As I write this, Winter is fast-approaching, and we say goodbye to yet another successful Farmers Market season, together with the Summer Concert series, and the many outdoor athletic events for our youth.

The highlight of the Fall season is always the Harvest Moon Festival, which continues to grow substantially every year, and far exceeded our expectations once again this year. The number of happy families, many of whom came from outside our borders, was immeasurable, and it was obvious that everyone was enjoying the weather and the offerings.

Walworth and West Walworth fire departments assisted with traffic and parking control, along with offering treats and fire prevention tips, together with tours of the fire trucks, to all our young people who stopped by after the Pumpkin Walk. Western Wayne and Wayne County EMS personnel were also on hand to provide medical services and general information for our visitors; thankfully, their treatment services were not needed. The Lions Club and their ever-present food booth was a huge draw, and I was told they sold out before the end of the night.

Of course, none of this would have been possible if not for the dedication and hard work of our Recreation and Parks departments, together with the many volunteers and vendors, that made all this successful to the benefit of our residents and visitors. Every year our public gatherings continue to grow, and I hope that you look forward to the next year as much as I do. You may have noticed our Town continues to grow, especially if you travel along the Walworth-Penfield Road. Most notably is the new Byrne Dairy being erected at the intersection with Ontario Center Road, which is rapidly transforming into a full blown convenience store and gas station. Hopefully, the store will be opening soon for the enjoyment of our residents and visitors. A little further east and on the opposite side of the road you will notice that a private residence is being built by one of our local developers, which is also moving along quickly. Back to the south side of the road, as you approach the entrance to Ginegaw Park, you will notice the beginning stages of what is to become the West Station of the Wayne County Emergency Medical Service. Site preparation continues to move forward, and the station is anticipated to be opened and occupied in mid- to late-2025. The ambulance and staff assigned to this station will be tasked with supplementing, not replacing, the existing ambulance services on the west end of the County.

I recently had the honor and pleasure of assisting with the ribbon cutting at the Grand Opening ceremonies of The Playpen, a new children’s activity center that opened in Gananda. The brainchild of Town resident Jen Wiedrick, The Playpen is described as, “a place where kids can let their imaginations run wild!” Jen and her staff and invite you to check out her new facility at 1205 Mayberry Place, right off Canandaigua Road near Gananda Parkway, or go to www.theplaypen.org for more information. We wish Jen the best of luck with her new venture.

If you’ve had the opportunity to visit the Town Hall recently, you may have noticed some construction activity near the lower parking lot. Based upon a request from our local fire departments, we have extended the water main that runs alongside the parking lot down the hill along Lorraine Drive to a spot near the Lodge at Ginegaw Park. This was suggested to provide adequate fire protection in the event of a fire in the Lodge, which is one of our Town’s most valuable physical assets. Two fire hydrants were added along the way, giving our volunteer firefighters a better chance of suppressing any fire that may occur in and around the Lodge. Thanks to our Highway Department and the Wayne County Water and Sewer Authority for collaborating on this project.

By the time you read this, your Town Board has completed the annual budget process, and hopefully you’ve had the opportunity to weigh in on the results. While we try to keep the budget, and ultimately your taxes, flat, the reality of today's environment is that the cost of goods and services has increased substantially, along with salaries and benefits. Double-digit inflation, coupled with our obligation to pay our employees a living wage, has forced us to exceed the State-mandated tax cap just to keep up with expenses and provide you with the services that you deserve and expect. I can assure you that we did our best to keep the tax rate as low as we possibly could, as the increase affects us just as much as it does our constituents.

As your Supervisor, I am dedicated to serving our Town and our residents to the best of my ability. I am always available to assist you in any way I can. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at (315) 986-1400, ext. 3, or email me at supervisor@townofwalworthny.gov.

I wish you and your families the happiest of holidays this season and thank you for your continued support.

Stay safe and be well!

Mike Donalty
Walworth Town Supervisor