Cross cultural anniversary
WARWICK — On Sunday afternoon, June 30, residents had an opportunity to witness one of the most interesting and colorful events ever held at Railroad Green in the Village of Warwick.
The Town of Warwick and Shanyin County District, Shouzhou City in the People’s Republic of China, celebrated their first anniversary as sister cities with a Chinese cultural presentation.
A thunderstorm on Sunday afternoon threatened to cancel the event but after 10 minutes or so of heavy rain the skies cleared and everyone returned from their temporary shelters to enjoy a cultural presentation that included a Kung Fu martial arts demonstration and traditional lion and dragon dances.
Ag college
One year ago, on June 22, 2012, the Town of Warwick held a welcoming ceremony for a delegation from the People’s Republic of China. The visitors at that time had expressed an interest in forming a sister city relationship and exploring the possibility of establishing an agricultural college on the grounds of the vacant Mid-Orange Correctional Facility.
A year earlier, in 2011, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office announced that the 772.5-acre Warwick Correctional Facility would be shut down to save the state money.
The 2012 meeting, which could have an enormous and positive impact on the local economy, was suggested by the Orange County Partnership, whose mission is to promote economical development, and the Orange County Business Accelerator, a partnership between the Orange County Government and the Orange County Industrial Development Agency.
At that time Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton signed a letter of intent for a friendly exchange between the Shanyin County district of Shanxi Municipality and Warwick.
The document stated that the two regions would discuss agricultural development and cooperation, keep in regular contact and exchange visits periodically.
‘We are very close’
Since that time Winnie Greco, chairman of the New York Sino Agricultural Sciences Organization, has opened an office in Warwick.
The town, its Local Development Corporation and the state have reached a tentative agreement to purchase the Mid-Orange Correctional Facility site for $3.1 million. The closing of the sale is awaiting final authorization from the state.
During his welcoming remarks at the cultural presentation and referring to the purchase, Sweeton stated, “We are very close.”
By Roger Gavan