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In what was probably record-breaking numbers, citizens, family, officials and friends went to Stewart International Airport at 6:30 this morning to salute 80 of our Veterans and give them a heartfelt send-off to Washington, D.C., many rejoicing in seeing longtime friends among the other veterans, thus having opportunities to both visit the memorials, share stories from the past, and hear about their friends' lives at present. The timing was perfect since it was a beautiful m

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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 Lo

Washingtonville's Best "Biking Wheelie Team" Editorial After picking up some groceries at Stop 'N Shop and walking across the parking lot, 3 incredible teens whizzed by, one of them exclaiming "We're the best bikers in Town." I would have to 100% agree at how talented they were, with each doing 2 or three Wheelies across the open space appearing very safe and fortunately at a time when the big lot was nearly empty, so there was no danger to shoppers. They stopped to chat,

Following is the link to Blooming Grove's Preliminary Town Budget for 2027. It has been a mountain of work for the Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor and Board Members to assemble and there is still much to review and do before Final Approval. It includes a number of additions to the Town's Sports Programs, Latchkey, Camp and other Children's Programs and Parks. Please bear in mind that this budget takes a good hour just to skim through and that it will likely change next week

NASA is currently searching for a future location of the United States Space Academy (USSA) and has invited states to submit one state-sponsored response. Above is Senator Skoufis' letter to Governor Hochul in support of Stewart International Airport as that location. Also, Below find a quote in support by Patrick Chase who is co-founder of Empire Space. "New York is a major American space hub, leading the country in diverse space-focused fields including cybersecurity, optic

County Executive, Steve Neuhaus - Irate about 30% cuts from the State and Federal budges - Calls for commitment to give Fearless of Hudson Valley its own budget! The Orange County Government Center grounds were packed with representatives and residents standing behind a row of Art and Text representations on Tee Shirts made by abuse victims that hung from a clothesline stretched from end to end of the Government Center frontage. Each representative (including Senators, Assemb

The progression of stunning Firefighter Divisions and Musical Corps continued for several hours before the marchers turned the corner with the Pipe and Drum Corps and Trumpets gave goosebumps to many headed to May's Field. The procession was delightfully interactive, including lots of shout outs, cheers and salutes along the way by the crowds spread across East Main Street. The precision of the marchers in perfect lock step was remarkable and a big credit to Speaker Lou Ingr

Storm King Engine Company of Cornwall-on-Hudson enters the Village Center of Washingtonville The Village of Washingtonville rose to the occasion of a spectacular parade, in spite of days of warnings that a Nor'easter could be coming our way. Engine Companies from near and far braved the threats of downpours and possible flooding to come and celebrated the bravery and professionalism of our area's Volunteer firefighters. Here for their Annual Convention and Parade, the sun oc

vILLAGE OF WASHINGTONVILLE - Road closure times for the Parade have been adjusted and most will be open until 2PM,- SEE CHART. Also, the Parade is anticipated to be over at 4PM. You might want to bring an umbrella, but the sun is trying to come out! Firemen have worked their hearts out this year - Let's show them we can handle a few raindrops and a little wind.

Tonight the predicted forecast for Saturday is possible rain throughout the day, though there is a chance that it will either stay offshore to the East or pass South of our area, so have an umbrella handy and give some special attention to the route you plan, and arrival place for parking, though at this time, IF the rain comes our way it is not expected to be heavy. THE OCVFA PARADE IS "RAIN OR SHINE" (barring emergency weather)

Blooming Grove Supervisor holds up the latest update version of New York's New Disabled Veteran Full Property Tax Exemption (blue highlighted sections no longer apply) At left - Deputy Supervisor Cathy Gregg-Acevedo At right, Simon Schwartz, Ward Rep for Village of South Blooming Grove Town of Blooming Grove Assessor, Vanessa Kelder-Yaun, has finished presenting the results of another round of the New York State Zoom Session clarifications and updates that the State has been

Memorial for the "Washingtonville Five" Courageous responders who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 (Battalion Chief Dennis Devlin, Lt. Glenn Perry, FF Mark Whitford, FF Bobby Hamilton, and FF Gerry Nevins)—as well as community members who later succumbed to 9/11-related illnesses (including FF Ray Phillips, PO Ronald Becker, Det. George Remouns, and Det. Tommy Barnitt). Chief John Salka gave a moving and lengthy speech about the sacrifices of First Responders, and he

Blooming Grove Existing Police Department September's Blooming Grove Town Board Workshop covered a full slate of important topics including the Police Station's Future, a new commercial project proposed just off the intersection of Hudson Rd. and Route 208, and 30 pages of recommendations from the public about tree code revisions Part 1 - Blooming Grove Police Station After meeting with Blooming Grove Police & Emergency Services representatives, Supervisor Rob Jeroloman sha

Blooming Grove Existing Police Department September's Blooming Grove Town Board Workshop covered a full slate of important topics including the Police Station's Future, a new commercial project proposed just off the intersection of Hudson Rd. and Route 208, and 30 pages of recommendations from the public about tree code revisions Part 1 - Blooming Grove Police Station After meeting with Blooming Grove Police & Emergency Services representatives, Supervisor Rob Jeroloman sha

What is your trigger? Most of us have a reminder that connects directly with our most vigilant terror of that day. Mine was the shocking number of helicopters in the sky overhead and my gut said "This is not normal!! in a way that said it was lke nothing I'd ever seen before. The immediate memory of that fear and sadness is tempered by our friends, family and colleagues both locally and around the world that rose to support and comfort us. So let us go again to be with ou

Rowley Center at SUNY Orange in Middletown The United States is known as a “melting pot.” People from all over the world have come to America and call It their own. Hundreds of ethnic and nationality groups comprise the population. Within those groups are hundreds of sub-groups based on language, religion, customs, and race. Orange County has a long history with many changes. Population shifts have occurred during the centuries. One that has recently evolved is the movement

Family, Friends and constituents came to Stewart Airport on Saturday to welcome their much appreciated representative and share the hopes they have been praying for that this day he would return safe and unharmed. For the past 9 months. Assemblyman Maher has been very far from his home in Orange County where he was previously Mayor of the Village of Walden and Town Supervisor of Montgomery. and the other counties he now represents as Assemblyman in the 101st District (Delawa

Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County) secured $500,000 in state funding for the Town of Blooming Grove’s purchase of eight acres of land directly adjacent to Lasser Park for the preservation of open space. SPECTRUM NEWS INTERVIEW OF SENATOR JAMES SKOUFIS AND BLOOMING GROVE SUPERVISOR ROB JEROLOMAN BY JOHN CAMERON AT LASSER HOMESTEAD EARLIER THIS WEEK (Click the link below AND the URL for the video) Historic farmhouse being preserved in Blooming Grove This acreage was purch

With a little help from our website's "Remembering Program", we recall the hard work and generosity of Senator Bill Larkin. Just about a year before his death at 91, on August 31, 2019, Senator Larkin met with grateful members of the Blooming Grove Community, Supervisor Rob Jeroloman and Washingtonville Mayor Tom DeVinko and Highway Superintendant Wayne Kirkpatrick with a check for $444,000 from the NY Municipal Facilities Program, administered by the Dormitory of New York,

She may be known as the “Five Foot Baker", but don’t let that fool you. Jillian Gonzalez is packed with energy, education (graduate of Johnson-Wales University, with majors in Entrepreneurship and Bakery skills). She has a yearning for creative baking designs, learning and experimenting with new ideas for her craft, and loves the sense of working with her hands. We talked about some potential areas for growth for the sweet building tucked behind Washingtonville Pharmacy, to

The first of this series is tomorrow, Monday August 31 at the SUNY Orange Rowley Science Center in Middletown, and and it should be fascinating regarding Local Tree Diveersity. With construction and housing development ever growing in our area, information about local tree diversity is a topic that includes very useful and necessary information.

67 Rock Ridge Rd, Sugar Loaf/Chester, NY - Screenshot from video Note: Check former post with more info and images from Sugar Loaf Community Foundation Chester - As of late this evening this fire apparently started several nearby brush fires and was upgraded to 4-Alarm. A Facebook follower named Crystal Commuting shared a video that showed a very smoky image of what could be a major part of the home still standing and the area filled with tanker trucks, firemen from 4 Distr

Sirens could be heard between 7 and 8pm Tuesday evening in Blooming Grove, rushing toward Chester, and continued for almost 2 hours as it became 3-Alarm. Orange & Rockland Fire posted that the fire was at 67 Rock Ridge Road, where there is a nearly $!M Million home and just over 6 acres. One resident said he had seen 6 or 7 firetrucks going through Washingtonville toward Chester and a firefighter told another resident that "It's a major fire", which is certainly backed up by

Photo by Anne Carlisle Safe Harbors of the Hudson announces installation of artist Sophy Tuttle’s native species-inspired mural on Safe Harbors Green The installation is a Commissioned mural marks the ten-year anniversary of the Green as a growing and thriving community space. NEWBURGH, NEW YORK, August 25, 2026—Safe Harbors of the Hudson, a Newburgh-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming lives and building community through housing and the arts, today announced the

Washingtonville Police Chief Brian Zaccaro sent a Letter of Recognition this week to 3 Washingtonville police officers, who were contacted to see if they might by any chance be able to track down some lost cash. The department stepped up in an effort to locate $600 which a local resident had lost in the area of Hennessy's Liquors and May's Field earlier in the week. With quick action and the help of video footage in the area the money was quickly recovered. Chief Zaccaro not

During the past few weeks there have been numerous reports of black bears in this corner of Orange County, including several near Washingtonville's Center, three in the Whispering Hills Development in Chester and one on the Heritage Trail. This is the time of year when adult animals who have had Spring offspring are allowing their growing babies to wander farther and start to search for food on their own. This can be dangerous if a human happens to walk between the Momma Be

Flowers, family, friends, community, books, history, a well-lived life. Dona did it all. Although I never met her it was a pleasure to hear about her and spend time with those that traveled life's road with her. On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the Woodbury Historical Societyhonored Dona Weyant, a former member of the Historical Society and alocal librarian. The Dona Weyant Memorial Garden has been installed at the Rushmore Memorial Library Building which is now the home of the Wo

The Mountains beyond the Sunflowers by Dan Angeli Note: all of the plein artwork below is by Dan Angeli Long known as a small "Country Town" at the edge of the Catskills that was once part of Cornwall, Blooming Grove Is making some leaps into the kinds of Art and History projects and venues that Cornwall has long been known for. With the new Guilty Pleasures Cafe already offering a list of coming attractions (and located almost immediately adjacent to where the Schunnemunk R

It was a trip back in time to the 60’s at Vern Allen Park on Saturday, with the “Mustang Band’s 60’s music, and it really felt like an alternate reality. After a hot Summer afternoon a cool breeze had attendees spread comfortably wide across the expansive lawn. The mood was relaxed while couples in their seventies and eighties took a nostalgic ride with the sounds of Twist & Shout and listened to the Everly Brothers croon “Dream, Dream, Dream” and the more cheerful refrains

7/29/2026 -A fun and educational evening drew several dozen Washingtonville residents to a presentation about a famous local millionaire native, David H. Moffat, after whom the Moffat Library is named, by Village Historian Jeanne Versweyveld. Jeanne Versweyveld, Village of Washingtonville Historian This was the first official theatre Event produced last week at the brand new Guilty Pleasures Cheesecakes Cafe on Depot Street in Washingtonville, since purchased by Patrick and J

HVCU CHARITABLE FOUNDATION AWARDS $550,000 IN GRANTS TO NONPROFITS ACROSS NEW YORK$383,900 Invested in 50 Mid-Hudson Valley Organizations MID-HUDSON VALLEY, NY (July 23, 2026) – Hudson Valley Credit Union (HVCU) announced that the HVCU Charitable Foundation recently awarded $550,000 in grants to 80 nonprofits across its 13-county footprint, helping to expand access to essential resources in four key categories of need – education, food, health and housing. A total of $383,90

Munsee Wolf Clan, LLC Launches Initiative to Preserve Indigenous Heritage, Expand Educational Opportunities, and Foster Tourism and Community Development July 21, 2026 Munsee Wolf Clan, LLC proudly announces the launch of a comprehensive initiative dedicated to preserving and protecting the history, language, traditions, and cultural heritage of all Indigenous people while creating lasting educational, economic, and community opportunities for future generations. Built on the

Right at our favorite MetLife Stadium in Rutherford, plans are still on to hold the FIFA Final World Cup at 3pm tomorrow (unless smoke from the California fires is heavy enough to cause a health risk). Amada's Kitchen, at 6 Depot Street in Washingtonville, has big screens and specials to celebrate the day, including drinks at half price, so grab a friend or two and have a drink and Taco ($2) or Chicken Wings ($1). This year's World Cup has been spectacular, with soccer stars

Storm wreckage last week in many areas of the Lower Hudson Valley One week ago, people in New York were still reeling from a Microburst and accumulations of 6 to 9 inches of rain in just over 24 hours. How did Blooming Grove and Washingtonville fare? Remarkably well. When the 250th Birthday of the United States on the 4th of July has awesome celebrations but also a lot of cancellations, you know the warnings of severe weather were correct. In some towns and cities there wer

This series is being offered at the SUNY- ORANGE Middletown Campus at the Rowly Center and is available both in person and via Zoom, at no charge.

Monroe Village Mayor, Alex Melchiorre had a special care for retrieving this time capsule since he was present when it was set in the earth 50 years ago. He clearly enjoyed having some very young children help dig it up...many with a little assist from their dads. Some day this young man will have a fond memory of digging the first shovel to unearth Monroe's Time Capsule Fathers and mothers are teaching their children some important lessons and joys about honoring the past. D

A display of some of the Village of Washingtonville's Colonial Era buildings was assembled by Jeanne Versweyveld. Above, Felix Versweyveld man's the table while below Jeanne Versweyveld, who is the Village Historian, describes details of the buildings to some interested residents. Wait! is that Ben Franklin, or Thomas Jefferson? A number of men made perfect images of what they described as the "Day After" the American Constitution was written. They said there was "much dis

Some 4th of July Events have canceled due to extreme heat or rescheduled Events due to potential thunderstorms- So if you are still looking for a place to celebrate come join us at L. Vern Allen Park at 5-10pm tonight. And nobody said you can't attend multiple events... this one has over 20 food vendors, live music, colonial displays, and more.. Village Police Chief, Brian Zaccaro has issued some helpful guidelines to help keep everyone safe:

Senator James Skoufis, District 42 (D) From the Office of Senator James Skoufis