Highland residents find a way to cool off

By Ally Turk
Posted 7/24/19

It was the hottest it’s been all year this past weekend, with temperatures reaching 97 degrees on Saturday.

Temperatures ranged from 93-97 from Friday-Sunday, with excessive heat warnings …

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Highland residents find a way to cool off

Posted

It was the hottest it’s been all year this past weekend, with temperatures reaching 97 degrees on Saturday.

Temperatures ranged from 93-97 from Friday-Sunday, with excessive heat warnings being issues for Saturday and Sunday. Towns around Ulster County opened up cooling centers for the weekend where people could go during the day to enjoy air conditioning.

A lot of residents of Highland and Marlboro don’t have the luxury of air conditioning, so they came up with many creative ways to beat the heat this weekend.

“My plan is to fill the fridge with cold drinks to enjoy, lug the AC unit out from the basement and watch Netflix in the cool comfort of my den,” Arthur Zaczkiewicz, a Highland resident, said.

For residents who had the luxury of an old air conditioning unit, the heat was just a minor inconvenience. Other residents took the opportunity to go see the movie they kept putting off, taking advantage of the theatre’s air conditioning while staying entertained. Some other ways residents could get the feel of air conditioning without a unit was by visiting the Highland Public Library or going out to eat.

Some prefer to cool off by taking a dip in some water, and Highland has the perfect opportunity at Berean Park.

“Highland is very fortunate to have Berean Park. A place to go take a swim in cool water, relax on the grass or enjoy a cold treat,” Gina Hansut, a Highland resident, said.

Berean Park may have been open, but almost no one was taking advantage of the cooling water. Residents who wanted to take a dip, like Rosa Pinho, found it easier to spend the day at the pool closer to home, rather than at the park. Pinho cranked the air conditioning and spent the day at the pool with her children.

Residents not only had to worry about themselves staying safe in the heat, but they had to worry about their animals as well. Keeping dogs in the car for even a couple of minutes without the air conditioning on or the windows open can be lethal. The asphalt outside can reach degrees above 100, which is very painful for animals paws, so walks had to be kept short.

“I prepare in the summer just like I do for the winter, food stocked, Netflix and a couple of cocktails, although I do have to take Miss Stella out,” Highland resident Laurie McKinney said about her dog.

Though the heat was inconvenient, Hansut pointed out that there are plenty of ways to keep cool. She included picking up takeout, as to not heat up the house with the oven or stove, and taking advantage of the ice cream and Italian ice shops in town. Luckily, temperatures that high is out of the ordinary, and not something the residents of Highland and Marlboro will have to worry about again this coming week.