Voters in the Villages of Florida, Greenwood Lake, and Warwick will head to the polls on Tues.., Mar. 16. The Warwick Valley Dispatch invited all candidates to submit profiles for publication in this special election issue. Candidates were asked to submit a 500-word profile about themselves.
Candidates for Village of Florida Trustee
The only contested race this year is for Village of Florida Trustee with four candidates on the ballot running for two seats on the Board for four-year terms. They are: Alyssa Jahrling (incumbent), John T. Mascis, Matthew J. Roach, and Shanna Sandor (incumbent). Peter D. Barlet is running unopposed for Village of Florida Justice. Voting will take place at the Senior Citizen’s Center, located on Cohen Cir. in the Village of Florida, from 12 noon to 9 p.m.
Alyssa Werner Jahrling
I am seeking your support for re-election as Village of Florida Trustee. I was appointed by Mayor Daniel Harter and enjoy supporting my neighbors in the community. Being fifth generation in Florida, a business owner, and a parent to children at Golden Hill Elementary, I am deeply rooted to our Village. I treasure our small town while also welcoming smart growth that benefits our Village. I graduated as valedictorian from S.S. Seward in 1998, have a BA in Anthropology from SUNY New Paltz, and manage my family’s businesses of Werner’s Ace Hardware and JM Werner Bag. I am passionate about volunteering and serve as the Service Unit Manager for Florida Girl Scouts, a Scout Leader, and a Girls on the Run Coach. I organize youth recreation programs and am always looking for ways to help our community groups.
As Village Trustee, my top priority is continuing to improve our drinking water at Glenmere Lake. I am actively involved in finding ways to upgrade the water treatment plant and filtration process. I have met with water engineers, the DEC, and other experts. I am working hard to speed this process along in the most efficient and fiscally responsible way for you the taxpayer. I want to improve life and business in our Village. We need to take care of our infrastructure and community spaces so we can thrive together. As a current Trustee, I serve as liaison to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Parks and Recreation Department. In these departments, my long-term goals are repairing/expanding sidewalks, retaining walls, and parking lots, building a new basketball court, and adding additional hiking trails, community spaces, and youth programs as the budget allows. I promise to be financially responsible and prioritize the needs of the community for the best possible results.
As a business owner in our Village, I am readily accessible to serve as needed. I have a diverse skill-set and experiences that I can put to use as a Trustee. For Werner’s Ace, I manage our inventory, billing, marketing, purchasing, larger corporate/municipal bids, and lend support to my employees. For JM Werner Bag, I am in charge of sales, purchasing, graphic design, and freight logistics of onion bags and other packaging supplies. I manage budgets, handle payroll and taxes, and work with networks of people to organize projects.
I am available to all residents of Florida if you need a Trustee to speak with. I am committed to our community and will work hard. As a planner and multitasker, I thrive on challenges and enjoy reviewing proposals, researching improvements, and taking action to make things happen for our Village. I am proud to raise my children in Florida and want to continue making a difference. I promise to put the needs of the community first and answer only to you the voters. Please show your support and vote for me, Alyssa Jahrling, for Village of Florida Trustee on Tues., Mar. 16.
John T. Mascis
I’m seeking the office of Village Trustee for one of the two seats open. A brief history regarding me and my qualifications: I love our village and have been a resident for over 20 years. I chose to put my roots in Florida because of its small-town values, beautiful scenic nature and family-oriented life. After purchasing my home, I joined the Florida Fire Department (Highland Engine & Hose Company), where my previous 10 years of public service in other fire departments would serve the Village of Florida.
If elected, my very vast public service career of over 23 years coupled with my professional business experience and education, will serve the Village of Florida as an asset for the people. My public service career experience includes: 2015 to 2020 – served as Fire Commissioner (Chairmen of Finance and LoSap Program) for the Florida Fire District by being elected by the people of the community; 2000 to 2008 – Florida Fire Department (Captain and Lieutenant ranks held); and 1990 to 2000 – other Fire Departments (Captain, Lieutenant, Treasurer, Secretary ranks held).
While being the Chair Commissioner of Finance Committee, I reduced wasteful spending within the Florida Fire District’s Annual Budget. I managed the Florida Fire Department’s members retirement program (LoSAP Program) and adjusted investments to lessen the taxpayer’s contribution to the program. In addition, I worked with the Fire Commission Board to provide the best-in-class fire service to our community. We purchased new equipment while obtaining state grants to lessen the burden of the taxpayers and revised/update the Florida Fire District policies and procedure hand book.
Other accomplishments include: 2007 Appreciation Award for time served as Officer of the Florida Fire Department; 2001 Florida Fire Department Outstanding Member of the Year; and being a highly active member of the Florida Fire Department, training, fundraising and various committees. My professional business career experience includes: Vice President of Sales and Marketing, SIRUI USA, 2016 to present; Director of Sales, Manfrotto Distribution 2011 to 2016; and various sales leadership roles in Samsung & Sony Electronics 1990 to 2011. I am a graduate of Dominican College, NY, Bachelor of Science, Business Management.
In closing, I have been in Public Service since 1990 and have vast experience in the role I’m seeking, Village of Florida Trustee. I love and care deeply about our country, the Village and the people who live in it. I stand for the national anthem, believe in the pledge of allegiance and support our armed services. As a Boy Scout I was taught the “Scout Law” (trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent). These core values resinate with me today and will serve the community to be the voice of the people. I’m running for the people, with the people to serve our community. With your support on Mar. 16, we can resolve issues, find common ground and keep the Village of Florida a great place to live and raise a family.
Matthew Roach
I have had the pleasure of calling Florida, NY home for my entire life. I am a graduate of Pace University with a degree in Public Accounting. I have been working for a large global company for 32 years, serving 25 years in corporate finance and the last seven years as a Regional Sales Director. I consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to call Florida home and share this feeling of community that the Village has to offer with my wife, Denise, of 22 years and my daughter, Alexa, who is a 2020 graduate of S.S. Seward and currently in her first year of college. My family and I are active members in the community. I served as a coach for Florida Little League, Florida Youth Soccer, and St. Joseph’s CYO Basketball. My wife is a Kindergarten Aid at Golden Hill Elementary for over 13 years and has served in various Board positions for Golden Hill and Seward PTA. My daughter is an active Volunteer with the Florida Fire Department.
As Trustee I will support plans that provide opportunities for our existing and new businesses. My parents, Don and Fran Roach, operated Don’s Luncheonette a family business for over 40 years on Main St. in Florida, so I understand the challenges for small businesses and the importance our business district plays in the overall growth of our Village. The Village has gone through a lot of positive improvements over the years and I would like to be part of the Board to continue smart growth and development in this area. As a Board we need to ensure our infrastructure and codes are aligned with our future progress.
I will work to identify opportunities to continue to improve parks, recreation and walking areas. As our community continues to grow it is important that we provide opportunities for all community members – senior citizens and children to have safe areas in the Village for outdoor activities. I will work with organizations to get input and feedback. Currently, there are some important projects under way. One of the top priorities is improving and maintaining the water treatment facility that will deliver residents safe drinking water for years to come. I will work closely with the leadership team to make the best fiscal and budgetary decisions.
My background in corporate finance/budgeting/sales will serve me well as a Trustee. I will utilize these skills to help drive fiscal responsibility and sound decision making. Coming out of this pandemic will require some tough budgetary decisions as state and local aid is an unknown. I will work on opportunities to identify grants and work with our neighboring municipalities. My years of strategic planning will help as we develop a master plan for the Village that will guide us on future growth and development. I will be a representative who operates under the highest ethical standards and with integrity. I am accessible and looking for open communication. Please support me. This is my opportunity to give back to the Village that has supported my family over the years.
Shanna Sandor
I was appointed to fill out a term as a trustee for the Village of Florida. I am now, with your support, seeking to continue in this position, and I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. I attended Monroe-Woodbury High School, and graduated from Orange County Community College, and in my time as a liaison for the Planning, Zoning, and Building Departments and the historical and building preservation committees, I have developed an appreciation for how the Village of Florida works to provide our community with the best living environment. These agencies not only look forward to what we need as a community but also what from Florida’s past needs preservation. In addition, I was more than happy to bring my experience as an administrative assistant for a local engineering firm to my duties as a Trustee.
While I am not a native of Florida, NY, it was the strong sense of community, both generational and among those who chose to make their homes here, that attracted my husband, Michael, and I to the Village we have called home for the past 13 years and where we are raising our two children. And when it came time for us to establish our business, there was no question that it would be in Florida. In my position as owner and manager of our establishment, I have become even more vested in our community. The partnerships we have formed with other local businesses, the support we give each other, and the friendships we have formed with the wonderful members of this community has only confirmed what we knew when we first arrived – we had found a place to call home. I am on the PTA for Golden Hill Elementary School and the PTSA at S.S. Seward, a co-leader in Girl Scouts, and a member of the Chamber of Commerce. I would welcome the opportunity to continue to serve the Village of Florida.
Candidate for Village of Florida Justice
Peter D. Barlet
It has been my privilege to serve as the Warwick Town Justice for many years and when the Florida Village Board asked me to take-on the Florida Village Judgeship in August 2020, I readily agreed to help out. That appointment extended only until March 16, 2021, and I am therefore asking for your support in this election. As many of you may know, my parents lived in the Village of Florida for a long time and when our three children were growing-up, my wife and I spent most of our free time right here. For me, one of the great advantages of being a local Justice is the ability to directly contribute to our local community. It is a connection which benefits not only the local residents, but it allows the local Justices to understand and use local resources in a way that the State Courts are often unable to do. I also enjoy the diversity of cases handled by the local Court and which range from criminal proceedings (including jury trials), civil disputes, vehicle and traffic cases, landlord/tenant matters, municipal code violations, animal cruelty, small claims and other matters which are heard in the Village Court each day.
While access to our Court system remains severely limited as a result of current health restrictions, I have worked hard at keeping the Village Court functioning during these difficult times. In large measure, this has required the Court to transform its operation into an entirely virtual courtroom and which, after much effort, is, today, as effective as our in-person operation ever was. Our cases are not only up-to-date, but our Village Court is now able to use the latest technology which I was successful in securing from the State of New York to make these changes possible. I was also successful in obtaining a State Grant of $5,000.00 toward improving the sound system in Village Hall. I might add, that when in-person access to Village Hall is, again, permitted, I would welcome Village residents to come and see the improvements which the Village Board has recently undertaken in the Village Courtroom.
I believe that my ability to be an effective Justice, requires me to keep pace with the most innovative concepts, new developments and current requirements for administering the Village Court and I believe that my success in moving the Court forward during this most-difficult period is an important reaffirmation of my commitment to this position. My commitment to this position is a more personal one as well. In 2012, I had the honor of being elected President of the New York State Magistrates Association which represents the interests of approximately 2,000 Town and Village Judges across New York. I was the third Orange County Judge to be so honored. Interestingly enough, one of the other Orange County Judges, namely the late Daniel F. Coleman, of Florida, New York, also lead that Association, and I feel privileged to serve in the same position he once held.
Candidates for Village of Greenwood Lake Mayor & Trustees
In the Village of Greenwood Lake, Mayor Jesse Dwyer, and Trustees Tom Howley and Kelli Kelm are all seeking re-election unchallenged for a two-year term. Polls will be open from 12 noon to 9 p.m. at the Greenwood Lake Senior Center, located at 132 Windermere Ave. in Greenwood Lake.
Jesse Dwyer
One of the proudest days of my life was taking the Oath of Office as Mayor of the Village of Greenwood Lake. As a young man who grew up in this Village, it is a distinct honor to serve as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Trustees in the Village I love. Although the past eight years have been challenging, tiring and complex, they have also been exhilarating, entertaining, fulfilling, and full of meaningful accomplishments for which I am very proud. I am grateful for all the support I have received so far, and I am asking for your continued support in the upcoming election.
Though I may be young, my service to the community is extensive. I began my involvement in Village government as a college student commuting from Greenwood Lake to Pace University in Manhattan. While attending college, I served as a member of the Village Planning Board and the Village’s Comprehensive Plan Committee. I then served on the Village Board as a Trustees for nearly three years before running for and earning the position of Mayor. I currently serve as an officer of the G.L. Elks Lodge, active member of the G.L. Coalition, Cub Scout co-den leader, and as a member of the G.L. Ambulance Corp where I proudly received the Corpsman of the Year award for 2020.
My amazing wife, Colleen and I have two wonderful children, Emma and Joseph. Emma attends the Greenwood Lake Middle School while Joseph attends our elementary school. I own and operate a business on our main street and am blessed to have the support of my family and the flexibility to fulfil the demanding duties of Mayor each day. One of the most dynamic things of our local government is the Village Board and our dedicated staff. The Board is made up of some of talented, knowledgeable and dedicated members of our community. The greatest thing about our Board is the diversified skillsets each member brings to the table. We have accomplished so much together, and the entire Board deserves credit for that. The Board has secured over one million dollars in grants to fund critical infrastructure projects, expand recreational opportunities, build parks, expand handicap accessibility at Village buildings, construct thousands of feet of new sidewalks, and much more. We have made great investments and improvements in our community while keeping taxes in check. Exciting things continue to happen in our Village. We recently announced the shift in management of Thomas Morahan Waterfront Park and G.L. Beach from the Town of Warwick to the Village, and we are the new host of the Mid-Hudson St. Patrick’s Day Parade (occurring in September). And that’s just the news coming out in the first two months of 2021!
Although being Mayor has its challenges and difficulties, it goes without saying that I love being Mayor. The past eight years the Board and administration have achieved monumental strides in what we set out to do, and there is much that remains to be done. I look forward to continuing to fight on behalf of ALL residents of this Village and I ask for your vote.
Kelli Kelm
Having been part of the Greenwood Lake community for over 48 years, the opportunity to serve the community through my position on the Village Board is a great privilege. I was raised on East Shore Road and 26 years ago moved to the Village with my husband, Eric where we raised our two children. I am currently employed at Price Chopper in Warwick and my husband is co-owner of J-6 Construction and Development – located in the Village. My youngest Jake now works full time with my husband and my oldest child, Samantha, is currently attending Veterinary Medical School at Iowa State University.
Being an active member of the community is something that my husband and I are both passionate about. Both of us were active members of the Chamber of Commerce and organized and ran the street fair for many years. While raising my children, I coached little league and girls’ softball, was involved in both the girl scouts and boy scouts and served on the PTSA for eight years. Currently, I belong to the Gaelic Cultural Society, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and have been a member of Grace Lutheran Church for over 40 years. The past 10 years I have served as a Village Trustee with the past eight years as the Deputy Mayor. In this time, the Mayor and the rest of the Village Board have and continue to grow and improve our wonderful community.
We, as a Board, have renovated both the Teen Center and the Senior Center, continue to replace Village sidewalks and have supported community organizations so that they can continue to thrive. We are excited to support all the new additions to our community, as well as those that have been here for years. I believe that Greenwood Lake is a wonderful place to live and I could not have asked for a better place to raise my family. Our beautiful community is only possible because of the wonderful people who live here. My goal is to continue to work for you in order to ensure that the people of our Village continue to have a beautiful and safe community where their families can flourish.
Tom Howley
I have proudly served the people of the Village of Greenwood Lake as a Trustee for the last eight years. It has been an honor and a privilege to be a part of the good work that the Mayor and the Board of Trustees have accomplished. I would like your support to be able to continue serving for the next two years. I was born in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Greenwood Lake in 1971 and attended Monroe-Woodbury High School. Immediately after graduation I joined the US Army and served in Germany with the Military Police. I met and married my wife, Romy, while stationed there.
Upon my discharge from the military, we returned to Greenwood Lake and settled in the Victory Acres section of the Village. We raised our two children – a son, Thomas, and a daughter, Jennifer, who both attended Greenwood Lake Schools and Tuxedo High School. I immediately became very involved in many of Greenwood Lakes organizations. I was a longtime coach and president of the Greenwood Lake Little League and CYO Basketball. I am also a past president and 39-year member of the Greenwood Lake Elks Lodge 2067.
I joined the NYC Police Department in 1986 and served in various functions. I retired in 2006 and now work in the private sector providing security. I am also a proud member of the Orange County Shields, the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge in Monroe and the Greenwood Lake Gaelic Cultural Society. Once again, thank you for letting me serve the Village of Greenwood Lake, and I look forward to doing so for many years to come.
Candidate for Village of Warwick Justice
In the Village of Warwick, Judge Jeanine Garritano Wadeson is running unopposed for Village Justice. Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Goodwill Hook & Ladder Co., located at 25 Church St., Ext. in Warwick.
Jeanine Garritano Wadeson
It has been my honor to serve the residents of the Village of Warwick as the Village Justice. This year I am seeking re-election to what hopefully will be my fourth term. I have been a resident of the Village of Warwick since I was nine years old, when my parents built the house in which they raised my sisters and me and where they still live. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have raised our two daughters, a college sophomore and a high school junior, here at our home in Warwick.
As with every aspect of life, the recent public health situation has presented special challenges for local courts. The Warwick Village Court staff and I have worked to comply with mandates issued by the State of New York in maintaining a safe environment for those needing access to our court, implementing technological advances in keeping the Village Justice Court as open and accessible as possible. At my suggestion, the Village Board has recently engaged the services of a municipal prosecuting attorney to handle traffic and parking matters before the Village Court. I believe this will both streamline the process and increase consistency for people who are issued tickets, and also will provide the added benefit of minimizing in-person appearances in the courtroom.
I fully recognize that most people who have reason to appear in local court are not at all happy about being there. Understanding that, I make an effort to treat everyone who appears in my court with the understanding, respect and dignity they deserve. My goal is that, when people leave my courtroom, they feel as though they have been heard. As we hopefully round the corner soon on the pandemic and move beyond some of the restrictions imposed for our mutual benefit and safety, I look forward to being able to continue to serve the people of the Village of Warwick.
