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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Highland residents find a way to cool off
By ALLY TURK
It was the hottest it’s been all year this past weekend,
with temperatures reaching 97 degrees on Saturday.
Temperatures ranged from 93-97 from Friday-Sunday,
with excessive heat warnings being issues for Saturday
and Sunday. Towns around Ulster County opened up
cooling centers for the weekend where people could go
during the day to enjoy air conditioning.
A lot of residents of Highland and Marlboro don’t have
the luxury of air conditioning, so they came up with
many creative ways to beat the heat this weekend.
“My plan is to fill the fridge with cold drinks to enjoy,
lug the AC unit out from the basement and watch Netflix
in the cool comfort of my den,” Arthur Zaczkiewicz, a
Highland resident, said.
For residents who had the luxury of an old air
conditioning unit, the heat was just a minor inconvenience.
Other residents took the opportunity to go see the movie
they kept putting off, taking advantage of the theatre’s
air conditioning while staying entertained. Some other
ways residents could get the feel of air conditioning
without a unit was by visiting the Highland Public
Library or going out to eat.
Some prefer to cool off by taking a dip in some water,
and Highland has the perfect opportunity at Berean Park.
“Highland is very fortunate to have Berean Park. A
place to go take a swim in cool water, relax on the grass
or enjoy a cold treat,” Gina Hansut, a Highland resident,
said.
Berean Park may have been open, but almost no one
was taking advantage of the cooling water. Residents who
wanted to take a dip, like Rosa Pinho, found it easier to
spend the day at the pool closer to home, rather than at
the park. Pinho cranked the air conditioning and spent
File photo
Berean Park in Highland is a great place to cool off on a hot summer’s day.
the day at the pool with her children.
Residents not only had to worry about themselves
staying safe in the heat, but they had to worry about
their animals as well. Keeping dogs in the car for even
a couple of minutes without the air conditioning on or
the windows open can be lethal. The asphalt outside
can reach degrees above 100, which is very painful for
animals paws, so walks had to be kept short.
“I prepare in the summer just like I do for the winter,
Ryan pledges to fight opiod crisis
By MARK REYNOLDS
[email protected]
Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan has announced that
his administration is committed to reducing the number
of opioid fatalities in the county by 50% within two years.
He said the county has received a CHASE [County Hub
And Spoke Empowerment] grant of $2.5 million through
Columbia University aimed at reducing the growing
number of deaths and treating those struggling with
addiction.
In a press release Ryan’s office announced that, “these
funds will be used over a three year period and will help
deliver a comprehensive intervention package that will
prevent the use of opioids, treat addiction and promote
recovery.”
In addition, the New York State Department of Health
will provide the county with $216,000 every year for the
next next three years that will connect residents with
needed treatment services. This brings the total for this
effort in the next three years to $3,148,000.
Ryan said it is important to acknowledge that Ulster
County is in a public health crisis.
County health records show that in 2018 there were
56 opioid fatalities across the county, but it appears that
total is trending downward this year. Official totals for
2019 will be compiled early next year.
Ryan said cutting the total number of deaths in half is
an “aggressive” goal, “but it is something we can do and
is clearly something that we must do; it also has to be a
first step to ultimately getting to a place of completely
eradicating this epidemic [in the county].”
Ryan recently appointed Vincent Martello to be
the first Director of Opioid Prevention Strategy and
will implement an action plan created by the Opioid
Prevention Task Force. Ryan pointed out that the plan
was compiled by more than 50 organizations and targets
three key areas; reducing supply and demand, improving
treatment and providing needed recovery services.
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said he is proud
to be working with the County Executive and the District
Attorney on this issue.
“People want action from their government, they
want action from law enforcement, they want us to
change the way we look at things. When an individual
is afflicted with an addiction, so is somebody’s father,
mother, son, uncle or other family member and we have
to look at it that way.”
food stocked, Netflix and a couple of cocktails, although
I do have to take Miss Stella out,” Highland resident
Laurie McKinney said about her dog.
Though the heat was inconvenient, Hansut pointed out
that there are plenty of ways to keep cool. She included
picking up takeout, as to not heat up the house with the
oven or stove, and taking advantage of the ice cream and
Italian ice shops in town. Luckily, temperatures that high
is out of the ordinary, and not something the residents of
Highland and Marlboro will have to worry about again
this coming week.
P olice B lotter
Town of Lloyd
Corie L. Herrmann, 33, of Poughkeepsie, was
arrested July 21 and charged with felony Driving
While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Criminal
Possession of a Controlled Substance 7th degree
after the vehicle she was operating was stopped
for traffic violations on Rte. 44/55 in Highland. She
was released on an appearance ticket and is due in
Town Court July 25.
Christopher M. Walman, 46, of Esopus, was
arrested July 12 and charged with Driving While
Intoxicated after the vehicle he was operating
was stopped for traffic violations on Rte. 9W in
Highland. He was released on tickets and is due in
Town Court Aug. 1.
Lawrence A. Falcetta, Jr., 46, of Marlboro,
was arrested July 23 and charged with Reckless
Driving. He was released on tickets and is due in
Town Court Aug. 1.