Mid Hudson Times Sept. 25 2019

T IMES MID HUDSON Suspicious package found at Maple building Vol. 31, No. 39 3 SEPTEMBER 25 - OCTOBER 1, 2019 3 ONE DOLLAR Open studios weekend Making a splash Page 12 Page 36 SERVING NEWBURGH AND NEW WINDSOR F ire on the M ountain By LINA WU [email protected] Briana Elisia, a first-year psychology major, had been in class since 9 in the morning. Suddenly class was interrupted by an evacuation order. The environment became a state of confusion and fear. “Everyone was kind of confused, [and] thought it was a drill,” Elisia said. Last Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., the students of SUNY Orange were evacuated due to a suspicious package found on the premises. The package was found in the second-floor garage of the Maple building at the end of Broadway. The Maple building houses the Social Security building, SUNY Orange, and the Department of Labor. According to the City of Newburgh Police Chief Doug Soloman, the package was found to be inert. After it was determined the device was inert, bomb detection canines assisted in searching for secondary devices. The Rockland County Sheriff’s bomb disposal squad visited the scene to determine the device was inert in nature. The New York State Police, Homeland Continued on page 5 Brian Wolfe A brush fire that raged Friday evening atop Sugarloaf Mountain at Breakneck Ridge in Dutchess Junction could be seen from Plum Point. On Saturday, helicopters dropped buckets of water on the burning brush. As of Tuesday smoldering pockets remained visible. The cause of the fire is unknown and remains under investigation. Habitat reaches a milestone By LINA WU [email protected] For Mark Stellwag, M&T Bank regional President, helping Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh improve homes is more than just volunteering. It’s an opportunity to go back to the past. Stellwag has personally worked on five to six house improvements. Stellwag is a Newburgh native, and working on the William Street project brings back fond memories of his childhood. “We used to come down here. You know, walking with friends through here,” said Stellwag. Stellwag recalls fond memories of spending junior high in and about the neighborhood. “ So I know this community well. Just to see it come back and the effort they’re putting into it, it just makes you feel great. It makes you want to get more involved on that.” M&T Bank is one of many companies that have partnered with Habitat for CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE - WWW.MHTIMESONLINE.COM Humanity of Greater Newburgh. M&T also sponsored Habitat’s 90th and 100th house. M&T comes out to three to four of Habitat’s house restorations a year. Habitat has been working on improving homes all over Newburgh for families to live in at an affordable rate. This October, Habitat will celebrate its 20th year, and 100th house. Continued on page 5