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Join the Y’s Race for the Cure Team on Saturday, May 11 at Sherwood Island State Park

Tuesday, May 7, 2013 by:Family Y
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Sherwood Island State Park, just off Exit 18 on I-95, via the Sherwood Island State Connector Road.

Sherwood Island State Park, just off Exit 18 on I-95, via the Sherwood Island State Connector Road.

The first annual Fairfield County Race for the Cure will take place Saturday morning, May 11, at Sherwood Island State Park. Events at the Race for the Cure in Westport include a 5K Race, 5K and 1.5K Walks, a Kids’ Short Run and Kids’ K and a Survivor Breakfast.

Conducted by the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the family event raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research and local breast cancer programs.

The Westport Weston Family Y is one of many local sponsors. In addition to fielding a Family Y Race for the Cure team, the Y has been conducting weekly training classes to help walkers and runners gear up for the event.

Led by Y Fitness Instructor Perry Moody, the group’s final class takes place on Thursday morning, 9:30 – 10:30 am. Participants meet in the Stauffer Pool Lobby before heading outdoors, weather permitting, for a spirited workout session that combines walking and jogging along with advice from Moody on improving your technique for both. Join Perry and our Y’s Race for the Cure participants for a final tune-up before taking part in Saturday’s activities at Sherwood Island!

“It’s a great way not only to support a great cause, but also to get into shape for the outdoor months ahead,” said Shelley Moll, Health and Wellness Director for the Family Y.

To join the Family Y Race for the Cure team, form a team, or register as an individual, please visit www.komenct.org.

Here’s the schedule for Saturday at Sherwood Island State Park:

Saturday, May 11

7:00 AM Registration opens
8:15 AM Opening Ceremony at Main Stage
8:30 AM 5K Race
9:20 AM 5K Awards Ceremony at Main Stage
10:00 AM Kids K & Short Run
10:15 AM 4K Walk & 2K Walk

Survivor Events, Saturday, May 11

8:00 AM Survivor Breakfast Opens
9:30 AM Survivor Parade, starting at the Survivor Tent
9:45 AM Survivor Ceremony on the Main Stage
9:50 AM Survivor Photo

Komen header_westport

Connecticut has the second highest incidence of breast cancer in the nation, and several Fairfield County towns are among those with the highest rates of breast cancer incidence, mortality and late stage diagnosis.

Statewide, over 3,000 Connecticut women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. That is why the work of Komen Connecticut and events like the Race for the Cure are so vital, and already making a difference in the lives of women in Fairfield County and the rest of the state.

Until cures are found for breast cancer, early detection is the key to survival. For each of the past three years, Komen Connecticut has funded over $1 million in community grants to local organizations providing lifesaving services for women in need across our state.

These grants currently support breast cancer programs in Fairfield County, including: Norwalk Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Stamford Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital and CancerCare, among others.

Seventy five percent of Komen Connecticut’s net revenue supports local breast health programs across Connecticut and the remaining twenty five percent is invested in research to find the causes and cures for the disease. Not a penny of the money raised in Connecticut goes to support Komen National administration.

Although the organization invests in Connecticut breast cancer programs, much of its fundraising has historically taken place in the Hartford area.

“The Westport Race for the Cure is an exciting next step for our organization,” said Anne Morris, Executive Director of Komen Connecticut. “We are proud of the statewide impact of our community grants, and are thrilled to have a greater presence in Fairfield County. We need the support of all our local communities to help us continue investing in cutting-edge research and local breast cancer programs for Connecticut women and their families.”

“The Race for the Cure presents us with an opportunity to celebrate survivorship, honor those who have lost their battles, and impact local residents by raising funds to support education, screening and treatment programs right here in our state,” said Morris. “This event is the perfect platform to empower Fairfield County residents to join the local fight against breast cancer.”

For more information and to get involved, visit KomenCT.org, email race@komenct.org or call 860-321-7806.

In conjunction with Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center and the Smilow Family Breast Health Center, the Y also offers the Cancer Survivor Fitness Program. The 12-week program includes cardiovascular and muscle strength exercises as well as relaxation techniques designed to reduce cancer-therapy side effects. For more information, contact Shelley Moll at 203-226-8981, ext. 198; smoll@westporty.org.

Y Support for SpinOdyssey2013 and Race for the Cure Events

Thursday, April 4, 2013 by:Family Y
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The Westport Weston Family Y is proud to support the first annual Fairfield County Race for the Cure, scheduled to take place in Westport at Sherwood Island State Park on Saturday, May 11, Mother’s Day weekend. Conducted by the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the family event raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research and local breast cancer programs.

Events at the Race for the Cure in Westport include a 5K Race, 5K and 1.5K Walks, a Kids’ Short Run and Kids’ K and a Survivor Breakfast. The Westport Weston Family Y is one of many local sponsors. In addition to fielding a Family Y Race for the Cure team, the Y is conducting weekly training classes to help walkers and runners gear up for the event.

Led by Y Fitness Instructor Perry Moody, the class takes place on Thursday mornings, 9:30 – 10:30 am. Participants meet in the Stauffer Pool Lobby before heading outdoors, weather permitting, for a spirited workout session that combines walking and jogging along with advice from Moody on improving your technique for both.

“It’s a great way not only to support a great cause, but also to get into shape for the outdoor months ahead,” said Shelley Moll, Health and Wellness Director for the Family Y, who adds that the class is designed to benefit everyone, from first-time 5K walkers and racers to more experienced runners.

To join the Family Y Race for the Cure team, form a team, or register as an individual, please visit www.komenct.org.

The inaugural Race for the Cure event gives Y members and other active volunteers a new opportunity to lend “muscle” in support of a worthy cause. For years, a Family Y team of Spinning and cycling enthusiasts has been one of the most successful contributors to SpinOdyssey, an annual fundraiser for breast cancer research co-founded 14 years ago by Y staffer Patty Kondub (shown at right, holding banner with last year’s Family Y team).

SpinOdyssey 2013 takes place on Sunday, May 5, from 9 am to 3 pm at a new venue: In Westport, under tents at the Imperial Avenue parking lot (the site of the Farmer’s Market held on Thursdays). To join the Family Y SpinOdyssey team, contact Y Spin Instructor Judy Samuels at getgoingfitness@hotmail.com. You can sign up for 2, 4, or 6 hours on the bike; volunteers are always welcome, too. Individuals and teams can also register directly at http://www.spinodyssey.org.

The Family Y offers a number of spin classes each week; for the current schedule visit http://www.westporty.org. In co.njunction with Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center and the Smilow Family Breast Health Center, the Y also offers the Cancer Survivor Fitness Program. The 12-week program includes cardiovascular and muscle strength exercises as well as relaxation techniques designed to reduce cancer-therapy side effects. For more information, contact Shelley Moll at 203-226-8981, ext. 198; smoll@westporty.org.

Connecticut has the second highest incidence of breast cancer in the nation, and several Fairfield County towns are among those with the highest rates of breast cancer incidence, mortality and late stage diagnosis.

Statewide, over 3,000 Connecticut women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. That is why the work of Komen Connecticut and events like the Race for the Cure are so vital, and already making a difference in the lives of women in Fairfield County and the rest of the state.

Until cures are found for breast cancer, early detection is the key to survival. For each of the past three years, Komen Connecticut has funded over $1 million in community grants to local organizations providing lifesaving services for women in need across our state.

These grants currently support breast cancer programs in Fairfield County, including: Norwalk Hospital, Bridgeport Hospital, Stamford Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital and CancerCare, among others.

Seventy five percent of Komen Connecticut’s net revenue supports local breast health programs across Connecticut and the remaining twenty five percent is invested in research to find the causes and cures for the disease. Not a penny of the money raised in Connecticut goes to support Komen National administration.

Although the organization invests in Connecticut breast cancer programs, much of its fundraising has historically taken place in the Hartford area.

“The Westport Race for the Cure is an exciting next step for our organization,” said Anne Morris, Executive Director of Komen Connecticut. “We are proud of the statewide impact of our community grants, and are thrilled to have a greater presence in Fairfield County. We need the support of all our local communities to help us continue investing in cutting-edge research and local breast cancer programs for Connecticut women and their families.”

“The Race for the Cure presents us with an opportunity to celebrate survivorship, honor those who have lost their battles, and impact local residents by raising funds to support education, screening and treatment programs right here in our state,” said Morris. “This event is the perfect platform to empower Fairfield County residents to join the local fight against breast cancer.”

For more information and to get involved, visit KomenCT.org, email race@komenct.org or call 860-321-7806.

A Report on the Family Y’s Community Impact

Wednesday, March 20, 2013 by:Family Y
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The Westport Weston Family Y has a tremendous impact on our community, touching lives of all ages. Our current membership of 5,500 individuals represents 15 percent of the towns we serve and 25 percent of our youth. Nearly 40 percent of all local grade-school children are active in Family Y programs and special activities!

Widening smiles, and Horizons, at the Family Y. Each summer the Y hosts kids from GFA's Horizons program for free swim time.

A charitable, nonprofit organization, the Y is committed to offering our programs, facilities and services to all, regardless of their ability to pay. In 2012, the financial assistance we provided to local individuals totaled $321,500 and included:

* $120,000 in direct aid to those in need of child care;
* $83,000 in scholarships for children to attend Camp Mahackeno;
* $79,000 in subsidized or free memberships to neighbors in need.

A Center of Community Life
The Y enriches everybody in our community, whether they use the facility or not, by keeping our children and teens active and involved in socially productive activities. Last year, 130 7th graders enrolled in our 7th Grade Membership Initiative, a new program that gives all local 7th graders free one-year membership to the Y. Hundreds more local 4th-7th graders attended the Y’s Youth Fun Nights, held once a month on Saturdays at the Y.

The Family Y provides space and resources to many community groups, hosting a number of community-wide events that are open to all, including First Night Westport/Weston, Healthy Kids Day and Fall Family Fiesta. In 2012, our Y’s community outreach and in–kind support to nonprofit partners amounted to $164,000. In all, our Family Y gave back $486,000 in total community support in 2012.

The Family Y fulfills a role in our community unlike any other organization. We partner with an unparalleled array of other community groups, connecting people of all ages and backgrounds to bridge the gaps in community needs. The Y is a welcoming place for those whose specific needs are cared for by the many local and national organizations the Y partners with in service to our community.

This year's Soles4Souls used-shoe drive takes place Apr. 1-12.

* For the past 35 years, the Family Y has hosted weekly swim, gym and other activities for individuals with special needs served by Our Vision;
* In collaboration with Norwalk Hospital, our Cancer Survivors Program provides cancer patients with 3-month free memberships and customized programs to support recovery;
* Since our founding in 1923, we’ve taught more than 33,000 local kids and adults how to swim. To further enhance water safety, in 2012 we partnered with Stew Leonard III Children’s Charities and The ZAC Foundation on a variety of special aquatics camps and programs.

The Y is for Social Responsibility
At the Y, giving back and providing support to our neighbors is our cause. In the aftermath of weather emergencies, our Family Y opens its door to all in the community as a warm, welcoming place of refuge. We are proud to serve as a collection location for a number of charitable ventures, from our Holiday Giving Tree and food banks to Prom Dress and Soles4Souls collections.

The Family Y would also like to express its gratitude to our partners, donors, staff and the 258 Y volunteers who together donated 11,277 hours of their time and talent in 2012. Their help allows our Y to continue to fulfill its mission to develop and nurture our youth, promote healthy living for all and foster a sense of social responsibility throughout the communities we have served for the past 90 years.

To add your support to our Family Y’s charitable mission, please click here to make a safe and secure online donation to our annual fundraising effort, the Strong Kids Campaign.

Indoor Tri at the Family Y, Sunday, March 3 — Sign Up Today!

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 by:Family Y
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The treadmill stations in the Family Y’s Fitness Center, which will no doubt get a tough workout on March 3!

The Westport Weston Family Y proudly presents the first annual Mossman Westport Y Indoor Tri on Sunday, March 3. Conducted in partnership with Team Mossman Triathlon Club, the indoor triathlon will consist of a 15-minute lap swim, a 25-minute cycle on a spin bike and a 20-minute run on a treadmill.

The Indoor Tri will take place from 10 am to 1 pm at the Family Y’s facility in downtown Westport. The field is limited to 42 participants (Y membership not required). The entry fee is $45 per individual; $65 per relay team of two or three participants. To register, please go to www.active.com and search “Mossman Westport Y.” Proceeds will benefit the Family Y’s Strong Kids Campaign and Junior Athletes for Maccabi USA. Click here for the direct link.

“Team Mossman has been a part of our Y for years,” said Jay Jaronko, Senior Program Director for the Family Y. “And although they conduct numerous races and training sessions across Connecticut and have done several indoor triathlons in New Jersey, this is the first time they’ve organized an indoor tri in Fairfield County. What better place than the Family Y, with our Stauffer Pool, Cardio Center and Spinning Room? We’re very excited to be able to host these multisport athletes on March 3.”

The swim laps, spin bike and treadmill distances will be aggregated and scored to get the top three male and female triathletes. Unlike an outdoor triathlon, the transition times indoors do not count toward the overall finish time, and participants will have time to get from one stage to the next.

“Team Mossman isn’t just about racing, it’s about enjoying exercising and the camaraderie,” said Robin Myers, Race Director. “We know this inaugural Indoor Tri at the Y will be a lot of fun and we hope it will be the first of many.”

Given the limited field, Myers expects race registration to fill soon, so he encourages early registration and cannot guarantee that race day registration will be available. For details about Team Mossman and the March 3 Indoor Tri, please call 203-610-1817. You can also find out more on Team Mossman’s Facebook  page or by visiting www.TeamMossman.com.

Commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by Volunteering

Monday, January 21, 2013 by:Family Y
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Y Volunteer Perry Moody directing young athletes at the Family Y's 2012 Strong Kids Triathlon.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Volunteering is part of the Y’s DNA. At Ys across the country, more than half a million people donate their time and talents in a variety of capacities. Whether serving on the board of directors or timekeeping at a Water Rat swim meet (and everything in between), the Y relies on volunteers to make an impact in communities.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 21, the Westport Weston Family Y encourages residents of in our community to honor Dr. King’s legacy by not only giving back and supporting our neighbors, but by reflecting on how each of us can further activate the passion for contributing to the community that lasts all year long.

But what does it mean to volunteer? Volunteering means more than giving your time to an organization or cause and then getting back to your life. It is about helping others, contributing to our communities and helping ourselves as well. A recent Gallup poll showed that 9 out of 10 people said they receive an emotional boost from doing kind things for other people. When activated, that kind of emotional boost from contributing to the community goes from something you do to a part of who you are.

Across the country, the Y helps individuals give back and assist their neighbors by offering volunteer opportunities and programs that help strengthen community. Each of our volunteers’ selflessness and willingness to roll up their sleeves to give back helps improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of kids, adults and families. We’re grateful for each and every one of them and we hope you’ll join their ranks, at the Y, your church or other nonprofit service organization.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is the perfect time to get into a volunteer routine, to help others and yourself. To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Westport Weston Family Y, please contact Sally Silverstein at 203-226-8981, ext. 118, or ssilverstein@westporty.org.

A Thanksgiving Update from the Family Y

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 by:Family Y
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From all of us at the Family Y, we wish you and your family the happiest of Thanksgiving holidays. We also offer our most sincere thanks for your continued patience and understanding. Despite our current travails — or maybe because of them — we count our blessings and treasure all that we have, and what we hope to soon regain.

We are continuing to put the pieces of the intricate puzzle that is our Family Y back in place. If all goes well, we are hopeful that we will be able to safely resume limited operations sometime next week.

When we are able to give you an exact date of our re-opening, and the services we will be able to provide at that time, we will let you know as soon as possible via email, on westporty.org and other media.

Craig Pietrowicz, an employee of Northeast Generator in Bridgeport, looks at the damaged gym floor. Photo courtesy of Connecticut Post.

We are truly sorry for the disruption and inconvenience our temporary closure has caused our members and the community. As you may have read on the front page of the Connecticut Post this weekend, our Family Y is just one of the buildings in downtown Westport that remain closed due to damage caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Status of Repairs

Progress continues, though not without hurdles — most of them due to the age of our facility and of the antiquated systems that run it.

A second external generator is now online and supplying power to more of our facility, allowing the workers to proceed with the difficult task of repairing, reinstalling and then testing critical parts. However, this temporary hookup necessitated additional repairs: the electrical feed from the panel to our hot-water system needed to be completely rewired.

Pat Costanzo, our senior director of Property and Facilities Management, continues to orchestrate the various teams at work throughout the building. Among the specific tasks at hand:
  • The replacement parts for the boiler that heats the Bedford Building have been installed. We expect to fire it up today (Tuesday) and check it for operational safety.
  • The new heater for the Stauffer Pool will be installed this week. Once it’s operational, we will be able to proceed with the days-long task of bringing the now-chilled water back up to a tolerable temperature.
  • A phalanx of blowers, fans and heaters continue to dry the Child Care Center, which was inundated by water. When that task is complete, we will begin rebuilding that space. (For a more detailed update about our Child Care Center, including an account of the various offers of support to help rebuild it, please click here.)
  • Repairs to the sprinkler and fire-alarm systems are ongoing and once they are completed and heat and hot water are restored, we will be able to bring the inspectors in to re-certify the facility for use by our Members, staff and community.
Classes & Programs

As we strive to resume operations, we encourage Y Members to continue utilizing other area YMCAs through the “Always Welcome at the Y” AWAY reciprocal program.

Also, please check our home page for the current list of classes & programs taking place at alternate sites.

Membership Credit Options

Allow us to repeat the following important membership information from our previous update:

Here is a pdf of a notice we are mailing to all Family Y Members that outlines credit options covering the period from our closure on Oct. 29 through our re-opening. Please let us know if you would like to make any of the choices offered by following the instructions provided in the letter.

If you have a specific question or would like to volunteer your support, please contact Rob Reeves directly, via rreeves@westporty.org or 203-226-8981, ext. 131. Note: Family Y email will not be available Tuesday evening through Wed., 9 am. We need to take the servers down as part of the electrical panel testing.

To view a brief video about our efforts to “Re-Build What Matters,” please click on the image below.

Support the Y

To support our Family Y’s efforts to rebuild as well as to continue to help us provide financial assistance so that local families in need have access to our programs and services, please click here to access our online donation form, or contact Paul Bernetsky, Chief Development Officer, at 203-226-8981, ext. 115 or pbernetsky@westporty.org. (Use the Comment box to give us specific information about processing your gift. We thank you.)

More information about our Family Y, including photos, may be found at www.westporty.org as well as the Y’s Facebook page

Important Update About the Family Y’s Recovery Efforts

Wednesday, November 14, 2012 by:Family Y
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Some repairs to our flood-damaged facility will take longer to complete, but the Family Y hopes to resume partial operations in the coming week.

We thank our members and the community for continued patience and understanding as the Westport Weston Family Y proceeds with the complex task of making the necessary repairs to our facility in order to re-open as soon as we possibly can.

As you will see from the following progress report, resuming operations even on a limited basis requires many things to be accomplished in sequence and without further complications.

If all goes well with this process, we hope to re-open our locker rooms, fitness center, upper gym and group-fitness studio the week of Nov. 19. We will announce a specific date for our re-opening as soon as that decision can be made and will provide further details regarding access to the building and the scope of the services we will be able to provide at that time.

In the meantime, Family Y staffers have arranged for some of our classes and programs to take place at alternate sites around our community. Here’s the current schedule for those Family Y activities.

We also encourage Y Members to continue utilizing other area YMCAs through the “Always Home at the Y” AWAY reciprocal program.

Membership Credit Options

We realize that these temporary measures are not convenient for every member nor do they adequately address the terms of your Membership with the Family Y. Therefore, we want to offer credit during this difficult time.

Here is a pdf of a notice we are mailing to all Family Y Members that outlines credit options. Please let us know if you would like to make any of the choices offered by following the instructions provided in the letter.

Status of Repairs

The types of major repairs required to our aged infrastructure do not happen quickly, but we continue to make positive progress each day. Here are some specifics:

Power, Heat and Safety Systems

- The new burner and replacement parts for the boiler that provides heat to the Bedford Building have been delivered. Installation will begin on Thursday and will take about 3 days to complete before we can fire up the boiler and test it for safety.

- The boiler that supplies heat to the Firehouse, which houses our Fitness Center, will be repaired once parts arrive as expected on Friday.

- The internal components for the main electric switch gear located in the Bedford basement will arrive on Thursday and will take 3-4 days to be installed.

- The secondary power supply, located in the sub-level of the Weeks Pavilion, has been rebuilt. Once the repairs are complete, a second external generator will “back feed” that panel to supply power to rest of the facility. We expect that to take place on Thursday, if all goes well.

- At that time, likely by Friday, we can get the smoke detection contractor to begin the necessary repairs to this system.

- On Monday, we expect to have our sprinkler system repaired.

- Only then can we ask the fire marshal and building inspector to clear us to allow members back into the facility.

Our beloved Brophy Pool, built in 1929, awaits water, and a whole lotta heat, to bring it back to its customary 90-degree temperature.

Pools

- The Stauffer Pool circulator motor has been removed and is being rebuilt. We hope it will be back to us on Monday to be re-installed.

- We expect the new pool heater for the Stauffer Pool to arrive by Friday.

- After the Stauffer pool heater is back in service it will take a few days to raise the temperature to an acceptable level.

- The Brophy pool is heated by the main boiler, so once that is operational we’ll be able to refill, filter and heat it.

- Bottom line: If all goes well, our pools will be ready for swimmers after the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Again, we will provide you with specific dates for the re-opening of each pool as soon as they are established.

Remediation

- We are getting bids to restore the floor of the lower gym and will undertake those repairs as soon as possible. The upper gym was not affected.

- Portions of the walls and flooring of our Child Care Center that were damaged by the flood water have been removed. Once that area is completely dry and disinfected to prevent mold we will begin to rebuild that space. Most of the electrical panels have already been replaced.

Child Care

Our Family Y is the area’s largest provider of child care services, and we fully realize how hard our temporary closure has been for our Y families with young children who need care, and maybe more importantly, need a semblance of normalcy and order back in their lives.

It is impossible for us to give a firm date of when we’ll be able to restart our Child Care services at the Family Y. If everything falls into place, it’s likely that the earliest date would be the week of Nov. 26.

At that time, please be aware that Y Members will not be allowed to enter the facility through the Bedford Building. All Y Members will have to enter the Y through the doors on Church Lane or the Baldwin Parking lot. The Bedford Building entrance, and restrooms across from the Bedford Room, will be restricted to use by Child Care students.

Dance Center

Lillian Cenatiempo, Dance Center director, has been in contact with participants and reports that upon re-opening our dance classes will take place in the upstairs studio and the squash/racquet ball courts.

“I have taught classes in the courts before and they are very similar to the studio space; the only thing they are missing are mirrors,” she says. Because of this venue change for some classes, she asks that dancers check in at the Membership Services Desk 5 minutes before their class time so that their instructor can take the students up to the squash/racquet ball area should that be where their class is.

A Special Note of Gratitude
Please join in expressing our profound appreciation for the tireless and expert work being done by Pat Costanzo, senior director of facilities management, his staff and small army of contractors toiling to get our Family Y back up and running.

If you have a specific question or would like to volunteer your support, please contact Rob Reeves directly, via rreeves@westporty.org or 203-226-8981, ext. 131.

To support our Family Y with a financial contribution, please click here to access our online donation form, or contact Paul Bernetsky, Chief Development Officer, at 203-226-8981, ext. 115 or pbernetsky@westporty.org. (Use the Comment box to give us specific information about processing your gift. We thank you.)

More information about our Family Y, including photos, may be found at www.westporty.org as well as the Y’s Facebook page.

Below are two photo galleries. The first is of various Family Y programs taking place at alternate sites during our temporary closure. The second gallery is of photos of our repair efforts.

Re-Building What Matters: Family Y Update, Nov. 6

Tuesday, November 6, 2012 by:Family Y
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Family Y staff gathered on Tuesday in the darkened Stauffer Pool area to discuss efforts to resume operations as soon as possible.

“The good part? Realizing how important our Y is to peoples’ lives when it’s not around,” said Membership Coordinator Midge Deverin on Wednesday at a gathering of Westport Weston Family Y staff on the bleachers of the darkened Stauffer Pool.

Midge was relating her heartwarming encounters with Y Members and friends during a recent trip to the local Stop ‘n’ Shop, who stopped her in the aisles to inquire about her own family’s welfare (all fine) and to ask about our Family Y’s status and efforts to resume operations.

It was the first all-staff meeting since the facility was heavily damaged and temporarily closed by Superstorm Sandy on Monday, Oct. 29.

What follows is an update about our recovery efforts as of Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 6:

Bottom line: The Family Y is likely to remain closed through next week as we strive to restore power, heat and other essential services (such as fire-safety measures) to the facility.

In the meantime, Y Members are encouraged to avail themselves of the reciprocal privileges that allow them to use other local YMCAs.

Family Y staffers are also trying their best to arrange temporary alternative sites for certain classes and programs, as feasible.

For example, Sally Silverstein, who heads up our Sports & Recreation program, has scheduled practice time at the Norwalk YMCA, starting Tuesday afternoon, for some of our Y’s gymnastics students, who are busily training for upcoming competitions and performances.

Ellen Johnston, head coach of the 200-member Water Rat Swim Team, has used the Wilton Family YMCA and Staples High School for practice sessions. She’s also been able to shift this weekend’s home swim meet to Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.

Their Y colleagues are in the process of trying to arrange temporary use by Y Members of local facilities for swim lessons, aqua fitness classes, volleyball, yoga and other Y classes. We will strive to keep Y Members and especially participants of these programs informed of these developments and their schedules as soon as possible.

The Family Y’s Kinderkids program has joined with our After School program for older students at Long Lots elementary school, with that program resuming on Wednesday.

Significant progress has been made in cleaning out the Child Care Center, submerged under feet of water.

Tasha Dennison, senior director of Child Care and School Age programs, continues to work with state authorities to secure a temporary license for hosting our other Child Care programs at the Y once heat and other services are restored and while our Child Care Center, located in the lower level of the Bedford Building, is remediated, rebuilt and restocked.

We’ve detailed the damage done, as well as the complicated task of making repairs to antiquated, “grandfathered” mechanical and electrical systems damaged by the tidal surge that flooded the sub-levels of our circa 1923 Bedford Building, the equally vintage Firehouse that now serves as our two-level Fitness Center, as well as our Weeks Pavilion Aquatics Center, added to the Y in the 1970s.

Pat Costanzo, our super “super,” sounded an optimistic note at Wednesday’s meeting when he cited tentative plans to install a second temporary external generator that would supply power to the Weeks Pavilion, which also houses our Gymnastics Center and racquet courts.

“Our schedule could change for the better, allowing members to utilize parts of our building, such as the fitness center, sooner,” said Pat, our Senior Director of Facilities Management, on Wednesday.

“My goal is to give you back your building,” he added to the 30 or so program directors, teachers and instructors, warmed only slightly by the ambient heat of the Stauffer Pool’s water. “Your jobs will be to make our classes fit with what we’ll have, at least to start off with.”

Many of our Y’s instructors have taught at the Y for years, even decades, and for them, it’s less a job than a calling. Ruth Sherman, who has taught aqua fitness classes at the Y for more than 40 years, spoke of how she has phoned many of her students, some in their 90s, to check in on them and to let them know of the Y’s status.

Other Y staffers are engaged in similar efforts to reach out to Y Members personally, particularly our seniors who may not have access to updates on our website and emails.

Our Family Y’s roots run deep and remain strong.

“This is not a speed bump; it’s a speed mountain,” said Family Y CEO Rob Reeves on Wednesday. “We hope our Members will hang with us, but we will honor requests by members who want to or need to freeze or cancel their memberships.”

“But know this,” Reeves added. “We’re not looking for a way to ‘get out’ of our old building at this critical point. We are intent on continuing our mission of service to our Members and community as soon as humanly possible.”

We also promise to keep you up to date about the latest developments in our recovery effort and how these efforts may impact the timing and scope of our reopening.

If you have a specific question or would like to volunteer your support, please contact Rob Reeves directly, via rreeves@westporty.org or 203-226-8981, ext. 131.

To support our Family Y with a financial contribution, please click here to access our online donation form, or contact Paul Bernetsky, Chief Development Officer, at 203-226-8981, ext. 115 or pbernetsky@westporty.org. (Use the Comment box to give us specific information about processing your gift. We thank you.)

More information about our Family Y, including additional photos, may be found at www.westporty.org as well as the Y’s Facebook page.

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