ALBANY- The New York State Police announced that it issued a total of 13,471 tickets statewide during the Memorial Day Weekend enforcement campaign.

The special enforcement period began on Friday, May 26, 2023, and ran through Tuesday, May 30, 2023.

During the campaign, which was partially funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and ticketed distracted drivers who used handheld electronic devices.

Troopers arrested 194 people for DWI and investigated 839 crashes, including 130 personal injury crashes. No fatal crashes were reported.

As part of the enforcement, Troopers targeted speeding and aggressive drivers across the state. A total of 3,863 speeding tickets, 373 tickets for distracted driving, 3,029 seatbelt violations, and 122 move over law infractions were issued.

GOSHEN- Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew has announced that her office at the Government Center, located at 255 Main Street in Goshen, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 17^th.

“These special hours give residents who cannot come to the office during normal business hours an opportunity to complete a variety of transactions,” Eskew said.  “My office remains committed to providing critical services to residents and will continue to develop innovative ways to do so.”

Residents can apply for passports, amend pistol permits, utilize notary services, and obtain a Veterans Discount Card and a certified copy of a deed (and other land documents) on Saturday, June 17^th.  The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will also be open for transactions. To register for a permit test, residents must go to www.orangecountygov.com/190/Motor-Vehicles-DMV.

“Saturday’s office hours will be a great complement to the wonderful services that the County Clerk’s Office already provides,” Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said.  “I want to thank Kelly Eskew for continuing to make a variety of resources available to our residents.”

Eskew unveiled the new Mobile DMV Unit in mid-April and it has visited 21 Orange County municipalities and several events since.  For more information about the County Clerk’s Office, call 845-291-2690 or send an email occlerk@orangecountygov.com.

SAUGERTIES- Former Congressman and Army veteran Chris Gibson joined Congressman Marc Molinaro (R, NY-19) and Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) as well as advocates and military families to call for action on the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act.

The Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act would extend coverage to TRICARE, which is the military’s health insurance.  It would apply to both active duty and retired beneficiaries who have adult children younger than 26 years old.  According to the Congressmen, the legislation would lower costs and ensure healthcare access for hundreds of thousands of military families across the country.

“Delivering for our military families goes beyond party- it is about patriotism and fighting on behalf of those who put their lives on the line for this country every day,” said Congressman Pat Ryan.  “I’m proud to stand with Congressman Molinaro and former Congressman Gibson because they understand there is no time to wait. We need immediate Congressional action to address this inequity and provide much-needed relief to military families across the country.”

“I am honored to be standing alongside Congressman Pat Ryan, former Congressman Chris Gibson, and advocates for veterans and military families to call for bipartisan action in Congress on the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act,” said Congressman Marc Molinaro.  “This bipartisan bill will expand health care coverage for military families who have made tremendous sacrifices in protection of our nation, freedoms, and way of life.”

“U.S. Reps. Pat Ryan and Marc Molinaro are leading the charge for this important bill before Congress that would change the law to ensure young adults of military families are treated the same as all other American families when it comes to health care insurance coverage options,” said Former Congressman Chris Gibson.  “I strongly support this bill and I thank them both for their leadership and care for veterans and their families.”

At the news conference on Saturday, the Congressmen called for Congressional action on the bill.  Ryan is the prime sponsor of the legislation, and Molinaro joined as a co-sponsor, along with more than 60 other members of the House of Representatives.

GOSHEN- Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus has named Port Jervis Middle School seventh grader Grady Witkowski as June’s Citizen of the Month.

Witkowski, 13, was recognized for the work he has performed through his Instagram page “joyofgrady”, which was created to spread love in the community.

“Grady has inspired all of us with his compassion and ability to make people smile with his kindness and big heart,” Neuhaus said.  “The impact he has made with these acts of kindness and humility is incredible.  Grady should be commended for his efforts and for his commitment to making his community and Orange County a little brighter and friendlier.  We are all proud and grateful for him.”

The “joyofgrady” Instagram page was created by Grady and his mother, Erin, during the COVID-19 pandemic.  According to his mom, Grady stayed home from school for approximately 900 days due to social distancing guidelines.  Grady is outgoing and loves to hug and communicate with his friends and loved ones.  His family thought it would be best for Grady to remain home during the pandemic due to his gregarious and affectionate nature.

Like many other students throughout the country, Grady struggled with not being able to participate in normal activities or to see his friends.  His Instagram page provided him with a forum to interact with the world through videos and photos, including Grady performing one his favorite activities, infectiously dancing. After COVID-19, Grady and his mom began what has been the Instagram page’s signature feature.

Mother and son take flowers from weddings, provided by florist Kim Youngblood, and repurpose them into bouquets. Grady prepares hand-written letters and randomly drops the arrangements off to residents and businesses in the Port Jervis area with the help of his School Aide/Community Habilitation Buddy, Amanda Schoch. Many of the interactions are captured on social media.

Grady Witkowski provided County Executive Neuhaus, his staff and County Clerk Kelly Eskew with small flower vases during his visit to the Government Center on Thursday, May 25^th.

“I think it is a beautiful thing to see the smile on someone’s face when they get a gift from Grady,” Erin Witkowski said.  “It is very powerful and I think it pays a lot of things forward.  Our visits are always random and unexpected and spread joy and kindness.  Wherever we can find people, Grady will drop an arrangement off.  This endeavor has no limits.”

Grady lives in Sparrowbush with his mom and father, Paul Witkowski, a U.S. Marine veteran who served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Grady has three siblings, Mason, 15, June, 10, and River, 6.  He participates in modified soccer and track, loves spending time with his support dog, Tug, and his cat, Toby.  Grady also enjoys fishing, hunting, listening to music and riding four-wheelers.

Neuhaus introduced his Citizen of the Month Award, which acknowledges outstanding Orange County residents, in January of 2017. To nominate someone for the Citizen of the Month Award, please email ceoffice@orangecountygov.com or mail a letter to “Citizen of the Month” at 255-275 Main Street Goshen, NY 10924.  Be sure to include the nominee’s name, hometown, a list of their accomplishments, why you are nominating them, and any other pertinent information.  Nominees must be from Orange County.

HURLEY- The monthly workshop meeting of the Hurley Town Board on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, will begin at 6:00 p.m. (an hour earlier than usual) and will be in the Town Hall, 10 Wamlsey Place, instead of the West Hurley Fire Department building, where workshop meetings usually are held.

The meeting will feature a presentation by Town Planner Bonnie Franson about the draft of the town’s “2023 Comprehensive Plan Update,” and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment about the draft.

The meeting will be in the Town Hall because it has the technology needed for Franson’s presentation that is not present in the West Hurley firehouse.

The meeting is open to the public.