Hello, Orange County, and welcome to my new column, where I will share what’s happening around this great county of ours.
I have always been passionate about serving my community and making a positive impact. I’m excited to share with you through this column the great things going on in the county. Thank you to the county’s newspaper outlets for this opportunity!
Let’s look back at how 2025 began with some events and updates that occurred in January.
The first month of the year was a busy one. To start, some much-needed renovations to a few of the bridges on the Heritage Trail were completed. These new, sturdier bridges will allow for better emergency access and improved maintenance access as we expand the Heritage Trail, one of the most utilized parks in Orange County.
Our Parks and Recreation team is terrific and working hard to make our parks and recreation areas the best they can be for residents and visitors alike.
In early January, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Orange County Emergency Services Division of Fire Services Firefighter 1 graduation ceremony at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. It was a wonderful event filled with pride, dedication, and the true spirit of service.
I was honored to witness these brave individuals from almost every fire department in the county receiving well-deserved accolades for their accomplishments. We are fortunate to have these men and women involved in the fire services in Orange County.
I had a wonderful time with the bright and innovative seniors of Cornwall Central High School at the Participation in Government Civics Fair. These students shared their ideas to improve areas of concern in our communities.
It was inspiring to see the future leaders of our society taking such initiative and creating innovative steps toward positive change. They truly want to be part of the solution, which is heartwarming and encouraging to see.
It was also last month that I learned I was going to be named the “Champion of the Chamber” by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and will be recognized at its gala in March. This is truly a great honor, and I am humbled to receive this acknowledgment for doing what I love: serving the people of Orange County.
January also included the ribbon-cutting for The Castle Fun Center’s latest expansion. What an incredible accomplishment and milestone! Gotta love Facebook memories, as it provided a reminder that it was exactly 12 years ago to the day that The Castle celebrated its first successful expansion, when I was supervisor of the town of Chester.
Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Orange County Emergency Services Fire Rescue team for their well-deserved recognition—namely, of their tireless efforts to thwart the Jennings Creek wildfire—at the State of the State Address in Albany. Your dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your service.