2
Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , October 10 , 2018
IN THIS ISSUE |
Calendar .................. 12 |
City of Newburgh ............ |
24 |
Classifieds ................ |
28 |
Crossword ................ |
30 |
Letters to the Editor .......... |
8 |
Meadow Hill ............... |
26 |
Town of Newburgh ........... |
23 |
Newburgh Heritage ........... 10 |
New Windsor ............... |
27 |
Obituaries ................ |
23 |
Opinion ................... |
8 |
Police Blotter .............. |
37 |
Service Directory ........... |
35 |
Sports ................... |
40 |
PUBLIC AGENDA
WEDNESDAY , OCTOBER 10
Town of New Windsor Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .
TUESDAY , OCTOBER 16
City of Newburgh Planning Board , 7:30 p . m . Activities Center , 401 Washington Street .
WEDNESDAY , OCTOBER 17 Newburgh Civil Service Commission . 1 p . m . City Council Chamber , 83 Broadway .
THURSDAY , OCTOBER 18
Newburgh City Council Work Session , 6 p . m . City Hall , 83 Broadway . Town of Newburgh Planning Board , 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 , NY 12550 , with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY Single copy : $ 1 at newsstand . By mail in Orange , Ulster or Sullivan Counties : $ 40 annually , $ 44 out of county . Periodicals permit at Newburgh , NY POSTMASTER : Send address changes to Mid Hudson Times , 300 Stony Brook Court , Newburgh , NY 12550 .
By KATELYN CORDERO kcordero @ tcnewspapers . com
He was walking into a dark room , they warned him she would be incoherent . She would probably not recognize him . He took a step in nervous and unsure of what to expect and asked her , “ you know who this ?” Her reply , “ Of course I do stupid .” And just like that the cancer , the sickness , everything faded away as Eric Robinson walked in to spend his last moments with his sister .
For Robinson trying to help others in his community wasn ’ t his priority . That was what his sister did . She was the one who would always have a slew of people on her stoop , giving out whatever she could spare .
“ Anyone needed a hot meal , needed anything my grandmother and my sister would provide for them ,” said Robinson . “ They never turned someone away . For me I never really understood . I never understood why my sister would allow so many people into her home .”
It wasn ’ t until his sister Anastasia Robinson sat him down on her death bed and explained to him why it was so important for her to give back . She was continuing the legacy of their grandmother and their family , a legacy of giving back to those less fortunate .
“ She opened my eyes ,” said Robinson . “ It was a moment where I realized , who am I to judge . Her words were so moving , that ’ s what drew me to help others and gave me the humanity to see . [ She ] was my light in darkness .”
After his sister passed away from breast cancer in January 2017 , Robinson applied for a job as a superintendent at the Community Land Bank where he would be in charge of 15 homes and 45 apartments . A job that leaves him on call 24 hours seven days a week .
He wasn ’ t qualified for the position , nor did he feel he would get the position
FACES OF NEWBURGH Deathbed conversation turned his life around
1895 . After a $ 1.3 million renovation in 2003 and 2004 failed to address major infrastructural issues the city is incapable of covering the costs needed for a longterm use of the building .
The foundation of the building is sagging , support beams have been put in place to make the building functional but
Eric Robinson outside one of the houses under his supervision .
over some of the other applicants , but Councilwoman Ramona Monteverde from Safe Harbors decided to take a chance and give him the position .
“ I was brought to the realization that God gives and takes away ,” said Robinson . “ At any given moment a situation can arise , you can end up sitting on the corner . I have learned to appreciate how I use life .”
Growing up in the City of Newburgh Robinson describes being apart of the problem . When Robinson was 16 years old he was incarcerated for attempted possession of a weapon . He remembers a Newburgh much different than the one he lives in today , where any misstep would put your life in danger . He spent his teen years at Lyon Mountain Correctional Facility at Ellenport Deport , NY and was released at 23 .
“ I was pulled into stupidity ,” said Robinson . “ I was loyal to an ethic that did not exist . I ended up getting mixed up in adult situations I had no business being
this is not enough to keep the building running long-term . Ciaravino also warns of a mold issue and a leaking roof , fixes that the city does not have the budget for , especially in light of the Public Safety Building and West End Fire Department buildings in need of extensive repairs .
“ My concern is , it is a historical building that has been the business of apart of .”
When Robinson was released he was eager to learn . He moved in with his sister , ready to take the skills he learned from the classes he took in prison to the real world .
Now Robinson works for Safe Harbors . He is up by 6 a . m . every morning to take care of his residents and the 15 properties under his supervision . He works around the clock to make sure that his residents have everything they need . That could mean responding to an emergency call at 2 a . m . or opening a door in the middle of the night when a resident gets locked out . He does everything in his power to make sure that his tenants get everything they need .
“ I am so thankful for the opportunity given to me ,” said Robinson . “ To be able to give back and to be a part of the solution is something that I am so grateful for . I thank everyone at Safe Harbors for getting me to this point .”
Proposals sought for City Hall building
Continued from page 1
the government for over 100 years ,” said Councilwoman Hilary Rayford . “ We need to hear from the public on what they feel should happen to this building . We cannot leave them out .”
The RFP due date is on November 15 2018 . More details can be found at cityofnewburgh-ny . gov under planning and development .