Gov. Kathy Hochul awarded Port Jervis a $10 million grant on Feb. 22 to redevelop its historic downtown into a regional destination for residents and visitors. The city is one of 10 municipalities statewide—the only one within the Mid-Hudson region—to receive the competitive grant this year. Mayor Kelly Decker said in a press statement: “Many have worked…

The Port Jervis City School District is poised to take on a significantly bigger spending plan next year without raising the tax levy or dipping into the fund balance, according to a budget presentation on Feb. 16.  The budget is proposed to be close to $90 million, up from $82 million in the current year,…

The Port Jervis Police Department plans to enhance crime data collection and analysis to develop more effective policing strategies this year, according to police chief William Worden. The department is partnering with the Albany-based John F. Finn Institute for Public Safety to dive deep into the city’s data and produce monthly reports. “I truly believe…

Port Jervis major drug trafficker Richard McInturff was sentenced on Feb. 8 by Judge Hyun Chin Kim to almost 20 years in state prison. Operating as a major trafficker is one of the most serious crimes in the New York Penal Code, carrying a maximum penalty of a life sentence. McInturff got 15 years in…

In his 10th State of City address on Jan. 25, Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker recounted initiatives in the past year that improved the city’s recreational and cultural destinations and looked forward to future projects to make it an even more visitor-friendly place.  He highlighted the completion of a yearslong annexation project with the Town…

Around 3,000 tri-state residents attended the third annual Chinese New Year event in downtown Port Jervis, New York, on Jan. 22. The celebration started at noon with a lion dance on Jersey Avenue, followed by a Chinese-style buffet and live performances at Erie Trackside Manor. “We had a wonderful turnout. It was just crowded, with…

The City Council of Middletown, New York, adopted a new three-year sales tax sharing contract with Orange County on Jan. 17. Middletown now gets the largest share of sales tax among all three cities in the county, largely due to its population advantage. Based on the 2020 census, Middletown has a population of just over…

The first event marked on Port Jervis Tourism Board’s 2023 roster is a celebration to usher in the Chinese Year of Rabbit. The celebration will start with a dragon dance on Jersey Avenue, followed by an authentic Chinese buffet, traditional crafts, and live performances at Erie Trackside Manor on Jan. 22, between 12 p.m. and…

Port Jervis City Council on Dec. 22 unanimously passed a 2023 budget of $20 million, raising property tax levy by nearly 9 percent. Residential property taxes go up by 5 percent to nearly $3.8 million, whereas taxes collected on commercial properties increase by 11 percent to $3.5 million. Inflation is said to be responsible for…

Port Jervis resident Mary Capobianco seldom seeks help at a food pantry, but as Christmas comes closer, she has found herself waiting in line at a local charity for some eggs. This was the last food pantry for the year by the nonprofit Easterseals’ Project Discovery. The local project has operated in Port Jervis for…