Applefest 2011 thanks
The 23rd annual Warwick Applefest was enjoyed by an estimated 30,000 people - Warwick residents, as well as visitors from far and wide. We are grateful to many in our community who made it a smooth and successful event. An annual festival the size of Applefest would not be possible without the support and cooperation of our local governments and their agencies. Our Police Department, Village Departments of Public Works, Ambulance Corps, and Fire Police are integral to the success of the festival. Additional thanks go to our school district, which allows the use of their properties to park vehicles on the day of the event. This year, hurricane damage, road closures and wet field conditions caused by perpetual rain posed unique challenges, but the strong support we received from Village Mayor Newhard and the Village Department of Public Works, led by Bill Schmick, enabled us to develop solutions to the problems. Warwick Applefest continues to be a very popular event, and is an important fund-raising vehicle for local and area non-profit organizations. Applefest has become, by far, the largest fund-raising endeavor by the co-sponsors and its volunteers, who plan the event for over ten months each year: the Warwick Valley Community Center and the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce. The proceeds from this annual fall event are used by both organizations for their operating budgets. The proceeds help the Community Center, which runs primarily on grants and contributions, with operating costs and allow the Center to continue to offer low-cost and free programs to all children and teens in the Town of Warwick. Our Warwick Valley Chamber uses its share of the proceeds to offer a multitude of events and activities that serve the entire Warwick Valley business community. In addition, some 50 local non-profit organizations use Applefest as their major annual fundraiser, so they can continue to serve our community in many different ways. It is worth noting that, because of the monies raised by so many local groups at Applefest, fewer fundraisers are directed at Warwick residents during the rest of the year. The event also supports over twenty local farmers and food producers in the Farmers’ Market area of the festival. Attracting so many visitors into our community for Applefest also gives a much-needed boost to the local economy in these challenging economic times. The event brings extra business to many local restaurants, shops, Bed & Breakfasts & inns, apple orchards and wineries, and businesses along the routes into the Village. Many who discover Warwick for the first time at Applefest return to enjoy and shop in our town again. We would like to thank the many volunteers and non-profit organizations who contribute their time and energy to make each Applefest a reality. We are grateful to those business owners and organizations who contribute to the success of the event by allowing their property to be used for vendors and musicians or vendor and entertainment parking. After it’s all over, Executive Touch Landscaping and longtime sponsor County Waste do an incredible job cleaning up the festival area. The success of this tremendous event is indeed the result of a community-wide team effort. Very special thanks go to our sponsors: Platinum Sponsor: County Waste Gold Sponsors: Nationwide Insurance, Orange & Rockland, Price Chopper, St. Anthony Community Hospital, Tank Masters, Inc., TransTech Bus, Warwick Valley Apple Trail; Silver Sponsors: East Coast Alternative Energy, Geico, Mountain Creek/Crystal Springs, News 12 Hudson Valley, Orange County Golf Carts, Richard Cass/David Lerner Associates, Inc., ShopRite, WTBQ Radio and WVT Communications. Bronze Sponsors: Hudson Historics and Warwick Grove. As always, the Applefest Committee and its sponsoring organizations sincerely appreciate the patience and cooperation of Warwick residents for this one day each year. Over and over again, we hear from visitors what a wonderful town we live in, and we’re proud to share it during Applefest each year. With thanks, The Warwick Applefest 2011 Committee Louise Hutchison, Festival Coordinator Tammy Artusa, Garrett Durland, Pam Grandinali, Connie Hegner, Michael Johndrow, Mary McClurg, Amy Noteboom, Marge Porter, Carole Redner, Steve Regan, Karen Thomas and Cortney Wright