Orange County News Roundup, June 1

Navy’s F-18 Hornet Team to Delight Crowds at NY Air Show

County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said on May 22 that the U.S. Navy’s  F-18 Hornet Demo team will perform a demonstration at the New York Air Show on Sept. 3-4. The renowned Thunderbirds will headline the Labor Day weekend show at Stewart International Airport. “Spectators will have an opportunity to watch some of the best military aircraft in the world perform, piloted by combat veterans.” The F-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic fighter jet capable of being launched and landed onboard an aircraft carrier. It has a top speed of Mach 1.8, almost twice the speed of sound, or approximately 1,200 miles per hour at altitude.

Gillinder Glass ‘Small Business Exporter of the Year’

Gillinder Glass of Port Jervis has been honored by the New York Small Business Development Center as the state’s Small Business Exporter of the Year. “This award shows that people who live and work in Port Jervis, especially our employees, can produce world-class products and services that compete successfully in global markets,” said company president Charles Gillinder at an awards ceremony on May 16. Gillinder Glass directly exports 20 percent of what the company manufactures to 26 countries and every continent in the world and expects to significantly increase exports in the coming years. The company specializes in custom-molded, hand-pressed, clear and colored glass as well as optical prism processing and engineering.

Newburgh City Manager to Stay Put

Although Michael Ciaravino’s contract as Newburgh City Manager expired in May, Mayor Judy Kennedy says he will remain at his job for the time being, reported the Mid-Hudson News. Ciaravino has faced disapproval from two former council members. Kennedy said “With new members, the council appears to be in accord to keep Ciaravino on the job” according to the online news service. “We could let him go, but we are not of that notion right now and what we are trying to do is work through the problems,” Kennedy said. Those problems center on what the council members say is a lack of communication with the city manager. Most recently, the council was upset with Ciaravino’s declaring a state of emergency over contamination of Washington Lake without discussing it with the members. Kennedy said Ciaravino “has done a lot of good things while he is here.”

Sidewalks to be Built along Wallkill’s 211 Shopping District

Town Supervisor Dan Depew told the Mid-Hudson News that work to build sidewalks from Dunning Road to the border with Middletown will begin this summer. The online news service reported a $2 million government grant has been secured and the project will soon go to bid. Depew told the Mid-Hudson News, “it will not only make the road safer for pedestrians, but also provide aesthetic improvements.” The project will reflect improvements on Winning Way which connects the Galleria at Crystal Run with Orange Plaza and bypasses 211—street lamps, landscaping and banners.

West Point Historian Stops Robbery, Awarded for Valor

While on leave in California, West Point Historian Sherman Fleek thwarted a robbery at an I-Hop. For his heroism, the Mid-Hudson News reported Fleek was presented the Army award for valor on May 25 by the Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning at the Pentagon. As Fleek and a friend waited for a table, he heard screams and people running. He saw a man with a gun pointed at the cashier as the man shouted for her to put the money in a bag. A retired lieutenant colonel, Fleek jumped the gunman which allowed the cashier to get behind the counter. Fleek fought with the gunman to take the gun away from him. The robber ran off. No injuries were reported.

Neuhaus Calls for Third Lane on Route 17

On May 27 County Executive Steven Neuhaus said a third lane should be added now that Legoland is close to building a major theme park off Route 17 in Goshen, the Mid-Hudson News reported. Neuhaus told the online news service that the county executive is concerned that with Legoland, the Sullivan County casino and other projects, traffic that is already heavy at times will only get worse. “The traffic that you see on an ordinary weekend or weekday all points to one direction. It’s time to move to a third lane. It’s time to expedite the Harriman interchange,” Neuhaus said.  A grant for $2 million was secured to study a third lane addition from the Harriman interchange to Monticello, more than 12 years ago with no action since.

Woodbury to Build Municipal Center

The boards of both the town and village of Woodbury unanimously approved on May 23 a community center for both municipalities, reported the Photo-News. The center will replace several municipal structures—the Woodbury police headquarters, town hall, and senior center. The Photo-News reported that all the buildings are “overcrowded, falling apart or in need of substantial upgrades to comply with state law.” The center will be built on a site near the Highland Mills fire house, cover 35,000-square feet, and include front and rear parking. There is no official date set for construction to begin but Woodbury officials said they are hopeful that shovels will hit the dirt within a year.

Orange County Holds Senior Health and Fitness Day

With official support from County Exec Steven Neuhaus and District Attorney David Hoovler, three county departments (aging, parks and recreation, and health) hosted the fifth annual Orange County Senior Health and Fitness Day on May 22 at Thomas Bull Memorial Park in Montgomery. “Seniors are living longer and healthier lives,” Neuhaus said, “and Senior Health and Fitness Day celebrates that.” The event encourages seniors to exercise, eat well, and have fun. Throughout the day, the health department’s Healthy Orange team conducted health screenings and distributed health information. Seniors enjoyed healthy cooking and gardening demos, a fitness walk, and other games and activities.

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