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What a difference a week or two makes

Warwick. Residents living and dealing with the coronavirus epidemic.

Warwick, N.Y. /
| 23 Mar 2020 | 11:47
    Town of Warwick resident Diana Eschmann urges everyone, who can, to stay home from work but realize this is not a vacation. “It’s not time to invite people over for a party,” she said, “or for younger family members to hang out with friends and then come home and endanger their parents.” Eschmann is hopeful that the epidemic will be over in a couple of months but in the meantime her social activities including hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail with her husband, John, or walking with her dog, Tula. Eschmann avoids crowds but, when out of necessity she went grocery shopping, gave high marks to Warwick ShopRite for forming a single waiting line, similar to that employed by banks, to each check-out. “It moved very quickly,” she said,” because the area behind the check-out counters, where they had two employees, was clear and they were able to direct people with fewer items to the quick or self check-outs.”
    Town of Warwick resident Diana Eschmann urges everyone, who can, to stay home from work but realize this is not a vacation. “It’s not time to invite people over for a party,” she said, “or for younger family members to hang out with friends and then come home and endanger their parents.” Eschmann is hopeful that the epidemic will be over in a couple of months but in the meantime her social activities including hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail with her husband, John, or walking with her dog, Tula. Eschmann avoids crowds but, when out of necessity she went grocery shopping, gave high marks to Warwick ShopRite for forming a single waiting line, similar to that employed by banks, to each check-out. “It moved very quickly,” she said,” because the area behind the check-out counters, where they had two employees, was clear and they were able to direct people with fewer items to the quick or self check-outs.” ( Photos by Roger Gavan)
    Just back from a cruise Retired Warwick Police Sergeant George Arnott admits he is up in years, has heart disease and diabetes and was described to be the most vulnerable to contract the virus. Nevertheless he is active, in good shape and decided to take advantage of the reduced rates to leave for an 11 day cruise on February 24 from New York to the Caribbean . “On the ship,” he said, “there was talk among the passengers about the virus but none of the crew or passengers were wearing face masks for protection. There was a strong emphasis on washing our hands entering the dining room and anytime we used the bathrooms All of these countries that I visited had no mention of the virus nor any face protection so i wasn't overly concerned. But i could see the progression of it on the TV and I saw the news about the cruise ship in San Francisco having to stay out in the water and not dock.” Arnott wasn't worried because the situation hadn’t progressed but he added, “As we arrived off ship on March 6, I took a cab to Port authority and many people were wearing face masks at the bus terminal. Then when I came back the Center for Disease Control advised older persons who had my medical history, to not go on a cruise.”
    Just back from a cruise Retired Warwick Police Sergeant George Arnott admits he is up in years, has heart disease and diabetes and was described to be the most vulnerable to contract the virus. Nevertheless he is active, in good shape and decided to take advantage of the reduced rates to leave for an 11 day cruise on February 24 from New York to the Caribbean . “On the ship,” he said, “there was talk among the passengers about the virus but none of the crew or passengers were wearing face masks for protection. There was a strong emphasis on washing our hands entering the dining room and anytime we used the bathrooms All of these countries that I visited had no mention of the virus nor any face protection so i wasn't overly concerned. But i could see the progression of it on the TV and I saw the news about the cruise ship in San Francisco having to stay out in the water and not dock.” Arnott wasn't worried because the situation hadn’t progressed but he added, “As we arrived off ship on March 6, I took a cab to Port authority and many people were wearing face masks at the bus terminal. Then when I came back the Center for Disease Control advised older persons who had my medical history, to not go on a cruise.” ( Roger Gavan)
    It’s too early to tell - Right now it’s like a Rubic Cube. Although it’s changing day by day, a visitor to downtown Warwick last weekend wouldn’t have noticed anything much different from normal shopping activity at this time of year. “It’s too early to tell,” said Jerry Schlichting, co-owner of the popular Frazzleberries gift shop. ”I think the measures being taken will help us get back. But right now it’s like a Rubic Cube.” Like the other merchants in the downtown business community, employees at Frazzleberries periodically wipe down counters, credit card holders, door handles and whatever anyone might touch with a sanitizer. Schlichting and his wife, Katie, who have two daughters at the now temporarily closed St. Stephen-St. Edward Elementary School, have to juggle their work schedules or have the children do their preassigned school work at an office the store. Co-owner Mary Beth Schlichting is also around to help out but, like other business owners, they may have to rearrange work schedules for employees with the same problem.
    It’s too early to tell - Right now it’s like a Rubic Cube. Although it’s changing day by day, a visitor to downtown Warwick last weekend wouldn’t have noticed anything much different from normal shopping activity at this time of year. “It’s too early to tell,” said Jerry Schlichting, co-owner of the popular Frazzleberries gift shop. ”I think the measures being taken will help us get back. But right now it’s like a Rubic Cube.” Like the other merchants in the downtown business community, employees at Frazzleberries periodically wipe down counters, credit card holders, door handles and whatever anyone might touch with a sanitizer. Schlichting and his wife, Katie, who have two daughters at the now temporarily closed St. Stephen-St. Edward Elementary School, have to juggle their work schedules or have the children do their preassigned school work at an office the store. Co-owner Mary Beth Schlichting is also around to help out but, like other business owners, they may have to rearrange work schedules for employees with the same problem. ( Roger Gavan)
    The right sites for current information are the CDC and the Orange County DOH Michael Newhard is not only the Mayor of the Village of Warwick but he is also the owner of Newhard’s , the Home Source, on Main Street. “As we expected,” he said, “It’s been slow.” But, like other shops, employees at his store are periodically wiping down counters, door handles, railings and other likely fixtures customers might touch. The store also keeps a bottle of hand sanitizer for customers at the check-out. Like most families, Newhard has to contend with interruptions in family schedules, His son Henry, for example, is at school in Boston and enjoys the special savings of the “mega Bus,” service to return home on weekends. And now that service has been canceled. One concern as Mayor, not resolved at the time of this interview, was the Village election scheduled for Wednesday, March 18. As of last weekend the General Election was still taking place. That could change but Mayor Newhard explained that , absent a court order or emergency action by the Governor, the Election Law does not authorize villages to cancel or postpone their elections. However updates for this and other information would be posted on the Village of Warwick’s website: www.villageofwarwick.org and our Facebook page. “And,” said Newhard, “the best sites for accurate information about this epidemic are the CD C (Center for Disease Control) and the OCDOH (Orange County Department of Health.”
    The right sites for current information are the CDC and the Orange County DOH Michael Newhard is not only the Mayor of the Village of Warwick but he is also the owner of Newhard’s , the Home Source, on Main Street. “As we expected,” he said, “It’s been slow.” But, like other shops, employees at his store are periodically wiping down counters, door handles, railings and other likely fixtures customers might touch. The store also keeps a bottle of hand sanitizer for customers at the check-out. Like most families, Newhard has to contend with interruptions in family schedules, His son Henry, for example, is at school in Boston and enjoys the special savings of the “mega Bus,” service to return home on weekends. And now that service has been canceled. One concern as Mayor, not resolved at the time of this interview, was the Village election scheduled for Wednesday, March 18. As of last weekend the General Election was still taking place. That could change but Mayor Newhard explained that , absent a court order or emergency action by the Governor, the Election Law does not authorize villages to cancel or postpone their elections. However updates for this and other information would be posted on the Village of Warwick’s website: www.villageofwarwick.org and our Facebook page. “And,” said Newhard, “the best sites for accurate information about this epidemic are the CD C (Center for Disease Control) and the OCDOH (Orange County Department of Health.” ( Roger Gavan)
    “See you on the other side” Warwick resident Gregg Merksamer is an automotive journalist, historian and photographer whose published books include “A history of the New York International Auto Show.” And, as the show’s official historian, he reported that the popular week long event, planned to open on Friday, April 10, has been postponed until late August. To combat the coronavirus, Merksamer, like most people, avoids shaking hands. But he has a unique and somewhat dark humor way of bidding, “Good bye.” “I’ve adopted a new ‘Good bye,” he said, “based on a line in the movie, Ghostbusters.” Merksamer explained the line from the movie that he uses is, “See you on the other side,” spoken before the characters crossed the “streams” in a risky undertaking.
    “See you on the other side” Warwick resident Gregg Merksamer is an automotive journalist, historian and photographer whose published books include “A history of the New York International Auto Show.” And, as the show’s official historian, he reported that the popular week long event, planned to open on Friday, April 10, has been postponed until late August. To combat the coronavirus, Merksamer, like most people, avoids shaking hands. But he has a unique and somewhat dark humor way of bidding, “Good bye.” “I’ve adopted a new ‘Good bye,” he said, “based on a line in the movie, Ghostbusters.” Merksamer explained the line from the movie that he uses is, “See you on the other side,” spoken before the characters crossed the “streams” in a risky undertaking. ( Roger Gavan)

The spread of the Coronavirus epidemic and the rules and regulations to defeat it are changing daily.

All non-essential businesses are now closed.

But earlier this month, The Warwick Advertiser questioned some local citizens and business owners to hear how they were coping with this crisis at that time.

This is not a vacation

Town of Warwick resident Diana Eschmann urges everyone, who can, to stay home from work but realize this is not a vacation.

“It’s not time to invite people over for a party,” she said, “or for younger family members to hang out with friends and then come home and endanger their parents.”

Eschmann is hopeful that the epidemic will be over in a couple of months but in the meantime her social activities including hiking on the nearby Appalachian Trail with her husband, John, or walking with her dog, Tula.

Eschmann avoids crowds but, when out of necessity she went grocery shopping, gave high marks to Warwick ShopRite for forming a single waiting line, similar to that employed by banks, to each check-out.

“It moved very quickly,” she said,” because the area behind the check-out counters, where they had two employees, was clear and they were able to direct people with fewer items to the quick or self check-outs.”

Just back from a cruise

Retired Warwick Police Sergeant George Arnott admits he is up in years, has heart disease and diabetes and was described to be the most vulnerable to contract the virus.

Nevertheless he is active, in good shape and decided to take advantage of the reduced rates to leave for an 11-day cruise on February 24 from New York to the Caribbean.

“On the ship,” he said, “there was talk among the passengers about the virus but none of the crew or passengers were wearing face masks for protection. There was a strong emphasis on washing our hands entering the dining room and anytime we used the bathrooms All of these countries that I visited had no mention of the virus nor any face protection so i wasn't overly concerned. But I could see the progression of it on the TV and I saw the news about the cruise ship in San Francisco having to stay out in the water and not dock.”

Arnott wasn't worried because the situation hadn’t progressed but he added, “As we arrived off ship on March 6, I took a cab to Port authority and many people were wearing face masks at the bus terminal. Then when I came back the Center for Disease Control advised older persons who had my medical history, to not go on a cruise.”

Right now it’s like a Rubic Cube

Although it changed day by day, a visitor to downtown Warwick a couple of weeks ago wouldn’t have noticed anything much different from normal shopping activity at this time of year.

“It’s too early to tell,” said Jerry Schlichting, co-owner of the popular Frazzleberries gift shop, at that time. ”I think the measures being taken will help us get back. But right now it’s like a Rubic Cube.”

Like the other merchants in the downtown business community, employees at Frazzleberries were periodically wiping down counters, credit card holders, door handles and whatever anyone might touch with a sanitizer.

Schlichting and his wife, Katie, who have two daughters at the now closed St. Stephen-St. Edward Elementary School, had to juggle their work schedules or have the children do their preassigned school work at an office the store. Co-owner Mary Beth Schlichting was also around to help out but, like other business owners, they may have to rearrange work schedules for employees with the same problem.

Business was good but this is still a national emergency

Tim Mullally, co-owner of Style Council and Blue fashion shops in downtown Warwick, reported that business was actually very good when interviewed on Saturday, March 14.

“It was a pleasant surprise,” he said,” although I still believe this epidemic is a National emergency.”

Like other business owners, Mullally, a resident of Vernon, New Jersey, has the problem of rearranging his schedule or bringing his son Tim, 8, whose school is closed, to the shop where he can still continue his studies on a Chrome Book laptop provided by the school district.

“I hope this is over sooner than later,” he said.

In addition to being a business owner, Mullally is also an actor and at that time his upcoming performance in an April 4 -5 dinner/theatre murder mystery at the Blue Arrow Farm in Pine Island had not been canceled.

The right sites for current information

Michael Newhard is not only the Mayor of the Village of Warwick but he is also the owner of Newhard’s , the Home Source, on Main Street.

“As we expected,” he said, on March 14, “it’s been slow.”

But, like other shops, employees at his store were periodically wiping down counters, door handles, railings and other likely fixtures customers might touch.

The store also kept a bottle of hand sanitizer for customers at the check-out.

Like most families, Newhard had to contend with interruptions in family schedules.

At that time his son Henry, for example, was at school in Boston and enjoyed the special savings of the “mega bus” service to return home on weekends. And that service had been canceled.

Updates and other information are posted on the Village of Warwick’s website: www.villageofwarwick.org and its Facebook page.

“And,” said Newhard, “the best sites for accurate information about this epidemic are the CD C (Center for Disease Control) and the OCDOH (Orange County Department of Health.”

'See you on the other side'

Warwick resident Gregg Merksamer is an automotive journalist, historian and photographer whose published books include “A history of the New York International Auto Show.” And, as the show’s official historian, he reported that the popular week long event, planned to open on Friday, April 10, had been postponed until late August.

To combat the coronavirus, Merksamer, like most people, keeps his distance and, of course, avoids shaking hands. But he has a unique and somewhat dark humor way of bidding, “Good bye.”

“I’ve adopted a new ‘Good bye,” he said, “based on a line in the movie, Ghostbusters.”

Merksamer explained the line from the movie that he uses is, “See you on the other side,” spoken before the characters crossed the “streams” in a risky undertaking.