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Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Explosion rips New Windsor cosmetics plant
Patrick Glynn
Black smoke billowed into the air above Temple Hill Road, Monday after two explosions at a New Windsor chemical plant
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situation,” said Assemblyman James
Skoufis in a prepared statement. “I have
been informed that both the Department
of Environmental Conservation and the
Department of Health are on scene to
evaluate the situation and any dangers
that it may present to the public. My
thoughts and prayers are with the
employees and firefighters injured in
today’s accident and will be working
closely with town and emergency officials
to ensure the public’s health remains a
top priority.”
More than 120 firefighters from 30
departments responded to the scene,
including crews from Vails Gate, City
of Newburgh, Cornwall-on-Hudson,
New Windsor, Goodwill, Coldenham,
Middle Hope, Winona Lake, Mobil
Life, Air National Guard FD, Campbell
Hall, Goshen, Walden, Chester, Milton,
Plattekill, and Wallkill. Tankers were
also summoned from Dutchess County
as well. Fire crews from Bullville and
Montgomery were put on standby at the
Vails Gate Station
In addition, a landing zone was set
up at the Temple Hill Academy, with
helicopters circling overhead if needed.
The fire had been declared a mass casualty
incident. In all, some 40 people, including
seven firefighters were injured, with one
Verla employee still unaccounted for as
of Monday night.
The cause of the fire had not been
determined as of Monday night
According to the company’s website,
Verla International is a leading private
label manufacturer and contract
packaging & filling company with more
than 40 lines for nail polish, 40 lines
for color cosmetics, personal care,
creams, lotions, fragrances and perfumes
providing quality service since 1980. It
had reportedly been cited for health and
safety violations and for violations of
workplace conditions.
Governor Andrew Cuomo said an
investigation into Verla International
will be led by the NYS Department
of
Environmental
Conservation,
Department of Labor and the Department
of State.
“Ensuring the safety and welfare of
New Yorkers in the workplace is critically
important, and following today’s chemical
explosion, I am directing a multi-agency
investigation to get to the bottom of what
happened and review compliance with
state labor and environmental laws,”
Cuomo said in a statement. “Worker
safety and environmental protection
are top priorities and if there was any
misconduct or negligence that led to this
incident, we will use the full force of the
law to hold the company accountable.”
Tie declared in New Windsor justice race
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Supervisor George Green said last week. “We’re going
to have to make a decision.” The town board will decide
on the appointment at its first regular meeting on Jan. 3.
Before retiring in February, Meyers worked for the
Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the New Windsor
Police Department, where he served for 23 years. His
father served as Town of New Windsor supervisor in
the 1990s and 2000s. Meyers ran on Republican and
Conservative lines.
Thorpe has served as a New Windsor town justice for
28 years. The former New York State Police trooper holds
a master’s degree in public administration from City
University of New York. Thorpe ran on Democratic and
Independence lines.
Thorpe ran as a Republican until this election
year. Though he was initially endorsed by the New
Windsor Republican Committee, “some of the committee
members did not carry his nominating petition,” said
Green. “Some did. In the end, he failed to get enough
signatures to be placed on the ballot as a Republican.”
Thorpe then asked the New Windsor Democratic
Committee for an endorsement, which he was granted.
Justice Noreen Calderin was reelected to the other
open town justice seat with 3131 votes. Calderin ran on
Republican, Conservative and Independence lines.