Hello New Windsor. There was some excitement at Kristi Babcock Memorial Park last weekend as we had a very large snapping turtle make its way between two very busy softball fields with hundreds of people. The Recreation Staff and Animal Control Officer Stacy Conley were able to safely remove the very large turtle they named “Cricket” to a swamp adjacent to the park! Never a boring day in the world of Recreation.

On Saturday May 14 the Town of New Windsor in conjunction with the Orange County Health Department held a drive-thru vaccination clinic for dogs, cats, and ferrets from 10 - 12 p.m. at Kristi Babcock Memorial Park. The clinic was free for any Orange County Resident. 229 animals were pre-registered with 158 dogs, 69 cats, and two ferrets. All ran smoothly in a very busy park, Thank you to Town Clerk Kelly Allegra and her team, Animal Control Officer Stacy Conley, all of the Recreation Staff, Health Department Staff, Volunteers, and the vet and vet techs who all did an amazing job running a very smooth event in a very busy park.

The Town of New Windsor Memorial Day Parade is this Sunday May 22 please come out to honor those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The Town will hold a ceremony at the Veterans Monument on the corner of Route 94 and 9W at 11 a.m. The parade will kick off at 2 p.m. from the New Windsor Post Office plaza, marching down Route 94 (Blooming Grove Turnpike) and ending at New Windsor School. We hope to see you there.

The Town of New Windsor Nancy Pullar Summer Concert Series will begin on Wednesday night June 29 at 7 to 8:30 p.m. on the New Windsor Town Hall Lawn with the band Lucky House opening up the series. Lucky House plays Roots Rock N Roll and hits of today. For the full summer schedule please visit the Town of New Windsor Recreation Department Website at www.nwrecisfun.com.

Parents the school year is almost over and if you are looking for something for your kids to do all summer please consider sending them to the Town of New Windsor Summer Camp Programs. We have camps from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for ages 3-5, and full day camps for ages 6-12, as well as a Counselor in Training Program from ages 13-15 years old. The two locations for summer camp are Ruscitti Park and Kristi Babcock Memorial Park. For information on all of our camps programs or to register please visit nwrecisfun.com or call the Recreation Department at 845-565-7750. We are also hiring summer camp counselors as well as camp directors so please email Recreation Director Matt Veronesi at mveronesi@newwindsor-ny.gov.

Town of New Windsor Community Day is scheduled for Saturday August 20 from 12 to 9 p.m. We have begun taking registrations for Vendors. Vendor booths are $100 (early bird $75 if signing up before July 1) and Food Vendors are $350. Information can be found on the Community Day Website at www.newwindsorcommunityday.com.

On Wednesday May 25 the Recreation Department will be taking a trip down to Yankee Stadium to see the NY Yankees take on the visiting Baltimore Orioles in a 7:05 p.m. game and on Friday June 17 the down to Citi Field to see the NY Mets take on the Miami Marlins in a 7:10 p.m. game. These are field level seats and include the bus ride down. No need to worry about navigating the traffic or finding parking, let us take care of all that for you. The price for both games is $105. The bus leaves New Windsor Town Hall at 4 p.m. If you have any questions about these trips you can contact the Recreation Department at 845-565-7750 or you can register atnwrecisfun.com.

Birthday shout outs this week go to Jim Desousa whose birthday is on May 23, to Patty Smith whose birthday is on May 24, and to anyone else out there celebrating birthdays this week Happy Birthday!

If anyone has a birthday or other special event you want mentioned in my column, or have anything going on in New Windsor that you want the world to know about you can reach me at mveronesi@optimum.net or by calling 845-629-1260. Have a great week.