This Week’s Issue – March 12, 2021

library
(Photo by MJ Pitt) - Delia McGowan, Fran Brunwasser and Director Marie-Elena Ortiz -- along with all of the rest of the Highland Falls Library's staff who have been happily greeting community residents back into the library over the last two weeks. The library has resumed walk-in browsing hours on Tuesdays (1-4 p.m.), Thursdays (10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) and Saturdays (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) There is also a special senior citizen only browsing session from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Curbside pickup continues, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

HF-FMCSD looks at $34.4M budget

After three months of reviewing programs and developing budget priorities, Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District Assistant Superintendent for Business Denise Cedeira has made her first 2021-22 budget presentation to the Board of Education. Page 1A

Fun events are happening in Highland Falls on Saturday

There are two events planned in Highland Falls on Saturday. The first is an Emergency Services Recruitment Fair on Saturday, March 13, from 10 a.m.-noon at Roe Park, hosted by the Town of Highlands Recreation Department. Page 1A

It’s back to school… 5 days a week!

Kindergarten through fifth graders whose families have selected in-person learning returned to school four days a week starting this past week, and are now on track to return to school five days a week on April 6, following spring break. Page 1A

Gospel music series

The Hudson Valley Gospel Festival committee is pleased to announce its third monthly presentation about the history of gospel music in the Hudson Valley, to take place via zoom. On April 5 at 7 p.m., featuring a conversation with Ray Watkins and Lyric Small about gospel music in the Hudson Valley. Page 2A

Meet the candidates

The Highlands Chamber of Commerce will host a candidates forum for all who are seeking elected office in Highland Falls this year. The event will be live-streamed on the Highlands Community Face-book page at 4 p.m. today, Friday March 12. Page 3A

Run for the BOE

There are two three-year seats on the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District Board of Education up for grabs this spring. Page 5A

Electricity, lighting & shots

What do the above three things — electricity, streetlights and COVID-19 vaccines — have in common? All were among the topics of discussion at Monday evening’s Highlands Town Board meeting. Page 5A

$75K grant for RSVP

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney has announced the Orange County Office for the Aging has been awarded a $75,000 Seniors RSVP grant through the AmeriCorps’s Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency for volunteering and service. Page 6A

RECAP receives preschool grant

Regional Economic Community Action Program, Inc. (RECAP) recently received a federal Health and Human Services grant to support its Early Learning and Head Start Program. The annual grant, this year totaling $2,335,857 will fund education and development services to support in-need children. Page 7A

‘Fall’ JIO coaches were appointed

The Board of Education has appointed ‘Fall 2’ coaches; the season got underway last week and continues until mid-April. Page 7A

Maloney met with leaders

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney hosted a virtual roundtable with Hudson Valley county executives and health commissioners on March 5, on the ongoing health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Page 9A

Kingston’s Maritime Museum is open

Hudson River Maritime Museum is open for timed admission on Fridays and Saturdays. Staff are ensuring exhibits and programs continue to be available to the public and can be enjoyed safely. Page 10A

County Executive hosts busy vaccination site

Steve Neuhaus calls it his third office. The county executive works in the Government Center and the Emergency Services Building. But these days, he’s spending a lot of time at 23 Hatfield Lane in Goshen. Page 1B

Last week alone, nearly 9500 shots were given

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus announced Monday that the county administered nearly 9500 COVID-19 vaccinations to residents in less than a week. Page 1B

Restaurant introduces Irish breakfast

The pandemic has caused some businesses to reinvent themselves. Loughran’s in Salisbury Mills has often claimed to be the “happiest Irish pub in the Hudson Valley.” Page 5B

Maloney introduces two resolutions

On Tuesday, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney introduced two House Resolutions relating to the January 6th attacks on the United States Capitol. Page 5B

Hoovler hosts first fishing derby

The first District Attorney’s Office Youth Fishing Derby will run from April 1 through Sept. 6. It’s open to anglers between the ages of five and 18 who are children or grandchildren of Orange County residents. Page 8B

Skoufis: forgive unemployment overpayments

Senator James Skoufis has announced on Tuesday that he, along with colleagues in the State Senate, recently sent a letter to the state Department of Labor urging the agency to waive repayment obligations for New Yorkers affected by the pandemic and who have received overpayments of unemployment benefits due to a state error. Page 8B

You’ll find these stories and more in this week’s issue of The News of the Highlands, available at these community newsstands.

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