Orange County, NY | featured news

VALHALLA - It was just a sneeze.Nothing out of the ordinary, but this time was different.Seven-year-old Easton Gorr told his mother, Jenna Gorr, that his head hurt as the family was getting ready to go shopping for Halloween costumes.Then he collapsed.Jenna recalled that he suffered what looked like a seizure and went unconscious at their Livingston Manor home.She called 911 and after 25 minutes, an ambulance arrived.“You don’t know [...]

Residents of many, but not all, of the region’s villages will go to the polls Tuesday to choose mayors, trustees and, in some cases, a justice.A few villages have their elections later in the year.There are only a few contested races for mayor, and the most high-profile of those is in Montgomery, where 28-year incumbent Steve Brescia is being challenged by Maria Beltrametti, who also opposed him four years ago.Brescia is chairman of the Orange County Legislature. [...]

SAUGERTIES - A Greene County woman was charged with felony-level unlicensed driving after she crashed her car Saturday while under the influence of alcohol, police said.Officers responded to Route 32A and George Sail Road for a reported rollover crash of a car driven by Bethany Hughes, 24, of Palenville, according to a news release from Saugerties police.Police detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath and took her into custody after field sobriety tests, the news [...]

SAUGERTIES - An Ulster County man faces felony charges after a domestic dispute during which he hit another person in the face earlier this month, police said.Dean M. Tubbs, 39, of Saugerties, was charged with aggravated criminal contempt and first-degree criminal contempt, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor charges of third-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal mischief and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the Ulster County Sheriff's Office.Deputies [...]

LOCH SHELDRAKE — A state commission charged with preparing for next year’s federal census is holding a public hearing at SUNY Sullivan this week.The hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Seelig Theatre on the Loch Sheldrake campus.It’s one of six across the state between March and May hosted by the New York State Complete County Commission.It will be an opportunity for the public to provide input on how to make sure each resident [...]

ALBANY — On-time budgets have long been a priority for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as a way to demonstrate government effectiveness.That's why it is noteworthy that Cuomo's top budget director is now warning the budget may not pass before the April 1 deadline because of disagreements with Cuomo's fellow Democrats in the Legislature.Cuomo argues lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate want a budget that is too bloated when compared to his $175 billion budget proposal. [...]

ALBANY — Supporters of a bill to require schools to offer education on sexual abuse awareness are returning to Albany to make another push.The bill, known as Erin's Law, would mandate age-appropriate lessons to help children understand the difference between inappropriate and appropriate touching, as well as how to report abuse to a trusted adult.The bill is already law in 35 other states and while it's passed the state Senate in New York, it has been blocked by [...]

ALBANY — A new poll finds that most voters in the state say it was bad for New York when Amazon's dropped plans to put one of its second headquarters in Queens.The Siena College poll released Monday found that 67 percent of registered voters surveyed said the internet retailer's decision last month was detrimental to New York. Sixty-one percent support the state and city again offering Amazon up to $3 billion in incentives to create 25,000 jobs if Amazon reconsiders. [...]

NEW PALTZ - The Ulster County Soil and Water Conservation District is holding an Arbor Day Sale of a variety of inexpensive bare-root trees, shrubs, ground covers, wildflower seeds, bird nesting boxes, and other items that are ideal for erosion control, wildlife food and cover, windscreens, shade, and privacy.Prices depend on the species, size, and quantity, ranging in size from 6 to 50 inches, and are being sold in quantities of 10 for $10-$12, 25 for $22-$26, 50 for $40-$48, and 100 [...]