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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

As of 11:45 today and tomorrows races are posted as ON...with a post time of 1pm.! However, 2 people out of 10 on a Harness Racing page said they believed today may be canceled with 1pm forecast of 90 degrees. But the main Goshen Track Page still has it listed as ON! Saratoga racing is also as of now listed as ON. We are sure that if races proceed today the horses will receive lots of extra TLC... and fortunately the race itself only lasts for a few minutes. We applaud the G

WHY YOU NEED TO KNOW It may seem like November elections are a long time off. But if the candidates you like have a Primary Contest and don't win it their chance to win November's election is exceedingly slim... they would have to come up with a different party to run under or count on write-in votes. And even if you don't have a favorite that is in a primary, now is the time to start taking November's New York elections seriously. Local officials already ran for their posit

Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County), Assemblymember Chris Eachus (D-New Windsor), and Morgan Slocombe, Regional Representative for Governor Hochul, announced $4 million was secured in the recently enacted state budget to purchase and renovate the St. Patrick’s Education Center in Highland Mills. They were joined by Woodbury Town Supervisor Jacqueline Hernandez, Village of Woodbury Mayor Andrew Giacomazza, and many local residents. Located at 26 Hunter Street, the Educati

Robert Steven Samuelson of Campbell Hall, NY, passed away peacefully at home after a courageous seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer, surrounded by the love of his family. He was 77 years old. He was known to his loved ones as Bob, Bobby, Dad, Grampa, and—most affectionately—Mean Old Uncle Bob. Each one of those names carried a special memory, a story and a piece of the big-hearted man behind them. Born on July 13, 1948, in Brooklyn, NY, Bob moved to Washingtonville, N

Center of the historic Village of Washingttonville Editorial After several years and many thousands of dollars completing a new Comprehensive Plan for the Village, the owners of the Southern Gateway to the Village and very beginning of the Catskill Mountains and Tourism attractions, the owners of the spectacular Southern Gateway View (and one of the last large open space views) made yet another attempt to convince the Village to use it for a new "affordable housing developmen

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Washingtonville's new Village Hall Design shows a classic professionalism with the dark colors and simplicity. And, by the way, Mayor DeVinko shared that the stark black background in the meeting room will eventually be filled with photos of historic Washingtonville people and events. Mayor Tom DeVinko and other board members were full of smiles and offers of assistance as they approved and vowed to support a proposed Eagle Scout project which was presented by Rory Finnerty.

During what was one of the most packed Public Hearings in a year or two at Blooming Grove's Town Hall, about a dozen residents spoke eloquently, suggesting additional conditions to a 25-page set of guidelines that the Town Board has assembled to update its tree-cutting code. Residents have had it with developers who come in and nearly shave the earth of the shade and roots it needs to control temperature and water flow. Each speaker spoke first about their appreciation for t

First Presbyterian Church of Washingtonville - an Official Historic Landmark Due to the hard work of church members and Washingtonville officials, the First Presbyterian Church has become a Landmark, passed by a unanimous vote of the Washingtonville Village Board at its June 1 meeting, and this brings some very important advantages. While the building is for sale it will currently remain an active congregation, and NOW IT CANNOT BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT AN ACT OF THE NEW YORK

SOUTH BLOOMING GROVE INDEPENDENCE COMPANY LEADS THE PARADE OF FIRETRUCKS GOD BLESS THEM ON THEIR LIFESAVING WORK! First Responders would like to be home at a barbecue like everyone else on Memorial Day, but they also love showing their Community Pride by shining up for a big Parade. The weather wasn't great for barbecues on Monday anyway, but they sure got their shine on for the Parade. A group of senior fans who have watched more emergencies than most of us, know what "Ser

Naomi Sewell Richardson Memorial Park is just a block from the Center of the Village of Washingtonville. There will be plenty of exciting activities coming there soon, so stay tuned! A big "Thank You" from Jean Campbell-Galli who is the "Lead" for this project and recognizes the fun and hard work this team is accomplishing:

OSI Leads at NY Land Trust Conference At the Land Trust Alliance’s 2026 New York Conference, OSI staff joined land trust leaders to share tools, exchange ideas, and celebrate recent successes. Continuing the organization’s long tradition of conservation leadership, OSI’s Julia Feller co-led a three-hour workshop demonstrating how land trusts and others can use forest carbon data and online mapping tools to guide conservation investments and highlight the climate benefits of

Bridge Photos courtesy of the Open Space Institute West Point Cadet Bridge Crossing the Moodna Creek 258-Acres of land on the border of the Towns of Chester and Blooming Grove celebrated its new identity this week as Orange County's first new County Park with a beautiful new bridge constructed across the Moodna Creek. The official bridge ribbon-cutting is thanks to the Cadets of West Point who just completed its construction. County Executive, Steve Neuhaus, recently announ

The Ancient Order of Hibernians Bagpipes of Orange County, always a favorite in Washingtonville and other area Parades! Steeped in history, love for its first responders and veterans, the Village of Washingtonville was on edge all week, wondering if their Memorial Day Parade was going to be ruined. Plans were rearranged and modified so that the Washingtonville High School's band instruments would not be ruined if it turned into a downpour. But Mayor Tom DeVinko and his wife

Sadly, due to the consistently rainy weather today, the McDaniel Brothers' Annual Carnival at Very Allen Park in Washingtonville was canceled due to safety concerrns today. Check back on the "We the People of Washingtonville" website for first notice whether it will be open or again canceled tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday since rain is forecasted to continue.

Pictured right to left: Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County), Assemblymember Chris Eachus, (D-New Windsor) Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh) On Saturday May 22 - Senator James Skoufis (D-Orange County) alongside Assemblymembers Jonathan Jacobson (D-Newburgh), Chris Eachus (D-New Windsor), and Paula Kay (D-Rock Hill (not shown), announced a three year extension of the Orange County IDA monitor’s term, as well as an expansion of the oversight and authority necessary

McDaniels Brothers Shows Sponsored by Washingtonville Knights of Columbus Hours: Friday, May 23 - 6pm to 10pm Saturday, May 24 - 3pm to 10pm Sunday, May 25 - 3pm to 10pm Monday, May 26 - 2pm to 8pm One Price Wristbands for Unlimited Rides - $30 Separate tickets available each day

Editorial Hilde of Lake Hildegarde with her SEVEN new cygnets For many years Switzerland has said that one of, if not THE most sensitive measure of its Country's Environmental Health Status is the number and health of its Swan Population. This is because they are particularly sensitive to any negative impacts in the Swiss environment. Having been a big fan of the Mute Swans in Lake Hildegarde for over 25 years (I drive by and watch them nearly every day during the months (a

Pink Hydrangeas A solo show of works by pastelist Vaune Sherin is on display in Orange Hall Gallery Loft , May 12 through June 17, 2026. Entitled Hudson Valley Inspiration ~ a solo show by pastelist Vaune Sherin of paintings inspired by the beauty of the Hudson Valley, demonstrates the artist’s appreciation and admiration of the Hudson Valley region. All of her works are created using pastels which have established a signature look identifying them as hers. Great Blue Heron S

While tonight's Public Hearing on the proposed Blooming Grove Tree Code has been rescheduled to 6/2 at 7pm, the topic has already received a lot of public response. This additional time will present additional opportunity for residents to discuss and develop their opinions about it, and the Board to consider modifications.. Further, since the Tree Code discussion was the main focus of tonight's meeting, there will be NO Meeting tonight, 5/12 Notice will be distributed about

While it’s great to have some DiY skills and the enthusiasm to do home fixes on your own, it is critical to know your limits. A landlord and tenant learned that the hard way in Blooming Grove last week when they tried to repair a sewer line themselves. Apparently believing it was “just a clogged pipe” they opened the pipe and tried to clean it out by themselve! The sewage drained out in the home’s basement. (yes, you read that right). This was a Town-supplied line and at th

Recent landscaping work at the former Camp LaGuardia/future New County Park site has left generous tree buffers. They provide many benefits including buffering of wind, rain and snow, noise, shade, and naturally occuring drainage. This site shares over 200 acres of land between the Town of Chester and the Town of Blooming Grove along which the new Schunnemunk Western Rail Trail Branch is now being created. Tomorrow evening the Town of Blooming Grove will be holding a Public

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