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October 23, 2004
  Articles on this page: • Recreation Recreation Dalton Community Center 400 Main Street 684-0260 Weekdays 5:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Fall hours will begin on November 1. Please call 684-0260 for new hours.) Dalton Youth Center 27 South Carson Avenue 684-0120 Monday - Friday 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Saturday 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Teen Center Saturday 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Dalton Youth Center Hours will be extended in November – please call 684-0260 for new hours) The Community Recreation Association sponsors activities and recreation for residents of all ages at the Dalton Community House on Main Street, the Dalton Youth Center at 27 Carson Avenue and at the four town parks. The Executive Director is Deborah Cronin-Brown. The Community Recreation Association is a non-profit organization whose funds come from a variety of sources. The funding for the parks system is financed by the town of Dalton, and covers programs at our four parks: Chamberlain, Greenridge, Legion and Pinegrove. For all other expenses, the CRA survives on assistance from United Way, memberships and other fees, donations and endowments. Financial aid is available for families needing assistance. "We don't turn anyone away," said Cronin-Brown. The five members of the William Murray Crane Trustees are the owners of the building and grounds of the CRA and Dalton Youth Center. They manage the trust fund which goes toward capital improvements such as you have seen this year. Possibilities are presently being reviewed to replenish the trust funds and to develop a capital fund drive for the future. The Trustees have quarterly walk-throughs to review and approve of all capital expenditures. Their support and commitment is truly appreciated by the CRA staff, Board and members of our community. The CRA is governed by an 11-member board that meets approximately four times a year. The Executive Board, which is made up of the officers from the Board, meets on an as needed basis. Jim Callahan is the current president and has been instrumental in all of the progress this past year. He has developed a very active and committed board who all have committees and projects they have developed and overseen. Cronin-Brown would like to publicly thank the board, which has had a very active these past years. Their commitment and service to al the projects this past year is also appreciated greatly by the staff and members.
The Community House was built in 1923 with a bequest from the Cranes in memory of W. Murray Crane. The facility includes a swimming pool, two racquetball courts, men's and women’s health club with state of the art nautilus equipment and a gymnasium. There are adult leagues for most sports, and children’s swimming teams. All of this could not happen without the CRA's most valued asset: the 1,200 volunteers. These are truly heroes. Time after time they step forward to provide whatever is needed to make the programs work. They are the backbone of this agency and a key ingredient in what makes our community the special place that it is. Capital projects that have been addressed include front step repairs, a new boiler and hot water heater for the Dalton Youth Center and two new treadmills. Adult membership is not limited to residents; out-of-towners or new residents are often amazed at the variety of activities. Since 1995 the Dalton CRA Fitness Center has been meeting the community's fitness needs in many ways. A variety of options are offered, from state of the art Nautilus equipment to free weights, floor aerobics and water aerobics. The Fitness Center includes a personal trainer, post-rehabilitation therapy, sport/specific personal training, group exercise classes, aquatics, program for beginners; specialty classes including exercise and yoga. The CRA has the ability to serve member’s exercise requirements! The staff is knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and eager to help you in any way they can. The CRA's belief is that "those who say it can’t be done should get out of the way of those who are doing it." The CRA also sponsors junior high school dances, activities during school vacations and many other special events. October: Haunted House December: Ice skating; Christmas party; Breakfast with Santa January: Sled races February: Winter Carnival dance, Ice fishing derby, Ice skating at Crane Memorial March: Golf lessons; Gib Kittredge Auction April: Easter Egg hunt May: Road race; Earl B. Crosier Fishing Derby June: Dalton Carnival; Golf Tournament Summer: Sports and day camps The CRA offers sports for all ages and abilities such as soccer, basketball, football, baseball and All Star teams in each sport. They also offer international programs in Indoor Hockey and Indoor Soccer. The Dalton Youth Center, which began at the turn-of-the century as a branch of the YMCA, offers programs for adults but is more focused on youngsters in grades 6 through 12. Youth leagues teach sportsmanship and team work beginning at an early age. A highlight of the soccer program is a tournament held on Columbus Day weekend. Teams from around the county compete for two days. There are also football, softball, baseball and kickball teams divided by sex and age. The DYC offers great after-school programs such as Kids Fitness, Cooking classes, Sewing classes and many Arts & Crafts classes. As with all activities at the DYC, the accent is on instruction, not competition. The Youth Center is open to all children who live in the Central Berkshire school district. "Our role and our goal is to provide a complete selection of quality recreational programs that range from passive to physically challenging, span all age groups and consider both the participant's needs and abilities," said Director Debbie Cronin-Brown. On Saturday nights, from 6:30 to 10, movies geared to children in kindergarten through 4th grade are shown on a big screen television set at the youth center. Munchies and drinks are served. Monthly dances with a disc jockey are held from 7 to 10 for middle school. The DYC runs a 'Leaders Club' for young adults in grades 6 through 12. "We try to teach the kids that the community is what you make it," said Cronin-Brown. Through programs run by the young people for the young people, "they learn to give back to the community, not just take from it," she said. Programs include a tutoring service, staffed by high school juniors and seniors, a Big Buddies program, car washes and raffles. This year at Craneville School a "Kid's Club" was started by CRA. From 2:55 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. K – 5th graders can get help from staff with their homework, participate in recreational activities and arts and crafts programs at the school. There is a nominal fee for this program.
Wahconah Falls For those who shun organized activities, there is the natural beauty of Wahconah Falls and the eerie quiet of Wizard's Glen. The east branch of the Housatonic flows through town, offering scenic respite from the workday world. The river flows through the beautifully kept greens at the semi-private Wahconah Country Club on Old Windsor Road. Over the past year residents have been taking a close look at the Housatonic River as it meanders through town. "Stream teams" have charted the river and begun steps toward creating a Housatonic River Walk in Dalton (like the highly popular one in Great Barrington) or a similar project to enhance the public appreciation of the river. A series of hiking trails on Crane land off Gulf Road, opened to the public for the first time in 1997, see many visitors, especially during the foliage season. The Appalachian Trail, which runs through Dalton on Depot, Main, and High streets, heads back into wooded territory off Gulf Road on the north end and Day Mountain on the south end, and offers day hikers or weekend campers easy access to a national footpath. CRA Schedule DYC Weight Room Grades 6-8: Tuesday and Thursday 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. High School Monday, Wednesday and Friday 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Indoor Hockey month of November Co-ed Indoor Soccer March and April. Girls Softball April through July MiniCamps 9-3 when school's out and in-service days for K-6 Adjustment Counselor Monday-Thursday by appointment Members of the Community Recreation Association Board Jim Callahan, President Ron Griffin, Vice-president Vinnie Higuera, Secretary Dan Filiault Peter Horth John Kelly Paul Knauth Don Drosehn Lee Flournoy Bob Niebauer Ken Whitestone
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