Photo by Newburgh photographer   Edward Blondin of the Young Victorian.

Add your own photos depicting city life to the Newburgh Restoration Flickr pool to be used on the blog, or email me. **Flickr users please do not forget to remove disabling of downloading of pictures otherwise, I can’t use them** Please do not take photos for your own use without consulting the photographer.

Photo by Newburgh photographer Naomi Hersson-Ringskog.

Add your own photos depicting city life to the Newburgh Restoration Flickr pool to be used on the blog, or email me. **Flickr users please do not forget to remove disabling of downloading of pictures otherwise, I can’t use them** Please do not take photos for your own use without consulting the photographer.

01/22/20 7:00am

The creators of Graft Cider are starting a new company, Hudson North Cider Co. on March 1, 2020. They are committed to preserving and maintaining Hudson Valley trails and waterways and will be partnering with Scenic Hudson. The cider will be produced out of their Ann Street facility as well as their new facility on Little Britain Road once construction in complete. The press release is below:

Hudson North Cider Co, a mission-driven cidery, is set to launch in the Hudson Valley and NYC on March 1st, 2020.  Sibling duo, Kyle & Sara Sherrer, creators of Graft Cider, were eager to create something both approachable and unique to their home market. “We wanted to create a high quality, full-bodied, hazy, off-dry cider that would set the standard for NY hard cider in pint form, ” said Kyle Sherrer. With 2/3 less sugar than their largest competitors, Hudson North is on trend for 2020’s “better for you segment.”

Kyle Sherrer was attracted to the Hudson Valley for a few reasons when he moved to the area in 2016: while NY is the second largest apple-growing state in the country, his love for the outdoors made it easy to fall in love with its endless trails. With this in mind, one of Hudson North’s core values is to help preserve and maintain trails and waterways in the area through a partnership with Scenic Hudson and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. 

For those curious where Hudson North sources its apples, a short 30 minute trip north will lead you to Minard Family Farm and Presshouse in nearby Ulster County. Minard sources its apples almost exclusively from the Hudson Valley.  “We have been sourcing juice from Minard for the past three years through Graft, and I’m constantly impressed with the quality of apples coming out of Hudson Valley. It was a natural fit to use these local apples for the base in all of our Hudson North ciders,” said Sherrer. 

“Standard Cider”, Hudson North’s flagship blend, is comprised of fresh pressed NY apples and high-tannin, bittersweet cider apples. Utilizing fresh apples from the Hudson Valley in combination with a lightly sweetened, tanic cider apple, creates a style somewhere in between a sweet, NY state farmstand cider & a European farmhouse cider.

You can also expect “Ginger Citrus”, a seasonal offering, to grace taplines and shelves throughout the summer. Bursting with notes of sweet, lemony ginger and freshly squeezed grapefruit and oranges, this stylish can will surely be a trail favorite. As the leaves in the Hudson Valley change color, Hudson North will roll out its fall seasonal,“Toasted Pumpkin,” while the end of the season will see the launch of “Winter Berry.”

As Hudson North gears up for launch this spring, the team is focusing on an initiative called “Taps for Trails”, formed to generate funds for protecting and growing the Hudson Valley trail system. Through a partnership with distributor Craft Beer Guild Distributing of NY, 10 cents of every gallon of draft cider sold will circulate back to help maintain these trails, while also building awareness of their abundance in the area.  “It’s important to get people to set down their phones and experience the beauty that’s all around us up here,” said Sherrer. They have also partnered with nonprofits Scenic Hudson and the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference. 

Since 1920, the Trail Conference has been building, maintaining, and protecting trails and caring for the lands they traverse. It’s thanks to the dedication of their volunteers and supporters that all of us who seek the outdoors can have a safe, enjoyable experiences on more than 2,100 miles of trails in the greater New York metropolitan region.
Scenic Hudson preserves land and farms and creates parks that connect people with the inspirational power of the Hudson River, while fighting threats to the river and natural resources that are the foundation of the valley’s prosperity.

Hudson North’s future launch will be coordinated with “Taps for Trails” events around the Hudson Valley, where $1 from each pint sold goes towards maintaining a local trailhead.  With future plans of creating trail cleanups, hiking clubs and more, the new brand will be addressing and building awareness of the surrounding ecosystems while educating participants on the many ways they can give back and assist in keeping the area’s water supply healthy.

You can expect to find cans of Hudson North Cider at Whole Foods, DeCiccos, and Total Wine

01/01/20 7:00am

There will be an OPEN HOUSE on Sunday, January 5, from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM at these two spectacular, newly renovated floor-through penthouse apartments.

These spacious, modern, light-filled NYC loft-like homes with high cathedral-like ceilings and beautiful mountain views in a century-plus old building are in the center of New York’s second largest historic district.

Each unit features hard-wood floors, new Anderson windows, new kitchen appliances and finishes, recessed lighting, LED lighting through-out, a large bath, and high efficiency central heating/air. The bedroom has a generous closet and a charming bay window. A smaller room makes a perfect office/den space.  An ample laundry room features washer/dryer hookups and space for tons of linens.

You are near all the action:  two blocks from Downing Park with its Shelter House Café and seasonal farmer’s market.  You can walk to Broadway/Liberty St. corridor to enjoy fine dining, galleries, live entertainment, and boutiques as well as the waterfront with its open-air restaurants and art-house cinema, Downing Theatre. Local ethnic restaurants offer delicious fare at great prices.  Delis and bodegas are a mere couple blocks away. Three colleges, Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall hospital, and the public library are nearby. Major stores and supermarkets, and New York Stewart International Airport are minutes away by car, taxi or bus. 

Luxury, comfort, convenience, walk-ability—all affordable in a vibrant creative community. Be a part of the Newburgh renaissance and see why many are calling it the Brooklyn of the Hudson Valley.

Landlord pays broker’s fees, water, sewer, and garbage. Tenant is responsible for electric and heating. One-month security deposit. No cats. Small dogs by approval with a $300.00 pet deposit. No smokers please.

Apartment applications will be available onsite. Private viewings may also be arranged by contacting lizvegalebron@gmail.com or 917-628-8835.

12/30/19 3:11pm

A passionate group of Newburgh residents and supporters gathered Friday to announce the formation of the City’s first non-profit organization with a mission to plan, protect, restore and enhance parks, community gardens, trails and watersheds in the Greater Newburgh Area. 

The Greater Newburgh Parks Conservancy – GNPC  aims to ensure that recreational greenspace is available within easy walking distance (a 10-minute walk) of every household within the City, and envisions all residents of the Greater Newburgh area having easily accessible parks within a short walk, drive, ride on public transportation.

“GNPC will foster public, private and non-profit partnerships to amplify the efforts of allied groups and engage communities to identify and pursue their own parks and greenspace priorities. We will work with community organizations and the public, linking nature and neighborhoods, thereby enhancing community well-being as well as community and social justice,” noted Board Chair, Kathy Lawrence. 

Board member and long-time parks advocate Wilbur Higgins added, “The Conservancy will raise money for municipal parks in the City of Newburgh, and assist in the development of publicly-accessible projects that further the Conservancy’s vision for greenspace, community gardens, and street trees throughout the City of Newburgh and surrounding communities.” 

In 2020, the Conservancy will expand its Board of Directors, continue monthly convening of representatives from various stakeholder groups including the Downing Park Planning Committee, Quassaick Creek Watershed Alliance, and refine its plan of work with diverse stakeholders and community engagement events. 

Interested organizations or residents are welcome to contact the GNPC for more information, or follow us on Facebook or at our website to hear of upcoming public meetings.

12/19/19 3:29pm

Empire State Development (ESD) announced today the Mid-Hudson Region was awarded $65.8 million for 105 projects. Newburgh was also included in the round up – 3 of which are pivotal projects for the city:

PS 6 Liberty Street: Total $955,000 To renovate PS 6 Center for Film and Television to be a one-stop-shop film/TV facility including sound stages and production offices as well as rental space for events, weddings and photo shoots. The community flex space on the first floor will be used for a job training, mentorship programs, art shows, and screenings.

Graft Cider: $264,000 To adaptively reuse an old factory building to create a new 14,000 square foot production/distribution facility and tasting room in the City of Newburgh.

Ritz Theater: $222,900 Awarded to Safe Harbors of the Hudson to prepare construction documents for rehabilitation and re-development of the historic Ritz Theater in Newburgh.