City of Newburgh

Tower of Victory rededication set

By Dae Vitale
Posted 4/10/19

Greetings from River City. We had a happy gathering for Gabrielle’s birthday with family and some old and dear friends (pals from South Jr. and NFA who are still very much a part of her life …

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City of Newburgh

Tower of Victory rededication set

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Greetings from River City. We had a happy gathering for Gabrielle’s birthday with family and some old and dear friends (pals from South Jr. and NFA who are still very much a part of her life and ours). Is there anything better than family and good friends? That’s what I call living.

Happy anniversary to Emily and Bob Metaxes who celebrated their 27th on April 4. Wedding photos of the quintessential beautiful bride and the handsome groom and guests were posted on Facebook by the still adoring husband as an anniversary surprise for his bride.

May God bless you both with happiness abundant through many more years.

On Friday, Apr. 5 the lumber milled from the 2018 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was delivered to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh. This is the fifth year that Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh has received this meaningful donation!

Donated last year by a local couple, the 2018 tree will become a permanent part of the homes of six families only a few miles from where it grew. Habitat Newburgh plans to use the lumber in the six gut-rehabs currently under renovation on William Street.

Save the date – Apr. 27 is the time to visit Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site in Newburgh for the grand re-opening of the Tower of Victory. Following the official ribbon cutting, the public is welcome to climb the Tower of Victory to the newly restored belvedere, and take in the best views of the Hudson River and the Highlands.

After nearly 70 years, the Tower finally has its roof and observation level back! It took six years of work and the support of hundreds of Newburgh residents, foundations, businesses, volunteers, and the State of NY.

So, with great excitement the community is invited back to visit the Tower, to climb the stairs to the top, and take in the views once again. Mark your calendars for this grand event! I know that those who helped by their donations are proud to be a part of this grand historic restoration and will doubly enjoy their visits or when they go by the Headquarters.


Certification from The American Heart Association Class on Sunday, Apr. 14 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The location is Hudson Valley Midwives at Rte. 300. Cost: $100 for Professionals, $75 for Students.

To register, text (914) 805-8290; Email virginiadiorio@gmail.com.

Birthday greetings to Malcolm Glenn, our first friend in Newburgh, more than 47 years ago, celebrates his candles and cake day on Apr. 4. Dear Mac, may God grant you robust health and abundant joy on each and every day of a long life.

Jill Varricchio, a successful marketing entrepreneur and community leader has been named Chief Advancement Officer for Independent Living, Inc. (ILI).

Varricchio was the immediate past President of Putnam County Economic Development Corp. and owner and president of Concept Promotions where she developed and implemented national marketing campaigns for companies such as Sylvania, Tamko and Cellular One.

In addition, Jill was Past Chair of the Orange County Chamber of Commerce; Director on the SUNY Orange Foundation, Director on ARC of Orange Foundation board; and Chairwoman of NYS Administrative Board of the Orange County Empire Zone.

Jill holds a Master’s degree in Rehab Counseling. In her new role, Jill will be responsible for successfully creating, leading and implementing an integrated resource development strategy to help ILI continue to build its visibility, impact, and financial resources. Independent Living, Inc. at MyIndependentliving.org.

For your calendar: Newburgh’s Fourth Annual Urban Farming Fair will be at 80 Broadway at the corner of Grand St. on Saturday, Apr. 27 from 12 Noon – 4 p.m. The event, a celebration of farm fun, offers local foods, raffles, children’s activities, chickens, bees, goats, and more!

Special happy anniversary wishes to lovely Mary and Smiling Dave McTamaney who celebrated their golden anniversary on March 30. This surely was a marriage made in Heaven; two of the world’s nicest people (and native Newburghers). God bless you both with an abundance of joy through all the days of the many years ahead, always and forever, dear Mary and Dave.

Thanks to Louise Melick for letting us know about the photo of the “Grand Street Player”, third graders at Grand Street School. Check it out you may be in it or someone you know from your childhood. Howard C. Flemming, Jr. posted the photo of Grand St School 3rd Grade Class of ‘56-’57, to Remembering Newburgh NY. Thanks, Howard and Louise.

The 40 Days For Life Vigil has a few more days to go, so if you have wanted to participate, but haven’t yet, you can join them with prayers and fasting until Apr. 14 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. at Newburgh Planned Parenthood at 136 Lake St. For information, call Wendy Wood at (845) 820-4366 or go to 40DaysforLife.com/Newburgh.

The Inter-Parish Bereavement Support Group will begin its eight-week spring session Apr. 23 for anyone who has lost a loved one and would like help dealing with the pain of loss. Meetings will be for two hours on Tuesdays in Sacred Heart Chapel, 25 Robinson Ave.

If you are interested, or know someone who might be interested, call Bev Austin at (845) 245-4143 or Linda DeWitt at (845) 565-7837, or e-mail smtbereavement@gmail.com.

Please be aware that there is no April meeting as the group is attending a play at The Westchester Diner Theater on that day. Their next meeting is May 1 at 12:30 p.m. Bring your lunch, your smile and your willingness to have some fun.

A Lenten Mission With Fr. Richard McAlear O.M.I. ends on Apr. 10 at 7 p.m. at St .Patrick’s Church, 55 Grand St. A Healing Mass will be celebrated on Apr. 10. For more information, call St. Pat’s Rectory at (845) 561-0885 or Lisa at 391-7770.

Please be advised that effective Apr. 6 there is no longer a Saturday 12 Noon Mass celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Church.

There will be no Stations of the Cross on Apr. 12, due to Confirmation.

At St. Francis, Palms will be available for sale the week before Palm Sunday, from Monday, Apr. 8 - Friday, Apr. 12 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and at Sacred Heart, from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. and at both churches, at all the Masses on Palm Sunday weekend. Palm Sunday is on Apr. 14 beginning Holy Week--from joy to the depths of grief to the heights of joy.

Capricious Spring is surely here, at last. Until leaves fill the trees, I still have a fair view of the Good Ol’ River, which I love—there will be pleasure boats, soon!

As to Spring’s capriciousness, Mark Twain observed, “In the spring I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours.” In other words, it’s, should-I-take-a-coat,-or-sweater-or-neither, weather.

As always, I close with my prayers for God’s blessings on your heads, my dears and on the heads of all our brothers and sisters in this world from the youngest in the womb to the oldest on earth.