Renovation A salute to McCook’s YMCA
Coinciding with the 85th anniversary of the establishment of a YMCA in McCook – and after 30 years in its current location – the Ed Thomas YMCA celebrates the completion of two years of renovations to a number of areas in the building. The work not only updates the YMCA technologically and refreshes the buildingʼs interior, but also continues to demonstrate the organizationʼs commitment to helping the people of McCook and the surrounding area reach their individual and collected fitness goals. Jeremy Blomstedt/McCook Daily Gazette
McCook Daily Gazette Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
2 – McCook Daily Gazette
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YMCA RENOVATION
Generous gifts allow for major Ed Thomas YMCA renovation ED THOMAS YMCA
McCOOK, Nebraska – A larger weight room, a cardio studio, a multi-purpose room and a cardio center were recently completed at the Ed Thomas YMCA in McCook. This was the first facility expansion project at the Y since it was built in 1981, adding about 1,700 square feet of new space on the upper and lower levels of the YMCA building. The total cost of the project was a little over $425,000. This project was made possible through the generous bequests from the separate estates of Lester & Helen Wolfe and Willard W. & Mildred H. Troutwine. The benefactors did not earmark their gifts for a specific purpose, leaving the board with a great deal of flexibility. The YMCA Board of Directors invested a portion of the gifts in the YMCA’s permanent endowment program and designated a portion of the gift to be put to use for the immediate benefit of the Y's members. The cardio studio was designed specifically for fitness classes that will allow the Y to discontinue using the middle of the
running/walking track for classes. That will also allow them to offer a larger variety of classes in a private setting. The aerobic studio has a bamboo laminate floor with a special three quarter of inch foam padding that the bamboo floats on. The floor was designed to absorb the impact instead of the impact being absorbed by class participant’s hips, knees or ankles. The south wall was specially designed with a sound proof barrier to reduce the noise from the racquetball courts. The aerobic studio also has a fantastic stereo system that was designed and installed by Adam Spanier. The room also offers all sorts of readily available exercise equipment. The new weight room is approximately one-third larger than the original weight room. The new weight room has a special floor from Infinity Flooring that is an inch and a quarter thick which will help absorb sound and impact from the weights. In addition to being larger, eight new pieces of Precor Weight Equipment were added. See RENOVATION Page 3
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
The original weight room at McCookʼs Ed Thomas YMCA had outlived its usefulness. The roomʼs small size was a negative, plus years of dropped weights were taking their toll on the concrete floor, while the equipment itself was beginning to show its age. Ed Thomas YMCA
Congratulations on 85 Years of Service to our Local Communities!
W DESIGN ASSOCIATES Consulting Engineers and Architects McCook, NE (308)345-2370 Hastings, NE (402)463-2377
www.wdesignea.com
W D A
McCook Daily Gazette
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Renovation
The new equipment includes a new leg press, bicep curl, shoulder press, chest press, lateral/pec fly machine and a cable cross over machine. The cable cross over machine has various stations which include an assisted dip/chin up station. A new power rack, a second bench press, and new set of complete York Dumbbells were added. W Design Associates donated a flat screen television. The YMCA also received donations for glassless mirrors from Plains Equipment Group, Don and Marilyn Brandt, Neil and Sarah Gohl, Colton and Sheila Gosick, Jay Johnson, Jeff Shaddock and KC Motor & Electric. The original weight room was “re-fitted” as a multi-purpose room and will be available for classes and meetings. The flooring is identical to what was installed in the aerobic studio which allows the YMCA to run multiple health and wellness classes at the same time. This new space is being used for the Silver Foxx active older adult class and for our evening strength class, as well as being utilized for YMCA meetings plus the Y’s afterschool program. A flat screen television was donated by Red Willow
YMCA RENOVATION
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The new weight room is approximately one-third larger than the original weight room. Eight new pieces of Precor Weight Equipment were also added, and a special 1-1/4 inch-thick floor from Infinity Flooring will help absorb sound and impact from the weights. Ed Thomas YMCA
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Aviation which has been a big hit during Live Y’ers movie times. The inside of the running track was rearranged and additional Precor Cardio Equipment was added which includes: 4 treadmills, 4 adaptive motion machines and 2 elliptical machines. Hugh Holak, the YMCA building committee chairman, led the effort to install the bracing needed to install the bank of 5 televisions. The televisions were donated by McCook National Bank, Valmont, Al Cuellar (in memory of his parents), Golight and First Central Bank. The cardio theatre package that was installed allows members to plug in their earbuds and listen to any of the 5 TVs while using the cardio equipment. The YMCA would like to thank all of the volunteers that made this project possible. Volunteers were involved from the beginning of the planning process. They also helped move and reassemble weight equipment, removed damaged concrete from the old weight room and brought in the new concrete. They also installed the flooring in the new weight room and put in the beams where the new TVs are mounted.
C o n g r at u l at i o n s to the E d T h o m a s Y MCA o n 85 years of providing wellness opportunities for the McCook and area communities
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YMCA RENOVATION
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
“We knew what we wanted and needed.”
YMCA successfully expands, thanks to unified vision LORRI SUGHROUE MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE
McCOOK, Nebraska – As a fitness instructor at the Ed Thomas YMCA since 1981, Michelle Gonzales has seen quite a few changes over the years. The only class available when the building opened 30 years ago was "Fitness Fantasia," which took place at one end of the basketball gym. This meant that some classes had to compete with open gym at the other end of the court - and a stray basketball or two. "We'd roll in the sound system and everything," said Gonzales. "It was a challenge to do a fitness class then." The class was mostly choreography and "feet didn't really leave the
ground," she explained. Over the years, people wanted more intense workouts, so new classes were added. Now, 16 different fitness classes are offered several times a week, beginning at 5:15 a.m. with "A.M. Boot Camp" on Tuesday and Thursday or C.A.T.S (Cardio-AbsTone-Strength) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. But as time passed, an increasing lack of space at the Y had people almost stumbling over each other, Michelle recalled. Exercise classes took place in the center of the indoor track area, which offered little privacy. Treadmills and elliptical machines were always in demand but members often had to wait
The expansion of the building meant the first new construction on the exterior of the YMCA since 1981. The outer walls were completed in winter 2010.
Ed Thomas YMCA
to use them. The weight room was small, the concrete floor was breaking up due to dropped weights and the equipment itself was getting quite a workout. Along with YMCA board members,
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Michelle was part of a committee to find out what the Y needed and the best way to implement it. The process began about two years ago, she said, and involved a lot of research and input from others. See UNIFIED Page 5
YMCA RENOVATION
McCook Daily Gazette
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Volunteers helped break up the concrete floor in the old weight room, as well as assisted in removing the pieces and bringing in the new concrete for what would become the floor for the new multi-purpose room.
Unified
The old weight room, stripped nearly bare.
"We had a common vision, and we knew what we had to do to get there," she said. "We knew what we wanted and needed." It boiled down to space, new equipment and updating the facility. Generous bequests from a pair of estates (Lester and Helen Wolfe and Willard W. and Mildred H. Troatwine) allowed for the kind of significant changes that the committee had wanted. For example, the cardio/aerobic room – where fitness classes are offered – not only offers a brand new floor that
Ed Thomas YMCA
“gives” with the body, a custom sound system to pump out motivating music and, of course, new equipment, but now there’s actually space in the room to store the gear. Finally, instead of having to be stashed in different areas throughout the building as in previous years, the state-of-the-art equipment – including such items as cardio barbells, high steps for intervals, 28 "bosu" balls (which can be used in different ways), 40 stability balls, a gliding disc, exercise tubes and more – can now be kept in the same space where it will be used.
A significant number of the 641 youths who participated in the Yʼs “Healthy Kids Day” were able to participate in activities held in the new multi-purpose room.
Ed Thomas YMCA
“We had a common vision, and we knew what we had to do to get there.” – MICHELLE GONZALES, INSTRUCTOR/ FITNESS RENOVATION COMMITTEE MEMBER
Ed Thomas YMCA
The YMCA Board and instructors are continuing to look at other ways to improve fitness in the community, Gonzales said, and in the future may offer obesity-style classes and fitness programs for younger kids. Gonzales maintained that staying fit is more than just looking good – it's about quality of life. Regular exercise keeps blood pres-
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sure down and strengthens heart activity, reduces stress and strengthens bones and muscles. Sounds great, but Gonzales keeps it simple. "Getting fit is as individual as the person; for me, it helps me to be able to keep up with my grandkids," she said. "And I don't want to be worried about medical bills in the future."
s n o i t a l u t a r g n Co on
85years
McCook (308) 345-4240 www.mnb1.com
Stratton (308) 276-2166 Member FDIC
6 – McCook Daily Gazette
YMCA RENOVATION
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
The new weight room, in its earliest stages.
Ed Thomas YMCA
The windows in the new weight room provide a significant amount of natural light, something the old space didnʼt offer. Ed Thomas YMCA
“It wasn’t just one person or member. There were people out there who don’t use the Y who asked, ‘What can we do for you?’” YMCA members give their time and energy to put together the new weight room equipment. Ed Thomas YMCA
A view of the new, larger weight room, equipped with 11 new pieces of high-tech equipment, glass-less mirrors and a flat screen TV. Ed Thomas YMCA
“The expansion and improvements were all designed to keep the community motivated to stay healthy.” – MIKE GONZALES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
– KEN ALLEN, YMCA PAST PRESIDENT/ BOARD MEMBER
CONGRATULATIONS! on 85 Years of service to the local communities
Join Join U Uss For F o r The The
YMCA Open House To Celebrate the Completion of our Fitness Renovation Project
Which was made possible through the generosity of Willard H. and Mildred H. Troutwine Memorial Gift
Lester and Helen Wolfe Memorial Gift Saturday, October 29, 2011 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Tours, class demonstrations, refreshments Join the Y on Saturday and save $40 **Drawing for a Free 1 Year Membership** Y MCA B o a r d O f D i r e c t o r s
Thank you for your dedication to the health of our community Tony Ford, President, Ken Allen, Past President, Jeremy Shaw, President Elect Darcy Rambali, 1st Vice President, Hugh Holak, 2nd Vice President Mary Beth Eisenminger, Secretary, Todd Thieszen, Treasurer Beverly Dodge, Cindy West, Don Brandt, Tor Olson,Glen Tietz Father Gary Brethour
YMCA RENOVATION
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Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 Ed Thomas YMCA
Not your grandparents’ exercise equipment New fitness equipment at the Y designed to make your workout more pleasure, less pain LORRI SUGHROUE MCCOOK DAILY GAZETTE
McCOOK, Nebraska – New equipment at the YMCA makes exercise more accessible, user-friendly - and fun. And you don't have to be a hard-core fitness fanatic to reap the benefits. That's because the pieces that were purchased are designed to fit individual body types, whether it's someone who's used to
working out, or someone new to the scene. Adaptive Motion Trainers (AMT's) machines are tricked out with the newest technology that adapts the machine to the person instead of the other way around. With a touch of a button, these high-tech AMT's offers circular running similar to an elliptical; a stair step motion and long running stride on an incline, similar to cross country skiing. Whichever action the person chooses to use is based on their stride, not a predestinated
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802 West C St. McCook, NE 308-345-3580
Congratulations to the Ed Thomas YMCA on their renovation and reaching 85 years of service to the McCook Community.
stride determined by the machine. One of the four new treadmills allows downhill running, great for marathon runners or those who need a good leg workout. And workouts don't have to be boring, either, with a bank of flat screen TVs that were donated. Just plug in your (ear) buds and you're ready to go. The morning crowd seems to prefer news, said YMCA Executive Director Mike Gonzales, but the food channels are also very popular.
Since “1957”
Store Front Residential Commercial Glass-All Types We were happy to supply doors and windows for the renovation of the Fitness room
Bids & Estimates Given
345-6240
McCook Daily Gazette
YMCA RENOVATION
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 – 9
The new multi-purpose room is used by a number of different Ysponsored programs, such as this youth fitness class.
The Silver Foxx program utilizes the new multi-purpose room, which was previously the weight room.
The new aerobic/cardio studio hosts such fitness programs as “Lighten Up McCook.”
Classes are available at the Y for all ages and fitness levels – and the expanded space in the building means thereʼs room for everyone who wants to participate.
Ed Thomas YMCA
Ed Thomas YMCA
Ed Thomas YMCA
Ed Thomas YMCA
“Thanks to very generous bequests, your YMCA Board of Directors has been privileged to plan and finance much-needed improvements to our McCook facility. We believe these updates will continue to build a strong community and contribute to the health and fitness of our members.” – BEVERLY DODGE, YMCA BOARD MEMBER/FITNESS RENOVATION COMMITTEE MEMBER
Congratulations on 85 Years and your new renovations L etsPlan ForT om orrow T ogeth er
Congratulations Ed Thomas YMCA for 85 Years of Service!
10 – McCook Daily Gazette
YMCA RENOVATION
The YMCAʼs game room, which features games such as pool, is a hotspot for younger members of the organization. Ed Thomas YMCA
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
One of the features on the new weight room equipment is this assisted dip/chin up station. Ed Thomas YMCA
Between updates to the parking lot, the game room, the swimming pool and the fitness areas, McCookʼs YMCA has committed a million dollars to renovations of the building over the last four years, according to the Yʼs past president, Ken Allen. Ed Thomas YMCA
CONGRATULATIONS!
on 85 years of service to the Mccook and surrounding communities
C O N G R A T UL A T I O N S ! On 85 years of service to McCook and surrounding communities
YMCA RENOVATION
McCook Daily Gazette
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011 – 11
The Ed Thomas YMCA Board of Directors thanks these vendors for their contributions to the renovations:
A generous gift from Ed Thomas, pictured here, added to funds raised by a community drive, allowed McCookʼs YMCA to move from Norris Avenue to the location it has occupied for the last 30 years. The spirit of that three-decades-old community effort lives on in the people who work and carry memberships in the building that bears Thomasʼ name.
W Design – Architect and Designer JL Construction – General Contractor D & T Electric Gerhold Concrete VK Electronics Matson Drywall Steve Gonzales Construction Samway Floor Covering and Furniture Diamond Vogel Ellis Carpet and Flooring Installation
Ed Thomas YMCA
The staff and management of the McCook Daily Gazette congratulates the people of the Ed Thomas YMCA on the successful completion of their latest renovation.
Marking our 100th year of being your source for local news.
McCook Daily Gazette Congratulations Ed ThomasYMCA on 85 years!
C Congratulations ongratulations o n 85 on 8 5 years years a and n d completing c o m p l e t i n g your y o u r renovation! renovation!
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