 LtoR: Pictured at the Village of Walden’s 2nd Annual Leadership Day Awards are William Holmes, Darlene and Mike Ciardullo, Jodi Lynn, David Lustig and Marcus "Mickey" Millspaugh. At 2nd Annual Leadership Day Awards
Walden, N.Y. (January 29, 2012) – Jacobowitz & Gubits is pleased to announce that Jodi Lynn was named the Village of Walden’s 2011 Volunteer of the year at The 2nd Annual Leadership Day Awards. Debbie Robb, 2010 Volunteer of the Year, presented Ms. Lynn the award in the ceremony at Village Hall on Thursday, January 12, 2012.
For almost 20 years, Ms. Lynn has served as a paralegal on Jacobowitz & Gubits’ litigation team with a focus on personal injury. She is also team leader for the firm’s Heart Walk Team to benefit the American Heart Association.
“We are very proud to have Jodi as part of our team,” said Jacobowitz & Gubits’ Senior Partner, Gerald Jacobowitz. “Her commitment to our clients and the firm is matched by her outstanding record of community service. Her dedication is an inspiration to us all.”
Ms. Lynn is also a very active member of the Walden Community council, serving as the Walden Harvest Fest Chair as well as Chairwoman of Music in the Grove. Additionally, she plays a vital role in the success of the Walden’s Veterans Park Committee.
About Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP
Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP, was founded in 1963 to provide sophisticated legal representation to businesses and individuals throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley and the state of New York. The solo firm established by Gerald N. Jacobowitz has grown into a practice with 28 attorneys and a full staff of paralegals and legal assistants to service a growing and dynamic client base.
Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP, handles a wide range of legal issues including business litigation, commercial real estate, elder law and estate planning, municipal law, land use and zoning, equine law, veterans disability & income, health care law, personal injury, employment, family law, criminal law and bankruptcy.
For further information on the firm of Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP please visit www.jacobowitz.com or call (845) 778-2121 or (845) 454-6000.
 Ulster County Travel Guide Ulster County Tourism and Focus Media honored in External Publications category
KINGSTON, N.Y. (Jan. 26, 2012) – The 2011 Ulster County Travel Guide has been honored with a Gold Award in the 9th Annual Service Industry Advertising Awards (SIAA).
The guide, developed by Ulster County Tourism and Focus Media, Inc., was recognized in the awards’ External Publications category. It was released in May by Ulster County Tourism as part of its overall marketing efforts that promote the outstanding travel opportunities offered throughout the county.
“I am delighted that Ulster County Tourism has received such a prestigious award for our 2011 travel guide,” Ulster County Executive Mike Hein said. “Out of 2,000 entries, our guide was one of just 146 publications to be singled out as a Gold Award winner. Since the travel guide is one of our main marketing tools to attract tourists to the county, I’m incredibly proud that our guide ranks among the best in the nation.”
The 68-page, full-color publication broke new ground last year and added a number of features to make it more user-friendly and interactive, including a pullout map that charts the county’s recreational and cultural hotspots. Its graphic design has effectively captured the area’s scenic beauty and activities, and a QR code on the back allows readers to quickly and easily add themselves to the mailing list for the 2012 guide.
“Thanks in part to this publication and many other marketing efforts, we’ve seen a boost in our county tourism industry this year,” said Ulster County Tourism Director Richard J. Remsnyder. “This award showcases the hard work that has been put into the 2011 Tourism Guide, and is another example of what makes Ulster County such a great place to visit and live.”
The publication was recognized by the SIAA for its creativity, design and effective communication to its target audiences. The awards are dedicated entirely to the service industry nationwide, with more than 400 advertising agencies and over 1,000 institutions participating this year. Out of more than 2,000 entries, the SIAA’s panel of judges gave out 146 Gold, 111 Silver and 88 Bronze awards.
“We’re very proud to be in a great partnership with Ulster County Tourism,” said Josh Sommers, President and CEO of Focus Media. “Between Ulster County and Focus Media, everyone put forth a great effort. We look forward to working with Ulster County Tourism in putting together an even more impressive publication this year.”
Ulster County has a wide range of travel destinations available, including 250,000 acres of forever-wild land that features over 350 miles of trails and 35 peaks. Just 90 miles outside of Manhattan, the county has biking, kayaking, wind surfing, biking, golf, fishing in the warmer months and skiing, snow-shoeing and skating in the colder months for visitors.
NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (Jan. 25, 2011) – The assistant dean of continuing education at Westchester Community College has joined the board of directors of the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corp. (HVEDC).
Ann Rubenzahl oversees the college’s Professional Development Center; its extension location at Yonkers Cross County; Mainstream, the Institute for Mature Adults; and is the liaison with the Westchester and Putnam One Stop Employment Centers. She is a specialist in workforce development and has experience in adult education, corporate training and curriculum development. She has been involved in a number of programs for entrepreneurs, including her work with the Business Council of Westchester to develop the Academy for Entrepreneurial Excellence, aimed toward business owners who want to expand their organizations.
Before starting her work at Westchester Community College, Rubenzahl was the director of human resources at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and has also served as a director in the offices of banks and other institutions of higher learning.
“We are very pleased to welcome Ms. Rubenzahl to our board of directors, as she brings with her a very unique perspective on workforce and business development,” said Mike Oates, CEO and President of the HVEDC. “Her experience in working with business owners and employees alike will help organizations throughout the region improve their internal structures.”
The HVEDC works to develop economic growth throughout the Hudson Valley, which includes the counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan.
“I am proud to serve on the board of the HVEDC, an organization that does so many great things for the Hudson Valley region,” said Rubenzahl. “It is a wonderful opportunity to work with this organization to accomplish some of its outstanding economic development goals.”
Rubenzahl earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from New York University and a Master’s in Teaching from Manhattanville College.
About The Professional Development Center
The Professional Development Center, one of the premier training organizations in Westchester County, provides training and coaching services in topics ranging from information technology, language, and organizational development that make individuals and organizations more productive. The PDC is a department of the Division of Continuing Education at Westchester Community College. More information on the PDC is available at http://www.sunywcc.edu/pdc.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC): HVEDC represents seven counties in Hudson Valley. This public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC also helped start the branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley. For more information on Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation or to review available business sites, visit www.hvedc.com or call CEO Mike Oates at 845-220-2244.
 From L to R: Walden Savings Bank Vice President Marketing Joann Menendez and President & CEO Derrik R. Wynkoop present Antonetta Gutter, director of development for Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, with a check in the amount of $4,000 from its 2011 Ornament Campaign. MONTGOMERY, N.Y. (January 17, 2012) – Walden Savings Bank continues support of local nonprofit organizations with this year’s Ornament Campaign donation of $4,000 to Food Bank of the Hudson Valley.
Every year, Walden Savings Bank employees, along with customers, participate in the food bank’s annual campaign where paper ornaments were purchased at each branch location for $1 each from Thanksgiving until the New Year. In matching each donation, Walden Savings Bank this year provided 16,000 meals to families.
“Food Bank of the Hudson Valley plays a vital role in helping families get what they need most,” said Derrik R. Wynkoop, president and CEO of Walden Savings Bank. “The holiday season can be a tough time for families in need and we’re pleased to do our part in bringing joy this time of year.”
Working in partnership with the food industry, the Food Bank collects large donations of unmarketable but still edible food, and distributes it to charitable agencies feeding hungry people in a six county region. Today, the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, in conjunction with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, serves over 1,000 member agencies in 23 counties from the Canadian border to the Westchester border.
About Walden Savings Bank
Walden Savings Bank, established in 1872, is a federal chartered mutual savings bank headquartered in Montgomery, New York. With a total of eleven full-service branches serving Orange and Ulster Counties, the bank’s progressive style of community banking provides products that cater to both the individual and the growing mid-size business. To learn more about the Bank and its products and services, visit their website at www.waldensavingsbank.com .
NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (Jan. 16, 2011) – Orange Regional Medical Center, which serves thousands of patients throughout the Hudson Valley from its new main hospital campus in the Town of Walkill and several outpatient locations, has been named a founding member of NY BioHud Valley.
Founding members support the unifying efforts by the biotech industry in the Hudson Valley. The NY BioHud Valley campaign is designed to reinforce that the Hudson Valley is the epicenter of the biotech industry in New York.
Scott Batulis, Orange Regional Medical Center President and CEO, said: “A responsibility of a regional healthcare provider is to partner with industry to impart clinical input to help develop new therapies, devices and assistive technologies. This ultimately helps to improve patient care, outcomes and quality of life for patients. Orange Regional Medical Center sees a tremendous opportunity to accomplish breakthroughs in healthcare biotechnology by being a major clinical collaborator with the technology and pharmaceutical business sectors through NY BioHud Valley.”
Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation recognizes the area has a growing cluster of biotech/pharmaceutical companies located in the lower Hudson Valley region. The NY BioHud Valley partners with the county, state and federal government levels to provide an environment allowing these businesses to expand while also attracting new businesses into the region by showcasing the existing infrastructure, highly educated workforce, proximity to world-class research, ready access to venture capital and competitive real estate opportunities. In addition NY BioHud Valley creates a pro-business advocacy campaign designed to reduce legislative burdens, foster collaboration among our biotech/pharmaceutical companies and educational institutions and assist companies with access to venture capital.
“We’re very honored to have Orange Regional Medical Center be part of NY BioHud Valley as a founding member,” said Mike Oates, CEO and President of HVEDC. “Orange Regional is a leader in healthcare in the Hudson Valley and beyond, especially with the new state-of-the-art hospital and their ability to put the patient first in everything they do. We are looking forward to the impact this institution will have on the growth of NY BioHud Valley.”
This past August, Orange Regional opened a seven-story, 383-bed, state-of-the-art hospital; the first new hospital in New York State in over 20 years. The new hospital on East Main Street in Middletown is close to the intersection of Interstate 84 and Route 17 and has replaced the two old hospitals – Arden Hill in Goshen and Horton in the City of Middletown.
“Orange Regional has done a tremendous job with its transition into a state-of-the art medical center,” said Maureen Halahan, president and CEO of Orange County Partnership. “The medical center is a very important part of this industry sector in the Hudson Valley and will be an important part of NY BioHud Valley as a founding member.”
The hospital combines high-tech healthcare with a patient-centered approach utilizing innovations such as wireless technology, electronic health records and the latest diagnostic and lifesaving equipment. The hospital features spacious patient rooms with room service, a larger emergency department, helipad, emergency and elective angioplasty, technologically advanced operating rooms, birthing center, oncology center, bariatric center, behavioral health center, physical rehabilitation and more – all in a beautiful, warm and inviting setting. Plans are under way to open a Level 2 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in 2012.
About Orange Regional Medical Center
Orange Regional Medical Center, located in Middletown, New York (about 60 miles northwest of New York City) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization and employs approximately 2,500 healthcare professionals serving thousands of patients throughout the Hudson Valley. In addition to the main hospital campus in the Town of Wallkill, Orange Regional provides several outpatient locations. The largest outpatient facility, the nearby Orange Regional Medical Pavilion, offers both outpatient surgical and diagnostic services; plus a radiation oncology center, breast center and sleep center. Orange Regional Medical Center is a member of the Greater Hudson Valley Health System. More information can be found about the hospital at www.ormc.org.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
HVEDC represents seven counties in Hudson Valley. This public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC also helped start the branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley. For more information on Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation or to review available business sites, visit www.hvedc.com or call CEO Mike Oates at 845-220-2244.
 Paola Aguilar Greater Hudson Valley chapter honors mortgage consultant from Walden Savings Bank
MONTGOMERY, N.Y. (January 11, 2012) – The Greater Hudson Valley chapter of the Women’s Council of Realtors has named Walden Savings Bank Mortgage Consultant Paola Aguilar as its Affiliate Member of the Year for 2011.
Aguilar received the award at the Women’s Council of Realtors’ Holiday and Installation of Officers Meeting, held in December at the Colden Manor at Spruce Lodge in Montgomery. She has been a member of the organization for the past three years, and has been recognized for her dedication and service to the council and the real estate industry as a whole.
“This is a tremendous honor for Paola, and we are very proud of her and the hard work she has put forth for both the Women’s Council of Realtors and the bank,” said Walden Savings Bank President & CEO Derrik Wynkoop. “Paola is another example of the great team we have in place, and her excellent work reflects the culture and service we have become recognized for throughout the Hudson Valley region.”
At Walden Savings Bank, Aguilar provides a number of mortgage products to clients, including construction mortgages, vacant land loans, first-time homebuyer programs, no-income verification loans, investment properties, second home mortgages, reverse mortgages, home equity loans, home equity lines of credit and second mortgages. She has worked for the bank for the past five years.
The Women’s Council of Realtors is a network of successful realtors who empower women to exercise their potential as entrepreneurs and leaders in the industry. The chapter aims to provide skill-building programs that bring enhanced professionalism and personal excellence to real estate in the Hudson Valley, creating support systems for referring business and boosting productivity.
Walden Savings Bank Vice President of Retail Lending Barbara Carr added, “The Women’s Council of Realtors is an outstanding organization for the real estate industry, and we are excited to have a representative from our bank participate in its work. We look forward to Paola’s continued service in advancing the industry and helping people reach their goals when it comes to their home and business mortgages.”
About Walden Savings Bank
Walden Savings Bank, established in 1872, is a federal chartered mutual savings bank headquartered in Montgomery, New York. With a total of eleven full-service branches serving Orange and Ulster Counties, the bank’s progressive style of community banking provides products that cater to both the individual and the growing mid-size business. To learn more about the Bank and its products and services, visit their website at www.waldensavingsbank.com.
New Windsor, N.Y. – January 10, 2012 – Orange County Business Accelerator (OCBA) recently introduced Parallel Media as its newest associate client.
Founded in 2005, Parallel Media publishes two local independent online news sites, News from Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson and Newburgh Circle. Both online publications provide up-to-the minute local news, along with stories about the community and business development, the arts, schools and entertainment.
Michael DiTullo, managing director at the Accelerator, said, “Parallel Media has grown to become a well-trusted source of information in the Cornwall and Newburgh communities. Nancy has done a great job building this reputation and we hope to be a great catalyst for further growth in the future.”
Nancy Peckanham, editor of the websites, is a village resident who brings 25 years of journalism experience. She’s an author, past executive producer at CNN in Atlanta and in New York, and has produced six documentaries on issues of global conflicts that have aired on PBS and internationally.
News from Cornwall and Cornwall-on-Hudson features a public forum for discussion of ideas about the village and town, as well as in-depth articles about the village’s past and plans for its future. The site also offers the My Cornwall feature, a community blog and photography host, as well as classifieds. Newburgh Circle features local human interest stories, neighborhood and community news, as well as an events calendar updatable by viewers.
DiTullo added, “The Accelerator, now with 21 clients/tenants and nearly 60 people working at our facility, is not holding back the throttle at the beginning of this New Year. With the addition of Parallel Media, we continue our quest to become the epicenter of business development in the Hudson Valley.”
OCBA, located at 4 Crotty Lane in New Windsor, N.Y. at New York International Plaza at Stewart Airport, is a business incubator program launched by the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The incubator, 12,600 square feet of Class A high-tech research and development space, is designed to attract new entrepreneurial investment by providing businesses with below market occupancy costs, a menu of mentoring programs and a high-tech plug-and-play office environment.
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