Chamber hosted debut ceremony on Friday
“Welcome to the Town of Highlands, the gateway to the Hudson Valley. From Bear Mountain to West Point we have spectacular views of the Hudson River and surrounding mountains. Dining and Shopping are always an option, and each season offers its own outdoor activities. Whether it’s skating, hiking, swimming, leaf peeping or bird watching, we have something for everyone. We also hold many fascinating sites of our nation’s rich history, and we hope you will enjoy it all.”
Those words are on the front cover of a new ‘Guide to the Town of Highlands’, that, along with several large maps of the community, was formally unveiled at a ceremony on Main St. last week.
The visitor’s guide — which has now been placed in local businesses, hotels, the West Point Visitor’s Center and other locations, including Orange County’s Tourism Office — features not only maps of Highland Falls, Fort Montgomery and Bear Mountain, also includes tidbits of local history, and advertising from local businesses.
The visitor’s guide was designed by artist Jay LeRoy, and funded by an Orange County Tourism $4999 grant facilitated by County Legislator Laurie Tautel, Chamber of Commerce President Jim Modlin said at the ceremony. Acting County Executive Harry Porr was on hand at the ceremony.
“This community is like a hidden secret,” Porr said. “This is a beautiful village and town. I drove down from my home in Newburgh this morning; coming down on Rt. 9W, it’s just beautiful, a spectacular place to be. Look at this village. It’s just beautiful.”
Porr said with this project, more people will ‘see’ the Town of Highlands.
“I want to give my congratulations to you all on creative thinking and collaboration,” he closed.
Porr, Modlin, Tautel and Supervisor Bob Livsey unveiled the new map and brochure.
“The goal of this project is to help bring the tourists from West Point and Bear Mountain to the local businesses,” Tautel said. She said she will continue to work with the county executive’s office to have the information in the guide put on the county tourism website.
“We’re sandwiched here in this community between two huge tourist attractions and to bring those tourists here to our Main Sts. is key to the survival of this community and to help it grow.”
Modlin called the distribution of the guide “good for the community”.
“This brochure will help further promote all that our beautiful community has to offer the thousands of annual visitors to our area,” he said, and thanked those who supported the project. ” It would not be possible without the tremendous support of Orange County, the town, and our Chamber of Commerce businesses and members.”
Livsey, who recalled the days when he led the local businessmen’s association (“about 100 years ago!” he said), noted he appreciates the work that was put into the guide.
“The chamber of commerce has done a first class job,” Livsey said. “There are certain things that are very easy to support — our volunteers in this town make things happen. They make my job easy.”
