AND MINIONS!! Below is a picture of the faculty of Fishkill Elementary School prior to the V.I.P Parade on Halloween morning. Seated in the middle is Principal Andy McNally, who will be retiring in June. The staff are all dressed as 'McNally's Minions' in acknowledgment of Andy's last "official" V.I.P Parade. A fun time was had by all!

The Rotary Club of Fishkill will be celebrating Halloween on Friday, October 31 by distributing   treats to the students as they participate in the  school's Annual V.I.P. Parade through the village (in costumes, of course). The fun starts at 9:30 a.m. See poster below. A big 'Thank You' to Sam's Club for providing the goodies.

A number of Service Projects and Memorial Celebrations will be taking place around Veterans Day in the Village of Fishkill. See the poster below to check them out! Please feel free to reach out to us at this website with any questions.

Please join us on Veterans Day at Noon at McHoul's Funeral Home on Main Street in Fishkill to give thanks and honor to all of our Fishkill Veterans. The US Flag Retirement Box will be located at McHoul's Funeral Home and will provide an appropriate and honorable place to retire a worn or tattered American Flag. Fishkill Rotary is very proud to join the Village of Fishkill and McHoul's Funeral Home in remembering and giving honor to our Veterans in this manner. Special thanks are given to both Douglas McHoul and Fishkill Town Highway Superintendent and Rotarian, Carmine Istvan, for their generosity in support of this project. Fishkill Rotarian and tireless community service volunteer Eddie Colon deserves a great deal of credit for the initiation of and follow-through on this project!!

Great job to all!! Please join us for the Dedication of the Flag Box at Noon on Veteran's Day.

John Jay senior, Emma Santos, was named the recipient of the Fishkill Rotary Club's 2025 Joan Sourenian Scholarship. Emma is described as a student who, "takes initiative. She see's a problem in the community and works on solutions. She leads with her heart. She channels her compassion and empathy into her personal calling to enter the medical field as a nurse. She has always wanted to help others any way she can and entering the nursing field will serve her community in a profound way." Emma certainly reflects Rotary values in all she does. Emma will be attending Curry College, affiliated with Boston Children's Hospital, in the Fall and we wish her much success in her future. 

As you can see from the pictures above, this year's Operation Warm Coats was a big success. For the thirteenth consecutive winter season, more than 100 brand new winter coats were delivered to students at Fishkill Elementary School. Under the direction of Fishkill Elementary School Nurse, Mindy Potter, students made their way down to the stage area to try on and pick out a warm coat.The smiling faces serve as testament to how much the students and, of course, the Rotarians, thoroughly enjoyed the morning!   

Representatives from Hope Not Handcuffs and the Town of Fishkill Police Department (shown here with Fishkill Rotary President Mindy Potter (right) came to a meeting of Fishkill Rotary to share information about that program. Hope Not Handcuffs provides an opportunity for a person struggling with any drug or alcohol addiction to visit any of the participating police agencies and ask for help finding viable treatment options. They will be greeted with support, compassion and respect and will be provided with a variety of community resources to help them overcome their addiction. 

Again this winter season, Fishkill Rotary Club has provided high-quality warm, winter coats to needy youngsters in the area. This year, Fishkill Rotary was able to order and distribute over 50  brand new winter coats to students at Fishkill Elementary School in the Wappingers Central School District.  

This year marks the thirteenth consecutive year that Fishkill Rotary has provided warmth and support to elementary school-age children in an effort to enhance both student self-esteem and school attendance, especially during the coldest months. This project also addresses two of Rotary International's Areas of Focus: Saving Mothers and Children and Supporting Education.

AS YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF FROM THE IMAGES BELOW, A PICTURE CAN   INDEED SPEAK 1,000 WORDS!!!