It was a weekend of celebrating for the Cook County Community YMCA as the new facility opened its doors. A ribbon cutting ceremony was part of the event. Taking the ceremonial cut in the newly refurbished gymnasium were (L-R) YMCA Resource Director Mark Hennessy, Duluth Area Family YMCA CEO/President Chris Francis, Cook County Commissioners Bruce Martinson and Heidi Doo-Kirk, Duluth YMCA Association Board Chair Brianna Johnson, YMCA Board Member Myron Bursheim, Grand Marais City Councilor Tim Kennedy, School District 166 Superintendent Beth Schwarz, Cook County Community YMCA Executive Director Emily Marshall, County Commissioner Sue Hakes. See more of the YMCA celebration on page A9.
Frigid temperatures and slippery roads didn’t deter several hundred people who attended the Cook County Community YMCA charter member celebration on Friday, January 3 and grand opening Saturday, January 4, 2014.
Once the doors were open it took only a few minutes for the sparkling new facility to fill with excited new members and onlookers as young and old gathered to look at (and in some cases) use the facility’s gym, trying archery, open basketball, family gymnastics and Gaga Ball; the weight room, swimming pool, game room, party room or exercise studio.
At both events, a few people took a tour, ate some cake, signed up for a membership and left.
But many others stayed for a fruit juice toast on charter night and the grand opening ribbon cutting on Saturday in the newly refurbished gymnasium. Following the celebratory speeches, excited new members put on workout clothes to work off some of that cake. There was Zumba with Chris, Yoga with Amanda, Spin with Jay and Cardio Pilates with Colette, all examples of the fitness classes the Y has to offer.
The Cook County Community YMCA was a very busy place on Charter Member Night on Friday, January 3, 2014. Despite a major blizzard there was a great turnout. Left: Kids had a great time on the gymnastic equipment in the refurbished gymnasium. There were also hula-hoops, giant bouncing balls, and the interesting new Gaga Ball to entertain. Lower left: The Yeary family of Grand Marais enjoyed the pool with its zero entry and bench to help little ones feel comfortable in the water. Below: YMCA supporters Helen Carter (left) and Bob Carter join Executive Director Emily Marshall during the sparkling apple juice toast for charter members.
To get the building ready for the big event, throngs of local and Duluth area YMCA members and staff worked round the clock, said Emily Marshall, Cook County Branch Executive Director.
Duluth Area Family YMCA CEO/ President Chris Francis was one of nine speakers at the ribbon cutting and he said that when he was first contacted about the possibilityofstartingaYinCookCountyhe knew that based on the county’s population the Y would need some financial help to open. When the city and the county each gave long-term commitments to assist in financing, Francis said they moved forward with a study to see if the interest and need was here.
After the study was conducted and it was decided to move forward, Francis said, “We projected that 110 units would be sold the first year. Secretly, I hoped 200 units would be sold,” he said, adding with a big smile, “But as of today, more than 400 [419] units have been sold representing 829 members.”
Cook County District 3 Commissioner Sue Hakes was one of the main drivers behind establishing a YMCA in Cook County and she led off the speakers.
“This facility is the result of a unique and amazing partnership between the public, Cook County, City of Grand Marais, ISD 166 and the Duluth YMCA,” said Hakes.
Sadly, said Hakes, fellow Cook County Commissioner Jim Johnson, who died last January 21 of cancer and who was a big backer of establishing the Y, wouldn’t be able to cannonball into the swimming pool with her on this opener as they had planned to do.
Cook County Branch Director Marshall spoke and she talked about her move to Grand Marais last summer during Fisherman’s Picnic. Marshall set up a Gaga Ball game for kids downtown during the four-day festival and it was during one game she said that she learned about the values of the children in the area when they allowed a 4-year-old with Down Syndrome to win.
“I knew I wanted to be part of this community at that time,” said Marshall.
Mark Hennessy, a resource director for YMCA of the USA division, congratulated the county on becoming the newest member of 2,663 already established YMCAs in the country. Hennessy began his long Y career as a camp counselor at Camp Menogyn on the Gunflint Trail in the early 1980s. Young at heart, Hennessy, who with his wife owns a cabin in Lutsen, still possesses the same smile, energy and enthusiasm today as he did in his days at Menogyn.
Several days after the charter night and grand opening, after getting a chance to catch her breath, Director Marshall talked a little bit about her new position and what she hopes for the community.
“I believe in the mission of the Y and have seen first handtheimpactaYcan have on an individual and a family.
“The most exciting thing about accepting this position and moving to Cook County was knowing that I get to bring programs and experiences to people that have not yet had the opportunity to be involved with an organization like the Y. I am thrilled that I get to share it with almost one out of five citizens of Cook County and we have only just begun!
“As I do walk-throughs around the building there are obvious things that need to still get done (locker room drainage, benches, coat hooks, etc.) but everywhere you look people are being active, laughing and smiling, spending family time, overcoming obstacles, building relationships, and gaining new skills.
“I am proud to be thedirectorofaYina community where the people seem to value youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility as much as the Y does,” said Marshall.
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