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ello Orange County, and welcome to my new column, where I will share what’s happening around this great County of ours. I have always been passionate about serving my community and making a positive impact. I’m excited to share with you through this column great things going on in OC. Thank you to the County’s newspaper outlets for this opportunity!
Let’s look back at how 2025 began with some events and updates that occurred in January…
The first month of the year was a busy one! To start, some much-needed renovations to a few of the bridges on the Heritage Trail were completed. These new, sturdier bridges will allow for better emergency access as well as improved maintenance access as we grow the Heritage Trail, one of the most utilized parks in Orange County. Our Parks and Recreation team is terrific and working hard to make our parks and recreation areas the best they can be for the residents and visitors alike.
Early January, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Orange County Emergency Services Division of Fire Services Firefighter 1 graduation ceremony at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. It was a wonderful event, filled with pride, dedication, and the true spirit of service. I was honored to witness these brave individuals from almost every fire department in the County receiving well-deserved accolades for their accomplishments. We are fortunate to have these men and women involved in the fire services in Orange County.
I had a wonderful time with the bright and innovative seniors of Cornwall Central High School at the Participation in Government Class’s Civics Fair. These students shared their ideas to improve areas of concern in our communities. It was inspiring to see the future leaders of our society taking such initiative and creating innovative steps towards positive change. They truly want to be a part of the solution, which is both heartwarming and encouraging to see.
It was also last month that I learned I was going to be named the Champion of the Chamber by the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and will be recognized at their Gala in March. This is truly a great honor, and I am humbled to receive this acknowledgment for doing what I love, serving the people of Orange County. I am proud to be part of such a strong and vibrant community, and, as evidenced by my support of the efforts of the Chamber, I am committed to continuing to work towards our County’s growth and success. I am proud to be awarded with other terrific County businesses, such as Healey Brothers Automotive Group, the Regional Food Bank Hudson Valley, and Cosmetic Confidence MedSpa and Wellness. Congratulations on your recognitions.
January also included the ribbon-cutting for The Castle Fun Center’s latest expansion. What an incredible accomplishment and milestone for them! Gotta love Facebook memories, as it provided a reminder that it was exactly 12 years ago to the day that The Castle celebrated its first successful expansion when I was Supervisor of the Town of Chester.
Finally, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Orange County Emergency Services Fire Rescue team for their well-deserved recognition at the State of the State address in Albany for their tireless efforts to thwart the Jennings Creek Fires. Your dedication and hard work did not go unnoticed, and we are grateful for your service.
Have questions you’d like to see answered in future columns? Email them to presscontact@orangecountygov.com. Want to learn more? Follow me on social media to stay up-to-date: Orange County Government and Steven M. Neuhaus on Facebook, @Orange County NY Govt and @steve.neuhaus on Instagram, and @OCGovNY and @SNeuhausOC on X. You can also watch Neuhaus’ NeuCast podcasts and Leadership Speaker Series on YouTube.
