Tickets on sale for Warwick's annual duck derby on May 18

WARWICK — Warwick’s annual duck derby, a popular fundraiser sponsored by Winslow Therapeutic Center, has been scheduled, rain or shine, for Sunday, May 18, which is also happens to be the opening day for the Farmers’ Market. Proceeds from the popular race will be divided equally between Winslow and numerous other not-for-profit organizations, which help market tickets. Winslow Therapeutic Center is a not-for-profit organization offering therapeutic horseback riding healing programs for children and adults. “Winslow has wonderful programs,” said Warwick businesswoman Angela Luberts. Her business, Curves for Women, at 25 Elm St. in Mitchell Corners Plaza, is one of the many businesses participating in the “Duck Derby” ticket sales. And Luberts has a personal reason for lending her support. Her son Kenny, 9, has autism, a disorder characterized by abnormal development of social interaction and of verbal and non verbal communication skills, and he’s been participating in a Winslow program for the past year. “It’s amazing how much he has improved socially,” said Luberts. “He rides every week and that has given him the self-confidence he needed.” On the day of the race hundreds of adults and children will crowd the bridges or running along the banks of Wawayanda Creek in the downtown area of the Village of Warwick. Most will have “adopted” one or more of thousands of rubber ducks, each bearing the number that corresponds with the $5 ticket they purchased. At approximately 1 p.m., volunteers will release all the ducks from Cablevision’s pedestrian bridge, the starting line of the race. The ducks will then quickly float down Wawayanda Creek to the nearby finish line. There are 10 prizes with the first-place winner receiving $1,000 cash. In addition to Curves for Women, tickets can be purchased at Cakes by the Lake, Charlotte’s Tea Room, Cross Roads Café, Edenville Country Store, Emerald Point, Green Valley Tack, Horse N Rider, The Ink Well, Leo Kaytes Ford, Liquor King, Mama’s Boy, Mima’s, Newhard’s, Pecks Wine & Spirits, Pennings Farm Market, Style Counsel, Vanguard , Warwick Dry Cleaners and WVT Communications. Volunteers will also be selling tickets at Springfest, on April 26, and at ShopRite on May 10. They will also be at Quick Check in Florida on weekends throughout April and May. For additional information about the Duck Derby or Winslow Therapeutic Center, call 986-6686.