 Okay, I want to welcome everybody to our Thursday, April 15th community chat. Today we have our special guest Amherst Recreation Director, our bills joining us. Welcome Barb and thank you for being here. Thank you for inviting me. Before we launch into questions for Barb and hear a little bit about her work in the recreation department. I'm going to allow your town manager to give a couple quick updates. Thanks, Brianna. So, well, since we're here with recreation, I want to lead with the congratulations to UMass hockey team for the being the NCAA men's hockey champions. Now they can't be a parade because that's not permitted under under the governor's guidelines at this point there they did when they arrived back on campus there was a jubilant reception for them. And I think the university is looking at some major celebration in September. And along those lines, it looks like all three of our institutions are looking to reopen as close to normal as possible come September. And so I think that's really good news for us. It speaks to the level of vaccination that's happening throughout the country and in our area. And also that, you know, our team at the banks community center has continued to run vaccine clinics I think we've done over 3000 vaccines so far. We do about, you know, it's meant we do as many as we get the vaccinate vaccine for it and we don't get enough supply and university also runs a clinic so if you're looking for a clinic they open their clinics at four o'clock on Fridays. So that's my quick update for today. Great. Thank you Paul I'm just gonna take a quick moment to remind our live attendees who are in zoom and also those on Facebook live. Please feel free to ask your questions and zoom you can put it into the Q&A or raise your hand we'd love to hear from you live. And then for those watching on Facebook live just put a comment into the stream and we will ask your question as well. So without further ado, Barb, would you mind introducing yourself. Hi everyone I'm Barb bills and I'm the director of the Amherst recreation department. I've been in that position for a little over the four and a half years now. And I, before that served as a program director when I first started and then moved up to the assistant director for the department but certainly it's been a very rewarding at their work for the town now for 21 years so it's been an extremely rewarding experience and especially these last four and other so as director so we really proud of where we've we've come and you know I will be I will be retiring shortly in May as well actually June but my last day will be May 12. So, I'm looking forward to that a new chapter in my life but also very proud of what we've been able to accomplish in the last four and a half years and we can talk more about that as we go on. Recreation director apartment that just rolled off your tongue like you've been saying that all along but that's brand new right. It is yes. Well as part of our strategic plan I'm sure that a lot of you are aware that the department went through a pretty extensive process and was facilitated by the Donahue Institute out of UMass, where we went to did a very strategic plan and now we have a good three year. If you will map for the future. And one of the things though that did come out of that strategic plan is that we should change our name and we got a lot of community input. And all of the aspects that we dealt, dealt into and investigated but the name change really rose to the top so we took care of that right away and we became Amherst Recreation. Officially a few months ago where it was approved by town by the town manager and town council was made aware of that I guess. So you're not still saying LSE like me. No, it's hard to get over that though, you know, I'm I'm I've been reminding everybody anytime they drop the LSE by accident and I've been putting in a plug for recreation even if I'm guilty of it. It's interesting I've had some meetings with the schools and everyone and it's just rolls off their tongue as well. They just completely have not used LSE any more just I find fascinating. So it's a good thing. That's a testament to how much sense it makes to have that be the name if it. Yeah, if it was easy to transition. So if you have attendees feel free to raise your hand or pop your question in here in the Q&A function I do see a number of Amherst Rec staff in here so feel free to raise your hand so we can bring you in and maybe you can say something about your time working with Barb or some of your I know we've we've been last last summer was a little bit different than this summer so can you talk about how you know spring and summer programming will look this year and maybe starting with youth sports and day camps. I think we're fortunate this year to be fairly close to where we have been in past years you know last year we had to make a number of accommodations but this year we'll be bringing back our day camps or summer youth sports programs. And we'll have activities for kids, you know at the golf course. Certainly the outdoor pools will be up and running, but there'll be COVID restrictions in place. The numbers that will be allowed to have in the day camps for instance will be less than we normally would be operating at about 50% less. And the outdoor pools were still not to the point where we can offer swim lessons but possibly later in the summer depending on you know how the state and how things you know they're their regulations what they put into place, and then how things are looking so we're hopeful. And the spray park should be up and running in June, which is exciting I know everybody is looking forward to to getting out there and enjoying graph park and the new playground in the spray park which is just terrific. And we'll be doing adult and youth education programs. Again, most of those will occur outside outdoors in different areas throughout town but things like yoga. Let's see we have the the Sandlot baseball program and those kinds of ones so we'll having that we're also going to introduce this year we're going to have an arts program for kids that it's an arts and science program. And that'll be happening as well and again those will be limited numbers because of our COVID restrictions but our staff has done a tremendous job I think of adapting and creating safe environments for children and and our other participants are adult programs that we have run so we've got good experience behind us and so we're moving forward and looking and looking forward to to offering all kinds of activities for the community. Are you seeing a bigger appetite for participants now you know coming into to the spring and the vaccine being rolled out do you feel that people are banging down your doors for activities or how is that looking. So what we found I think it's in the day camps particularly we've opened those up for registration and those are filling up quickly so there's clearly a need out there, whether it's childcare or kids just wanting to experience some socialization as well as recreation activities. So it's, yeah, I would say the demand is is going to be higher than normal this year and I think people understand that the numbers are limited. Again we're going to be operating some of these programs that 50% of what we normally have would have run them at. So there's one thing that I do on the on the regular is monitoring what people are searching for on our websites and it's you know seasonally it's always programs that have to do with Amherst recreation so this time of year, even now. Once we have that first warm day people are searching for pools and cherry hill so what will the pool schedule be the same as it has been in years past or will it be different or you guys still deciding on that. So we had a we had a pool schedule set we're going to open up Mill River pool earlier than normal. We're going to open that up on June 19. Again we won't have the swim lessons but we'll have a very similar schedule to what we did last year so we'll have lab swimming from let's say 10 to one and then open swim from one to 730pm we're going to go a little bit later into the evening. You know we understand that parents like you know they'll come home from work they want to take the kids out for a swim, maybe before or after dinner. And so we'd like to make that available to them as this year, which we weren't able to do last year so a little bit longer in the day and starting a little bit earlier. So we'll have four memorial will open up on June 26, and then the pools will stay open, both will mill river will stay open through Labor Day. Oh that's great. Yeah it's great I think we have that of course we have the waiter at mill river as well and that will open on June 9. Also, and those combined with the with the splash pad there'll be options for people to stay cool. You bet. And what about cherry hill that's one of the other, the biggest inquiries we get is, you know, is it open can I. How do I book it on my tea time and you guys have that system all set up it's really easy online so have you been having a big attendance that the that cherry hill as well. Well, yeah, especially the wolf with the weather being so warm. Initially when we opened we've been very busy which is great. We are, you know, we haven't raised our prices and prices are the same do you have to make a tea time as Rihanna mentioned so that's easily done through our website. And we will be offering a women's clinic the youth camp this year. Lots of good activities going on we have a women's league. So kind of a low key fund league for women and we also have a men's league so there is plenty for you know for everyone at all kinds of different levels you know we've always said it's sort of the course for everyone. And we've lived up to that mantra, which is good. And you had members help clean it up this year as a new new sort of initiative. Yeah, that's that's correct we, we had 25 volunteers and some members some not members just people who come and play and whether just really fantastic folks from our community who came out and you know raked and picked up debris and you know just help trim things up so it was great and they spent almost a good half a day up there and got a lot of projects done so we were really happy to have them. It's a true community golf course. That's right. So will people find you there in June. Quite possibly. So we have some questions and comments in the room. There was great skiing there this winter, regarding cherry hill. And a question I believe this is probably about the pool facilities, will the changing facilities be available. Yeah, that's a good question again we're still waiting for guidance from the state and they have that hasn't come out yet so we'll have more information and we'll be able to post that I would hope within a month or so. And that website. Sorry. Yeah, at our, you can always check our ways amherst m a wreck. And so last year the changing rooms were not available you could walk through them to get to the pool but you had to have already changed your clothes in advance. Because of concerns. That's correct. You could use the restrooms, but people would arrive in their swimsuits and would leave in their swimsuits. So stay tuned on that. Yeah. I'm wondering who that is in your background. Over there we've heard you have an office mate that's pretty famous or Barb think she's the star but she's not. What is that is that a big stall. That's that's Lana little diva yeah she's a she's like stuff I guess she's a camera hog I don't know. She don't don't let us keep looking at her move the camera so she steals steals the show for sure. I didn't even realize she was there. Oh, we've got a lot. We definitely Nicole says yay Queen Lana. She must be famous then. And then we have another question here when may, when is the new playground opening. You know, I don't have this specific day Paul, do you have any update on that. Yeah, so I think the goal is that for them to be complete with the construction around June 1. There's a few weeks where they have to let you know a little bit of grass to grow and there's some settling or something that has to happen, but really in, I'm guessing July or sooner if we can get it done. So it's moving around long really quickly and the crews were here as soon as the weather broke. And you know of course with any project they're always sort of things that you pop up and they're fixing them quickly, but it's been a pretty smooth project. From our perspective it's going to be a really great addition to the downtown it's on Kendrick Park for those of you who don't know. It will be a real anchor for that end of the community of the of the downtown area. And we'll be sharing a little photo update about the the prod progress a little later today so you can see. And I didn't know we were having these but the I guess you call them bull their boulders for climbing and and playing and so we'll be sharing a little update later today on our social media channels about Kendrick. Yeah that actually came out of some of the group meetings that we had people were asking for things that kids could do that were sort of more natural. It wasn't just plastic or metal climbing structures aren't there other things that you can just climb on and that was incorporated into the design. It makes a big difference a lot of the playgrounds and Sweden are like that with natural materials and it's really nice so excited to see that. So one thing we didn't talk about, which is an event that's near and dear to my heart are the annual fireworks and for the July celebration. Also something that's already getting searched for right now in April, any, any update on where we are with that or. Yeah, Paul you can jump in unfortunately this this year we're going to have to cancel again. We've been in discussions with the university and both entities have decided to get you know for from a safety perspective that this would be the prudent thing to do so we won't be having the fourth July fireworks this year unfortunately but I'm sure next year will be bigger and better than ever. 2022. Yeah, and most communities are not holding holding their fireworks this year some of some are delaying them some are putting back to you but it's there's so many uncertainties and you have to contract with things and for us we actually do. The recreation department does a lot of fundraising to help pay for the event. So if you don't get that started early you're not going to have enough money to put it on so it was the wisest decision was to declare that we weren't going to have fireworks in 2021. Well there's always next year. Right. Well one thing. Oh, go ahead. Yeah, but we did do winterfest this year as sort of a modified version which was kind of creative and exciting to see. Thanks to, you know, the bid in the chamber, we did a collaboration with them and, and we're able to do the drive through experience. We had all the ice sculptures we had over, I think at least a dozen ice sculptures on the common, and we counted unofficially about 2000 cars that came through which was pretty remarkable and I think people just loved it. It was just a great event and just really happy to be able to do something. Was winterfest. Did that come up under your rain? Barbara said is a town. I'm not that. Yeah, we started that I believe it was about 2008. And again, it was a collaboration initially with the chamber, the two to both us and the chamber and, you know, we were just looking for something that would bring people outdoors. Initially. And, you know, just basically a celebration of winter and it just grew grew from a one day event to a week long event with multiple, you know, community activities, a lot of different businesses would put things you know we had, and then we had nonprofits and you know we had the Amherst Cinema Center, we showed movies, the library got involved. So it became really a big, a much bigger event. And it was, you know, so hopefully we'll get back to that at some point as well. And what was your favorite ice sculpture. We were team unicorn in this house. I don't know. Let's see how that unicorn was pretty special. I think I'll have to go with you on that one. I was on the octopus. We can't all be right all the time fall. Well one thing that that I think is pretty notable and forgive me I don't know exactly what year it was but a couple years ago you and your team won an award for your outreach initiatives. And I was just wondering if you could talk a little bit about what that was and what some of that outreach looks like for you. You know I see Nikki Sears probably speak to that as well I'll just do a quickie but you know if she wants to chime in, we can have her do that. But yeah we started different outreach programs that the various housing areas, apartment complexes in town, just trying to reach out some of the underserved kids in our community that you know through who had barriers to participating in our programs to basically give them sort of a taste of some programming and then hopefully bridge them into, you know other programs that we provide like our camps like our sports program so it has and it's continuing she's doing a, you know, really good job this spring she'll be doing some outreach programs again in person so that's that's moving along really well. I mean Nikki if you want to activate her but yep yep she's raising her hand good here you go Nikki. So the award was basically in recognition of that program, and that was through the Massachusetts Park and Recreation Association so yeah we were thrilled to receive that. Welcome Nikki, you want to introduce yourself. Hi, yes, my name is Nicola Belly, I'm the camp outreach and special events coordinator for in her recreation. And as Barb was saying we have been conducting outreach for a few years now and it is a bit different than it was pre coded but I think that we are producing. Every time there is an event, it's, you know, condensed into bags of 100 kids are given, you know, a fun activity, and they're always given a personalized activity book, and all the promotion to see where our other programs are when to sign up. And it's really great to just be out there and see the families and the kids that we do serve in our programming outside of, you know, a camp setting or a special activity. And, you know, just I'm excited to be like, oh hey, what are you coming, what are we going to see you again, what are you just saying so this spring we are going to use spring in a bag. And we're just working on that that'll be launched in May, and we'll be putting up a few of the housing community. Awesome. And I also want to say, you know, being a customer on the other end always had a great experience and felt so welcome with all your camp programming and everything you do a fabulous job. And, and you've recently joined our equity team here for internal staff trying to promote equity and inclusion in the workplace so we're really excited that all the experience that you bring in the work that you've done to that so we look forward to having you. Thank you. I'm very excited. All right, do you want to stick around on the chatter do you want me to hide you. I'll give you all the centers. All right, thanks. Thanks for popping up Paul do you have questions for Nikki. Well no not for Nikki but for Barb. Thanks for being here, Nikki. So Barb, as you reflect back over your career. What's your sort of takeaways and, you know, what do you think you're proud of and how you're looking towards retirement. Wow, that's, well I said this are very good question there are a lot of questions there. I think my most proud of, you know, I've thought a little bit about it. I think, you know, recently we provided this remote learning assistance program, and childcare program, and we, we, it was a huge deal for us. And I give a lot of credit to Grace Marsha, who, who led up that, you know, basically help direct that program and Nikki later came in and then offered a second presentation of that program. So just kind of the way we responded to the pandemic helping out in other departments. Certainly we were at Puppers we've helped the senior center some of the staff we've helped in some of the finance areas of the town. And also helping with, you know, the coordination of the health department of the vaccinations and so forth. So, a lot of that just real proud of my staff with they've responded. And just recently, but certainly, you know, that's sort of sort of recent kind of things that that come to mind but overall you know just. It's just been an incredible, you know, 21 years this has really been my sort of dream job to come to the started as a program director and have worked my way up and back to, you know, a position of director. Before this, before I came here, you know, I worked for the military in recreation I was a recreation director overseas in Japan and Korea. And so then I got away from recreation for a while and went into fundraising and and some other things and then came back 21 years ago so I don't know I just feel really fortunate also to be able to have served, you know, to live and serve, you know, your community is just that's what more could you ask for so that's about it you know really I I'm just really fortunate and grateful. Yeah, so I mean, you've been a joy to work with you know, and I agree with you that I have said this many times but the recreation LSEC staff has been just remarkable during the pandemic and and they have helped with the election. They've helped with finances staffing puffers pond setting up an entire learning center at the middle school and staffing that and you know, helping the health department, helping just the list goes on and the thing that was always impressive to me is that no one ever said to me said, you know, they were like, what else can we do where where do you need us and it was just every person in your department I think that starts with your sort of willingness to take on different things and helping to guide that so I just want to thank you for that but, you know, your whole career with the town I mean when I got here everyone had really high regard for you and the work that you did and so I was really glad that you were able to get become the director of the department and just, you know, rock solid department head and so and that's never had to worry about that, you know, like recreation took care of itself so it really appreciated all your work for the town. Thank you Paul it's been a, you know, it's also been a pleasure working with you. I couldn't ask for a better boss so thank you. Well I want to invite our attendees you know since we're coming down to our last couple of minutes that went quick barb didn't it. It did see I told you I would try to make it painless. I'd love to invite anybody in the room to kind of offer any last minute comments or questions I see we have a comment here. Sarah's glad to see that a multi use path will go all the way to graph park from East Hanley Road. So that's, yeah that's a really exciting project. Yeah, so we got a grant to do that. There'll be some major changes that there to help people cross west is it south plus on street west street there I think. So, and that will, that will work its way through the process. Okay, so last chance everybody. Questions comments. Tell us about retirement though that's why I want to know what do you do I mean I know you're you're an expert skier. What's good. Queen of the bunny slope baby. Oh you know I think I'm just going to start by just enjoying my first summer off probably since I was in junior high school so I'm just looking forward to taking a few months off initially and then you know go from there. It sounds good. I don't have anything that you didn't get asked today that you want to leave people with in the last moment or two and Paul the same for you. I think we covered pretty much everything in terms of our in terms of our programming so forth for this summer. I don't know if any of the other staff members who are here having or, or Sarah if you have anything to add from the commission standpoint. But I think we got it is Lana prepared for you to be home all the time. She's pretty uptight as you can tell. Sarah says we will miss you ditto, we will miss you barb. I'm not going anywhere. I'm still living in Amherst so hopefully I'll see all of you. We might have to do some recruitment get you on a board or committee. Exactly. We can't let you just go off and enjoy yourself too much. That's a possibility. And I guess the one thing that I will add, you know, we're actively recruiting for a recreation director so that that position is posted up on our career portal amersome.gov slash jobs if you or someone you know is an amazing recreation type we'd love to have them apply. As much as as much as we don't want barb to leave we have to face reality. All right, so with that I don't see any other hands or comments. I want to thank barb for taking time out of her day to join us today for her what will probably be her last community chat and I've been here a few times but we'd love to have you back any other time. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Have a nice day. Thank you.