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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , October 4 , 2017

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , OCTOBER 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 .

TUESDAY , OCTOBER 10

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

THURSDAY , OCTOBER 19

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 .

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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 .

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He was joined by county and state officials to talk frankly about domestic violence and its effects on communities . “ This is tough work ,” said Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus , praising Safe Homes , the county ’ s only full , domesticviolence services provider in the county . “ You ’ re not writing Hallmark cards here .”

Safe Homes provides domestic-violence services , education and prevention training , a 24-hour crisis hotline and access to an emergency shelter . In 2016 , the agency answered 3,334 hotline calls and provided 17,414 victim-advocacy services . Safe Homes also provides services related to teen-dating violence and human trafficking .

Each year , the agency sponsors The Clothesline Project , displaying T-shirts dedicated to victims of domestic violence . The name Petra Muhammad was emblazoned on one of the T-shirts hanging on display at the resource center on Monday .

Muhammad , who went missing from her Highland Falls home in 2006 , is presumed dead . But , says Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler , she is not forgotten . “ We have not stopped looking for her ,” he said .

Another T-shirt read , “ My friend is dead at 20 .” The T-shirt was made by a friend of Alexis Harris , beaten to death by her boyfriend on July 21 , 2012 . “ She would have been 25 in March ,” said her mother Anne Harris . “ She ’ s never going to grow up .”

In order to cope with the loss of her daughter , Harris joined a local chapter of Bereaved Parents of the USA . Harris is also vice president of the county chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness . “ It helps me to help other people ,” she said .

Harris pointed to the fact that mental illness and domestic violence can go hand-in-hand . According to county Social Services Commissioner Darcie Miller , children exposed to domestic violence “ will not have the same opportunities , statistically , because of what ’ s been done to their mental wellness .”

Miller cited the Center for Disease Control and Prevention ’ s ACE ( Adverse Childhood Experiences ) study , which states , “ Children who experience abuse and neglect are also at increased risk for adverse health effects and certain chronic diseases as adults , including heart disease , cancer , chronic lung disease , liver disease , obesity , high-blood pressure , high cholesterol and high levels of C-reactive protein .”

Safe Homes of Orange County ’ s Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier ( left ) and Kristen Pratt ( right ) stand in front of The Clothesline Project , on display in memory of 23 victims who died as a result of domestic violence in Orange County .

“ The work that we do is not only for those who are experiencing it today - getting out and getting safe - but with a hope for our children and for them to be able to have an opportunity … to be all that they can be ,” said Miller .

Studies have been done in cities around the county that provide hard data on domestic abuse , said Hoovler . “ There is a method to who abuses , why they abuse and if they ’ re going to be a recidivist ,” the district attorney said . “ We just need to spend the time , money and effort to target them .”

The lack of funding to support domestic-violence services is “ shocking ,” said Hoovler . “ It really is a shame that the state doesn ’ t put money where their mouth is ,” he said .

Two years ago , when the state cut funding for Safe Homes , the county stepped in and filled the gap , said Safe Homes Executive Director Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier . “ It would have been catastrophic ,” she said . “ Not only were we able to ( continue ) the program , but we expanded .”

Fortunately , said Tiffanie Downs of state Sen . John Bonacic ’ s office , the senator was able to secure $ 50,000 for Safe Homes in 2017 and 2018 .

Skoufis also spoke about a bill in the New York Legislature that would prevent convicted domestic abusers from owning guns . The legislation was blocked by Republicans in the state Senate last year .

“ It ’ s appalling ,” said Skoufis . “ We have

a lot more work to do . In the meantime , we look to groups like Safe Homes to fill the void and protect people .”

The Clothesline Project will be on exhibit at Veterans Square Park in Port Jervis on Oct . 5 , the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown on Oct . 9 and Cornerstone Family Health in Newburgh on Oct . 11 .

To reach Safe Homes ’ 24-hour crisis hotline , call 845-562-5340 . To learn more about Safe Homes of Orange County , go to safehomesorangecounty . org .

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus described domestic violence response as “ tough work .”