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Mid Hudson Times , Wednesday , September 26 , 2018

PUBLIC AGENDA WEDNESDAY , SEPTEMBER 26

Town of New Windsor Planning Board , 7 p . m . Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor . City of Newburgh Police Community Relations and Review Board , 7 p . m . City of Newburgh Activity Center , 401 Washington Street .

WEDNESDAY , OCTOBER 3 New Windsor Town Board , 7 p . m ., Town Hall , 555 Union Ave ., New Windsor .

THURSDAY , OCTOBER 4

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

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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

There was no mistake , after 11 years in prison Joe Alvarez was going to walk a free man that day . He was escorted out of his cell to change from his jumpsuit into civilian clothes . He collected his 18 photo albums and his letters , leaving everything else behind for the other inmates .

As Alvarez walked next to his correctional officer and each gate popped open he felt a mixture of excitement and fear settle down on him .

“ The only thing that beats that was the birth of my children ,” said Alvarez . “ There was no better feeling than that , but it was a scary feeling too . I didn ’ t want to let anyone down this time . You see this time I wasn ’ t doing it for my mom or my family . This time I was doing it for myself and I was afraid . I was afraid to fail . That kept me in check .”

Once out of the gate the correctional officer looked at Alvarez , “ Don ’ t let me ever see you again .”

“ I said to him , ‘ don ’ t you worry , you ’ ll never see me again ,’” said Alvarez . “ I ’ m a man of my word . The only thing I ’ ve got that belongs to me is my word and you best believe I will hold that .”

Nearly 18 years later Alvarez stayed true to his word . He came home , back to Newburgh , that morning calling out to his friends and family celebrating his freedom with a new lease on life .

Circumstances in his life led Alvarez to the back seat of a police car . He was 3 years old when his father was shot and murdered . At 12 years old he was living on the street moving from one friends couch to another . His mom kicked him out unable to feed eight hungry children at once . He had no job and no way of making money , so he went the route he was guaranteed to make enough money to survive .

He started selling drugs at 16 years old to survive . As he grew older and better it became about the game rather than survival . It became about the hustle .

“ By the time I realized that I should get out , it was too late ,” said Alvarez . “ I was in too deep .”

Sitting outside Blacc Vanilla Cafe on South Street in Newburgh , Alvarez goes

Joe Alvarez stands outside Blacc Vanilla , a community cafe on the street where he grew up .

through his troubled past that started right there on that block . He points to a spot on the sidewalk next to two girls painting a new mural on a crosswalk .

“ That ’ s where my best friend Ismael was shot and killed ,” said Alvarez . “ I had so many people close to me shot and killed . I thank God everyday that I am still alive and that I ’ ve got my health .”

Across the street from the cafe was the spot where Alvarez made his fatal drug deal . He woke up one night with a dream , that his father told him to fix his life . With the intention to do just that Alvarez applied for a job and was accepted to be a factory worker . He went to get a haircut before his first day of work at a local barbershop .

“ I heard some people outside and police were arresting them ,” said Alvarez . “ Before I knew it they were arresting me too , with no explanation . When I got to the station the two undercover state troopers came out , and I knew that was it .”

At 18 years old Alvarez was sent to jail for 11 years . On March 2 , 2000 Alvarez was released from Wende Correctional Facility in Alden , NY . When he came out of prison he was ready to contribute to the community he had a hand in tearing apart as a kid in the 80s . He got a job welding for Frank Stella , which 13 years later he still has today . He has a full-time position at McKinsey Pharmaceuticals as a material handler . Alvarez has supported his family completely on his own with two children in college and one still in high school . He just welcomed his first grandson last week .

“ When I invested in myself that ’ s when I started to live ,” said Alvarez . “ I had always lived for everyone else . I finally shut up and listened to myself . I was putting myself in very dangerous situations . I didn ’ t love myself . Whatever you want to achieve you can achieve as long as you have love and respect for yourself and for others .”

Alvarez is one of the most well known men in Newburgh , sitting outside the cafe in Newburgh there is not a person driving or walking by that will not stop to give him a warm greeting . He has the respect of the community , a respect he has earned through his love and selflessness in regards to his community , and everything he went through to get to where he is in life .

“ In my survival stage I destroyed a lot of homes ,” said Alvarez . “ I took dreams and desire away from the city when I Continued on page 5