Great thanks to all who make the Warwick Children's Book Festival so successful

“It takes a village” has become an over-used phrase, to be sure, but still is the best way to express how the Warwick Children’s Book Festival comes together every fall on Railroad Avenue.

Together with my colleague and fellow Festival coordinator, Judy Pedersen, I’d like to highlight and extend sincere thanks to all who lent time, talent and treasure to a special day celebrating children’s literacy.

Glenn P. and Susan D. Dickes are renowned throughout Warwick for their deep compassion and commitment to community needs, particularly projects and institutions that support families and children. Albert Wisner Public Library has long been a focus of their extraordinary philanthropy, and by extension, they have embraced the Warwick Children’s Book Festival. Their sponsorship makes the festival possible.

Next time you see Glenn and Susan, please add your recognition and thanks to mine, Judy’s and to those of the entire staff and Board of Trustees of the Library.

Other pillars of the community graciously contributed support:

The Village of Warwick funded a tent rental, while the DPW hung banners and provided additional critical logistical support leading up to and through the Festival. Their help was invaluable, and we deeply appreciate it. Special thanks to Cathy Schweitzer, who anticipates our needs long before being asked.

ShopRite donated beverages and snacks for our authors and illustrators, as well as an unexpected, very generous gift card to offset other expenses.

Warwick Valley Telephone lent equipment and the expert help of technician Justin Trone to set up a dedicated DSL line for strong, uninterrupted internet access to process sales. Justin arrived at Railroad Avenue with his customary smile and can-do attitude, and collaborated with our bookseller, Best Book Fairs, LLC, to set up and test the technology. We are indebted to WVT and to Justin for this crucial behind-the-scenes contribution.

Cheryl Rogowski and the Warwick Valley Farmers’ Market welcomed us to the Market to distribute information about the Festival on two consecutive Sundays. It’s the ideal location to connect with families from Warwick and from the wider area.

Amy and Tim Noteboom of Bellvale Farms Creamery and Steve Pennings and Steve Peterson of Pennings Farm devoted space at their beloved businesses for us to display festival signs. We can’t imagine more auspicious locations to promote the festival. Thank you very much!

Warwick General Rental is a terrific partner. It’s a pleasure working with Mike, Barbara and the hardworking crew who deliver and set up the Festival’s tables, chairs and tents in the cold pre-dawn hours. They meet our needs with efficiency and good humor, year after year.

Likewise, Tom Gardner and Barry Wiesenfeld, a.k.a. The Uncle Brothers, bring their toe-tapping tunes to Railroad Avenue and entertain children of all ages at the Festival each year. Together and individually, they also perform and speak at the Library; they’re outstanding musicians who love to share their talent and knowledge. Thank you, Tom and Barry!

Without diminishing the goodwill of all the forgoing people and organizations, Judy and I would particularly like to thank our teen volunteers (and some of their parents, too!) They’re truly the festival’s “special sauce.”

Following each festival, we receive countless emails from authors and illustrators emphasizing that the teens’ enthusiasm, help and attentiveness is what distinguishes Warwick’s festival from all others, making ours the one they most enjoy. What greater compliment can Warwick receive? It is impossible to exaggerate the help of the twenty five-plus teens who showed up at Railroad Avenue at 7:3 a.m. ready to work, and didn’t go home until the last box was packed up around 5:30. In between, they set up tables, unpacked books, performed Sign Language Storytelling, helped children make keepsakes, fetched lunch, snacks and beverages to support the authors and illustrators, bagged books, and more.

Special thanks both to D.J. and mom Heather Gardner and to Team Eicher, who made the festival a family affair – all day long. Also to Ferne Lurie, who trained a group of teens in American Sign Language and in so doing, made them Sign Language Storytellers: pure magic.

The Friends of the Library, unflagging contributors to the Library all year long, again turned out in force. This year, several Friends cheerfully learned a new skill when we deployed them to work with the bookseller handling sales transactions. We thank all of the Friends, whose steady support of the Library’s mission enriches us all.

Finally, we raise up our wonderful colleagues at the Library, who willingly add book festival tasks to their already-full plates. From ordering supplies to helping with publicity, to planning and preparing with the teens, their efforts lightened Judy’s and my load immeasurably. Along with our fearless leader, Rosemary Cooper, the AWPL staff are the unsung heroes of the festival. We are profoundly grateful for their collaboration.

So, as you see, it really does take a village.

Sincerely,

Lisa Laico

Albert Wisner Public Library