|
|
|
|
|
Recreation Director’s Report December 8, 2005 Can you believe how quickly the holidays have arrived this year? Now with two boys at home time seems to slip by faster and faster. For me personally the last 12 months have passed by in a blink of eye, but sitting here thinking about what I need to report I find myself revisiting all the wonderful things that the Recreation Department has been able to provide and accomplish. The many programs, classes, and events could not have been planned, offered, or sponsored by the Recreation Department without the assistance and support of the Recreation Committee and the work that these volunteers do. I’d like to take a moment to say thank you to individual committee members for their dedication to this department. Besides attending the monthly meetings to stay on top of the details the members, some more then others, have taken a personal interest in various areas of the department. A few volunteer as coaches, some assist and coordinate community events, while others simply like to use their own personal talents to insure that their own friends and neighbors can reap the benefits the Recreation Department has to offer. Thank you to the current members (listed in alphabetical order) Kathy Brown, Michele Cioffredi, Rob Ketcham, Chairman, Kathy Shortsleeves, and Mark Winslow; it has been my pleasure to work with you. Just one side note, the Recreation Department has been looking to fill a vacancy left behind by Scott Kirby who moved out of town early last summer. As I’ve stated in the past, when the Recreation Department has had difficulties filling openings on the Recreation Committee I do not know why it takes the Recreation Department so long to fill these positions. The time commitment isn’t that much, regular meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm @ Municipal Offices, the people you work beside are top quality and it’s a great way to give back to your community. Interested individuals should write a letter of interest and experience to the Recreation Department, PO Box 10, Pittsford, VT. December is here and that definitely means another basketball season has already begun. The 5th/6th grade boys and girls Lothrop Basketball teams (which the Recreation Department oversees and schedules) typically begins practicing the first week of December. Teams practice the entire month long, always working around the many holiday events that transpire this time of year. Most all the games will be played in January and February (before the Winter Recess from school). Historically Lothrop Teams have been allowed to play in one end of year tournament per season, which means they finish up their seasons by the second week of March. The Recreation Department’s Youth Basketball program, grades 1-4, is set to begin Saturday January 7, 2006. Usually our program is set up into three groups: 1st/2nd Coed, 3rd/4th Girls, & 3rd/4th Boys, however due to the large number of first and second graders expected to sign up I will split that group up into two to give our coaches a more manageable number of players to work with. Last season we had 25 players in the 1st/2nd grade group and we found that was just a little too large and unmanageable and that they really didn’t get the experience we were hoping they’d get. On Sunday, December 4th, the Recreation Department held its 8th Annual “Caroling on the Green” event on the Village Green. For the third consecutive year we held this event in conjunction with the Pittsford Lions Club and the 17th annual lighting of their Memory Tree. We had a beautiful evening for gathering around the fire to sing carols and light the Memorial Tree, it had been snowing lightly most of the day and everything was covered in a fresh white blanket of December snow. During the event it continued to snow which give us a very picturesque setting that really made it feel like the holiday season. Santa stopped by when he was finished with the Santa Fund at the Fire Station on his way back to the North Pole to mingle with the crowd, light the tree and to sing carols. After the tree ceremony everyone was invited to Fellowship Hall to part take in dessert and hot chocolate. I’m delighted to report that +40 people gathered to help us spread a little holiday cheer. This was the largest number of participants in over 4 years. You see in after the discussion about how to get more people to attend this event was brought up at the November Recreation Committee meeting and the OV and Lothrop School chorus groups were asked if they’d like to join our festivities, but neither department could pull enough interest together to join us. However, OV Chorus did send a note home asking their members if they’d be interested in singing at the caroling event. A few Pittsford families who had this note come home attended at our event hoping to hear the OV Chorus perform. So it proves that getting the local chorus groups involved is a positive thing that is sure to attract more attention. I’ll be sure to contact the individual leaders from both Lothrop and OV in the near future to see what I can do make sure they’re part of the program next year. On Friday, December 9, 2005 the Brandon and Pittsford Recreation Department’s were totally prepared to hold our second teen dance of the 2005-2006 school year, however Mother Nature played a cruel joke on us by dumping +6” of snow from a fast moving & intense storm causing us to cancel the event at around noon time. The bad joke was that the storm did end abruptly (as forecasted) mid-afternoon and most of the roads by evening were clear to travel on. I know there were many disappointed teens who were hoping we’d still have the dance even though of the poor weather, but ultimately I’m the one who is held responsible for the all great teens who come to our events and I didn’t want to see them put themselves in danger trying to attend. As the Recreation Director I make every effort to offer teen programs that take place in a safe environment where they kids feel comfortable and secure. At this juncture I’m discussing with all parties involved possible reschedule dates, however the next regularly scheduled event is the Valentines Day Dance on Friday, February 10, 2006.
|
|
|
