Mid Hudson Times Jun. 01 2016 | Page 3

3

Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, June 1, 2016

in upstate region

the group sold off about 40 properties in
Brooklyn. Sales likely total in the billions,
the article reports.
Brooklyn was the site of the Witnesses’
world headquarters for most of the last
century. “We moved to New York because
our work was going international,”
said Devine. “Before that, we were in
Pittsburgh. As our work began to expand,
we needed to be close to international
shipping and transportation.”
Brooklyn was also the site of
Watchtowers’ printing press. “The first
issue of ‘The Watchtower’ was published
in July 1879,” Devine said, and now it is
the most widely-circulated magazine in
the world.
“Charles Russell, the first president
of Watchtower Society, felt that moving
closer to the publishing industry would
be helpful. We were located in Brooklyn
in 1909.”
Watchtower purchased the Warwick
property in 2009, a century later.
Charitable works
“We try to be good neighbors,” said
Devine.

Last year, the Witnesses built a roof on
the Town of Newburgh code enforcement
building and completely rebuilt the
shelter house at Chadwick Lake in 2014.
They also built a portion of the roof at the
town police department. “We have a large
construction force,” Devine said. “We
want to maintain our good relationships.”

Town of Newburgh Supervisor
Gil Piaquadio describes the town’s
relationship with the Witnesses as “very
good.”
“They are a religious organization and
they entitled to the tax break,” Piaquadio
said. “All churches improve the quality
of life for the residents, so I would never
discourage any religious organization
from coming to the town.”
Piaquadio was asked what he would
say to residents’ concerns that the
Watchtower properties reduce the town’s
tax base. “They’re not the only religious
outfits that own property in this town,”
he said, pointing to churches and other
tax-exempt entities like Mount Saint
Mary College as examples. “They are
good neighbors.”
Last year, however, the Town of
Newburgh amended the town code to
require that all hotels charge a fee for
stays of 30 days or less and be open to the
public. “That was done to prevent them
from being used for a purpose other than
they were designed for,” said Piaquadio.
The code change did not apply
to existing hotels, including the two
Watchtower hotels. Devine said he wasn’t
aware of any future plans for Watchtower
to expand further in the Town of
Newburgh.
Next week, the Mid Hudson Times will
look at Watchtower properties in the towns
of Shawangunk and Montgomery.

LEARN ABOUT TODAY’S SOLUTIONS

FOR YOUR HIP PAIN
Anterior Approach: A new surgical approach
that can accelerate recovery time.1

Bob,
Environmental chemist,
and Anterior Approach patient

FREE Seminar
Tuesday, June 7, 2016 | 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Speaker: Kenneth Rauschenbach, DO
HomeWood Suites
180 Breuning Rd
New Windsor, NY 12553

Refreshments provided by
DePuy Synthes
Joint Reconstruction*
All attendees receive
a free first aid kit!

Seats are limited, RSVP today!
Call 800-256-1146 and mention reservation code 5903NH
or visit events.jointreplacement.com
Sponsored by:

Reference: 1. Bourne MH, Mariani EM. A Comparison Between Direct Anterior
Surgery of the Hip (DASH) and Anterolateral (AL) Surgical Approaches to Total Hip
Arthroplasty: Post-Operative Outcomes. Poster Presentation #014, AAOS, New
Orleans, LA, March 9-13, 2010. Comparison of functional outcomes after Anterior
Approach (211 patients) with Anterolateral/Traditional (259 patients).
The RED CROSS design and words are registered trademarks of
JOHNSON & JOHNSON. Products bearing these trademarks have no
connection with The American National Red Cross.
*DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction, a division of DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
© DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction, a division of DOI 2016.