Newman held a short term on the board, but she said she learned a lot, and village Mayor Clyde Rabideau said she contributed to the board during a challenging year.

When a trustee seat opened up last summer, due to Patrick Murphy’s resignation, Rabideau appointed Newman to fill the vacant seat in August. She chose not to run in the March election. Kelly Brunette was elected March 16 as the sole candidate running. She will be officially sworn in at noon on April 5.

“I just want to say ‘thank you,'” Newman told the village board Monday. “This wasn’t my arena, but I learned quite a few things — most of all how you people care and what you do to help this village work.”

Newman didn’t say much at meetings during her time on the board. She said she’s glad she took the job, but now she’s going to “rest for a bit.”

Outgoing Saranac Lake village Trustee Zelda Newman, right, hugs Trustee Melinda Little after giving Little her parting gift of a chocolate cake. (Enterprise photo — Aaron Cerbone)

“I was scared. I was scared to death,” Newman said. “I’m scared to even speak right now.”

Rabideau said she was “courageous” to take on the role during a challenging time. The village was in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns and testing challenges, as the rest of the world was, too. The U.S. was also seeing a summer of civil rights protests, including ones in Saranac Lake and other local towns, over the police killings of several Black people.

“We got so much violence going on right now,” said Newman, who is Black. She referenced violent acts against Asian Americans and Black Americans. “I know you have a lot on your plate, but I’m hoping you consider not letting that pass by. There’s always an opportunity where we can get a jump on it to make our village as peaceful as we’d like it to stay.”

She asked the village do “something.”

“It can happen here, too,” Newman said.

Newman said the best way she knows to combat violence is to “be kind.”

Kindness was on display at the board meeting as the village presented Newman with a vase of

flowers and Newman, in turn, sent each board member home with a smorgasbord of treats.

Newman had come armed with several large bags of homemade food and deserts, which she distributed to her fellow board members and other village employees assembled.

She said she was thankful for Trustee Rich Shaprio’s friendship.

“Mr. Shapiro is my go-to person,” Newman said. “When I cried, when I didn’t understand, when I felt like I was an inconvenience because I didn’t understand everything that was going on, when I swore like a sailor.” She said he always listened to her.

When she handed Shapiro her gift — a beef roast with onions, mushrooms and green beans — she teared up.

“I want to thank you for being in my corner,” she said. “I really do appreciate it.”

Village Manager John Sweeney also got a giant meal of turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and biscuits.

“I’m in for that,” Sweeney said.

Newman gave chocolate cakes, dinners and other treats to the others, each with a word of thanks.

Newman talked with Community Development Director Jamie Konkoski about ideas she has for banners. She thanked village Clerk Kareen Tyler for making her “feel at home.” She thanked Treasurer Lidia O’Kelly for helping her ease into the job. She said she enjoyed sitting next to Trustee Tom Catillaz, who was not at the meeting, saying he always made her laugh. She remarked that every time she talked to Little, her fellow trustee was always mulching her garden or walking her dog.

Finally, she thanked Rabideau for the opportunity to be on the board.