Orange County Responds Swiftly to Gas Emergency
A gas line emergency in the Town of Woodbury triggered a county and local municipal response, of which I was super proud. The Orange County Emergency Services team, Town of Woodbury Supervisor Kate Luciani, the New York State Police, Town of Woodbury Police, Fire, EMS, the American Red Cross, and others all jumped into action to work together to assist residents who were displaced and get the situation remedied as safely and as quickly as possible.
Their coordinated efforts stabilized the situation and ensured that individuals, families, and their pets were safe. A special thank you to Colleen from Jay's Deli in Highland Mills, who worked late into the night to provide food for those temporarily sheltered at the Town of Woodbury Senior Center. Central Hudson also worked diligently to get everyone back into their homes as soon as possible. Moments like this remind me how strong our community truly is and how teamwork is so essential.
On the topic of strong communities, I want to express my gratitude to our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the Orange County District Attorney and the Sheriff's Office, for their continued efforts to keep guns and fentanyl off our streets. Their dedication makes the county a safer place for everyone, especially our children, and reminds us once again how critical it is for agencies and organizations to work together to protect our neighborhoods.
That same spirit of service was on full display as we recently celebrated the good citizenship of a few incredible residents. Congratulations to Terry and Jacqueline Murray of Cornwall and Donna Drybred of Goshen, our 2025 Seniors of the Year! Their lives have been shaped by generosity and commitment to their communities, whether championing youth programs, supporting local nonprofits, or beautifying neighborhoods. Thank you to each of them for inspiring us all.
Speaking of inspiration, love is in the air this summer! I had the honor of officiating Orange County DPW EFS Deputy Commissioner Bob Gray's beautiful wedding on the water, fireworks included. I also celebrated my friend Jim Delaune's (of the Orange County Land Trust) daughter's wedding, as well as the wonderful celebration of Christian and Jourdan. Christian, one of the owners of Pasta D'oro at The Jolly Onion, and Jourdan, who works with us in county government, are a terrific couple. Congratulations to all the newlyweds!
Summer is a perfect time to support local businesses, and I was glad to stop at Kerry's Kones in New Windsor to enjoy a sweet treat served with a smile. Small businesses like Kerry's are the backbone of our community, so if you're nearby, stop in and show them your support. If you know of any others that I should check out, please let me know!
Looking ahead, don't forget, the New York Air Show is just three weeks away! Join us on Aug. 23 and 24 at the Orange County Airport for an unforgettable event featuring the F-22 Raptor Demo, MV-22 Osprey Demo, P-51 Mustang Demo, the West Point Parachute Team, and the exciting CyberBeast vs. Cybertruck showdown. Grab your tickets now at https://air.show/ny-purchase-tickets/ and get ready for an exciting weekend.
And finally, an amazing personal adventure to share: As part of Shark Week, I took my two sons, ages 8 and 11, swimming with sharks in Florida. No cage, just us in the open water alongside black-tip, bull, hammerhead, tiger, lemon, and a few other shark breeds. My boys were fearless! We even had a National Geographic photographer capture the experience while I worked on improving my GoPro skills. For those who fish, you'll appreciate that we always release the sharks we catch, using circle hooks, which are now law in most states, to ensure they're hooked safely in the mouth. Many species are endangered, and seeing them up close is both humbling and incredible.
It's been a summer full of teamwork, celebration, and unforgettable experiences. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Air Show and, as always, around the county!
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Epoch Times
a day ago
- Epoch Times
Orange County Responds Swiftly to Gas Emergency
One of the things that makes Orange County so special is how our municipalities come together to help one another and our residents in times of need. Last week, we had a great example of that willingness to help and community spirit in action. A gas line emergency in the Town of Woodbury triggered a county and local municipal response, of which I was super proud. The Orange County Emergency Services team, Town of Woodbury Supervisor Kate Luciani, the New York State Police, Town of Woodbury Police, Fire, EMS, the American Red Cross, and others all jumped into action to work together to assist residents who were displaced and get the situation remedied as safely and as quickly as possible. Their coordinated efforts stabilized the situation and ensured that individuals, families, and their pets were safe. A special thank you to Colleen from Jay's Deli in Highland Mills, who worked late into the night to provide food for those temporarily sheltered at the Town of Woodbury Senior Center. Central Hudson also worked diligently to get everyone back into their homes as soon as possible. Moments like this remind me how strong our community truly is and how teamwork is so essential. On the topic of strong communities, I want to express my gratitude to our local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, along with the Orange County District Attorney and the Sheriff's Office, for their continued efforts to keep guns and fentanyl off our streets. Their dedication makes the county a safer place for everyone, especially our children, and reminds us once again how critical it is for agencies and organizations to work together to protect our neighborhoods. That same spirit of service was on full display as we recently celebrated the good citizenship of a few incredible residents. Congratulations to Terry and Jacqueline Murray of Cornwall and Donna Drybred of Goshen, our 2025 Seniors of the Year! Their lives have been shaped by generosity and commitment to their communities, whether championing youth programs, supporting local nonprofits, or beautifying neighborhoods. Thank you to each of them for inspiring us all. Speaking of inspiration, love is in the air this summer! I had the honor of officiating Orange County DPW EFS Deputy Commissioner Bob Gray's beautiful wedding on the water, fireworks included. I also celebrated my friend Jim Delaune's (of the Orange County Land Trust) daughter's wedding, as well as the wonderful celebration of Christian and Jourdan. Christian, one of the owners of Pasta D'oro at The Jolly Onion, and Jourdan, who works with us in county government, are a terrific couple. Congratulations to all the newlyweds! Summer is a perfect time to support local businesses, and I was glad to stop at Kerry's Kones in New Windsor to enjoy a sweet treat served with a smile. Small businesses like Kerry's are the backbone of our community, so if you're nearby, stop in and show them your support. If you know of any others that I should check out, please let me know! Looking ahead, don't forget, the New York Air Show is just three weeks away! Join us on Aug. 23 and 24 at the Orange County Airport for an unforgettable event featuring the F-22 Raptor Demo, MV-22 Osprey Demo, P-51 Mustang Demo, the West Point Parachute Team, and the exciting CyberBeast vs. Cybertruck showdown. Grab your tickets now at and get ready for an exciting weekend. And finally, an amazing personal adventure to share: As part of Shark Week, I took my two sons, ages 8 and 11, swimming with sharks in Florida. No cage, just us in the open water alongside black-tip, bull, hammerhead, tiger, lemon, and a few other shark breeds. My boys were fearless! We even had a National Geographic photographer capture the experience while I worked on improving my GoPro skills. For those who fish, you'll appreciate that we always release the sharks we catch, using circle hooks, which are now law in most states, to ensure they're hooked safely in the mouth. Many species are endangered, and seeing them up close is both humbling and incredible. It's been a summer full of teamwork, celebration, and unforgettable experiences. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Air Show and, as always, around the county!
American Military News
2 days ago
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Pics: 1,600-year-old Christian church warning uncovered
Archaeologists recently uncovered a mysterious 1,600-year-old warning inscribed at the entrance of an ancient Christian church in Olympus, an abandoned city located in Turkey. According to Fox News, Anadolu Agency, a state-run news agency in Turkey, confirmed that the discovery was made during a recent excavation at Olympus, which is located in the country's Antalya province. The outlet noted that while continued excavations have taken place in Olympus since 2006, a recent excavation operation resulted in archaeologists discovering multiple mosaic floors in the abandoned city. Excavator Gokcen Kurtulus Oztaskin, a professor at Pamukkale University, told Anadolu Agency that Olympus 'continues to surprise' archaeologists. 'We discovered beautifully decorated mosaic floors in both the main hall and annex of the church,' Oztaskin stated. 'Most notably, a mosaic inscription was found directly in front of the entrance, with the phrase: 'Only those on the right path may enter.'' READ MORE: 1,600-year-old settlement discovered with Roman military artifacts The excavator and professor added that archaeologists discovered 'richly decorated mosaic floors' at the Olympus excavation in 2017, 2022, and 2023 before uncovering and restoring the 'floor mosaics of Church No. 1.' Pictures of the recent archaeological discovery have been shared on X, formerly Twitter. 🇹🇷 'ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS MAY ENTER': 1,600-YEAR-OLD CHRISTIAN WARNING UNEARTHED IN TURKEY In the ruins of ancient Olympos, archaeologists just uncovered a fifth-century church with a chilling message carved at its entrance: 'Only those on the righteous path may enter here.'… — Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) August 4, 2025 According to Fox News, the mosaics recently discovered by archaeologists also featured the names of various benefactors as well as vegetable motifs. Fox News reported that the warning inscribed on the mosaic found at the entrance to the church in Olympus has not been seen since the city was abandoned by the 12th century. Fox News reported that Olympus features Roman, Byzantine, and Hellenistic architecture, as the city was inhabited for several centuries before it was abandoned by the 12th century. The outlet noted that notable discoveries at Olympus have included the Lycian Marcus Aurelius Archepolis Monumental Tomb, the Bishop's Palace, and the Antimakhos sarcophagus. Other archaeological discoveries at Olympus have included a bridge, a city entrance complex, and multiple church buildings. Looking toward future archaeological excavations at Olympus, Oztaskin said, 'At the end of last season, we identified ashlar masonry walls that suggest the presence of a monumental temple. Based on its layout and construction technique, this area will be a major focus of our 2025 excavation program.'
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3 days ago
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Ancient Christian church reveals mysterious 1,600-year-old warning to nonbelievers: ‘Only the righteous'
Advertisement Archaeologists in Turkey recently excavated the ruins of a millennia-old city, revealing a fifth-century Christian church with a message that hasn't been seen in over 1,000 years. The excavation took place at Olympus, an ancient Lycian port city in Turkey's Antalya province, according to Anadolu Agency (AA), a state-run news outlet in Ankara. The city has been excavated continuously since 2006, but during the recent season, archaeologists uncovered multiple mosaic floors, along with large storage jars called pithoi. Excavator Gokcen Kurtulus Oztaskin, an associate professor at Pamukkale University, told AA that the site 'continues to surprise us with its mosaics.' Advertisement The professor noted that 'in 2017, 2022 and 2023, we discovered richly decorated mosaic floors at the sites we worked on. This year, we uncovered and restored the floor mosaics of Church No. 1.' 4 During the recent season, archaeologists uncovered multiple mosaic floors, along with large storage jars called pithoi. Anadolu via Getty Images The most striking discovery was an inscription found at Church No. 1's entrance. Oztaskin translated the message as: 'Only those on the righteous path may enter here.' Advertisement Olympus was abandoned by the 12th century — meaning the inscription has not been seen since. 4 The most striking discovery was an inscription found at Church No. 1's entrance. Anadolu via Getty Images The mosaics also featured vegetable motifs, a common artistic element of the era. The names of benefactors were also visible on the mosaics, indicating that an affluent class once flourished in Olympus. Advertisement Excavators also found a newly uncovered building that resembles a temple, though more work will be done to determine its age and function. 4 Oztaskin translated the message as: 'Only those on the righteous path may enter here.' Anadolu via Getty Images Olympus was in use for several centuries. It still bears some remnants of Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine architecture. Archaeologists have uncovered multiple churches, a bridge and an entrance complex. They also found the Bishop's Palace, the Antimakhos sarcophagus and the Lycian Marcus Aurelius Archepolis Monumental Tomb. 4 The mosaics also featured vegetable motifs, a common artistic element of the era. Anadolu via Getty Images The discoveries come on the heels of several recent breakthroughs in early Christian archaeology. Advertisement Earlier this spring, an archaeologist uncovered an ancient Christian settlement in Jordan known as Tharais. Last year, historians unveiled the earliest-known evidence of Christianity north of the Alps, in the form of a silver inscription.
