Stan Martin heads Warwick Rotarians

Club also awards two Silvio Petrucci Scholarships for the Arts WARWICK - Retired newspaper editor and publisher Stan Martin has taken over the helm of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club for 2009. He’ll serve as president of the 46-member local chapter of Rotary International. Warwick Valley High School Principal John Buckley is the new president-elect. Ed Lynch, a Warwick financial advisor and a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, will serve as vice president. Other officers for 2009 include Roger Gibboni, recording secretary; Eric Heffler, corresponding secretary; Lisette Cuba, treasurer; Allen Quigley, assistant treasurer; and Neil Sinclair, past president. Elected to the board of directors are Maggi Verhagen, community service; Brenda Harburger, club service; Ed Maddalena, international service; Greg Klein, vocational service; and Cal Hargis, membership service. David C. Green, an Orange County Board of Elections commissioner and Rotary District 7210 governor-elect, performed the oath of office during the 32 annual Warwick Rotary installation dinner held at the Warwick Valley Winery. Warwick chiropractor Maggi Verhagen, who served as the first female Warwick Rotary Club president in 1992-1993, was named “Rotarian of the Year.” Verhagen is a longtime board member for the Rotarians as well as for several other local organizations, Frank Petrucci, president of Country Chevrolet-Olds-Saab, presented two Rotary scholarships honoring his late father. Winners of the Silvio Petrucci Scholarships for the Arts are Natalia Weber from S.S. Seward Institute in Florida and Jessica Rupert of Warwick Valley High School. John D. Bollenbach was honored as Warwick’s first sapphire Paul Harris Fellowship recipient. Paul Harris Fellows, named for the founder of Rotary, are recognized for their contributions to the humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation. Rotary International is a worldwide service organization of business and professional men and women. There are over 32,000 Rotary Clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Warwick Rotarians help sponsor dozens of local projects and organizations through donations and volunteering of time. The club also presents college scholarships to Town of Warwick students. Local Rotarians sponsor the Warwick Valley High School Interact Club, which has approximately 150 members. Jeanine Fogler is the Interact advisor.