This Week in Clarkstown

Growing up, my dad had a habit of saving people who didn’t actually need saving.

There was the time we were on vacation at Disney World and he tried to help an elderly woman cross a busy parking lot filled with cars and speeding parking trams. Concerned for her safety, he grabbed her arm to assist her, only to get whacked over the head with her umbrella because she was perfectly capable of crossing on her own.

Then there was the time he raced across a restaurant after spotting someone he thought was choking. Ready to perform the Heimlich maneuver, he arrived at the table only to discover the person was simply laughing uncontrollably at a joke someone had just told.

One of the more embarrassing incidents happened during another family vacation. We were at a hotel pool when a toddler, no more than two years old, jumped into the water with no parents nearby. My dad happened to see it and immediately sprang into action. Fully clothed, shoes and all, he dove into the pool and pulled the child to safety.

Expecting grateful parents, he instead found two very angry ones. They informed him that their child was a swimming prodigy and that he may have just ruined the youngster’s Olympic dreams by interrupting his training and terrifying him in the process.

With those stories in mind, I am excited to announce the opening of pool season in Clarkstown! And thankfully in Clarkstown, our lifeguards are trained to make the right rescue at the right time, something my dad occasionally struggled with.

Join the Town of Clarkstown on Saturday, June 13, for Serendipity Saturday, our annual celebration marking the opening of the summer pool season. At Germonds Pool, Clarkstown residents will enjoy free admission along with live music, a magician, balloon animals, free miniature golf, arts and crafts, lifeguard demonstrations, and concessions.

The gates will open at noon, with live music beginning at 1:15 p.m.

Both Germonds Pool and Congers Pool will be open and free to Clarkstown residents throughout that weekend. Germonds Pool will officially begin operating seven days a week on June 13, while Congers Pool will begin seven-day operations the following Saturday, June 20. Lake Nanuet Pool will open for the season on Saturday, June 27.

The staggered openings are necessary because of the large number of lifeguards required to operate our pools safely. We must wait until local schools have completed the academic year in order to have enough lifeguards available to fully staff all three facilities.

In addition to recreational swimming, our pools offer a variety of aquatics programs throughout the summer, including swim lessons for children and adults, a competitive swim team for ages 5 through 18, morning lap swimming, American Red Cross Lifeguard Training courses, aqua aerobics, and more.

For a complete list of aquatics programs, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 845-639-6200 or visit www.clarkstown.gov/recreation.

The Spray Park at Pascack Community Center is also open for the season for Clarkstown residents.

From June 1 through June 28, hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and weekends from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Beginning June 29 through August 7, weekday hours will adjust to 1:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. due to our summer camp program, while weekend hours will remain unchanged. The Spray Park will remain open through September 6.

The New City Fire Department will be offering a Fire Awareness and Safety Presentation for senior citizens on Friday, July 17, at 10:00 a.m. This informative program will cover fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and what to do in the event of a fire. Light refreshments will be served.

To register for this free program, please contact Chelsea Tosto at the Parks & Recreation Department at 845-639-5731 or email c.tosto@clarkstown.gov.

Calling all Clarkstown businesses! If you are interested in sponsoring our Town of Clarkstown America’s 250 Summer Events, please email me at m.veronesi@clarkstown.gov and I will be happy to send you sponsorship information.

These events include our Fireworks Extravaganza on July 1, a Patriotic Concert and Drone Show featuring the West Point Band on July 9, and more than 20 summer concerts throughout the season. Additional details on these exciting events will be released in the coming weeks.

For information on any Town of Clarkstown programs or events, please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 845-639-6200.

Have an idea for a future column or a Clarkstown event you would like highlighted? Feel free to reach out to me at m.veronesi@clarkstown.gov.

Have a great week!