Orange County - 4 Big Events This Week - Washingtonville, NYC & Goshen,
Monell Fire Dept. Car Show & Health Testing
Keep scrolling for each full story!
Mounted Officer from Goshen
Mary Elena Moran Rides in NYC Mounted Mounted
"Trail to Zero" Suicide Prevention Aweareness
County Volunteer Firemen's Parade & Monell's Blooming Grove Appreciation
Parade Safety was Key Priority
County Exec Steve Neuhaus Blasts State & Feds for Funding Cuts
Affecting Human Services Programs Like "Fearless Hudson Valley"
It was quite a week for our corner of the Lower Hudson Valley. Events began with County Executive Steve Neuhaus at the Annual Fearless in Hudson Valley Clothesline Project, calling out the hypocrisy of drastic cuts to funding for programs for Victims of Domestic Violence, while the men that caused the violence roam freely. The County Grounds were filled with "Fearless Hudson Valley" workers and supporters who are fierce and passionate about their efforts trying to stop the heartbreak of women and their children who have to hide in housing provided by the County to stay safe. Meanwhile federal and state funding for programs like this have been cut 30% this year and the County will have to make up the difference to keep the program going. Neuhaus wants commitments from legislators that they will help make Fearless Hudson Valley an entity that has permanent funding of its own.
Orange County Annual Volunteer Firemen's Parade
Blooming Grove Town Supervisor Rob Jeroloman and Councilman John Byrnes with a Proclamation of Appreciation for all the work the Town did for the Parade
Orange County's Extraordinary Annual Volunteer Firemen's Parade in Washingtonville
Last Saturday's Annual Orange County Volunteer Firemen’s Parade in Washingtonville was phenomenal. From families sitting and standing along E. Main Street and others watching from a rooftop, it was a sea of people demonstrating pride for their sons, daughters, friends and neighbors who risk their lives daily, running into life-threatening fires. On another level, while waiting for the next entourage, a pretty Mom sat grooming her daughter’s hair in a look-alike style, while a 7-year-old hugged and reassured her new puppy about the noise and crowds - it was all about family, community, and the American way.
During the Parade, coming around the final stretch to May’s Field, Councilman John Byrnes (one of Blooming Grove Town Board's 2 Firemen), marched in Lock-Step with Supervisor Rob Jeroloman who is proudly holding a Proclamation given to him earlier by Monell Engine Company, thanking the Town for all the work they did helping this parade to happen. And this was not “Just” a local Parade. In the Hudson Valley the “Firefighter Brotherhood” extends across the entire State of New York, and dozens of the units came to participate.
Giving justice to the 100 or so images and video of the Parade would require another 2 stories before crashing the computer system, so this is batch three of the best images. Washingtonville had hundreds of residents welcoming fire districts from all over New York for the Parade. Over the past 3 years they came for some more serious reasons. Whether it was to help fight the tremendous Jennings Creek forest fire near Greenwood Lake that took 14 days to contain in 2024, or the 100-acre wildfire right here on Round Hill Mountain in 2023, the New York State Firefighters are all “Brothers” and dozens of divisions, whether local, long distance, or State Rangers, they come from all across New York whether for a dangerous fire or a fun Parade. This Parade even had a visiting Fire Company from Valley Stream, L.I. Speaking of feeling "Proud", Citizens of the area are especially proud of this year's Volunteer Firemen's Association's President, Tom Lynn of Monell Engine Co. who along with Jim Skelly and hundreds of workers in other divisions,, carved out the million details of this Parade with officials and police.
Lou Ingrassia handled the nearly 2 hours of participating Announcements
with his experience of many years of public service...and ongoing updates from Wayne Kirkpatrick who was receiving minute by minute audio updates. Ingrassia has worn quite a collection of "hats" - Commissioner of Howells Fire Department, Chairman of the Honor FlightBoard, Wallkill Public Works Commissioner and Hudson Valley Water Works Assoc. to name a few.
Cornwall-on-Hudson Fire Department
South side of East Main Street during the Parade
Goshen Horse, James Bond and Owner/Trainer Mary Elena Moran on Broadway, NYC for the Benefit of Suicide Prevention Awareness for the Veteran Community
On the weekend, Goshen Horse Trainer extraordinaire, Mary Elena Moran marched in a Parade this week with her trusty Steed James Bond and a line of other Mounted Police during the "Trail to Zero" Prevention of Veteran Suicide Ride. These horses are totally up to the task of facing crowds and the bright lights of Broadway due to Mary Elena and the other mounted police trainers who school them for years to be fearless. Other Equestrian Programs have also gained popularity showing success stories about interactions with horses helping to resolve PTSD issues for Veterans.
Everyone Loves a Car Show
(a few favorites out of dozens of historic vehicles)
Yes people certainly love car shows, especially when many of them are local, vintage, and are polished like a silver dime. Washingtonville Fire Department was busy again, this time on Sunday, October 4th. L.Vern Allen Park was packed with an astounding number of brightly shining Vintage cars and Trucks for their Car & Truck Show/Health Fair (what better way to entice someone to do something not so much fun by offering something with it that is one of their least favorite things and one that is one of their favorite things. And so, free prostate exams and blood pressure testing were offered to attendees, and it was apparently a success with the announcers giving reports of increasing participating numbers throughout the day.
It was gratifying to see the number of young people who are apparently hooked on old cars and trucks, along with one young gal attending with her grandpa. Hundreds attended and made it a day-long picnic. With an entire table full of
something like 60 awards of different kinds, we're going to say they were "All Winners" (especially for the years put in to maintain all of these vehicles which looked like they just came off an assembly line.
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