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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , March 1 , 2017

PUBLIC AGENDA

WEDNESDAY , MARCH 1 New Windsor Town Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .

THURSDAY , MARCH 2

Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

MONDAY , MARCH 6

City of Newburgh IDA Board of Directors , 7 p . m . , Council Chambers , City Hall , 83 Broadway .

HOW TO REACH US

OFFICE : 300 Stony Brook Court Newburgh , NY 12550

PHONE : 845-561-0170 , FAX : 845-561-3967

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TO REACH THE EDITOR editor @ tcnewspapers . com

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WEBSITE www . timescommunitypapers . com

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

Honorees at the 2017 Tribute to Women of Achievement include ( l . - r .) Kanisha E . Henderson , Heather Howley and MaryKay Messenger .

Heather Howley , a pilot who founded her own helicopter charter company ; Kanisha E . Henderson , a DJ better known as Ms . Perfect Touch / Ayo Nish ! and Master Sgt . MaryKay Messenger , vocalist with the U . S . Military Academy Band , will be among the 2017 honorees at the Tribute to Orange County Women of Achievement ’ s 25th anniversary celebration .

“ Each year , the Tribute to Women of Achievement event introduces us to remarkable women from all walks of life from throughout Orange County who embody Girl Scouts and YWCA ’ s missions to empower women and girls and serve as role models and mentors to them ,” said Pamela Andersen , President & CEO , Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson .

Born and raised in upstate Niskayuna , Howley was one of four children in a family whose budget didn ’ t allow for cross-country treks . Howley ’ s early career plans were in the veterinary field , but after graduating from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy , she spent two months traversing Europe , and was bit by the travel bug . She sold everything she owned , moved to California and enrolled in a flight school . There , a female instructor convinced her that helicopter pilots have more stable jobs and make better money .”

One of her first jobs , as a helicopter instructor ended when the school went out of business . That ’ s when she leased her first helicopter and went into business for herself .

Today , she is CEO and chief pilot for Independent Helicopters , LLC , operating out of Newburgh and Saratoga Springs .

Howley is a member of the organizations Women in Aviation International , Whirly Girls ( a group for female helicopter pilots ) and the 99s . She also partners with the Girl Scouts to work with girls ages 8 to 13 on their aviation badge . Young women and men can begin their helicopter pilot training at age 17 .

Kanisha E . Henderson , known in the industry as Ayo Nish !, DJ Ms . Perfect Touch has spent many years passionately creating music for a wide audience in the US and abroad . Ayo Nish ! has opened for Flo Rida , DJ Funkmaster Flex , Day 26 , DJ Jazzy Joyce , and more .

Among others , her songwriting and production team has worked alongside a plethora of influential artists such as Maybach Music Group , Young Money , The Roots , Jim Jones , Grafh , DJ Toomp , Patchwerk , Fabo , and Pastor Troy .

Hailing from Newburgh , Nish deepens her commitment to the possibilities of social transformation through the arts , by designing and implementing programs to address gang activity , bullying and selfdetermination . Nish works in partnership with the Department of Education to put these programs into action , she is often a guest speaker at youth events , and has recently broadened her reach to working with NYC cultural institutions such as the Queens Museum and Sugar Hill Children ’ s Museum of Art & Storytelling .

Messenger , who grew up in Newburgh , as MaryKay Hollenbeck , got her musical start by singing in the Saint Francis Church Choir . Her vocal talents helped her spread throughout the Newburgh

area , singing in many local churches of many denominations . She joined the Army in 1996 , going through basic training and is now a Master Sergeant .

From Trophy Point and Eisenhower Hall , she has now sung at some of the world ’ s great stages , including Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall . She has also performed “ God Bless America ” and the National Anthem in Yankee Stadium , with a World Series appearance on her resume . When not traveling the world , or singing with the band , she ’ s at home in Milton , with her husband David , and daughters Emma and Grace .

Other honorees at this year ’ s Tribute to Orange County Women of Achievement are :

Darcie M . Miller of Goshen , Commissioner - Orange County Departments of Social Services and Mental Health .

Andrea Nilon of Pine Bush , Town of Hamptonburgh Assessor , Long-time Girl Scouts and YWCA volunteer .

More than 250 women from throughout Orange County have been recognized since the award ’ s inception in 1992 . This year ’ s Tribute honorees will be recognized at the 25th Anniversary Tribute to Women of Achievement of Orange County award celebration on Wednesday , May 10 at Anthony ’ s Pier 9 in New Windsor .

Sponsorships , journal ads , and dinner tickets are available to support the annual celebration and recognize the 2017 honorees . To be a part of the celebration , contact Tami at YWCA by phone at 561-8050 , ext . 23 , email at tami @ ywca-orangecty . org , or by visiting ywcaorangecty . org .