Senator Jen Metzger

12/31/2020

It has been the greatest honor to represent the 42nd Senate District, and to be a voice in Albany for our Hudson Valley and Catskills communities. I have met so many caring, compassionate people across this district who are working to make a positive difference, and I want to express my gratitude for your partnership and efforts.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe New Year!

Hudson Valley and Catskills, NY…After serving as a New York State Senator for the 42nd District over the last two years, Senator Jen Metzger’s first term in office will conclude at the end of December. Metzger, who represents constituents in all of Sullivan County, and parts of Orange, Ulster, a...

12/31/2020

Agriculture has a special role to play in fighting climate change, helping to sequester climate-warming carbon dioxide in the soils and roots of plants. Healthy soils are the key--the healthier the soils, the more carbon the land will keep out of the atmosphere. I was thrilled to be able to secure state funding last year to expand the Carbon Farming Pilot Project beyond Dutchess and Columbia counties to include Ulster, Sullivan, and Orange, and I want to thank the farms in these counties for participating in this two-year project!

R.O.Davenport and Sons Farm, Davenport Farms, RT 209, Stone Ridge NY 845-687-0051, Generation Farm (Marbletown), Sunshine Orchards (Marlborough), Green Acres (Hurley), Somewhere In Time Farm (Parksville), Stap Dairy (Pine Bush), Russell Smiley Dairy Farm (Wallkill), Pine Island Turf Nursery, Inc., Keith's Farm (Port Jervis), Minkus Family Farms, Inc. (New Hampton), and Farmer's Daughter (Mount Hope).

12/30/2020

Elaine Williams has long been a fighter for justice and fairness in Sullivan County, and in the last 2+ years she has shepherded a transformational project close to home--a community garden in the affordable housing complex where she lives in Monticello. The garden was started with the help of many organizations and volunteers (especially Sullivan Alliance for Sustainable Development & farmer Dick Reisling), and serves as both a source of fresh, nutritious food and as a vehicle for youth empowerment, learning, and community and intergenerational connection. It's success owes a great deal to Elaine's vision and leadership, and today I presented Elaine with a Senate Commendation to recognize her efforts and her years of dedicated activism in the fight against racial injustice.

12/28/2020

In this time of growing food insecurity, the Early Bird Cookery in Callicoon teamed up with The Callicoon Pantry to help put wholesome, nutritious, delicious food on the tables of Sullivan County families in need, donating some 7,400 servings of prepared food and over 22,000 lb. of bulk grains and produce to Sullivan County neighbors. It was my great pleasure to present Early Bird Cookery Chef Dayna Halprin with a Senate Empire Award in recognition of this business's strong community-minded ethic and generosity!

12/27/2020

Carol Olszanecki is a fierce advocate for the rights, health, and well-being of our veteran community who I have come to know in our work together to improve mental health support for veterans. As a volunteer, she has single-handedly done so much to connect veterans and their family members to resources and services, organizing regular "Stand Down" events and communal meals, and helping individuals navigate the VA to get the assistance they need and deserve. As the founder of the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association, she has spent years advocating for federal legislation to reinstate VA benefits for Blue Water Navy veterans who served during the Vietnam War.

It was my great pleasure to present Carol with a Senate Commendation in recognition of her leadership and commitment to improving the lives of veterans and their families.

12/24/2020

For 130 years, the Sullivan County Democrat has been an independent source of news and information for Sullivan County communities, and I was proud to present Fred Stabbert III, third-generation owner of this gem of a family news business, with a Senate Empire Award in recognition of the invaluable public service the paper has provided over these many years. I also want to give a shout out to reporters Matt Shortall, Isabel Braverman, and Joseph Abraham and the whole Sullivan County Democrat team for your outstanding work.

And let this serve as a reminder for all to support local journalism! You can keep informed on issues of importance to your community by subscribing to your local paper, online or through home-delivery!

12/24/2020

It is my great honor to present Bill Brooks, beloved Rosendalian, with a Senate Commendation for a lifetime of exemplary service to the community.

The question is not what Bill Brooks has done for Rosendale, it’s what he hasn’t done. Fire Commissioner, dedicated member of the Rondout Valley Lions Club, Town Historian. Founder, with his late wife, Cathy, of the Rosendale International Pickle Festival, which (in a non-pandemic year) brings thousands of people to town and donates the proceeds to a worthy community project. His business, Bill Brooks Barber Shop, is the longest running business on Main Street, a community hub, and the “office” for Bill’s many civic activities. Bill has given countless hours of volunteer service to our town and community throughout his entire life--I've barely scratched the surface in this post. He is ALWAYS there to give a helping hand, and has a generosity of spirit and passion for community that is unrivaled.

12/23/2020

We need to learn the lessons from this pandemic and build a stronger, more resilient food system that avoids the kind of supply disruptions we saw and improves our self-reliance and food security. My bill with Assemblymember Donna Lupardo--now law--is intended to do just that.

12/23/2020

The Liberty NY Rotary Club played a lead role in organizing “Operation Feed,” which provided hundreds of meals to frontline healthcare workers and emergency first responders during the COVID surge last spring, and in Phase II has provided countless meals to food insecure families in Sullivan County, together with the Rotary Club of Monticello, NY, Fallsburg Lions Club, and A Single Bite. I was proud to honor the Liberty Rotary Club's work on a chilly day last week in front of my Liberty office (yes, those are Liberty Rotarians under all of those winter layers and masks!), and I want to express my gratitude to all of the partner organizations and volunteers who have stepped up during these challenging times to help struggling community members.

12/23/2020

Something Sweet Dessert Cafe in Middletown was founded in 2004 by Anna Madden and her husband Dave, and the couple are deeply committed to Middletown's revitalization, founding and organizing the annual "Run for Downtown," which draws thousands of people to the business district and helps raise funds for improvements to downtown. It was my great pleasure to present Something Sweet with a Senate Empire Award this past week!

12/22/2020

Last week I presented Liberty Public Library Director Marjorie Linko with a Senate Commendation for her outstanding civic work at the helm of the library, a position she’s held for over 20 years in which she has contributed immensely to the library’s growth as a welcoming resource-sharing community hub. Thank you Marjorie for all that you do!