Scene at the Parade

Weeks of planning, designing and fluffing a ton of tissue paper paid off in us having the flashiest parade float around in July.

With the Village People anthem "YMCA" blasting away from the pickup bed, the float blazed an energetic trail through parade routes in North Mankato Fun Days and Tator Days in Eagle Lake.

The float was accompanied by more than a dozen youth decked out in Y T-shirts plus skateboarders doing tricks along the route. We had board president Edie Leasman, staff and family members  passing out bracelets and T-shirts and encouraging bystanders to do the YMCA dance. By the looks of things along both routes, the dance is well-known. 

The Y thanks those who designed and built the float -- Liz Hageman, Bob Dickhudt, Jim Weart, Brad Barvels -- as well as the many staff who worked on assembly. Hats off also to Mike Schmitt at Fine Impressions for the paper, Jerry Pietz for the building and storage, Snell Motors for the pickup truck, Wilson Trailer/Pier Pleasure for the trailer and Fish Frye for the sound system.

One more time: It's fun to stay at the Y ....

Chesley Skate Park Renovations Underway & Unveiling Soon 

It's a great time to be a skateboarder in Mankato.

Thanks to its generous benefactor, the Chesley Skate Park is undergoing a $100,000 renovation that will provide skaters, bikers and in-line skaters an enriched experience at the par.

Expected to be unveiled this week are 15 new and refurbished ramps. The surfaces of the ramps will be a composite of plastics and sawdust creating what skate park coordinator Colin Ruff says is the best surface available, short of concrete.

"It's a nice, smooth, very grippy surface," Ruff says. "It's one of the best surfaces you could have."

The renovations add more variety to what the park has offered in both the number of ramps as well as their  shapes and functions.

The renovation comes through funding provided by longtime skate park supporter (and its namesake) Betty Chesley of Mankato. Chesley's generosity toward the skate park and the Y was featured in a recent Free Press feature. 

The worrisome statistics are there for the taking. 

The bottom line is that the fewer positive adult influences in a child's life, the less likely that child can avoid a path of bad decisions.

Inspired to shore up the odds in kids' favor, the Y is taking the lead in a collaboration that will introduce kids in the community to cool, caring adults for one hour a week.

The Y will coordinate the area's first school-based mentoring program staring in fall.  

In the program, adult volunteers meet for an hour a week with a child for lunch at the child's school (although arrangements can be made for meeting before or after school as well).  

The idea is that for an hour, the two get to know each other and establish a connection -- another step toward a positive influence in a child's life.

"It's someone new, someone to learn from and enjoy being with," says Cheryl Hamond, coordinating the program for the Y. Hamond also coordinates the Y's Brother/Sister program. Both programs shoot for similar outcomes.  

"Improved family relationships, better grades, decreased alcohol and drug use, more confidence ... a much better chance at a rewarding life," Hamond says. 

The program will start at Franklin Elementary School with a strong volunteer pool already in place from Verizon Wireless. Other local businesses will be encouraged to supply volunteers to mentor, although individuals are encouraged to participate as well. The goal is to have the program active in all Mankato School District schools, with the focus on elementary schools but open to middle and high schools.

The United Way will initially fund some of the Y's costs in coordinating the program.  

News & notes 

Membership rates will go up slightly in September to monthly rates of $41.75 for adult memberships (from $41); $59 for family memberships (from $58); $33.25 for Seniors (from $32.75); $50.50 for senior couples (from $49.75); $129 quarterly for college memberships (from $127); and $12.50 for youth memberships (from $12.25). Members who pay by bank draft will notice the increase after their Aug. 20 draft ... ..Youth Sports has some important dates coming up: Registration deadline for youth/teen handball lessons is Sept. 7; Registration for youth racquetball lessons is Sept. 14; Flag Football registration deadline is Aug. 5 for K-4. We're also taking registration for basketball and dodgeball. Check it all out on the Youth Sports page.