Defining community service

WARWICK — Longtime local volunteers Joe Walter and Denise Thibault will receive Outstanding Community Service Awards during Warwick’s 2013-14 Citizen of the Year ceremony honoring Professor Richard Hull, Warwick’s Town Historian.

They will be honored Wednesday, Oct. 23, at The Landmark Inn. The event is sponsored by the Warwick Valley Rotary Club.

Joe Walter
Joe Walter, an agricultural engineering graduate of SUNY Alfred, owned Walter Equipment Company and helped many Pine Island farmers.

Before the age of 23 he had built two dirt-diggers used in Pine Island. He and his wife, Debbie, became foster parents and enjoyed helping many babies, eventually adopting three children.

A 31-year member of Raymond Hose Fire Company, Walter became a Warwick fire commissioner in January 2000 and has been chairman of the Warwick Fire Commissioners for six years.

Along with Ed Schmidt, Buzz Joslyn and Bill Doty, he did a complete frame off restoration on the Sanford Fire Truck, one of Raymond’s original trucks. The Sanford lived in a heated garage at the Walter home for 17 years and is now housed in Raymond’s Station #2 on West Street.

He is a former 4-H leader and has assisted and donated to the FFA program.

Walter has worked at Amscan for 26 years and is currently plant manager.

He has done all this while battling MS for 27 years.

Denise Thibault
Denise Thibault has volunteered as director of the Florida Food Pantry in the Village of Florida for more than 10 years.

The food pantry is supported by all churches in the Village of Florida and is the mission of the Florida Presbyterian Church.

Thibault has been in charge of all aspects of the food pantry, including fund raising, food distribution, food ordering and making sure volunteers show up and many times going to Cornwall herself to make pick ups.

She works at the Florida Custard Stand and is the sole caretaker of her 90-year-old father who has lung cancer.

Thibault assists the Empty Bowls project and tries to help other people in need as much as she can. She has also helped Pine island with its community dinners and Little York in setting up its food pantry.

“Denise makes sure that no one goes hungry at any time, if she is aware of the problem," said food pantry volunteer Dottie Ehlers. "She has opened up the food pantry many nights and weekends to give a helping hand to someone.”

Florida Mayor Jim Pawliczek added his praise: “Mrs. Thibault is a wonderful resident and community asset who puts the interests of others above her own. She is very deserving of this honor.”

Richard Hull
Event co-chairs Leo Kaytes and Stan Martin said they were pleased with the quality of the 20-plus nominations and excited about the selection of Hull as Warwick’s Citizen of the Year.

Hull is professor of African Studies at NYU. He is author of several books on the community and promoter of Warwick’s heritage as a speaker to area schools, clubs and organizations.

The Warwick town historian was described as “a great example of citizen exemplar for continually supporting the community through his active participation in many events while sharing his passion for learning, history and issues of local interest.”

Essential information
The celebration begins with a an open bar social hour at 6 p.m., followed by food at 7.

Reservations are available by calling Leo Kaytes at 629-6491.

The cost is $60 per person.
Rotarian and Warwick Town Supervisor Michael Sweeton will serve as master of ceremonies.