Three days prior to the sale, buyers’ maps will be available online for bargain hunters to download /print from our website PortJervisTourism.com. Printed maps will be available Saturday at the downtown municipal parking lot between Front and Ball Streets, (GPS 54 Front St.). This lot is where several “yard-less” residents will hold their sales.

A street banner on East Main St. announces the City Wide Yard Sale to passersby. photo by Deborah Schofield

Buyers’ maps will be available by Thursday at city hall (20 Hammond), 27 Front Street, Flora Laura (186 Pike), Gina’s Hope Chest (77 Fowler), The Cottage House Consignments (132 Pike), Thrifty Treasures (85-89 Jersey Ave.), and Yvonne’s This-N-That Consignments (4 North Maple Ave. and 59 Front).

This will be the third seminar organized by the Port Jervis Police Department and the Port Jervis Citywide Neighborhood Watch for the community.

Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden says developing these partnerships are vital for improving the quality of life for the community.

“Through collaboration and teamwork with our community partners, the men and women of the Port Jervis Police Department strive everyday to provide the very best of public safety services to the residents and visitors of our community to make this City a safe place to live, work and raise a family,” says Chief Worden.

Scheduled to speak at the seminar are representatives from the Port Jervis Police Department, Orange County (O.C.) Probation Office, the O.C. Mental Health Office, the O.C. Child Protective Services, Safe Homes of Orange County, Port Jervis Drug Abuse Task Force, as well as Family Law Attorney James Hendry, ESQ. A question and answer period will follow the presentations.

The Drew United Methodist Church is located on 49-51 Sussex St. in Port Jervis, NY. For more information, please contact the Port Jervis Police Department Ms. Ellen Waugh, Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police (845) 858-4065.

Your Lifesaving Donation goes directly to Bon Secours Community Hospital, so please come and support your local community hospital!

Any healthy individual aged 17 through 75 and weighing at least 110 pounds, in good physical health and has not given blood in the past eight weeks can donate blood. Donors should eat a moderate meal before donating, and must bring a driver’s license or two other forms of ID to check-in.  All blood types are desired and needed, especially Types O- and O+.  All donors will receive one free AMC or Majestic movie ticket.

Walk-in donors are welcome.  For additional information about how to donate or to schedule an appointment, please call the Port Jervis Free Library at 845-856-7313.

In an ongoing effort to control the city’s heroin sales, Port Jervis police executed a search warrant at an apartment at 18 Mechanic Street.

34 year old Daniel Dailey, a resides in the apartment was charged with was charged with third and fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to sell, felonies after police recovered over 1,000 bags of heroin with various quantities and an unspecified amount of cash.

Dailey was also charged as a fugitive from justice in New Jersey where there was an active warrant on the charge of theft by unlawful taking.

According to police, a female occupant of the west end apartment, 47 year old Lisa Fiorletta of Matamoras, also possessed a small amount of heroin and was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was released pending a future court appearance.

Dailey was arraigned in city court and transferred to Orange County sheriff’s deputies, to be held without bail.

Author Mary Ziavras reads selections from her delightful and heartwarming book Greek Folk Stories Old & New continuing a rich Greek tradition of oral storytelling. A collection for young and old, some of Mary’s stories are part of the centuries old oral tradition of Greece and the Middle East.

The reading includes a musical offering and guest appearance by her daughter, Julie Ziavras, renowned interpreter of Greek folk songs. It is followed by a book signing and reception which includes Greek traditional pastries.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  Refreshments will be served.  Call the library at 845-856-7313 for more information.

Clerk Benson made the following statement:

“Due to defective document supply, anyone sending a registration or a renewal through the Utica processing center is receiving a letter from DMV stating that although their transaction has been processed, they cannot send a registration window sticker until they receive the new document supply.  As a result, these drivers are in danger of being stopped by law enforcement and ticketed for driving an unregistered vehicle due to the state’s error.

New York State DMV is instructing drivers to keep a copy of this letter with their most recent registration to present to law enforcement in the event of being stopped.  A procedure I do not think goes far enough to protect the driver.  Hopefully, law enforcement will accept this letter and not issue tickets for driving without a registration.  But the onus is still on the driver to prove that they processed the registration.  If a driver forgets this letter, they will be ticketed for a violation.  I sincerely hope that the state would send these affected drivers a temporary registration to cover the period of time until they receive their permanent registration.

I propose a simple solution for Orange County drivers who are about to register or to renew a vehicle registration, please utilize our County’s Middletown, Newburgh and Port Jervis DMV offices for all of your DMV business, including registrations and renewals.  By registering or renewing in these local offices, you will receive your registration form and sticker immediately.  You will not have to wait weeks for some letter stating that although the transaction is complete and your money taken, they are unable to process at this time.  Renewing in the County keeps a portion of that money in our County, which benefits all County residents.”

Orange County operates 3 local DMV offices:

DMV Newburgh 128 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550
Tel: (845) 568-5230 / Fax: (845) 568-5232
Hours:  Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm / Evenings: Thursdays until 7:30pm

DMV Middletown 12 King Street, Middletown, NY 10940
Tel: (845) 346-1180 / Fax: (845) 346-1182
Hours:  Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm / Evenings: Wednesdays until 7:30

DMV Port Jervis 20 Hammond St., Port Jervis, NY 12771
Tel: (845) 858-1480 / Fax: (845) 858-1482
Hours:  Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm

For more information, please contact the Office of the County Clerk at (845) 291-2690 or visit www.orangecountygov.com

56 year old Clyde Beach was arrested at the Jamaica Junction Shop Thursday when State Police raided the store along with City of Port Jervis Police. The head shop was one of nine shops targeted during the sweep.

The New York State Police Community Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) began an investigation into the continued sale of the banned substances in August of 2012.  The ongoing investigation identified a number of head shops, bodegas and smoke shops that continued to sell the products after the NYS Department of Health made notification of the newly enacted legislation banning the sale of the those substances.

The execution of the search warrants resulted in the recovery of more than 11,000 packages believed to contain synthetic cannabinoids, $16,000 in cash, 200 packages of suspected bath salts, and other items and records relating to the sale of the banned substances. The seized drugs are valued at over $150,000. The seized items will be processed and tested to determine their chemical content.  Previous purchases of synthetic marihuana products from these locations have already been tested and were positively identified as banned substances under the law.

State Police Trooper Holds Confiscated Synthetic Marijuana during one of Thursday’s Raids

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said, “The fact that some retail establishments continue to sell these illicit drugs over the counter is disconcerting and won’t be tolerated. These drugs being sold over the counter gives the citizenry the false impression they are not dangerous drugs, while the fact is, there have been very serious health and public safety issues related to these synthetic drugs. The State Police will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure these drugs remain off the shelves of retail establishments.”

“Bath salts and synthetic marijuana present a real and immediate threat to the health and safety of our young adults and the public at large,” said State Health Commissioner Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H.  “I applaud the efforts of the New York State Police, the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and local law enforcement to rid our communities of these harmful substances.”

Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips said, “This investigation points out the need for stronger penalties for the sale and distribution of these substances.”

City of Port Jervis PD Chief William J. Worden said, “The illicit sale and use of substances like synthetic marijuana has a dangerous impact on the health and well-being of a community and is of vital concern to law enforcement. Synthetic marijuana is popular among teens and has been known to cause severe medical related side effects and even death. Clearly, this toxic drug is dangerous and putting our young adults at risk. Coordinated enforcement efforts and teamwork from all levels of New York State law enforcement is essential to effectively battle the negative effects that synthetic marijuana and other illicit substances contribute to the quality of life and well being of our communities.”

Due to the significant amount of product seized at some of the locations, the Drug Enforcement Administration may seek federal prosecution.

Stevenson has been charged with one count of Murder in the 2nd Degree, for the death of his girlfriend, Tyrochelle Haughton on January 15th, 2013, by slashing her throat with a sharp object. It is also believed that Stevenson intentially set the home the couple shared on Mountain Avenue on fire to cover up the homicide.

The indictment also includes charges of Manslaughter in the 1st Degree, 2nd and 3rd Degree Arson, two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree, one count of Animal Cruelty, and one count of Tampering With Physical Evidence.

The Tampering count alleges that he started the fire in order to cover  up evidence of the homicide.

Stevenson faces life in prison if convicted of the murder charges and a sentence of 5-25 years for all other charges.

Stevenson has been in the Westchester County Medical Center since January 15th for treatment of burn injuries. Police have been at the hospital since January 15th and was formally arrested Tuesday.

Stevenson will be arraigned, as soon as is medically possible, at the hospital where he will continue to be held under guard. When he is discharged from the hospital he will be transported to the Orange County Jail.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Port Jervis Police Department with assistance from New York State Police and the Orange County DA’s Office.

The 35 year old woman has been identified as Tyrochelle Haughton.

Police are involved because it is more than a fire investigation. And according to Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden, several aspects of the case have been deemed suspicious.

Also found in the area of the home Tuesday morning, when firefighters and police arrived was 38 year old Dave Stevenson. According to a neighbor he was one of the owners of the Mountain Avenue home that was scene of the fire. Stevenson was taken to Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis to be treated for burns he suffered and later taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. He is expected to survive his injuries.

Police are not saying at this time if Stevenson is a suspect.

Port Jervis police were assisted by state police investigators, as well as Orange County fire investigators, district attorney’s investigators and personnel from the medical examiners office.

Good thinking.

Bob Camporeale
Newburgh, NY 12550