NEWS & UPDATES
HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA

Posted on: Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

Race for a Cause in the 10th Annual Hockomock Area YMCA Triathlon – July 24

THE 10th ANNUAL HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA TRIATHLON

SUNDAY
JULY 24, 2016

8:00 a.m. START TIME

Lake Pearl Luciano’s
299 Creek Street, Wrentham, MA 0209

REGISTER NOW

This friendly sprint triathlon returns for its tenth year! The race is welcoming to beginners, youth/junior triathletes and paratriathletes. All proceeds benefit the Reach Out for Youth and Families Campaign. The Y is proud to be the first paratriathlete-friendly race in New England beginning in 2013 and continuing to this day.

Fast Facts

1/4 mile SWIM, 9 mile BIKE, 3.1 mile RUN.

Swim is in a calm lake, with an in-water wave start.
Bike and run provide moderate hills through Franklin, Norfolk, and Wrentham.
Centrally located and easily accessed grass transition area.
Free tech tee and finisher medals. Top 3 finishers in each category will also be recognized with place medals.
Club competition with trophy to first place team. Club members are also eligible for individual medals.

CATEGORIES/AGE GROUPS

Youth: 10-14 (with the permission of the Race Director)
Junior: 14-19
Age Groups (Male & Female, 20 years+)
Clydesdale (Male 200+ lbs)
Athena (Female 165+)
Paratriathletes
Relay Teams (Male, Female, Mixed): 2 or 3 person teams allowed

Posted on: Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

Ready for Summer Camp?

MEET ME AT THE Y
FOR THE BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Summer Camp is here! We have finalized our plans and are well prepared so that every kid will enjoy camp. Parents can help their campers by doing a little planning too. Here’s some guidance about what we suggest kids bring to camp (and what they leave at home).

PLEASE label all items – including lunch

Suggested Items for All Camps

When preparing for a camp day, it’s helpful to remember how active kids are at camp. They need to be comfortable and to have a few food options:

Comfortable Clothes to move and play in. Campers will get messy so consider bringing a change of clothing
Swimsuit & Towel – if you are participating in a camp that has swim time
Closed Toe Shoes (No Sandals or Flip Flops Please)
Water Shoes – if your camper does not want wet sneakers (Toes need to be covered)
Sweatshirt or Light Jacket for cool or damp days
Lunch, Snacks, & Drinks.
Please be sure to provide choices that are healthy, fulfilling, and non-perishable (there is no refrigeration at camp). Children will eat and drink more than usual because they are so active throughout the day. Half-Day campers will need snacks and drinks only.
Water Bottles with Water (no glass please)
Sunscreen and Bug Repellent.
A Bag to carry your belongings and a plastic bag for wet clothes

Suggested Items for Rainy Days

On bad-weather days, it’s a good idea to send a little extra to camp. It helps keep them comfortable if we get stuck out in the weather:

Raincoat or Poncho
Umbrella
Extra shoes/socks
Changes of clothes (including underwear)

What NOT to bring to Camp

PLEASE leave valuable personal items at home.

Campers should not bring or wear any valuable, personal articles such as expensive footwear, watches, jewelry, phones, personal music devices, electronic games, trading cards, key chains, toys, etc. Children are not permitted to use these items at camp. Do not bring sporting equipment unless it is approved by the camp counselors and/or to be used at a specialty sports camp. The Hockomock Area YMCA is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Thanks for partnering with us to give your child the Best Summer Ever! We look forward to sharing amazing new adventures with you and your children this summer.

Posted on: Monday, July 11th, 2016

Martha is Awesome

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Martha does her work with delight. She smiles often.

Posted on: Wednesday, June 29th, 2016

Run for a Cause in the Foxboro 5K Fun Run on October 9

THE FOXBORO 5K Run • Walk

SUNDAY
OCTOBER 9, 2016

9:15 a.m. Kids Fun Run (1 Mile)
10:00 a.m. Race Begins

Invensys Foxboro YMCA
67 Mechanic St. Foxboro, MA

REGISTER TO RUN

Our Kids fun run kicks off a great community event, which includes our 5K Run/Walk, family activities and a DJ. All proceeds support the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Reach Out for Youth and Families Campaign – the primary vehicle in subsidizing the cost of after school and physician intervention programs for children.

We’ll run in memory of Michael Baker, Linda Cavossa and Jackie Thomas.

EVENT DETAILS

8:30am – Walk-In Registration & Pre-Reg. Bib Pick-up
9:15am – Kids Fun Run (1 mile ) Ages 4 and up
10:00am – Race Begins
10:00am-12:00pm – Family Activities and D.J.

Register before August 9th to receive a T-shirt. All Kids Fun Run participants will receive a cotton T-shirt. Runner’s bag, medal and bib will go to all runners in this official timed race (ages 4+).

Posted on: Thursday, June 9th, 2016

Welcome to our New Website

Because your membership at the Hockomock Area YMCA is important to us and we strive to invest in your experience with us, we hope you will enjoy our new website!

A little bit of background

Because our YMCA is so active — from strengthening community, organizing community events & initiatives, and leading swim lessons, camp, yoga & so much more — there is a lot of information to organize. Our strategy is to place community collaborations and mission focus on our main page and create NEW branch-centric pages.

Branch sites have been added

We are privileged to serve nearly 30,000 members in 15 communities. However, we understand you most likely want to know about events and schedules at your local YMCA. With the new website, each branch has its own section of the website. Our Four Branch locations are easily identified at the top navigation area (look for LOCATIONS ), taking you to a dynamic home page with the most up-to-date, relevant information for that branch community.

What you will find at your branch page is exciting! Our intent is to improve members’ daily experience through the addition of:

digital schedules
blog-style presentation of what’s newsworthy at your local YMCA
comprehensive program pages detailing what’s offered year round
a vibrant and welcoming experience
online contact forms
areas set aside for sharing philanthropic impact and how to get involved

Schedules to help you plan your everyday visits

By moving to digital schedules for our categories (Group Exercise, Pool, Gym, Friends & Family) we are pleased to be able to share the most up to date calendar of what’s happening both in and outside of our Y. The icons located mid-page will bring you to a day by day calendar to help you better plan your YMCA visit. There is also a calendar icon at the top to show weekly views of the calendars. Additional facility hours and our holiday hours are also available here.

How to find Programs and Activities?

You can use the shopping cart icon () at the top menu to quickly get into online Registration, where you can view and sign up for active programs. However, you can also browse under PROGRAMS in the top menu, where you will find links to all programs and activities, even if they only run at certain times of the year or if they do not require registration. They are organized under our Y’s area of focus: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, HEALTHY LIVING, and SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Since we offer so many Free Member Benefit Programs and Drop-in activities, we wanted to make information about them more accessible on the website. Please browse around under PROGRAMS to find them.

Contacting Us Online

CONTACT US

You will see we have contact forms on many pages of our new website to help better communicate with you and provide the answers you need. We look forward to hearing from you.

Go ahead, click around.

We appreciate your feedback on the new website and hope you will let us know if there is any way we can help you. We hope your experience with our new website will be one that helps you take advantage of a community that encourages fun, friendships and endless possibilities!

Posted on: Tuesday, June 7th, 2016

Run, Walk, Roll for Charity in our Franklin 5K on June 26, 2016

NO CHILD SITS ON THE SIDELINES.

THE 12th ANNUAL FRANKLIN 5K
RUN ∙ WALK ∙ ROLL

SUNDAY
JUNE 26, 2016

9:00 a.m. REGISTRATION
10:00 a.m. RUN · WALK · ROLL

Remington Jefferson School
628 Washington Street Franklin, MA

Cost: $25 until June 10 | After June 10 registration is $30

REGISTER TO RUN

All proceeds benefit the Hockomock Area YMCA Reach Out for Youth and Families financial assistance program and the YMCA’s Integration Initiative, a program serving children with special needs.

The YMCA is pleased to announce the return of the Franklin 5K walk/run family event, which will be held on Sunday, June 26. Now in its twelfth year, this fun community event supports programs for children with disabilities at the Y.

The race will take place at Remington Jefferson School and the scenic surrounding neighborhood at 628 Washington Street in Franklin. Free activities for families will take place from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

The race, formerly called Run for Bob, was started by Kris and Kayla Biagiotti in memory of Kayla’s dad Bob Biagiotti and his belief that no child should be left on the sidelines. Kris continues her advocacy through this event. Inspired by Team Hoyt, Kris and Kayla (The K Girls) achieved the incredible accomplishment of being the first mother/daughter team to finish the Boston Marathon in 2013. But it was not easy. Kris and Kayla were 50 yards from the finish line when the first bomb went off, and instead of raising their hands in victory, they were forced to shield themselves from flying shrapnel. A month later, they got to cross the finish line and receive their medals at The Franklin 5K. The race has raised more than $80,000 over the past several years to benefit children with special needs.

“The Hockomock Area YMCA is to be commended for creating such a wonderful program for the youth in the communities it serves,” said Dick Hoyt upon receipt of the Legends Award in 2012 at the Y’s Legends Ball, the annual gala at the Hockomock Area YMCA raising funds for the Integration Initiative. The initiative was born 12 years ago at the Hockmomock Y out of an emerging need in our community to provide inclusive programs for children with special needs and their typically developing peers.

Register today at hockymca.org. Cost is $25, but will increase to $30 after June 10. Medals will be awarded to the top 3 men’s and women’s finishers from several age categories and all participants will receive a finisher medal. On the day of the event, walk-in registration will be offered starting at 9:00am. Pre-event bib pickup will be offered. The 5K will start at 10:00am.

Free family activities include: Kids Fun Run, inflatable obstacle course, refreshments, games, DJ entertainment, and more.

Thank you to event sponsors, who make the Franklin 5K possible: Ashworth Awards, Bay State Physical Therapy, Design Elements for Business, and the Rodman Ride for Kids.

Posted on: Sunday, June 5th, 2016

Time for a Staycation? Our Splash Park is Now Open at the Franklin Y

Just in time for summer! We are pleased to announce the brand new Rockland Trust Family Splash Park, dedicated on June 16, 2016 at our Bernon Family Branch.

This expansive water feature, adjacent to our existing outdoor pool, will provide families with lifetime memories and opportunities for quality time together. An exciting new addition, the Splash Park will provide entertainment for the entire family while adding to the value of summer camps, child care and after school programs.

Come check out The Rockland Trust Family Splash Park — an ideal spot for parents with both younger and older children, as the younger ones will be able to use the park while the older ones use the pool.

If you’re not a member of the Y, be sure to inquire about a guest pass at the front desk (photo ID required).

Posted on: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Rediscover Summer

NOT A MEMBER YET?

This summer, you and your loved ones can enjoy the perks of a Y membership. Take advantage of indoor and outdoor pools, state of the art wellness facilities, friendly and helpful staff, and more! From June 8th through September 5th, families and individuals can utilize the amenities available to our members, including free events and child watch.

JUST IN TIME
FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS

Summer Program Session: June 27 – August 28

We offer a wide range of summer programs to keep kids active and learning all summer long.

Register at this link today!

All kids have amazing potential and we are happy to be a place where youth belong, a welcoming place to learn and grow.

We’re proud to help kids build confidence and discover the world around them – from the youngest in our child care programs and mini-camps, to youth learning to be team players and developing life-long friendships, to teens in our leadership development initiatives.

Take a look at some of the fun we have in store this summer. We look forward to seeing you!

For summer session only, when you enroll you will automatically get a 9-week session at a 7-week rate. Discount reflected online and in branch.

Posted on: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Healthy Kids Day Wowed Everyone

The Hockomock Area YMCA really is WHERE FAMILIES CONNECT.

What a fun day we had on May 14 at Healthy Kids Day. Our annual event promoting healthy lifestyles, Healthy Kids Day was a great day for fit family fun. Read about our most successful Healthy Kids Day yet, held at Patriot Place with additional sponsors Stop & Shop and Norwood Hospital.

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, the Hockomock Area YMCA celebrated Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encouraged kids to be active and provided families with options and methods for living healthier lives. More than 500 families participated. The event was held at Patriot Place in Foxboro at NRG Plaza, located outside The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon. Community partners helped make the event a success include Healthy Kids Day event sponsors Norwood Hospital, Patriot Place and Stop & Shop.

Read the news coverage by the Sun Chronicle

Posted on: Tuesday, May 31st, 2016

Celebrating Community Impact

On May 18th, we showcased our Y as a place Where Community Comes Together as we gathered at Lake Pearl in Wrentham to celebrate our annual meeting. Each year at the annual meeting, our Board of Incorporators elects new and renewing members of our Board of Directors and our Y recognizes and honors community partners and our branch Youth of the Year recipients.

This year our YMCA welcomes Bruce Auerbach, Bill Chouinard, Mary Clermont and Paul Guidoboni as new members of our Board of Directors. Re-elected to new terms were Jay Barrows, Blair Deeney, Danielle Fish, John Hage, Greg Spier, Ed Whalen and Maureen Wilkinson.

New members elected to our Board of Incorporators included Scott Berns, Jim Cashin, Kevin Cryan, Phil Dixon, Artie Eaton, Mike Gallagher, Ted Kelley, Tim Kenneally, Marie Leary, Jeff Mann, Cheryl McGuire, Candace Sallale and Alex Vasile.

The Hockomock Area YMCA enjoys a long history of outstanding volunteer leaders and we welcome all of our new Directors and Incorporators to our YMCA family.

Brian Earley, Chairman of the Board of Directors, presented the Chairman’s Award to the Robbins Family of Franklin. From the Lee W. Robbins Gymnasium dedicated at our Bernon Family Branch in 2004 to the new Robbins Family Kid’s Gym christened in January of this year, Terry Robbins and her sons, Jason and Robbie, remain passionate friends and supporters of the Hockomock Area YMCA.

Our Red Triangle Awards recognize individuals and organizations for their partnership and support of the programs and activities of our Y, helping all of us meet the changing needs of our community.

We proudly presented Red Triangle Awards to three recipients who collaborated with our YMCA on initiatives important to them and the community. This year’s Red Triangle Awardees were:

  • State Representative Jeff Roy of Franklin for his commitment to building healthier communities and leadership in creating the S.A.F.E. Coalition in Franklin addressing the opioid crisis in Massachusetts.
  • The Van De Giesen family of North Attleboro for their continued commitment to Kyle’s legacy and the expansion and evolution of the Kyle R. Van De Giesen Outdoor Leadership Center at our North Attleboro Branch.
  • The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office for their launch of TEAM RIVAL, a high school challenge program centered around good decision making, mentoring and bullying prevention and for their work focused on crime and violence prevention in our community.

Each year our YMCA is proud to recognize the achievement of young people in our Leadership Development programs by honoring a youth of the year from each branch. This year’s awards were presented to Lindsay Robinson of our North Attleboro Branch, Samantha Bellavance of our Bernon Family Branch and Lindsey DeRusha representing our Invensys Foxboro Branch.

For the past 13 years, Dean College has presented a full scholarship to a young man or woman connected to our YMCA. Andrew Rizoli, a member of our Y since the age of 2, and an active participant in our Youth Theatre program was honored as the 2016 Dean Scholarship Award recipient.

Dean College President Dr. Paula Rooney was honored for her 20 years of visionary leadership at the college and for her longstanding partnership with our Y.

Please click on this link to see our Annual Report, highlighting our award recipients.

I hope you will take a moment to read our 2015 Annual Report to learn more about the people and programs that make the Hockomock Area YMCA a cause driven organization Where Community Comes Together.

As we honor those who have served our country, my best wishes to you and your family this Memorial Day Weekend.

Ed Hurley
President, Hockomock Area YMCA

HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760
 508.695.7001

MEMBERSHIP
COMMUNITY
CAUSE
CAREERS

HOCKOMOCK AREA YMCA LOCATIONS

BERNON FAMILY BRANCH

45 Forge Hill Road
Franklin, MA 02038

 508.528.8708

INVENSYS FOXBORO BRANCH

67 Mechanic Street
Foxboro, MA 02035

 508.543.2523

NORTH ATTLEBORO BRANCH

300 Elmwood Street
North Attleboro, MA 02760

 508.695.7001

MANSFIELD ARTS & EDUCATION CENTER

40 Balcom Street
Mansfield, MA 02048

 508.339.3066