4
Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, April 10, 2019
I n B rief
Officer injured in altercation
with NFA student
On Monday morning about 10 a.m. at Newburgh Free
Academy Main Campus, Community Resource Officer,
Humberto Perez, suffered several deep lacerations to
his right hand when confiscating a kitchen knife from a
student.
Perez was assisting a parent when he noticed the
student had a knife concealed in his pants. When the
student was confronted about the knife he resisted
resulting in the injury to Perez’s right hand. Perez was
taken to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital for treatment.
It is unclear how the student was able to get past metal
detectors and security with the knife.
Details about the student are not being released due
to his age. The school district has declined to make a
statement on the incident at the moment. This incident
comes after the Newburgh Teachers Alliance issued
a walk-in discussing concerns about security in the
district, such as faulty metal detectors in two high school
cafeteria.
- Katelyn Cordero
Newburgh honors late town clerk
On April 8, the first Newburgh town meeting held
since the passing of town clerk Andrew Zarutskie, the
town board took time to honor Zarutskie for his more
than 18 years of public service. He passed away April 2nd
at the age of 69.
“I could go on and on about Andy Zarutskie,” said
town supervisor Gil Piaquadio. “He really tried to serve
the public the best he could, and he’s done a pretty good
job at it. We’re going to miss him.”
Piaquadio invited Zarutskie’s brother Steve Zarutskie
to help him hang a photograph of Andrew on the wall in
the town hall. The photograph features the town clerk
smiling.
“I just want to say that the past couple of days these
ladies and gentlemen have been a profound help, and
a profound support for me and for anybody that loved
and cared for Andrew. I think we owe them a round of
applause and a thank you. I would be proud to have these
people represent me,” said Steve Zarutskie.
Councilman Scott Manley added his thanks to the
public for coming out in support.
“I just want to thank not only all the fellow employees
that came out for Andy Zarutskie, but the amount of
public that came out and we see coming in here, and the
comments that were given about Andy and how helpful
he was to a lot of people…the amount of public that came
out was very impressive,” said Manley.
- Lauren Berg
Increased sanitation fees in
the City of Newburgh
The City of Newburgh is looking to raise sanitation
fees for property owners in the city. According to City
Comptroller, Todd Venning, the sanitation fund has been
running at a deficiency since 2012.
“Since then it has not been a self supporting fund so
these proposed user increases will bring the fund back
into solvency for it to be self supportive again and for it
to support its own capital needs,” said Venning.
The proposed fees will go from $115 a quarter in a
single family home to $179, approximately a $63 increase.
DPW Superintendent, George Garrison, attributes the
deficit to an increase in the tipping fees from $85 a ton to
$110 a ton in conjunction with a series of other payments
that have increased since 2012.
The sanitation user fee increase is just one of a
series of actions the city is looking to take in the hopes
of solving the city’s sanitation issues. Other actions
included looking at enforcement, the system used to
collect garbage and recycling.
- Katelyn Cordero
Newburgh Illuminated Festival
approved by City Council
The City of Newburgh unanimously passed a
resolution on Monday night to co-sponsor the Newburgh
Illuminated Festival. The festival will be held on June 1
2019 on Broadway. There will be hundreds of vendors,
music and entertainment for the large crowds the festival
draws in each year.
Paul Ernenwein, lead organizer of the event gave
the city council an update on the festival, the group of
volunteers works all year round to raise money through
fundraisers and sponsorships.
“We are really looking to get sponsors and givers, our
volunteers are on the phone and writing letters,” said
Ernenwein. “Anyone that is willing to give that is willing
to sponsor. This event costs 80K and that money only
comes from sponsors and givers and we are not even
close but we are working very hard to get there.”
There will be a fundraising event at Motorcyclepedia
on April 13, from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. with music, drinks, and
entertainment. To purchase a ticket, make a donation
or sponsor the Newburgh Illuminated Festival you can
visitnewburghilluminatedfestival.com/ or you can email
[email protected].
-Katelyn Cordero
Mount to host free health fair
Mount Saint Mary College will present its 26th annual
Beth Roeper Health and Wellness Fair on Wednesday,
April 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Hudson Hall, 330 Powell
Ave., Newburgh,
Sponsored by the Mount’s Health Services Wellness
Center, and David Melby with the Rose & Kiernan Inc.
insurance agency, the event is free and open to the public.
The fair will feature free health screenings, interactive
exhibits, door prizes, and raffles.
Providers in attendance will include local health care
organizations, medical insurance companies, Mount
student clubs, and campus departments.
The health fair is named after former Mount Health
Services director Beth Roeper.
At Mount Saint Mary College, about 50 percent of first
year students aim for health professions. The Mount’s
nationally accredited four-year nursing degree program
boasts a high NCLEX-RN passage rate that consistently
exceeds the state average.
Man struck by vehicle on 9W
On April 4, at approximately 3:45 p.m., New Windsor
Police and New Windsor Ambulance received a report of
a man down unconscious in the rear lot of 2899 Route 9W.
Shortly after Units arrived on scene and observed a
male, unconscious, ineffectively breathing with a large
laceration to his head scratches and scrapes to his back.
The 35 year old male was treated and airlifted out of a
landing zone established by Vails Gate Fire Department.
He was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center.
Video footage located of the area shows the male
patient stumbling around and falling. Later a vehicle
from the lot was moved and it appears that the subject on
the ground was not seen and was struck by the vehicle.
New Windsor Police Accident investigation Unit and
Detectives are continuing to investigate the Accident.
Cronomer Valley home destroyed
Cronomer Valley Fire Dept. was dispatched to a
structure fire at 49 Ramblewood Drive in the Town of
Newburgh at 8:48 p.m., Thursday, April 4.
Cronomer Valley Firefighters arrived on scene within 3
minutes to the three-story residence and found heavy fire
involving the total front of the building and impinging
into the attic space. Second and third alarms were
sounded to bring additional manpower and resources as
all residents were accounted for outside and an exterior
attack was made. The fire was knocked down within 45
minutes and interior crews continued overhaul until
after midnight.
In addition to a full response from Cronomer Valley
FD, Mutual Aid was requested from Plattekill FD
Tankers, Middlehope FD Ladder and Engine, City of
Newburgh FAST Team, Winona Lake Eng. Co. Engine,
and Stewart ANG Tanker. Goodwill FD Engine, and
Coldenham Brush Truck were called to the scene to
handle a secondary exposure brush fire. Plattekill FD
also provided standby coverage in Cronomer Valley’s
quarters. Town of Newburgh EMS stood by at scene and
one firefighter injury was reported. Central Hudson was
called to make a power cut.
Town of Newburgh Fire Investigators have been
investigating the cause. Preliminary findings indicate
discarded smoking material in the front of house was
the cause of the fire fueled by flammable materials in the
area and recent windy and dry conditions.
John Miller
Cronomer Valley Firefighters battled a blaze at 49
Ramblewood Drive on April 4.