SPEND EEOC sues The new way Aaron Ulster’s TIME Fed suit alleges plastic WISELY pervasive shopping sexual En fuego with bag ban Kingston real estate much in demand Almanac harassment goes live Weekly BUSINESS > 2 COUNTY > 4 ECONOMY > 10 THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 VOLUME 14; ISSUE 29 ULSTER PUBLISHING, INC. WWW.HUDSONVALLEYONE.COM KINGSTON TIMES ONE DOLLAR FIFTY CENTS LOCAL HISTORY SPORTS Truly, the end of an era Ed Ford stepping down as Kingston’s city historian BY LYNN WOODS fter 35 years as the cu- rator, guardian and cheer- leader of this city’s collective past, Edwin Ford, who turned A 101 on April 15, is retiring. Boxes of documents, books and ephem- era he has collected over the years fill the living room and study of his house, will be transferred to the new city historian, Taylor Bruck, and other recipients, such as Friends of Historic Kingston (FHK) ‘All I want is to save the history, that’s my main ALYSSA HOWELL goal, and tell our story Pat Dorrian in action with the Frederick Keys. as to why we’re here and Carolina League club. how we came about.’ “It was actually pretty crazy,” said Dor- Dorrian the Oriole rian. “We had a noon game that day, and I — Ed Ford was in the clubhouse getting my uniform on, and my head coach, Miguel Perez, Former KHS standout embracing called me in to his office. I was sitting them with him and (Pirates Assistant General and the Ulster County archives (where trade to Baltimore BY CRISPIN KOTT Manager) Kyle Stark, and they told me I Ford’s bound copies of 100 years’ worth was traded. At first I didn’t really know how to react. It was a lot to take in, espe- of issues of the Daily Freeman and other n Wednesday, June 26, newspapers already reside). But he will from the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was cially on my birthday. They said, ‘You’ve no doubt continue turning over the stones Kingston High Class of playing for the Greensboro Grasshoppers really got to take this opportunity. This is of forgotten subjects of local history and 2014 alum Pat Dorrian of the Class A South Atlantic League to a good thing, because it means another share his discoveries and insights. Ford Oreceived a surprise birth- the Baltimore Orioles, where he reported organization really wants you.’ They said (continued on page 4) day gift: He was traded to the Frederick Keys, a Class A-Advanced (continued on page 6) COUNTY GOVERNMENT FACES OF KINGSTON Morgan Y. Evans Cutten’s cut Was it unkind Steve Rodriguez politics or a wise grabbed a slice of pizza Uptown and went for a stroll with Kingston’s own Steve Rodriguez for this week’s Faces of trim of the budget? Kingston. Rodriguez is an affable, funny and insightful dude who BY JESSE J. SMITH can often be seen on the social scene or working hard to help peo- I ple have an enjoyable time. Let’s get to know him a little better. former county employee and candidate for the county Morgan Y. Evans: Here we go. Thanks for doing this today. comptroller’s office said last Steve Rodriguez: Of course. No holds barred. week she believes politics A was behind her dismissal MYE: How old are you? earlier this month. But County Executive SR: 33. Pat Ryan said that Lisa Cutten’s removal from her post was simply him following MYE: Sweet. Patrick Ewing, haha. (continued on page 9) SR: (laughs) MYE: Did you grow up in Kingston? SR: I was born in White Plains and moved up to West Hurley when I was 13. Right about 9/11. It was October 2001. MORGAN Y. EVANS (continued on page 9) Steve Rodriguez. 2 NEWS THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2019 KINGSTON TIMES day, July 13 at about 5 p.m., dep- for non-life-threatening injuries. Man arrested after 108 Livingston St. was sen- POLICE BRIEFS uties, Rosendale police and state Andradez was charged with felony alleged drug stash tenced July 10 in Ulster County troopers responded to a 911 call second-degree assault. Following Court to four years in state City warns of ICE raids for an unconscious woman in the his arraignment in Town of Ulster at probation prison followed by 10 years of City offi cials warned residents Rondout Creek off Webster Lock Court, Andradez was sent to the A Kingston man was arrested, post-release supervision. He that agents of the federal Immi- Road in Bloomington. Ulster County Jail without bail. city police say, after he tried to will also be required to regis- gration and Customs Enforce- Barbara Klueber, 44, of Rosen- J.J.S. hide a quantity of the club drug ter as a sex offender, a status ment Bureau were operating dale, was seen swimming in the MDMA, a.k.a. Molly, outside the which will last at least 20 in Kingston. The warning was Rondout Creek in the vicinity of her Cops: Man fled county probation offi ce. years. Further, a stay-away order issued via the city’s offi cial residence shortly before she was Midtown Crash Christopher B. Turgeon, 35, of protection was issued on the Facebook page Wednesday, July found and later pronounced dead. A Kingston man was arrested was arrested Friday, July 12 after victim’s behalf which will not 17 and was accompanied by in- Deputies said a preliminary after, city police say, he fl ed the security spotted him concealing expire until 2033. formation in English and Spanish investigation suggests Klueber scene of an auto accident that a container in a wall of the Ulster According to authorities, informing residents of their rights accidentally drowned. The investi- left two people injured. Pedro V. County Community Empowerment Torres-Hernandez, a janitor if they are approached by ICE. gation is ongoing. Soriano was arrested at 8 p.m. and Restorative Justice Center, at the Northeast Center for Others on social media, including on July 14. which is attached to the proba- Special Care, in July of last year the Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson Out of the frying pan According to police, Soriano tion offi ce, on Broadway. The “attempted to subject another Facebook page, posted warnings and into the jail was involved in a traffi c accident container was found to hold pills person to sexual contact when and photos of cars allegedly used A homeless man is facing at 4:45 p.m. the same day near that tested positive for MDMA. [the victim] was incapable of by ICE personnel. felony changes after he allegedly the corner of Broadway and Frank- Turgeon was charged with misde- consent by reason of being Both Kingston and Ulster Coun- assaulted another person with a lin Street. Two passengers in the meanor seventh-degree posses- physically helpless.” Another ty have adopted offi cial policies rock and a frying pan. Town of Ul- other car were taken to HealthAl- sion of a controlled substance staffer walked in on the incident of non-cooperation with immigra- ster police said Guy D. Andradez, liance Hospital’s Broadway and was processed and held for and immediately reported it, tion authorities. City and county 58, who previously lived in Bloom- Campus for complaints of neck arraignment. authorities said. employees are barred from ington, was arrested around 5:49 and arm pain. J.J.S. The case was prosecuted by providing any information to ICE a.m. on Monday, July 15. Police say Soriano fl ed the Special Victims Bureau chief or turning over detainees to the According to police, Andradez scene. He was taken into custody Prison for Katherine R. Van Loan. The agency, absent a warrant signed was arrested after police re- a short time later after cops spot- convicted molester defendant was represented by by a judge. sponded to a report of a fi ght off ted his vehicle on Tenbroeck Av- A Saugerties man caught in the county public defender. The JESSE J. SMITH of Washington Avenue near the enue near Grand Street. Soriano the act of attempting to molest defendant, a citizen of El Salva- traffi c circle. Police say the victim was charged with misdemeanor a “physically helpless” person at dor, was working on a properly Woman drowns in creek was beaten with a rock and a leaving the scene of an accident. the Northeast Center for Special issued temporary employment Sheriff’s deputies and detec- frying pan. He was transported He was released with an appear- Care in Lake Katrine was sent to visa scheduled to expire on tives are investigating the death to HealthAlliance Hospital’s ance ticket for court. prison last week. Sept. 9. of a Rosendale woman. On Satur- Broadway campus and treated J.J.S. Juan Torres-Hernandez, 49, of BUSINESS Feds sue Steve Aaron EEOC litigation alleges rampant sexual harassment by developer of women workers BY JESSE J. SMITH Editor’s note: This story contains graphic language and descriptions of alleged acts of sexual harassment. Reader discretion is advised. emale employees of a Kings- Aaron’s family’s building supply company. ton-based developer say they were sub- The lawsuit focuses on claims by three women jected to misogynist taunts, crude sexual employed by the company between November 2018 Fbehavior and other forms of harassment and January 2019. Two of the women were hired by Birchez Associates founder and man- as bookkeepers; the third worked in the company’s aging partner Steve Aaron. accounting department. All three quit within a few Their allegations are laid out in a lawsuit filed earlier weeks of their hiring, citing Aaron’s behavior.