The first ‘Queens for a Day' celebrated at Ladies Night Out

Warwick - It was the first time in nine years that more than one winner shared the limelight. On Thursday evening, Aug. 24, during the 9th annual celebration of “Ladies Night Out,” two well-known ladies, Suzyn Barron, president of the Warwick Valley Humane Society, and Lee Peterson, corresponding secretary, were crowned “Queens for a Day.” Each year “Queen for a Day” is an opportunity for a special lady to be recognized by her family or friends for her generous spirit, caring heart and selfless nature. The winner or as in this case, the winners, receive a valuable assortment of gift certificates and merchandise from participating Warwick merchants. Nomination applications have been available at downtown shops since the beginning of August and over 100 were submitted this year. Members of the Warwick Merchants’ Guild reviewed the nominations at their last meeting just before “Ladies Night Out.” And this year, one particular nomination, submitted by Stephanie Faerman, owner of Sweetbriar’s, caught their attention. “Together,” said Faerman, “these two women have served the Warwick Community as volunteers for over 25 years. They have taken on the awesome responsibility of keeping the animal shelter up and running 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But beyond that, they have created a nurturing safe haven for the lost, unwanted, rejected, abused, injured and stray animals of Warwick.” During “Ladies Night Out,” the crowd assembled in the Railroad Green Village Park for the long awaited traditional event. At 9 p.m., in an historic first, Mayor Newhard crowned the new “Queens for a Day.” Suzyn Barron, who lives in Warwick with her husband, Mitchell, has been involved with the Warwick Valley Humane Society and its Animal Shelter for the past 16 years. For the past six of those years she has served as the organization’s president. She and her husband also own and manage North Eastern Martial Arts Academy in Florida, NY. Lee Peterson is also a resident of Warwick. She had been the night manager of a bookstore in Middletown and most recently, an employee at the Middletown Tax Assessors Office when she retired in 1994. Peterson has been involved with the Humane Society for 12 years and currently serves as corresponding secretary. The mayor praised Barron and Peterson for their many years of valuable service to the community. Debbie Iurato, treasurer of the Merchants’ Guild, then presented each of the new “Queens” with a bouquet of flowers, gift certificates and merchandise donated by the merchants. Both ladies thanked the merchants for their year-round support of the Animal Shelter as well as this particular honor. “It is quite thrilling and lovely,” said Barron, “to be recognized by all of you for what is a labor of love for us.” See related article on page 24.