MURAL, MURAL ON THE WALL

If you're having the kind of day that would be improved by giving your eyes a bath of blazing color, head up to the third floor of the Y.

It's here that Minnesota State Mankato graphic design student Holly Theobald spent a few weeks transforming nearly 1,700 square feet of bland wall space into a brilliant, swirling gathering of upbeat images. What was once office-building neutral is now a brilliant marriage of Dr. Suess and Peter Max.  

The project was given to Theobald based on the Y's appreciation of her mural work at the Chesley Skate Park. Executive Director John Kind was so impressed with the skate park mural he invited Theobald to have at the upper level of the Y, which is where the After School Adventures classroom is located.

"I didn't give Holly any technical direction beyond our core values and our areas of focus here at the Y," Kind said. "How she approached that theme was entirely up to her. It's safe to say we were blown away."    

An opening reception for Theobald will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 11 at the Y.  

From swim lessons to state record-breakers. That's the story behind the February 13 state YMCA swim meet at the University of Minnesota, where the Mankato Marlins -- the YMCA's swim team -- placed sixth out of 17 teams while breaking some records in the process.

The 9-and-10 boys' relay team (pictured above) of Henry Simpson, Nick Bjork, Aaron Younge and Carter Thate passed the previously held record in the 400 freestyle relay. The four scored a time of 5:10.83, outdoing the  record set in 2009 of 5:29.00.  

The 8 and under girls team won for scoring the most points as an age group. They are Eve Anderson, Abby Vienzor, Indya Campbell, Annika Younge, Teegan Jass, Sarah Patenaude, Mia Williams, Kaitlyn Sizer and Emily Buch.

"It is very inspiring to see swimmers come as far as they have in the past several years," said swim team head coach Kristen Munden"Watching them work so hard at practice and seeing it pay off in a meet is very rewarding."

YMCA Summer camp registration opens in March 

 

For more information, contact Karri Olmanson at 507-345-9806. 

GREEN MEASURES GROWING AT THE Y  

Even after the St. Patrick's Day celebrations come and go, the Y will remain green.

Property manager Bob Dickhudt is heading the effort here to usher the building into a higher level of eco-friendly.

Dickhudt and crew have installed motion sensors for the lights in the racquetball courts and bathroom. New towel dispensers installed are also motion-activated and use more environmentally friendly paper. Up next: replacing the Styrofoam coffee cups in the lobby with biodegradable paper cups.

Making the switch to paper cups comes at a higher cost, Dickhudt said, but coffee drinkers can help by bringing their own mugs or pitching in some spare change when they use a paper cup. A donation box will be set up near the coffee urns.

"The coffee's still free," Dickhudt said. "We're just asking that if people want to drink coffee and use the paper cups that they toss in some spare change once in a while if they have it. It'll go right back into the cup fund."

In literally greener areas, the Y will be using organic fertilizers and pesticides; pools will be switching to a more environmentally friendly system to maintain pH balance; and the recycling program throughout the building will be improved, Dickhudt said.