Rest your weary feet on new benches this summer

Village also seeks suggestions for community development funds Warwick — Thanks to a grant through Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, the Village of Warwick will be getting seven benches for along Main Street sometime this summer. “I’m very excited about this,” said Mayor Michael Newhard. “There are really no benches to stop at throughout the village.” The grant amount is $4,524. The iron benches with wooden seats and no backs will be placed at wider portions of Main Street, from Village Hall up to Railroad Avenue, closer to buildings. They are similar to the ones already at the Railroad Green. The village will order the benches in early June from a Connecticut company and hopes to have them delivered by late July. Speaking of grants, the village is looking for ideas to apply to the county for Community Development funds. This federal grant program is offered every year through the county. In the past, the village has gotten funding for non-profit groups to make their facilities handicap accessible and to replace sidewalks in the village. So far, the sidewalks on Howe, Factory and Division streets have been replaced and work is finishing up on John Street. The village projects have to qualify against other municipalities’ projects and have to meet certain income requirements for the area. Priority goes to projects involving senior citizens and the handicapped. All suggestions for the Community Development grant money should be sent to the mayor at Village Hall.