YMCA swim instructors and their students were facing a dry summer when the apartment complex the Y used decided not to allow public lessons this year.
But the community wouldn't stand for it and offered up several pools for the area's youths.
Calls came from apartment complexes, a country club, a homeowners' association and people offering their own personal pools, said Brittney Dugger, marketing director for the YMCA of the Greater Tri-Cities.
"We're very grateful to the community who stepped up for us so we can step up for the youth of the community," she said. "Because around here knowing how to swim is very important."
The YMCA now is working on a swim lesson schedule. Dugger
said she's not sure if lessons will be at one pool, or split between several in different cities, "which could be a good thing, making the locations more convenient for people."
Shortly after the Herald's story about the YMCA's pool dilemma ran, the community rallied, Dugger said.
"We began to get calls literally the day the story was in the paper," she said. "We received about a dozen calls that day with people offering pools and with ideas on where to look for pools."
The YMCA was having difficulty finding a new location because not every backyard pool is suitable for lessons, Dugger explained in a Herald story earlier this month.
Even though the YMCA keeps its instructor-to-youths ratio low, the pool and deck around it have to be large enough for a group session. Plus, there are liability issues.
"We have to have insurance and they have to have insurance to cover any accidents too," Dugger said.
As soon as the schedule is set, it will be posted at www.ymcatricities.org, likely some time next week. Or call 374-1908. The YMCA also is hiring for lifeguards and swimming instructors.
-- Loretto J. Hulse: 582-1513; lhulse@tricityherald.com
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Be grateful the Tri-Cities offers a lot for children
Be grateful the Tri-Cities offers a lot for children
Summer's over, school has started and so has the regimented schedule for kids.
But before we bid goodbye to summer, let's be thankful for all the season has to offer. One of the benefits of summer vacation is the chance for families to relax a bit and for kids to try new things. And Tri-City kids are lucky. They live in a community that offers a ton of activities designed especially for them.
Some towns might not be able to offer much, but with three good-sized cities and a wide variety of organizations that cater to kids, the Tri-Cities is a great place for a child to spend a summer.
Getting his kicks: 50 years later, karate instructor still going strong
Getting his kicks: 50 years later, karate instructor still going strong
YAKIMA -- His brain tells him he's 73 years old. But his body tells him he's a young man in his prime. Until that changes, Morris Mack said he has no plans to retire from the Yakima School of Karate, a business he founded 50 years ago.
"My body doesn't know I'm old," he joked. "I've worked (and trained) from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. almost every day for the past 40 years. Man is designed to work. When people work, they are healthy."
Mack, a married father of seven adult children, didn't learn karate until 1956, when he attended a martial arts tournament in California. From there, he was hooked.
Tri-Citians work to tackle childhood obesity
Tri-Citians work to tackle childhood obesity
KENNEWICK -- As sixth-graders meandered into Ron Schuh's health class at Park Middle School this week, their attention immediately was drawn to a rack of exercise bars.
The students clustered around the rack -- some of them hefting the color-tipped bars to feel their weight -- before being hustled to their seats by Schuh so he could start the class.
The bars, which are free weights in bar form, were part of his "Walk the Talk Wednesday" -- a weekly lesson plan that incorporates some aspect of exercise and fitness into whatever students are learning at the time.
Registration open for YMCA child care
Registration open for YMCA child care
Registration is open and financial assistance is available for the YMCA's School-Age Child Care Program.
The program offers child care before and after school in the gymnasiums of 11 Kennewick elementary schools. Space is limited.
A $50 annual registration fee is due at time of registration and includes a YMCA youth membership.
Three Rivers Community Foundation giving $176,627 to 32 nonprofits
Three Rivers Community Foundation giving $176,627 to 32 nonprofits
Meals On Wheels will be able to keep rolling despite fewer and smaller donations.
The nonprofit organization that supplies elderly people one hot meal once a day will receive $6,692 today from Three Rivers Community Foundation.
"If not for this program, many in the Tri-Cities would likely go hungry," said Carrie Green, executive director of the Three Rivers Community Foundation.
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