Orange County Citizens Foundation

Our debates are making the news: https://midhudsonnews.com//senator-metzger-and-martucci-s/ https://www.wamc.org//nys-senator-metzger-challenger-martu... https://midhudsonnews.com//skoufis-brescia-debate-in-stat/ https://www.wamc.org//skoufis-and-brescia-wield-sharp-tong Watch the 42nd & 39th Senate District Debates now available on demand on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/OCcitizensfoundation/videos/ and YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist Early voting is open! We collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP- Newburgh/Highland Falls, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Partnership, Orange County Arts Council, Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association to bring to you, the voter, these two important senate debates. Voting Information: Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections: Monday, November 2, 2020 Last day to return and postmark the ballot to the Board of Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 Look up your poll station and the schedule for early voting: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Election Day is November 3, 2020. Poll sites throughout the county will be open from 6am to 9pm Why support the Citizens Foundation? Put simply, we exist to help grow quality communities in Orange County and the Hudson Valley. We work on community revitalization, public policy, infrastructure issues related to land use, energy, and transportation, sustainable economic growth, and much more. One of our main goals is to bring information to the public in forums like the debates allowing for open, respectful and meaningful discussion. We are a membership-based organization that is open to all, and when you join the Citizens Foundation, you automatically gain a strengthened voice in how your community develops and grows. Donate by going to https://secure.occitizensfoundation.org//clients/occf/dona

2020 Ottaway Medal Raffle A note from our ED, Nancy Proyect: "As you know, this is a tough time for a lot of businesses and people. It is a tough time for the Citizens Foundation. While we’re doing ok at the moment, next year will be very tough and I expect that we’ll have to make cuts. We will see a small loss this year and a much larger one in 2021 unless we can find new ways to generate revenue. ... I know many of you don’t know what the Citizens Foundation does, but it’s good stuff. Last week we held debates for NYS Senate for the 42nd & 39th Senate Districts. The weekend before that, we did a walking tour of three villages to teach residents and officials there how to create welcoming places, improve their zoning, and grow their downtown businesses. For the past several months, we’ve helped 140 businesses in Orange County (and some outside of the county) apply for loans and grants so that they have a chance to remain solvent and not lay off workers. We’ve helped others transition from their normal products to PPE and new services. We’re also advocating for policies to improve our energy infrastructure in a sustainable way and for improved transportation infrastructure along Route 17 and public transit. We’re working with two industry clusters an AI cluster and a CBD/Hemp cluster to increase the number of those types of jobs in our region. I’m exhausted just telling you about all of this. Anyway, I know some of you don’t have a lot of money to spare and others are just as worried about the future as we are. However, if you could spare $50 for our raffle, it would help my organization and the people we serve. You might even win the prizes, which are pretty sweet - $3,000, $1,500 and $500. Let us know if you will buy a ticket. We will send you an invoice and the raffle ticket. If not, it’s fine. As my mother is fond of saying: It’s fine. I will just stick my head in the oven." With purchase of a raffle ticket you enter to win one of three great prizes: Grand Prize: $3,000 Second Place Prize: $1,500 Third Place Prize: $500 Raffle tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online, from one of our Board members, or email Jacqueline Masterson at [email protected]. The winner will be drawn on December 3rd at the 26th Annual Ottaway Medal Dinner. Purchaser need not be in attendance to win, which is good because we're virtual this year!

For 26 years, the Citizens Foundation Board of Directors selects a citizen worthy of receiving the prestigious Ottaway Medal. Named in honor of Ruth and James Ottaway, prominent philanthropists and successful business leaders dedicated to improving quality of life in our county, the Ottaway Medal is awarded each year to a citizen who embodies their community leadership and commitment. Ruth & James Ottaway Charles Shaughnessy William Kaplan... William Messner Edward H. Northrop Louis V. Mills H. Peter Stern Graham Skea Constantine Sidamon-Erinstoff USMA at West Point Louis Heimbach Sister Ann Sakac F. Edward Devitt Jerome Brisman Barbara & Harry Scherr Susan Metzger Roberta Glinton Richard Rowley Thomas Weddell Susan Najork Andrew Komonchak James Smith Dr. Hal Teitelbaum Senator William J. Larkin Alan Seidman Joan Cusack-McGuirk ~ Linda Muller ~ Join us virtually on Thursday, December 3rd as we honor Linda Muller, CEO of Cornerstone Family Healthcare, with the Ruth & James Ottaway Medal for her dedicated leadership and commitment to her community. We know everyone wants to support Linda so we have created 2 ticket options: $95 ticket: includes a delicious to-go dinner provided by Hudson Street Café and a link to the live medal presentation event. $25 ticket: includes a link to the live medal presentation and a congratulatory message for Linda. To purchase your tickets go to https://secure.occitizensfoundation.org//c/occf/event.jsp Thank you to our event sponsors: Congratulatory Sponsor Cornerstone Family Healthcare Patron Sponsors Kaplan Family Charitable Foundation Montefiore St. Luke's Cornwall The Ottaway Family Champion Sponsors Family of Linda Muller BioReference Laboratories Bonura Hospitality Group Garnet Health Exclusive Sponsors Gillin Custom Design Auto Studio MVP Health Care Fan Sponsors Day Seckler LLP The Rowley Family Tri-State Drywall & Acoustical Friend Sponsors Andrea Nilon Central Hudson CohnReznick LLP Deana Brennan - Aflac Hudson Valley Investment Advisors, Inc. Inspire - Orange County Cerebral Palsy Association LAN Associates Local Union 279 of UBC & JA New York Council of Nonprofits, Inc. (NYCON) Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY M&T Bank Robert and Cheryl Ross Charitable Foundation

Watch the 42nd & 39th Senate District Debates now available on demand on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. Watch on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OCcitizensfoundation/videos or Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist... Early voting opens up this Saturday, October 24th, here in Orange County! We collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP- Newburgh/Highland Falls, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Partnership, Orange County Arts Council, Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association to bring to you, the voter, these two important senate debates. The Debates made the News: https://midhudsonnews.com//senator-metzger-and-martucci-s/ https://www.wamc.org//nys-senator-metzger-challenger-martu https://midhudsonnews.com//skoufis-brescia-debate-in-stat/ Voting Information: Here is some information you should know. Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections: Monday, November 2, 2020 Last day to return and postmark the ballot to the Board of Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 Look up your poll station and the schedule for early voting: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Election Day is November 3, 2020. Poll sites throughout the county will be open from 6am to 9pm Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

39th Senate District Debate 2020 Senator James Skoufis (D) and Steve Brescia (R) debated on Thursday, October 22nd at 5:30 PM LIVE with Professor Larry Force (Mount Saint Mary College) moderating. These debates are organized in partnership with the Orange County Citizens Foundation, NAACP- Newburgh/Highland Falls, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Partnership, Orange County Arts Council, Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan County.

30 minutes until our final debate! Early voting opens up this Saturday, October 24th, here in Orange County! We have collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP Newburgh/Highland Falls Branch, Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY , Orange County Land Trust , Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY , Orange County Partnership , Orange County New York Arts Council , Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties to bring to y...ou, the voter, two important senate debates. These are free and will be LIVE on Orange County Citizens Foundation's Facebook and YouTube pages. Due to COVID-19 there will not be an audience in attendance. The debates will be saved to our Facebook and YouTube in case you are unable to watch them live. Voting Information: Here is some information you should know. -Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 -Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections: Monday, November 2, 2020 -Last day to return and postmark the ballot to the Board of Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 -Look up your poll station and the schedule for early voting: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Election Day is November 3, 2020. Poll sites throughout the county will be open from 6am to 9pm Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Our final debate tonight at 5:30 PM! Watch before the Presidential Debate tonight. Early voting opens up this Saturday, October 24th, here in Orange County! We have collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP Newburgh/Highland Falls Branch , Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY, Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY , Orange County Partnership, Orange County New York Arts Council, Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Associatio...n of Orange and Sullivan Counties to bring to you, the voter, two important senate debates. These are free and will be LIVE on Orange County Citizens Foundation's Facebook and YouTube pages. Due to COVID-19 there will not be an audience in attendance. The debates will be saved to our Facebook and YouTube in case you are unable to watch them live. Voting Information: Here is some information you should know. -Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 -Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections: Monday, November 2, 2020 -Last day to return and postmark the ballot to the Board of Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 -Look up your poll station and the schedule for early voting: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Election Day is November 3, 2020. Poll sites throughout the county will be open from 6am to 9pm Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Did you catch the 42nd Senate District Debate on Monday night? Don't worry you can watch it anytime on our Facebook page! Our final debate is tomorrow night at 5:30 pm between Senator James Skoufis and Steve Brescia and will be streamed live to our Facebook and YouTube pages! The 42nd Senate District Debate in the News: https://midhudsonnews.com//senator-metzger-and-martucci-s/... We have collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP Newburgh/Highland Falls Branch, Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY, Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY, Orange County Partnership, Orange County New York Arts Council, Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties bring to you, the voter, these two important senate debates. Early voting opens in OC on Saturday, October 24th!

Our Placemaking Tour was featured in the Times Herald Record! https://www.recordonline.com//montgomery-host-/3661064001/ Did you miss the Placemaking Tour of the Montgomery Area? Have no fear! You can do the tour on your own. All tour maps, evaluations, and videos are on our website. You can access them by going to https://occitizensfoundation.org//montgomery-area-placema/

42nd Senate District Debate 2020 Senator Jen Metzger (D) and Mike Martucci (R) debated on Monday, October 19th at 5:30 PM LIVE with Professor Larry Force (Mount Saint Mary College) moderating. These debates are organized in partnership with the Orange County Citizens Foundation, NAACP- Newburgh/Highland Falls, The Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, Orange County Land Trust, Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Orange County Partnership, Orange County Arts Council, Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan County.

Our first debate will be live in 30 minutes! We have collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP Newburgh/Highland Falls Branch , Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY , Orange County Land Trust , Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY , Orange County Partnership, Orange County New York Arts Council , Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties to bring to you, the voter, two important senate debates. These are free an...d will be LIVE on Orange County Citizens Foundation's Facebook and YouTube pages. Due to COVID-19 there will not be an audience in attendance. The debates will be saved to our Facebook and YouTube in case you are unable to watch them live. Early voting opens up this Saturday, October 24th, here in Orange County! For more voting information check out our post from earlier today.

Today is our first debate! Early voting opens up this Saturday, October 24th, here in Orange County! We have collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP Newburgh/Highland Falls Branch , Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY , Orange County Land Trust , Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY , Orange County Partnership, Orange County New York Arts Council , Leadership Orange, and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties to bring to you, th...e voter, two important senate debates. These are free and will be LIVE on Orange County Citizens Foundation's Facebook and YouTube pages. Due to COVID-19 there will not be an audience in attendance. The debates will be saved to our Facebook and YouTube in case you are unable to watch them live. Voting Information: Here is some information you should know. -Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 -Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections: Monday, November 2, 2020 -Last day to return and postmark the ballot to the Board of Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 -Look up your poll station and the schedule for early voting: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Election Day is November 3, 2020. Poll sites throughout the county will be open from 6am to 9pm Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

TODAY! Come for all three tours or join us for just one! The Placemaking Tour of the Montgomery Area will be held on 10/17 (rain date: 10/18) at 9:00 AM. We will begin in Village of Maybrook (Senior Center), then go to Village of Walden, then end in Village of Montgomery. The tour will have three meeting locations: Maybrook senior center (9AM- 2 Senior Way, Maybrook, NY 12543), Walden village hall (10AM- 1 Municipal Square, Walden, NY 12586), Montgomery senior center (11AM-...36 Bridge St., Montgomery, NY 12549). The tour is estimated to end at 1 PM. View tour materials such as maps, videos, and evaluation forms at: https://occitizensfoundation.org//montgomery-area-placema/ Can't make the tour? Do it on your own! All materials and maps will remain available at the link above!

Early voting opens up Saturday October 24th here in Orange County and our first debate is Monday! We have collaborated with several important organizations, NAACP Newburgh/Highland Falls Branch , Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County, NY , Orange County Land Trust , Orange County Chamber of Commerce, NY , Orange County Partnership , Orange County New York Arts Council , Leadership Orange , and Women's Bar Association of Orange and Sullivan Counties to bring to you, the v...oter, two important senate debates. These are free and will be LIVE on Orange County Citizens Foundation's Facebook and YouTube pages. Due to COVID-19 there will not be an audience in attendance. The debates will be saved to our Facebook and YouTube in case you are unable to watch them live. Voting Information: Here is some information you should know. -Last day to register to vote: Friday, October 9, 2020 - passed -Last day to apply for absentee ballot by mail: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 -Last day to apply for absentee ballot in person at the Board of Elections: Monday, November 2, 2020 -Last day to return and postmark the ballot to the Board of Elections: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 -Look up your poll station and the schedule for early voting: https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/ Election Day is November 3, 2020. Poll sites throughout the county will be open from 6am to 9pm Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves and the only way they could do this is by not voting. -Franklin D. Roosevelt