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Special edition, Year 2018 in Review
This newsletter is a
publication of the Town of
Hamburg Dept. of Youth,
Recreation and Senior
Services.
Phone: 646-5145
Email:recreation@
townofhamburg.com
INDEX
Vol. 8 No. 1
2018 in review
Maple Sugaring,
Men’s winter BB
champions
2
&
3
Service to Youth,
Donny Thiry Day
& Rec/Sr. Expo
4
&
5
YRSS training,
new staff, Dash &
Splash
6
&
Halloween, Flag at
The Cap, Youth
Conference
8
Holiday Toy Drive,
Magic of the
Season, memorials
9
Staff info,
partnerships,
thanks
10
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
PAGE 1
Youth, Recreation & Senior Services Quarterly
PAGE
The Town of Hamburg Depart-
ment of YRSS was awarded the
following grants/funding in 2018:
Youth—The Town of Ham-
burg Youth Bureau was notified by
the Erie County Youth Bureau that
the Town of Hamburg was to receive
Youth Development funding for
2018 for nearly $35,000 to support
its programs for the upcoming year.
We also received a $10,000 Prime-
time Mentoring grant.
Tennis—The
Recreation Branch of
YRSS received a
$2,500 “Growing
Tennis Together”
grant from USTA
Eastern to enhance YRSS Sum-
mer Youth Tennis program-
ming.
Football—
YRSS has re-
ceived a $6,000 grant
from the Buffalo Bills
Foundation. The
money will support our youth foot-
ball programs.
Dick’s Sporting Goods renewed a
sponsorship valued at $1,720.
YRSS received a $1,000 Connect
Kids to Parks grant from New York
State that assisted the program for
children in the Woodlawn Adventure
Camp.
YRSS earns 2018 grants for youth, recreation
Let there be games:
Hamburg Senior Services’ indoor game options increased
this winter through the generous funding efforts of Erie
County Legislator Lynne Dixon and assistance of Erie
County providing a dartboard and shuffleboard to our Bil-
liards/Game Room. We have billiards, a ping pong table
donated by former Council Member Mike Quinn, a myriad
of card games and a large screen TV, along with comforta-
ble chairs and round card tables. County funding also gave
us an outdoor shuffleboard game which will be up and run-
ning in spring 2019.
Page 2
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
The Taylor Road Park and cabin was the site
of a maple sugaring program on March 17
with Earth Spirit, an educational organiza-
tion that often partners with the town. Fami-
lies learned about sap collection and maple
sugaring preparation as practiced by Native
Americans, early settlers and modern day
producers. A delicious pancake brunch in-
side the cabin followed the annual event.
The 2019 event is scheduled for March 16.
April—Ecology Camp
MARCH—Maple Sugaring
Ecology Camp is held in April through a partnership be-
tween Hamburg Recreation and Earth Spirit. The camp is
held Monday—Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day for boys
and girls ages 8 to 13 at the Taylor Road Cabin. There is
no residency requirement. It will take place April 22-26 in
2019
Coaches training—Recreation Super-
visor Tim Jerome and Hamburg Village
Recreation Leader Nick Gallardo con-
ducted a training program for 14 men
and women for certification for baseball
and softball through the National Youth
Sports Coaches Association. It was held
at the HSCC. No photo available.
APRIL—Ecology Camp
Page 3
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
B-Ball Champs
The Town of Hamburg Department of Youth, Recreation, and Senior Services concluded its 2017-18
Fall/Winter Men’s Basketball Leagues in mid April. Wednesday Champs are pictured at, left. They
are from left: Phil Bowen, Jake Denz, Matt Krotz, Chris Walker, Joe Cellino, John Bowen and Sean
Wilson. Saturday Champs are shown at right, from left: Xavier Williams, Sean Murphy, Bryan
Legge, Ka'Ron Barnes, Jeremy Lindstrom and Mark Rouse. The Fall-Winter Basketball Leagues begin
in October and run through April. Summer Leagues run from June to August.
April
Guns & Hoses
Fundraiser at
Hamburg Town
Arena
The Town of
Hamburg Police
and volunteer fire
companies
“battled it out”
April 8 in an ice
hockey challenge
at the Town Arena
to support Lake
View firefighter
Tim Pike and his
family who had
experienced ex-
treme medical
costs over the past
year.
Town of Hamburg’s Finest support one of their own
Page 4
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
Hamburg’s 30th annual Youth Bureau
Service Awards & Recognition Banquet
was held April 25 at Michael’s Banquet
Facility in Hamburg. Honorees included
many distinguished citizens who have
outstanding records of service to youth, a
young man who has persevered despite
obstacles and five outstanding members of
the Youth Engaged in Service (YES)
Program.
Keith Fisher received the Michael J.
Dundon Service to Youth Award that is
given to the person who best exemplifies the
service of the late Michael J. Dundon, a longtime
executive director of the Youth Bureau.
The Youth Bureau also honored the late Mary T.
Blakeslee posthumously as it bestowed Sheila Brown and
Joseph Marszalek with the Mary T. Blakeslee Service
to Youth Award in commemoration of Ms. Blakeslee, a
longtime member of the Town of Hamburg Youth Board.
The Recreation Department recognized Deborah
Schruefer, Joel Maxson and Brad Rybczynski as
Character Coaches of the Year, in appreciation of their
service. Recipients of this award must personify the code
of ethics of the National Youth Sports Coaches
Association. Award winners display qualities that include
being a teacher during practices and being a coach on
game day only; being a positive role model who leads by
example and demonstrates fairness and sportsmanship.
YRSS Director Martin Denecke honored Elizabeth
O’Donnell with the Director’s Citation in recognition of
the hundreds of families whose lives she has touched
through the founding of the Skating
Association of the Blind and Handicapped
(SABAH) and more recently Gliding Stars,
which teaches ice skating to children with
physical and developmental challenges.
O’Donnell has been sharing her love for
skating with Western New Yorkers for over 40 years.
Jake Miller, a Frontier high school senior was honored
as the recipient of the Donny Thiry Human Spirit
Award, which honors the memory of the late Donny
Thiry. Donny loved sports but was prevented from active
participation due to physical limitations which resulted
from neurofibromatosis.
“Despite his physical limitations, he came to Hamburg
Recreation when he was still finishing high school at
Frontier. He worked the scores table at the basketball
games and did whatever else was needed,” Denecke said.
The Donny Thiry Human Spirit Award goes to the
person who best exemplifies the qualities that Donny
displayed, overcoming all obstacles in his or her path and
remaining positive and inspiring others.
APRIL
Service to Youth honorees are shown with
Jake Miller, center, recipient of the Donny
Thiry Human Spirit Award. Honorees are,
from left: Keith Fisher, Joel Maxson, Sheila
Brown, Miller, Deborah Schruefer, Brad
Rybczynski and Elizabeth O’Donnell.
HONORS
Michael J. Dundon
Award
Keith Fisher
Mary T. Blakeslee
Award
Sheila Brown
Joseph Marszalek
Character Coach of
the Year Award
Deborah Schruefer
Joel Maxson
Brad Rybczynski
Donny Thiry Hu-
man Spirit Award
Jake Miller
Director’s Citation
Elizabeth O’Donnell
YES
Gianna Puglisi
Hailey Conway
Grayson Errington
Nicolas Gelyon
Volunteer youth with the YES Program
were honored for providing an average
of 100 hours of community service over
the past year. Honorees, pictured from
left with YES Coordinator Bev Preischel
(second from left) and the number of
hours they served are: Nicolas Gelyon,
101 hours; Gianna Puglisi, 135 hours;
Hailey Conway, 131 hours; Grayson
Errington, 81 hours and Nicholas Nel-
son, 89 hours.
Youth Bureau Service Awards & Recognition Banquet
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
Donny Thiry Day—the 2018 Recreation & Senior Services Expo Page 5
Donny Thiry Day was held April
28 with many exciting activities
such as the Senior Fitness Extrava-
ganza in the Donny Thiry Memori-
al Gym, top, right, and face-
painting by volunteers from the
Youth Engaged in Service (YES)
Program. The Recreation Expo
was held with the support of the
Donny Thiry Foundation and
showcased the town’s spring and
summer recreation programs and
recreation sites. Also featured were
options for adaptive sports and
recreation. A Senior Services Open
House featured building tours,
activities and demonstrations.
Adult Day Services
BBQ fundraiser
The Buffalo Dolls
entertain
The Thiry family meets with Town of
Hamburg Police Officer Rickard.
Kids try out Flag Football
Page 6
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
Dash-n-Splash brings full day of beach activities
JUNE & JULY
McGahey joins Hamburg
Adult Day Services
Meghan McGahey joined the YRSS
as program
coordinator
in the Adult
Day Ser-
vices pro-
gram on
July 11, fill-
ing a vacan-
cy resulting
from a re-
tirement.
McGahey’s
duties in-
clude oversight of the activity com-
ponent of the social day program for
seniors whose disabilities preclude
them from participating in standard
senior activities and a chaperone in
the youth ski program.
McGahey holds a Bachelor of Arts in
Speech and Hearing Sciences from
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
and is a resident of the Town of
Hamburg.
Organizers of the Town of
Hamburg’s 28th Annual
Dash-n-Splash Mary T.
Blakeslee Family Fun Run
held July 28 report partici-
pation was close to the pre-
vious year’s number of total
runners and walkers – 132 -
and the event went off
seamlessly during fair
weather. The run-walk
course travels from Frontier
Middle School to the Ham-
burg Town Park, ending at
the beach. Proceeds benefit-
ed the Town of Hamburg
Recreation Foundation and
the Town of Hamburg
Youth Foundation.
Dash—Overall winners of the
‘Dash’ were Kelly Reinhard,
Splash—First place winners of the Sand Castle/
Sculpture contest were from left: Matt Burger, Kel-
sey Robertson and Zachary Robertson.
Prestigious regional summer sports tourneys in Hamburg
Hamburg hosts NSA Championships June 15-17 at the Hamburg
Recreation Center (Nike Base) & Orchard Acres. The National Soft-
ball Association Girls Championships are for 10-U, 12-U, 14-U and 16-
U for all of NYS. Winners are to advance to the NSA World Series.
The NSA Fastpitch Softball Tournament is held in Hamburg July 13,
14 and 15.
The New Era Baseball Tournaments are held at the Hamburg Recre-
ation Center (Nike Base) on the weekends of July 13, 14 and 15 and
July 27, 28 and 29.
YRSS trains employees in customer service
YRSS instituted a Customer Service Training Program for full and part-time
staff. One hour employee training sessions were held
with the goal of improving communications and un-
derstanding between the public and staff. The interac-
tive program focused on the skills of professionalism,
approachability, knowledge of product/service, clear
communication, patience and confirmed customer
satisfaction. The Program was developed by YRSS
leaders who attended a leadership development pro-
gram presented by Patrick Crotty of PXC & Associates. Among those attend-
ing the program was John Zoda who was then charged by YRSS Director
Martin Denecke with further developing a program.
Meghan McGahey,
left, with Senior Pro-
gram Coordinator Ro-
sanne Witryk.
Page 7
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
Adaptive Football helpers
YES volunteers assisting with the
Adaptive Football Clinic met with Buf-
falo Bills DE Eddie Yarbrough at rear.
Shown with him are from left: Madison
Giordani, Hailey Conway, Desiree
Giordani and Josh Walters.
Thiry Gym enhanced
The Donny Thiry Memorial Gymnasium has
been enhanced with the installation of new
LED lighting in September and floor refinish-
ing in December. The new lights are brighter
and will create energy savings once the initial
investment is paid for. The floor was refin-
ished and lines for Pickle Ball were painted
on during the process—no more tape needed,
here. We thank B&G for their assistance.
Sultry Summer blends into Awesome Autumn
Adult hockey champs, Team Nowak,
from left, kneeling: Wayne Bloom, Yasu
Takahashi and Nick White. Standing:
Jake Schiffman, Louis Terri, John Garv-
in, Jesse Hackett and Antonio Sparra.
Absent but on the team was Andy Fer-
rentino. Recreation Supervisor Marc
Collins is shown test driving a new
scooter donated to YRSS for seniors
with mobility issues. Gayle Hardick
was instrumental in facilitating the
donation received at the end of Sep-
tember.
Hamburg’s NFL Flag Football League Champions (12 to 14 year old age
group) for fall 2018 were, from left, front row: RJ Roach, Brayden Palinski,
Ryan Collins and Abby Couzens. Back row: Nathan DiGaudio, Evan
Meader, Michell Horucy, Michael Maggiore and Coach Max Avery.
Niagara Falls was just one of the great locations visited by Bike Patrol dur-
ing the 2018 season from Spring through Fall. This was in September.
Page 8
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
Halloween Public Skate, Hamburg Flag team at the stadium & Youth Leadership
Halloween fun, to youth leadership to football—
Families enjoyed the annual Halloween Public Skate, top, left
and right. Town Tot participants at right, dressed in creative
fashions for their Halloween Party; and below at left, NFL Flag
Football teams scrimmaged with a counterpart Buffalo team
during half time of the Buffalo Bills vs. Jags game at New Era
Cap Field Nov. 25. They are, from left: Kneeling, Noah Cervoni,
Erin Hinphy and Chase Mata. Standing: Jocco Pericozzi, Patrick
Stanton, Steven Lewis Dickey and Nick Shea with Coaches Max
Avery, Erik Hibit and Robert Anderson.
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
Hamburg High School students Tyler Herman and Abby
Kane, student members of the Town of Hamburg Youth
Board, attended the WNY Youth Bureau Association
Youth Leadership Forum with YRSS’ Marty Denecke &
Nicole Dayka, far left, in November. Joining them was Jil
Accurso, right, social worker for Hamburg Central Schools.
Page 9
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
In Memoriam 2018
Dec. 31,(2017)—Peter Yacobucci,
former facility manager with over-
sight of golf course & Arena.
Feb. 20—Michael Bartlett, direc-
tor of the Town of Hamburg Devel-
opment Corp for 24 years.
April 25—Ellen Denecke, mother
of Martin Denecke.
May 29—Michael Denecke, broth-
er of Martin Denecke.
July 25—Jim Boswell, longtime
Senior Van driver.
July 28—Jane McAnaney, mother
of Recreation Advisory Board
Member Pat McAnaney & Laura
Hahn, Locksley Park Assn. presi-
dent.
Aug. 5—Mary Margaret DiMaria,
mother of Adult Day Services’ Joan
Kruszka.
Aug. 11—Evelynn Chiacchia, mother of Recreation Advisory
Board Member Dan Chiacchia.
Aug. 15—Jeffrey Biehler, friend &
supporter of Hamburg Town Park.
Oct. 5—Former Town of Ham-
burg Council Member & Town
Supervisor Patrick Henry Hoak.
Oct. 16—John T. McFall Sr.,
father of Recreation Advisory
Board Member John T. McFall, Jr.
Nov. 24—Carolyn Green, longtime
YRSS employee & manager of the
Stay Fit Dining Program at Creek-
bend Heights.
Signs of the Season—
The Hamburg Youth Bureau held its annual Toy
Drive in conjunction with the WNY Holiday Pro-
ject. Above and right, YES volunteers are shown
organizing toys prior to distribution to families in
need. Below, YES also assisted at the Hamburg
Rejuvenation Committee’s Christmas in the Cabin
below with activities. Bottom, YRSS’ Tim Jerome
was the Jolly Old Elf at the Cabin. Far left, AMP
fall grads posed with YRSS Director Marty De-
necke and Erie County Social Services Directory
Timothy Hogues, back row.
DECEMBER
TOWN BOARD
James Shaw—Supervisor
Thomas Best Jr.—Council Member
Beth Farrell —Council Member
Michael Mosey—Council Member
Michael Petrie—Council Member
TOWN OF HAMBURG
YOUTH, RECREATION &
SR. SERVICES DEPT. STAFF
Martin C. Denecke—Director
Joseph P. Wenzel—Deputy Director
Recreation Staff
Curt S. Herrmann—Sr. Rec Supervisor
Luke T. Sullivan—Rec Supervisor
Timothy M. Jerome—Rec Supervisor
Amy Brown—Recreation Attendant
Senior Services Staff
Joseph S. Pietras—Sr. Rec Supervisor
Marc C. Collins—Rec Supervisor
Adult Day Services Staff
Rosanne Witryk—Sr. Prog. Coordinator
Meghan McGahey, Program Coordinator
Youth Staff
Nicole Dayka –Youth At Risk Coordinator
Beverly Preischel—YES Coordinator
SPECIAL THANKS TO
The following organizations for their sup-
port. Their help and generosity allows us
to continually provide quality services.
Special Donations
Dani Fit
The Donny Thiry Foundation
The Hamburg Oktoberfest
The Rotary Club of Hamburg
The Stahlka Agency
The Town of Hamburg Lions Club
The Hamburg Kiwanis Club
The Watermark Wesleyan Church of
Hamburg
Grant Funds
Buffalo Bills Youth Foundation
Federal Transit Administration
Erie County Legislator Lynne Dixon
Erie County Youth Board
National Recreation & Parks Assn.
NYS Connect Kids to Parks
United States Tennis Association
Major Sponsors
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Pizza Hut
Tops Friendly Markets
Facility Use
Braymiller’s Lanes
Buffalo Bills
Frontier Central Schools
Hamburg Central Schools
Hilbert College
Kissing Bridge
St. Francis High School
The Hub (Watermark Wesleyan Church)
Newsletter designed
and written by
Eileen A. Hotho—
Editor
Page 10
TOWN OF HAMBURG 2018 YEAR IN REVIEW First Quarter 2019
THERAPEUTIC POOL—Rental of the town’s therapeutic pool is
available to established, independent, wellness professionals (physical
therapists, chiropractors, fitness trainers, etc.) as a site for low impact
therapy and training options. For information, please call 598-0880.
646-5145 (www.hamburg-youth-rec-seniors.com) [email protected]