A new year, a new community tradition

WARWICK — It was an opportunity to enjoy a great New Year’s Eve and also kickoff the Village of Warwick’s 150th year celebration or Sesquicentennial.
On Dec. 31 there were several events, co-sponsored by the Merchant Guild and the Village, for the whole family.
Revelers were coming and going all evening and many were inside local restaurants so it’s difficult to estimate the number of people who came to enjoy the festivities. But there wasn’t a time when Railroad Avenue and the two huge tents on the adjacent Village Green were not crowded.
“Apple Eve was in one word 'fantastic,'” said Mayor Michael Newhard. “The turnout was what we were hoping for.”
Early program, late programThe event, which began at 8 p.m., was Warwick’s first ever-New Year’s Eve community celebration.
Early in the evening, when most of the children were present, members of the Warwick Valley High School Meistersingers entertained the crowd with traditional Christmas Carols.
Newhard, who acted as master of ceremonies, then led a “count up” as the New Year’s Eve Apple “ball, ” in a Macintosh apple shape, lit from within and wrapped in bands of light, was raised to the top of its high “tower” in the center of Railroad Avenue.
The area was well-lit and visitors were treated to a professional DJ, bouncy castles for the kids, a photo booth and two heated 20 x 40-foot tents. Cider and donuts were provided by Och’s and Penning’s Orchards and cake, decorated with the sesquicentennial logo, was provided by ShopRite.
Hats, horns, buttons and balloons were also available.
“The family and kid portion was really fun,” said Newhard. “It was great to see so many families having a good time together. I think this will be a memory for many children.”
The midnight show was geared more for adults with cake, a sparkling cider toast and dancing.
The dancing 'Apple Queen'There was also a running slide show projected on a wall with images from the 1967 Village Centennial.
Local artist Karen Drescher created an oversized puppet to depict a dancing "Apple Queen" and the Warwick Fire Department was on hand with two trucks to show the kids in the early part of the evening and later add to the noise of the crowd when the Apple dropped to usher in the New Year.
'Yes!'The Sesquicentennial Committee and Merchants Guild organized Apple Eve. And the Committee plans to work with local organization and businesses to make 2017 an unforgettable year.
Will this become an annual event?
“I think we created an event to come together as a community,” said Newhard. “That's what Warwick's all about. So I say, 'Yes!'"
- Roger Gavan