Appoints Nelsonville resident to new position

By Liz Schevtchuk Armstrong

Danielle Pack McCarthy (file photo)

The Philipstown Town Board on March 1 named Danielle Pack McCarthy, co-chair of Philipstown Communities That Care, a volunteer organization that works to reduce substance abuse, as its first Prevention, Treatment and Recovery coordinator. She will earn $24 hourly for up to $10,000 annually.

McCarthy, who served as a Nelsonville Village trustee from 2015 to 2017, is a former Peace Corps volunteer in the Caribbean and founder of Denniston International, a nonprofit that aids disadvantaged children through educational projects there. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Columbia University.

The Town Board created the position in November. It hoped to have a one-stop place for residents to learn about the options for dealing with addiction.

Behind The Story

Type: News

News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.

Armstrong was the founding news editor of The Current (then known as Philipstown.info) in 2010 and later a senior correspondent and contributing editor for the paper. She worked earlier in Washington as a White House correspondent and national affairs reporter and assistant news editor for daily international news services. Location: Cold Spring. Languages: English. Areas of expertise: Politics and government

3 replies on “Philipstown Names Anti-Drug Coordinator”

  1. There simply isn’t anyone better suited to this job. Danielle, congratulations and all best! And to our Town Board members, I say thank you. The creation of the prevention, treatment and recovery coordinator position shows the depth of your understanding of our most pressing issues in Philipstown and demonstrates your pro-activity.

  2. I grew up in the 1970s, and drugs were prominent among many adults. It took years for me to realize that lifestyle was not normal or healthy. I’m in recovery, many years sober, but it wasn’t easy. I’ve lost friends to drinking and driving, or drug overdoses. There’s a serious problem here in the schools that cannot be ignored. I hope to join efforts in our daily grind against drugs. In the Army I was a president of BOSS (Better Opportunities of Single Soldiers). Our command Sergeant Major asked me to be, personally. I created active ways to prevent drinking and trouble, and I hope to promote that care and concern in our towns here.

    I’m overjoyed, and relieved, to see this desperately needed and overdue appointment. We need to love, pay great attention to, and listen, to our children, our sons and daughters. If everyone does a little, no one has to do a lot. No one has to die, no one should die, from drugs. Addiction is a gravely misunderstood affliction, it is a disease no different than others but stigmatized and stereotyped. Let’s help heal the bondage of this upon our society, starting here at home. I’ll help in any way I can, the greatest thing we can do, is love and understand.

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