Engaging Esopus

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

The number of New York municipalities in the most severe category of fiscal stress increased this year, even as the overall number of local governments designated as stressed dipped slightly, according to a report released by state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.

A total of 22 local governments were designated in fiscal stress for their fiscal years ending in 2025, down from 23 a year earlier. But the number classified in “significant fiscal stress” rose from four to six.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/capital-region/news/2026/09/25/fiscal-stress-albany?utm_content=20260926&utm_medium=email&utm_source=weekly+news

Report can be accessed here: https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/local-government/publications/pdf/2025-fsms-munis.pdf?utm_content=20260926&utm_medium=email&utm_source=weekly+news

10/02/2026

Slabsides Day Open House
October 3, 2026, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
John Burroughs’ Slabsides, West Park, NY

Slabsides will be open for tours from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm with refreshments!
Command Carrot Cake cupcakes from Jessica Winchell of Global Palate. Award-winning Metal House C***r and John Jacobson’s Mountain Music from the Catskills.
Open to all at no charge and no registration needed.

09/30/2026

Comptroller Releases Ulster County Bridge Report:
(Kingston, NY, September 30, 2026) — Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher today released a report reviewing County bridge conditions and Bridge Crew work. The report follows the New York State Comptroller’s 2024 review of locally owned bridges, which found that Ulster County had the greatest number and second highest percentage of all bridges rated in poor condition among New York counties, including New York City.

The Comptroller’s Office found that Ulster County Department of Public Works’ Bridge Crew has significantly improved bridge inventory conditions, reducing the number of poor condition bridges from 45 bridges to 34 bridges, a reduction of 24%.

The review also analyzed Bridge Crew hours from 2018 through 2025. Sixty-eight percent of hours were classified as tasks requiring specialized bridge skills, including work on non-bridge projects. Fifty-eight percent of hours were not associated with a specific project. The Comptroller’s Office recommends that DPW identify a project and assign staff time whenever possible to improve workload and resource planning.

Bridge washing accounted for 0.4% of hours worked during the period, while tree control accounted for 0.5%. Meanwhile, the Bridge Crew continues to work significant overtime. In 2025, 14% of its hours were overtime, indicating that even with overtime, the crew lacks sufficient time to address these preventative needs. The report estimates that washing all 157 bridges every two years would require beginning work on a new bridge every three days.

“The improvement in bridge conditions is encouraging, and we need to build on that progress,” said Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher. “Bridges are vital transportation links for our communities, connecting residents to work, school, emergency services and more. Washing salt from bridges and controlling brush around bridge abutments can significantly extend bridge life. We need to prioritize preventative maintenance to protect our infrastructure and save taxpayers funds.”

A bridge rated in poor condition is not necessarily unsafe; the State’s inspection program closes bridges deemed unsafe.

09/29/2026

September 29, 2026 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dennis Doyle
845-340-3340
[email protected]

Albany and Ulster Avenue Corridor Management Plan (CMP)
Public Meeting October 20th to Present Preliminary Findings

Ulster County Transportation Council in partnership with the City of Kingston, Town of Ulster and New York State Department of Transportation invites you to participate in a corridor management planning process for Albany and Ulster Avenue in the Kingston area.

What is a Corridor Management Plan (CMP)?
A CMP is a community-based street assessment to identify any operational or safety concerns and prioritize potential solutions.

The Plan will cover the area from the roundabout in the City of Kingston to the intersection of Rte 9W in the Town of Ulster and is focused on improving safety in the corridor for all users. The effort includes a holistic assessment of the existing conditions, including a detailed analysis of crashes over time, corridor capacity, and the influence of adjoining land uses.

The Plan will evaluate opportunities for land use and access management improvements, effective traffic calming methods, and potential for active transportation facilities. The types of improvements being considered will include traffic safety, travel time, access to public transit, safe walking and biking, and access to adjacent businesses and neighborhoods. Active transportation features may include expanded sidewalks, bikeways, and/or methods to increase or improve access to public transportation. A strong emphasis will be made to develop variable alternatives for decision makers to consider when evaluating the cost and feasibility of potential improvements that could be made over time.

A key outcome is to provide a list of short-term, mid-term, and long-term improvement recommendations, and implementation strategies. These will serve as the basis for future design of improvements whose construction would lead to a safer and more efficient corridor for all users.

Get Involved!
There are multiple ways that the public can get involved in the project. UCTC has created an interactive mapping tool to allow the public to provide initial input regarding their concerns in the corridor. People can use the map to point out places along the study area where they feel unsafe or notice traffic safety or mobility issues. Markers with comments can be viewed for others to see.

Public Workshop Scheduled for October 20th
A public workshop will be held on the evening of Tuesday October 20th at 5 Development Court (The Senior Hub room at Office for the Aging). UCTC staff and their consultants will provide a detailed overview of the results of the traffic data collection phase conducted over the summer and begin to collect input from the public regarding their concerns for the corridor. More information regarding time and agenda will be provided at a later date.

Contact Brian Slack [email protected] for more information.

Learn More
To learn more, visit the address below.

The Albany and Ulster Avenue CMP is the first step in creating a safer, more user-friendly street for all users. What It Is: This planning project is intended to identify and prioritize future…

09/29/2026

TUESDAY
September 29, 2026

The Port Ewen Loop will not be running today.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
Please plan alternate travel
arrangements accordingly.

For any questions please call dispatch @ 845-334-8458.

09/28/2026

09/27/2026

Saturday, October 24th bus tour of historic Esopus in partnership with Klyne Esopus Museum, Ulster County and UCAT. Limited seating.

🎉 Excitement is in the air! Get ready to be part of something extraordinary by celebrating America's 250TH anniversary with a historic bus tour of the Town…

09/17/2026

CIVIL SERVICE EXAM DEADLINE

A reminder that tomorrow is the deadline to sign up for the Ulster County Personnel Department's Civil Service Exam for Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff. The exam is being held October 17, 2026 and the application must be submitted by tomorrow utilizing the following link: https://ulster-portal.mycivilservice.com/post/exams.