2

Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , November 15 , 2017

PUBLIC AGENDA

THURSDAY , NOVEMBER 16 Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

MONDAY , NOVEMBER 20

Newburgh City Council Work Session , 6 p . m . City Hall , 83 Broadway .

TUESDAY , NOVEMBER 21

City of Newburgh Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . City of Newburgh Activity Center , 401 Washington St . Town of Newburgh ZBA , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 1496 Route 300 , Town of Newburgh .

MONDAY , NOVEMBER 27

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

HOW TO REACH US

OFFICE : 300 Stony Brook Court Newburgh , NY 12550

PHONE : 845-561-0170 , FAX : 845-561-3967

Emails may be directed to the following : ADVERTISING advertising @ tcnewspapers . com

CALENDAR SUBMISSIONS calendar @ tcnewspapers . com

TO REACH THE EDITOR editor @ tcnewspapers . com

FOR THE SPORTS DEPARTMENT sports @ tcnewspapers . com

PUBLIC NOTICES legals @ tcnewspapers . com

WEBSITE www . timescommunitypapers . com

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

Bicyclists gathered in front of City Hall , Saturday to mark the anniversary of the Women ’ s Rights Movement .

By LAUREN BERG

This is the second time Newburgh resident Ophra Wolf , along with the help of others , has organized a bike ride to celebrate the history of the suffragette movement . In 2015 , the group rode to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the suffragette convention held in Newburgh . This year , the group rode and marched to celebrate the centennial of women ’ s right to vote in New York State . Wolf hopes to continue the event each year leading up to the major landmark of the 19th amendment .

“ We hope to be able to continue it until at least 2020 , which will be the celebration of the women ’ s right to vote nationally ,” stated Wolf .

Newburgh has a long history associated with the suffragette movement . Across from city hall , where the group finished their march down Broadway , lies a gravel lot where the Newburgh Music Academy used to be , and was the location of the suffragette convention held in 1895 . The group then made their way to the Newburgh Free Library , which was once the location of the famous Palatine Hotel . Wolf explained that Newburgh was chosen for the convention for a number of important reasons : because of its beauty , its accessibility , and various amenities like the music academy and the hotel . Additionally , suffragette leaders chose Newburgh to gain more support in the area .

“ They also chose Newburgh because it wasn ’ t actually an area that had as much support as other areas of New York for women ’ s suffrage . It was a little bit more conservative , and they thought this would be a great place to bring the convention to build support ,” explained Wolf .

Wolf added that 1895 was also a significant year of passing on the torch to the younger generation of suffragettes . Elizabeth Caty Stanton celebrated her

Organizer Ophra Wolf speaks at the Newburgh Suffragette Event , Saturday at the Newburgh Free Library .

Photos by Brian Wolfe

80th birthday the day after the convention , and her and leaders such as Susan B . Anthony “ understood that they were not going to see suffrage happen in their lifetime ,” said Wolf . “ It took another 25 years after the convention here to get the right to vote .”

At the library , people could participate in a bike raffle , which were donated by Recycle-a-Bicycle and Bike New York , or grab books written by women authors from the Newburgh Book Exchange . Inside , the group convened to hear presentations on women ’ s suffrage given by Dr . Cruz Caridad Bueno , professor in the Department of Black Studies at SUNY-New Paltz , and by Rebekah Grohl , president of Orange County Young Democrats . Afterwards , Gabrielle Hill , director of the Newburgh branch of the Restorative Center , lead a community circle to talk about issues facing women today . Overall , the speakers encouraged residents to learn more about the suffragette movement ’ s history , and especially called attention to the part Newburgh played .

“ The people of Newburgh don ’ t realize that this was really an important place and an important part of that story and of that movement ,” said Wolf .

Sponsors of the event included Humanities New York , New York State Museum , Friends of the Newburgh Free Library , and Fullerton Mansion Center for Arts and Culture .