Orange County Winter Roundup: Community Events and a Historic Tribute

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus and members of the Goshen American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Courtesy of Rebecca Sheehan

Commentary

It has been another busy and exciting week in Orange County. February’s weather has been snowy, icy, rainy, and cold, which for some might mean hunkering down inside with books, movies, and snacks, and for others might mean getting outside for ice fishing and skiing.

However you’re spending your winter days, please stay safe and warm, and check on your neighbors who might need assistance. Keep in mind the 311 nonemergency lines for the Orange County Crisis Call Center. It’s staffed 24/7 and offers crisis support, information, and referrals to services. Hopefully, you won’t ever need it, but it’s there if you ever do.

I’d like to take a minute to highlight the hard work of Orange County’s “winter warriors”: our Department of Public Works (DPW) staff.

Behind every well-maintained county road is an 80-person team of dedicated individuals working tirelessly to keep it safe for residents and visitors. It’s easy to take for granted the roads we drive on daily, so I want to take a minute to recognize the county’s DPW crew who work hard to maintain those roads. They are talented and dedicated county employees.

The next time you see our DPW crews out and about, take a moment to acknowledge them and show some appreciation.

Here are a few programs and events that merit mentioning this week.

On Feb. 10, we had a big step forward for law enforcement throughout the county with the rollout of the Niche Records Management System. Niche-RMS is state-of-the-art technology that will streamline processes, making it easier for all Orange County police departments to do their jobs effectively, efficiently, and with better data sharing.

By uniting agencies under a single, integrated system, we’re providing officers with real-time information, enhancing their safety, and giving them greater situational awareness of what’s happening throughout the county. At the end of the day, Niche-RMS will ensure that our communities are safer and better protected.

Harry Porr, deputy Orange County executive; Matthew Campbell, business development manager at the New York State Technology Corporation (NYSTEC); Lane Hunt, director of systems integration for the Department of Information Technology Services; Glenn R. Marchi, commissioner/chief information officer for the Department of Information Technology Services; Peter J. Cirigliano II, Orange County commissioner of emergency services; Sherry Royal, senior project manager at Niche Technology; Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus; Chief Dominick Blasko, Town of Crawford Police Department; Chief John Rader, Town of Warwick Police Department; Chief Darwin Guzman, Village of Monroe Police Department; John Ewanciw, City of Middletown Police Department; Robert L. Doss, Orange County deputy commissioner–police liaison services; and two unidentified NYSTEC representatives.
Courtesy of Rebecca Sheehan

The departments that recently launched the program include the City of Middletown, the Town of Warwick, and the Village of Monroe police departments. Future plans include expanding the system to county departments, such as the Probation Department, the Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, and the remaining 28 police departments in the county, by the end of the year.

On Feb. 12, I stopped by a fun and creative fundraiser for Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, which turns 150 years old this year. The event, held at The Barn at Villa Venezia, included a cooking demonstration.

Paula and Franco Fidanza shared with participants some great Italian cooking tips and some of their favorite family recipes, including gnocchi and homemade tomato sauce. The food was delicious, the crowd was fun, and all enjoyed the camaraderie for a great cause. Thank you to the Fidanza family for a unique event.

On Feb. 15, the 127th anniversary of the sinking of the USS Maine, I had the honor of standing alongside members of the Goshen American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts to witness the commemoration of a model of the USS Maine in their new home at the Orange County Government Center.

Jerry Killenberger, with whom I worked in the same firehouse and have known for many years, approached me a few months ago looking for a home for this model ship. After hearing about the local ties, I knew we had to step in and give it a new and appropriate home.

A little history of the USS Maine battleship: On Feb. 15, 1878, the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor, Cuba, killing more than 260 sailors. The cause of the explosion is still debated. The phrase coined from this tragedy, “Remember the Maine,” is well known, although less familiar than the second part of the original rallying cry, “To hell with Spain.”

Most of the sailors who died in the explosion are buried together in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. A young sailor from Orange County whose mother fought President Rutherford B. Hayes to have her son buried at home is one of a few who are not buried in Arlington.

Until next week, stay safe and warm, and look out for one another, Orange County.

Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.