T IMES
MID
HUDSON
Vol. 29, No 47
3
NOVEMBER 22 - 28, 2017
Newburgh’s
got talent Hoops
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Page 20 Page 40
ONE DOLLAR
SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR
Explosion rips cosmetics plant
More than 30 injured
as firefighters battle
smoke and fire at
Vails Gate plant
Two explosions rocked a New Windsor
cosmetics factory Monday, injuring
more than 30 employees, and keeping
firefighters from three counties at bay
for hours.
The three-alarm fire broke out at 10:19
a.m. at the Verla Cosmetics Factory at
463 Temple Hill Road in New Windsor.
It filled the air with black smoke and
sent employees of the 52,000 square foot
facility out into the parking lot.
The presence of black smoke, believed
to be potentially hazardous, prompted
the Orange County Office of Emergency
Management to establish an Emergency
Operations Center and directed
residents to stay indoors and keep their
windows closed. The Shelter-in-Place
directive affected students at Heritage
Middle School, Temple Hill Elementary
School, Vails Gate Elementary School
and the Union Avenue Y.
The OCEM office posted a notice
on its Facebook page advising that all
schools listed had been requested to
keep students indoors and that there
would be no early dismissals.
“There is no additional threat to the
public or these school at this time,” the
OCEM office posted.adding that it was
in contact with the school district. The
shelter-in-place directive was lifted at
1:30 p.m., but emergency personnel were
on the scene past nightfall.
“Every day, brave first responders put
3
Dead
heat
Tie declared in New
Windsor justice race
By SHANTAL RILEY
[email protected]
Jerry Barao
Firefighters responded to the Verla Cosmetics Factory on Temple Hill Road, New Windsor
after an explosion triggered a 3-alarm fire.
their lives on the line to help others in
our community. Today was no different
at the explosion and subsequent fire
at the Verla International Cosmetic
factory in New Windsor. I am receiving
briefings from the Governor’s Office
and continue to closely monitor the
Continued on page 4
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The Orange County Board of Elections
has declared a tie in the race for a
justice seat in the Town of New Windsor.
According to the county, incumbent
justice Richard Thorpe and challenger
George Meyers are tied with 2,723 votes
each.
The tie was confirmed after absentee
and affidavit ballots were counted last
week. One write-in vote for Thorpe was
thrown out because, according to New
York State Election Law, write-in votes
are not permitted for candidates already
appearing on ballot lines.
It now falls to the New Windsor Town
Board to appoint someone to the position.
“It goes back to the town board to make a
decision and fill the vacancy for one year,”
said Orange County Board of Elections
Commissioner Susan Bahren. “The office
will be on the ballot again next year,” she
said, for a full four-year term.
The appointee does not have to be one
of the justice candidates, Bahren said.
“There is no law that’s says it has to be
either one,” the commissioner said.
“Together, we will discuss it rationally
as a board,” Town of New Windsor
Continued on page 4