11/05/2026
From the Mayor’s Office - November 5, 2026
The following remarks were delivered by Mayor Michael J. Newhard upon receiving the Citizen of the Year Award from the Warwick Valley Rotary Club on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Good evening. Tonight, I am truly in good company. Congratulations to Donna, Robbie, Evelyne, and Don. And thank you to the Warwick Valley Rotary for all that you do and for recognizing the people who make our community so special.
Being named Citizen of the Year was unexpected, and I am deeply honored. I want to thank Stan, Lisa, and the Warwick Valley Community Center for their nominations, and especially remember the late Marge Porter, a former honoree and Rotarian, whose request before her passing made this recognition particularly meaningful.
I stand before you tonight on the shoulders of many. So, more than anything, consider this a thank you note, because whatever I have accomplished has never been mine alone.
My parents, Robert and Ella Newhard, shaped my understanding of community and service. My brothers and sisters have been part of that journey, especially my sisters Mary and Beth. Together, we have built a successful business over the past 40 years, and for more than half of that time, they have given me the freedom to devote myself to serving as Mayor. That is a gift I will never take for granted.
Every day, I am surrounded by remarkable, resourceful people. At Village Hall, service is at the heart of everything we do. I want to recognize former Village Clerk Jo Ann Rome, who established a tradition of excellence, and Village Clerk Raina Abramson, who has raised that bar even higher. Raina is not only a trusted confidant but also a respected leader among clerks throughout New York State.
Our Village employees bring dedication, responsibility, and pride to their work every day. Under Mike Moser and Mike Finelli, our Department of Public Works has flourished, as has our Water Department under Chris Bennett. These are the people who make the Village tick. They are the foundation of everything we accomplish.
I've also had the privilege of working with many wonderful Village Boards. Roger Metzger served as Deputy Mayor for more than ten years and was both a mentor and a dear friend. Bill Lindberg served as Trustee and was instrumental in bringing a new skate park to our Village. He also played an important role in our yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration. Today, Deputy Mayor Barry Cheney and Trustees Mary Collura, Carly Foster, and Tom McKnight bring tremendous talent, experience, and commitment to Village government.
I've learned that good governance is really about relationships and meaningful partnerships. Our relationships with Town Supervisor Jesse Dwyer and the Town Board, Mayor Harter, Mayor Howley, our Police and Fire Departments, EMS, the American Legion, and the VFW are invaluable.
And then there are the organizations that give Warwick its heart: the Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce, Warwick Gardeners, Lions, Rotary, our schools, Albert Wisner Public Library, Wickham Works, the Warwick Community Center and Coalition, Warwick Cares, We the People, Team Up for Hope, and our spiritual leaders.
Phew! That's a lot of meetings!
But every one of those relationships matters. They remind me that what makes Warwick extraordinary isn't any one person or project. It's the people who continually show up for one another.
I also want to acknowledge where this journey began. Early on, I became a Jaycee, and that experience changed the course of my life. Mike and Deborah Sweeton, and Chris and Doug Stage, were extraordinary role models. Without their example and encouragement, I doubt I would ever have entered public service.
There is one person who deserves my deepest thanks.
At the end of a long day, when the meetings are over and I'm exhausted, sometimes even discouraged, there is someone whose love is unwavering. Someone who listens, helps me sort things out, gives me strength, and reminds me of what really matters.
That person is my wife, Judy Pedersen.
Judy, you are everything to me. I am so grateful that we have each other.
And to my son, Henry, you are my world and I am thankful that we share the same experience of growing up in this valley.
I know I've mentioned a lot of people tonight, but that's really the point. Each person and organization has helped me understand the heart of this community and has played a part in whatever success I've had.
This honor may have my name on it, but it belongs to all of us.
Thank you to the Warwick Valley Rotary, and thank you to this wonderful community that I am so fortunate to call home.
