I met last week with some young Cub Scouts from Pack 177. They came to discuss citizenship and what rights as well as responsibilities we share as Americans. We started our discussion in the lobby of Town Hall, pausing at each of the plaques honoring those of our Town who served in our military. Our residents are represented in every major conflict the United States has ever known from the War for Independence to the Civil War to both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Dessert Storm and the wars against terrorism. These young scouts went on to discuss our freedoms as enshrined in our Constitution and our obligations as citizens to exercise those rights.
Throughout all the discussion the scouts realized that these rights have been secured for us by the Veterans who have fought to defend them generations after generations. It is you, the Veteran, we salute on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
The holiday season is upon us, and once again I ask you to remember our local merchants as you fill that holiday wish list. The Town and its three Villages have so many wonderful shops which hold unique treasures that will delight anyone on your list. Small businesses here in Warwick depend on this season for so much of their success, so please shop local.
I would like to remind residents of the Town’s snow regulations: From November 1 through April 1 of the succeeding year the parking of vehicles is hereby prohibited on all highways and other public property of the Town at any time during inclement winter weather. Vehicles in violation of this article will be towed at the owner’s expense. Heeding of this regulation is especially critical for safety in some of our more densely populated areas like Wickham village, Kings Estates/Sugar Hills and many of our hamlets.
I also remind property owners that any person who throws, shovels, plows or places snow or ice onto a public street, highway or right-of-way shall be guilty of a violation and subject to a fine not exceeding $250. These regulations are meant to keep you and your neighbors safe from accidents that can happen when, after the plow trucks have cleared the road, snow is pushed back into them creating driving hazards.
The next Repair Café will be held on Sat., Nov. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with the last repair accepted at 1:30 p.m.), at the Senior Center behind Town Hall. Please bring a Food Pantry donation, box or can. Visit http://www.repaircafehv.org/#welcome1 or www.sustainablewarwick.org. for more information about the Repair Café concept.
The next regular meeting of the Town Board will be held on Thurs., Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Warwick Town Hall, 132 Kings Highway.
The above column, written by Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton, has been published in the Nov. 13 issue of the Warwick Valley Dispatch.
