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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , July 4 , 2018

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , JULY 5

Newburgh City Council Work Session , 6 p . m . City Hall , 83 Broadway . Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

MONDAY , JULY 9

Newburgh Town Board meeting , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh . Newburgh City Council meeting . 7 p . m . City Hall , 83 Broadway .

WEDNESDAY , JULY 11

Town of New Windsor Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .

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The Mid Hudson Times ( USPS 000-5947 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , NY 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , NY POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY 12550 .

Students and supporters attended a graduation ceremony at City of Newburgh Drug Court last month . From left : Veterans Craig Schmeiser and Chris Rostran , Vet 2 Vet mentor Derek Brown , city Judge Loren Williams , Orange County Sheriff Carl Dubois , Stony Point Councilman Tom Basile and Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey .

By SHANTAL RILEY sriley @ tcnewspapers . com

As high school and college graduates celebrated around the region last month , one class of students celebrated their graduation from a program that will probably save their lives .

“ Today is a milestone ,” Stony Point Councilman Tom Basile said at Newburgh City Court . “ It ’ s about faith , courage , perseverance and belief in yourselves . Each of you is an example for others .”

Basile was speaking to graduates of the Newburgh City Drug Treatment Court , which honored seven people who graduated from the program on June 20 . Four of the students graduated through the program ’ s veterans ’ track .

Begun in Newburgh in 2003 , the courtsupervised program is offered to people with substance-abuse issues who face non-violent , misdemeanor criminal charges . Participants follow a treatment plan that includes treatment , transitional housing placement , education and drug testing . The program takes place over a minimum of twelve months .

The court program is led by City of Newburgh Justice Loren Williams , who thanked the graduates and their families for sticking with the program . “ Their success is our progress as a society ,” said Williams .

“ Obviously we ’ re in the midst of an epidemic . We can ’ t lock everybody up because of a disease ,” the judge said . Sheriff Carl DuBois spoke about the devastation caused by alcohol and drug addiction that he and police see up close every day . Arrest is used as “ the last resort ,” the sheriff said . To those currently in recovery or considering going into a recovery program , he said , “ Think about your friends . Think about your family . Think about your kids .”

“ At first it was really challenging ,” said 25-year-old veteran Chris Rostran , who said he needed to change “ every aspect ” of his in order to stay in the program . “ Learning how to change my lifestyle was very hard ,” he said .

Rostran dropped out of school due to his drinking problem . After being sober for almost two years , he plans to attend Bronx Community College to study business in the fall .

“ I tried getting over it on my own for quite a few years and I could not do it by myself ,” said veteran Craig Schmeiser . “ I had to get a lot of humility and this program gave me that .”

Schmeiser was mentored by Derek Brown of Vet 2 Vet of Orange County , a veterans ’ peer support organization . “ You ’ ve been there unconditionally for your children ,” he told Schmeiser shortly before he pinned a veteran ’ s flag to his collar and saluted him . “ This is the father that those children need .”

Brown also pinned a veteran ’ s flag in thanks to Judge Williams ’ robe . “ You do a lot of work to make these veterans understand they have a second chance in life , that someone believes in them ,” Brown said to the judge .

All the veterans enrolled in the program faced alcohol problems , said Brown . “ In the military it is accepted as a culture ,” said Brown on drinking alcohol . “ When we ’ re discharged , it ’ s what we sometimes resort to to deal with problems .”

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse , veterans at the highest risk for developing substance-abuse problems are active military and veterans with multiple deployments , combat exposure and injuries . NIDA reports that suffering from PTSD can increase the likelihood of addiction because veterans often use drugs and alcohol to relieve their symptoms .

“ You should be very proud of yourselves and what you ’ ve been able to accomplish by reaching your recovery goals ,” said Vet 2 Vet ’ s Larry Neumann to the graduates . “ Everybody talks about how difficult recovery is . You ’ ve been through the rough part already . Everything else from here forward is easy ... you change your head , your ass will follow .”