Ryan Hegreness
Assistant Director - Programs
Ryan is a Certified Park and Recreation Professional with a master’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management (emphasis in Community Recreation) from Clemson University. He also has a bachelor’s degree in Health, Fitness, and Recreation and is currently pursuing an MBA. Before moving to Vermont in May of 2007, Ryan worked in a variety of recreation and aquatics positions in Ohio and South Carolina. While not at work or building websites, Ryan likes to spend time with his wife and daughter. Ryan's favorite sports are soccer, downhill skiing, and wakeboarding.
The Coach nominated must demonstrate a commitment to our mission ("Promoting a positive sports experience that will teach lifelong lessons through personal growth and healthy competition.”) and
-show RESPECT for the rules, opponents, officials, teammates, one’s self
-acknowledge that making mistakes and losing are a part of life and use these as opportunities for learning
- represent our community in a positive manner
- place the needs of players first
- be a positive role model
- respect each player as an individual
- provide a safe, fun, and healthy environment
- prepare organized practices that are skill enhancing
The coach’s contributions should have been made in the year of the award. Previous work and a history of accomplishments may also be included, with an emphasis on recent actions.
The coach’s contributions must have come from coaching in one of the following eligible organizations: ADL, EMS, EHS, Essex Junction Recreation and Parks, Essex Parks and Recreation, Essex Junction Little League, Essex Town Little League and Softball, Essex Youth Lacrosse, Essex Youth Hockey Association, Essex Youth Football, Essex Mini Metro Basketball, The Learning Pool, and/or Essex United Soccer Club.
The deadline for nominations for the 2011 Coach of the Year is February 7, 2012.
Submit your nomination using this link: http://svy.mk/pysa2011
We are so excited about the great response to the Aspire Community Studio! We had over 150 attendees at our Grand Opening on January 2nd and have over 230 participants in our first session of classes! We've just started week 2 of Session 1. Don't worry if you didn't register, there is still room in most classes and we have prorated the cost for Session 1 so that you are not paying for the days that you already missed out on! You can still register for a Session 1 program and pay as little as $6/class!
or learn more about Aspire at:
The Aspire Newsletter
The first edition of the Aspire Newsletter was emailed earlier this week. It was sent to registered participants and those that opted to receive the newsletter when they registered at the Grand Opening. The newsletter will highlight past events, remind you about upcoming classes, feature new classes and have an occasional promo code or giveaway. We anticipate sending the newsletter, on average, once a month. We promise to never send a newsletter more than twice in the same month.
Click here to view the last newsletter.
This presentation and demonstration of backyard composting will show how easy it is to set up a home composting system. Converting kitchen and yard waste into clean compost is recycling at its finest! The participant will learn the importance of keeping these organic materials out of the landfill with the added benefit of growing healthy garden flowers, vegetables, and house plants. Some of the topics covered:
• Why Compost?
• What materials DO and DO NOT go into the compost pile
• How large should the composting pile be?
• Are all compost bins created equal?
• What are the green and the brown layers?
• The difference between HOT and COLD composting
• Common concerns about composting
Questions are encouraged and further discussion is available after the demonstration. Handouts will also be available including a recipe for COMPOST TEA.
DATE Thursday, June 14
TIME 7:00PM
PLACE Maple Street Recreation Center
FEE $5 residents/$10 non-residents
CODE 33100E
Have you every wondered: “Why are my cucumbers not growing?” or “What are these bugs in my broccoli?” or “Is this late blight??!!” Join us as we explore keeping your soil healthy, identifying good and bad garden bugs, and learning the first signs of plant disease. Time allotted for questions/discussion. This is a unique opportunity to learn from fellow gardeners and share experiences.
DATE Thursday, April 19
TIME 7:00PM
PLACE Maple Street Recreation Center
FEE $5 residents/$10 non-residents
CODE 33100D
This class will show you how to grow transplants from seeds for tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, onions, zucchini, watermelon, winter squash, zinnias, and all of the other vegetables and flowers which can benefit from an indoor start. We will discuss the equipment that is helpful and show you how to do well using items you already have. Growing your own transplants allows you to have the varieties you want and can save you money. The instructor, Margaret Lowe, gardens at her home in Vergennes and sells produce at the Vergennes Farmers Market.
DATE Thursday, March 15
TIME 7:00PM
PLACE Maple Street Recreation Center
FEE $5 residents/$10 non-residents
CODE 33100C
Learn the simple ways of square foot gardening and basic gardening tips on when and where to plant with Chef Courtney Contos. Contos' vegetable garden was the only all vegetable garden featured in the 2011 Essex Garden Tour. Ever wonder what to seed and what to transplant? Participants will learn techniques for growing more, planting early and weeding less, while nurturing soil life.
DATE Thursday, February 16
TIME 7:00PM
PLACE Maple Street Recreation Center
FEE $5 residents/$10 non-residents
CODE 33100B
This presentation is designed for beginners as well as more experienced gardeners wanting to explore new ideas. It’s an overview of the steps necessary for an enjoyable and successful gardening season. The points that will be covered:
• Site and soil preparation
• Journaling and layout
• Companion planting
• Crop rotation
• Mulching and weed control
• Cleanup
There will be time for questions during and after the presentation. Handouts will be available.
DATE Thursday, January 26
TIME 7:00PM
PLACE Maple Street Recreation Center
FEE $5 residents/$10 non-residents
CODE 33100A
Monday, January 2nd from 5-9pm
Check out the new Aspire Community Studio and participate in FREE CLASES ALL EVENING! Bring your friends and try a new class or a new instructor. You may come at any time between 5-9pm. Attendees must complete a short registration form/waiver to participate and to be entered to win a prize
| Schedule | Prizes |
| 5:00pm – Opening/Intro 5:10pm – Zumba - Heather Garrow 5:40pm – Fitness Yoga - Emily Souliotis (Beg/Int) 6:10pm – Raffle Prizes (must be present to win) 6:15pm – Zumba - Brooke Robbins 6:45pm – Zumba - Jen McKenzie 7:15pm – Yoga for Wellness - Tricia Gustafson 7:45pm – Raffle Prizes (must be present to win) 7:50pm – Ballroom Dance Demo - Samir 8:20pm – Zumba - Abby Rice 8:50pm – Raffle Prizes (must be present to win) 8:55pm – Grand Prize Drawing (no need to be present) |
6:10pm 7:45pm 8:50pm 8:55pm - Grand Prize |
The Aspire Community Studio is conveniently located on Route 117 between Five Corners and The Circ, just two minutes down the road from Maple Street Park, at 39 River Road, Essex Junction, VT 05452.
Things are progressing nicely for the launch of the Aspire Community Studio! Mirrors arrived today, paint is going up this weekend, floors are being installed next week...we are so excited about opening an aerobics studio that better meets the needs of our participants! The Grand Opening will be the evening of Monday, January 2nd. Our instructors will be offering free 30-minute classes all evening! Plan to join us to check out the studio, try out some classes, and maybe win a few giveaways! We are also excited to be launching the Aspire Community Studio website very soon! In the meantime, get excited about Aspire with this one-minute video...
I Gotta Feeling...
It doesn’t sound as good when I say it compared to the Black Eyed Peas, but you get the gist. I gotta feeling that this place, this community, is alive and well. It’s easy to stay with the status quo and to avoid change. Sometimes we get content with the way things are and sit back and coast through. It’s not that this is bad; sometimes taking a break is a healthy thing. But, striving for excellence, for better, for continuous improvement – that’s admirable. It’s courageous.
At EJRP we added a high school rec soccer league this fall. It was the brainchild of an EHS senior – Reece Tanguay, and served more than 50 high schoolers. Over 500 community members attended the first annual Pumpkin Fest at Maple Street Park on a nice fall Saturday. Meanwhile, the ground was tilled and cover crops were planted on 40 new community garden plots for next spring at the West Street Community Gardens. In this brochure you’ll see that for the first time we are offering winter swim lessons and proudly opening a new community fitness studio – Aspire.
Throughout the greater community there are citizens hard at work on building a Bike Park and soon a Dog Park. The Heart & Soul of Essex community group aspires for a better Essex, one that develops with the input and guidance of the people. Truly a novel idea. Citizens are meeting to enhance participation and interest in the Village Annual Meeting. And, our local government has a proposal that is gaining traction that would seriously alter traffic patterns at the 5 Corners.
Our youth are no slouches either. Just recently they held a sit-in to promote diversity and tolerance, and won an MTV Above the Influence contest. Our kids were one of four selected from 400 communities across the country to host an unwasted weekend, celebrating making substance free choices. The proceeds from the weekend will go to Unified Sports, supporting athletes with intellectual disabilities.
So you can see why “I Gotta Feeling.” There’s an energy about this community lately, and it’s contagious. I’m fortunate to live and work with so many dedicated, hard working, caring people. People who aren’t afraid to step outside of the box, and do so not just to say they stepped outside of the box, but because they truly see a better, brighter, more efficient, more effective, more inclusive way.
Yours Truly in Recreation,
Brad Luck, Director