Press Releases and Cassandra Hemenway
Green Mountain Community Fitness Awarded $5,000 Swimming Grant
Green Mountain Community Fitness (GMCF) has recently been awarded a $5,000 grant from the USA Swimming Foundation, according to an April press release from the Berlin-based fitness center. The grant funding will directly benefit GMCF’s Adult Learn to Swim (ALTS) program, allowing the organization to offer high-quality swim instruction to adults at a significantly reduced cost.
“This grant enables us to expand access to life-saving swim skills in our community,” said Steve Maas, aquatics director at GMCF. “Many adults have never had the opportunity to learn to swim, and this funding helps us remove one of the biggest barriers — cost.”
The ALTS program at GMCF is designed for adult learners of all backgrounds and beginner skill levels, from those with a fear of water to those looking to improve their technique and confidence. With the support of the USA Swimming Foundation, GMCF will be able to reach more participants and ensure that swimming is accessible to everyone, regardless of financial situation.
For more information about GMCF’s Adult Learn to Swim program and to register for lessons, visit gmcf.life/aquatics/alts.
GMCF Donates $5,280 for Fuel Program
On April 12 and 13, Green Mountain Community Fitness ran its First Annual Pickleball Meltdown tournament benefiting the Capstone Fuel Your Neighbors program, raising $5,280 for the program.
“GMCF recognizes the challenges many families face during the cold winter months,” said Nick Petterssen, co-owner of Green Mountain Community Fitness. “Central Vermont families are fortunate to have an organization like Capstone providing this kind of support.”
Fifty pickleball players in three skill levels competed over a day and a half to benefit the charity. Local sponsors included the Meltdown Cafe in Barre and Dick’s Sporting Goods in Williston. On a national level, companies such as Paddletek and Pickleball Apes provided many pickleball paddles that were raffled off during the tournament, raising even more money for the program.
—press release
State and Main Street Construction Update
A sidewalk was displaced in front of Positive Pie in Montpelier during construction on State Street last week, according to a weekly update from the Montpelier Department of Public Works for work completed April 28 through May 2. The sidewalk was backfilled with gravel, the notice said.
“As a result of the pile driving, vibration, and material displacement, the sidewalk in front of Positive Pie (22 State Street) became unsafe. Hebert Excavation removed the concrete sidewalk that was shifting, replaced the lost material, compacted and backfilled the sidewalk with gravel,” noted the update.
The three-month long project between Main and State Streets is intended to separate storm and sewer water, redirecting storm water away from the city water treatment plant.
Starting on May 5, Hebert Excavation will finish digging the pit and pour a concrete slab “for the pipe ramming machine.” Workers have found woody debris 12 to 15 feet below the pavement and anticipate it will cause delays.
“The sheet piles cannot be driven through the wood, and given the depth, they can be tricky to get out with an excavator. The wood is beginning to cause some project delays. The city’s Engineering Staff and the Construction Contractor are in communication finding the most effective way to deal with this issue,” the update said. “… The city will be meeting with the contractor to review the overall project schedule and to develop a plan to get the project back on track. More information will be provided once a revised schedule has been provided. It should also be noted that when the pipe ramming process is ongoing, the area will be noisy from this activity.”
—Cassandra Hemenway
