Community Corner

Prepared to Take the Plunge - the YMCA Polar Plunge

The dock is set, the DJ is ready and the lake water is nice and chilled as area residents prepare to head to the YMCA's Camp Sloper for the annual plunge on Saturday.

Hundreds of local residents will be hitting the beach Saturday, some even wearing bathing suits and preparing to take a mid-winters dip. But this isn't a winter vacation trip to the Bahamas.

It's the return of the Southington YMCA Polar Plunge, the popular annual event that serves as one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the YMCA's Camp Sloper.

And the eighth annual event in 2013 is sure to be a hit.

John Myers, executive director for the Southington YMCA, said the community continues to reach out more and more each year, both with donations and in taking part during the annual event.

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"It seems like we draw a bigger crowd every year and we expect there to be hundreds in attendance to watch this year's plunge," Myers said this week. "My advice to everyone is the event starts at 1 p.m. sharp. Be there early because we expect a big crowd."

The 2013 teams will include the Southington Fire Department led by firefighter Bob Hunt, and the Southington Board of Education led by Superintendent Dr. Joe Erardi, Board of Education Chair Brian Goralski and High School Teacher Bob Lasbury.

In addition, the Southington Politicians Team under the leadership of Mike Riccio and Dr. Al Nateli, and the Calvanese Foundation Team under the leadership of Foundation Board Member Lauren Forgione, Alyssa Calvanese and Aqua Turf Maitre d’, Donny Jenkins, will return again in 2013. Team Southington, joins the action for the second year in a row and is led once again by Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback. Of course, the Southington Community YMCA will have a team too, led by Pooler and Executive Director John Myers.

“Every year we add a new team to the event to build off the success of last year and get more people involved in the fun” said Pooler. “I am pleased to announce the Feature Team for 2013 will be ‘Team Lake Compounce’ led by General Manager Jerry Brick.”

Team Lake Compounce will be made up of employees and friends that want to join the cause.

The event is free to watch and open to the public. It will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Participants should arrive early in order to check in and sign consent forms. For more information, visit the YMCA website by clicking the link provided.

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