MONTCLAIR — The YMCA of Montclair welcomes two new members to its board of directors, recently elected in June to three-year terms.

“Our board serves a key role providing governance and oversight for the organization, said Buddy Evans, President and CEO of the YMCA of Montclair. “We are fortunate to have two leaders in their fields who will help expand our reach and engagement to better serve all in our community.”

The Board of Directors of the YMCA of Montclair welcomes:

• Risa Cretella, the Executive Vice President, Group General Manager of Sovos Brands which includes the beloved Rao’s Homemade brand. Prior to joining Sovos Brands, Ms. Cretella was at Pinnacle Foods, most recently as the SVP of Marketing for Frozen Leadership Brands, which included Birds Eye. She also was a founding member of Pinnacle’s “WISE” (Women Inspiring Success & Empowerment), a development & mentoring program for women. Ms. Cretella received a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Master in Business Administration from Kent State University. She is a resident of Caldwell.

• Lisa Indovino, the GTM Partner Sales & Strategy Lead (Americas) at Anaplan. Prior to her current position, Ms. Indovino was the SVP Digital Data Solutions at Innodata leading sales, solution consulting and delivery for this AI and ML data technology solutions services firm. She excels at leading high-performance teams, developing and executing strategic partnerships, improving customer retention, and operational efficiencies. Ms. Indovino received a Bachelor of Arts from Smith College and is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business Executive Education program. Ms. Indovino has served on many boards including CASA, the Montclair Art Museum and the American Red Cross. She is a resident of Little Falls.

The YMCA of Montclair’s board is comprised of business, nonprofit, and community leaders who bring a wealth of experience, diverse skills, and perspective to our organization, along with a deep passion for making a difference in the communities we serve.

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ABOUT THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR
Established in 1891, the YMCA of Montclair welcomes all. We are a nonprofit that strengthens individuals, families, and community by developing spirit, mind, and body. Working locally, we focus on empowering young people, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. Serving Bloomfield, Bloomingdale, Clifton, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Haskell, Montclair, Verona, and West Milford. For more information, please visit montclairymca.org.

Dear Members and Friends,

We are excited to share with you updates on Park Street YMCA access and openings. We appreciate your support and patience as we have carefully reopened the Park Street Y in accordance with the CDC and New Jersey public health guidelines. The greater Montclair community has made this possible by putting safety first.

As you will see, we are sequencing these changes so that we have time to implement and update our staff and members.

STARTING JUNE 28

• Reservations for LAP LANES will be removed and swimmers will no longer have to register on MotionVibe. The pool schedule will be revised.
• STEAM & SAUNA rooms will reopen in both men’s and women’s locker rooms.
• MONDAY – FRIDAY HOURS will be 5am through 8pm with no afternoon closure. Cleaning will be adjusted to meet member flow. Saturday hours remain 7am-2pm.

STARTING JULY 4

SUNDAY HOURS will return beginning with holiday hours on Sunday, July 4th, 7am-11am.

STARTING JULY 5

A new GYMNASIUM schedule will roll out – Basketball and Family Gym is back!

STARTING JULY 11

Regular SUNDAY HOURS resume 7am-2pm. We will announce our updated group exercise schedule soon.

OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

• On June 14, we transitioned back to wipes in the silver stands for members to use before and after working out on the equipment. Y staff will continue to clean the equipment with towels.
• Track, boxing area, and courts remain closed at this time.
• The stretching area in the ladies locker room will not reopen as a stretching area, it will be repurposed to better serve our members, details to follow.
• Our mask policy remains in place.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Y!

With thanks,

Lisa Kievit
Executive Director
Park Street YMCA

The YMCA of Montclair increases availability of water safety and swim lessons in underserved communities.

MONTCLAIR — As part of the Y’s commitment to reduce drowning rates and keep kids safe in and around the water, the YMCA of Montclair will provide Safety Around Water, a swim instruction and water safety program to children ages 4-6 June 21-25 and ages 7-14 June 28-July 2.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fatal drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages one to 14 years old. For communities of color, the youth drowning rate is two to three times higher than the national average, according to a USA Swimming study.

“Educating children how to be safe around water is just as important as teaching them to look both ways before they cross the street,” said Tammy Como, Association Aquatics Director, YMCA of Montclair. “The Y teaches children of all ages and backgrounds that water should be fun, not feared, and this practice not only saves lives it builds confidence.”

The Y believes this is especially true following 2020’s COVID-19 shutdowns. In a typical year, the YMCA of Montclair teaches 10,000 in their swim programs — this decreased to 1,000 in 2020. There are children in the community who are at risk due to the lack of opportunity for swim lessons caused by the pandemic. The Y wants to make every effort to reach those kids this year. The Y follows all aquatic COVID-19 protocols to maximize safety when swim lessons are conducted.

The Y has been a leader in providing swim lessons and water safety for more than 100 years. The YMCA of Montclair continues to help youth and adults experience the joy and benefits of swimming, so they can be healthy, confident, and secure in the water.

The Safety Around Water program has been funded by generous grants from the Stew Leonard III Water Safety Foundation and the YMCA of the USA’s Strategic Initiatives.

For more information, contact Tammy Como, Association Aquatics Director at tcomo@montclairymca.org. To register for Safety Around Water classes, visit www.montclairymca.org/safety-around-water/. There is a nominal fee of $5 for the weeklong lessons.

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ABOUT THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR

Established in 1891, the YMCA of Montclair welcomes all. We are a nonprofit that strengthens individuals, families, and community by developing spirit, mind, and body. We focus on healthy living, social responsibility, and youth development. Serving Bloomfield, Bloomingdale, Clifton, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Haskell, Montclair, Verona, and West Milford. For more information, please visit montclairymca.org.

Join us for our PRIDE Brave Space Community Dialogue Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 6:30-8pm

The YMCA of Montclair is hosting a June event in our ongoing Brave Space Community Dialogue series.

This event will focus on the unique experiences and challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community. The event is designed to create dialogue through lecture, conversation, and a question and answer period. Participants are encouraged to explore their own biases, build their knowledge and understanding, and approach this topic with empathy.

The lecture will:
-Review terminology related to LGBTQ+ communities.
-Explain the unique challenges and health disparities facing LGBTQ+ communities.
-Identify ways to create safer and more supportive environments for LGBTQ+ communities.
-Discuss the resources available to develop a deeper understanding.

The discussion will be led by Emma Vibber. Ms. Vibber lives in Chicago, Illinois, and is the Quality and Professional Development Manager for a statewide coalition that seeks to provide Illinois youth with quality and affordable afterschool programming. Ms. Vibber is originally from the Philadelphia area where she attended West Chester University for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. Ms. Vibber has earned a Master of Arts degree in Communication Studies and rooted her collegiate career in gender studies, social equity, and feminism. She has been a longtime advocate and member of the Central Bucks YMCA in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

The event is free, and all are welcome—register by clicking this registration link.

The Five Days of Action is a week-long campaign designed to raise awareness and inspire all adults to take action to protect children from sexual abuse. The YMCA of Montclair is committed to the safety of the children in our community and the Five Days of Action are just one way we reinforce that commitment.

When we know how abuse can happen, see the warning signs, and respond quickly to prevent it, we foster a culture of child abuse prevention. These three habits – KNOW. SEE. RESPOND. – can change a child’s life. Learn more by reading the KNOW. SEE. RESPOND. booklet for tips on the three habits, including questions to ask the organizations serving your children about their child protection policy and hiring practices.

English KNOW.SEE.RESPOND.

Español SABER.VER.REACCIONAR.

KNOWing the facts about child sexual abuse can help you better understand what to look for and how to prevent abuse. Offenders often attempt to press boundaries and break rules.

When we SEE boundaries being crossed, rules being violated, or see signs a child is being sexually abused, we must be prepared to intervene on a child’s behalf.

If you suspect abuse, how do you RESPOND? When it comes to reporting abuse, it can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. If you are prepared, you will know exactly when and how to report. In New Jersey, report abuse to:

1-877 NJ ABUSE
(1-877-652-2873)
TTY 1-800-835-5510

Together we foster a culture of child abuse prevention. Find prevention tips and resources by checking out www.fivedaysofaction.org.