Letter to the Editor: Difficulties with the Rec Department

April 16, 2010
by Bill Guernier

Dear Editor,

I have watched Pete Zimmerman deal with my kids on the football and baseball fields, in his store and around town. He has never been anything but a great influence and he clearly cares for the kids.

My experience with the Recreation Department has not been so pleasant. As an NCBSA (New Castle Baseball and Softball Association) board member and summer league baseball coach, I found nothing but obstacles, starting with the condescending manner of the office staff right up to Bob Snyder’s intransigence on access to fields, or even little things like to how the foul lines are drawn on the fields, or being able to turn the lights on ourselves.

I find it very interesting that the Recreation Department wants to take the youth program “in a new direction” by outsourcing the program from local volunteers and parents to an outside program or a “football guru.”

The existing soccer programs are run by parent volunteers, one under the AYSO banner and one under the parent-formed Chappaqua Youth Soccer Club. As Burke St. John pointed out, the NCBSA was formed by parent volunteers years ago to upgrade the lousy job the Recreation Department was doing at the time.

Fundamentally, the youth football program has been run by volunteers in the same manner as other sports, just without an official organization such as the NCBSA. To change it now is just insane.

If a “new direction”  is in order, maybe we need to start with the Rec Department.

Bill Guernier
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To find our previous coverage of the football controversy, click HERE.