Warwick Valley Gardeners propose a clock for Railroad Green

Warwick — Gardeners beautify. It is what they do. And the Warwick Valley Gardeners Club has certainly done its part to beautify Warwick. This is the group that maintains the Railroad Green — remember the beautiful holiday displays there? A few of the group’s members came to the Village Board this week to propose putting a clock at the Railroad Green. “We’d love to see a clock there,” said Inga Spencer of the Gardeners. “Other towns have had their’s donated.” Which would be nice here in Warwick, too. The cost of a four-sided clock is about $25,000. A two-sided clock would run around $12,000. “We don’t have the resources to go out and do fund raising,” added Spencer, whose group maintains nine gardens throughout the town and raises about $6,000 through its garden tour and other events each year for its plantings. But there are other groups in town that can help. Spencer suggested that those groups, including the Lions Club and Boy Scouts, could include the clock in their fund-raising efforts. Better yet, she said, “if some wealthy person in town who just gave $100,000 to the library and now would like to give money for a clock, that would be great!” Spencer referred to a recent gift from an anonymous donor for enhancements to the new library, if the referendum passes next month. Mayor Michael Newhard was receptive to the group and said the village would certainly facilitate the fund raising. “This would be a wonderful addition to the village,” said Newhard. “We use this spot (Railroad Green) for many events. You guys have done an incredible job.” Trustee George McManus also likes the idea of putting a clock at the Railroad Green. Haverstraw has one that was donated by Provident Bank. He mentioned a clock similar to the one shown by the Gardeners in Cape May, New Jersey. That clock has plaques along the base of it with inscriptions on them memorializing loved ones. McManus said this would also be a fund-raising idea to help pay for the clock. “People can make a donation to have an inscription on a plaque right on the clock,” said McManus. The Warwick Valley Gardeners had an artist’s rendering done, complete with the clock. The electric is there already. Maintenance on the clock would run about $300 per year. “Many people in our community donate to many causes,” said Newhard. “Look at our hospital, our concert series each summer. People are very generous.”