Modified ‘Too Good To Toss’ Event to Return to Village

By Katie Bisaro

One of the many programs that had to be abandoned last year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic health situation was the popular two-day “Too Good To Toss” event. This event espouses sustainability and community as residents donate/recycle their household goods for which they no longer have a need but are too good to be thrown out. Those in need of goods are able to come and pick items up, extending their useful life and keeping them out of landfills. 

Event coordinator Elizabeth Knight attended, via Zoom, the Village of Warwick Board of Trustees meeting on Mon., Apr. 5 to propose a Covid-friendly event that would allow residents to participate in a responsible and safe manner. In previous years, the event took place at Stanley-Deming Park. Goods would be dropped off on the first day and organized by the event committee. On the second day, hundreds would line up to walk through the tented area to pick up items they needed. In the era of Covid, this scenario is not ideal. 

DIY Event Proposed

In response to the many questions and requests received to hold the event again this year, Knight explained that, for this year, the committee is proposing a do-it-yourself program conducted by individual residents in front of their own homes. 

Signs will be provided to participants with the Too Good To Toss logo and date of the event. Ground rules will be given for participation including Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, as well as instructions regarding acceptable and unacceptable items, and the disposal of any leftover items in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Village of Warwick. The event will take place on the weekend only and items should not be left out overnight. All rules will be self-enforced by the residents.

The Mayor and Trustees were in favor of the modified event and discussed some of the logistics including the pre-registration of participants and specific dates. It was decided that the event will take place on two separate weekends in June. The event organizers will work closely with the Village of Warwick, including the Department of Public Works, to define which dates will work best with the Village’s annual bulk pick-up plan. More information will follow as the details are worked out and will be publicized on the Village of Warwick website, www.villageofwarwick.org and social media.

Garritano-Wadeson Sworn in as Village Justice

The Honorable Jeanine Garritano-Wadeson, newly re-elected as Village Justice, was sworn in for her four-year term prior to the start of the Village Board meeting on Mon., Apr. 5. In what has become a common occurrence in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic health situation, the swearing-in took place via Zoom with Garritano-Wadeson raising her right hand and taking the oath from home while Village Clerk Raina Abramson recited the oath from Village Hall.

Memorial Day Parade 

The Nicholas P. Lesando, Jr. American Legion Post #214 will once again hold its Memorial Day Parade on Mon., May 31. The parade was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This year’s event, like all events in the Village of Warwick, will be held in accordance with the governor’s executive orders with regards to the New York State Regional Phased Reopening Plan and the NYS and Orange County Departments of Health.

As in the past, the parade will step off at 11 a.m. in front of Village Hall on Main St. and will proceed down Main St. to Oakland Ave. to the Warwick Cemetery. The parade will then continue up Galloway Rd. to St. Stephen’s Cemetery before proceeding down Forester Ave. to the Veterans Memorial Park Firemen’s Monument where it will conclude.

Outdoor Dining on Main St.

In a recent survey among Village restaurants, there was an “overwhelming positive response” to bring back outdoor dining on Main St., Railroad Ave., and Spring St. as the weather gets warmer. During the height of the pandemic when restaurant capacity was greatly restricted, allowing eating establishments to move their operations increased outdoor dining space was a boon to those businesses, particularly for those that had no dedicated outdoor area nor parking lots that could be used for the same purpose. 

Closing Village streets such as Railroad Ave. and Spring St. only requires approval from the Village Board. Main St., however, is a state road (Rte. 94) and requires approval from the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). The State Liquor Authority must also be consulted.

Mayor Michael Newhard will apply to NYSDOT for a COVID-19 Recovery Temporary Use Permit to allow temporary closure of Main St. for outdoor dining on Friday and Saturday evenings, 4:30 to 11 p.m. as well as Sunday afternoons, 12 noon to 4 p.m.  

Juneteenth Event

The Board of Trustees approved a motion allowing Power of Words Exposing Racism (P.O.W.E.R) to hold an event on the Railroad Green on Sun., June 19, providing a space for those affected by racism to have their voice heard through poetry. Railroad Ave. will also be closed for the event.

Historically, June 19, known as Juneteenth, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

Wickham Works Outdoor Art Exhibition

Wickham Works will present its Summer 2021 outdoor art exhibition, entitled “Voces/Voices,” that will showcase the work of area artists at the Railroad Green in the Village of Warwick. The art projects will be reviewed by Wickham Works and the Mayor for suitability and will be installed during the week of Aug. 9. The exhibition will take place from Sat., Aug 14 until Tues., Aug. 31.

Public Hearing: Tentative Budget

A public hearing will be held on Mon., Apr. 19 at 7:30 p.m. to review the Tentative Budget for the Village of Warwick for the Fiscal Year 2021–2022. 

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Village Board of Trustees will take place on Mon., Apr. 19, at 7:30 p.m. and may be viewed on the Village’s YouTube Channel.

The Honorable Jeanine Garritano-Wadeson, top right, is sworn in to her four-year term by Village Clerk Raina Abramson, top left, via Zoom, at the start of the Village Bd. meeting held on Mon., Apr. 5