Mid Hudson Times May 04 2016

TIMES MID Contaminant found in City of Newburgh water supply HUDSON Vol. 28, No 18 3 MAY 4 - 10, 2016 3 ONE DOLLAR Pastels Slugfest Page 12 Page 48 SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR Farm-friendly Newburgh’s first agricultural fair is a hit Water conservation measures in place By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] The City of Newburgh announced that the water is safe to drink after the detection of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in the city’s drinking-water supply last week. The city has imposed water restrictions as precautionary measure and stopped drawing water from Washington Lake shortly after the chemical was found. “The City of Newburgh has switched its source of drinking water from Washington Lake to Brown’s Pond,” said Newburgh Mayor Judy Kennedy at a press conference at city hall Tuesday. “The water you now find in the faucet is perfectly safe to drink. It has no PFOS in it as of now.” Her statement came a day after City Manager Michael Ciaravino declared a state of emergency due to the chemical contaminant, which he described as a “potential threat to public health and safety.” Kennedy said the state of emergency was rescinded Tuesday. The stage-three water-conservation measures include the restriction of water use for washing paved surfaces, lawn irrigation and serving at food-service Continued on page 2 Shantal Riley Leptondale Nursery and Greenhouses raffle pansies and other plants at the Newburgh Urban Farming Fair. By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] Local produce, farm animals, flowers, plants, compost, grass and pavement converged in a carnival of agriculture Saturday. The Newburgh Urban Farming Fair, the city’s first urban agricultural fair, offered residents a hefty dose of local agriculture on the Safe Harbors Green. The agricultural event took place under fair skies with several hundred visitors attending. Mid-May is the “traditional” time by when farmers deem it safe for planting WWW.MIDHUDSONTIMES.COM to avoid frost, said Cornell Cooperative Orange County Senior Master Gardner Lily Norton. “But we have a micro climate in the City of Newburgh,” said Norton, where it is slightly warmer than surrounding areas because of the sun, pavement, buildings and river. Continued on page 26