Southern Region members plunge for Special Olympics NY

Pictured in front of Special Olympics’ new plunge pool are, left, CSEA members Heraclio and Nancy Gaytan with their daughters, Marcus Lunsford, Chris Conway, the Polar Plunge mascot, Jessica Mallon, Southern Region Secretary Sue Fontana and Southern Region President Rosemarie Kukys.

CSEA members Nancy and Heraclio Gaytan, with their daughter Celeste, take the plunge for Special Olympics New York.

WAPPINGERS FALLS — Our union’s Southern Region was well represented at this year’s Polar Plunge for Special Olympics New York, raising more than $3,600 as this edition went to press.

While prior team members spent over 15 years jumping each year into the lake at Camp Mariah in Fishkill, this year’s event instead involved a mobile plunge pool that Special Olympics recently unveiled for plunges in the New York area. Having the pool allowed the organization to spread the event over three days, hosting plunges at three different locations in Dutchess County.

CSEA team members took the plunge at Heritage Financial Park, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades baseball team. With the entire team coming from the Mid-Hudson Department of Transportation Region 8 Local, their attire had an important theme. Dressed in orange, they were promoting work zone safety awareness.

Freezing for a reason, CSEA state Department of Transportation members, from left, Marcus Lunsford, Jessica Mallon and Chris Conway take the Polar Plunge.

The team was cheered on by Southern Region President Rosemarie Kukys, Region Secretary Sue Fontana, and Orange-Ulster-Sullivan Retirees Local Secretary Kathy Wills.

— Jessica Ladlee

Cheering on plunge team members were, from left, Southern Region President Rosemarie Kukys, Orange-Ulster-Sullivan Retirees Local Secretary Kathy Wills, and Southern Region Secretary Sue Fontana.

CSEA members from the Department of Transportation Region 8 Local promote work zone safety awareness.

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