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| Ulster County Office Building - Kingston, New York | |||||||||
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Ulster County News
Scouts collect over 70,000 food items for the needy
Mid-Hudson News Network A total of 35 local food pantries have benefited from the project to help stock their shelves for the holiday season. The Rip Van Winkle Council of the Boy Scouts of America in Kingston were assisting in the sorting and packaging at the United Parcel Service facility in Ulster. Over 100 volunteers who helped the Scouts pack food for delivery came from the Salvation Army, Kiwanis Club of Kingston, Lowe’s Home Improvement staff, Peoples Place, Kingston Key Club, UPS drivers and families, Queen’s Galley, Ulster County Community Action, Old Dutch Church, Ship 609, Caring Hands Soup Kitchen and Catsbaan Church. During the past year Cub Scouts, Boy
Scouts, Venturers and Explorers from the Rip Van Winkle Council participated in over 25,000 hours of community service. Smoking banned on
all Ulster County-owned properties By PATRICIA DOXSEY, Freeman staff The Ulster County Legislature voted 21-10 on Wednesday to impose a total ban on smoking on property owned or under the control of the county, rejecting a compromise bill that would have banned smoking within 50 feet of the entranceway to any county building. But legislators agreed to delay the imposition of the ban until June to give county employees who will be most affected time to kick the habit. Legislator Robert Parete said the county will work with the American Cancer Society and Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the county’s health insurance carrier, to develop a smoking-cessation program for county employees prior to the ban taking effect. “This will create a healthier workplace,” said Parete, D-Boiceville. Legislators have grappled with the idea of imposing a smoking ban for nearly a year, and the proposal has drawn both strong support and strong opposition from county residents. To its supporters, the bill will protect the health of county employees and residents who must pass smokers in order to get into a county building. Opponents say the law will infringe on the rights of smokers and further ostracize people who are addicted to nicotine. On Wednesday, Legislature Minority Leader Glenn Noonan, R-Gardiner called the ban “a feel-good law” and questioned the county’s ability to enforce it. He noted county already has on the books a number of other laws and policies — including a pesticide notification law — that are not enforced. Legislator Jeanette Provenzano took umbrage at that characterization by Noonan, chastising him for making light of the bill. “I don’t know where you’ve been Mr. Noonan, but smoking costs a lot of people their life,” said Provenzano, D-Kingston. “To suggest we wouldn’t do everything in our power to try to help young people to stop smoking — I am absolutely insulted that you would get up and call this a ‘feel-good’ law.” “We should be setting examples like this, “ said Legislator Frank Felicello. “Its our obligation to our constituents to help them.” Minority Whip Susan Cummings, R-Ellenville, Joseph Roberti, R-Saugerties and Felicello, R-Marlboro, joined Democrats in voting for the ban.
Quadricentennial committee launches
events Web site KINGSTON — The Ulster County Quadricentennial Arts Committee has launched a Web site, www.HudsonRiver400.org, in conjunction with the 2009 Quadricentennial Celebration of Henry Hudson's voyage in 1609. The celebration will be held from April through October 2009. The Web site provides current information on dozens of exhibitions, festivals, performances, tours and other events planned by local regional arts organizations, educational institutions and historical societies. In addition to interpreting Hudson's landmark voyage, events examine the themes of discovery and navigation as well as explore the county's connection to the Dutch, who settled in the area following Hudson's journey. The Web site includes maps, a calendar of events, profiles of the nine communities hosting the events, and a blog with artist interviews, updates, and related historical facts. For more information, go to www.HudsonRiver400.org, e-mail ulsterquadarts@gmail.com or call 338-8473. Ulster
slaying victim's family offers reward By Dietrich Knauth, Freeman staff Mark Kleiman of Queens, the brother of the slain man, released a family impact statement to police and media Thursday. The emotional letter includes remembrances of Michael Kleiman, his life and his funeral, and the family's attempts to come to terms with his death, before ending with a plea for justice and the offer of a reward. "It has been three months now and, sadly, the pain has only deepened, especially with the mystery of his murder still alive," Mark Kleiman wrote. "The person or persons who are responsible remain free to do this again. The savagery of the crime, its senselessness and the profound impact it continues to have on so many are amplified by it being unresolved. The hundreds of people who have felt the impact of this event continue to suffer the recognition that others are at risk. Until those responsible are caught and removed from the community nobody is safe. For if they can kill my brother, they need no excuse to harm someone else. You can ease the pain of many people if you share any information regarding those responsible for Michael's death," the letter continued. "You can also eliminate the possibility of these people doing this again. The family is offering a reward of $10,000 to the public for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible." The body of Michael Kleiman, a Kerhonkson resident who worked as a nurse in Westchester County with children suffering from mental illness, was discovered in his Nissan pickup truck after firefighters responded to a report of a burning vehicle off state Route 32. Police said Kleiman was dead before the truck was set afire. Anyone with information about the crime is urged to contact the town
of Ulster police at (845) 382-1111. |
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