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2014: The year that was

| 01 Jan 2015 | 03:49
    Best of 2014: While it may be hard to fix an exact number to how many people were at Applefest on Sunday, Oct. 5, most agreed the crowd was among the largest - if not the largest - ever to come to the village for this celebration of apples and Warwick. This image was taken at 12:49 p.m. at an elevation of 440 feet by Larry Miri of Truform Media Group. He used DJI Phantom 2+, a flying camera that takes high-definition videos and photographs; it also comes equipped with a GPS.
    Best of 2014: While it may be hard to fix an exact number to how many people were at Applefest on Sunday, Oct. 5, most agreed the crowd was among the largest - if not the largest - ever to come to the village for this celebration of apples and Warwick. This image was taken at 12:49 p.m. at an elevation of 440 feet by Larry Miri of Truform Media Group. He used DJI Phantom 2+, a flying camera that takes high-definition videos and photographs; it also comes equipped with a GPS.
    Best of 2014: The horse-drawn hearse traveling along West Street near Pelton Crossing on the way to St. StephenþÄôs Church in October. The journey fulfilled the wishes of Warwick resident Richard Katstra, who had passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 11. He was buried in the Warwick Cemetery. Photo by Robert G. Breese.
    Best of 2014: The horse-drawn hearse traveling along West Street near Pelton Crossing on the way to St. StephenþÄôs Church in October. The journey fulfilled the wishes of Warwick resident Richard Katstra, who had passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 11. He was buried in the Warwick Cemetery. Photo by Robert G. Breese.
    Best of 2014: A young man holds a sign that reads þÄúLets Make Warwick A Safe Zone For All,þÄù one of the main messages of the first Gay Pride Parade in Orange County held on June 22 in the Village of Warwick. It was organized by the LGBTQ Center of the Warwick Valley, whose goals include building þÄúa bridge between the surrounding communities to facilitate and educate tolerance and respect,þÄúmaking all of our community a safe and healthy place to live and play.þÄù The second annual OC Pride weekend is scheduled for June 19-21. Photo by Robert G. Breese.
    Best of 2014: A young man holds a sign that reads þÄúLets Make Warwick A Safe Zone For All,þÄù one of the main messages of the first Gay Pride Parade in Orange County held on June 22 in the Village of Warwick. It was organized by the LGBTQ Center of the Warwick Valley, whose goals include building þÄúa bridge between the surrounding communities to facilitate and educate tolerance and respect,þÄúmaking all of our community a safe and healthy place to live and play.þÄù The second annual OC Pride weekend is scheduled for June 19-21. Photo by Robert G. Breese.

WARWICK — Top story lists can be arbitrary, so perhaps this list is no different. What follows, though, is a summary of five events, groups or people who affected life within the community known as Warwick:

‘This changes everything’
That’s how Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton described the town’s purchase of the former Mid-Hudson Correctional Facility, located on Kings Highway between Warwick and Chester, last January.

The town purchased the entire 740 acre site from the state and will use about 200 acres for economic purposes and a significant portion of the property for public recreation, such as beach and boating sites on Wickham Lake, and aquifer protection for Warwick’s water supply.

In September, Tony Abbatine, founder of Frozen Ropes Training Centers, purchased 36 acres that includes the main prison compound, for more than $1.7 million. Abbatine described his vision for the property as a sports village, known as “The Yard,” and overnight summer camp. Abbatine will re-purpose the prison property’s buildings to create the sports training center.

More development is expected in the coming year.

The Warwick Valley School District

The school district remains an influential stakeholder within the Warwick community. Longtime School Superintendent Dr. Ray Bryant retired at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Under his watch, the district was recognized for its effort to increase student participating in AP courses; Warwick Valley also was named one of the “Best Communities for Music Education” for the second year in a row.

The School Board appointed Dr. David Leach as the new superintendent of schools. Other administrative changes included Richard Linkens, the high school principal, being named the Director of School Operations and the appointment of Dr. Larry Washington as high school principal.

Meanwhile, the school board continues its efforts to push for fair funding for education from Albany.

Bag it
In October, Sustainable Warwick, a non-profit organization focused on both the environment and quality of life in Warwick, launched a campaign to address the use of single-use plastic shopping bags in both the town and village.

“Single-use plastic bags are one of the major environmental threats world-wide,” said Julia Calderon, a spokeswoman for the group. “They do not biodegrade, but rather break down into tiny toxic particles that get into our food chain, and into us.“

Toward the end of the year, Sustainable Warwick reported that more than 600 people had signed its petition to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic bags throughout the town. A good number of merchants also made the petition available in their establishments.

The group’s goal is a 1,000 signatures before it presents the request for action from the town and village boards.

Shop local
Throughout the year, Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce sponsored mixers, networking and educational events, the new tourism initiative, Operation Clean Sweep, the Warwick Valley Farmers Market, the annual Tourist Guide, EXPO, the 20th Taste of Warwick, Applefest and the presentation of awards to businesses and business leaders at its 75th annual membership dinner.

Those efforts resulted in an increase in membership to more than 500 members.

The chamber also reported 53 ribbon cuttings for grand openings and anniversaries this past year (there were 28 in 2013).

The result is a vital business community.

Friends we lost
Early in the year we mourned the passing of longtime members of the community. Among them:

Warwick business owner Carol Bartnowski, who had spearheaded many worthwhile business promotions and community events.

Clayton Eurich, a former citizen of the year, whose efforts with the Boys Scouts touched hundreds of young men.

Dr. Jerry Quint, the former chief of the medical staff at St. Anthony Community Hospital, whose gift was that he knew no obstacle when it came to helping others.