1

YOUR SSY ON THE FLY YOUR BRANCH PUBLICATION FOR SOUTHERN SARATOGA YMCA NEWS

OUR MISSION

To put Christian principles intro practice

through programs that build healthy

spirt, mind and body for all.

UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DATES

May 1st-June 18th

Spring II Session Dates

May 3rd, 10:30am

Art Class

May 6th, 5:30-8:30pm

KidzLodge Parents Night Out

Open to all!

Distance Festival/

Anyone Can Tri

in honor of Chris Gleason

Sunday, May 7

Events begin at 7:30 a.m.

Register at zippyreg.com

May 10th, 10:30-12:30pm

Blood Pressure Screening

in lobby

May 14th Happy Mothers Day

May 24th, 10-12pm

National Senior Day Health Fair

12:30pm

Luncheon

FREE EVENT

Open to the community

May 31st

Bus trip to see Bandstand on Broadway

SOUTHERN SARATOGA YMCA

1 Wall Street, Clifton Park, 12065

May 2017

www.cdymca.org

Thank you for helping us surpass

our Annual Campaign goal !

Did you know that each year we provide scholarships to

individuals in need in our community to be able access

programs and services offered at the Southern Saratoga

YMCA? Our goal was to fundraise $137,000 by the end of

March 2017; I am happy to share with you that our branch

raised $152,012! Thank you to everyone who helped

make a donation to the YMCA; you have provided a

beautiful gift to someone who will need financial assistance

over this next year. Here is a list of programs will be able

to continue to offer thanks to your generosity:

This year we will be able to assist:

A homeless child to attend our afterschool program

10 children with life threatening illnesses and their

siblings to attend one week of camp at our facility

100 children from the Mechanicville Community Center

to learn how to swim

25 children from Waterford-Halfmoon to attend our

summer camp program

24 adult cancer survivors will be able to attend the

Livestrong at the Y program

150 children will be served in our Running Start

program, where children receive back to school clothing

and a book bag filled with school supplies

Thanks again for your support, together we are building a

stronger Southern Saratoga community!

2

Meet the Staff of the Southern Saratoga YMCA

Darrah Osgood

Teen Coordinator

Mike Scidmore

Program Director

Aaron Ditch

Membership Director

Sarah Heslin

Executive Director

Cheryl Misiewicz

Member Services Mgr.

Kim Dandino

Childcare Director

Guy Beattie

Property Director

Libby Volkmann

Kidzlodge Director Allison Reinhardt

Wellness Director

Alex Ranucci

Aquatics Coordinator

Christopher Mann

Wellness Coordinator Pam Capuano-Hodge

Aerobics Coordinator

Jenn Kendrick

Aquatics Director

Lori Delehanty

Membership Coordinator

3

Would you be interested in being a part of the Southern Saratoga YMCA family?

The Capital District YMCA wants all interested applicants to know they are seeking a diverse workforce and are actively recruiting candidates in accordance with diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity policies.

Jobs openings listed below:

Front desk: Membership Services Representative, Facility Coordinator

Aquatics: Lifeguards, Swim Instructors

Childcare:

Property:

Programs:

Wellness: Wellness Coach, Pacers Coach, Group Exer-cise Instructors

Please fill out an application at the front desk and provide it to the appropriate department director.

4

Southern Saratoga YMCA honors

young leaders for their volunteerism

We had a great turnout for our 12th Annual Student Awards Breakfast. We recognized 17 Students and 7 Educators at the

Vista Restaurant at Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park. The four high schools represented at the event were Ballston Spa,

Stillwater, Waterford-Halfmoon and Shenendehowa.

This would not be possible without community help. Thank you to New Country Toyota Of Clifton Park for sponsoring the Event.

Congratulations to Blade Osborn, Senior from Ballston Spa High School on being chosen the 12th Annual Student of the year and Don Flynt, High School Principal from Shenedehowa High school!

5

Employee of the Month: Roland Lee

Congratulations to Roland Lee, our Cause Driven Leader for the month of April. Roland is our even-ing property staff and while he works he exempli-fies the concept of Cause Driven Leader. Roland is always thinking two steps ahead, always moving at a knowledgeable pace, is very upbeat and he has a contagious personality that makes you want to jump in and work alongside him. Roland is very re-spectful and handles himself with great man-ners. We are so lucky to have Roland as an em-ployee of the Southern Saratoga YMCA!

Healthy Laughs

Member of the month: Dan Streett

Dan is a long time member for 22 years. He is very active in our Pacers running group in the mornings. He can be seen almost every day throughout the week. Dan has also been active as a volunteer with our YMCA. Last year he helped man the intersection of Moe Road and Clifton Country Road for our Dis-tance Festival, which is a very busy intersection for this event. Based on Dan’s background he has been instrumental with the organization of this years event and provided his time and knowledge to the organization of this large undertaking. We thank Dan for his time and volunteer efforts as well as his longstanding dedication to our Southern Saratoga YMCA.

Download our App

Follow us on Twitter:

Search “Capital District

YMCA” in your Iphone or

Android phone.

A prisoner was finally released after

serving his time in jail. He stood

outside the gates, yelling, “I'm

free! I'm free!!”

A little kid walked up happily

next to him and joined in

saying, “I’m four! I’m four!”

April’s Raffle

Basket Winner!

6

Active Older Adult Corner: provided by Lori Delehanty

PROPER NUTRITION CAN

CHANGE OUR MOODS

According to the National Center for

Chronic Disease Prevention and

Health Promotion, 86% of American

healthcare dollars are spent treating

chronic diseases. Seven out of 10

deaths are related to ongoing chronic

health conditions. We struggle daily

to feel better. We hurt, we are ex-

hausted, we can’t get up in the morn-

ing and we can’t fall asleep at night.

If someone is chronically sick, they

can’t possibly be happy and mentally

well. It is important to understand

that there is a direct correlation be-

tween physical wellness and being

happy. Healthy equals happy. The

root causes of chronic physical dis-

eases are typically the same as for

chronic mental health issues, and it

may well be that suboptimal nutrition

is at the root of these issues. If we

fix the physical manifestations of

chronic problems be eating whole

food nutrition with specific supple-

mentation, mental wellness will im-

prove. Most natural health practition-

ers tell their patients, “Disease and

health both start in the gut, you

choose.”

Great nutrition leads to great health.

Poor nutrition leads to poor health.

The health of the digestive tract, or

gut, is especially meaningful when

discussing mental wellness.

https://www.cdc.gov/

chronicdisease/

Wednesday, May 3rd, 10:30

Art Class

Wednesday, May 10th, 10:30 — 12:30 pm

Blood Pressure Screening

Wednesday, May 24th

National Senior Day Health Fair 10:00—12:00

Luncheon at 12:30. Please sign up at front desk.

Wednesday, May 31st,

Bus trip to Broadway, bus departs by 8:30am

see desk for details on event.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

SHRIMP TORTELLINI PASTA

.1 pkg. (9 oz) refrigerated tortellini

.1 c frozen peas

.1 lb. uncooked shrimp (31-40 count), peeled &

deveined.

.2 garlic cloves, minced

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. dried thyme

1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Cook tortellini according to package direction, adding

peas during the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Meanwhile, in large non-stick pan, heat 2 TBL. Of oil

over med./high heat. Add shrimp, cook and stir 2

minutes. Add garlic, cook another 1-2 minutes longer

until shrimp turn pink.

Drain tortellini mixture; add to skillet. Stir in salt, thyme,

pepper and remaining oil. Toss to coat.

7

Meet Colleen! Colleen Springborn is one of Southern Saratoga’s dedicated Pickleball players, who has gone above and beyond the role of member, and transformed into a beloved volunteer.

She wasn’t always into Pickleball. At first, her exercise routine was minimal. “I would come in and use the treadmill, watch Regis and Kathy Lee and then I would go home,” said Colleen. A few years ago, she had to take some time off to recovery from a few surgeries. When she returned, she witnessed her first game of Pickleball and she was immediately hooked. “I did-n’t know what it was at the time, so I asked,” said Colleen. “They said that someone would be here teaching on Monday night, so I signed up.” Four and a half years later, she’s here, helping the sport grow. When Pickleball first started at the Southern Saratoga YMCA, there were only 30 to 40 people who were interested in playing the game. But just last year, they had around 120 people who wanted to learn the game. “People would come in and want to learn how to play, but it was hard for them to come in and join a game with people who already knew how to play,” ex-plained Colleen. “There was no one to teach them.”

That’s when Colleen stepped in. Although Colleen doesn’t consider herself a teacher, she takes the time to teach new players the rules and basic techniques so they can hold their own on the court. She worked with YMCA staff members as an ambassador for the players, recently becoming an official Member Ambassador, as part of a program started by Mem-bership Director, Aaron Ditch.

“The reason I work at the YMCA is because of great people like Colleen Springborn,” said Aaron. “Colleen volunteers by organizing programs like Line Dancing, helps teach Beginner Pickleball, organizes socials events and acts as a conduit between the Y and our Pickleball players, all without fanfare. It takes a special person to want to do those sorts of duties and Colleen has that special talent.”

She has taken her role as a volunteer very seriously. She lobbied for more gym space and more times to play, allowing the sport to reach its full potential. “There’s always a line of people waiting with their paddles for a chance to play. That gets quite frustrating,” said Colleen. “So we’ve been working with Mike Scidmore to get more gym space.” Her role as a member advocate never stops. “She’s the energizer bunny of volunteers,” said Mike. “She just keeps going and going.” That’s not all. Colleen also spearheaded a social gathering for Southern Saratoga Pickleball players that they call “The Social”. “It gives people a chance to meet people off the court. It kind of breaks the tension,” said Colleen. “When you know someone socially, it’s kind of hard to get mad at them on the court.”

Thanks to the Y, Colleen has found a new passion that she can share with her friends and family alike.

“It’s friendly here. It’s a nice place for people to get together and physically do stuff,” said Colleen. “The staff has been nothing but kind and cordial. They really want to make it so that it’s the best it can be.”

Colleen’s efforts are not only supported by the staff, but she also has the support of her fellow Pickleball players.

“I am very thankful for the handful of players that have always pitched in and been there to help me with what ever I needed at any time, because I could never do all this by myself,” said Colleen. “I really enjoy what I do and I am happy I have the opportunity to do it.”

Come celebrate with YMCA staff and fellow members for our 2016 Member-

ship Picnic. Free food provided by Tex’s Longhorn BBQ.

Attend with friends and family to enjoy:

FREE FOOD (1st come 1st serve)

Hot dogs & hamburgers, enjoy the playground, rock climbing

wall, petting zoo and pony rides, bounce houses yard games and more….

Free Event

to Members!

8

These numbers are produced based on total visits to the YMCA per

month.

This is where we highlight our Top 20 members that use our facility each month.

These members are dedicated to their health and well being and should be com-

mended for hard work and efforts. Be sure to congratulate them on their dedi-

cation.

Biswas, Amit 36

Chawla, Navjeet 36

Singh, Krystle 35

Wuerdeman, Teresa 33

Burke, Maria 31

Nichols, Duane 31

Barringer, Charles 30

Earnest Jr, Samuel 30

Macuirles, Louise 30

Kim, Jeongyoon 29

Bangalore Ranga-raja, Iyengar 28

DeMatteo, Dean 28

Kim, Jong 28

Bennett, Michael 27

Hays, Ralph 27

Ipsen, Anna 27

Moehring, Thom- 27

Molloy, Lauren 27

Nunez, Raoul 27

Kim, Yoohee 26

Lloyd, Sylvie 26

Paduano, Thomas 26

Sano, Benjamin 26

9

Property Department

Southern Saratoga YMCA

Nature/Walking Trail

Job Openings The property department has four job openings.

We are looking for (Y) minded staff to help fill our department; if that’s you,

please apply.

We have the following opening’s.

Maintenance Technician

Two Overnight Custodians

Opening Custodian

Please see front desk for application or email resume to gbeattie@cdymca .

Guy Beattie

Property Director

The Southern Saratoga

YMCA walking trail is

ready for walking, jog-

ging, or running once

again. Please take the

time to enjoy this area

as we had many volun-

teers put a lot of effort

into this project. An in-

formative brochure is at

the desk for your use.

This is a great trail for

families.

Enjoy!

10

Childcare Department

Y-TIME SPOTLIGHT-OKTE

Each month the staff at Okte decorate one of their storage cabinets. Along with making

Their space festive and inviting, they also try to share positive messages in one way or

another. This month, the children “tweeted” about each other. They were able to share

positive thoughts and compliments with others by writing them on foam bird cut-outs. These

tweets built a sense of community, positive self-esteem and learning to find the good in

those around them. We had “Tweets” that in-cluded praise for friends and staff alike. One final tweet came from our Site Supervisor.

We are so proud of our Y-Timers!!!

They are learning and living the four core val-ues of caring, honesty, respect and responsibil-

ity at all times.

Child of the Month

Sabrina Shakerly

Sabrina is a 3rd grad-er with an infectious laugh and a beautiful smile. She is often found playing, talking and spending time all sorts of kids at Y-Time. She makes ef-forts to include all kids. She gets along well with other chil-dren and staff alike. They say that the way you treat others when no one else is looking is the true measure of a person. At Y-Time, we watch. We are so proud of Sabrina!

11

WELLNESS DEPARTMENT

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month!

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone density. People with low bone density stand a greater chance of fracturing their bones. The elderly and frail are at greater risk from falls which can lead to bone fracture.

The aim of National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month is to promote good bone health through the prevention, detection and treatment of osteoporosis.

Through Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, people are encouraged to understand the

risk factors associated with this condition. Preventative measures which promote healthy bones

include sufficient calcium intake, achieving adequate levels of vitamin D, and performing bone

healthy exercises.

WHAT IS CINCO DE MAYO?

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrated in the

United States and Mexico, commemorating

Mexico's 1862 victory in the Battle of Puebla

during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de

Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico and a celebration

of Mexican culture in the United States.

Fri-

day, May 5 is Cinco De Meyo. How do you want to

celebrate? Start the celebration early. Join us with

Gene and Kristen in a Cinco Spin class from 5-

6:30 a.m. Sign ups will be Friday, April 28.

The Southern Saratoga YMCA is

supporting the President’s Council on

Fitness, Sports & Nutrition in honor of

National Physical Fitness and Sports

Month. During the month of May, we

challenge all adults to get 30

minutes of physical activity every

day.

Physical activity is for everyone. No

matter what shape you are in, you can

find activities that work for you.

Together, we can rise to the challenge

and get more active during the month

of May!

Examples:

Take a family bike ride

Walk the dog

Play a game of mini golf

Try badminton

Play tag or hide and seek

Attend a YMCA class

Grab your May physical activity

calendar today from the Wellness

desk. Every completed calendar

will be entered into a drawing to

receive 5 (1) hour personal training

sessions ($180 value) with the trainer

of your choice!

12

Program Department

Bring this

coupon when

registering

your birthday party and

receive $10 off!

Healthy Kids Day was a Blast!Saturday, April 29, 2017

NOTHING CHARGES UP KIDS LIKE SUMMER—AND

HEALTHY KIDS DAY® IS THE Y'S OFFICIAL START TO

THE BEST SUMMER EVER! WE HAD A GREAT TIME AND

WANTED TO SAY A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR ALL

THOSE THAT CAME OUT AND MADE IT A SUCCESSFUL

EVENT! HOPE TO SEE YOU THIS SUMMER!

Karate Chop!

Sign Up Today

for our Adult and

Youth Beginner

or intermediate

Karate classes

today!

See front desk

for more info

13

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 2017

May 6, 5:30 PM-8:30 PM—

KidzLodge Parents Night Out

May 9, 3:00-6:00 PM—Child ID

Night

May 12, 7-9:30 AM—Mother’s Day

Breakfast

May 20, 5:30 PM-8:30 PM—

KidzLodge Parents Night Out

May 29—Memorial Day—KidzLodge

will be closed

June 2017

June 2, 8:30-11:30 AM—Vision

screening

June 15, 6:15-7:30—Kinder-Camp

Open House

June 21—AM and PM Kindergarten

attend school on a regular schedule.

Last day for AM Kindergarten.

June 22—Last day for PM Kindergar-

ten. PM Kindergarten attends school

in the morning.

June 23, 4:00 PM—Pre-K Gradua-

tion

July 2017

July 4—KidzLodge will be closed for

Independence Day

July 27, 6:15-7:30—Kinder-Camp

Open House

Kidzlodge Early Learning Center

EARTH WEEK

Blue Heron Classroom

In recognition of Earth Week, our Blue

Herons kinder-care class went on a long

walk around KidzLodge and the Southern

Saratoga YMCA and collected litter. As a

treat after that, they visited the playground at

the Y. They had lots of time to enjoy the out-

doors and were clearly enjoying the benefits of a

beautiful day.

Woodchuck Classroom

In celebration of Earth Day, our Woodchucks pre-

school classroom learned about recycling and pol-

lution. They used all recycled items for all of their

projects, like their robot named Clyde! They prac-

ticed sorting recyclables and talked about how

keeping our Earth clean and pollution free helps

us and all plants and animals stay healthy.

14

Aquatics Department

We are ready and excited as we get into our 2016-2017 season and much larg-er than last year! The team is at max capacity so please bare with us while we

adjust!

New schedule:

Mon/Tues/Thurs (3:45-8:45pm)

Wed/Fri (4:00-8:45pm)

Barracudas

Registration is now open for Spring II

Swim Lessons

Sign up today at the front desk for Spring II

Swim Lessons which will run May 1st-June 18th

Contact Sam Mysliwiec for any

questions at 518-371-2139 x 5531

smysliwiec@cdymca.org

SWIM CLINICS!

Does your child have one or two specif-ic things they need to work on in order to move up in swim lessons? Luckily, we offer clinics to give your child the extra practice they need. Our diving clinic is designed to help get your child diving into the water like a pro; as well as our Endurance clinic will help your child with treading water and swimming for longer periods of time without getting tired. These will be of-fered towards the middle of our swim lesson session on May 28th for both age groups 5-7 and 8-12. Our only re-quirement is that all children must be able to swim independently. See our program guide for dates, times, and prices!

Thank you to all the families for partici-

pating in our 2017 Easter Egg Pool

Hunt. We felt the event was successful

and we hope everyone enjoyed them-

selves. We enjoyed every minute of the

event, especially all the smiles on the

kids faces.