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District Attorney Hoovler Announces Two Countywide Heroin Forums

August 22, 2017 By Taylor Dickson

Bringing Together a Broad Spectrum of Government Officials and Treatment Providers in a Dialogue About the Opiate Epidemic

*Press Release from the Orange County Government

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Thursday, August 17, 2017, that he will be sponsoring two countywide forums on the heroin epidemic that is currently gripping this area and the rest of the country. The events, entitled The Opioid Crisis: A Public Forum on Education, Treatment, and Law Enforcement, will center on District Attorney Hoovler’s Connect 2 Disconnect opiate-awareness campaign. The forums will include presentations from the District Attorney; Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois; Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus; Orange County Court Judge Robert Freehill; Darcie Miller, Orange County Commissioner of Social Services and Mental Health; and James Conklin, Executive Director of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County. The forums will take place at 6:30 p.m., on the following dates and at the following locations:

October 3, 2017 Monroe-Woodbury High School

October 19, 2017 Minisink Valley High School

The forums are expected to take approximately an hour and a half, and will bring together law enforcement, county government, drug-abuse educators, treatment providers, and the segment of the judiciary that deals with drug issues. The forums will provide valuable information to parents, to children, and to educators and other professionals about the scope of the heroin epidemic in our area, the dangers of heroin use, the signs that a loved one might be addicted to heroin, the strategies for dealing with heroin addiction, treatment alternatives, and the legal implications of possessing heroin. The forums are open to everyone, at either location, and all are encouraged to attend.

“The opiate crisis is the greatest challenge we face,” said District Attorney Hoovler, “and defeating this epidemic will require the concerted efforts of many. Indeed, it is becoming increasingly apparent that we must attack the epidemic on multiple fronts, that education,

treatment, and law enforcement in isolation from each other will not be enough. I, Sheriff DuBois, County Executive Neuhaus, and all of County government are committed to fighting the war against opiates on all of those fronts. We are committed to educating people to stay off drugs, and to getting people who are addicted to drugs the treatment that they need. And we are committed to taking down drug dealers, so that they cannot addict our citizens or destroy our communities. These forums support the education and treatment aspects of our battle against opiates. I invite everyone to attend and to pass the invitation along to others in their communities, so that as many of our citizens as possible might take home this valuable information.”

For further information about the forums, you may contact Robert Conflitti, Counsel to the District Attorney, or Assistant District Attorney Anthony Curti, at (845) 615-3640, or by email to DACommunityAffairs@orangecountygov.com.

County Executive Neuhaus celebrates re-opening of Sally’s Dream Playground

July 12, 2017 By Taylor Dickson

*Press Release

Handicapped accessible playground re-opens with upgrades and renovations

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus participated in a ribbon cutting on Wednesday to celebrate the re-opening of Sally’s Dream Playground, located at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Hamptonburgh.

Sally’s Dream, a handicapped accessible playground, had been closed since May 23rd for renovations.

“Sally’s Dream has been an integral part of the parks system for many years,” Neuhaus said. “It is one of the most popular facilities in Orange County and we are proud of the improvements that have been made to the playground. I hope all our County residents and visitors enjoy it for years to come.”

Neuhaus was joined at the event by Orange County Sheriff Carl E. DuBois, Commissioner of Parks and Recreation Chris Viebrock, Mariann Cheney, Access: Supports For Living’s Director of Development and Public Affairs, Access’ Program Director, Barbara Russell, and Lisa Hayes, who serves as Vice President of Program Services for Access.

Sally’s Dream was closed so that new playground equipment could be installed to offer even more accessibility for children. The new equipment offers additional play options and unobstructed sight lines for parents and guardians visiting the playground. In addition, a modern Fibar ground covering system, used in 12,000 playgrounds across the country, will provide a safe surface environment for children, while having environmental benefits of being a sustainable product made from clean mulch.

Sally’s Dream was built in 2002 in memory of Sarah “Sally” McGlynn. McGlynn, who passed away in 1999, was one of the founders and a board member of The Family Empowerment Council, a nonprofit agency founded by parents of disabled children to provide services for people with disabilities in Orange and Sullivan counties.

McGlynn was an advocate for the disabled for 30 years and was influential in developing local independent living centers. Funds were raised by a few organizations to build the playground in her honor.