Patriot's Park was the glorious setting Saturday of another very successful YMCA Healthy Kids Day/Ducky Derby.
Close to 1,700 rubber ducks were “adopted” and raced down a faster (thanks to the extra boost from Fire Department hoses) stream in six heats.
On one end, the big ducks (Rotarians Mimi Godwin and , each claiming their costume is the cuter), dump the ducks downriver from the little bridge. On the other, School Superintendent Howard Smith dons his waders and gets in to scoop up the winner from the finish line.
The final race is between the six duck winners of each heat and determines the three grand prize winners.
It proved a surprising day for two major Tarrytown officials. Village Administrator Mike Blau came in first, winning a check for $1,000.
“And I only bought a six-quack,” he said.
In third place came Melissa Kaplan. Kaplan has lived in Sleepy Hollow for ten years and is the mother of two girls (aged 9 and 13) who named their ducks.
Kaplan wrote, "We were at the park not only for Healthy Kids Day, but also so that the girls could sing on the stage. (YouTube: ZTK 'Rolling in the Deep' and 'Don't Stop Believing' if you want to check it out). We bought two ducks, cleverly named by the girls, Cheese and Quackers."
And then third place went to Tarrytown Mayor Drew Fixell, whose win prompted some jokes that the race was “fixed” and, at least one, “Fixelled.”
The real hero of the day was former Fire Chief Joey McCarthy, who passed away at the young age of 50. He was honored by a sign and photos posted in front of the engine and forever holds the unofficial patent for designing the system that gets those ducks speedily downriver.
On the YMCA side of things, there were more inflatables for kids to bounce in than ever, fitness stations, healthy food displays, a giant tooth and toothbrush wandering around, stories, Fun Bus, dancing, characters, food vendors and innumerable other entertainments to keep everyone busy and well-fed for hours.
Thanks to Patch reader Charlie Schwachter for sharing this dramatic video of the race here (funny conclusion: "I lost"). Please upload your own photos and pictures of the day.
