by Melody Partrick, Nyack Recreation Director

Kids of all ages — including adults and seniors — can find fun and good fitness this fall with Nyack’s Recreation Department. Classes start on Mon Sept 15.

Registration forms and additional information are available at Nyack-NY.gov.

Adult Programs

There are six adult classes each week which will make you sing and dance, draw, paint and sketch — and putt, too. On Mondays, Nyack Sketch Log author Bill Batson will walk you around Nyack and together you will sketch some of our most historical sites. On Tuesdays, there is more drawing and painting to be done, this time in Nyack Center and using watercolor with the outstanding Sue Altman. There’s golf lessons in Memorial Park on Tuesday nights and you can sing from the Great American Songbook on Wednesdays with the amazingly talented Alice Leon. International flamenco star Anna de la Paz leads dance steps around the world on Thursdays. After five days of walking, singing, dancing and golfing, you will have probably worked up a good appetite, so join La Talaye Catering on Friday to learn how to make exotic, healthy and inexpensive meals.

Kids and Tweens

For the young at heart and age, there is a whole range of offerings for After School Programs as well. Skateboarding, Fencing, Soccer, Lacrosse, Golf, Watercolor, and Baton. All Nyack School District students will bring home flyers about these programs in their backpacks, but you can always find out the details on the Village of Nyack website under Recreation Department. Soccer and Golf are offering classes for ages 2-5 so even the wee little ones are a part of the mix.

Special Events

This fall there will be polo in Memorial Park — but you can hold your horses and bring your mountain bike instead.Check out each of these special Saturday events:

• All ages are invited to the Day of Skate on Sun Sept 14 in the Riverspace parking lot, sponsored by the Village of Nyack and the 2nd Nature Skateboard Shop in Peekskill.
• Sign up for the village’s own Ultimate Frisbee Tournament September 20.
• On October 11 we will play a crazy game of Mountain Bike Polo. Think of it as water polo, except that it’s by the Hudson and not in the river. And instead of horses, bring your mountain bike. You get the idea!
• There will also be a Flag Football Tournament on November 1.
• Nyack will be hosting “The Witch Way 5,” the village’s first ever Halloween Costume Run on October 25 at 8a. Running shoes and Halloween costume are required. Details are at RaceAwesome.com. All proceeds from the race benefit the Nyack Center.

All these events need to be registered for at least a week in advance and will have t-shirts for all participants. Super cheap and super fun.

Online, or in Village Hall, you will find the 2014 Fall Recreation Programming Guide. The Guide is a 12-page pamphlet that explores what is happening in the Village from existing programs to newly created ones. There is a list of recreational options already available in Nyack and a calendar of upcoming events for September through December. In addition the Village Historian has compiled a brief history of recreation in Nyack.

Here is a listing of all the programs and rates.

Youth Programs

• Monday – Skateboarding at the Riverspace Parking Lot  (Residents: $120, Non-Residents: $144)
  • 4-5p Grades K-2
  • 5-6p Grades 3-5
  • 6-7p Grades 6-8
• Tuesday
  • UK Petite Soccer for ages 2-5 in Memorial Park from 1-2p  (Residents: $100, Non-Residents: $120)
  • Tuesday – Fencing at the Nyack Fencing Academy (Residents: $66, Non-Residents: $80)
    • Grades 1-3 at 4-5p
    • Grades 4-6 at 4-5p
• Wednesday – Lacrosse – in Memorial Park (Residents: $45, Non-Residents: $54)
  • 4-5p Grades K-2
  • 5-6p Grades 3-5
• Thursday
  • TGA Golf in Memorial Park (Residents: $100, Non-Residents: $120)
    • 4-5p Grades K-2
    • 5-6p Grades 3-5
  • Outdoor Watercolor in Memorial Park,  4-5p for Grades 5-8  (Residents: $55, Non-Residents: $66)
• Friday – Baton Twirling in Memorial Park, 4-5p for Grades K-2 (Residents: $45, Non-Residents: $54)

Registration forms and additional information are available at Nyack-NY.gov.

Adult and Senior Programs

• Monday: Drawing Historical Sites in Nyack with Bill Batson – 12n-1:30p in Memorial Park – “Draw and learn about the local historical buildings in Nyack with Bill Batson the author/artist of the weekly feature Nyack Sketch Log and the Artist-in-Residence at the Nyack Farmer’s Market. (Residents: $50, Non-Residents: $60. Market. Materials included in price)
• Tuesday
  • Beginning and Intermediate Drawing and Painting with Sue Altman – 10a-12n at the Nyack Center – “An introduction to drawing and watercolor techniques for students of all abilities. Materials included in price.” (Residents: $60, Non-Residents: $72)
  • Golf with TGA – 6:15-7:15p in Memorial Park – “Always wanted to learn the great game of golf? Perhaps you want to win against your other half? Or take your game to the next level? Whatever your ability and ambition, TGA’s Professional golf instructors will coach you in a fun and relaxed environment for 6 weeks, working on everything from chipping to full swings to putting to driving. The final class will be at the golf course.”  (Residents: $120, Non-Residents: $144)
• Wednesday – Great American Songbook with Alice Leon – 10-11:30a at the Nyack Center – “Listen, explore, discuss and sing-a-long to the greatest songs of all time. And even create some new hits!” (Residents: $65, Non-Residents: $78)
• Thursday – Dance with Anna de la Paz – 11a-12n at the Nyack Center – “Learn, or re-learn, your favorite dance steps to music from all around the world.” (Residents: $45, Non-Residents: $54)
• Friday – Healthy Cooking with La Talaye Catering – 11:30a-1p at the Nyack Center – “Have fun learning new recipes with exotic, healthy and inexpensive ingredients. Ingredients included in price.” (Residents: 90, Non-Residents: $108)

Registration forms and more information for these programs are available at Nyack-NY.gov.

Special One Day Events This Fall:

• September 20 – Ultimate Frisbee Tournament
• October 11 – Mountain Bike Polo Tournament
• November 1 – Flag Football Tournament

These are one day tournaments. Participants can register up to one week before each event date. All events will be held in Memorial Park and all participants receive a t-shirt. (Residents: $20, Non-Residents: $24)

But Wait, There’s More!

• September 14 – Day of Skate – FREE skateboarding in Riverspace – with 2nd Nature Skate Shop
• Witch Way 5K Costume Run – a 5K run through Nyack and Upper Nyack to benefit the Nyack Center. Adult race starts at 8:00 am. Kids Race (1/2 mile) at 9:00 am. Register at www.RaceAwesome.com

Note: Registration is open to everyone, however if you don’t live in the Village of Nyack you will need to pay the non-resident rate.

Melody Partrick is Recreation Director for the Village of Nyack, NY.