January 11, 2011
On Friday, January 7, 2011, at the VT Police Academy, Maclure Library and the Recreation Department cosponsored the first of three Family Fun Nights to be held this winter. The theme for this particular event was “Winter Wonderland” with approximately 100 people attending. . The Maclure Library provided theme based arts & craft projects that children and their parents enjoyed constructing together, while the Recreation Department provided many games, blocks, & other physical activities for the kids to play with.
Since early fall the Recreation Department has making preparations for the current Lothrop and Recreation Department basketball seasons happing right now. On Saturday, January 8, 1st -3rd grades started their seasons. As expected, the number of 1st graders increased from 2010. They have 11 kids on the team. They have their own coach, Dick Williams and their scheduled practice times. We combined the 8 co-ed 2nd graders with the 4-3rd grade boys for a total of 12 players on the 2nd/3rd grade team and are coached by Bill Crossmon. The 2nd group is a solid group that has some understanding of the fundamentals already while the 3rd grade boys are all first year players so the mix works well. The 3/4 girls team has 13 players on their team and are coached by Carlo Falco, and Tammi Blanchard. We had a total 8 4th grade boys sign up. This team is being coached by Andy Bissette and Jason McKeighan. Lothrop’s 5th grade girls team has 9 players and is coached by Toni Poalino. Lothrop 5th grade boys team has 8 kids on the team and is coached by Dick Williams. Andrea Winslow & Kayla Gallipo are coaching the Lothrop 6th grade girls team, which has 10 players on it. Ed Shannon and Nate McKay are coaching the 6 grade boys team. They have 11 players. In all there are eight different basketball teams with a total of 82 kids participating. Last season we had 73 players so we are +9.
On Thursday, December 16 (luncheons normally are scheduled for the 4th Thursday of the month), the Recreation Department and the “Pittsford Seniors” sponsored our monthly luncheon at the VT Police Academy. Over 38 people attended this wonderful program. Chef Bob did an outstanding job preparing the roast beef & twice baked potatoes. Each luncheon features a keynote speaker. In December for the 2nd year in row Mr. Hazen’s 3rd grade class from Lothrop School sang Christmas carols to the seniors while they ate their lunches. Thank you to the music teacher at Lothrop, Paige Kaufman, for working with the Recreation Department setting up this program. After performing the students were treated to Christmas cookies, candy canes and milk. A wonderful time was had by all. The luncheons are meant to give local seniors a nutritious meal at an affordable price ($4.50 for people 60 and older & $6.00 for everyone else) so they can get out to socialize with neighbors and friends. The next monthly luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2011 @ 1:00 pm. The menu will be Ham, au gratin potatoes, green beans, corn chowder; & chocolate cake. A salad bar is always available. All foods are homemade, including the soup, bread, and desserts. The keynote speaker is going to be local business owner and sheep farmer, Jim McRae to speak about sheep farming in Vermont!
On Thursday, January 20 @ 6:00 pm I have a meeting scheduled with the Pittsford Day Committee. Two highlight of the meeting will be discussion of the 2011 date and finding more volunteers to sit on the committee.