Community News
Going for the gold
By Zeel Patel
On February 15th,105 swimmers from the CT Yankee Cluster Swim League had an amazing experience, meeting Olympic swimmers. The swim league is statewide, and includes swimmers from a dozen local YMCA swim teams. The league competes together in local meets across the state. Olympic swim medalists, Kim Vandenberg and Jason Lezak, attended the event to talk about being an Olympian and also to teach a future generation of swimmers how become better athletes. This clinic was a part of Mutual of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinic, which is held each year throughout the country.
The clinic participants were ages seven to ten. First, the Olympians began with a “dry-land” presentation. Dry-land means to exercise out of the water. The swimmers also participated in various drills and watched the Olympians demonstrate the drills too. The young swimmers listened to what it takes to earn an Olympic gold medal. The Olympians also shared training tips. Vandenberg, is a bronze medalist who was in the 800 meter freestyle relay from the 2008 Olympics. Lezak swam in four Olympics, where he won three gold medals in the men’s 400 meter relay, including a world record performance in the 2008 Olympics. Lezak believes, “A lot of it is the motivation, sharing our stories with them. To inspire them.” If you are interested in being part of the Yankee Cluster Swim League you can join the Meriden YMCA Seals Swim Team and compete in swim meets.
On February 15th,105 swimmers from the CT Yankee Cluster Swim League had an amazing experience, meeting Olympic swimmers. The swim league is statewide, and includes swimmers from a dozen local YMCA swim teams. The league competes together in local meets across the state. Olympic swim medalists, Kim Vandenberg and Jason Lezak, attended the event to talk about being an Olympian and also to teach a future generation of swimmers how become better athletes. This clinic was a part of Mutual of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinic, which is held each year throughout the country.
The clinic participants were ages seven to ten. First, the Olympians began with a “dry-land” presentation. Dry-land means to exercise out of the water. The swimmers also participated in various drills and watched the Olympians demonstrate the drills too. The young swimmers listened to what it takes to earn an Olympic gold medal. The Olympians also shared training tips. Vandenberg, is a bronze medalist who was in the 800 meter freestyle relay from the 2008 Olympics. Lezak swam in four Olympics, where he won three gold medals in the men’s 400 meter relay, including a world record performance in the 2008 Olympics. Lezak believes, “A lot of it is the motivation, sharing our stories with them. To inspire them.” If you are interested in being part of the Yankee Cluster Swim League you can join the Meriden YMCA Seals Swim Team and compete in swim meets.
The history of the Daffodil Festival
By Savannah Rivers
The popular Meriden Daffodil Festival began 37 years ago. The festival has always been held in Hubbard Park, during the last week of April each year. The event celebrates 650,000 blooming daffodils. What started as a community event has grown into one of Connecticut’s most-popular premier events.
This year, 3,000 people marched in the parade, including students from different schools in the Meriden School District, this made the festival fun and exciting. Along with the parade, the festival features an arts and crafts sale, a plethora of rides, games and food tents, and the selection of both Little Miss Daffodil and her Honor Escort. This year it was Riley Masterson, 6, and the Honor Escort was Hunter Herbst, 9.
This festival is held annually rain or shine. The event is held on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and the from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. This event also has a fireworks show on Saturday at 8:30 PM, which is said to be one of the best in New England. With all this, the Daffodil Festival is a great event for families and friends, both old and young, to come together and have a great time. I hope you got a chance to go, but if not be sure to stop by next year.
Going to the Daffodil Festival has always been a fun experience for my family and I. One good memory of the Daffodil Festival is from at least 6 years ago, back when I was in 2nd grade. I had gone to the festival with my family, and my mom had given my brother and I around 20 dollars each to spend at the craft booths. I had my heart set on a blue dog puppet, but my mom said I couldn't get that, since the strings would tangle 10 minutes after I got it and would be completely useless, so I walked past the puppets with a frown on my face. I was going to save my money and stick it in my piggy bank for later, when I walked past the tent that had the wooden objects. I was drawn towards the tent by the shiny coating on the objects, but then I saw the guy who was playing the ocarina and instantly changed my mind about saving my money. I asked my mom, she asked the guy who was playing it how much it was, and 5 minutes later I was playing a duet of bad notes with my brother who had bought one as well. My parents were probably regretting the choice of letting us buy them that night, though, because my brother and I used the ocarinas all the time. What’s your favorite memory of the Daffodil Festival?
The popular Meriden Daffodil Festival began 37 years ago. The festival has always been held in Hubbard Park, during the last week of April each year. The event celebrates 650,000 blooming daffodils. What started as a community event has grown into one of Connecticut’s most-popular premier events.
This year, 3,000 people marched in the parade, including students from different schools in the Meriden School District, this made the festival fun and exciting. Along with the parade, the festival features an arts and crafts sale, a plethora of rides, games and food tents, and the selection of both Little Miss Daffodil and her Honor Escort. This year it was Riley Masterson, 6, and the Honor Escort was Hunter Herbst, 9.
This festival is held annually rain or shine. The event is held on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM and the from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday. This event also has a fireworks show on Saturday at 8:30 PM, which is said to be one of the best in New England. With all this, the Daffodil Festival is a great event for families and friends, both old and young, to come together and have a great time. I hope you got a chance to go, but if not be sure to stop by next year.
Going to the Daffodil Festival has always been a fun experience for my family and I. One good memory of the Daffodil Festival is from at least 6 years ago, back when I was in 2nd grade. I had gone to the festival with my family, and my mom had given my brother and I around 20 dollars each to spend at the craft booths. I had my heart set on a blue dog puppet, but my mom said I couldn't get that, since the strings would tangle 10 minutes after I got it and would be completely useless, so I walked past the puppets with a frown on my face. I was going to save my money and stick it in my piggy bank for later, when I walked past the tent that had the wooden objects. I was drawn towards the tent by the shiny coating on the objects, but then I saw the guy who was playing the ocarina and instantly changed my mind about saving my money. I asked my mom, she asked the guy who was playing it how much it was, and 5 minutes later I was playing a duet of bad notes with my brother who had bought one as well. My parents were probably regretting the choice of letting us buy them that night, though, because my brother and I used the ocarinas all the time. What’s your favorite memory of the Daffodil Festival?