Town of Pittsford, Vermont

PITTSFORD RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Recreation Director’s Report 
July 11, 2005

            I can not believe that it’s the second week of July already. The Recreation Department has been full of activity over the past couple of months getting ready for our summer programs to begin and now that July is here we are in full swing with activities.

            During the month of April I concentrated on filling any holes that I had in summer staff. The biggest position that I had to fill was that of Day Camp Director. Jade Keith who had been the Director since we started the program five years ago could not return this summer because she had to take some “continued education” classes to keep her teaching certificate valid. The Recreation Department was sad that she was not returning because Ms. Keith did a fantastic job working with the kids and building camp into something the entire Town of Pittsford can be proud of. Knowing I had very large shoes to fill I was a little apprehensive when I started my search for a new director, but all my worries subsided when Ms. Mary Whitman inquired one afternoon about the position. Ms. Whitman is a licensed teacher who works at Lothrop School. She is a kind and caring person who truly cares about the children she works with. It goes without saying that Ms. Whitman was hired as the new Camp Director and so far the Recreation Department could not be happier.

            On Friday, April 29 the last Teen Night event of the school year the “Spring Fling” Dance was held at the VT Police Academy. Many thanks go out to the volunteers and parents who contributed in making the event a success. Also thank you to Rutland Police Officer Kevin Blongy of the Rutland County Start program. Overall each of the 180 teens that attended were polite and were well behaved. We have very few behavior problems at these events but that is because both the Brandon and Pittsford Recreation Departments work hard to provide a safe atmosphere where the kids can come and enjoy themselves with their friends.

            May is a month of rejuvenation especially at the Pittsford Recreation Area. Joe Pomykala returned the third week in April and by the end of May he had the place looking fabulous. Mr. Pomykala works diligently to bring out the beauty of the Recreation Area. Each day he makes sure that the baseball and softball fields are ready to be played on. I can not count how many positive comments I have received concerning how beautiful the entire Recreation Area looks. Mr. Pomykala takes a lot pride in his work and the appearance of Recreation Area and I make an extra effort to pass along as many of the complements as I can so he knows that residents, and myself, appreciate the outstanding work that he does for the town.

            Also during May Colin Spensley returned to work at the Recreation Area. Last summer Colin worked as a lifeguard. Over the winter he became certified to teach Red Cross Swim Lessons and this summer he was hired as the Swim Area Supervisor. I’m happy to report that Colin is during a fine job in his new position. He has made sure that both the Swim Area and swim program has gotten off to a great start this season. Colin had the Swim Area set to open on Memorial Day weekend, but due to cold rainy weather all three days it didn’t open until the following weekend.

            I’m finding summer after summer the popularity of the Recreation Area continues to grow and grow. Over the winter and through the early spring I booked various functions and by the end of May every weekend during months of June and July were reserved for one event or another. During the month of June alone there were a total of 22 different functions held at the Recreation Area or in the pavilion, and during the entire month of July there are only three days total that there is not something scheduled. Summer Day Camp uses the Recreation Area and pavilion Monday through Friday and there are events scheduled every weekend.

            On June 4 the Recreation Department sponsored the Pittsford Fishing Derby for kids which was held at the Smith/Wheeler pond. This was the first year that the Recreation Department ran the event, for the previous 13 years the Pittsford Rotary Club has ran the program but unfortunately last summer the Rotary Club disbanded and the derby needed a new host and the Recreation Department was a logical choice. On Wednesday, June 1 I took delivery of roughly 100 trout from the State of VT Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. They were brought by a truck that had large water containers on the back, the truck parked as close to the pond as it could and then the driver netted the fish and put them in 5 gallon buckets which were then dumped into the pond, the process was much easier than I envisioned. The day of event went just as smoothly thanks to the Don Lajoie (formally of Pittsford Rotary Club) who helped to make sure the event ran properly. Mr. Lajoie had coordinated the derby for many years for the Rotary Club and was delighted to help out the Recreation Department. Roughly 56 children reported 88 fish being caught. At the end the program, thanks to Keith’s Country Store who donated food and beverages, there was a free BBQ for all the participants and their families to enjoy. Prizes were awarded in two different age groups and everyone who attended went home a winner.

            So far this summer the Swim Area has been very busy. Favorable weather and increased advertising of the Recreation Area are two of the main factors why usage is up from previous years. To date we have sold 60 season passes, in 2004 only 32 season passes were sold.

            In February a local couple approached the Recreation Committee about having a Pittsford Day at the Recreation Area where residents could come out and celebrate and socialize with neighbors and friends, six months later on Sunday, July 3^rd Dan and Lillian Ferrara’s vision became a reality when the Recreation Area hosted the 1^st Annual Pittsford Day. The Pittsford Day idea had been brought to the Recreation Committee before and nothing happened because a lack of leadership or commitment from the interested parties. The parties where looking for the Recreation Department to direct the process, which was inconceivable because it required so much time and effort to plan that it would take away from other programs that we are already offering. Mr. and Mrs. Ferrara’s approach was different, they were committed to organizing the event from day one. Sure they needed and received both help and assistance from the Recreation Department every step of the way but they were the motivating force that made this program possible and really do deserve a lot of the credit for a fantastic day. Based on the number of wagon loads that shuttled people back and forth we estimate that between six and eight hundred people attended the event.

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