How is Yorktown Beating the Dangerous Heat?

With temperatures rising up and reaching record highs, people are finding ways to cool off, escape the heat, and entertain themselves.

Patricia DeMarsh, building manager of the Yorktown Community and Cultural Center, said the rooms in the building are air-conditioned. There have been no complaints from the seniors who use the nutrition center and senior room, she said.

"Seniors are happy here, because it's cool," said Mary De Silva, nutrition and senior services director.

Residents recommend drinking water to prevent dehydration, go to air-conditioned places and refrain from staying outside for too long.

"So far, I'm doing OK," Kathleen Marencek said.

She has been serving food to seniors at the Nutrition Center for 10 years. Marencek, 85, also does line dancing and chair yoga at the Senior Center to keep herself young, she said.

"Stay in at the house, come into the [senior] center, take rides in air-conditioned cars, and go into air-conditioned malls, stay out of outdoors," recommended Roda Sussman, 62, president of Yorktown Senior Club, Chapter 1. "Drink a lot of water not to get dehydrated."

Her husband Raymond Sussman, 66, said the heat does not bother him. But friend Lucille Arnold, 57, needs to stay in air-conditioned buildings because of lung problems, she said.

"I love the summer," she said. "I like to go outside, but if it's too humid, I stay indoors."

Other residents find different ways to escape the heat.

"I go swimming to the pool as much as possible," said 62-year-old Christina Fox, who is the president of the American Association of Retired Persons (AAPR) in Yorktown.

The Yorktown Parks and Recreation has two pools, Junior Lake Pool at Memorial Park and Brian J. Slavin Aquatic Facility at Shrub Oak Park and one beach, Sparkle Lake. There are lifeguards on duty at the three locations, assistant superintendent Brian Gray said. Residents can purchase yearly family permits, individual permits, or a residence card. There is no fee to access to Sparkle Lake, but visitors must show proof of residency.

Rhonda Santini, lives so close to the beach that can walk over with her family.

"We try to come over at least once or twice a week," she said. "It's been really clean over the past few years and we've really been enjoying it."

"I like being here when it's hot because I can go in the water," 9-year-old daughter Emma said.

Although the occasional day trips bring them outside, the family goes to the movies, the beach, and tries to stay inside to avoid the heat as much as possible, Santini said.

Junior Lake Pool at Memorial Park is open to Yorktown resident only. It is open from May 29-August 22. The hours are: weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays (June 7-June 25) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and weekdays (June 28-August 20) from noon to 7 p.m. For more contact call 914-962-4200.

Brian J. Slavin Aquatic Facility at Shrub Oak Park (3800 Sunnyside Street, Shrub Oak, 10588) is open to Yorktown residents only. It is open from June 12-September 6 (closed on September 2, 3). The hours are: weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays (June 14-June 25) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and weekdays (June 28-September 6) from noon to 7 p.m. For more info call 914-245-4114.

Sparkle Lake is open to Yorktown residents only. It is open from June 12-August 15. The hours are: weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weekdays (June 14-June 25) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and weekdays (June 28-August 13) from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call 914-245-5060.