Commentary
Mother Nature is up to her usual April tricks. I’ve seen some funny memes about the crazy weather we experienced this past weekend.
Even with that chilly reminder of winter, there’s a lot to look forward to this week, including the beginning of Passover and Easter Week. It’s a wonderful time for families to come together, over a special meal, an egg hunt, or simply enjoying some quality time. However you celebrate, I hope it’s filled with joy—and perhaps a little sunshine, too.
Now, let’s catch up on a few highlights from around the county.
We’re recognizing two very important weeks of service and dedication.
We wrapped up National Public Health Week, and I want to extend my sincere thanks to the entire Orange County Department of Health. Their commitment to the well-being of our residents is unwavering, and we’re lucky and grateful to have such a dedicated team working for our community every day.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 13–19) honors the voices behind the scenes, our 911 dispatchers. They are the first of the first responders, providing calm, clear, and critical guidance during emergencies. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Orange County 911 team. You are true heroes, and we truly appreciate your compassionate service.
Despite the weather, I had the privilege of attending the return of the Hudson Valley Honor Flight Mission 35 this past Saturday. What an incredible event! The energy, emotion, and sense of gratitude were inspiring. I remember that when the program first launched in 2012, many World War II veterans took part. Now, we’re seeing more and more Vietnam War veterans participating. They truly deserve this recognition and honor.
It was a proud and moving experience for me last April, when I was able to participate in the Hudson Valley Honor Flight Mission 32 with my dad, as well as Sheriff Paul Arteta and his dad. If you know a veteran who hasn’t experienced an Honor Flight, please encourage them to consider it, and maybe even join them as a guardian. It’s a powerful, unforgettable experience.
In keeping with my focus on training and safety, our Orange County Emergency Services team hosted a comprehensive tabletop exercise simulating a large-scale train derailment, modeled after the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio incident.
This drill brought together departments from across the county and focused on coordination, communication, and evaluating emergency plans. It’s all part of our preparation for the upcoming full-scale response drill this June.
Training and planning as if the next emergency could happen tomorrow is key to being prepared. Keeping Orange County residents and visitors to our county safe is and will continue to be one of my top priorities.
On the workforce front, we had a fantastic turnout at the Orange County April Job Fair, where more than 300 job seekers connected with 28 employers. Our Human Resources team and the Sheriff’s Office were also there, engaging with potential hires and highlighting career opportunities. Thank you to the county’s Employment and Training Administration for organizing another successful event.
If you missed it, mark your calendar and get your résumé ready. The county’s next job fair is coming up on May 21 at the Galleria at Crystal Run.
Orange County reached a significant milestone in Cornwall, where the Department of Public Works installed more than 30,000 pounds of decorative concrete parapet walls on the north side of the Main Street Bridge. Next up: shifting traffic to the center so crews can complete the remaining work on the walls, pavement, and sidewalks. Kudos and thank you to the Orange County DPW team for their hard work and to the residents of Cornwall for your patience throughout this project.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to ShopRite and its shoppers from around the county for their incredible generosity: a $250,000 donation to the Orange County Veterans Food Pantry, and another $150,000 to the Committee for the Families of War Veterans. These contributions will have a lasting impact on the lives of our local veterans and their families.
The donation was presented at the Montgomery ShopRite last week, with Christian Farrell, director of the Orange County Veterans Service Agency, on hand to accept the check. Your continued, generous support means the world to our veterans, and I thank you on their behalf.
You can still reserve a seat for my State of the County on April 23 at 6 p.m. and my next Leadership Speaker Series on April 30 at 6 p.m.
RSVP here for State of the County
RSVP here for Leadership Speaker Series
May your Passover and Easter Week be blessed. I hope to see you around the county!
