Duck Derby to open Farm Market with a splash

WARWICK - Get all your ducks in a row as the Warwick Valley Farmers' Market opens its 2004 season on Sunday, May 16. It is a splashy community event as the market teams up with Winslow Therapeutic Riding Center and their helpers, the Leos and students of Warwick Valley High School's National Honor Society to host the annual Duck Derby Benefit Race (plus, don't miss the Faux Duck Dinner to be held on Saturday evening). The market, located in Warwick's South Street parking lot, is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fun begins with the Faux Duck Dinner on Saturday, May 15, from 5:30 n 9 p.m. on the Railroad Avenue Green in Warwick. The event is free and features fun music by the local bands Oxford Depot and ZEN. Enjoy an inexpensive dinner including chicken wings and salads and a bake sale by Vision Kids from the Vision Church. Children can "Design-a-Doll" to take home with them, with all proceeds being donated to Winslow. On Sunday, the farm market opens at 9 a.m. with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. The Duck Derby makes a splash with race time at 1:30 p.m. Throughout the day, children can learn how to handle a racquet and hit a tennis ball with tips from Warwick Valley Racquet Sports tennis pro, Gerald Sarmiento, and enjoy the melodious music of local favorites, the Gravikord Duo. The Duck Derby is always an exciting race. Entries are $5 per duck and tickets can be purchased during the day at the farmers' market. Proceeds benefit therapeutic riding programs for people with disabilities. The racers are individually numbered plastic ducks that are floated down Wawayanda Creek. The starting gate is in front of Cablevision and the ducks cross the finish line at the Main Street Bridge. The winning purse is $1,000 followed by a variety of other prizes. The farmers' market begins this season with a full selection of vendors. Fresh, baby vegetables, asparagus, organic greens and herbs herald the start of the growing season. Dinner choices feature pasture-raised chicken, plus lamb, pork and beef. Folks with a green thumb can choose from a wide assortment of heirloom vegetable transplants, as well as traditional annual and perennial bedding plants and hanging baskets. Food lovers can enjoy fine wine as well as artisan goat and cow cheeses and French pastry. Freshly baked bread, pies, muffins, Danish, honey, jams and jellies complete the presentation.