Town of Pittsford, Vermont

PITTSFORD RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Director’s Report
May 10, 2004

April has to be the busiest month of the year for the Recreation Department. With putting together the Youth League program, getting the Recreation Area ready to open on Memorial Day Weekend, hiring summer staff, and planning summer programs, there is always plenty to do.

Youth League baseball/softball teams are set. Teams have been practicing since April 19^th getting ready for up coming season. Games are scheduled to begin this week for both the Major League and Mighty Mite baseball teams and the Minor League Softball team games begin May 17^th. The T-Ball program is already to begin today and will practice the month of May. T-Ball games are scheduled through the end of June.

On Monday, April 19^th, 2004, Joe Pomykala started his 3^rd season as Maintenance Supervisor at the Recreation Area. Mr. Pomykala does an excellent job for the Town who has received many compliments over the last two years on how nice the Recreation Area looks. This spring Mr. Pomykala has been busy getting the Recreation Area cleaned up from the long VT winter. I am happy to report that there was hardly any vandalism at the Recreation Area this winter, just a couple of picnic tables where damaged by someone jumping on top of them. Mr. Pomykala has already repaired them and there ready to be used.

On Friday, April 30^th, 2004, the Brandon and Pittsford recreation Departments co-sponsored a “SPRING FLING” Teen Night, at the VT Police Academy. We had a total of 201 teens come through the door. The “Jam Man” Nathan Cram cranked out the music and the concession stand was open for teens to enjoy. I would like to thank all the adult chaperones that volunteered their own time to help us keep a watchful eye on the participants. Special thanks go out to Brenda Trombley, Kathy Shortsleeves, and Laurie Hemple for helping chaperone this event.

On Saturday, May 1, 2004, thanks to the effort of many volunteers, local businesses, and Game Time Equipment the new playground equipment that the Recreation Department purchased last fall was installed at the Recreation Area. Over 25 individual volunteers showed up throughout the day to help with the actual putting together of the equipment. Recreation Committee Chairman, Rob Ketcham, was the “foreman” on the project. He had studied the plans ahead of time and had a clear-cut plan as to what needed to be done. The process went rather smoothly and by 8:00pm Saturday evening the new equipment was up. I would personally like to thank Mr. Ketcham for taking the project under his direction, without someone with his qualifications stepping forward to over see the project the Recreation Department would have had to hire it done. I would also like to thank everyone else who had a role in helping get the “new” equipment installed, it was great to see so many residents step forward to lend a helping hand. The Recreation Department is planning to have a sign made that will permanently sit next to the new structure that will thank all the individuals and businesses that made this project a success.

As summer rapidly approaches one key position that has yet to be filled is that of the “Swim Area Supervisor”. This person over sees the lifeguards, swim lessons, and the entire swim area as a whole. What concerns me is that I have had help wanted ads posted around town since March, a help wanted ad posted on the Red Cross web site, and a 7-day ad (Saturday, April 24^th-Friday, April 30^th) in the Rutland Herald and I have not received one phone call. This position is vital to the Recreation Department’s swim program because this person is typically the individual who is the instructor of our swim lessons. I plan on discussing this situation with the Recreation Committee at our monthly meeting Monday, May 10, 2004, to get some feed back as to other avenues to approach.

The Day Camp Staff is 2/3 set. Jade Keith is returning for a 4^th summer as the Camp Director. Jade is returning home from Canton, NY where she has been teaching Art in a Kindergarten – 12^th grade school. The Recreation Department is very fortunate to have someone of her ability and experience to head our program. Ms. Emily Drummond, who has been part of our staff for the past two summers, is returning for another summer. Emily brings a vast knowledge of sports and games and is great at getting kids to participate in new activities. Jody Chamberlain, who had been with us for two years, will not be returning. She has gotten an internship with OMYA in her field of study. I would like to thank her for all she’s done for the Pittsford Summer Camp and wish her luck in the future.

Through the efforts of Michael Balch, Town Manager, the Town of Pittsford now has a web site: www.town.pittsford.vt.us and therefore now I have E-mail: Rsadams@sover.net. I believe this will be an excellent tool for both myself and residents of Pittsford to communicate. I am in the process of getting all the Recreation Department’s information posted. If anyone on the Recreation Committee has any ideas as to what you would like to see included as part of our web site I certainly would be willing to listen.

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