in a farm operation or transition a farm to the next generation.  In this case, the purchase of the easement allowed the Jacksons to permanently reacquire land important to the Shenandoah Farm’s continued success.

Owner Verne Jackson said, “This land was originally owned by my great grandfather. We’ve been working the land for many, many years. It is a natural part of our farm.  This transaction has now brought the land home.”

Dutchess Land Conservancy President Becky Thornton said, “We are very proud to have had the opportunity to work with the Jackson family to purchase land that they have actively farmed for over 53 years. It is a wonderful addition to their neighboring Shenandoah Farm and could not have come at a more perfect time – the farm celebrates its 125th anniversary this year. The land was protected simultaneously with the sale to the Jackson family contributing to both the local farming economy and helping to protect part of the I-84 and the Taconic State Parkway viewshed.  We are tremendously grateful to our partners, Dutchess County, Scenic Hudson, Hudson Highlands Land Trust, the EPA, and Joseph Manne for helping to make a long term goal of the Jacksons come to fruition.”

The protection of the Manne property also has advantages for County residents beyond access to fresh and healthy foods. Even after development rights are sold, agricultural lands stay on the tax rolls, ensuring towns can continue to provide critical services. Studies indicate agricultural lands cost communities significantly less to provide services to than residential lands. In addition, the Manne property is uniquely valuable to agricultural tourism development.

The significance of the scenic view of the landscape offered by Shenandoah Farm, which now includes the additional 39 acres with a conservation easement, is but one of the reasons this project was able to draw support from not only Dutchess County, but from the three local land trust partners.

Scenic Hudson Land Trust Executive Director Steve Rosenberg, “Great news for an important farm. We must nurture our farmland for our economy and jobs but also for a Hudson Valley foodshed supplying fresh, healthy food to people in the valley and New York City. Seeing this farm while driving past on the Taconic Parkway and Interstate 84 reminds people of what is special about the Hudson Valley. Scenic Hudson is proud we contributed to strengthening this farm, and we are thankful to County Executive Mark Molinaro and his staff, as well as the County Legislature, for their partnership and financial investment. Cheers to partners Dutchess Land Conservancy and Hudson Highlands Land Trust. We also thank staff at the EPA whose help and commitment to conserving this dairy farm was tremendous.”

Dutchess County Legislator Marge Horton said, “Protecting the Shenandoah Farm fulfills the mission of the Partnership for Manageable Growth – preserving Dutchess County’s great legacy of farming. My legislative colleagues and I appreciate the proud tradition agriculture has played in our county’s development, and the current role it plays in keeping Dutchess County robust, and we are proud to support projects like this to ensure farming remains vibrant for years to come.”

Hudson Highlands Land Trust Executive Director Michelle Smith said, “The Hudson Highlands Land Trust is delighted to partner with Shenandoah Farms, Dutchess County, Dutchess Land Conservancy and Scenic Hudson to protect this farmland in East Fishkill. Situated between Shenandoah and Hosner Mountains, both of which are traversed by the Appalachian Trail, and with close proximity to two major highways, this farmland was at high risk of development. We commend our partners on taking the lead to ensure its permanent protection.”

County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County is proud to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ about our neighbors of all abilities, and our annual picnic provides children with special needs and their families, who often face everyday challenges, a care-free day of summer fun. This event also gives those families the opportunity to connect with organizations and agencies that benefit countless children throughout our community. It’s one of many ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ events we hold throughout the year to show Dutchess County’s dedication to serving every resident of every ability.”

The picnic is a collaboration of multiple Dutchess County Government departments, including Community & Family Services, Public Works, Behavioral & Community Health, the Office for the Aging and the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.

Among the additions to this year’s picnic are a carnival theme including games of skill and entertainment, the Little Brays of Sunshine therapy donkeys, Blue Path autism service dogs, BeeBee the Clown, storytellers and more. Local service providers and agencies will also be on hand to assist families in need of services for their children with special needs.

The lunch menu will include a gluten-free option of grilled chicken strips, in addition to hamburgers, macaroni and cheese, watermelon, yogurt, popcorn and microgreen smoothies, among other options.

The annual Special Needs Picnic is made possible through donations from the community; this year’s sponsors include HRHCare Community Health, Helping Other People Everywhere (HOPE), Greystone Programs Inc., Williams Lumber & Home Center, Guardian Self Storage, Rhinebeck Animal Hospital, New Horizons Resources, Inc., Simply Gourmet, and Dutchess Tekcon Industries Heating and Cooling. Local businesses interested in being an “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” sponsor can call (845) 486-3319 for more information on sponsoring this popular event, as well as other “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” events throughout the year. Sponsorships include prominent recognition on all future promotional materials for the picnic.

County Executive Molinaro conceived the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative in 2015 as a way of fostering a more welcoming and inclusive community for individuals with special needs. Dutchess County has since taken numerous steps to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY,” including holding events such as the annual picnic for children with special needs and their families. More information about the initiative is available at thinkdifferently.net.

Download the Special Needs Picnic event flyer (.pdf) 

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “The continued recognition of the dedicated work of our County’s Office of Central and Information Services (OCIS), led by Commissioner Glenn Marchi, further demonstrates our efforts to create a more open and engaging platform for our residents to readily access information and communicate with county government. We will continue to build upon our existing infrastructure and innovative technology to make retrieving information and resources easier and more efficient.”

“Congratulations to Dutchess County Government for receiving this noteworthy and deserving recognition. The services and information Dutchess County OCIS provides to residents is paramount in a day and age where technology is rapidly evolving and we must find new and innovative ways to adapt to change. This award further demonstrates Dutchess County’s commitment to providing transparent, accessible and open communication tools and information to its residents and visitors,” said Dutchess County Legislator Alan Surman.

Below are some of the County’s initiatives highlighted in the various Digital Counties Survey categories:

Transparency, Open Data, Data Governance

• Dutchess County continues to enhance its presentation of budget information to the public, with content readily available offering a big picture of the County’s financial condition with budget video presentations, Budget-in-Brief documents, and detailed graphs and departmental line-item budgets.
   
• Dutchess Dashboard is a “one-stop information source” for the public to monitor the key economic and service indicators impacting Dutchess County Government’s programs and services, as well as its fiscal position.
   
• Streamlined and enhanced information to the public through the Enterprise Content Management system including direct access to County documents and data such as Legislative Resolutions, County Clerk Document, Ancient Documents, and Class Specifications/Job Descriptions Search features.
   
• Meetings of the Dutchess County Legislature are webcast live and the webcasts are then archived along with meeting agendas and resolutions, making it easy for residents to stay up to date and informed about legislative actions.

Mobility/Mobile Applications
 

• The County has redesigned many of its web applications including the County employee intranet, Environmental Division Information Tracking System Project Review and Permit Status and municipal websites using a “responsive” design making these applications easier to use and to access on mobile devices.
   
• County employees, including Adult and Child Protective Service workers, public health nurses, and case managers, who engage with the public in the community, utilize iPads and tablets to streamline operations by performing assessments in the field. These mobile tools enable them to have key information readily available and complete necessary reporting with clients quickly and easily.
   
• Mobile messaging and field reporting allows public safety employees to remotely have a text conversation with the E-911 Communications Center or perform field reporting remotely from a law enforcement patrol vehicle.
   
• The County’s Aerial Access web application enables the public to view multiple years of aerial photography while also giving the user the ability to identify their location and start aerial views.
   
• The HELPLINE mobile app and TEXT to 911 are critical mobile applications available to provide residents in crisis and/or emergencies direct access to County service providers.
   

Social Media/Portal/Citizen Engagement
 

• Dutchess County Government is active on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to inform and engage residents.
   
• The County’s Dutchess Delivery service allows residents to subscribe to more than 60 broad-ranging topic areas. Updates are automatically distributed to subscribers via email or in some instances, text message. Some municipalities have incorporated a shared services offering of Dutchess Delivery including Beacon Delivery and East Fishkill Delivery.
   

Shared Services/Collaborative Initiatives
 

• Dutchess County Government has continuously worked to create shared services, consolidation and cost saving opportunities. OCIS has taken the lead on this effort, providing responsive website redesign and development, technical services such as personal computer PC/server support, network services, software development, consulting services, and IT assessments.
   
• OCIS plans and coordinates the annual Shared Services Summit bringing together close to 100 state, county and local officials to discuss and brainstorm shared services opportunities.
   
• OCIS has partnered with numerous local municipalities and government entities, including the City of Beacon, Town of East Fishkill, and the Arlington Fire District to redesign and host websites, as well as streamline information technology services, providing cost savings and greater efficiency in service delivery.
   

Cybersecurity Measures 
 

• Dutchess County Government is persistent in its efforts to confront cybersecurity threats and ensure continuity of operations in the event of an emergency. OCIS promotes security awareness training with alerts, best practices and tips on the County intranet and OCIS staff attend annual security awareness training.
   
• Security systems are utilized to log, block and detect botnets, malware, phishing, spyware and viruses.

OCIS Commissioner Glenn Marchi said, “We are fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated team at Dutchess County OCIS who work each and every day to develop and provide innovative technology and information services to our residents and County departments. As we look to overhaul the County’s website, we will strive to continue in our efforts to present information and County resources in a way that is user-friendly and easily accessible to the public. Additionally, we will advance our partnerships with our local municipalities to create new shared services and cost saving opportunities.”
 

“As technology continues to grow in all facets of our lives, county governments are adapting and innovating,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “The Digital Counties Survey spotlights how counties deploy technology to enhance services and benefit residents while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources.”

To learn more about the Digital Counties Survey, visit: http://www.govtech.com/cdg/

“Dutchess County continues to be among the highest-rated county governments in New York State thanks to our commitment to conservative fiscal management and focus on smaller, smarter, more effective government,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro. “Standard & Poor’s has continued to endorse our financial management and notes we are poised for an upgraded outlook if we continue to build on our success.”

There is only one county statewide with a higher Standard & Poor’s bond rating.

Dutchess County Legislator Don Sagliano, who serves as Vice Chair for the Legislature’s Budget, Finance and Personnel Committee said, “Dutchess County’s AA+ ratings demonstrates our conservative fiscal stewardship and pays dividends for our taxpayers as the high rating drives down the cost of borrowing for important projects such as infrastructure repairs and upgrades for our roads, bridges and facilities.    We must continue to be diligent in our fiscal decisions as we approach the 2018 budget season as we know costs will continue to rise for state and federal mandates, utilities, pensions and health insurance and there are also unanticipated events we must be prepared for.”

Standard & Poor’s noted several strengths that reaffirmed the AA+ rating including:

• Very strong economy
• Strong management
• Strong budgetary performance
• Very strong budgetary flexibility
• Very strong liquidity
• Very strong debt and contingent liability position

Outlook
Standard & Poor’s qualified its ratings for Dutchess County Government with a “stable” outlook, reflecting the strengths noted in the report.   The report noted an “upside scenario” which could occur if there is continued growth to the tax base, as well as continued economic growth with improving income levels.  Having strong levels of reserves available despite increased fixed costs over the near future could have a positive effect on the County’s rating.

Dutchess County Comptroller Jim Coughlan said, “This impressive bond rating is yet another validation of the sound fiscal policies we have established in Dutchess County Government.    Bond ratings of this caliber are not easy to achieve and it is certainly good news for our residents.”

View Standard & Poor’s full report (.pdf).

County Executive Molinaro said, “We thank the Town of East Fishkill for choosing to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ and welcoming residents with special needs to experience how supportive Red Wing Lake is for every resident of every ability. East Fishkill is one of more than 20 communities throughout Dutchess County that have accepted our challenge to be more inclusive to individuals of all abilities. I hope more local municipalities follow East Fishkill’s example and similarly ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY.’ ”

Red Wing Park offers beach mats for easy access to and from the water, a floating sand wheelchair, , aquatic assistant swimming devices, and new playground equipment; much of the new equipment was donated by local businesses. Red Wing Park is a 17-acre park, located at 11 Old Farm Road in Hopewell Junction.

“ThinkDIFFERENTLY Day at the Beach” will include music, face-painting, sand castle building, and a hands-on bird program from Taconic Outdoor Education. Dutchess County Legislator John Metzger and Town of East Fishkill council members Nicholas D'Alessandro and Tom Franco were among those instrumental in the formation of the event.

Families are invited to pack a lunch, and food and beverages will be available for sale. Residents who would like more information or to make special requests can call (845) 226-8395.

Town of East Fishkill Supervisor John Hickman said, “County Executive Molinaro’s ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ efforts have positively impacted countless people – not just here in Dutchess County, but throughout our state. Our town is honored to join the County Executive’s movement and welcome all residents of all abilities to our great Red Wing Lake, which offers countless recreation opportunities for children with special needs. East Fishkill is proud to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY,’ and we hope to make positive changes to the lives of our neighbors with special needs.”

In 2015, County Executive Molinaro established the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, which looks to foster a more inclusive community for Dutchess County residents with special needs. Since then, Dutchess County has taken numerous steps to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” about residents with special needs, including funding, through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, several projects featuring accessible infrastructure; partnering with the Anderson Center for Autism to provide free Autism Supportive Environment training to businesses; and appointing Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner of Special Needs, the first such position of its kind in the state.

In the past year, more than 60 towns, villages and cities throughout New York State have adopted “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” resolutions to promote an inclusive environment for residents of every ability. The majority of communities in Dutchess County, including the Town of East Fishkill, have adopted similar resolutions.

Dutchess County Legislator Marge Horton said, “Every boy and girl, regardless of ability, deserves a chance to enjoy their childhood, and ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY Day at the Beach’ will provide that opportunity for children in East Fishkill. County Executive Molinaro has set the example with his ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ efforts, and I applaud the Town of East Fishkill for answering the call to welcome every individual of every ability.”

Red Wing Lake also includes a bath house with restrooms and showers, a first-aid office, a concession stand, basketball, volleyball, badminton, playground, fishing, swim lanes, picnic areas and a pavilion.

# # #

Poughkeepsie…The Dutchess County Department of Public Works (DPW) has announced work is expected to begin on or around August 1st to replace Bridge C-19 on Hollow Road (CR 14) in the Town of Clinton. The bridge, located over the Little Wappinger Creek, was originally built in 1931 and is in need of replacement due to structural deficiencies. Project work includes the replacement of the existing bridge and abutments, improvements to the existing curve across the bridge, widened travel lanes and shoulders, and the installation of new stone parapets to maintain the historical landscape of the area surrounding the bridge. Project work is anticipated to be complete by late fall.

Hollow Road will be closed for the duration of the project and a detour route will be posted. View a project detour map.

Motorists are advised to plan for additional time and to exercise extra caution on the detour route, obey the posted speed limits, traffic advisory signs, and the directions from flaggers in the work zone to ensure the safety of workers and other motorists. Bridge C-19 averages approximately 1,500 vehicles per day.

For more information, please contact the Dutchess County Department of Public Works’ Engineering Division at (845) 486-2925.

The County contributed $118,000 toward the purchase of the development rights, ensuring the land remains open and available for farming for current and future generations. The Dutchess County Legislature approved funding from the Partnership for Manageable Growth (PMG) Program in March 2016, based on recommendation from the Dutchess County Planning Board.
 
Total purchase price of the conservation easement was $1,056,410, with the NYSDAM contributing $788,750 and Scenic Hudson providing the balance of the purchase price. DLC was the grant applicant on behalf of the landowners, served as project manager, provided a portion of the closing costs and important in-kind services, and will hold and manage the conservation easement on the farm.  The landowners also contributed to the project covering a portion of the closing costs.
 
County Executive Molinaro said, “Through the Partnership for Manageable Growth, Dutchess County is able to partner with local and state entities to protect active farms that are so crucial to our rich agricultural heritage and continue to play a key role in our county’s economy. Dutchess County recognizes the important role local farms play in our community – positively impacting our health, environment, character and economy – and we are committed to promoting these assets. Locust Grove Farm exemplifies the ideals behind the Partnership for Manageable Growth, and this easement will ensure the farm continues to positively impact Dutchess County for future generations.”

Locust Grove Farm is in the Town of Pleasant Valley, and proudly bears the sign welcoming visitors to the hamlet of Salt Point.  The property straddles both sides of Salt Point Turnpike, with a prominent and distinctive red dairy barn right at the roadside, marked by the sign for Hackett Holsteins, and a stone main house located close to the road that was built in 1790.  The majority of the property consists of open fields with treed hedgerows separating the meadows.  The Little Wappinger Creek runs through the eastern portion of the property and the northwestern portion of the farm is bordered by farmland already under easement and protected lands owned by Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies.

The farm property was originally a portion of the Greater Nine Partners Patent, a land grant made in 1697.   An intestacy proceeding awarded the property to John Brown and Charles Brown, father-in-law of the present owner’s great grandfather, William Herrick.   The property has been owned since then by the descendants of William Herrick and his daughter, Mary-Elizabeth Herrick Hasbrouck, the present owner being Mary-Elizabeth Atkins, a granddaughter of the late Elizabeth Herrick Hasbrouck of Poughkeepsie and Salt Point.

Since the early 1900’s milk has been the principal crop for the property and has continually operated as a dairy farm.  Locust Grove Farm has been leased by the Hackett family since 2009, allowing them to expand the Hackett Holsteins dairy operation, which already operated on nearby property in the Town of Clinton. The Hacketts currently keep some 40 to 50 milking cows and their milk-fed calves on Locust Grove Farm and use the remainder of the fields to grow hay and corn for sale and to feed the cows on both farms.  Hackett Holsteins, which has been designated as a Dairy of Distinction by the Northeast Dairy Farm Beautification Program since 2010, on average produces 700,000 pounds of milk per year.

Dutchess County Legislator Don Sagliano said, “The preservation of farmland has been a priority for County Executive Molinaro and the Dutchess County Legislature, and I’m proud we can protect the Locust Grove Farm for generations to come. I applaud County Executive Molinaro, my fellow legislators and our community partners for their commitment to preserving Dutchess County’s agricultural heritage.”

Selling development rights encourages property owners to permanently preserve their land for agriculture, providing important funds to reinvest in farm operations or to transition a farm to the next generation.

Betsy Atkins said, “Locust Grove Farm has been in my family since 1830. I visited the farm regularly as a child and spent my summers there.  My three children have continued this tradition as have our grandchildren. While my husband Ronald and I have never been primary managers of farm operations on the property, we share a deep connection to this farm and the agricultural way of life in the Hudson Valley. We have had a long relationship with the Hackett family, are very happy with their operation and presence on the farm, and plan for this relationship to continue long into the future. I am comforted in knowing that, by selling the development rights to the farm, the property will remain open and available for agriculture should there come a time when the property leaves the family ownership.”

“Our sincerest thanks to Betsy and Ron Atkins for protecting their family farm.  Preserving Locust Grove Farm is extremely important both to the future of Hackett Holsteins and the dairy industry in Dutchess County and our region. Thanks also to our partners, Dutchess County, Scenic Hudson and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM).  Together we have ensured that another piece of our agricultural history remains to fuel our local economy and for future generations to enjoy,” said Becky Thornton, President of Dutchess Land Conservancy.

Created in 1999, the County’s Partnership for Manageable Growth grant program has helped to protect more than 3,500 acres of farmland and open space in Dutchess County. Awards are made after thorough review and ranking by the County's Planning Board. The PMG is designed to assist the County and its municipalities in implementing the recommendations of adopted planning documents, including Directions: The Plan for Dutchess County, the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, Greenway Connections, and the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Plan. The Locust Grove farm is contained within the County’s “Agricultural Priority Areas” as delineated in the 2015 County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.

Executive Director of the Scenic Hudson Land Trust Steve Rosenberg said, “Scenic Hudson thanks the Atkins family for making this commitment to conserve the fields they’ve farmed for nearly 200 years. People who choose local milk can be assured that the fields that nourish this farm’s cows are protected. Supporting local farming helps feed our communities and strengthens the County’s agricultural economy. We’re grateful to Dutchess County, the Dutchess Land Conservancy and New York State for partnering with us on this project."

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Access to affordable and viable farmland for current and future farmers is key to preserving our landscape, protecting our food supply, and keeping New York’s agricultural economy strong for years to come.  The State is proud to support these critical projects through our Farmland Protection Implementation Grant Program, and we thank the Dutchess Land Conservancy, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust and Dutchess County for their partnership on this important effort.”

Poughkeepsie…The Dutchess County Human Rights Commission will host its second event in the “Listening Session Series” on Thursday, July 13th at the Howland Library, 313 Main Street in Beacon from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.  The listening sessions are opportunities for community members to meet with members of the Human Rights Commission and discuss the issues that concern them most in their community.  The Listening Sessions are part of series of initiatives the Human Rights Commission has launched as part of its stated mission of “Protecting Human Rights, Building Bridges, and Embracing Diversity.”

The first Listening Session was held earlier this month in Millerton and several residents took advantage of the opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns.   The conversation included the need for cross cultural dialogue, affordable and safe housing, transportation in rural areas to reduce isolation, issues impacting veterans, diversity in employment and accessibility for people of all abilities.

Other initiatives organized or co-organized by the Commission include the “100 Cups of Coffee” Transformative Dialogue Project in the City of Poughkeepsie, in collaboration with the Northern Dutchess NAACP and the Dutchess County Interfaith Council, and the Hudson Valley observance of International Human Rights Day.   The International Human Rights Day event was held in December in partnership with the Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, and the United Nations Association of the Mid-Hudson Valley.  The 2017 International Human Rights Day event is scheduled for December 8th, 2017.

The next listening session is scheduled for Thursday, September 28th at the Red Hook Community Center at 59 Fisk Street, Red Hook from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.

For more information about the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, upcoming events, or about membership on the Commission, please visit www.dutchessny.gov/humanrights.

• Passengers can call Dutchess County Public Transit at (845) 473-8424 with questions about bus routes, including where stops are located; how best to make connections between routes; as well as find out about alternative public transit service options available.   Additional customer service dispatchers will be available over the next several weeks to assist with calls.
   
• Dutchess County Public Transit will honor City of Poughkeepsie bus tickets on the new routes through December 31, 2017.
   
• Over the next several weeks, passengers will be asked to share feedback through randomly distributed surveys conducted on the buses.
   
• There will be a public meeting to review the new routes and get input from users about how to adjust routes for optimal service changes on Monday, July 17th at the Family Partnership Center in Poughkeepsie at 6:30pm.
   

The July 17th meeting will be the first of quarterly public meetings that Dutchess County Public Transit will hold throughout the first year of the new service.    The public is encouraged to share feedback and suggestions about the initial launch of the new routes and help determine how to best expand and adjust services to meet the needs of city residents.   Feedback from this meeting, as well as the surveys, will be vital for the first round of route adjustments and changes slated to be made by early fall.  Public Transit will provide free transportation to and from the meeting.   Reservations are required and can be made by calling (845) 473-8424.
 

Additionally, a new task force has been formed, specifically designed to address the needs of public transit users living within the City of Poughkeepsie and those living with special needs. The task force is a nine-member group, appointed by the Dutchess County Executive and Chairman of the Legislature, and chaired by David Whalen, Dutchess County Department of Public Works Deputy Commissioner.   This ad hoc task force’s work is in addition to the efforts of the Public Transit Advisory Group, already established.

The new routes set to launch July 1st are:

• Route CJ (Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, Route 9G, Dutchess Community College, Stop & Shop Hyde Park)
   
• Route CK (Vassar Hospital, Beechwood Avenue, Hudson & Poughkeepsie Plazas)
   
• Route CL (City School Tripper and Main Street, Riverfront, Poughkeepsie Train Station, Adams Fairacre Farms, Stop & Shop, Kmart)
   
• Route CM (Earline Patrice Park, Dutchess Community College, Fox Hill)
   

Additionally, two new shopping routes servicing City of Poughkeepsie senior housing communities were launched early this month.

As Dutchess County Public Transit already provides bus service countywide including in the City of Poughkeepsie, the expansion of service with the new routes falls within the County’s transit service authorization from the Federal Transit Administration.  No further authorization is required.

To learn more about the new routes and to view current bus schedules, go to: dutchessny.gov/publictransit.

The camp, which takes place from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., is free to local children and young adults with special needs; pre-registration is required. Parents or legal guardians can register their children online, and participants will receive a free camp T-shirt and hat, lunch and water. Participants, their immediate family members and caregivers will receive complimentary tickets to the Renegades’ July 16th game at Dutchess Stadium.
 

County Executive Molinaro said, “Every child of every ability, wants to know they belong, and every child belongs outside, having fun. Our baseball camp will give local children the opportunity to learn America’s pastime from professional players and coaches in a great minor-league ballpark. We thank the Hudson Valley Renegades and Team President Steve Gliner for choosing to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ about children with special needs and partnering with us to make this camp a reality.”

A day filled with throwing, catching and batting fun will give children and young adults of all abilities the chance to learn the game alongside Renegades players and coaches – learning hitting and fielding skills at various stations, as well as participating in a “high-five game” with their fellow campers.

Volunteers are also sought to make the baseball camp as successful as possible. Those looking to give their time on July 15th can sign up online. Sponsorship opportunities are available by calling (845) 486-2000.

The camp will be presented by the Dave Clark Foundation, which operates similar camps throughout the United States. A native of Corning, NY, Mr. Clark was diagnosed with polio as a child but became a professional baseball pitcher, coach, manager, scout, broadcaster and team owner – a career in the game that has lasted more than 40 years. His accolades off the field include receiving the National Giant Steps Award for his coaching and being honored at the White House by President Bill Clinton for his work. Mr. Clark won the National Heroes of Sports Award in 1999 and the Bo Jackson Courage Award in 2011, among other honors.

Mr. Clark said, “Whatever you choose in life, give it all you’ve got. No dream is ever impossible. We encourage children and their families to come to Dutchess Stadium to enjoy a great day of baseball and friendship. Regardless of their abilities or needs, every child deserves the chance to play and enjoy this great game.”

The Dave Clark Foundation’s Disability, Dream & Do Camps have been nationally recognized, including being named Minor League Baseball’s 2012 Promotion of the Year runner-up.

In 2015, County Executive Molinaro established the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, which looks to foster a more inclusive community for Dutchess County residents with special needs. Since then, Dutchess County has taken numerous steps to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” about residents with special needs, including funding, through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, several projects featuring accessible infrastructure; partnering with the Anderson Center for Autism to provide free Autism Supportive Environment training to businesses; and appointing Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner of Special Needs, the first such position of its kind in the state.

Before returning to the Renegades earlier this year, Mr. Gliner hosted the D3 Camp for the past 11 years with his former team, the Fort Myers (Fla.) Miracle. Upon his return to the Hudson Valley, Mr. Gliner said he was eager to bring a similar event to Dutchess Stadium.

Mr. Gliner said, “The Renegades are proud to work with Dutchess County to host such an amazing opportunity to local children, and we, as a team, couldn’t be happier to start this new relationship with Dave Clark and his organization. The tremendous work the Dave Clark Foundation and ambassador athlete Dave Stevens do aligns perfectly with County Executive Molinaro’s ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ initiative, supporting those of every ability. We are thrilled to bring the Dave Clark Foundation to the Hudson Valley for the first time, and we look forward to future collaborations to benefit our neighbors and fans.”

County Executive Molinaro said, “I am honored to receive this recognition for Dutchess County’s effort to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ and change the hearts and minds of our residents about our neighbors of all abilities. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were true champions for inclusion and the rights of all Americans, and I am humbled to receive an award that embodies their spirit. I am grateful for the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum’s support of our ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ efforts, and I’m inspired to continue its namesake’s advocacy for every resident of every ability.”

Established in 2015, Dutchess County’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for residents with special needs. Since July 2016, more than 60 towns, villages and cities throughout New York State, including the majority of those in Dutchess County, have adopted “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” resolutions, pledging to make their communities more supportive for residents of all abilities.

Dutchess County has taken numerous steps to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY,” including, among others:

• funding, through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, several projects featuring accessible infrastructure which increased residents’ access to facilities and resources;
• appointing a Deputy Commissioner for Special Needs, who can help residents with special needs navigate service providers and government agencies;
• partnering with the Anderson Center for Autism to teach local businesses and organizations to better communicate with residents with autism;
• and hosting the 2016 and 2017 Special Olympics New York State Winter Games, the 2016 and 2017 “Think DIFFERENTLY” Dash for residents of all abilities, and several free movie days and picnics for residents with special needs.

More information about Dutchess County’s efforts and how other communities can “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” is available at www.thinkdifferently.net.

Paul Sparrow, Director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, said, “In the spirit of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, County Executive Molinaro has worked tirelessly to ensure all residents of every ability are supported in Dutchess County and included in their community. Through his efforts to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY,’ County Executive Molinaro has made inclusion a priority, and his message has spread throughout New York. We are proud to present him with the first-ever Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Hudson Valley Vision Award, and we’re thankful for his continuation of the Roosevelts’ vision.”

The presentation of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Hudson Valley Vision Award will take place at noon, highlighting the Family Fun Festival, which takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and focuses on inclusion for audiences of every ability. The Family Fun Festival, which will be broadcast live by iHeartMedia, includes music, a hot air balloon, circus acts, face-painting, food trucks and a raptor show.

Made possible by the support of the Roosevelt Library Trustees, partners and sponsors, the event is free and open to the public. The Library will also offer free admission to the museum from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and offer sensory-sensitive museum time, with lower lighting and lower volume on audiovisual programs, starting at 8 a.m. for attendees of every ability. In partnership with the Poughkeepsie Public Library District and the Friends of the Poughkeepsie Public Library District, the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center will offer “quiet spaces,” including comfortable seating, tablets with interactive reading apps, books for attendees of all ages and an opportunity to recharge.

Toni-Marie Ciarfella, Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner for Special Needs, said, “We thank the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum for choosing to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ – first for completing our Autism Supportive Environment training, hosting our ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ for Jobs Round Table earlier this month, and now hosting this Family Fun Festival with those of all abilities in mind. The Roosevelts’ legacy lives on, as museum and library staff continue to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY,’ and we hope other individuals, organizations and businesses throughout our community will follow their example and support our neighbors with special needs.”

The Fourth of July extended weekend is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. According to data from National Highway Traffic Safety Board, over the Fourth of July holiday weekend in 2015, 146 people were killed nationwide in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher. Ninety-two people died in crashes involving at least one driver or motorcycle operator with a BAC of .15 or higher, almost twice the legal limit.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Between parades, barbecues and other celebrations, Dutchess County is a great place in which to celebrate our nation’s independence. If you choose to celebrate, please do so responsibly and don’t drive if you are impaired. Local law enforcement agencies will again partner to keep our roadways safe for all motorists. The decisions you make on the roads can save lives. Please choose not to drink and drive.”

The July Fourth weekend crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association. The Statewide STOP-DWI crackdown campaign also targets Labor Day weekend, Halloween and the national holiday season in December.

Dutchess County STOP-DWI Coordinator William C. Johnson said, “Additional funding from the NYS STOP-DWI Foundation will allow enhanced dedicated patrols and coordinated sobriety checkpoints countywide throughout the crackdown period. Please think twice before you get behind the wheel impaired. If you choose to drive impaired in Dutchess County, you will be identified, apprehended and prosecuted.”

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol and drug related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI crackdown campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Poughkeepsie…The Dutchess County Department of Public Works (DPW) has announced work is expected to begin the week of June 19th to replace Bridge M-7 on Academy Hill Road (CR 51) in the Town of Milan. The bridge, located over the Roeliff Jansen Kill, is in need of replacement due to structural deficiencies. Project work includes the replacement of the existing bridge and abutments and the widening of the bridge structure to include 4-foot shoulders. Project work is anticipated to be complete by late fall.

Academy Hill Road will be closed beginning June 22nd, and will remain closed for the duration of the project. A detour route will be posted. View a project detour map.

Motorists are advised to plan for additional time and to exercise extra caution on the detour route, obey the posted speed limits, traffic advisory signs, and the directions from flaggers in the work zone to ensure the safety of workers and other motorists. Bridge M-7 averages approximately 125 vehicles per day.

For more information, please contact the Dutchess County Department of Public Works’ Engineering Division at (845) 486-2925.

The round table, co-sponsored by the Dutchess County Workforce Investment Board and hosted by the Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum in Hyde Park, included testimonials from local business owners who have hired residents with all abilities and community experts who provided explanation of the benefits for businesses who seek to diversify their workforce.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Every resident of every ability is able to contribute to their community in some way, and each one wants to feel a sense of belonging. Holding a job and earning a paycheck not only instills pride in residents with disabilities, it also teaches us and them teamwork and responsibility and reminds us all we have an equal stake in their community. We are grateful to our local businesses who have answered our call to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ about hiring employees of all abilities, and we hope even more will see the benefits – from both an economic and community standpoint – and continue the trend.”

Inga McKay, a Transition Coordinator at the Anderson Center for Autism, led discussions between local business owners, educators and community leaders about financial incentives and supports available to those who employ residents with special needs.

Patrick Muller, the Program Director at Taconic Resources for Independence, led the Business & Community Partners Panel discussion, which included representatives from companies which have shown leadership in employing and educating individuals of all abilities. Panelists shared their experiences about the hiring process and the successes they’ve had after hiring employees with special needs. They were joined by representatives from the New York State Adult Career & Continuing Educational Services - Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCES-VR), the NYS Commission for the Blind, Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services, NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), OurAbility and Dutchess County BOCES, who provided clarity and resources to the discussion.

Tom Frost, Esq., Supervising Senior Associate with Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, said, “Community engagement is one of the hallmarks of our firm. We’re committed to creating a diverse organization, one which includes people of every background and ability. Our firm gives many people with disabilities an opportunity to grow both personally and professionally, but what they give back to us and the community is immeasurable.”

According to a June 2016 U.S. Department of Labor report, only 19.5 percent of individuals with disabilities enter the workforce ages 16 and over, compared to 68.5 percent of those in the same age range without a disability. Moreover, the unemployment rate for individuals with a disability was 10.7 percent in 2015, about twice that of those without a disability (5.1 percent).

In 2015, County Executive Molinaro established the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, which looks to foster a more inclusive community for Dutchess County residents with special needs. Since then, Dutchess County has taken numerous steps to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” about residents with special needs, including funding, through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, several projects featuring accessible infrastructure; partnering with the Anderson Center for Autism to provide free Autism Supportive Environment training to businesses; and appointing Toni-Marie Ciarfella as Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner of Special Needs, the first such position of its kind in the state.

Deputy Commissioner Ciarfella said, “Finding employment is critically important to many Dutchess County residents with special needs. A job brings the independence and self-confidence to live a fruitful life, knowing their adding to their community. Dutchess County can benefit greatly from a more diversified workforce, and residents with special needs are great assets in making that a reality.”

More information about the “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative, including how individuals, organizations, businesses and communities can take part, is available at ThinkDIFFERENTLY.net.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “Dutchess County’s 10-year solid waste management plan, Rethinking Waste, includes efforts to increase recycling, reduce our impact on the environment and create a more sustainable waste system. Biannual collection events such as this make significant progress in helping us reach those goals. I encourage Dutchess County residents to utilize our Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling events to dispose of unwanted electronic equipment, unused chemicals and fertilizers, and many other hazardous household items and materials.”
 

The Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event provides residents with a safe and responsible way to discard a diverse range of household items that cannot be disposed of through regular recycling or garbage bins. Acceptable items include television sets, computer monitors, telephones, pesticides, pool chemicals, and more.  A complete list of acceptable items to bring to this disposal day is included below.

The Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management collection events are partially funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Download an informational flyer about this event (.pdf).

For more information about Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Events  please visit the Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management    

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Dutchess County Division of Solid Waste Management
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal & Electronics Recycling Event

Acceptable Items:

Product Containers Marked: “Warning”, “Hazardous”, “Flammable”, “Poisonous”, “Corrosive”

Photo chemicals, non-latex driveway sealer, pool chemicals, creosote, kerosene, flammable liquids, metal polish, turpentine, stains, varnishes, strippers, thinners, gasoline/oil mixture, brake fluid, auto fluids, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical fertilizers, adhesives, resins, solvents, oil & lead based paints (no latex), mercury containing devices, button cell batteries for watches & hearing aids, computer monitors, CPUs, fax machines, printers, TVs, stereos, telephones, lithium & sealed lead acid batteries, fluorescent tubes.

Do Not Bring:

Ammunition or explosives, asbestos products, latex driveway sealer & latex paint, building or construction debris, tires, furniture, medical waste, pharmaceuticals, propane or other flammable gas cylinders, radioactive materials, scrap metal, metal drums or empty containers, motor oil, car batteries and antifreeze, alkaline or rechargeable batteries.

"We are committed to an inclusive and respectful community for all - with the human rights of every individual protected and championed,” said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. “We are grateful to those who serve on the Human Rights Commission, who have been actively demonstrating the commitment to fostering mutual respect and understanding and serving as a resource for those who feel they have been subject to bias or discrimination."

The Dutchess County Human Rights Commission was re-established last year by County Executive Molinaro, in partnership with the Dutchess County Legislature, to serve as a resource for the community to identify, address, and stop discriminatory behavior, address and resolve discriminatory practices, and foster mutual respect and understanding throughout the county.  The Commission is chaired by Dutchess County's Human Rights /Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Jody Miller, and is composed of 14 volunteer members, selected through an application process, who reflect a range of experience in the fields of government, health, psychology, social work, education, mediation, law, spiritual and religious life, and social justice.  View a list of the current Commission members.

The Commission has been actively planning and organizing events to engage the community in dialogue.  Among the initiatives being organized or co-organized by the Commission are the Listening Sessions, the “100 Cups of Coffee” Transformative Dialogue Project and the Hudson Valley observance of International Human Rights Day.   The pilot “100 Cups of Coffee” project, in collaboration with the Northern Dutchess NAACP and the Dutchess County Interfaith Council, which has focused on the City of Poughkeepsie and provides opportunities for individuals to engage in cross-cultural conversations, has already held six meetings with more to be scheduled.  The International Human Rights Day event was held in December in partnership with the Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Library & Museum, the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill, and the United Nations Association of the Mid-Hudson Valley.  The 2017 International Human Rights Day event is scheduled for December 8th, 2017.

Dutchess County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson said, “The Dutchess County Human Rights Commission is a valuable resource for people who believe they are facing issues of discrimination and having  providing opportunities for the community to come together for greater understanding of concerns and issues.   I encourage everyone to take part in the upcoming events to help build a stronger community.”

The newest initiative is the kickoff of the Listening Session series.   The Commission is aiming to hold these sessions in every part of Dutchess County.  Upcoming Listening Session dates are:

• Thursday, June 15th at the Northeast Community Center, 51 Center Street in Millerton from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
• Thursday, July 13th at Howland Library, 313 Main Street in Beacon from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
• Thursday, September 28th at the Red Hook Community Center at 59 Fisk Street, Red Hook from 6:00pm to 7:30pm

For more information about the Dutchess County Human Rights Commission, upcoming events, or about membership on the Commission, please visit www.dutchessny.gov/humanrights.

The New York State Department of Health reported 805 opioid-related emergency department admissions in Dutchess County in 2014, an increase of 45 percent since 2010. 256 Dutchess County residents have died from opioids from 2003 through 2014. According to a new report, Injury Facts 2017, from the National Safety Council, accidental poisoning was the leading cause of unintentional death in New York State in 2015, driven by unintentional drug overdose - predominantly from prescription painkillers. Just yesterday, the New York Times reported that drug overdose deaths in 2016 most likely exceeded 59,000, the largest annual jump ever recorded in the United States.

Dutchess County Legislator Jerry Landisi said, “So many lives have been tragically impacted by the opioid crisis. We have been fighting this war on drugs and addiction, but the enemy has been supplied by these pharmaceutical companies who have chosen to put profit ahead of patient safety. The lawsuit says we will not tolerate the damage these companies are inflicting on our society and we will seek justice.”

The lawsuit alleges the pharmaceutical companies engaged in deceptive marketing campaigns that misrepresented the safety and efficacy of long-term opioid use, creating false perceptions in the minds of physicians, patients, health care providers and health care payors that using opioids to treat chronic pain was safe for most patients and the benefits of the opioid drugs outweighed the risks. In fact, substantial evidence exists that opioid drugs are ineffective to treat chronic pain, can actually worsen patients’ health and are highly addictive and dangerous.

The National Institutes of Health also identifies drug companies’ “aggressive marketing” as a major contributor to the nation’s opioid abuse problem. Despite a lack of scientific evidence that supports the use of opioids for long-term pain management, since 1999, the amount of prescribed opioids in the United States has nearly quadrupled to 254 million prescriptions in 2010 – enough to medicate every U.S. adult around the clock for a month. In 2012, opioids generated $8 billion in revenue for drug companies.

The lawsuit alleges deceptive acts and practices, false advertising, public nuisance, violation of New York Social Services laws, fraud, and unjust enrichment against defendants Purdue Pharma L.P.; Purdue Pharma Inc.; The Purdue Frederick Company, Inc.; Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.; Cephalon, Inc.; Johnson & Johnson; Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. n/k/a Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Janssen Pharmaceutical, Inc. n/k/a Janssen Pharmaceuticals; Endo Health Solutions Inc.; and Endo Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; as well as physicians Russell Portenoy, Perry Fine, Scott Fishman and Lynn Webster, who allegedly were instrumental in promoting opioids for sale and distribution nationally, including in Dutchess County.

The lawsuit also points to criminal activity, including drug-trafficking offenses, as well as costs the county has incurred and continues to incur related to opioid addiction and abuse, such as those covering health care, criminal justice and victimization, social aspects and lost productivity.

The lawsuit seeks relief including compensatory and punitive damages for the tax dollars spent each year to combat this public health crisis. Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national law firm, working together with the Dutchess County Attorney’s Office, will prosecute the litigation. Simmons Hanly Conroy is retained on a contingency basis and only receives compensation for their efforts and reimbursement if the lawsuit is successful.

Dutchess County Legislator Ken Roman said, “A large number of the current generation of opioid addicts are individuals whose first experience was with prescription opioid medications, prescribed by doctors who have been led to believe they are safe. Now these individuals are battling addiction, seeking out cheaper alternatives like heroin and synthetic opioids and are too often dying of accidental overdose. These people are our family, friends, and neighbors. We must stand up to the drug companies who have fueled this epidemic and continue to educate the public about the dangers and risks of prescription opioid painkillers.”

County Executive Molinaro said, “The PMG allows us to work with the state and local partners to preserve a critical active farmland providing a vital, diverse and growing economic engine throughout the County. Farms operating in Dutchess improve quality of life in many ways – from our economy and environment, to health and community character – and we are committed to promoting a vibrant future for agriculture. Duncandale Farm is a prime example of what makes Dutchess County such a special place for all who live and visit here, and this easement will preserve its majesty for generations to come.”

The property has been owned by the Duncan family since the 1700s and currently produces hay for beef and dairy cattle replacement. On average, about 7,000 square bales of hay are produced each year and sold to a range of horse, goat and sheep farms in the area. Duncandale Farm is located in the Coleman Station Historic District, registered in large part for its agricultural heritage. The farm is a distinctive and prominent feature of the viewshed traveling north on New York State Route 22, and almost the entire property is highly visible from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail. The farmhouse on the property has a carved foundation stone, indicating it was first constructed in 1771. The farm lies in the western area of a chain of mostly connected, active farms totaling almost 2,000 acres, extending south of Millerton through the Harlem Valley within the Town of North East.

County Executive Molinaro reprioritized farmland protection when he included PMG funding as part of the 2015 budget, for the first fund allocation since 2008. In March 2016, the County Executive announced awards of $935,855 to permanently protect six farms, one of which is the Duncandale Farm, bringing the total amount of open space and farmland properties preserved through the PMG program to approximately 3,530 acres. In 2017, County Executive Molinaro announced $651,781 in PMG funding to protect two additional farms – one in Dover, the other in Amenia.

County Legislator Gregg Pulver, who represents the towns of North East, Stanford, Pine Plains and Milan, and is chair of the Dutchess County Legislature's Public Works and Capital Projects Committee, and a member of the Dutchess County Agricultural Advisory Committee said, “County Executive Molinaro and the Dutchess County Legislature have made protecting farmland a priority, and the preservation of the Duncandale Farm is the latest example of that pledge. I thank County Executive Molinaro, my fellow legislators and our partners in the community for their devotion to preserving our farms, which will continue to be key players in our county’s centuries-old agricultural tradition.”

Selling development rights encourages property owners to permanently preserve their land for agriculture, providing important funds to reinvest in farm operations or to transition a farm to the next generation.

Donald and Sharon Duncan said, “Our family has owned and loved this farm for over 200 years. Living on a farm is a wonderful way to raise a family. Our three sons all helped with the farm work, learning where food comes from and developed a connection to the land and the animals it supports. This project has come to fruition because of the hard work and commitment of the Dutchess Land Conservancy, Scenic Hudson, Dutchess County and New York State to preserve agricultural land from increasing pressure to develop. We encourage anyone who enjoys open land to explore how they can protect their property from development.”

The protection of the Duncans’ property also has advantages for local residents beyond access to fresh and healthy foods. Even after development rights are sold, agricultural lands stay on the tax rolls, ensuring towns can continue to provide critical services. Studies indicate that agricultural lands cost communities significantly less to provide services to than residential lands.

Becky Thornton, President of the Dutchess Land Conservancy, said, “We are so lucky to have people in our area who truly love and care about the future of their land. Our heartfelt thanks go to the Duncans who have ensured that their family farm will remain open and viable for farming today and in the future. We are also tremendously grateful that our wonderful partners, Dutchess County, the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), recognize the importance of protecting our local farms, not only as a primary industry in Dutchess County, but as a major component of our scenic and rural landscape.”

Created in 1999, the County’s Partnership for Manageable Growth grant program has helped to protect more than 3,500 acres of farmland and open space in Dutchess County. Awards are made after thorough review and ranking by the County's Planning Board. The PMG is designed to assist the County and its municipalities in implementing the recommendations of adopted planning documents, including Directions: The Plan for Dutchess County, the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan, Greenway Connections, and the Dutchess County Water and Wastewater Plan. The Duncandale farm is contained within the County’s “Agricultural Priority Areas” as delineated in the 2015 County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.

Steve Rosenberg, Scenic Hudson Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Scenic Hudson Land Trust, said, “Scenic Hudson thanks the Duncan family for ensuring the fields they’ve farmed for nearly 250 years will remain available for agriculture for generations to come. These productive acres were a high priority of our Foodshed Conservation Plan, a blueprint for ramping up collaborative farmland-protection efforts to create a secure source of fresh, local food for the Hudson Valley and New York City. In addition, their conservation helps to preserve Dutchess County’s agricultural heritage and scenic beauty, critical for sustaining its vibrant tourism economy. We’re grateful to Dutchess County, Dutchess Land Conservancy and New York State for partnering with us to guarantee the land will continue providing these benefits."

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Keeping viable farmland in agricultural use is critical to the future of the industry and the next generation of farmers in New York. It also ensures the sustainability of our food supply and strength of our economy. I thank the Duncan family and all of our partners – Dutchess County, Dutchess Land Conservancy, and Scenic Hudson – for taking this important step to permanently protect one of our State’s most vital assets.”

“The Home Delivered Meals program serves three key purposes,” Office for the Aging Director Todd Tancredi said. “Not only do we help ensure that seniors are getting a nutritious meal, the delivery also serves as a daily wellness check for the seniors. If our drivers notice that a senior isn’t available to receive their meal, and there’s no explanation, they’re trained to ensure the resident’s safety and get the necessary assistance.”

Tancredi continued, “Additionally, many seniors look forward to our driver’s arrival because it may be the only social contact they have that day. We do everything we can to help seniors avoid isolating themselves, because social isolation and loneliness are key contributors to declines in physical and mental health.”

Office for the Aging staff and volunteers prepare and deliver the midday meals to approximately 330 qualified homebound seniors. It is one of several nutrition and socialization programs that OFA provides for residents; other programs include eight Senior Friendship Centers offering congregate meals, as well as a wide variety of activities and the summer senior picnic program.

The expansion of the Home Delivered Meals program is part of Dutchess County’s recent efforts to continue to improve services for seniors. In May, the County’s Senior Friendship Center in Pawling (154 Charles Colman Blvd.) expanded its days of operation from two a week to three, and is now open Tuesday through Thursday.

To learn more about qualifying for Home Delivered Meals, as well as the Senior Friendship Centers and other services available to aging residents of Dutchess County, call (866) 486-2555, go to www.dutchessny.gov/aging, or email ofa@dutchessny.gov.

County Executive Molinaro said, “CDBG funding awards have made positive impacts on communities throughout Dutchess County – making critical infrastructure improvements and handicapped accessibility projects possible. These projects enhance quality of life by making our communities more inclusive and accessible for some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”

“This year’s funding process was unusually stressful due to proposed mid-year funding cuts, but we were able to work with our federal legislators to preserve these vital funds for our community,” the County Executive continued.

Funding for the CDBG Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to address locally identified community development needs. CDBG funding supports community development projects, which benefit low and moderate-income neighborhoods, populations and communities.

CDBG funding is slated for elimination in the fiscal year 2018 Federal Budget proposed by President Trump. Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney joined County Executive Molinaro to stress the need for continued CDBG funding for the future.

“Investing in projects like the Main Street revitalization here in Beacon are just good sense and it’s exactly the kind of thing that the federal government should be partnering on with the city and the county,” said U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18). “But, unfortunately some folks in Washington want to cut the legs out from under this program - that’s just wrong. I’m all for getting our debt under control, but that’s not the way to do it.”

Dutchess County’s 2017 CDBG funding project awards include:

City of Beacon – Main Street Sidewalks - $160,000
Removal and installation of new concrete sidewalks, granite curbs, and ornamental lighting along the lower section of Main Street from South Street to Herbert Street on the west side of Main Street, and from the clock to East Main Street on the east side of Main Street.

Town of Amenia – Amenia Town Hall Handicapped Accessibility Initiative - $93,500
Handicapped access improvement to the town hall, including installation of a new ADA compliant ramp to the gymnasium and ADA improvements to the bathrooms.

Town of Beekman – New Senior Recreation Building- $100,000
Construction of a senior recreation building facility on the grounds of the existing Recreation Center property.

Town of East Fishkill – Handicapped Accessible Playground Expansion- $100,000
Phase Two of Julie’s Jungle, a 7,000-square-foot foot addition of handicapped accessible playground equipment and a sensory garden.

Town of Hyde Park – Pinewoods Road Pedestrian Improvement Project- $150,000
Creation of 400 feet of concrete sidewalk along Pinewoods Road connecting a major residential area with the traditional commercial center and Pinewoods Park.

Town and Village of Red Hook – Construction of Challenger Field- $200,000
Construction of a Challenger Baseball Field, an adaptive baseball field with synthetic infields, and accessible dugouts for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges.

Town of Union Vale – Tymor Park Handicapped Access - $82,412
Construction of new handicapped accessible parking spaces, walkway, crosswalk and drop-off zone adjacent to the existing Senior Citizen Center.

Village of Rhinebeck – Legion Park Handicapped Access Improvements- $100,000
Installation of a paved parking area for handicapped parking adjacent to the lake, reclamation of lawn areas, installation of a handicapped accessible path along the shoreline with a fence along the lake edge, and installation of a handicapped accessible fishing dock.

Dutchess County Legislator Jerry Landisi, who represents the City of Beacon, said, “CDBG funding has been vital to Beacon over the years. Projects such as the new sidewalks and lighting along Main Street help to ensure our community is accessible and inviting for residents and visitors. You can clearly see the positive impacts that CDBG project funding has had on our community.”

Funding decisions are preliminary, pending notification of the final grant allocation from HUD, which is expected in mid-June, and completion of the public comment period.

Community Development Block Grant applications are accepted annually by the Department of Planning and Development. Applications are reviewed and submitted to the County Executive for final approval by the Community Development Advisory Committee. More information about the program and its priorities can be found at
http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Planning/16690.htm.

The event will be held at the Hudson Valley Community Center, located at 110 South Grand Avenue in the City of Poughkeepsie; admission is $5 per person, which includes dinner, and registration is available online. The program will consist of two sessions – the first hour focusing on how those with disabilities navigate through their environment each day, the second hour dedicated to learning how to ensure new projects are seamless in their accessibility for people of every ability.

County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro said, “Dutchess County is proud to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ about our neighbors living with special needs, and we’ve taken numerous steps to make our community even more accessible to residents of all abilities. Our Department of Planning and Development works tirelessly to ensure projects throughout the county can be accessed by as many individuals as possible, and this event will give our towns, villages and cities insight on how they can do the same.”

Attendees will use wheelchairs, canes, blindfolds, sound suppressors and vision-altering goggles while traversing doors, curbs, sidewalks and crosswalks to experience sensory and ambulatory challenges in a real-world environment.

They will then review elements of a site plan that can pose a challenge, depending on an individual’s abilities. Attendees will learn what to look for on a site plan, from ramps to less obvious challenges, such as a circuitous sidewalk or poorly marked crosswalk.

Presenters will include Patrick Muller, Program Director at Taconic Resources for Independence; Jeanine Byrnes, MHIS Program Director and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Services Community Liaison at Taconic Resources for Independence; and Mary Beth Bianconi, partner at Delaware Engineering.

Initiated in 2015, Dutchess County’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative looks to foster a more inclusive community for individuals with special needs. Since then, Dutchess County has taken numerous steps to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” about residents with special needs, including funding infrastructure projects that promote accessibility.

In the last year, some 70 towns, villages and cities throughout New York State, including the majority of those in Dutchess County, have adopted “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” resolutions, pledging to make their communities more welcoming and supportive for residents of every ability. The “Shifting Your Perspective” session offers local municipalities new insights about how to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” as new projects are considered in their communities. More information about Dutchess County’s efforts to “ThinkDIFFERENTLY,” as well as how other municipalities can become more inclusive, is available at www.thinkdifferently.net.

According to the Social Security Administration, one in five Americans – 56 million people – live with disabilities. While some people face these challenges from birth, many will eventually age into them with the onset of certain conditions, such as cataracts, hearing loss, and reductions in mobility that accompany aging. Additionally, some may experience disability temporarily, such as after knee replacement surgery or when recovering from an injury.

The Dutchess County Planning Federation supports the efforts of local volunteers involved in the community planning process throughout the County. Learn more at http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/Planning/17348.htm.

Memorial Day week is historically a deadly period for impaired driving. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional beginning of summer, and there will also be countless parties and barbeques to celebrate graduations, proms, and more. This combination of factors equates to more people on the road in general and more people specifically driving impaired, with 13% more fatalities than on a non-holiday weekend.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County offers countless recreational opportunities during the summer, but we must ensure our roadways are safe for families, residents and visitors. Impaired driving will not be tolerated in our community. We thank our local law enforcement agencies and officers for partnering with us to enforce our laws and keep our roads safe. I ask motorists not to drink and drive; save a life.”

The New York State Police, County Sheriff and municipal law enforcement agencies will collaborate across the state and will be out in force in this coordinated effort to reduce the number of alcohol-related injuries and deaths during this period.

Executive Molinaro reminds residents and visitors alike to be responsible and commit to keeping our roadways safe by planning ahead when attending holiday gatherings and throughout the summer months.

The Memorial Day Weekend Crackdown is one of many statewide enforcement initiatives promoted by the New York State STOP-DWI Association with additional funding from the STOP-DWI Foundation with a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The Statewide STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign also targets 4th of July and Labor Day Weekend, Halloween and the national Holiday Season in December.

Dutchess County STOP-DWI Coordinator William C. Johnson said, “Law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess County have successfully taken numerous impaired drivers off the roads in similar crackdowns. Our top priority is the safety of all motorists, and anyone who jeopardizes another driver’s life by operating a vehicle while impaired will be stopped.”

While STOP-DWI efforts across New York have led to significant reductions in the numbers of alcohol- and drug-related fatalities, still too many lives are being lost because of crashes caused by drunk or impaired drivers. Highly visible, highly publicized efforts like the STOP-DWI Crackdown Campaign aim to further reduce the incidence of drunk and impaired driving.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “Congratulations to the 46 men and women who recently completed the Firefighter I program. All of the graduates are to be commended for their selfless decision to serve their community in this lifesaving capacity. We join with the Department of Emergency Response, family, loved ones, training instructors, and participating fire departments in thanking all of our firefighters for their commitment to their fellow neighbors in their community and throughout Dutchess County.”

The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response coordinates firefighter training programs on behalf of New York State and provides appropriate training facilities and administrative functions associated with the trainings.

“We are grateful for the brave men and women who’ve answered the call to serve their community as firefighters, risking their lives to save others. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the Firefighter I program graduates, their families and their instructors,” said Commissioner of the Department of Emergency Response Dana Smith.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been signed between the City of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County outlining the expansion of Dutchess County Public Transit into the City of Poughkeepsie.  Dutchess County’s service expansion into the City of Poughkeepsie will ensure city residents will continue to have bus transportation without the cost burden on the City’s property taxpayers.   With a strong management and supervisory team, Dutchess County Public Transit will be able to make continuous adjustments to the routes and services to meet the needs of residents and ensure all state and federal obligations are met.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We remain a partner with the City of Poughkeepsie, and this collaboration is the latest in our growing shared services initiatives. These new routes will provide for expanded service hours and increased access to other Public Transit routes throughout Dutchess County for City residents and visitors. Dutchess County has been working to enhance bus services for our residents and visitors with the launch earlier this year of Route I and Sunday Service, and the new routes and service enhancements further demonstrate these efforts.”

The new routes set to launch July 1st are:

• Route CJ (Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, Route 9G, Dutchess Community College, Stop & Shop Hyde Park)
• Route CK (Vassar Hospital, Beechwood Avenue, Hudson & Poughkeepsie Plazas)
• Route CL (City School Tripper and Main Street, Riverfront, Poughkeepsie Train Station, Adams Fairacre Farms, Stop & Shop, Kmart)
• Route CM (Earline Patrice Park, Dutchess Community College, Fox Hill)
   

Additionally, there will be two new shopping routes geared towards serving the senior population in the City of Poughkeepsie:
 

•  Route CN (Kmart, Stop & Shop, Adams Fairacre Farms) *Mondays only except holidays beginning June 5th
• Route CO (Hudson Plaza, Spackenkill Plaza, Oakwood Commons, Barnes & Noble, Poughkeepsie Plaza) *Fridays only except holidays beginning June 2nd
   

City of Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison said, “The partnership between Dutchess County and the City of Poughkeepsie is very important to our City and our residents. This is a perfect example of how when governments work together, costs can be reduced and services can be more efficient. The ability for Dutchess County to provide a more viable transit system for the City of Poughkeepsie now and in the future is critically important to the fiscal stability and growth of our City. Better service, longer service hours, and improved routes for riders – not to mention the opportunity for long term sustainability at a lower cost to our taxpayers – is a benefit to everyone.”
 

Dutchess County Public Transit hosted five public outreach meetings last week to provide attendees the opportunity to learn about the new routes, view route maps, and participate in a question and answer session.  Participants also had the opportunity to ride the county buses along the new routes.    Many concerns were alleviated when county officials addressed several frequently asked questions – noting the $.30 discount transfer fare within the City of Poughkeepsie will  continue to be honored; employment opportunities are available at Dutchess County Public Transit; all County buses are handicapped accessible and have adequate space for wheelchairs and walkers; buses will pull into senior living complexes; among other questions.

“We understand that change is difficult and until the new service is underway and people have a chance to experience it, there will be those who have doubts.    We are grateful to all of those who came to our information meetings; it was a successful conversation.    We are committed to continuing those conversations to ensure that we are delivering the service that people need in the most effective way possible,” said County Executive Molinaro.

Over the next year, Dutchess County Public Transit will continue to offer quarterly public outreach meetings and conduct passenger surveys to receive input and feedback from riders to make adjustments to routes and service as needed.

To learn more about the new routes and to view route schedules, go to: www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th, at 11 a.m., Dutchess County will host a tribute ceremony to the men and women of Dutchess County who lost their lives during military service at the Dutchess County War Memorial at the intersection of Raymond Avenue and Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie. Local Boy Scouts will participate in the tribute, as will County Executive Molinaro, the guest speaker.

For more information, contact Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services at (845) 486-2060 or visit dutchessny.gov/Veterans.

The Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services reached out to local municipalities and community organizations and has compiled a listing of events taking place on or around Memorial Day. The event listing follows below with contact information provided for additional inquiries.

###

2017 Memorial Day Community Observances
(Based on information provided by municipalities and community organizations.)

Listed by date, then alphabetically by municipality:

Castle Point VA Hospital:
Thursday, May 25th, 2017 @ 2:00 P.M. - Ceremony
Location: Castle Point Campus, River Memorial Garden
41 Castle Point Road, Wappingers Falls, New York
Contact: Yvette Rodriguez-Cacho (845) 831-2000 ext. 5135

Hopewell Junction:
Thursday, May 25th, 2017 @ 7:00 A.M. - Ceremony & Light Breakfast
Location: John Jay High School, 2012 Rt 52, Hopewell Jct
Contact: Dave Kedzielawa @ 897-6700 ext 30043
Pre-registration is required – allison.fedigan@wcsdny.org to register

Hyde Park:
Friday, May 26th, 2017 @ 7:00 P.M. - USO Show
Location: FDR Presidential Library - 4079 Albany Post Road
Contact: Clifford Laube (845) 229-6225
Pre-registration is required – visit www.fdrlibrary.org to register

Hyde Park: 
Saturday, May 27th and Sunday, May 28th, 2017 - WWII Encampment & Military Displays
Location: FDR Presidential Library – 4079 Albany Post Road
Contact:  Clifford Laube (845) 229-6225

City of Poughkeepsie:
Sunday, May 28th, 2017 @ 2:00 P.M. - Ceremony
Location: Soldier & Sailor Fountain, South Ave.
Hosted by:  City of Poughkeepsie and American Legion Lafayette Post # 37
Contact: Jacquemae Perotta (845) 452-5960, perrotta305@aol.com

Milan:
Sunday, May 28th, 2017 @ 11:30 A.M. - Parade & Ceremony
Location: Milan Town Hall, Route 199
Hosted by: Town of Milan Veterans
Contact:  Bill Gallagher (845) 758-5133 ext 2, supervisor@milan-ny.gov

Pawling:
Sunday, May 28th, 2017 @ 11:30 A.M. - Ceremony
Location: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 22 Coulter Avenue, Pawling
Hosted by: Congregation of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church & American Legion Hasler Kamp
Post # 215
Contact:  John Ford (845) 416-5576

Poughkeepsie:
Sunday, May 28th, 2017 @ 8:00 P.M. - Ceremony – Illuminate the Walkway
Location: Flag Pole in the center of the Walkway Over the Hudson
Hosted by: Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro & Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services
Contact:  Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services (845) 486-2060

Village of Rhinebeck:
Sunday, May 28th, 2017 @ 12:30 P.M. - Ceremony Dedication
Location:  Doughboy Memorial
Hosted by: American Legion Montgomery Post # 429
Contact: Gary Roome (845) 471-6935 or Patricia Coon (845) 625-7024

Amenia:     
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 11:00 A.M. - Ceremony
Location: Amenia Veterans Memorial Park
Hosted by:  VFW Post # 5444
Contact:  Vicki Doyle (845) 489-7826, vdoyle@ameniany.gov

Beacon:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 11:00 A.M. - Ceremony 
Location: 413 Main Street, Beacon
Hosted by: American Legion Beacon Post # 203
Contact: Louis Humphreys (845) 527-4010, luis45678@aol.com          

East Fishkill:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:45 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location: East Fishkill Community Center and East Fishkill Memorial, Rt 82 and Beekman Road
Hosted by: American Legion Manny Bacon Post # 1758, Town of East Fishkill
Contact: Gina Grippo (845) 221-4303, grippog@eastfishkillny.org or
                     Kevin Hathron (845) 264-5159, khath48@yhaoo.com

Hopewell Junction:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 9:00 A.M. - Catholic Mass
Location: St. Denis Cemetery, 602 Beekman Road, Hopewell Jct.
Hosted by: St. Denis Church
Contact: St. Denis Church (845) 227-8382, fr.bob@stdenischurch.org

Hyde Park:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 1:30 P.M. - Rose Garden Memorial Service
Location: FDR Presidential Library – 4079 Albany Post Rd
Contact: Clifford Laube (845) 229-6225

Millbrook:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:00 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location: Franklin Ave and Tribute Garden Park
Hosted by:  Millbrook VFW Post # 9008
Contact:  Lonn Moore (845) 392-4911, lemoore@us.ibm.com

Pawling:
Monday May 29th, 2017 @ 9:30 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location: Utter Brothers, Memorial Drive to Veteran Memorial Plaza at the Village Green
Hosted by: American Legion Hasler Kamp Post # 215
Contact: John Claudet  (845) 855-9477

Pleasant Valley:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 11:00 A.M. - Ceremony
Location: Pleasant Valley Mill Site, Main St.
Hosted by: Pleasant Valley American Legion Post # 739
Contact: Carl Rennia (845) 635-2626

Poughkeepsie:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 11:00 A.M. - Ceremony
Location:  Dutchess County War Memorial-corner of Raymond Ave. and Main St.
Hosted by:  Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro & Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services
Contact:  Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services  (845) 486-2060

Red Hook:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:00 A.M.  -  Parade and Ceremony
Location: Red Hook High School to Memorial Square Park
Hosted by: Red Hook VFW Post # 7765
Contact:  William Moore (845) 758-8175, wmoore@hvc.rr.com

Rhinecliff:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 9:15 A.M. - Flag Raising Ceremony
Location:  Center of Town
Hosted by:  American Legion Montgomery Post # 429
Contact:  John Spencer (845) 876-4429

Stanford:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 9:00 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location: Grange Hall to Bangall Monument, Hunns Lake Road
Hosted by: Leroy Campell American Legion Post # 1793; Contact:  John Quinn (845) 868-7742

Town of Beekman:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:00 A.M. -  Parade, Ceremony, BBQ           
Location: Town Hall and Fire House   
Hosted by: Town of Beekman
Contact:  Rachael Rancourt (845) 724-5300 ext 221, townclerk@townofbeekmanny.us

Town of Hyde Park:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:00 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony  
Location: Route 9 Roosevelt Theater to Town Hall
Hosted by: Town of Hyde Park and American Legion Hyde Park Post # 1303
Contact:  Diane Cullen (845) 229-8086  ext 4, recprogramleader@hydeparkny.us

Town of Lagrange:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 11:00 A.M. - Ceremony
Location: 120 Stringham Road
Hosted by: Town of Lagrange; Contact: Kelly Tighe (845) 452-9064, ktighe@lagrangeny.gov

Town of North East:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:00 A.M. - Parade
Location:  Veterans Park - Main Street
Hosted by: Millerton American Legion Post #178
Contact:  Sean Klay (845) 929-3624

Town of Pine Plains:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:30 A.M. - Parade
Location: Town Clock Memorial at South Main Street in the Town of Pine Plains
Hosted by: Shekomeko American Legion Post # 426 and Pine Plains VFW Post # 5519
Contact:  Marie Stewart (845) 546-7349 one.phoenix.rhysing@gmail.com

Town of Wappinger:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 2:00 P.M. - Ceremony
Location: Schlathaus Park, at the intersection of Myers Corners Road and 126 All Angels Hill Road
Hosted by: Town of Wappinger
Contact:  Ralph Holt (845) 297-0720

Union Vale:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 9:00 A.M. - Ceremony
Location: On-The-Green, Verbank (Town of Union Vale)
Hosted by: Union Vale Fire Company
Contact: David McMorris @ (914) 475-8397, dbmcmorris@optonline.net

Village of Fishkill:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 1:00 P.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location: Main Street and Broad Street
Hosted by: VFW Post # 1286 and Village of Fishkill
Point of Contact: Angela Arasim (845) 897-4430, angiea@vofishkill.com
 
Village of Rhinebeck:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:30 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location:  Fairgrounds through Village to Rhinebeck Cemetery
Hosted by: American Legion Montgomery Post # 429
Contact: Dennis J. McGuire (845) 656-1839, denles69@aol.com

Village of Tivoli:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 10:00 A.M. - Ceremony
Location: Southside Red Church Cemetery RT 9G
Hosted by: American Legion Harris Smith Post # 524
Contact: Commander Thomas Mabie (845) 758-1330

 Village of Wappingers Falls:
 Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 9:00 A.M. - Ceremony
 Location: Mesier Park, Village of Wappingers Falls
 Hosted by: J.M. Goring-WM. Hurtz American Legion Post # 427 and VFW # 5913
 Contact: Raymond C. Chase Jr. (845) 297-2943

Wingdale:
Monday, May 29th, 2017 @ 9:00 A.M. - Parade and Ceremony
Location:  JH Ketchem Firehouse 
Hosted by: American Legion Post # 1949
Contact:  John Conto (845) 877-3771

The report, released earlier this year, details the patchwork and fragmented system of EMS throughout the County, as well as the varying approaches from municipalities and fire districts regarding the provision of EMS.   Additionally, the extensive data reveals a wide range of cost structures, coverage ability and response times.   The report includes the task force’s immediate, short-term and long-term recommendations to improve and enhance EMS service in Dutchess County.

During the public forums, members of the EMS Task Force will present their findings, conclusions of the report and provide a review of the data for the entire county. Additionally, members will present the recommendations and next steps as described in the report. The EMS Task Force will continue to work with the fire and EMS communities, local municipalities, and the public to develop solutions that are patient centered, reliable, consistent, affordable, and sustainable.

Learn more about the Dutchess County EMS Task Force and view their full report and additional findings.

Poughkeepsie…The Hudson Valley Regional Airport will host the 6th annual Open House & Car Show on Saturday, June 3rd from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  Admission and parking are free.  The event features a variety of fun and interactive activities for children, families and adults of all ages, including aircraft and antique engine displays, tours, demonstrations and educational seminars.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We’re excited to once again host our annual Open House & Car Show at our newly renamed and rebranded, Hudson Valley Regional Airport. Children, families and adults of all ages are invited to come out to our Airport on June 3rd and take part in this day-long event that’s sure to have something for everyone to enjoy!”

Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy a variety of vintage and experimental aircraft displays including Grumman Albatross, S-76 helicopter, Cirrus aircraft and airport fire rescue vehicle, and AT-6 WW2 Army Air Corps Trainer. Angel Flight Network, Civil Air Patrol, Dutchess Community College Aviation Program and the Poughkeepsie Pilots Association will also have displays and information available.  A Federal Aviation Administration Safety Team (FAAST) Seminar, “NextGen and the ADS-B Equipment,” will be held at 11:00 a.m. in the terminal building lobby. The Dutchess County Firefighters Museum will have antique fire apparatuses and firefighting equipment on display, and attendees will have the chance to cast their vote for their favorite apparatus. Helicopter and plane rides will be available (for a fee) throughout the day.

There have been changes to some of the originally announced participants including:

• An NBC StormRanger radar truck will be on site during the event for attendees to view inside this state-of-the-art weather vehicle.
• The Air National Guard is unable to attend this year's Open House with the C-17 Globemaster Air Force Transport due to increased mission loads and maintenance issues.

Children and families will have plenty of activities to choose from including K-9 demonstrations from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, building craft workshops from the Home Depot, and free child fingerprinting.

Dutchess County Legislator Joe Incoronato said, “The annual Hudson Valley Regional Airport Open House & Car Show is a great opportunity for residents to visit our airport and get an up close and personal look at a wide range of aircraft, including historical and military planes. Attendees will have the opportunity to partake in a variety of activities throughout the day that are sure to be an educational and enjoyable experience for all.”

The annual event gives the public the opportunity to learn more about the Hudson Valley Regional Airport and its daily operations.     Approximately 73,000 aircrafts land or depart from the Hudson Valley Regional Airport each year.    The Hudson Valley Regional Airport has an annual economic impact of nearly $45 million for the local economy.

Donations of non-perishable food items will be collected throughout the day for local Castle Point veterans.  For more information, visit www.dutchessny.gov or call (845) 463-6000.

Event flyer (.pdf)

# # #

SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES:

The new routes are:

• Route CJ (Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, Route 9G, Dutchess Community College, Stop & Shop Hyde Park)
• Route CK (Vassar Hospital, Beechwood Avenue, Hudson & Poughkeepsie Plazas)
• Route CL (City School Tripper and Main Street, Riverfront, Poughkeepsie Train Station, Adams Fairacre Farms, Stop & Shop, Kmart)
• Route CM (Earline Patrice Park, Dutchess Community College, Fox Hill)
   

Attendees at the information meetings will have the opportunity to learn about the new routes, view route maps and participate in a question and answer session.   The first four meetings will each focus on a specific route and will conclude with a bus ride on the new route.   The final Saturday, May 13th meeting will be a general overview of all of the routes, but will not have rides along the new routes.
 

The scheduled public information meetings are:

• Tuesday, May 9th at 9:30 a.m at the Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health Training Room, 230 North Road, Poughkeepsie to discuss Route CJ.
• Tuesday, May 9th at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Simeon Apartments Community Room, 700 Second Mile Drive, Poughkeepsie to discuss Route CK.
• Wednesday, May 10th at 10:00 a.m. at the City of Poughkeepsie Public Safety Building Community Room, 505 Main Street, Poughkeepsie to discuss Route CL.
• Wednesday, May 10th at 6:00 p.m. at the Family Partnership Center Auditorium, 29 North Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie to discuss Route CM.
• Saturday, May 13th at 10:00 a.m at the Family Partnership Center Auditorium, 29 North Hamilton Street, Poughkeepsie to discuss Routes CJ, CK, CL and CM.
   

Dutchess County Public Transit will provide free courtesy shuttle transportation to and from the meetings for those living and working within the City of Poughkeepsie. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, please call (845) 473-8424.
 

To learn more about the new routes, go to: www.dutchessny.gov/publictransit

The staff at the NWS Forecast Office Albany are responsible for issuing local forecasts and severe weather warnings for much of eastern New York, southern Vermont, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts and Litchfield County, CT. Skywarn™ spotters provide an invaluable service by providing ground truth so the NWS can correlate what is seen on radar to what is actually occurring, help warn downstream communities, add value to the NWS statements and warnings, and verify forecasts and warnings. Spotters act as the eyes and ears helping to provide better services. This session will teach participants the basics of thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure, identifying potential severe weather features, how to report information, and more.

Preregistration is required by visiting: http://cstar.cestm.albany.edu/skywarn/Talks.htm

For more information, visit the Skywarn™ program online at http://www.weather.gov/aly/skywarn or contact the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response at (845) 486-2080.

In partnership with the DCSPCA, this clinic will offer Dutchess County residents the opportunity to obtain rabies shots free of charge for their dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets 3 months of age and older. Proof of residency is required.  Non-residents will be charged $10 for each pet vaccinated.

All dogs must be on leash, and cats and domestic ferrets must be in carriers. Vaccinations will be good for three years for pets with proper proof of a prior immunization. For those without proof, the vaccination will be good for one year.

In New York State, rabies shots are required for all cats, dogs, and domestic ferrets by the age of four months. Revaccination is then required on a regular schedule to keep the animal properly immunized against the rabies virus. Owners can be fined up to $200 if they fail to get their pets vaccinated and keep them up-to-date.

The Department reminds pet owners of the importance of vaccinating all dogs, cats, and ferrets, even if they are considered “house pets” and remain indoors.

If a pet is not up-to-date on its rabies vaccination and fights with a rabid or suspect-rabid animal, the pet must be promptly destroyed or placed in quarantine for six months to protect other animals and people in case the pet develops rabies. These mandates are not required for a vaccinated pet in the same situation. In such cases, only a booster dose of rabies vaccine would be given within five days to treat the pet.

The Department is available around the clock to respond to inquiries or concerns regarding potential rabies exposures to people or domestic animals. Pet owners should report to the Department any incident in which their pet has been bitten by or has an open wound exposed to the saliva or nervous tissue of a domestic or wild animal. Staff will investigate and advise the pet owner of any necessary steps that they should take to ensure the safety of their animal. Individuals with urgent inquiries may call (845) 431-6465 if an incident occurs after business hours. To learn more about rabies during business hours, call (845) 486-3404 or visit the Department’s webpage at www.dutchessny.gov/dbch.

Broadway will remain closed for the duration of the project and a detour route will be posted. There will be no pedestrian access across the creek during construction. View a project detour map.

Motorists are advised to plan for additional time and to exercise extra caution on the detour route, obey the posted speed limits, traffic advisory signs, and the directions from flaggers in the work zone to ensure the safety of workers and other motorists. Bridge RH-25 averages approximately 2,200 vehicles per day.

For more information, please contact the Dutchess County Department of Public Works’ Engineering Division at (845) 486-2925.

Operation Safe Stop Education Enforcement Day will be Thursday, April 27th, when state, county and local law enforcement agencies will shadow school buses to identify and ticket drivers who do not obey the flashing red lights on a stopped school bus. Law enforcement throughout the county will target enforcement efforts at what school transportation officials have identified as “hot spots,” where most violations typically occur.

County Executive Molinaro said, “The safety of our students is our paramount concern, and throughout Dutchess County, dedicated bus drivers in every school district share that responsibility, dutifully protecting our children on their way to and from school. Today, we thank those drivers who safeguard our students daily, and we remind all drivers to please stop when they see the flashing red lights of a school bus. That extra moment can save the life of a child.”

New York State Vehicle and Traffic law requires drivers to stop from either direction, even on a divided highway, any time a school bus’s red lights are flashing.  Passing a school bus with red lights is not only dangerous, but it is illegal and punishable with fines ranging from $250 to $1,000; a motorist may also be assessed five points on his driver’s license, and penalties can include possible imprisonment (up to 30 days for first offense and 180 days for a third or subsequent conviction).

Mrs. Travis, who has been employed by the Wappingers Central School District for 29 years, was presented this morning with a commemorative plaque and honored as the School Bus Driver of the Year at the Operation Safe Stop kickoff press conference at the Wappinger Central School District’s Fishkill Plains bus compound.

Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board Administrator William C. Johnson said, “Mrs. Travis is a model driver who understands and embraces what it is to be a school bus driver – not just what it takes to drive a school bus. She has achieved an exceptional safety record over 29-plus years driving buses filled with students. Mrs. Travis’s contributions to the Wappingers district go way beyond her ability and passion to safely transport children. She is respected by supervisory staff and her peers, as well as the students and parents she has touched over the years.”

County Executive Molinaro said, “Parents entrust their children’s safety to school bus drivers each day, a great responsibility these men and women behind the wheel do not take lightly. This award reflects the community’s appreciation for their devotion to keeping our students safe. We commend Mrs. Travis for her superb safety record and thank her for her unwavering devotion to the children she transports every day.”

The Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board’s School Bus Driver of the Year award seeks to promote school bus safety through education and enforcement efforts. The annual award was initiated in 2002 to increase public awareness regarding school bus safety issues and to recognize school bus drivers who get children to and from school safely on a daily basis.  School bus drivers are an integral part of the safe transportation of school children. Crashes and related injuries are prevented by these highly trained professionals’ experience, skill and daily performance.

The Dutchess County School Bus Driver of the Year Award represents a collaborative partnership with the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, the Mid-Hudson Transportation Supervisor’s Association the Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board, and the Culinary Institute of America.

The Dutchess County Traffic Safety Board is a coalition of law enforcement, education, health and service agencies, and individuals appointed by the County Executive who are committed to ensuring our streets, sidewalks, and residents remain safe.

This training session is part of the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response’s citizen preparedness training initiative which is being offered regionally throughout Dutchess County in 2017. Dutchess County’s Medical Reserve Corps and the Dutchess County Animal Response Team will be present as part of the training.

To see the Citizen’s Preparedness Training flyer, click here:

http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/EmergencyResponse/Citizens-Preparedness-Training-Pleasant-Valley-May-4-2017.pdf

County Executive Molinaro said, “We are grateful for the tireless work of our DPW Highway crews for their efforts to maintain a safe and ridable highway system for our residents and visitors. Dutchess County is proud to devote resources for the upkeep and beautification of our roadways to ensure they remain clean and green. I encourage all residents to participate in volunteer cleanup efforts as part of this weekend’s Earth Day celebrations and throughout the year. We should all be mindful and do our part to encourage others to keep our community clear of litter as it promotes a better way of life for our residents and is a great welcome to visitors.”

Some of the county roads scheduled for the four-day cleanup include:

• Kerley Corners Road (CR 78) in Red Hook
• River Road (CR 103) in Red Hook/Rhinebeck
• Slate Quarry Road (CR 19) in Rhinebeck/Clinton
• Violet Hill Road (CR 101) in Rhinebeck
• Old Route 22 (CR 81) in Amenia
• Leedsville Road (CR 2) in Amenia
• Bog Hollow Road (CR 3) in Amenia/Dover
• Poplar Hill Road (CR 4) in Dover
• Old Route 22 (CR 6) in Dover
• Old Hopewell Road (CR 28) in Wappinger/East Fishkill
• Myers Corners Road (CR 93) in Wappinger
• Crum Elbow Road (CR 41) in Hyde Park
• Waterbury Hill Road (CR 89) in Union Vale/LaGrange
• Clove Road (CR 9) in Union Vale
• Noxon Road (CR 21) in LaGrange
• Red Schoolhouse Road (CR 36) in Fishkill
• Amenia Pine Plains Road (CR 83) in Pine Plains/North East
• Beekman Road (CR 9) in Beekman/East Fishkill
• Innis Avenue (CR 75) in Poughkeepsie

Gregg Pulver, Dutchess County Legislator and Chairman of the Public Works and Capital Projects Committee said, “Earth Day is a time we can all come together to raise awareness regarding the importance and benefits of maintaining and protecting our environment. I thank our DPW Highway crews and local service organizations for their efforts to keep Dutchess County and our local communities looking clean and beautiful for all to enjoy.”

Organizations and residents who are interested in helping keep Dutchess County’s roadways clean and beautiful can participate in the County’s Adopt-A-Highway program. Several local organizations including the Hyde Park Teachers Association, Hunns Lake Association, and Mehl & Associates CPAs currently participate in the program. New organizations are encouraged to apply by calling (845) 486-2925. The New York State Department of Transportation and several local municipalities also offer Adopt-A-Road programs for state and local roadways.

“Our Highway crews work year-round to ensure our roads are safe for residents and visitors, and this annual cleanup is just one more way they help to make Dutchess County an enjoyable place to live, work and raise a family. Let’s do our part as a community to keep our roadways litter free and dispose of trash properly,” said Dutchess County Commissioner of Public Works Bob Balkind.

County Executive Molinaro said, “The safety of Dutchess County’s residents – all our residents of every ability – is the County’s paramount concern. By taking part in today’s training, the brave men and women who first come in contact with our neighbors during an emergency learned how to best approach, communicate and safely rescue those living with autism. During an emergency, when every second counts, the lessons learned today will save the lives of those on the autism spectrum. I commend each first responder who answered the call to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY,’ and I encourage even more to take this valuable training.”

Those in attendance learned how to identify the characteristics and behavior of a person living on the autism spectrum; how to effectively communicate with someone with autism; how to respond to an emergency involving someone on the spectrum; how to build relationships with the autism community; and how to utilize special tactics, rescue techniques and patient care options in such instances.

Bill Cannata, Coordinator of the Autism and Law Enforcement Education Center, conducted the training. A captain in the Westwood (Mass.) Fire Department with more 35 years of experience as a firefighter, Mr. Cannata is the father of a son who lives on the autism spectrum. He has trained firefighters across the country to be better prepared to rescue people with autism in an emergency, and his efforts have gained national attention from NBC’s “Today” show and Autism Speaks, among others.

“I thank County Executive Molinaro and Dutchess County for identifying the need to train those who respond to emergencies involving their neighbors living with autism,” Mr. Cannata said. “As both a first responder and the father of a child on the spectrum, I know well the challenges residents with autism face during an emergency, as well as the obstacles encountered by those who respond to such emergencies. Other counties can follow Dutchess’ example and train their first responders to best interact with residents who need their assistance in an emergency.”

Established in 2015, Dutchess County’s “ThinkDIFFERENTLY” initiative promotes a supportive and welcoming environment for those with special needs. Among its other efforts to that end, Dutchess County has trained more than 250 law enforcement officers on the street in crisis intervention training (CIT) – which helps officers to both identify individuals in crisis, including those with special needs, and de-escalate situations to avoid arrests of individuals who can be better served through mental health – and the County plans to train a total of 200 more in 2017.

“Hosting events like today’s training is one of the many ways we in Dutchess County ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY’ about our neighbors of every ability,” said Toni-Marie Ciarfella, Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner for Special Needs. “Residents living with autism may react to an emergency in various ways, and it’s important for our first responders to quickly identify those mannerisms so they can best protect them from danger. Mr. Cannata’s insights will benefit both first responders and those whose calls they answer.”

Special thanks to the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel and Conference Center, which sponsored Mr. Cannata’s accommodations. More information about Dutchess County’s efforts to ThinkDIFFERENTLY is available at www.thinkdifferently.net.

While equitable access to nutritious food is an obstacle for many Americans, Dutchess County is addressing the issues by educating two vulnerable populations – inner-city children and local senior citizens – about nutrition and supplementing their diets with nutrient-dense microgreens. In future stages, the innovative program will employ eligible ex-offenders to grow the microgreens, providing job-training skills, as well as entrepreneurial opportunities – making the project sustainable on several levels.

County Executive Molinaro said, “As part of Dutchess County’s bold goal of becoming New York’s healthiest county, we have undertaken a successful program to bring nutrition to those residents who need it most. Just in its infancy, our innovative microgreens project has already received national recognition and backing. We’re confident in the coming months and years, it will yield healthy outcomes that can be replicated throughout the county, state and nation. We thank our local partners for their support, and we look to laud them for their dedication to the health of our neighbors throughout Dutchess County.”

Dutchess County has already received a $10,000 seed grant as part of the national Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, a program administered by the Aetna Foundation, American Public Health Foundation and the National Association of Counties. As a finalist in the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, Dutchess County is now in the running for a $500,000 grand prize or one of several $50,000 runner-up prizes, which will be awarded in 2018.
 
The project has the support of numerous local organizations, including the Dyson Foundation, Health Quest and Rose & Kiernan Insurance, who have agreed to partner with Dutchess County, providing financial backing for the program.

Among today’s activities, students from the Poughkeepsie City School District and seniors who take part in Dutchess County Office for the Aging’s congregate meal program planted and harvested microgreens, leaving with their own plants to continue the learning and health benefits at home.
 
Brud Hodgkins, owner of the Indoor Organic Gardens of Poughkeepsie, said, “We’re proud to collaborate with Dutchess County and our fellow partners to bring about a meaningful change in our community – not only nutritionally, but socially and economically, as it can provide opportunities for countless Dutchess County residents to become self-sufficient. We look forward to other municipalities following our lead to bring a similarly beneficial program to their communities.”

County Executive Molinaro made the announcement at the recent Municipal Innovation Summit, which brought together more than 60 municipal leaders and county officials for presentations and discussions centering around municipal innovation. The summit provided an opportunity for communities to begin conversations about their needs and the ways they can partner with one another or the county.

County Executive Molinaro said, "Dutchess County has been a leader in shared services throughout New York. Our municipal leaders set the example Albany might learn from. Our innovative approach has already resulted in extraordinary and ground-breaking advancements throughout our county. We've consolidated communication tools between law enforcement agencies, offered land use assistance and supported shared assessors, to name a few of our tax-savings initiatives. Our Municipal Innovation Grant Program continues bringing about shared services, new efficiencies and cost savings. Ironically, as Albany mandates a top-down bureaucratic approach, our municipalities partner to implement new, inventive ways to improve services lessening the burden of property taxes.  Our Municipal Innovation Grant is part of our ongoing efforts to share services and save tax dollars – through respect and partnership, we are leading the way."

The 2017 Municipal Innovation Grant Program will have three focus areas under which municipalities can apply – Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement, Land Use/Economic Development and General Innovation.  Additionally, grant proposals must concentrate their efforts on one of six sub-categories:  Shared Services, Consolidation, Regional Delivery of Services, Dissolution of a Layer of Government, Other Efficiency Improvements, or Planning and/or Implementation.
 
The deadline for application is noon on Friday, May 19, 2017.  The application and instructions can be found on the Planning and Development webpage.  If you have questions, please contact Christie Bonomo, Community Investment Program Specialist, at (845) 486-2549.

Started in 2013, Dutchess County’s Municipal Innovation Grant Program has spurred such successful programs as shared assessor services, a partnership between the towns of Beekman and Dover; the John Jay sewer improvement area engineering and construction, a collaboration between the Town of East Fishkill and the Wappinger Central School District; and tri-municipal wastewater treatment system upgrades, a project on which the towns of Poughkeepsie and Wappinger, as well as the Village of Wappingers Falls partnered, among others.

Town of Hyde Park Supervisor Aileen Rohr, President of the Dutchess County Supervisors and Mayors Association, said, “Municipalities throughout Dutchess County, and their residents, have greatly benefited from the County’s Municipal Innovation Grant Program. We look forward to future collaborations through the program that will bring about more innovative practices that result in savings for our residents.”

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “We are grateful and honored to have such a fine group of dedicated individuals serving Dutchess County and its residents in this critical and lifesaving role. Their commitment to their community should never go unnoticed and we are proud to recognize their contributions this week and all year long.”

As part of their duties and responsibilities, public safety dispatchers are responsible for receiving emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public and transmitting emergency information in the dispatching of firefighters, medical personnel, law enforcement officers and equipment in the shortest possible time, while maintaining a calm atmosphere in high-stress situations. Dispatchers maintain radio communications with public safety personnel responding to the emergency situation. Dispatchers are required to monitor numerous telephone and alarm systems and radio frequencies simultaneously and must exercise sound independent judgment in prioritizing calls and dispatching appropriate emergency services as quickly as possible.

To learn more about the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response, go to:
http://www.dutchessny.gov/

County Executive Molinaro said, "Agriculture is a vital, diverse and growing economic engine in Dutchess County, and our Partnership for Manageable Growth Program allows us to strategically preserve farming as an industry. Farming plays a vital role in Dutchess County’s future, just as in our past, and we will do all we can to promote it. Our support will position these farms well for the future of the industry while allowing each to continue a centuries-old tradition in Dutchess County.”

These family farms – one a centuries-old dairy farm that has a license to sell raw milk directly to consumers, the other a larger dairy farm that protects a variety of important habitats and scenic views, including a significant viewshed from the adjacent Harlem Valley Rail Trail – embody the spirit of the PMG program, protecting the land while fostering agriculture for subsequent generations.

Brookby Farm, Town of Dover
Brookby Farm is a 49-acre property that is home to a 200-year-old, seventh-generation dairy farm. This family-owned and run farm produced and sold over 800 gallons of raw milk in the first two months of receiving its raw-milk license. There is a farm store on site, where eggs, chicken, beef and pork raised on the farm are sold, as well as products from other area farms including honey, maple syrup and locally roasted coffee. Brookby Farm leases an additional 750 acres, and altogether, the farm yielded 600 round bales of hay; 6,000 square bales of hay; 300 tons of corn silage; and produced 450,000 pound (52,325 gallons) of milk in 2016. The total estimated cost of the acquisition of a conservation easement at Brookby Farm is $266,792. The County’s PMG funding will provide the 50 percent of the cost $133,396, and the Dutchess Land Conservancy (DLC) is working with partners to secure the remaining 50 percent, or $133,396.

County Legislator Alan Surman, who represents the Town of Dover, said, “Preservation of the Brookby Farm will allow the seventh-generation of the Vincent Family to stabilize the land base of their family business. The farm recently received two honors in 2015, a Designated Dairy of Distinction and a Century Farm Award. These Partnership for Manageable Growth funds will protect and preserve the dairy industry in the County. I’m happy Dutchess County will be able to protect this land for generations to come.”

Destined Wind Farm, Town of Amenia
Destined Wind Farm is a 232.5-acre, family-owned dairy farm that includes an active 100-plus cow dairy, 75 acres for hay production, 53 acres for corn production and 23 acres for pasture. Destined Wind Farm produces a little over one million pounds of milk each year, and sells that milk to Marcus Dairy. In addition the farm yields about 600 tons of haylage, 800 tons of corn silage, and 150 to 200 round bales each year, which is used to support the farm. The total estimated cost of the acquisition of a conservation easement is $1,727,950. The County’s PMG funding will provide 30 percent of the total acquisition costs, at $518,385. DLC will seek funding for the remaining 70 percent, or $1,209,565, from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

County Legislator Will Truitt, the Dutchess County Legislature’s liaison to the Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board, said, “While the Destined Wind Farm is distinctive and punctuates the viewshed from the Harlem Valley Rail Trail, its impact – from the products they produce to their economic impact – reaches far beyond its gates.”

The Dutchess County Planning Board evaluated each of the projects using objective criteria, met with the farmers at both properties, and subsequently provided funding recommendations to County Executive Molinaro. The two projects are contained within the County’s “Agricultural Priority Areas,” as delineated in the 2015 Dutchess County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan.

County Planning Board Chairman Hans Klingzahn said, “Each of the projects is a prime example of why the Partnership for Manageable Growth Program was established: to protect farms that have an important impact on Dutchess County. They are active dairy farms; they are located in key gateway areas, accentuating our scenic viewsheds; they protect natural resources like wildlife and water, and hold a historic importance for the County; and they enhance local municipal comprehensive plans and designations.”

Becky Thornton, President of Dutchess Land Conservancy, said, “We are truly thankful that County Executive Molinaro, County Planning Board members, County legislators, local leaders, and community members recognize the importance of our local farms, not only as a primary industry, but as a major component of our scenic and rural landscape, and provider of fresh food that benefits each and every one of us. We can’t thank the County enough for your foresight in approving this great investment in our local farms – ensuring their long-term protection.”

Created in 1999, the PMG program helps protect important agricultural and open space resources. The program provides a locally funded match for land preservation purchases up to 50 percent of the total project cost. Since its inception, the program has helped to protect almost 4,000 acres of farmland and open space in Dutchess County.

This training session is part of the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response’s citizen preparedness training initiative which is being offered regionally throughout Dutchess County in 2017. Dutchess County’s Medical Reserve Corps and the Dutchess County Animal Response Team will be present as part of the training.

To see the Citizen’s Preparedness Training flyer, click here:

http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/EmergencyResponse/Citizens-Preparedness-Training-North-East.pdf

County Executive Molinaro said, “This Stabilization Center is the result of a unique public-private collaboration, and we thank our community partners for their cooperation in bringing this life-saving facility to fruition. This facility is a model for New York and the nation, one that can be replicated throughout America as we improve the lives of our neighbors living with mental health and substance abuse issues.”

Located at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie, the Stabilization Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and welcomes individuals of all ages and families.  The center is 100 percent voluntary – guests can walk in at any time; there are no appointments needed – and people may stay at the Center for 23 hours at a time.  No one is turned away due to lack of insurance or inability to pay.  Upon leaving the Stabilization Center, individuals receive follow-up and monitoring from Stabilization Center staff to ensure success after their stay.

Among the services available at the Stabilization Center, individuals and families can receive:

• Crisis Counseling and Mental Health Assessments
• Supervised Outpatient Withdrawal Services
• Addictions and Substance Use Counseling
• Peer Advocacy and Supports
• Youth and Family Counseling
• Links to Community-based Resources

The Stabilization Center represents a collaborative effort with several contributing community partners including: MidHudson Regional Hospital, Mid-Hudson Addiction Recovery Center (MARC) providing addiction and sobering services, Astor Services for Children & Families providing youth and family expertise, and PEOPLe, Inc. offering vital peer advocate resources.

MidHudson Regional Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, is a critical partner in the Stabilization Center.   MidHudson Regional has provided more than $100,000 in financial support for the center and provides four full-time nursing staff for the center’s operations.  As the local community hospital providing psychiatric services, MHRH has recognized the need for this community resource and has been instrumental in making the center a reality.

"As one of New York State's largest providers of behavioral health services, Westchester Medical Center Health Network is committed to providing Dutchess County residents with access to high-quality care right in their communities,” said Eric Amoh, Senior Vice President, Clinical Services, Westchester Medical Center Health Network. “WMCHealth has invested in the future success of the innovative Dutchess Stabilization Center with around-the-clock clinical staffing from our nearby MidHudson Regional Hospital, with a shared goal of reducing unnecessary emergency department and hospital use and connecting residents with the appropriate care they need. We are thrilled with the opportunity to play a key role in this one-of-a-kind effort to benefit our communities."
 

The Stabilization Center began providing services in February and more than 100 people have already been assisted including individuals dealing with opiate abuse issues.    Several individuals have been brought to the Stabilization Center by local law enforcement, many of whom have received the County sponsored Crisis Intervention Training (CIT), who recognized the individuals were experiencing mental health crisis and chose to bring them to the Stablization Center rather than the emergency room or Dutchess County Jail.

Construction of the Stabilization Center began in early 2016, following the unanimous adoption of a $4.8 million bond resolution by the Dutchess County Legislature in December 2015.  The center is housed with Dutchess County Department of Behavioral & Community Health  mental health division offices to centrally locate services including the County’s 24/7 HELPLINE, Mobile Crisis Intervention Team, and other diversion services including the County’s Partial Hospitalization Program, an acute, short term, outpatient, day program designed to reduce hospital length of stay or avoid hospitalization altogether.

Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Dale Borchert said, “Dutchess County is leading New York State with our approach to addressing mental health issues.    The County Legislature was proud to support the funding to build this innovative center and are proud of the work being done there by our dedicated DBCH employees as well as our community partners.   The Stabilization Center is going to make a positive difference in the lives of many people.”

As part of the grand opening celebration, the Stabilization Center was dedicated to former Dutchess County Commissioner of Mental Hygiene, Dr. Kenneth M. Glatt, Ph.D., ABPP for his efforts to assist those dealing with mental illness and for his contributions toward the creation of the County’s HELPLINE service. Dr. Glatt was the County’s longest serving Commissioner of Mental Hygiene, having served 35 years as Commissioner before his retirement in May 2015.

“Today's dedication is the highest honor of my professional career. I thank County  Executive Molinaro for the recognition,” said Dr. Glatt.

Dr. Glatt was the driving force behind the creation of the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT),  a key component of the County’s  diversion program.    The MCIT is dispatched through HELPLINE and responds immediately to individuals in crisis to help avoid an Emergency Department (ED) visit and/or support individuals in the community following a brief ED intervention.  The team assists individuals in a wide variety of ways, from telephone reassurance and medication prescription assistance to counseling and even attending court arraignments to help divert an individual into mental health treatment services rather than being incarcerated.   Since it’s inception, the team has assisted thousands of individuals and the new Stabilization Center now serves as a critical resource in their efforts by offering a safe place to de-escalate and be connected with vital services.

The MCIT began in 2012 when Dutchess County began receiving $1.5 million in funding from the New York State Office of Mental Health (NYSOMH) to support programs focused on decreasing and diverting inpatient admissions, facilitating discharges and strengthening the continuum of services for people impacted by the Hudson River Psychiatric Center closure and other community residents with mental health needs.  With support from Dutchess County’s state representatives, Senator Sue Serino and Assemblymember Didi Barrett, the County has continued to receive this crucial annual funding and both Barrett and Serino have been vital in securing millions in additional funding to assist with mental health and jail diversion programming.

Senator Sue Serino said, “Overcoming the stigma that surrounds mental illness starts with ensuring that those in our community who are struggling have easy access to the critical tools and support they need. This stabilization center has the potential to help individuals and families proactively overcome some of their greatest challenges and will not only save lives, it will transform them. Turning our County Executive's unique vision into a reality takes committed partners at every level, and I am proud to have played a role in securing the funding necessary to make it happen. I am even prouder to play a role in sending a clear message to those who are struggling that their mental health—and their lives—matter and to be able to remind them that help is always available.”

"I have long believed that more attention and resources must be focused on behavioral and mental health, and that includes addiction and substance abuse, which have devastated our families and reached crisis proportions in our region," said Assemblymember Didi Barrett. "I am pleased to provide Dutchess County with state funding to support needed reforms to the criminal justice system – to focus more on mental health, drug addiction and special populations – and to fund innovative county programs like the Stabilization Center."

The establishment of the Stabilization Center is the final component in the County’s ongoing efforts to drive down the rate of recidivism and to intervene and divert individuals in crisis from community emergency rooms and the criminal justice system. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training for law enforcement officers and first responders, the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team, Alternative to Incarceration programming, and the 24/7 HELPLINE all work together to work towards the County’s goal of reducing avoidable hospital visits and jail admissions.

The Dutchess County Stabilization Center model is being closely watched by agencies throughout New York State who hope to replicate similar efforts in their communities.    Members of the New York City Bureau of Mental Health recently toured the center, after researching and visiting facilities in several other states, and noted “Dutchess County has built a foundation that brings mental health services together in a way that no one else has.”

• Travel ban on public roadways was lifted at 4am today 3/15. The public is urged to continue to avoid travel if possible, but for those who need to drive, leave extra time and use extreme caution. Many secondary roads are not in good condition yet and there are very high snow mounds at many intersections making visibility limited.
   
• Ban on parking on all public roadways continues until 4pm today 3/15 under County Executive Molinaro’s  State of Emergency order to assist with snow removal efforts.
   
• Dutchess County Government offices and facilities, including all DMV offices, courts, senior friendship centers, and parks, are closed today.    The Dutchess County Stabilization Center, 24/7 HELPLINE, and Mobile Crisis Intervention Team, as well as the Medical Examiner’s Office, have remained open and been operating continuously throughout the storm and today.
   
• DC Public Transit bus service is running all regular route schedules today, but there are delays on all routes. Dial-A-Ride and Flex service are cancelled today.
   
• Dutchess County Department of Public Works highway crews have been on county roadways since the start of the storm at 1am on Tuesday, March 14th.   County roadways are reported in good condition, with crews continuing to work today applying materials for icy conditions as well as pushing back snow banks and opening up visibility at intersections.
   
• The Dutchess County Emergency Operations Center has been operational since Monday evening, monitoring the storm and directing resources as necessary.     Multiple state, county and utility agencies were represented in the EOC during the storm including Dutchess County Departments of Emergency Response, Public Works, Community & Family Services, Behavioral and Community Health, Planning, the Sheriff’s Office and County Executive’s Office.    There were also representatives from New York State Police and New York State Office of Emergency Management as well as Central Hudson.     The EOC will remain partially activated with limited coverage throughout today as well.
   
• The Dutchess County 911 Communications Center had below average call volume throughout the day yesterday as the public heeded the travel ban and stayed off the roads.    Call volume remains typical for an average day today, however medical calls are on the rise.    The public is urged to use caution with snowblowers and to avoid over exertion while snow shoveling.  
   
• The County Executive has coordinated four municipal leader conference calls over the course of the storm to address specific needs as possible.   There was also communications with Dutchess County school superintendents, resulting in the decision to keep all Dutchess County school closed today for student safety as crews address snow banks where children normally wait for buses.
   
• Dutchess County has coordinated with all the local municipalities a “request for assets” to be deployed by New York State to Dutchess County to assist with snow removal.    Dutchess County has been identified as a critical area by the state based on the impacts of the storm.    New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) District 8 has assembled a task force to reallocate assets that had been originally deployed to Region 10 (Long Island) where the storm had originally been forecasted to be most severe.     Dutchess County Department of Public Works has been notified that NYS DOT expects to have assets in Dutchess County by noon today (3/15) to focus specifically in the City of Beacon and Poughkeepsie.

 
The Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response has a number of safety reminders for residents as they dig out from the snow.
 
Snow Shoveling Safety
 
Be safe when shoveling and remember cold temperatures put an extra strain on the heart. Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris or pushing a car, can increase the risk of a heart attack. To avoid problems, remember these tips: 

• If you begin to have chest discomfort, especially with one or more other signs of heart attack, call 911 right away.
• Stay warm, dress warm and SLOW DOWN when working outdoors.
• Take frequent rests to avoid over exertion and drink fluids.
• Shovel small amounts of snow at a time.
• Push the snow instead of lifting where possible.
• Use proper form if lifting is necessary: keep your back straight and lift with your legs.
   

Snow Blower Safety

The majority of snow blower injuries happen because the operator did not read the operating instructions.   Please read your machine's manual and follow these tips:

• Never leave your snow blower running and unattended. 
• Make sure the discharge chute is not aimed at passing motorists or pedestrians. 
• Never put your hands into the discharge chute or augers to clear stuck snow and ice. 
• Never add fuel when the engine is running and hot. 
• Make sure you know how to turn the machine off quickly. 
   

Clearing Off Rooftops

With so much snow and ice, many homeowners will be clearing it off their home’s roofs.    Clearing roofs is a dangerous task, always put safety first! 

• When possible, use long-handled snow rakes or poles.
• If you must use a ladder, make certain that the base is securely anchored. Ask a friend, neighbor or adult family member to hold the ladder while you climb.
• Know where the snow is going to fall before clearing the area. 
• Make certain not to contact electrical wires. 
• If possible, do not attempt to clear the roof alone. 
• If you are afraid of heights or think the job is too big for you, HIRE HELP.

 
Driver Safety
 

• Vehicles need to be clear of ice and snow, including rooftops!   Good vision is a key to good driving.    Make sure you have full visibility when driving and make sure there is no snow blowing off from your vehicle to hinder visibility for other drivers on the road.
• Be sure that your exhaust pipe is cleared of snow before warming up your vehicle.   A blocked exhaust pipe can cause deadly carbon monoxide to build up in your vehicle.
• Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert.   Match your speed to the road and weather conditions. 
• With so much snow, snow banks along driveways and roadways are very high, limiting visibility for vehicles that are pulling onto roadways.     Use extra caution when approaching intersections and/or driveways.
• Other important safety tips:
• The Dutchess County Department of Public Works reminds people never to build tunnels or forts underneath roadside snow banks.  Snow removal crews may not be able to see children playing in the snowbanks, and cave-ins are also possible.
• Emergency responders need your help clearing out fire hydrants.     Clear out the nearest fire hydrant. The life or home you save may be your own!

 
For continued updates, please follow the County’s social media pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346 or Twitter at http://twitter.com/DutchessCoGov.
 

Poughkeepsie...Dutchess County remains under Winter Storm Warning conditions, with  snowfall continuing at a steady pace and increasing wind gusts.  The Dutchess County Emergency Operation Center continues to monitor the storm and provide resources as needed.    County Executive Molinaro issued an updated State of Emergency Executive Order at 5pm today.  The order prohibiting travel on all county roadways will end at 4am tomorrow,  Wednesday, March 15th.    However, the State of Emergency will remain in effect through 4pm on Wednesday, March 15th, including the order prohibiting parking on all public roads in Dutchess County in order to ensure effective snow removal efforts.  

With all Dutchess County resources deployed for snow removal on county roadways throughout the night to ensure roads are passable in the morning, Dutchess County Government offices and facilities, including courts, parks and senior friendship centers, will remain closed on Wednesday, March 15th, with only essential county personnel reporting.    Public Works crews normally deployed to clearing county parking lots, entry ways, sidewalks and other entry points to county facilities have been diverted to clearing roadways, making county facilities inaccessible.   

Dutchess County Public Transit will be operating regular route bus service tomorrow, however users should expect service delays.     Dial-A-Ride and Flex service, however, is cancelled for Wednesday, March 15th.  

The parking ban on all public roads in Dutchess County will also continue throughout the day tomorrow, Wednesday, March 15th until 4pm.   The ban is to ensure effective snow removal efforts.  Local municipalities have the authority to move any vehicle parked on a public roadway that inhibits snow removal.     The state of emergency order is issued pursuant to Section 24 of New York State Executive Law. It is enforceable by local, county and state law enforcement agencies.

Although the travel ban will be lifted at 4am tomorrow, snow removal operations will continue well into tomorrow and road conditions will be less than optimal, with many secondary roads in poor condition due to wind gusts and snow drafts.   High snow mounds will impact visibility particularly at road intersections.   Motorist should be aware of pedestrians on roadways due to impassable sidewalks.   Travel should continue to be avoided if possible to allow for crews to address conditions.    If you must travel, please use extra caution and leave plenty of travel time.   The following are some safe winter driving tips to keep in mind:

• The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents.
• When winter storms strike, do not drive unless necessary.
• Keep vehicles clear of ice and snow, including vehicle rooftops. 
• Do not attempt to stop a snowplow or obstruct its path. Plow trucks, when loaded with sand and salt, weigh approximately 30 tons. It is a significant load and requires all of the operator’s attention. The large trucks are not as maneuverable and agile as a passenger vehicle and require extra time and distance to stop or avoid trouble.
   
• When approaching snow removal equipment from the rear, travel a minimum of 200 feet behind the equipment to avoid being hit with sand or salt, and to allow for abrupt movements and changes in direction, including unexpected backing of the plow truck.
   
•  Use extreme caution when passing snow removal equipment.  The truck operator’s visibility is typically reduced due to the size and locations of various plow equipment mounted on the vehicle. It is advisable to not pass a plow truck.
   
• If travel is a necessity, drivers should make sure their vehicle is stocked with survival gear such as blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly-colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
   
• Vehicle gas tank should be kept full to prevent gasoline freeze-up. 
• Drivers should be sure their cell phone battery is charged and with them whenever traveling.
• Make sure someone knows your travel plans.
• Listen to the local media reports and/or check www.511ny.org for the latest road conditions.
   
•  Plan stops and keep more distance between cars.  Always match speed to the road and weather conditions. 
   
• Do not park or leave a vehicle unattended along the roadway during a snow or ice event. Parked vehicles are a hazard for snowplow operators, emergency responders and others.
   

The Dutchess County Emergency Operations Center will remain open throughout tonight and tomorrow to continue to address storm issues.

For the latest updates, please continue to follow Dutchess County Government on social media:  Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346  or Twitter at http://twitter.com/DutchessCoGov or on the County’s website at www.dutchessny.gov.

County Executive Molinaro said, “This is the most significant storm this region has experienced in years and is proving incredibly challenging to keep up with.   We are grateful to all who have heeded the travel prohibition, keeping vehicle crash reports to a minimum.   While we are hopeful to lift the travel ban late tonight or very early tomorrow as the storm diminishes, the parking order is necessary as the clean up from this storm is going to be very lengthy and we need to clear roads as quickly as possible.”

The addendum to the Executive Order declares “that the parking of motor vehicles on all public road prohibited until further notice.”    This will aid state, county and local crews in snow removal operations.

“This parking order is necessary to ensure we can get our roadways reopened as soon as possible.   Using safety and caution, please move any vehicles parked on roadways as soon as you are safely able to,” said County Executive Molinaro.

The original State of Emergency declaration regarding travel remains in effect, stating: “All roadways in Dutchess are closed and traffic is prohibited except for: medical and health facility personnel, law enforcement and public safety personnel, first responders, utility, maintenance and public works personnel, snow removal sanding, salting and clearing operations personnel, facility operations persons deemed necessary for plant operations by their employers and public and government personnel involved in the emergency operations.”

The state of emergency is issued pursuant to Section 24 of New York State Executive Law. It is enforceable by local, county and state law enforcement agencies.

County Executive Molinaro, with representatives from multiple county and state agencies and utilities, including Dutchess County Public Works, Sheriff’s Office, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, New York State Police and Central Hudson, is monitoring storm conditions from the County’s Emergency Operations Center and directing resources as needed.

For updates throughout the day, please follow Dutchess County Government on social media:  Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346 or Twitter at http://twitter.com/DutchessCoGov or on the County’s website at www.dutchessny.gov.

For updates throughout the day, please follow Dutchess County Government on social media:  Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346 or Twitter at http://twitter.com/DutchessCoGov or on the County’s website at www.dutchessny.gov.
 

County Executive Molinaro said, “This is expected to be a very significant storm and is important for residents to be prepared. Dutchess County Government is ready to address impacts of the storm as it occurs, and residents should be proactive in making plans to be prepared as well, should travel restrictions be put in place or power outages occur. Preparing today will ensure the next 24 to 48 hours are safer for everyone.”

The Dutchess County Emergency Operations Center will be activated this evening to monitor storm conditions and coordinate resources as necessary.

Dutchess County 911 Dispatch communication center is fully staffed, with additional staffing scheduled as the storm intensifies.

Dutchess County Public Transit (Bus Service) – Dial-A-Ride and Flex services have been cancelled for Tuesday, March 14th. Service disruptions or suspension for regular routes should be anticipated for tomorrow. Service changes or cancellations will be posted at www.dutchessny.gov/loop.htm as well as Dutchess County Government’s Facebook and Twitter social media pages and will be provided to local radio stations and other media outlets.

Dutchess County Office for the Aging – Senior Friendship Centers will be closed tomorrow and there will be no home delivered meals. Volunteers will deliver additional meals today to home delivered meal recipients in anticipation of storm conditions.

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro’s Town Hall Forum, originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 14th at Town of Poughkeepsie Senior Center, has been rescheduled to Wednesday, April 5th at 1pm.

Dutchess County Public Works highway crews will be out in full force to address road conditions as snowfall accumulation increases. With multiple inches of snow expected to fall each hour, it will be difficult, almost impossible, for crews to keep up throughout the storm. Travel restrictions may be ordered as part of a State of Emergency declaration. Regardless of whether travel restrictions are ordered, drivers are encouraged to stay off the roads whenever possible to allow for crews to address storm conditions. The fewer vehicles on the road, the more effective and safer the plowing operations will be.

Local utilities are also advising customers to be prepared for potential service disruptions, with as much as two feet of snow forecasted. Customers can stay up-to-date with Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation at www.CentralHudson.com and with New York State Gas & Electric (NYSGE) at http://www.nyseg.com/Outages/default.html.

For a wide variety of winter safety tips from protecting your home to being safe outdoors, check out the resources available on Dutchess County Government’s website at http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/countygov/departments/EmergencyResponse/12052.htm

Residents can stay up to date on the County’s storm response online at dutchessny.gov or on the County’s social media pages on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dutchess-County-Government/73646813346 or Twitter at http://twitter.com/DutchessCoGov.

Information is also available by calling United Way 211.

“We look forward to hosting our annual Maple Open House and Pancake Breakfast again this spring. Both events provide families, children and adults of all ages the chance to visit one of Dutchess County’s award-winning parks while learning about the art of making maple syrup and tasting syrup made directly at Bowdoin Park,” said County Executive Marc Molinaro.

As part of the Maple Open House, participants will have the opportunity to take part in a hands-on learning experience about the art of making maple syrup. Participants will engage in different steps of the maple syrup process from tapping the trees, to collecting the sap, and then boiling it down to syrup. Native American methods for creating maple sugar will also be explored.

Activities will be held in Bowdoin Park’s Maple Sugar Shed and the Education Center Quad.  The Maple Sugar Shed will be open throughout the day with demonstrations of how maple syrup is made.   Maple syrup will also be available for purchase during the event. In addition to the scheduled events, Bowdoin Park’s history and nature exhibits within the education building will be open. To see the Maple Open House flyer, click here.

The event schedule is as follows:

County Legislator Ken Roman said, “Dutchess County’s parks offer a number of educational and interactive programs and activities throughout the year for residents and visitors to enjoy. The Maple Open House and Pancake Breakfast have become popular events for park goers each year at Bowdoin Park. Be sure to check out the Parks Division’s website to see a full list of offerings available at all of Dutchess County’s parks.”

The Pancake Breakfast is the perfect opportunity to enjoy locally made syrup from Bowdoin Park, as well as the beautiful scenic views of the Hudson River. The breakfast will be held in the Community Center Auditorium at Bowdoin Park. The cost to attend is $5 per person, with children 6 and under free of charge. The event is offered on a first come, first serve basis. Bowdoin Park’s award-winning maple syrup will be available for purchase during the event.   To see the Pancake Breakfast flyer, click here.

To learn more about both events or other programs offered at Bowdoin Park, call the Dutchess County Parks Division at (845) 298-4602 or visit dutchessny.gov.

In 2016, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro convened the 28-member EMS Task Force, comprised of representatives from government, emergency, fire, and education sectors, to identify, develop, and recommend county coordinated solutions for an EMS system that is “patient-centered, consistent, reliable, affordable, and sustainable.”   The Task Force worked closely with Marist College to analyze multiple data points provided by the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response to identify trends in emergency service requests including population density and geographic location; distance and travel time to area hospitals; inability to respond and use of other agency’s resources.    The compilation of data is unlike any report assembled to date by Dutchess County, and the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of EMS has expressed interest in replicating this effort in other areas of the state, as EMS service delivery has become a statewide, as well as national, concern.

County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “I thank the members of our Dutchess County EMS Task Force for their commitment and dedication over the past year having compiled a thorough and complete understanding of our county’s emergency medical services. Their recommendations for improvements to service operations will be evaluated carefully and we will move to implement the lifesaving changes we need.”

The task force looked at EMS history and current challenges at the national, state and local level.   There are no federal or state mandates to provide EMS service and there are no dedicated federal and state funding streams, as generally found with other emergency services including law enforcement, fire service and emergency management.    Yet, EMS has become an expected and relied upon public service.  Additionally, there is little to no state or federal oversight and there is a lack of standards or benchmarks for service and care.    In New York, as a home rule state, local agencies and municipalities set their own service standards, creating wide variation in service delivery between jurisdictions, with little to no collaboration or shared service.

The task force assessed local EMS provision by municipality and agency, revealing that EMS is provided by a multitude of agencies including volunteer and career fire departments, volunteer ambulance corps and commercial providers.     Generally, fire districts direct most EMS activity in the county, however local municipal governments are also engaged in contractual relationships with EMS providers.    EMS service agreements range from informal “handshake” agreements (no contract in place) to subsidized and unsubsidized contract relationships that may include partial coverage or 24/7 coverage.   Level of care varies from Basic Life Support Services to Advanced Life Support Services.  The result is the response time to a call and the level of care a patient receives within Dutchess County can vary greatly based on several factors including location, time of day, and day of the week.

Other challenges include increased call volume, diminishing volunteer capacity and rising costs for commercial and career agencies as well as a general lack of public knowledge about EMS.

New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-Columbia, Dutchess) said, “All of our towns must be able to count on dependable and affordable emergency services which is why our office both urged the launch of and partnered in the Dutchess County EMS Task Force.  The report outlines short term and long term solutions to our county-wide problem and I look forward to continuing to work with County Executive Molinaro, the Task Force, and other stakeholders to engage the public in an open dialogue to implement solutions that work for all our communities."

Based on their findings, the Task Force developed the following immediate, short-term, and long-term recommendations:

Immediate

• Coordination of EMS Provider Education and Training.  Hudson Valley Regional EMS Council has implemented a regional EMS training calendar to provide a coordinated and single source for educational and training opportunities.
   
• Conduct Public Forums and Emergency Service Forums.   Beginning this month, Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response officials will be meeting with members of the Fire and EMS communities to discuss findings and review recommendations.    This spring, DCDER will begin hosting public forums at various locations throughout the county to gather input from the users of EMS, the general public and educate the public on the findings and recommendations of the report.
   

Short-Term
 

• Political and Public Safety Education.   Over the next year, the task force recommends DCDER develop a comprehensive, standardized EMS leadership educational program for local leaders responsible for and/or involved in the guidance, delivery and decision-making of providing EMS.
   
• Establishment of a Citizens Advisory Committee.  Following the public forums and educational efforts, an advisory committee should be established.    The committee’s role would be to:
   
• Identify community and provider expectations for the delivery of EMS
• Provide ongoing education and guidance for local leaders
• Identify models and opportunities for improvement of the provision of EMS
• Explore the need and potential establishment of an EMS Authority in Dutchess County

Long-Term
 

• Consideration of an Emergency Services Authority.  The task force recommends  consideration of an Emergency Services Authority to provide a coordinated solution for the delivery of EMS among its members.  The authority could be created as an autonomous governmental agency, under an act of New York and Dutchess County Legislature, that municipalities and agencies could participate in. The task force recommends a professional consultant to develop a strategy for creating such an authority, including identifying legal requirements, gaining necessary public, political and emergency services community support as well as define powers and organizational structure.

The Task Force members, including the Steering Committee, have committed to continuing to serve throughout 2017 to assist in the implementation of the recommendations and transition responsibility to the Citizens Advisory Committee.

Dutchess County Legislator and EMS Task Force-member Jerry Landisi said, “The Task Force spent many hours carefully evaluating and reviewing EMS operations throughout Dutchess County in order to develop a solid plan moving forward. We believe the report issued represents a thorough examination of services, areas that need to be addressed in order to provide improved and quality service for our residents, as well as sound recommendations to improve service delivery countywide.”

Learn more about the Dutchess County EMS Task Force and view their full report and additional findings.

# # #

The Dutchess County EMS Task Force members, including steering committee members noted with asterisk:

Dutchess County Government
Carol Bogle, Chief Assistant County Attorney
*Cathi Tegtmeier, Director of Health Planning, Education & Emergency Preparedness
*John Mahoney, EMS Coordinator, Department of Emergency Response
*Dana Smith, Commissioner, Department of Emergency Response
 
Citizens
Chris Rohrbach, (LaGrange)
Bruce Cutler, (Red Hook)
 
Municipalities
Dave Kelly, Supervisor, Town of Pawling
*Anthony Ruggiero, City Manager, City of Beacon
Mark Johnson, Fire Chief, City of Poughkeepsie
Dave Shultz, Town of North East
 
EMS
Cheryl Hilbrandt, Captain, Tivoli-Rescue Squad
Patricia Fusco, East Fishkill Rescue Squad
*David Violante, Director of EMS, Arlington Fire District
*Tim Murphy, Union Vale Fire District; President, Dutchess County EMS Council
 
Dutchess Community College
Bernadette Cekuta, Program Coordinator, Dutchess Community College Emergency Services

Fire
Chris Howard, Fire Chief, Amenia
Dewitt Sagendorph, Commissioner, Staatsburg Fire District
*Chris Maeder, Chief, Fairview Fire District
Dan Nichols, Chief, Roosevelt Fire District
 
County Legislature
Kari Rieser
Jerry Landisi
 
New York State Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services
Richard Robinson, Regional EMS Program Administrator
Kevin Gage, Senior Emergency Medical Care Representative
 
New York State Elected Officials
Senator Terrence Murphy (represented by Ian Miller)
Senator Sue Serino (represented by Anil Beephan)
Assembly Member Didi Barrett (represented by Bill Gustafson)
Assembly Member Kevin Cahill
Assembly Member Frank Skartados

Subject Matter Expert Presenters
Tim Scannell, Vice President and CFO, Mobile Life Support Services, Inc.
Stephen Brucato, Chief of Operations, Greene County EMS Paramedics
PJ Keeler, EMS Coordinator, Columbia County EMS
Dr. David Gavin, Assistant Professor, School of Management, Marist College
William Yellin, Project Leader, Dutchess County Office of Central and Information Services

Dr. Vaidian comes to Dutchess County with over 24 years of medical experience, including 17 years in local county public health service.    He will lead the Department of Behavioral and Community Health (DBCH) in its mission to assess and protect the community from health risks, assure access to high quality services, and promote holistic care that integrates physical and behavioral health outcomes, overseeing more than 200 employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $64 million.

Dr. Vaidian has spent the last decade with the Rockland County Department of Health, most recently as the Director of Disease Control and Prevention following a series of promotions.   He had previously served in Westchester County Government’s Division of Disease Control.    Prior to his tenure in public health service in county government, he served as Assistant Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.

“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Vaidian to Dutchess County and excited to have him lead the Department of Behavioral and Community Health in achieving our bold goal of being the healthiest county in New York State,” said County Executive Molinaro.  “Dr. Vaidian’s wealth of experience in public health here in the Hudson Valley Region makes him the right choice to lead this critical department.”

Dr. Vaidian earned his M.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine in Buffalo, NY.  He also holds a Masters of Public Health from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University in New York.  He completed his post-graduate medical training, serving as Primary Care/General Medicine Resident and then as Chief Medical Resident at the Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY.

“Dutchess County Government has always been a leader in the Hudson Valley region and I am excited to be part of this outstanding organization.   I appreciate County Executive Molinaro’s confidence in me and I look forward to working with him and the entire DBCH team to ensure and protect the health and well-being of Dutchess County residents,” said Dr. Vaidian.
 
Following confirmation by the Dutchess County Legislature and approval by the New York State Department of Health, Dr. Vaidian is expected to begin serving as Commissioner in late April.

Bridge construction will be completed in two phases, allowing for the continued flow of traffic through the use of a one-lane alternating traffic pattern controlled by a temporary traffic signal. The one-lane alternating traffic pattern is expected to begin on or about March 13th. Message boards will be positioned next week on either side of the bridge altering motorists to the change in traffic pattern. The first phase of the repair project will maintain traffic in the westbound lane of the bridge and phase two will maintain traffic in the eastbound lane.

In 2015, temporary repair work on the bridge was completed to fix a small section of deteriorated steel following a New York State Department of Transportation inspection, revealing severe deterioration of the bridge’s structural beams in one location.

It is anticipated the bridge will reopen to traffic in the fall. Occasional overnight closures of the bridge may be necessary and a detour route will be posted. New Hamburg Road averages approximately 5,800 vehicles per day.

For more information, please contact the Dutchess County Department of Public Works’ Engineering Division at (845) 486-2925.

In partnership with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, the STOP-DWI Program is coordinating drug collection events to provide the community the ability to drop off to safely dispose unwanted medications. In his 2017 State of the County address, County Executive Molinaro highlighted expanding prescription drug drop-off points, and making it easier for residents to dispose of such drugs, as an important component of fighting the opiate and heroin epidemic.

Collection drop off events have been scheduled as follows:

Saturday, March 4th 
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.  Mid-Hudson Plaza, Route 9 & Fulton Street, Poughkeepsie
   (In front of Home Depot)

Saturday, March 11th
10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  Amenia Town Hall (Winter Farmer’s Market), 4988 Route 22, Amenia
Noon to  1:30 p.m.  Dover Fire House, 3122 Route 22, Dover Plains
2 p.m. to 3:30 pm.  Millbrook Fire House, 20 Front Street, Millbrook

Recognizing more than 70 percent of abused prescription medications are obtained from friends or relatives, County Executive Molinaro reminds residents that “reducing the amount of old or unused prescription medications from our home medicine cabinets is the first step to stop addiction before it begins.”  The main goal of the Dutchess County Prescription Medication Drop Box program, which includes 10 permanent receptacles/locations, is to keep addictive substances from falling into the wrong hands and being misused.

Drop box locations are accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with noted exceptions.

For more information visit; http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/STOPDWI/DWPrescriptionDrugTakeback.pdf

County Legislator Angela Flesland said, “A large percentage of heroin users start by abusing prescription drugs. Please clean out your medicine cabinet and help prevent potential drug abuse and addiction. Making drug disposal as easy as possible is an important step in combatting addiction, and I’m proud that Dutchess County is making events like these possible to ensure these drugs will not reach those who would abuse them.”

As part of the New Hope Community Center, which serves as a hub of services for youth and families throughout the City of Poughkeepsie, the Boys & Girls Club will come to the City of Poughkeepsie, offering local children evidence-based programming vital to their future success.

This new programming at the youth center at the New Hope Community Center, located at 104 Hudson Avenue, will be a community collaboration. In addition to Dutchess County, the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley has committed funds, and several other partners are considering significant investments so this program can become a neighborhood anchor where at-risk youths can receive preventative services from adult mentors.

County Executive Marc Molinaro said, “Dutchess County continues to make an investment in our children, providing programs and services to help our youth, particularly those who are at-risk, grow in self-worth, enhance their confidence and reach their fullest potential. The Boys & Girls Club is an evidence-based model that personally reaches children and gives them the skills needed to not only succeed in school, but also outside the four walls of a classroom. As an integral part of the New Hope Community Center, the Boys & Girls Club will both offer both guidance for our children in the City of Poughkeepsie and a safe setting in which they can develop – academically, emotionally and socially – into our next generation of leaders.”

The Afterschool Project (TAP) is a comprehensive after-school education initiative designed to provide 90 City of Poughkeepsie students in kindergarten through eighth grade with the academic, social and emotional skills they need to successfully graduate high school, enroll in college and enter the workforce. TAP will partner with Dutchess County, the City of Poughkeepsie, the Poughkeepsie City School District, New Hope Community Center, the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority and other community-based organizations to establish this high-quality program. This after-school program will operate from September to June, Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the hours when young people are most likely to engage in harmful, negative activities if left unsupervised.
    
Students taking part in TAP will receive access to positive youth development activities in the areas of academic enrichment, science and technology, leadership development, arts and culture, and sports and recreation. This rich array of activities is designed to improve the academic, social and vocational competencies of participating youth, especially those attending low-performing schools.

County Legislator Barbara Jeter-Jackson said, “Through its services and programs, the Boys & Girls Club gives our children a sense of belonging and purpose alongside mentors who guide them in a safe environment. We look forward to partnering with such a successful organization here in Dutchess County, and we’re confident at-risk youth in the City of Poughkeepsie will flourish from this collaboration.”

Based on its research of successful practices in communities with demographics similar to the City of Poughkeepsie, the Boys & Girls Club has established its after-school programs with a structure consisting of one to two hours of academic enrichment each day. This time includes homework help and tutoring for all students, English Language Arts (ELA) and math instruction for students who are failing to meet New York State standards and academic enrichment for students currently meeting New York State standards. The program also provides one to two hours daily of youth development activities, allowing students to choose from a wide variety of offerings in the areas of science and technology, sports and recreation, and arts and culture. Classes include leadership development, photography, computer based graphic design, film making, instrumental music, dance, martial arts, intramural sports and chess.

In his 2017 County Budget, County Executive Molinaro again emphasized his commitment to youth, funding several initiatives to strengthen families, and improve the lives of County children. Among others, these included:

• “Strengthening Families,” an evidence-based family skills training program that has been proven to significantly improve parenting skills, reduce problem behaviors, delinquency, alcohol and drug abuse in children and improve social competencies and school performance
• A community schooling model which will integrate academics and services, utilizing the school as a central hub of service provision
• “Better for Families,” a New York State reform program aimed at improving the family court system as it relates to youth, involving families earlier in the court process using a multi-disciplinary approach with regular meeting to work toward goals

“Funding such worthwhile programs, including the Boys & Girls Club’s after-school project, doesn’t just help Dutchess County’s youth; it helps Dutchess County as a whole,” County Executive Molinaro said. “The young men and women who successfully complete these initiatives will go on to contribute to our society, engage in their community and find success long after they finish the programs, success that will positively affect all Dutchess County residents.”

The mission of  the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh, founded in 1946, is to enable all young people, especially those who need the organization the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Kevin White, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh, said, “We look forward to bringing the same evidence-based programs to Dutchess County that have proved so successful for us in the past. We thank County Executive Molinaro for his vision and dedication to local youth, and we are eager to work with our community partners in Dutchess County to bring about real change in the City of Poughkeepsie.”

The 2017 Agency Partner Grant awards are as follows:

Economic & Cultural Benefit

Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
Project award: $65,000
Project description: Continue supporting 4-H youth development programming that will prepare the next generation of agri-professionals in the areas of financial literacy, writing comprehension, public speaking and leadership.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
Project award: $100,000
Project description: Continue supporting the Youth Vocational Training activities, which include the Green Teen Community Gardening in Beacon and Poughkeepsie’s No Child Left Inside Youth Vocational Training programs. These programs will broaden participants’ exposure to outdoor employment experiences, while promoting health and environmental science.

Literacy Connections
Project award: $27,000
Project description: Assist adults and children in building basic literacy skills. Adult learners will receive student-centered, one-on-one or small group tutoring lessons while children are assigned a one-on-one book buddy to promote basic reading and comprehension skills.

Northeast Community Council Inc.
Project award: $41,000
Project description: Continue the Community Partnership with Schools and Business program, a paid job skills training program for youths and young adults, in which they will gain transferable work readiness skills and training to promote their successful transition to adulthood.

Spark Media Project
Project award: $21,000
Project description: Support an after-school and summer media arts vocational development program for inner-city youth.  Participants receive training and hands-on experience in media production, producing works of their own and contributing to Spark’s award-winning video series, DROP TV, as well as to Spark’s hour-long youth produced radio program, Radio Uprising.

Health & Human Service

Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh, Inc.
Project award: $100,000
Project description: Implement a comprehensive after-school program which will target the academic, social and behavioral development of youth in the City of Poughkeepsie.

Catholic Charities Community Services of Dutchess County
Project award: $25,000
Project description: Provide a Case Management Program, which will offer emergency rental assistance, financial literacy education, crisis intervention and comprehensive case management services which will promote long-term housing stability for low-income families.

Center for Prevention of Child Abuse
Project award: $14,000
Project description: Continue the implementation of the Personal Safety Program, which offers preventative sexual abuse education, including Internet safety education, to children throughout Dutchess County.

Center for Prevention of Child Abuse
Project award: $25,000
Project description: Expand the Teen Parent Program to additional communities throughout Dutchess County. The program enhancement will provide case management services and evidence-based curriculum to teen parents to develop their parenting skills and promote healthy child development.

Dutchess Outreach, Inc.
Project award: $23,000
Project description: Provide affordable and healthy locally produced fresh food options via the Poughkeepsie Plenty Mobile Market, increasing the accessibility of nutritional food options to City residents.

Family Services
Project award: $14,000
Project description: Provide an after-school Teen Resource Activity Center, providing healthy meals, recreational activities and a LifeSkills Training program. Participants will gain team-building skills, substance-abuse prevention education and emotion-regulation skills in a safe environment.

Family Services
Project award: $15,000
Project description: Hire an advocate to handle hotline calls from the expansion of the Domestic Violence Lethality Assessment Program (LAP).  The advocate will handle hotline calls, conduct outreach and provide other comprehensive follow-up services to victims.

Friends of Seniors of Dutchess County Corp.
Project award: $41,000
Project description:  Maintain its Senior Medical Transportation program, which will promote access to non-emergency medical care for seniors who lack other means of transportation.

Hudson River Housing, Inc.
Project award: $41,000
Project description: Financial Fitness programming to improve financial stability among participants by offering a four-hour group educational workshop on the importance of eliminating debt, building a credit history and increasing savings.

Hudson River Housing, Inc.
Project award: $34,000
Project description: Continue providing County residents with housing navigation and transition services, referrals and/or emergency rental assistance to prevent homelessness.

Hudson River Housing, Inc.
Project award: $21,000
Project description: Support the Youth LEAP Program, designed to provide work-readiness skills and training, financial literacy and leadership skills to low-income adolescents and young adults.

Mediation Center of Dutchess County
Project award: $38,000
Project description: Continue the implementation of an anti-bullying initiative in schools throughout the County and expand implementation to an inner-city youth program.  The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program educates students and professionals on methods for reducing bullying while contributing to the improvement of peer relations.

Mediation Center of Dutchess County
Project award: $40,000
Project description: Fund an evidence-based Restorative Justice Initiative, which will work with schools and individuals in communities throughout Dutchess County to address conflict and behavioral matters in a diplomatic and non-punitive way in order to promote pro-social outcomes.

Mid-Hudson Children's Museum
Project award: $20,000
Project description: Advance school-readiness skill development for at-risk children by providing the Empowering Parents as First Teachers initiative, which strives to promote early language and literacy skill development, as well as emotional and social skill development.

Northeast Community Council Inc.
Project award: $33,000
Project description: Provide a variety of nutritional food access programs, including two community gardens, a Summer Food Service Program and youth food-access internship opportunities.

Poughkeepsie Farm Project
Project award: $35,000
Project description: Support Farm Fresh Home Chefs, a food access and healthy-eating program for low-income Poughkeepsie families, teaching families how to prepare balanced healthy meals.

Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church
Project award: $10,000
Project description: Support the Harriet Tubman Academic Skills Center, which will provide academic and social support, to promote educational and behavioral outcomes of at-risk children in the City of Poughkeepsie.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness Mid-Hudson, Inc.
Project award: $27,000
Project description: Provide mental wellness and mental health literacy to individuals affected by mental illness.  The Family-to-Family program educates participants on the biology of brain disorders, treatment options, crisis intervention techniques and other community support and referral options available.

Environmental & Agricultural Sustainability

Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County (CCEDC)
Project award: $90,000
Project description: Provide Dutchess County municipal officials and residents with the education, resources and support needed to make informed land-use planning decisions within their municipalities. Topics will include Greenway Concepts & Smart Land Use, Stormwater Management, Municipal Resource Mapping, Water Supply & Wellhead Protection, Renewable Energy.

Dale Borchert, Chairman of the Dutchess County Legislature, said, “By collaborating with non-profit organizations in our community through the Agency Partner Grant program, Dutchess County continues to ensure our residents receive the best services available in these important areas. We thank our partners for their participation in the Agency Partner Grant program, and look forward to the benefit they’ll bring to our residents.”

Nicole Fenichel-Hewitt, Executive Director of Spark Media Project, said, "We are so grateful for the Agency Partner Grant's support in helping us provide media arts education and workforce readiness skills to underserved youth in our community. This County funding allows Spark to continue critical programming that provides local teens with safe and creative after-school programs and summer employment opportunities that have proven to encourage life-long learning."

Tina Lee, Resource Development, Outreach and Program Coordinator of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Mid-Hudson, said, “NAMI Mid-Hudson is grateful for the County’s focus to continue to prioritize mental wellness and increase mental health literacy in our community.  With our ongoing partnership, NAMI Mid-Hudson will be able to continue to provide our community with evidenced-based education, support and the ability to effectively advocate for families and individuals affected by mental health conditions. NAMI Mid-Hudson looks forward to continue working together with our community partners to be the healthiest county in the state of New York.”

Kevin White, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Newburgh, said, “We are appreciative of the $100,000 grant awarded for the implementation of The Afterschool Project (TAP), a comprehensive after-school program in the City of Poughkeepsie.  We look forward to expanding our services to Dutchess County in order to provide a safe place where youth can develop the academic, social, emotional and behavioural skills needed for their successful transition to adulthood.”

The Agency Partner Grant Program establishes a process by which Dutchess County awards funding to non-profit agencies based on unmet resident needs and outcomes. This is a comprehensive effort to make the non-profit funding process more consistent with the County’s federal and state competitive grant processes. More information about the Agency Partner Grant Program is available here.

County Executive Molinaro said, “Our Annual Report provides members of the Legislature and residents with a glimpse of the tireless work and services provided by the dedicated men and women of Dutchess County Government’s workforce. Together, we continue to take effective action in order to make county government the most effective and efficient it can be. I urge residents to look through the report to learn more about our departments and the work they do each day to best serve our community.”

The annual report features a review of Dutchess County’s financial condition, highlighting the steadfast efforts to find efficiencies and savings, share services with local municipalities, consolidate internal operations, and evaluate programs and services to reduce costs where possible. These actions have led to the stabilization and strengthening of the county’s finances, as well as the third consecutive year of a county tax levy reduction for residents and a reduced property tax rate in 2017.

The report also features a summary of the activities of the Executive departments of Dutchess County Government, demonstrating the continued dedication and hard work of Dutchess County Government employees.

The full Annual Report for 2016 can be viewed on the Dutchess County Government website.

County Executive Molinaro will present his 2017 State of the County address on Thursday, February 16th at 5pm at the Culinary Institute of America’s Marriott Pavilion, Ecolab Auditorium.    He will outline his focus and priorities for Dutchess County Government in 2017.   The State of the County address event is open to the public.   To learn more about the event and to register, visit the County website.

The program, presented by Taconic Resources for Independence, is designed to enhance awareness of disability etiquette and help increase a sense of confidence and tolerance when interacting with those who have physical, mental or invisible disabilities. The training will be especially useful for organizations and individuals who wish to enhance that first impression for people with special needs.

Those in attendance can also meet Toni-Marie Ciarfella, Dutchess County’s Deputy Commissioner for Special Needs, who serves as an advocate for residents with special needs, helping them navigate through the system of services providers and programs to enhance their lives.

The Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County is comprised of both healthcare and non-healthcare volunteers as part of a national network of more than 200,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting public health infrastructure as well as disaster preparedness and response in the community.

The training is free, however seating is limited and registration is required.  For more information about the Medical Reserve Corps, or to register, please contact MRC Coordinator Joe Ryan at (845) 486-2493 or jryan@dutchessny.gov.  For information on upcoming trainings, visit www.dutchessny.gov/mrc.

County Executive Molinaro said, "Dutchess County's vigorous arts community enhances our lives in so many ways – from contributing to our tourism industry to improving our quality of life – and this appointment continues this county’s commitment to the arts. I know Poet Gold will bring thought-provoking pieces to life as our new Poet Laureate, works that will inspire Dutchess County. Our arts scene makes us distinctly Dutchess, and I urge all residents to enjoy the arts wherever they find them."

In her unpaid role as Dutchess County’s Poet Laureate, Ms. Wilkerson will serve for a one-year term and bring poetry to the community through a series of readings and events.

Ms. Wilkerson said, “As Poet Laureate, through a series of poetry workshops and performances, I hope to empower communities to find their voice for their dreams, goals, and aspirations.”

Ms. Wilkerson was the recipient of the 2016 Dutchess County Executive’s “Artivist” Award; a 2016 Dutchess County Athena Award Honoree by The Chamber Foundation, Inc.; the 2016 recipient of the Exempt Firemen’s Association Black Heritage Committee’s “Outstanding Community Service Award” for Extraordinary Contribution and Dedication; and the 2014 New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Individual Artist Tier Grant Awardee for Dutchess County, among others honors. Find out more about Ms. Wilkerson on her Facebook page.

Ms. Wilkerson was the Artist-in-Residence for the “Leadership Overnight Camp,” hosted by Rural Migrant Ministry; served as host for the 2016 RMM Rural Women’s Assembly, hosted the 2015 NYS Women’s Rural Conference; spoke before renowned organizations, such as Omega Institute’s 2014 “Women Serving Women Summit;” and has inspired women with her words for the Women’s Leadership Alliance International Women’s Day.

Arts Mid-Hudson managed the process of the public call for nominations, inviting a panel of literary professionals and community members to make a selection from 65 nominations. Public nominations for the 2018 Dutchess County Poet Laureate will be accepted this summer.

“We appreciate County Executive Molinaro’s dedication to Dutchess County’s arts community, and his selection of Poet Gold as our 2017 Poet Laureate is one we can all celebrate,” said Linda Marston-Reid, Executive Director for Arts Mid-Hudson. “The promotion of poetry throughout Dutchess County benefits residents of all ages and backgrounds, and we applaud County Executive Molinaro for his continued appreciation of the arts.”

County Executive Molinaro will hold his annual State of the County Address at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park on Thursday, February 16th at 5 p.m. The State of the County Address event is open to the public; seating is limited, and registration is required. Register for the 2017 State of the County Address

Spectral Systems, an employee owned company located at 35 Corporate Park Drive in East Fishkill, is the leader in precise infrared optical components, coatings, through final production.    Dutchess County Assistant County Executive Ron Hicks began working with Spectral two years ago when Spectral acquired a Connecticut based business and was considering a consolidation/relocation to Connecticut.

Hicks brought in Dutchess Community College (DCC), a fellow member of the Think Dutchess Alliance for Business, and T-SEC to consider Spectral’s needs and determine if DCC and T-SEC’s new SMARTT LAB program would give Spectral the incentive and edge they need to compete and expand in Dutchess County. 
T-SEC was established 10 years ago by local industry executives to help manufacturers grow and retain/create new, good-paying jobs.  T-SEC works closely with small/medium manufacturers in the Hudson Valley region, providing them with technical and business support free of charge to, for example, improve product lines or operating performance, develop new products or markets, or respond to changing market conditions.   T-SEC also encourages the formation of industry/academic partnerships, which provide educational, research and workforce development resources, which are mutually beneficial to both sectors. 

Carl Meyer, President and CEO of T-SEC, said, “Often manufacturers lack investment capital to purchase costly specialized manufacturing equipment necessary to improve an existing product or to develop a new product – that is where T-SEC can help.    We have been able make key equipment purchases through SUNY 2020 grants along with several Empire State Development (ESD) capital grants from the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.  That equipment is then located at either specific manufacturing facilities or local community colleges, where both our regional manufacturers and local students can benefit.”

Recognizing Spectral Systems was experiencing increasing market pressure as foreign players were gaining market share because of pricing advantages, T-SEC proposed adding a complementary technology to Spectral Systems’ existing processes to enable them to bring high-tech work, currently done by out-of-state vendors, in-house.    This allowed Spectral Systems to make multi-million dollar investments in their plant, improve their bottom line and create at least six new, high-paying jobs.  T-SEC purchased an optical profiler with its grant from the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council, under the Governor’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) program and installed it in the Spectral Systems plant.  With this equipment in place, Spectral has been able to expand market share and grow its business, thus retaining New York State jobs and adding new employees.

Bruce Capuano, Vice President at Spectral Systems said, “Dutchess County and T-SEC’s assistance was key to Spectral System’s decision to stay in New York and grow our business.   We look forward to continue working with them and Dutchess Community College.

Spectral Systems and T-SEC will work with Dutchess Community College (DCC), as part of T-SEC’s   SMARTT Lab program to utilize the equipment provides hands on research and training opportunities, including internships, for DCC students.    T-SEC’s SMARTT Labs make manufacturing equipment available for use on a first-come, first-served basis by manufacturers, students and faculty.  T-SEC is engaged with other successful collaborations with Dutchess Community College, including building and fit-up a metrology test lab on the DCC campus with funding T-SEC obtained from its SUNY 2020 grant.  

To learn more about Spectral Systems, visit their website at www.spectral-systems.com. For more information about T-SEC, visit www.tsecny.org.
 

“We continue advancing our shared services efforts and with this grant, we provide our law enforcement officers with the protection and resources they need to keep them safe. Our office worked quickly to compile the information necessary for this grant application and ensure Dutchess County would be a recipient of these critical funds. This is just another example of how we bring together community leaders to share services and lower the burden on taxpayers,” said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

Police agencies were assessed and selected for funding based on the equipment needs of their department. The grant funding breakdown by agency is as follows:

“I thank County Executive Molinaro for working to secure this grant funding which will enhance the safety of our officers,” said Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson. “This funding will allow us to continue with our efforts to provide training and equipment needed during a possible catastrophic event in order to protect our brave men and women in uniform and our residents.”

Approximately $10,000,000 in grant funding was made available for award through the program for all counties in New York State based on county population and designated funding tier. Each local police agency will receive funding directly from the DCJS Office of Program Development and Funding Program for the contract period of January 1st to December 31st, 2017. To learn more about the programs and services provided by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, go to: http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/

“We are excited to offer a variety of new service options for utilizers of the County’s public transit system. Now, more than ever, residents and visitors to Dutchess County will have improved and expanded options for traveling throughout our community,” said Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro.

As part of the new fare box system, riders will no longer need exact change. The fare box will now issue a change card to be used towards future rides. Additionally, riders will have the option to insert and swipe their bus tickets into the fare box, providing for ease of use and improved tracking for future trips.

New features include:

• No need for exact change. The fare box will automatically issue a change card to be used towards future trips;
• New card slot feature for Single and Multi-Ride tickets making payment easier and improves tracking for card balances; and
• New swipe reader for Anytime tickets.

Ticket options have been improved, making it easier and more flexible for residents and visitors to use. Multi-Ride ticket options offer commuters greater flexibility as they can be utilized any day, with no expiration. Previously, commuter tickers were valid only during the purchase month and for designated time periods on weekdays only. New Anytime ride tickets offer convenient options for visitors, providing for unlimited rides for multi-day blocks. Bus tickets can be purchased directly on the bus, in person at the Dutchess County Public Transit bus facility or via U.S. mail using cash, check or money order.

Bus ticket options include:

*Reduced fares are available to seniors (age 60+), veterans, children (age 5-12), students, or ADA passengers with proper identification including Dutchess County Senior ID card, current military ID, Dutchess County FAVOR card, valid student ID and ADA Identification Card.

Beginning Sunday, February 5, bus service will expand from six days a week to seven on the most popular routes. Routes A, B, F and H will offer service seven days a week, meeting a highly requested service for public transit users. Sunday bus service will be available as a pilot program and will meet a growing need for passengers who frequent the County’s public transit system.

A new fixed-route bus service, Route I, will launch as a pilot program on Saturday, February 4, providing a link to and from the Main & Market Street bus stop in the City of Poughkeepsie to the Metro-North Poughkeepsie Train Station, Boardman Road, the Dutchess County Airport, the Poughkeepsie Galleria and the Shoppes at South Hills via Hooker Avenue and Vassar Road. Route I, an approximate one-hour, one-way trip route, will run Monday through Saturday from 6:25 a.m. to 11:36 p.m. View the Route I schedule.

“I am excited for Dutchess County Public Transit’s new and expanded bus service options, which I supported in the 2017 County Budget. The new Sunday Service and Route I will serve a growing need for users of our public transit system.  These expanded service options will allow for greater accessibility for students, seniors and veterans to enjoy all Dutchess County has to offer,” said Dutchess County Legislator Angela Flesland.

Also planned for this year, Public Transit will install new and improved bus signage and launch a mobile app to make navigating the public transit system easier and more accessible. The new mobile app, which will be available for both Android and iPhone users, will enable riders to get arrival prediction information in real-time on all routes. Public transit riders can plan their routes in advance, view bus schedules, and track the location of buses in real time, adding efficiency and making Dutchess County Public Transit more user-friendly than ever before.

View the Division of PublicTransit website for more information regarding the fare box system, ticket options and current Public Transit schedules. 
 

For the second straight year, Dutchess, Orange and Sullivan counties will host the annual event, which will bring nearly 1,000 athletes and coaches from around the state to the Hudson Valley.

“This year’s Winter Games will look to replicate the record-breaking event we enjoyed last year in the Hudson Valley,” Mr. Johnson said. “From the outpouring of encouragement our athletes received during the opening ceremony and competition in 2016, to the number of volunteers and support from local sponsors who made the Winter Games possible, we couldn’t be happier to return to the region. I know the Hudson Valley will again make this weekend memorable for all involved, again setting an example for future Winter Games throughout the state.”

The Hudson Valley set records in 2016 for both the number of volunteers and time period in which they signed up. Building on that historic volunteer turnout, organizers again encouraged local residents to volunteer to make the Winter Games as successful as possible.

County Executive Molinaro, who again serves as the Honorary Chair for the 2017 Winter Games, said, “We in Dutchess County have asked our residents to THINK DIFFERENTLY about our neighbors with special needs, and the Special Olympics are a great example of how that initiative has been embraced in our community. Wherever local volunteers have been needed – setting up competition venues, keeping score, rooting for these exceptional athletes from the stands – our residents have stepped up and answered the call to THINK DIFFERENTLY. I’m confident we’ll see a final surge in volunteers to help us surpass the historic levels we set in 2016. This inspirational weekend of competition and friendship will be one in which everyone involved will take pride, and Dutchess County is honored to be the center of activity for the 2017 Winter Games.”

In addition to service volunteers, Special Olympics New York seeks volunteers to be Fans in the Stands for the weekend.  Athletes will arrive at the State Winter Games from all over New York, and many families cannot make the trip.  Volunteers from the community are needed to attend the competitions, watch and cheer for these champions.  For more information on all volunteer opportunities, including those to cheer for the athletes during competition, visit www.SpecialOlympicsNY.org.

The Games Organizing Committee (GOC) has organized the various aspects of the event, securing local community support and sponsorship, and working to provide a unique Hudson Valley feel to the Games.  The Co-Chairs of the 2017 State Winter Games GOC are Mary Kay Vrba, president and CEO of Dutchess Tourism Inc., and Frank M. Castella Jr., president and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The 2017 State Winter Games will commence on February 17th with Opening Ceremonies, including a ceremonial parade of athletes, motivational speeches, local entertainment and the Law Enforcement Torch Run at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in the City of Poughkeepsie. The Mid-Hudson Civic Center will also host Closing Ceremonies and a Victory Dance on February 18th.

Event venues include:
• Alpine Skiing – Holiday Mountain Ski Area, 99 Holiday Mountain Road in Monticello
• Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing – Bowdoin Park,  85 Sheafe Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie
• Figure Skating – McCann Ice Arena, 14 Civic Center Plaza in the City of Poughkeepsie
• Floor Hockey – Stewart Air National Guard Base, 1 Maguire Way in Newburgh

“The generosity of our local hotels, competition venues and various partners in the Hudson Valley is unparalleled anywhere in New York State,” Mr. Castella said. “Their support will again ensure athletes and their families will not incur any cost to take part in this terrific event. We thank all who have pledged their support, and we look forward to adding even more volunteers to our growing list, all of whom will selflessly give their time to benefit this worthy cause.”

The Platinum Sponsor for the State Winter Games is Westchester Medical Center Health Network. At the Gold sponsorship level, The Arc of Dutchess, Arnoff Moving & Storage, and Central Hudson Gas & Electric. At the Silver level, Access: Support for Living, Chobani, Greystone Programs, and Turk Hospitality Group are sponsors. At the Bronze level, Abilities First, Adams Fairacre Farms, Anderson Center for Autism, Marshall & Sterling Insurance, M&T Bank, and New Horizons Resources are sponsors. Media sponsors include the Poughkeepsie Journal, iHeartMedia, Townsquare Media, Pamal Broadcasting, Highway Displays, and J6 MediaWorks.

“Our residents’ giving nature makes us distinctly Dutchess, and it’s one of the reasons visitors from across the world travel to our county each year. It’s also what makes hosting these Winter Games so inspiring – seeing our community answer our call and come out in force to support these athletes in whatever way they can,” Ms. Vrba said. “There’s still time for local residents to sign up to volunteer, giving of themselves while ensuring their neighbors from across the state enjoy a weekend of fun and camaraderie they’ll never forget.”

Special Olympics New York will host the Fishkill Polar Plunge at Sharpe Reservation on Saturday, Feb. 25th. Participants can support the athletes of Special Olympics New York by taking a dip in the chilly waters. Registration is open at www.PolarplungeNY.org. Donors are asked to raise $100 to receive an official Polar Plunge sweatshirt.

“The County’s partnership with the Town of East Fishkill is the latest in our continuing efforts to provide shared services resulting in greater efficiencies and savings for our taxpayers. Our OCIS team has again crafted an engaging and interactive website that provides local residents and visitors with easy access to important information, town officials and upcoming events, but also highlights the unique offerings available year-round in East Fishkill,” said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro.

OCIS worked closely with Town of East Fishkill Supervisor John Hickman and town employees to develop the new website and incorporated numerous features residents were looking for.  The new site is mobile friendly, allowing the website’s content to scale to fit whatever electronic device is being used; desktop, laptop, tablet or phone. This provides convenient access to vital information for a growing mobile audience while improving the experience for all visitors. Additionally, two key features of the new site include the public outreach service, East Fishkill Delivery, which allows residents to receive emails or text messages for information/advisories for topics of interest, and a public alerts and advisories feature, providing residents with emergency and non-emergency notifications.

Town of East Fishkill Supervisor John L. Hickman, Jr.  remarked, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Dutchess County to provide a state-of-the-art website.  East Fishkill has worked closely with the Dutchess County Office of Central and Information Services to rollout such a great resource for the constituents of East Fishkill.”

Enhanced and/or new features of the website include:

• Updated News Section – Latest news and events happening in East Fishkill highlighted directly on the homepage;
• East Fishkill Delivery – Public Outreach Service that allows residents to receive emails or text messages for information/advisories for topics that they subscribe;
• Public Alerts and Advisories – Includes both emergency and non-emergency advisories;
• Town Directory – Quick links with information and contacts for Town of East Fishkill officials, departments and boards;
• Videos – Convenient access to an expanded offering of Council and Board meetings as well as event videos, “Know Your Government” and Spotlights on East Fishkill;
• Online Town Code – Easy access to East Fishkill laws and codes including building, sign and zoning codes;
• Photo Gallery – A photo gallery feature has been added highlighting the Town’s past and present with images from local photographers;
• InfoAccess – A Geographic Information System (GIS) map-based application developed by Dutchess County OCIS. InfoAccess takes a broad-range of location-related information and allows users to view those locations by category on maps and view related information such as census data, parcel data and more. Categories include education, government, health care, recreation, transportation and more, giving users an opportunity to explore what the community has to offer.

“The newly redesigned, mobile-friendly website supports both County Executive Molinaro’s and Supervisor Hickman’s shared services goal to provide cost effective, user friendly solutions to support our public citizens. We look forward to collaborating with other local municipalities and government entities to provide cost saving and efficient services to County taxpayers,” stated Glenn Marchi, Ph.D., Commissioner of OCIS.

The Town of East Fishkill’s website is one of several municipal websites created by Dutchess County OCIS through the County’s shared services initiative.   Other websites include the City of Beacon, Town of LaGrange, and the Arlington Fire District.   These partnerships have provided greater information accessibility for residents and have saved municipalities thousands of dollars for taxpayers.

The training and exam will be held at the Dutchess County Department of Emergence Response, located at 392 Creek Road in the Town of Hyde Park. The two-day licensing class is open to the public and free to attend; however, pre-registration is required.  It is recommended participants obtain the ARRL Ham Radio License Manual 3rd Edition prior to the first session. To pre-register and to learn more, call William Baker at (845) 235-2048, email KC2LIX@hvc.rr.com or visit: http://www.arrl.org/courses/poughkeepsie-ny-12601-1.

To see the Amateur Radio Licensing Class flyer, click here:

http://www.co.dutchess.ny.us/CountyGov/Departments/EmergencyResponse/2017-HAM-Radio-Class.pdf