Jimsonweed, in Newburgh? Really?

When Gene Autry wrote, “Back in the Saddle Again,” he must have been high on jimsonweed. The song, extolling the virtues of the cowboy culture of the great southwestern U.S., has a verse that goes: “Where the longhorn cattle feed on the lowly jimsonweed / I’m back in the saddle again … “

I’m here to tell you that if any longhorn cattle, or any other breed, ever ate jimsonweed, they’d hallucinate, get sick and die. Here’s a tidbit from the Michigan State University Agricultural Extension:  Jimsonweed has long been known to be toxic to all classes of livestock and to humans as well. Horses rarely consume Jimsonweed if other forage is available because of its foul odor and taste. All parts of the Jimsonweed plant are poisonous; its toxicity is caused by tropane alkaloids. Symptoms of poisoning in horses may occur within minutes and may include: seeking water to drink, dilated pupils, agitation, increased heart rate, trembling, convulsions, coma and possibly death.

And the Cornell University College of Agricultural Sciences adds this quaint story:

In 1676, British soldiers were sent to stop the Rebellion of Bacon. Jamestown weed (Jimsonweed) was boiled for inclusion in a salad, which the soldiers readily ate. The hallucinogenic properties of jimsonweed took effect. As told by Robert Beverly in The History and Present State of Virginia (1705): The soldiers presented "a very pleasant comedy, for they turned natural fools upon it for several days: one would blow up a feather in the air; another would dart straws at it with much fury; and another, stark naked, was sitting in a corner like a monkey, grinning and making mows at them; a fourth would fondly kiss and paw his companions, and sneer in their faces with a countenance more antic than any in a Dutch droll.

"In this frantic condition they were confined, lest they should, in their folly, destroy themselves - though it was observed that all their actions were full of innocence and good nature. Indeed they would have wallowed in their own excrements, if they had not been prevented. A thousand such simple tricks they played, and after 11 days returned themselves again, not remembering anything that had passed."

You’d think that longhorn cattle would know better than to eat something whose common names include “mad apple” and “stinkwort.” Anyway, folks, please keep your kids and your longhorn cattle away from my front garden, because look what’s in bloom there:

Jimsonweed! It belongs in Texas. And yet here it is in Newburgh. A bird must have planted it, if you know what i mean.

Democrats in Orange County's District 4: Please vote for Lujan on June 22!

I urge my fellow Democrats in Orange County Legislative District 4 (that’s YOU, City of Newburgh and Town of Newburgh!) to join me in voting for our incumbent, Kevindaryan Lujan, in the primary on June 22. (Early in-person voting begins at Newburgh’s Activity Center, 401 Washington Street, on June 12.)

As a progressive activist, Lujan is accessible and responsive. He articulates the people’s positions on issues such as:

TRANSPORTATION: He is working to have buses running to and from the right places at the right times, to connect people to employment zones.

HOUSING: He advocates for affordable housing, to help people stay in their homes with the help of federal funds.

DIVERSITY: He is a leading voice for training on equity and inclusion in hiring for public jobs.

HEALTHCARE: He collaborates with organizations such as RECAP, Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson and others to achieve racial equity in healthcare, throughout this pandemic and beyond.

Lujan is not only Orange County’s youngest legislator, he’s also our best. Please vote in the primary to keep him working for us all.

Kevindaryan Lujan’s the Man for the City and Town of Newburgh: Please VOTE for him in the Democratic Primary, coming up on June 22!

Meet Newburgh's Environmental Justice Fellows!

Meet the Newburgh Environmental Justice Fellows

Four skilled and smart young women of color have been selected as the inaugural class of Environmental Justice Fellows in Newburgh, a program funded by the Arbor Day Foundation and TD Bank. 

A partnership among the city’s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC) and two nonprofits — the Greater Newburgh Parks Conservancy (GNPC) and Outdoor Promise — won the $19,000 grant that created the program. Rooted in community engagement and outreach through a range of traditional and social media platforms, the program will culminate in the October planting of 16 trees throughout the city, a celebratory event, a program report with data and recommendations, and an online street-tree course available to the greater Newburgh area. 

The four Fellows will be walking through the city, listening to residents’ concerns about trees and educating folks about the benefits of restoring Newburgh’s tree canopy. 

The four Fellows chosen to serve in the 28-week Environmental Justice Fellowship program are:

• Heidy Bonilla. Originally from Honduras, Bonilla is a highly motivated student and fluent Spanish-speaker who looks forward to working with residents who want to improve their environment but don’t yet have the communication skills to do so.

• Ameesah Cotten. Born and raised in Newburgh, Cotten is a two-sport college athlete who thoroughly understands the connection between environmental justice and her chosen academic major, public health.

• Kathryn McKenzie. McKenzie grew up in Newburgh and is a professional dancer and avid student of herbology. She brings boundless energy to the complex intellectual, social and physical tasks involved in the Fellowship.

• Marichen Montiel. Montiel graduated from the Nora Cronin Presentation Academy and NFA and is now a student at Mount Saint Mary College, where she founded Sustain MSMC, a conservation group on campus, and also serves on the Environmental Stewardship Council there. She, too, is a fluent speaker of Spanish. 

The Fellowship is designed to train and support these talented and service-minded young women in tree-based environmental justice work at the community level. They will use their new street tree skills to engage their families, friends, neighbors and local businesses in thinking about how best to dramatically increase the number of trees in Newburgh. The four Fellows will be walking through the City listening to residents’ concerns about trees, educating folks about the benefits of restoring Newburgh’s tree canopy and motivating Newburghers to take action. 

“These dynamic women will be coming to your neighborhood soon. Be sure to give them your honest opinion about what you see as the pros and cons of having a tree in front of your building,” said Genie Abrams, a volunteer with the CAC. 

Kathy Lawrence, board chair of the GNPC, added, “Each of our Environmental Justice Fellows brings unique strengths to this program. We are excited to have these committed, enthusiastic young women serving as teachers, role models and stewards of our environment.” 

Ronald Zorrilla, executive director of Outdoor Promise, said, “Trees clean the air, soil and water, regulate the temperature outdoors, reduce flooding and noise, are associated with reduced incidence of asthma and other lung diseases, and provide shade and beauty for everyone. The planting of more trees will benefit the health of our residents and help redress the longstanding disparity between the health of our black and brown residents and the general population in Newburgh.”

 The Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Their vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many global issues, including air and water quality, climate change, poverty and hunger. 

TD Bank has a long-standing commitment to enriching the lives of its customers, colleagues and communities. Through its corporate citizenship platform, TD aspires to link its business, philanthropy and human capital to help people feel more confident about their finances and their ability to achieve their personal goals.

Kat McKenzie

Heidy Bonilla

Ameesah Cotten

Marichen Montiel

Black Newburghers: If You're Looking to Sell Your House ...

Here is a horrifying story i saw today out of Indianapolis, one of the most racist cities i’ve visited in my 72 years: https://bit.ly/3hAajuc … but i fear it’s true everywhere, including Newburgh. A Black homeowner wanted to have her home appraised, apparently because she was looking to sell it, and therefore was hoping it would be appraised for a HIGH amount. It was appraised twice, at extremely LOW values, until she got the idea to have it appraised once more while a white friend stood in for her. The result was an appraisal more than twice as high as the others. She is now suing everyone she can, for illegal discrimination. Meanwhile, if any Black Newburghers are looking to sell your home (and i’m hoping you’re not: PLEASE STAY!), reach me at genieabrams@gmail.com and i will be glad to “stand in” for you while the appraiser visits. (I am, as many of you know, the classic “little old white lady.”)

Apply Now to be an Environmental Justice Fellow!

Black and Latinx Newburghers ages 19 to 24: Apply at https://bit.ly/3dpMMti to be an Environmental Justice Fellow! It’s a 28-week paid opportunity to learn and teach your neighbors about the benefits of tree canopy in urban areas. This program is funded by a grant from TD Bank in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. Check it out!

Become an Environmental Justice Fellow!

Calling all Black and Latinx residents of Newburgh between the ages of 19 and 24! Apply now for an Environmental Justice Fellowship (stipend: $1,400 for the 28-week program). Your training will be paid! To read all about it and apply, click here: https://bit.ly/3dpMMti

You Know Spring is Here ...

You know spring is here when the robins start fighting with their reflections in your side-view mirror (and pooping down the side of your car).

Now, can I sue the robin? Well, at least it means spring is here! Next stop: the Car Wash.

Must-Read Article in the Progressive

Have you seen this one yet? It connects the dots between the traitors who tried to destroy our nation’s Capitol and take over the government, and the crazies who want to put an end to safe abortions. Click here: http://bit.ly/2Z6RPXR

Stop and Shop Benefits Meals on Wheels All February!

Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh (MOW) has been chosen by Stop & Shop, Rt. 300, Newburgh, to be the beneficiary of its Community Bags Program for the entire month of February.

For every reusable Community Bag purchased at Stop & Shop during February, $1 will be donated to MOW. The eco-friendly bags cost $2.50 each.

“This is a great way to support the environment and help a good cause at the same time,” said MOW Executive Director Robin Bello.

MOW is a nonprofit charity founded in 1972 by Frederica Warner of Newburgh. Volunteers deliver its hot, nutritious meals five days a week to homebound individuals in the City of Newburgh and the towns of Newburgh and New Windsor who are unable to cook for themselves. MOW receives no regular government funding. There is a modest charge for those who are able to pay, but MOW relies on charitable donations from the public to cover the rest of its costs.

MOW President Carole McDermott said, “This news comes at a most opportune time. The pandemic has put an incredible amount of stress on our most vulnerable residents, and the need for nutritious meals is greater than ever. So, we are very grateful to Stop & Shop for making us the beneficiary of this program.”

For more information or to donate to MOW, visit www.mealsonwheelsnewburgh.org.

This is the bag you’ll be looking for at the Stop & Shop on Rt. 300 in the Town of Newburgh. Stop & Shop is giving Meals on Wheels $1 for every $2.50 bag purchased at that store.

Fun Art Exhibit Happening in Newburgh NOW!

HEY! Check out “Spatial Representation of Emotion,” a new art exhibit happening now through April 1 in Newburgh!

Artist Philippe Halaburda, who recently arrived in the Hudson Valley from France via Brooklyn, is exhibiting some of his latest works through April 1st at the AGC Gallery, 65 Liberty Street in Newburgh.    

 Working mainly in acrylics on canvas, Halaburda also offers three-dimensional artworks, such as brightly colored shapes on skateboard decks or an old easel. They are part of an art installation that is constantly evolving, highlighted by the use of colored tapes throughout the entire space.     

Paintings in this exhibit can resemble the letters of the alphabet dancing with one another, or thrashing about as they tumble from some high place in chaotic and harmonious compositions in chaotic or harmonious compositions. The artist describes some of his work in digital terms as “psychogeographic maps.” He says he “builds imaginary codes and abstract algorithms,” influenced by his emotions and his perception of an environment.      

Visitors can enjoy the show and choose their favorites by calling 917-353-2064 for an appointment any weekday; or watch him working on-site any Friday, Saturday or Sunday from 1 to 6 pm.

What does this Philippe Halaburda creation look like to you? To me, it’s letters of the alphabet, having way too much fun.

These Reusable Bags Help Meals on Wheels All January!

Hannaford Supermarket on Rt. 32 at the “Five Corners” in New Windsor has, for the 6th year in a row, chosen to make Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh (MOW) the beneficiary of its “Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger” reusable bag program.

For each reusable “Fight Hunger Bag” purchased at that Vails Gate location during the entire month of January, Hannaford will donate $1 to MOW.

“We are honored and excited to once again be named the beneficiary of Hannaford’s campaign,” said MOW President Carole McDermott. “Every purchase of a ‘Fight Hunger’ bag helps keep our wheels turning to deliver meals to the homebound in need.”

Founded in 1972 by Newburgh’s Frederica Warner, MOW prepares and delivers hot, nutritious meals each weekday to residents of the City of Newburgh and the Towns of Newburgh and New Windsor who can’t cook for themselves. MOW, a 501c(3) charitable organization, receives no government funding; it depends on donations from residents and businesses who believe in its mission of fighting hunger. More than 23,000 meals a year are delivered by more than 100 MOW volunteers.

“We are very grateful to our local Hannaford Market,” said MOW Executive Director Robin Bello. “Their ‘Fight Hunger’ program consistently shows their commitment to the health and welfare of the people of our area. Now, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, this program is more crucial than ever.”

At Hannaford, look for the orange-and-blue bag (a photo of it is below) in the reusable-bag section. That’s the one that will help Meals on Wheels. Or, just ask the manager or any store employee to direct you to the “Fight Hunger” bag. You’ll be saving the environment and fighting hunger among your neighbors, too.

To learn more, donate, or volunteer, visit www.mealsonwheelsnewburgh.org.

Look for this bag at Hannaford! Every “Fight Hunger” bag purchased in January at the Hannaford Supermarket on Rt. 32 in New Windsor will result in a one-dollar donation to Meals on Wheels of Greater Newburgh.

The New Yorker Features a Story on a Great "Newburgh Weirdo"

https://bit.ly/3mgSgsj Everybody should read this piece in the new New Yorker about Mark Ellison, architect who creates unique, jaw-droppingly beautiful, and always-curvy homes for New York City’s billionaires. A bicycle rider and certifiable eccentric, he surely chose the right place for his own home: Newburgh.

Check Out this PBS Feature on What PFAS Chemicals Do To Our Water ... and Our Health

Here’s a link to the great Shantal Parris Riley story on NOVA, about PFOS and its sister chemicals. It’s a horrifying look at the quality of America’s water … including Newburgh’s, until 2016. Thank G-d we switched to the New York City Aqueduct!

https://to.pbs.org/38OnrYb

Beautiful New Trees Planted on South William!

Sisha Ortuzar planted three crabapple trees in front of his newly renovated building at 109 South William Street today. They will sport gorgeous blooms in the spring. Come by and take a look!

Entrepreneur Sisha digs Newburgh! With Randy from the Town of LaGrange, Sisha planted three crabapple trees today, surrounding each with a “gator” that will automatically water the trees for the next couple of years. These crabapples will add shade and beauty to our ongoing downtown revival.

Randy to the Rescue! Randy dug three tree pits at 109 S. William Street with his backhoe today, and then helped plant them, as well. His work made the planting of the three trees in one day possible.

What a Project!

The Newburgh Engineering Department is overseeing construction of a new sewer system on the south edge of the City, where a major sewer main broke last week. We called out the cavalry, with guys working all day every day since then to dig a new, three-level pipe to replace the old one, extending downhill from Liberty Street and Bayview Terrace to the base of “The Bluff,” where it will continue to the treatment plant. Like so many other weird things that happen in Newburgh, this is going to turn out to be a good thing for all of us. THANK YOU to City Engineer Jason Morris and his whole team!

The steel shoring for the new sewage pipes is, itself, more than 20 feet deep. Eventually the 3-foot-diameter pipes will descend, in 3 stages, to the bottom of “The Bluff.”

Sometimes You Just Gotta Name What You're Feeling

Merriam-Webster notes that in the first three days after President Trump’s COVID-19 infection was announced, there was a jump of 30,500% (yep, you’re reading that right) in the number of lookups for the word, “Schadenfreude.” Check it out: https://bit.ly/3niByJX

And, unrelated, this news reminded me of an old New Yorker cartoon I’ve had taped to the wall of my home office for a long while.

Porch Concerts in Newburgh Bring the Joy

One of the great things about living in Newburgh has been the free “Porch Concerts” that Kathy Lawrence performed all summer on Sunday evenings. To cheer us all up during the most stressful year anyone can remember, Kathy brought her musical talents (and her mic and electronic piano) out onto her porch here on Bayview Terrace. She sang requests from the audience as well as her own favorites from the American Songbook. Though ballads are her specialty, she can rock with the best of ‘em, croon songs from the early days of radio and belt out hits from Broadway musicals of all decades. She can pivot to novelty tunes too, to satisfy some of us goofier listeners. Between numbers, she shares her phenomenal knowlege about composers and lyricists. Neighbors near and far came to sit on “the Bluff” across the street from her house and enjoy her strong and agile soprano voice. She is a delightful entertainer who further endears herself to her loyal fans by interacting with them frequently. Her sweet mom, Carol, is similarly gifted, and often joined Kathy on harmony. The audience brought picnic blankets or lawn chairs. Some of us busted out some wine or tea (or, in the case of at least one young music-lover, some teething biscuits).

At the top of the Heights, with the river and the hills behind us and the wonderful music before us, Kathy’s Porch Concerts have given us all a wonderful respite from our woes. Let’s hope she’ll do it again next year, no matter what’s going on in our country and the world.

Kathy Lawrence of Newburgh, an AirBnb Superhost, is also a super singer.

Kathy takes requests during her last Porch Concert of the year on Oct. 4. If it’s a song from the American Songbook you want to hear, chances are she’ll just happen to have the sheet music for it.

Dinner and Flowers!

Tim took me out to dinner at the riverfront on my birthday Tuesday night, where we had a grand time watching the water and the light on the hills and the Sea Tow boat rescuing an unfortunate sailor. We ate (part of) the biggest Porterhouse steak i’d ever seen, and a slab of chocolate cake that could have fed a third-grade class, and of course we had a couple of drinks. Tim’s was boring red wine, but i had a goblet of something bright yellow with a thing sticking out of it that i thought was an aloe leaf but that turned out to be a pineapple leaf. i think it was called a “Lima Colada,” and i think it involved rum, lime, coconut shavings, pineapple juice and maybe a few other things. THEN as if it weren’t already a perfect night, we got home to find that my daughter, Rachel, had had a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered to the house. I highly recommend turning 71, especially to those who have a sweet family to share their long life with.

Pretty, right?

Frederick Douglass Offers Some Words of Wisdom to Newburgh

A beautiful new painting of the various stages of the life of Frederick Douglass graces the lot across from the A.M.E. Zion Church on Washington Street in Newburgh, where he once preached. His words of wisdom here: “Without a struggle there is no progress.” VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!

PLEASE register to vote, and then VOTE in the 2020 election, to win the most important struggle of our lifetimes.

If you don’t answer, you don’t count.

Please, Newburghers, if you haven't done so yet, go to http://2020CENSUS.GOV NOW and spend the 3 minutes it takes to answer the 10 questions! If you prefer, you can also answer the Census questions by phone, at 844-330-2020. You can even get the questions, and respond, in Spanish or other languages, if you prefer!

The feds give cities money for education, daycare, housing, healthcare, transportation and more based on POPULATION, so they have to know how many people live here! It doesn’t matter if you’re not a US citizen yet. They don’t care. They just need to know how many eople plive here, so we can compete with all the other cities asking for money. If you don’t answer, you don’t count. Only one person per household has to do it. PLEASE show up for Newburgh!