About Us
Through its diverse programming and broad reach, the
Warwick Valley Community Center is achieving its original mission:
“To Enhance the Quality of Life for the Warwick Community by
Providing Affordable, Social, Cultural, Educational and Recreational Activities.”
The Warwick Valley Community Center (WVCC), located in the historic Doc Fry Building, (formerly the Hamilton Avenue School), is a successful multipurpose community center serving a population from 4 to 94 years of age. Founded in 1977, the Community Center enjoys more than 25,000 visits a year from more than 5,000 community residents. Over the past four years, more than $700,000 has been raised to restore the historic Arts and Craft-style schoolhouse into what it is today a multi-purpose community center that includes a highly-praised pre-school program, community enrichment classes, after school programs for children and teens, a bi-monthly film series and a venue for concerts and theater. In addition, the center is a popular meeting place for non-profit community groups throughout the region. Other activities and programs include: Jewelry-Making, Cooking, Piano, Arts & Crafts, Music Theory for children, teens and adults. The Center is also home to the Warwick Kennel Club, LaMonteil Dance Studio and the Greenwood Lake Theatre Group. The Center offers movies for all ages.
The members of our Board of Directors are:
Tammy Artusa, President
Tammy was born and raised in the Town of Warwick where she continues to live with her husband, Peter Artusa, and their 9 year old son, TJ. Tammy has worked in the insurance industry for over 19 years, 16 of those years with Seely & Durland, Inc. She was awarded the 2002 Accredited Customer Services Representative of the Year Award by the Independent Insurance Agent and Broker Association. She teaches Defensive Driving courses with her husband, Peter. Tammy has been a Board member since August 2007 and became Board President in January, 2009. Tammy joined the Center because she lives and works in the Village of Warwick and felt she could make a difference directly in her own community.
Steve Regan, Vice-President
Steve Regan moved to Greenwood Lake in 1996 from NYC bringing his DJ and Sound business with him. After years of playing in several of the cities most successful clubs and programming music for exclusive eateries, he moved into mobile events in 1987. He joined the board in 2003, chaired the 2006 Town Fair, and operates the Warwick Film Group with Carolyn Nomura. In June, 2009 he received the Betty Jane Polanis Spirit of Volunteerism Award from The Orange County Youth Bureau. Regardless of the ravages of time it is evident that Mr. Regan’s self image is that of a cool dude in a loose mood.
Gene Gouss, Treasurer
Gene Gouss has been a member of the Warwick Valley Community Center Board of Directors for over 10 years. Previously, Gene served on the District Compact for Learning Committee and spent 10 years on the Warwick Day Care Center Board of Directors, three of them as Board President. Gene is the owner of Gene Gouss Photography Inc. located in Suffern, NY providing commercial and corporate photography services to businesses and organizations in the NY metropolitan area. He has resided in Warwick with his wife, son and daughter since 1979
Kerry Schmidt, Secretary
Kerry Schmidt became a member of the Warwick Valley Community Center Board of Directors in October 2008. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has a private practice in the town of Warwick. Given her career in assisting children and adolescents, as well as their families, she values having supportive, educational and safe resources to connect her clients to within their community. At the same time, being a member of the Board of Directors allows Ms. Schmidt the opportunity to provide feedback to the Board about programs, classes, seminars and/or events that could be beneficial in providing additional support to members of the community.
Gail Bate, Board Member
Gail Bate has been a member of the Warwick Valley Community Center Board of Directors for over 10 years. She brings to the Center her love of children and the arts. Gail taught elementary school in the Greenwich Public School system. She also was head of the School Readiness Program for Special Children in Stamford. Gail is an active member of the Junior League. She is writer/broadcaster of Children’s Radio Programs, Station WGCH in Greenwich and creator of the monthly “Kindergarten Guide”; text and art work and writer of multi-media science programs for elementary school children. Gail received her degree in Fine Art Studies from Washington University, Silvermine School of Art in Norwalk, CT.
Bernice Mulch, Board Member
Bernice Mulch has been a member of the Warwick Valley Community Center for a little over 2 years. She has been a resident of Warwick since 2001 and is currently the Assistant Director of Financial Aid at Ramapo College of New Jersey. Prior to working at Ramapo, Bernice worked at Bergen Community College and Columbia University School of the Arts. In addition to her career in student services and financial aid, she has been involved in various volunteer activities over several years including assisting with fund raising events for the National Multiple sclerosis Society, and she recently completed training as a Master Gardner Volunteer with the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County. Bernice has one son, Gregory, who lives in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Dr. Ira “Skip” Rosner, Board Member
Dr. Ira Rosner is one of the founders of the Warwick Valley Community Center. He’s been a member of the Board of Directors for the past 32 years, during which time he has held the positions of Treasurer, Vice President and, most recently, President of the organization. Dr. Rosner is a General Dentist and had a practice in Warwick, NY from 1973 to 2004. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry at the College of Dental Medicine of Columbia University in the City of New York. He is married to Dr. Judith Rosner, President of the Rosner Group, Inc., a management and training organization. They have one daughter, Arielle.
Sara Werling, Board Member
Sara has been a resident of Warwick since 1992 and resides in the Village of Warwick with her Std Poodle Rose. She is a of member of the Warwick Lions Club serving as an officer for 6 years, an active member of the Warwick Profit Makers BNI Chapter, a local business organization, and was a member of the Warwick Jaycees. She is employed with Seely and Durland Insurance in Warwick, and has been in the insurance industry for 17 years; previously Sara was a retail cosmetics buyer Manhattan.
Dr. Dominic Berlingieri
The Warwick Valley Community Center is always looking for individuals who can give an hour or two each week to teach a craft or share their talent and enthusiasm in any particular area (i.e. cooking, arts & crafts, dance, theatre, etc.) with other members of the Warwick community and its neighboring towns and villages. The Center prides itself on offering low or no cost programming to enhance the quality of life for the Warwick community.
If you would like to develop a program, give us a call at 986-6422 and speak with Lois.