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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , January 17 , 2018

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , JANUARY 18

Newburgh City Council Work Session , 6 p . m . City Hall , 83 Broadway . Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

MONDAY , JANUARY 22

Town of Newburgh Workshop meeting , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh . Newburgh City Council meeting . 7 p . m . City Hall , 83 Broadway .

WEDNESDAY , JANUARY 24

Town of New Windsor Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .

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The Mid Hudson Times ( USPS 000-5947 ) is a weekly newspaper published every Wednesday at Newburgh , NY 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , NY POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY 12550 .

By SHANTAL RILEY sriley @ tcnewspapers . com

Elder Dextro Tiller spoke at a small gathering at Audrey Carey Park on Monday – the 50th anniversary of Reverend Dr . Martin Luther King Jr .’ s passing . “ Help them come together and help one another ,” Tiller prayed . “ Help us all to help one another .”

The small ceremony was part of the annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr . Day by the Black History Committee of the Hudson Valley . Centered at the First United Methodist Church , the day-long celebration included prayer , sermons and workshops for students in Kindergarten through grade 12 . “ We thank you God ... and understand that part of the legacy of Dr . King is sacrifice ,” said Tiller , speaking inside the church .

Black History Committee member Celeste King recounted the devastating time of King ’ s assassination . “ On April 4 , 1968 , a reckless gunman shot and killed Dr . Martin Luther King Jr .,” she said . “ Our champion was felled .”

King was assassinated while standing on the second floor of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis , Tennessee , that day . He had come to the city to support striking sanitation workers . The shooter , James Earl Ray , was caught two months later in London .

“ On the very first anniversary of his death , we gathered at the First Baptist Church ,” King said . “ Here we are , the Black History Committee of the Hudson Valley , 49 years later ... ( continuing ) the struggle .”

The celebration took place days after President Donald Trump was asked by reporters whether he was a racist . The questions followed the president ’ s comments in the Oval Office last week , when he was heard describing Haiti and African nations as “ s---hole ” countries . Quiet about the incident at first , the president later denied he was a racist .

However , other politicians were mentioned that day for their commitment to civil rights . “ The senator stood side by side with Dr . King in Selma ,” said Tom Basile , who attended on behalf of state Senator Bill Larkin . Basile explained Larkin took part in the march from Selma to Montgomery , Alabama , in 1965 . “ It was

“ I encourage you to use the gifts God gave you ,” Rev . Nelson McAllister told attendees at an MLK Day celebration on Monday .

an experience that was transformative for ( him ),” Basile said .

A litany read that morning spoke directly to the country ’ s political state . “ May God help us to exercise more seriously our right to vote and our pursuit of equality ,” said 14-year-old Kyla Wright , reading the litany during the service . “ God , strengthen us in the ongoing struggle for freedom , civil rights and justice .”

“ There is still racial injustice ,” said Rev . Nelson McAllister , and children are still struggling to get a decent education , he said . “ Poverty is rampant in the richest country in the world .”

But , McAllister said , we can each rise above these challenges and use our own talents to improve our lives and communities . “ This year , in 2018 , I encourage you to use the gifts God gave you in a positive environment and with an open heart ,” he said .

The event was created in partnership with the First United Methodist Church , the Black History Committee of the Hudson Valley and the Christian Ministerial Fellowship of Newburgh and Vicinity .

Balloons were released following a prayer of hope at Audrey Carey Park on MLK Day on Monday .