Looking to leave fewer leaves unturned, Village will open brush pile a bit longer

Opening April 15 Warwick — Just a couple extra days can make a difference. This past weekend’s weather inspired folks to get out there with their rakes and pruning shears and start the process of cleaning up. Bags of leaves and brush debris are piled along driveways. So it is good news that the village announced Monday night it will be opening its brush pile. Even better, Trustee George McManus urged the board to open it sooner than planned, something he did last year as well. “I don’t think the brush pile is opened early enough,” said McManus. “I have bags of leaves in my yard. People are cleaning out their yards now. You can’t leave everything there until May.” And so they didn’t. The brush pile will officially open on weekends beginning April 15 through May 28. It will be closed on April 16, which is Easter, and April 22, because of the Little League parade. The brush pile will reopen on Sept. 16 through Oct. 29, closing Oct. 1 for AppleFest. Originally, the board proposed that the pile, which is located at the DPW garage in Veteran’s Memorial Park off Forester Avenue, be open for the month of May and for one less week in September. The brush pile is open to village residents only. In order to get a permit, residents must show proof of residence to the Village Clerk with either a driver’s license or utility bill.