Warwick Fire Dept. Annual Carnival Returns

By Katie Bisaro

After it was cancelled like so many events last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Warwick Fire Department (WFD) annual carnival will return this year at the end of the month. The WFD received permission to hold the carnival at the regular Village of Warwick Board of Trustees meeting held on Mon., June 7. 

The carnival will be held on Wed., June 23, Thurs., June 24 and Fri., June 25, from 6 to 10 p.m., and on Sat., June 26, from 6 to 10:30 p.m. The carnival will take place rain or shine, cash only, and wristbands will be available every night. Fireworks are scheduled for Saturday night at 10 p.m. with a rain date of Sun., June 27. The carnival is held at Veterans Memorial Park on Forester Ave. in the Village of Warwick. 

Carnival Health & Safety Protocols

To hold the carnival this year, the WFD has put a plan in place to comply with Orange County and New York State Departments of Health and CDC guidelines, specifically as they relate to “Interim Guidance for Amusement and Water Parks,” “Advisory for County Fairs and Local Festivals,” and “Interim Guidance for Food Services” during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

To that end, several protocols will be followed including capacity limits with social distancing; collection of contact information for potential contact tracing efforts; health screenings and taking the temperature of all on-site individuals; mask requirements except while eating or drinking in designated areas; controlled entrances and designated eating areas. Hand sanitizer will be made available throughout the carnival area. High-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces will be regularly cleaned and disinfected. 

For more information or questions, email warwickfire150@gmail.com or message Warwick, NY Fire Department on Facebook.

Community Solar Campaign

Mayor Michael Newhard reported that on Thurs., June 17 at 6 p.m. the Albert Wisner Public Library will present a webinar via Zoom on the Triple Win Community Solar Campaign. 

The Triple Win Community Solar Campaign is a “short term, local effort administered by the Village of Warwick and Sustainable Warwick that brings together groups of potential Solstice and Astral Power community solar customers through widespread outreach and education.” Sustainable Warwick and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will provide resources in support of the campaign. 

Those who sign up for Community Solar will have a “triple win” of benefits. The first benefit is access to alternative energy through connection to a community solar field. Many residents of the Village of Warwick do not have the ability, due to small lots sizes or living in apartments, to take advantage of solar power right at their homes, an opportunity that is now possible through a community solar field. 

Secondly, by signing up, local non-profits will receive a $100 donation. The local non-profits that could benefit include the Warwick Valley Humane Society, Warwick Valley Community Center, Safe Space America, Family Central, Grow Locally Greenwood Lake, and the Town of Warwick Historical Society.

Finally, Orange & Rockland Utility customers who subscribe to community solar will receive a 10% off their electricity bill in addition to a $100 sign-up bonus. The campaign will run until July 15. For more information, email cleanenergy@sustainablewarwick.org.

Public Information on Comprehensive Master Plan

On Thurs., June 17, from 7 to 8 p.m., a virtual public information meeting will be held regarding the Village of Warwick Comprehensive Master Plan. 

The one-hour meeting, held via Zoom, will provide project information for the Comprehensive Master Plan update. There will be polling questions presented throughout the meeting. Additionally, members of the public will be able to ask questions through a chat box with live answers from the project team. The project team includes the comprehensive plan committee, Fairweather Consulting and Alta Planning and Design. 

For more information on attending the presentation via Zoom, and pre-registering to receive an email with the link information, contact Village Hall at 986-2031. A survey will available after the meeting, posted to the Village website, www.villageofwarwick.org. The presentation will also be posted to the Village website and YouTube channel for those who cannot attend.

Antiracism Resolution

The Village Board of Trustees adopted a resolution “expressing community support of antiracism, peaceful protest, and intolerance towards any form of discrimination” at the request of 18 residents who also approached other local municipalities to do the same including the Town of Warwick, Village of Florida, and Village of Greenwood Lake.

The lengthy resolution states, in part, “we [Village Board] recognize that all black and brown lives matter, regardless of gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs, or disbeliefs, immigration status, or location; and the need to cultivate an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism, that embodies and practices justice, liberation and peace in their engagements with one another.”

A copy of the resolution, which was unanimously adopted, will be sent to state officials including the governor, state senators and members of the state assembly.

Outdoor Dining Extended

Pending further extension of Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order, the Village outdoor dining program has been extended through the month of July. The program includes closing a portion of Main St. on Friday and Saturday evenings, 5:30 to 11 p.m., to allow restaurants enrolled in the program to extend their seating on Main St. Restaurants on Railroad Ave. and Spring St. will be allowed to use the entire sidewalk space in front of their establishments and will provide pedestrian passage in the adjacent parking spaces. 

On Sundays, from 12 noon to 4 p.m., there will be no streets closures but participating restaurants will have use of sidewalks in front of their establishments. The adjacent parking spaces will be blocked off for pedestrian access. There will be no outdoor dining on the sidewalks on Sun., July 11 for the benefit of the Merchants Guild Sidewalk Sale.

Village Deputy Clerk Resigns

Village Deputy Clerk Maryann Benedict will be resigning effective Thurs., Aug 5. Mayor Newhard thanked Ms. Benedict for her service to the Village.

Drinking Water Quality Report

The Village of Warwick Annual Drinking Water Quality Report is available for review on the Village website at www.villageofwarwick.org. Mayor Newhard thanked Trustee Barry Cheney and the Water Department team for the work involved in creating the report. Cheney, in turn, recognized and thanked Chris Bennett and Keith Herbert of the Water Department, Village Clerk Raina Abramson and Denise Bulnes for their efforts. He also pointed out the report is available on the village website as well as in hard copy at Village Hall in both English and Spanish.

Summer Concert Series

The Summer Concert Series will resume this summer, changing venues from the Railroad Green to Stanley-Deming Park. 

The following concerts are scheduled: Sat., June 12, Marc Berger at 7 p.m.; Sat., June 19, Uncle Shoehorn at 7 p.m.; Sat., July 3, Free Shrimp Band at 7 p.m.; Sat., July 10, Emish at 7 p.m.; Sat., July 17, No Soap, Radio at 7 p.m.; Sat., July 24, Some Guys & a Broad at 7 p.m.; Sat., July 31, Stoneflower at 7 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 7 – E’lissa Jones at 7 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 14, HVJF, The Eric Pearson Quartet at 7 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 28, Nailed Shutt & Moonshine Creek at 6 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 11, NY Wind Symphony at 6 p.m.; and Sat., Sept. 18, Latin Nite – Cuboricua at 6 p.m.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Village of Warwick Board of Trustees will be held on Mon., June 21 at 7:30 p.m. The meeting may be viewed on the Village of Warwick YouTube Channel. 

After it was cancelled like so many events last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Warwick Fire Department annual carnival will return this year at the end of the month.