From the Desk of Mayor Jesse Dwyer

There are many times, when living in a great community, that you find yourself stopped in your tracks, smiling in amazement. This past Saturday, I had one of those moments. For this past Saturday I witnessed yet another tremendous act of civic engagement by one of our many local organizations — the GWL Girl Scouts. Through the coordination and efforts of GWL Trustee Ed English and Girl Scout leader Sue Toscano, we had nearly 60 Girl Scouts and dozens of troop leaders and parents at our DPW hard at work planting and preparing our box planters and hanging baskets for the spring showing of GWL flowers. The GWL Girl Scouts have “adopted” our box planters throughout the Village and will be responsible for watching after them as they grow. We, as municipal leaders, are not only proud to provide the scouts with this opportunity, we are lucky to have such dedicated youth in the community who are willing to take on this responsibility. I would like to send out a special thank you to all of the Girl Scout troop leaders and parents who helped make this possible, as well as Tom Anderson and Joe Puzio for their hard work and dedication in getting everything set up. But most importantly, thank you to all of the Girl Scouts who see the importance in giving back to our community and having the courage to take responsibility over the planters.

Thursday May 23, 4pm
Assemblywoman District Office Grand Opening
123 Route 94 South, Suite #2, Warwick, New York

Wednesday May 22, 12pm
Elks Hosting Senior Lunch
Free of Charge to Local Seniors

Saturday June 22nd, 9am
EARC Greenwood Lake Challenge Rowing Regatta

Saturday June 8 11AM-5PM
Merchant’s Guild Street Fair on Windermere

Friday July 12- Sunday July
GWL Lions club Carnival

From the Desk of Mayor Dwyer

Sun, May 12, 2013 at 9:13 PM Sun, 9:13 PM

This past week I took the opportunity to participate in the New York Conference of Mayors’ (NYCOM) annual summit for New York Mayors. The conference provided a great opportunity for me, as a new Mayor, to network with other Mayors and share ideas about the challenges we all face as municipal leaders. The conference was also full of informative work sessions on topics ranging from budgeting issues to labor relations.

After the conference, which was about 30 minutes north of Albany, I made sure that I set up meetings with our state representatives, Senator John Bonacic and Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt. Both meetings proved to be extremely beneficial and a great opportunity for me to share some promising goals for our community. Both were extremely receptive and I am looking forward to working with them both on the betterment of Greenwood Lake. Senator Bonacic has re-written an old grant/ bill that the Village received years ago so that we can actually put the money to use. The bill is in the Senate Finance committee for approval as we speak. We will use this money to replace the water meter caps throughout the village – a necessary step to repairing village infrastructure. Assemblywoman Rabbitt will be providing the Village with State Police assistance during our major events, as well as during Applefest to help offset the cost that we, as a Village, incur as a result of police coverage during these events.

Lake Restoration/ Hydroraking: This process took a positive step last week. The Chairman of the Bi-State Lake Commission, Steve DeFeo, informed me that they will provide the Village with upfront money to begin the project. The total project will be just over $100,000, all of which the Lake Commission will fund. Therefore, the Village will not have to expend any resources toward the project. The final permits are being submitted this week and we are hoping that the project will begin in July or August.

Once again, the GWL Lions Club has stepped up to support our community. At a recent presentation by Marianne Schmidt of Hudson Valley Honor Flight, the Lions Club decided to sponsor a WWII veteran to participate in the Honor Flight, which flies the veteran to DC for the day. The Lions club is hoping to send a LOCAL vet if one steps up, but if one does not, they will donate the money to sponsor any other WWII vet wishing to participate in the program. If you are a WWII vet or know someone in the Greenwood Lake community who is, please contact Village Hall at 845-477-9215.

Cub Scouts Pack 121 Sign Ups May 17th from 5:30-8:30pm
If interested in getting your child involved in the Cub Scouts, sign ups are held at the GWL Elementary School Gym may 17th.

GWL Village Board Meeting – May 20th at 7:30pm
The regular meeting of the Village Board will be 5/20 at 7:30. The general meeting is preceded by a public hearing on MS4 (water quality review) and a public hearing on Hud Grant applications. Meetings are located in the GWL Courthouse.

Community Coalition Meeting – May 21st at 7pm in the Senior Center
Elks Senior Luncheon — May 22nd at 12pm – Free for Local Seniors

EARC Greenwood Lake Challenge – June 22nd 9am.
Join the East Arm Rowing Club of Greenwood Lake and the Greenwood Lake community as we watch the final regatta in the Learn To Row Program. This is always an exciting event and spectators are always welcome.

Merchants Guild Sponsors Street Fair – June 8th 11am-5pm on Windermere Avenue

Introducing: Mayor Jesse Dwyer

Embracing Challenges. Moving Forward Together

It is with great honor that I write this column to you, as Mayor of the Village of Greenwood Lake. Although the challenges that we, the Village Board and staff at Village Hall, have before us are mounting, we are prepared. We find ourselves leading the village with new opportunities, new ideas, a new style of government, and ultimately, with new and reinvigorated leadership.

I am excited to begin working at Village Hall, as Mayor, with our outstanding Clerks, Village employees, with re-elected Trustee, and now Deputy Mayor, Kelli Kelm, newly elected Trustee Tom Howley, newly appointed Trustee Ed English, as well as Trustee Sara Cox. The Village Board will work on passing the budget for 2013-2014 as the first order of business. We will work on acquiring the necessary permits for the Hydrorake cleanup program in the lake, finally eliminating the backwash discharge issues at our water plant, preparing all fields, parks and playgrounds for the spring season and we will also be preparing our beautiful lake community for the advent of our summer season.

I encourage members of the public to join this Village Board as we seek to strengthen our Village. This Board will operate unlike many others we have seen. We will operate with a clear sense of cohesiveness, harnessing the individual strengths of each Trustee and enabling them to work for the Village. We will work hand-in-hand with all of our great organizations – both civic and religious, with residents, and with our youth. We will be a Board that is committed to the betterment of this great community; betterment that is long lasting, affordable, and suitable for the residents of Greenwood Lake.

I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for giving me an opportunity to serve as our Village Mayor. Your confidence is truly inspiring and humbling and I will work very hard to earn your trust and support for many years to come. Together, we will reveal and strengthen the best that Greenwood Lake has to offer. I look forward to working with you all, as a team, for the future of our great community.

All the best,
Jesse Dwyer
Mayor, Village of Greenwood Lake

A Culture of Neighbor Helping Neighbor

Our Village Community has a culture of neighbors helping neighbors. At this time of year there are many elderly or physically disabled residents that are unable to rake and bag the fallen leaves into the biodegradable bags. And as the winter snow fall approaches those same residents are in need of snow removal from their driveways and walkways.

With this in mind I ask that you become a Community Volunteer and help your neighbors in need. Please call Village Hall (477-9215) or our Police Department (477-9211) to register to rake and assist with snow removal for someone in your neighborhood or within the community. If you are already assisting your neighbors thank you. Your service fosters strong community relations and relieves stress from the elderly. It will also provide for safe passage for our emergency service personnel and volunteers.

There is an old saying that in life we only need three things;

Something to do
Something to look forward to
And
Someone to love

The holiday season offers the perfect opportunity to do just that. We should all try to help those that are in need by encouragement, inspiration or lending a helping hand to make a difference in their lives.