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A year to remember Another large crowd celebrates New Year's Eve and Apple Eve on Railroad Avenue

| 03 Jan 2018 | 12:08
    Photos by Roger Gavan The Apple raising was scheduled two hours before the main event.
    Photos by Roger Gavan The Apple raising was scheduled two hours before the main event.
    Considering the fact that it was zero degrees and even lower if you factor in the wind chill, it’s surprising that anyone would be outside or even in the huge tent on Railroad Avenue to usher in the New Year at the second annual Apple Eve.
    Considering the fact that it was zero degrees and even lower if you factor in the wind chill, it’s surprising that anyone would be outside or even in the huge tent on Railroad Avenue to usher in the New Year at the second annual Apple Eve.
    During a brief ceremony Mayor Michael Newhard (right), joined by Sesquicentennial Events Coordinator Mary Collura and Village Trustee William Lindberg, told a group of about 30 residents that retired architect David Brandt spearheaded the Warwick Beautification Committee and was responsible for many of the improvements in the Village. The cut out Village scape was done by Narciscus Keys who is on the DPW staff.
    During a brief ceremony Mayor Michael Newhard (right), joined by Sesquicentennial Events Coordinator Mary Collura and Village Trustee William Lindberg, told a group of about 30 residents that retired architect David Brandt spearheaded the Warwick Beautification Committee and was responsible for many of the improvements in the Village. The cut out Village scape was done by Narciscus Keys who is on the DPW staff.
    The time capsule will contain all of the details, planning and results of the yearlong Sesquicentennial events and celebrations to help guide a bicentennial committee 50 years from now.
    The time capsule will contain all of the details, planning and results of the yearlong Sesquicentennial events and celebrations to help guide a bicentennial committee 50 years from now.
    Visitors braved the cold inside the tent with hot drinks and baked goods.
    Visitors braved the cold inside the tent with hot drinks and baked goods.
    Despite the cold - and it was very, very cold - people were there to help with the countdown during the drop of the New Year’s Eve Apple “ball,” in a Macintosh apple shape, lit from within and wrapped in bands of light.
    Despite the cold - and it was very, very cold - people were there to help with the countdown during the drop of the New Year’s Eve Apple “ball,” in a Macintosh apple shape, lit from within and wrapped in bands of light.

WARWICK — Considering the fact that it was zero degrees and even lower if you factor in the wind chill, it's surprising that anyone would be outside or even in the huge tent on Railroad Avenue to usher in the New Year at the second annual Apple Eve.
But they were there to help with the countdown during the drop of the New Year's Eve Apple "ball," in a Macintosh apple shape, lit from within and wrapped in bands of light.
It was also an opportunity to close out the Village of Warwick's 150th year celebration or Sesquicentennial.
Last year, during Warwick's first-ever New Year's Eve community celebration, Mayor Michael Newhard had suggested that Apple Eve become an annual event.
"I think we created an event to come together as a community," he said at that time. "That's what Warwick's all about."
David Brandt's visionBecause of the Arctic blast of cold air, however, not too many revelers showed up for the early events which included the burying at Railroad Green of another time capsule, designed and created by retired architect David Brandt.
During a brief ceremony Newhard, joined by Sesquicentennial Events Coordinator Mary Collura and Village Trustee William Lindberg, told a group of about 30 residents that Brandt, who now lives in Europe with his wife, Ana, spearheaded the Warwick Beautification Committee and was responsible for many of the improvements in the Village.
Newhard stated that the Village of Warwick would not be what it is today without his passion, energy and vision.
The time capsule will contain all of the details, planning and results of the yearlong Sesquicentennial events and celebrations to help guide a bicentennial committee 50 years from now.
Contributions from manyThe mayor also expressed his gratitude to the members of the DPW who prepared the site.
During the evening DJ Christopher Ford warmed up the huge tent with dance music as visitors braved the cold with hot drinks and baked goods while enjoying a photo booth, a magic show and the Apple raising, which was scheduled two hours before the main event.
And there was a surprise visit by the "Headless Horseman," aka Lee Dillion, rider and owner of Corinthians Horse Stables on Foley Road.
Among those who contributed to the success of the event were Burger King, Frank's Pizza, Larry's Deli, Dunkin Donuts, ShopRite, Richard Kimble Tank Masters Environmental, Corinthians Horse stables and other merchandise donors.
"Our special thanks," said Newhard, "go to Jean Claude's Patisserie for an incredible cake that was the final, most beautiful and edible tribute to the Sesquicentennial. This was the end to an amazing year of events and volunteerism. We described this Apple Eve as a bridge to the future and after all the fanfare, parades and time capsules it's fun to speculate what the next 50 years has to hold."
- Roger Gavan