NEW LOOK...EXPANDED MISSION FOR THE CHILDREN'S ANNEX


A morning press conference called by THE CHILDREN'S ANNEX announced an expanded focus and a new name to reflect the broadened scope of their services. Check out the new link and new look for THE CENTER FOR SPECTRUM SERVICES.
www.centerforspectrumservices.org

DAYCARE FRAUD INVESTIGATION YIELDS ADDITIONAL ARREST

Kingston, NY (October 14, 2009) - As a result of a joint investigation by the Ulster
County Department of Social Service’s Investigations and Daycare Units and the
Town of Ulster Police Department, Tara Lober, 29, Kingston, was arrested Tuesday
October 6, 2009 and charged with Welfare Fraud in the Third Degree, a Class D
Felony. She was also charged with Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First
Degree, a Class E Felony.

The investigation concludes that Lober allegedly defrauded the Ulster County
Department of Social Services (DSS) out of $5,285.00 of daycare subsidies from
June 2008 to September 2008, by failing to report she was no longer employed, thus
making her ineligible for daycare assistance.

The Lober investigation also led to an audit and investigation of Wolf’s Daycare Center,
the center that provided daycare services for Lober’s children. Melissa Scott, Co-Director
of Wolf’s Daycare Center was ultimately charged with falsifying business records, plead
guilty and was sentenced to a conditional discharge. Scott subsequently made full restitution
of $10,586.00 to Ulster County DSS.

“I would like to recognize the Town of Ulster Police Department, the Social Services Investigations
Unit and all of the individuals who brought this to a successful conclusion. This arrest, once again,
sends the message that fraud and abuse will not be tolerated in Ulster County,“said County Executive Mike Hein.

ULSTER COUNTY INSURANCE FRAUD REVEALED

ISSUED 10/06/2009 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ULSTER WOMAN WHO CLAIMED DISABILITY ARRESTED FOR FRAUD

An Ulster County woman who claimed to be totally disabled after falling out of a chair was arrested Friday for accepting $73,000 in workers’ compensation benefits while she worked at a youth sports camp.

The New York State Insurance Department reported that Kathy M. Martinez, 56, of Carney Road, Ulster Park, started collecting benefits after claiming that injuries she suffered from the fall left her unable to work. She suffered the injuries while employed as a Spanish teacher in the Kingston School District in 2005.

However, Insurance Department Frauds Bureau investigators found that Martinez was actually handling payroll and other business services for the youth camp while collecting compensation benefits. Martinez is accused of stating on three separate occasions that her injuries prevented her from working. The benefits she received were paid through Ulster County, whose self-insured workers’ compensation plan covers Kingston School District employees.

“We appreciate the investigative work of the New York State Insurance Department and law enforcement personnel in this matter. As I have said many times before, my administration is committed to rooting out fraud and abuse, whenever it occurs, and there is zero tolerance in Ulster County for this type of alleged criminal behavior. These times are challenging enough for taxpayers, businesses and those who are trying to provide for their families, without the deceit that this case apparently represents,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein.

State police arrested Martinez on charges of insurance fraud and workers’ compensation fraud. She could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if she is convicted.

Judge James Gilpatric released Martinez in her own recognizance following her arraignment in city court, pending a hearing scheduled for Oct. 26. The case is being prosecuted by William Andrews, a special prosecutor for Ulster County District Attorney D. Holley Carnright.

TOURISM WEBSITE LAUNCHED..
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ULSTER COUNTY TOURISM MARKETING COMES ALIVE

Kingston, NY (October 5, 2009) - Ulster County brings tourism to life with a new brand, new marketing strategy and new interactive website
(www.UlsterCountyAlive.com). When you have a county as diverse as Ulster County, where tourism generates as much as $471 million dollars
to the local economy and 8,000 jobs, branding is crucial.

“The new Ulster County Alive brand is meant to convey that no matter what a potential visitor’s interests are, Ulster County is vibrant and alive
with possibilities,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. “Nowhere else in the world can a visitor find the unique combination of history, culture,
world-class dining and spas and magnificent natural resources that Ulster County has to offer. We’re just 90 miles from midtown Manhattan.
It’s a story that needed to be told more effectively and I’m confident that our new campaign will drive home the message.”

From boating around lighthouses on the Hudson River, to hiking the Catskill mountains, to rock climbing the Shawangunk Mountains, to cross-country
skiing, to wineries, to apple-picking to strolling Main Street Ulster County has many assets. Capturing all of these assets in a single brand identity presents
a challenge- a challenge which Ulster County decided it needed to obtain professional assistance. Accordingly, in the fall of 2008, working with industry
representatives, the county selected a local firm, MarketingWorks. MarketingWorks and Ulster County Tourism solicited feedback from various industry
groups throughout the creation of the marketing strategy.

The result is the creation of a brand ULSTERCOUNTYALIVE.COM that captures the spirit of Ulster County as well as the way travel and tourism is
affected by changes in technology. Ulster County’s former marketing efforts were largely focused on print media. As anyone who travels substantially
today can tell you, travel now starts with the internet. Ulster County has revamped its tourism website so that it is a dynamic, ever- changing, attractive site:
one that visitors want to visit and one that will drive potential visitors directly to the tourism accommodations, recreational opportunities and other amenities
throughout the county. “Even if they are familiar with a place or accommodation, they are using the web to book their travel,” said Jackie Appeldorn, General
Manager of Mohonk Mountain House. “More importantly most new visitors are looking for destinations on the Internet. By fully embracing web-based
marketing in conjunction with a sophisticated and exciting ad campaign, Ulster County Tourism is positioning the county for tourism success.”

“Ulster County is taking a unique approach to marketing, one with which its individual lodging destinations have had success; that is marketing to New York
City.In conjunction with the rebranding of Ulster County Tourism, and the creation of a new web-based approach to marketing, Ulster County has launched
an advertising campaign on the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s shuttle train between Times Square and Grand Central Station, a route that draws 8 million
visitors a year,” said Ulster County Tourism Director Rick Remsnyder.

2010 TENTATIVE BUDGET
Tough Times Call For Tough Decisions

KINGSTON, NY (October 1, 2009)… Today marked the beginning of the budget process as County Executive Michael P. Hein released his 2010 Tentative Budget. It is evident that Ulster County is being squeezed between the demands and the mandates of the State and Federal Government and that these tough times call for tough decisions.

Hein proved today that he in fact can make those tough choices.

The County Executive sent a clear message that Ulster County stands united with counties, towns and villages against the continuous cost shifts imposed upon them by state government. He underscored his point when he explained that “New York is the only state that pushes significant amount of Medicaid expense down to the counties” and in Ulster County’s case that will translate into $30.5 million dollars for 2010.

Hein’s budget proposed reducing the county workforce by 4.5% or 100 jobs and eliminating or severely reducing several county programs. His initial budget reflects a tax increase of less than $50.00 for the year.

I stand alongside the Executive to turn this quagmire into a pedestal of leadership and an opportunity to collaborate with both he and the Legislature to reallocate resources for a more effective and efficient Ulster County government.

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Nevele Grande pays overdue taxes to Ulster County - The Daily Freeman News: Serving the Hudson Valley since 1871(DailyFreeman.com)

Nevele Grande pays overdue taxes to Ulster County - The Daily Freeman News: Serving the Hudson Valley since 1871(DailyFreeman.com)

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Just Say "NO" to Telemarketers (photo courtesy of knol.google.com)

DO NOT CALL*DO NOT CALL*DO NOT CALL-Your cell phone number will be fair game for telemarketers. To get on the Do Not Call Registry and avoid annoying telemarketers-call 888-382-1222...make sure to call from the phone you wish to register (you can register your house phone and cell phone)