Applefest 2012 thanks
The 24th 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.
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 more than 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 fund raiser 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 fund raisers are directed at Warwick residents during the rest of the year. The event also supports more than 20 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 and breakfasts and 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. For the first time in several years, a successful attempt was made toward the collection of recycling materials. Special thanks go to County Waste and the many High School volunteers, led by Camille Huey, who succeeded in spearheading this important project. The success of this tremendous event is indeed the result of a community-wide team effort.
The Applefest Committee is grateful for the support of this year’s sponsors:
• Gold: County Waste, Price Chopper, ShopRite, TAM Enterprises, Inc., TransTech and Warwick Valley Apple Trail.
• Silver: Cutco Sales/Logo Gifts, David Lerner Associates, East Coast Alternative Energy, Garden State Koi, GEICO, Golden Custom/Mudslinger Off Road, Green Mountain Energy Company, Mountain Creek, Nationwide Insurance, News 12 Hudson Valley, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc., Pure Terror Scream Park at the Castle, Skylands Iceworld, Solar City, St. Anthony Community Hospital, TD Bank North, WTBQ Radio and WVT Communications.
• Bronze: Family Orthodontics, Kuiken Brothers, Mount St. Mary College, Warwick Grove and Ye Olde Warwick Book Shoppe.
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 2012 Committee
Cristina Hohmann, festival coordinator
Laurie Angle Garrett Durland, Pam Grandinali, Connie Hegner, Louise Hutchison, Michael Johndrow, Michelle Laurice, Mary McClurg, Amy Noteboom, Marge Porter, Carole Redner, Steve Regan and Karen Thomas