This Week in Clarkstown

You may have seen the recent news images of several buildings at the Hudson River Psychiatric Center in Poughkeepsie, New York, engulfed in flames. The fire caused significant damage to many of the structures. Originally built in the 1860s, the Hudson River Psychiatric Center housed more than 6,000 patients over the years before officially closing in 2012.

When I saw those images, my mind immediately thought back to 1996 when I was playing college baseball for Dutchess Community College. Our home field was located on the grounds of the psychiatric center. It wasn’t the nicest field in the world, but it was ours.

What I remember most about playing there wasn’t the wins or the losses it was the experiences.

Patients from the psychiatric center would come out to watch our games. Some sat in the stands and cheered. Others wandered around the field and talked to players and fans alike. Whenever a foul ball sailed behind the backstop, certain patients would chase them down which was a huge help to us as the field was surrounded by woods and baseballs are expensive. 

They became part of the experience.

One of those experiences was the woman who sang the National Anthem.

There was no microphone. No announcement. No ceremony. One day she simply walked to the top of the field and started singing.

Our coach looked at us and said, “hats off” and everyone did so and lined up on the foul line.

So we did.

And she sang. And she wasn’t bad, she had a pretty good voice. 

We won a big game that day, and after that, she became part of pregame festivities. Every home game, she’d make her way to the top of the field and sing before the first pitch.

Another memorable moment came when one of my teammates left his car keys in his vehicle during practice. One of the patients managed to take the car for a joyride. Thankfully, the car was eventually returned without a scratch, but my teammate certainly learned an important lesson that day. Never leave your car keys in the car. A story I always tell my wife who seems to do this all the time. Please do not tell any car thieves. 

That’s what baseball can do. It brings together people who otherwise never would have crossed paths. At the time, we didn’t realize it, but we were becoming part of something special. The field was far from perfect, but the memories created there will last forever!

Speaking of creating memories, the Town of Clarkstown is excited to announce a summer full of events celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the United States.

Two major celebrations will take place at Felix Festa Middle School this July. The Fireworks Extravaganza on Wednesday, July 1, and the Patriotic Concert and Drone Show on Thursday, July 9, will both open their gates at 6:00 p.m. and feature food vendors, family activities, and live entertainment beginning at 8:00 p.m. The July 1 event will feature Ladies of the ’80s followed by fireworks, while the July 9 event will showcase the West Point Band and a drone show featuring 400 drones.

And the Town of Clarkstown Summer Concert Series will return in early July and continue through August with 13 free concerts featuring a variety of musical styles. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy an evening with family and friends. The complete schedule is available on the Parks & Recreation website under the Downloads section.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for all of our Clarkstown America’s 250 Summer Events, including the July 1 Fireworks Extravaganza, the July 9 Patriotic Concert and Drone Show, and the Summer Concert Series. Businesses interested in sponsoring should email m.veronesi@clarkstown.gov for more information.

The New City Fire Department will offer a free Fire Awareness and Safety Presentation for senior citizens on Friday, July 17, at 10:00 a.m. The program will cover fire prevention, emergency preparedness, and fire response, with light refreshments served. To register, contact Chelsea Tosto at 845-639-5731 or c.tosto@clarkstown.gov.

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!