Bye bye NewburghRestoration.blogspot.com and hello NewburghRestoration.com! I am still working out a few kinks, but I am ready to start off my new blog! Blogger is great. It’s extremely easy to use if you want to start your own blog and best of all it’s free. However, it became limiting after a while and it was difficult for me to organize all of the information I was accumulating. I am still organizing as we speak, but so far I love the new options that WordPress provides me. I apologize to those of you who were emailing and I never got back to you. This move was a lot of work and took up a lot of my attention. But I’m back now!
Anyhow, please change your feeds, Google readers, etc. I will change the feed on Facebook and Feedburner, so those of you following via Facebook and email should not notice the change. But if you are linking me to your website please take note of the change. Until I can figure out how to forward the blogspot address to the dot.com address, blogger will still be accessible.
Some things to mention and remember: you can sign up for email notices for blog updates. Newburgh Restoration is on Facebook and Twitter. On Facebook we have a profile page and a fan page. Please be sure to suggest us to everyone you know who cares about Newburgh, or you think might be interested in restoring a home only 60 miles North of NYC. You can also follow the blog on Facebook, getting updates directly into your feed (home page).
We are also accepting advertising. Our advertising is ideal for businesses or services that would benefit from readers focused on the Newburgh, Beacon, Hudson Valley, Orange County, NYC area. The new blog layout makes it easier to see advertisement and it makes it easy for me to insert them as well.
Readership and hits have increased steadily since the blog began in late 2008. I am extremely excited to see where things will take off from here. Many thanks to all of you who email me tips and ideas and events going on. Don’t forget you can always email me at NewburghRestoration{at}gmail{dot}com. See you around!
It is wonderful to see that urban farms are slowly starting to dot the Newburgh landscape of empty lots. This Saturday, there will be a press conference announcing the newest urban garden project. It will be at 10am, at the lot on 59 Chambers Street. The name of the garden will be La Vida Garden. The Urban Farmers League plans to use the lot as a pilot project which will hopefully expand and create other gardens in vacant lots in Newburgh.
This project is being run by the same folks that started the Ashe Urban Garden. They are mentioned in today’s Times Herald Record. You can read more about this project here. Or contact Kim Bersin at 845-527-7826. For more positive Newburgh news check out this link.
Isn’t it amazing how a few words by a well known newspaper can downplay the efforts of an entire city? That is pretty much what happened a few weeks ago. But, what exactly is going on?
After a recent article that focused on the tumultuous history of Newburgh’s youth, many felt saddened, embarrassed, and unrewarded for the hard work they have painstakingly put into Newburgh. Many felt such an article was unnecessary, and that they should have equally highlighted the constructive and rehabilitative efforts of the many who work and live in Newburgh. With that said, and with the request of a few readers, we will look at Newburgh as a city of progress, a city undergoing a restoration.
Every struggle has its highs and its lows. Newburgh is no exception in its struggle to become a restored and stabilized city. However, there are many great stories to share of positive developments that are occurring. These deserve equal spotlight. Highlighting these developments makes Newburgh a more desirable place to live for newcomers who perhaps would like to be a part of the change. So, for the past year I have been able to gather many stories together. Here are some of the positive developments that have happened, and surely many things are missing. But here is a look back at the past year and a half:
78 Gang members arrested and off Newburgh’s streets, and more continue to turn themselves in
Washington Headquarters State Park is spared from budget cuts and a new HVAC system installed
Urban Farms- youth and family operated in open lots and parks around the City
New building plan approved by ZBA on Broadway and Liberty Street in economically hard times when not many would be trying to build anything
The Wherehouse Restaurant is up and running bringing new faces to the East End and holding many art, music, and cultural events
The East Parmenter Neighborhood has already been started with families occupying some of the homes.
Habitat for Humanity continues to change lives and entire blocks in the community by restoring and constructing 43 homes and counting since 2000!
West Shore Train Station is saved, restored, ready for leasing, and has begun to hold events such as art auctions. Plans are set in place to eventually hold a branch of Cosimo’s restaurant and a nonprofit playhouse.
Riverfront homes in the Regal Bag Building are approved which will add approximately $2 million in taxes to the City, boost the local economy, and revive another part of the City.
SUNY Orange campus is almost completed, and set to open in Spring 2011. This project will bring development up from the Waterfront and along Broadway.
YMCA opened on Broadway which has rooms that will be utilized for educational workshops, teen programs and community events
Over 1,200 people visited the Ann Street Gallery in 2009, and the Downing Film Center was voted the best movie theater in the Hudson Valley solidifying Newburgh as a cultural destination.
Historical Broadway Park restored by private funds
Exterior Bricks have been secured at Liberty School and interior restoration/construction underway. This will eliminate a huge eyesore on Liberty Street and the Heights section of the City.
And the list goes on….many people are doing great things daily in Newburgh that might be as simple as helping out a neighbor, or donating time, money, or energy to community efforts. They do not go unnoticed. Another blogger, Genie Abrams, also wrote an excellent response to the above mentioned article and included many points I did not mention. Check out what she had to say here. Also, a great article was recently written in the Chronogram magazine that highlights many positive things going on in Newburgh, and things to happen as well.
If you love all the great news and want to be kept up to date, be sure to follow the blog on Facebook, or sign up for email updates in the top right hand corner.
See below for some of the photos from the above summary. Click to enlarge. For more positive Newburgh News check out this link.
Washington’s Headquarters Museum Building, which turns 100 this year, got a new HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system installed. It is not geothermal, but natural gas, instead of the previous oil-based system. There is no grant for this. New York State is making this huge investment in the site, a major indication of its viability and importance. This is especially true since Washington’s Headquarters was one of the New York State parks that could have been shut down due to budget problems. With these new updates it seems that this will not be the case for the Headquarters. Thanks Elyse and Michael for the information!
Look who has announced they are ready to start leasing out their building – the West Shore Train Station. I am really hoping they find some clients soon to help with the costs of maintaining the building, and to help offset the cost of the repair. Perhaps the promise of the new condo’s at the Regal Bag building will interest some future business owners. Remember, before this was just ginormous eyesore in Newburgh. Now new life has been breathed into the area…
There is 900-7,900 Square feet of Space! They are looking for a long term lease and will build to suit. Call 845-565-8530 or email Ryan13730@aol.com. Spread the word around to fellow entrepreneurs! Check out their Facebook page for future updates.
If you are unfamiliar with Newburgh, familiarize yourself by looking at maps and seeing how all of the future projects in Newburgh are within short distances of each other. Talk to local business owners about the area and about the success of their own businesses. For more positive Newburgh news check out this link.
Remember a while back Newburgh Restoration told you to vote for Newburgh’s runners up in the Best of Metromix Hudson Valley Contest? Well out of the 4 categories that included Newburgh establishments, 1 has won! This is what they had to say about the Downing Film Center:
The Downing Film Center is now housed in what used to be an art gallery on the Newburgh waterfront. The unique one-screen theater opened in 2006 and has gained a loyal following of filmgoers.
It’s cozy and quaint with recliners, pillows and little tables to hold your refreshments on. And this theater doesn’t have just your average snacks and drinks. They have hot chocolate, spiced cider, homemade ice cream, baked goods and imported candy.
The not-for-profit film center has their own booking agent who helps them research the best of the best for show. Although the majority of movies shown are indie, foreign and classic, there are also documentaries and even some major motion pictures. Some recent ones include “Milk,” “Slumdog Millionaire” and “The Wrestler.”
For more positive Newburgh news check out this link.
We are also accepting advertising. Our advertising is ideal for businesses or services that would benefit from readers focused on the Newburgh, Beacon, Hudson Valley, Orange County, NYC area. The new blog layout makes it easier to see advertisement and it makes it easy for me to insert them as well.
