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Leo R Kaytes, selected Warwick Citizen of the Year
Leo R Kaytes, selected Warwick Citizen of the Year
Vincent Poloniak, Roger Gavan named recipients
of Outstanding Community Service Awards
WARWICK – Community and business leader Leo R. Kaytes, Jr., has been named Warwick's 2021-2022 Citizen of the Year.
Kaytes and recipients of this year’s Outstanding Community Service Awards – Vincent Poloniak, Pine Island onion farmer and county community development director noted for his large Halloween and Christmas displays on Spanktown Road, and acclaimed Warwick photojournalist Roger Gavan, whose thousands of news articles and photographs have publicized activities of local civic organizations and businesses -- will be honored during a ceremony Wednesday evening, Sept. 15, at the Chateau Hathorn.
Because of COVID cancellation of the 2020-2021 event, last year’s honorees will also be recognized.
Frank Truatt, who purchased an off-the-air AM radio station and turned WTBQ into a respected community-minded media outlet, is the reigning Citizen of the Year. Also being honored are last year’s recipients of Outstanding Community Service Awards – former Warwick Valley Dispatch editor and community volunteer Jennifer O'Connor, and the duo of Carmela Borrazas and Nichole McCormick, whose unpaid efforts raised an estimated $700,000 to assist local small businesses during the pandemic
Reservations can be made online at www.warwickvalleyrotary.org. The cost is $65 per person.
Warwick Valley Rotarians sponsor the event with proceeds donated to Rotary International’s project to eliminate polio world-wide. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches these funds $2 for each dollar raised locally. Co-chairing the event for the 14th time are Leo Kaytes, Sr., and Stan Martin. An 11-member selection committee evaluates and selects the honorees.
Kaytes’s name will be added to a plaque honoring previous Citizen of the Year honorees, including his father, Leo Kaytes, Sr., chosen in 1999 by the Warwick Jaycees.
One nominee described Kaytes as “an upbeat person who has his priorities straight. He is devoted to his parents, his siblings, his wife and two children. He honors his religious beliefs, maintains the highest business ethics and gives bountiful support and service to his beloved Warwick community. Much of what he does is behind-the-scenes with little recognition expected or received.”
Kaytes has been a coach and remains a big supporter of little league baseball and soccer, Warwick school academic and athletic programs, Odyssey of the Mind and scouting. The same could be said about his efforts for local military veterans, first responders and numerous area non-profits and service organizations.
He has served many years as a Rotarian officer at the local and eight-county district level, including three years as an assistant district governor and currently is in his second term as president of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club.
During his five years as chair and co-chair of the June Tent Party, the event raised $284,000 for St. Anthony Community Hospital, Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center, Warwick Rotary and the Warwick Humane Society. He has honored local military veterans with a Veterans Day breakfast which has served hundreds of meals to these heroes. He even drove a car in this year’s Warwick Memorial Day Parade.
Leo has donated cars to almost every area charity golf “hole in one” challenge. Some of the other local activities he has participated in include the Holiday Party for Needy Children, Flags for Heroes, Backpack Snack Attack, Coats for Children of Migrant Workers, Warwick’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, Roses for Seniors, Veterans and First Responders, Bowling for Causes and the Warwick Senior Barbecue, Sunset at Winslow and the Luau at Wickham Woodlands.
Leo was praised as a problem solver. He successfully navigated the business challenges of COVID to keep the family auto dealership profitable and then donated profits to finance fireworks at this year’s Warwick Firemen’s Carnival.
He used his college degree in architecture to convince Ford Motor Company to make an exception to the standard dealership design and to allow him to design a more community-friendly and award-winning facility.
Vincent Poloniak, Roger Gavan named recipients
of Outstanding Community Service Awards
WARWICK – Community and business leader Leo R. Kaytes, Jr., has been named Warwick's 2021-2022 Citizen of the Year.
Kaytes and recipients of this year’s Outstanding Community Service Awards – Vincent Poloniak, Pine Island onion farmer and county community development director noted for his large Halloween and Christmas displays on Spanktown Road, and acclaimed Warwick photojournalist Roger Gavan, whose thousands of news articles and photographs have publicized activities of local civic organizations and businesses -- will be honored during a ceremony Wednesday evening, Sept. 15, at the Chateau Hathorn.
Because of COVID cancellation of the 2020-2021 event, last year’s honorees will also be recognized.
Frank Truatt, who purchased an off-the-air AM radio station and turned WTBQ into a respected community-minded media outlet, is the reigning Citizen of the Year. Also being honored are last year’s recipients of Outstanding Community Service Awards – former Warwick Valley Dispatch editor and community volunteer Jennifer O'Connor, and the duo of Carmela Borrazas and Nichole McCormick, whose unpaid efforts raised an estimated $700,000 to assist local small businesses during the pandemic
Reservations can be made online at www.warwickvalleyrotary.org. The cost is $65 per person.
Warwick Valley Rotarians sponsor the event with proceeds donated to Rotary International’s project to eliminate polio world-wide. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matches these funds $2 for each dollar raised locally. Co-chairing the event for the 14th time are Leo Kaytes, Sr., and Stan Martin. An 11-member selection committee evaluates and selects the honorees.
Kaytes’s name will be added to a plaque honoring previous Citizen of the Year honorees, including his father, Leo Kaytes, Sr., chosen in 1999 by the Warwick Jaycees.
One nominee described Kaytes as “an upbeat person who has his priorities straight. He is devoted to his parents, his siblings, his wife and two children. He honors his religious beliefs, maintains the highest business ethics and gives bountiful support and service to his beloved Warwick community. Much of what he does is behind-the-scenes with little recognition expected or received.”
Kaytes has been a coach and remains a big supporter of little league baseball and soccer, Warwick school academic and athletic programs, Odyssey of the Mind and scouting. The same could be said about his efforts for local military veterans, first responders and numerous area non-profits and service organizations.
He has served many years as a Rotarian officer at the local and eight-county district level, including three years as an assistant district governor and currently is in his second term as president of the Warwick Valley Rotary Club.
During his five years as chair and co-chair of the June Tent Party, the event raised $284,000 for St. Anthony Community Hospital, Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center, Warwick Rotary and the Warwick Humane Society. He has honored local military veterans with a Veterans Day breakfast which has served hundreds of meals to these heroes. He even drove a car in this year’s Warwick Memorial Day Parade.
Leo has donated cars to almost every area charity golf “hole in one” challenge. Some of the other local activities he has participated in include the Holiday Party for Needy Children, Flags for Heroes, Backpack Snack Attack, Coats for Children of Migrant Workers, Warwick’s Sesquicentennial Celebration, Roses for Seniors, Veterans and First Responders, Bowling for Causes and the Warwick Senior Barbecue, Sunset at Winslow and the Luau at Wickham Woodlands.
Leo was praised as a problem solver. He successfully navigated the business challenges of COVID to keep the family auto dealership profitable and then donated profits to finance fireworks at this year’s Warwick Firemen’s Carnival.
He used his college degree in architecture to convince Ford Motor Company to make an exception to the standard dealership design and to allow him to design a more community-friendly and award-winning facility.
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About Us
Rotary is an international membership organization made up of people who share a passion for and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives across the globe. With clubs in almost every country, our more than 1.2 million members embrace their diverse background and unite to exchange new ideas, apply expertise, and implement improvements that transform communities.
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“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney
MissionThe Warwick Valley Rotary Club is a dedicated group of individuals who exchange ideas, build relationships, and take action in order to create positive, lasting change in our community.
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
Getting involved in Rotary means helping your neighbors with programs such as the American Cancer Society, Meals on Wheels, Backpack snack Attack, Garden of the Child, Warwick Valley Community Center, Warwick & Florida Food Pantry, the Senior Barbeque, SADD, Beautiful People, Literacy Orange, the Warwick Humane Society, and many more. For more information, visit our Facebook page or email us at warwickvalleyrotary@gmail.com Download a Warwick Valley Rotary Membership application. and join us at our weekly lunch meeting each Wednesday at 12:15pm at The Landmark Inn. |
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