Mid Hudson Times Aug. 15 2018 | Page 4

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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , August 15 , 2018

Summer Training Program creates opportunity for Newburgh Youth

By KATELYN CORDERO kcordero @ tcnewspapers . com

A New York City based film and theater company has found a creative way to bring business to the community and create jobs for young adults in Newburgh .

Managing Partners of Choice Films Tony Glazer and Summer Crockett Moore hope to staff the facility locally by training young adults in the area to work entry level crew positions . In collaboration with Blacc Vanilla , they started Below the Line Boot Camp for young adults between the ages of 18 to 25 years old . The program trains students to work on the big television and film crews that have booked with Umbra .

Choice film recently set its roots in Newburgh . Nearly a year ago Glazer and Moore began managing Umbra Production facility in Newburgh hoping to boost business and jobs to the area .

Umbra , a New York qualifying production facility , appeals to production companies with a 40 percent tax exemption on all production and post-production done at the facility . Companies prefer to mitigate cost by hiring local crews and businesses on their productions , however the lack of crew members in the area restricts them . Moore and Glazer see the camp as an opportunity to fill needed vacant positions in productions coming to Umbra and create jobs for their students .

The camp was entirely funded by 10 local sponsors . The students spent two days in life coaching classes at Blacc Vanilla and the other five days at Umbra learning how to work in different crew positions and to handle the equipment .

Glazer and Moore brought in professionals from their previous productions to teach the students . They plan to do the same for future camps . Moore and Glazer are looking into grants for phase two of the camp which will

“ I came to this city with the sole purpose of serving humanity and settling down over here ,” said Chhabra . “ I spent half a million dollars of my hard earned money , my working money to get this building fixed up in the condition it is in today .”

Chhabra is known in the community for helping patients even when they don ’ t have the money to pay him . His patients , his workers and friends all showed up to prove to the council why Chhabra is an essential piece of the community .

One resident stood up to talk about how Chhabra fixed his daughter ’ s teeth even when the doctor didn ’ t accept his health coverage , or have the means to pay at the time . They are asking the city to give Chhabra the same courtesy he gives his patients when it comes to paying his back taxes .

During the meeting Jeremy Kauffman Corporate Council explained the protocol with paying taxes . He explained when Chhabra didn ’ t pay his taxes in 2014 he should have received a notification from the city . He had until the end of 2015 to pay off his delinquent taxes for

On their last day of bootcamp the students used the skills they learned in their camp to work with the equipment in production

give the students more in-depth training and a greater chance of placement into positions .

“ It was inspiring watching how excited these kids are to get involved and learn ,” said Moore . “ We have taken on the role of mentors or advisors now , we want to do our best to help their future .”

Out of the 18 students that finished their first round of training this Sunday , five have received paid internships from Choice Films . Moore and Glazer will place more of their students in the coming productions on schedule at Umbra . They continue to keep in touch with all the students to advise and guide them in their careers .

“ We are trying to turn on as many lights as possible and connect all the dots ,” said Glazer . “ We are trying to use local businesses and mitigate the amount of resources companies have to bring in along with the [ Below the Line ] training .”

Anyone interested in signing up for the next Below the Line Boot Camp can either reach out to Glazer and Moore at ChoiceFilms . com or go to Blacc Vanilla , 197 South Street , Newburgh , for more information .

Medical practice faces eviction

Continued from page 1 both years . Being that Chhabra still did not pay he could have asked for a request to pay his taxes plus interest at the end of the two year cycle . At the end of 2016 there is strict cutoff where the owner of the property cannot pay unless the city council gives the special approval . After three to four months if there is not payment made Chhabra had the opportunity to petition the court .

The city council listened to the outpouring of the community and responded by going into executive sessions at the end of the Monday night meeting to take action on the issue before the property goes into foreclosure . After the session Chhabra was told the council would be in touch with his attorney for the next steps .

Council members and Mayor Torrance Harvey gave full support to Chhabra .

“ I ’ ve been to the property and I was very impressed , I support [ Dr . Chhabra ] to have another chance ,” said Harvey . “ We need to understand the process . People need to check their facts , it ’ s been four years of taxes not being paid , we can ’ t have it both ways . I support Dr . Chhabra but people need to pay their taxes to help this community .”

In Brief

New Windsor announces repaving of 9W

The Town of New Windsor is pleased to announce that it has worked with NYSDOT to secure a commitment to repave 9W from the Newburgh City Line to the Moodna Creek in both directions . This will encompass the entire stretch of 9W that falls within the town and is heavily traveled by residents of the entire region .

“ The Town is pleased to work with NYSDOT to secure a commitment that starting this month the entire stretch of 9W that falls within New Windsor will be repaved . 9W is one of the most heavily traveled routes in our town and it was a priority to ensure the entire roadway within New Windsor be repaved ,” New Windsor Chief of Staff Colin Schmitt stated , “ I want to thank NYSDOT and the Newburgh DOT residency for working with the town to ensure that 9W both north and south bound will be paved from the Newburgh City line to the Moodna Creek . The town is proud to partner with NYSDOT on this critical infrastructure improvement .”

The project is expected to begin the week of August 27 , and is estimated to take 16 week days to complete , weather permitting . Single lane closures will occur between 7 a . m . and 5 p . m . with work on the northbound side occurring first , followed by southbound .

Traffic stop leads to drug arrest

A traffic stop on the Thruway in the Town of Newburgh has resulted in the arrests of two Mount Vernon men on drug possession charges .

Troopers stopped a car late Friday night , and determined probable cause to search the vehicle and its occupants . Police found approximately three grams of cocaine and 28 grams of marijuana .

Andre Dasilva , 21 , and Melvin Sanchez , 19 , were both charged with two felony counts of possession of drugs for the cocaine and Dasilva was charged with two counts of misdemeanor criminal possession of marijuana .

Both were sent to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $ 500 cash bail or $ 2,000 bond .

New water system to go on line

The new water well system in New Windsor will soon be up and running .

It will be an independent system that will provide more than double the volume of water needed by the town , said Chief of Staff Colin Schmitt .

“ Over 6.4 million gallons a day are capable of being produced and this will allow us to go completely off of the Catskill Aqueduct and all other water sources for the Town of New Windsor ,” Schmitt said . “ and will also be able to provide to the Town of Newburgh , who we have an intermunicipal agreement to provide water during the upcoming October 1st 10-week shutoff for the New York aqueduct system .”