Central Bucks Family YMCA

Over the past four months,  I have tried to spread the word about Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” training by doing presentations at local organizations. During this time, I have been fortunate to meet wonderful and supportive advocates from child serving organizations, government agencies, the local school district, hospitals and many other individuals, all passionate in their service to keep our county as healthy as possible.  I have now taught this program four times and I have heard many people share their stories.

I realize that every time someone feels empowered enough to tell me their story, that the statistics are real and that I have just spoken to one of 39 million survivors. Last week, a woman sought me out and told me her story about how she dealt with “it” all of these years.  I left work that day, unable to get her comments out of my mind. Over the weekend when trying to process her story, I finally smiled and realized that this type of connection with another person was a gift.  She felt comfortable enough with me to tell me her story. I realized that each time she told her story, she would get stronger and be better equipped to make peace with her past. Talking about it was part of her healing process. I felt that our conversation helped her to begin her healing process, that she was empowered with help from NOVA, to looked forward to a happier future.

As I reflect on her story, I know this path is the right one for me – to make others aware that one in four girls, and one in six boys, will be sexually abused prior to the age of eighteen.  This journey is about educating our county with the goal of saving children and keeping them healthy and whole.  I realize there are many other organizations and leaders in our community  who have this same passion and are working hard towards a healthier Bucks County.  Together I hope we will be able to raise awareness and funds needed to train additional facilitators in the Darkness to Light “Stewards of Children” program. One child is too many!

Central Bucks Family YMCA will be offering this training program monthly to our members and the community.  Please contact our Y at 215.348.8131 or go to our website www.cbfymca.org  for more information and to register for one of the trainings.  For additional information Darkness to Light, check here:  www.darkness2light.org or www.D2L.org

Central Bucks Family YMCA is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of community life. The Y strengthens the spirit, mind and body of its members. We build character by promoting the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility

Art and Barbara Burger, Cindy and Mike Ezdon, Mike Clark

Local runners from throughout the area met Thursday to honor Boston Marathoners with a run.  Runners in the Y running club and Crails Broad Street Runners observed a moment of silence in the evening on May 2 and ran a 2.62 mile distance.  Sharon Schanbacker, with her husband Skip, have led the Y running club since 1988. “We know a number of runners who ran in the 2013 Boston Marathon and they’ve shared their stories with us,” said Schanbacker. “We have a very close friend who ran in Boston and was near the location of bomb 2 when it went off. Her story brings tears to my eye.”

Members of the Y running group and Crails Broad Street runners gather by the Y flagpole before running to honor Boston Marathoners

Schanbacker organized the event to offer a casual remembrance of running on their normal Thursday night. Thirty seven local runners came to show their support and run the significant distance of 2.62; a marathon is 26.2 miles.

Central Bucks Family YMCA is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of community life. The Y strengthens the spirit, mind and body of its members. We build character by promoting the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility.

The idea of a kids’ firefighter camp is not unique or new. I’m not ashamed to say that I stole, or respectfully copied, the idea from, among others, Hartsville Fire Company in Warminster. What is different about Blaze Brigade Fire Cadet Camp is the collaboration between Central Bucks Family YMCA’s Camp Takoda and Doylestown Fire Company.

As volunteer firefighters, the logistics of setting up the camp, registering, transporting and assuring the safety of the campers, as well as the marketing and registration, is a daunting task. But with the help of the Y, we were able to run the camp program site and planning while the Y did the rest.

We had a great week last year. Despite the fact that it was the hottest week of June, and maybe the summer, the cadets had an opportunity to learn about all aspects of firefighting, meet firefighters, paramedics, and police officers, and get real wet!

This year we will have visits from Doylestown Borough Police, Central Bucks Ambulance, Pennsylvania State Police, and other special guests as well as a field trip on the last day. Campers will get to see what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter, learn fire prevention skills that will help keep themselves and their families safe, and have fun.

The camp meets at Doylestown Fire Company’s Station 79 on Warden Road. In addition to the camp and field trip, there will be a graduation ceremony for the campers and families on Thursday night at the Warden Road station where campers will have the opportunity to show what they learned during the week.

The camp has spun off another project: Blaze Brigade. Blaze Brigade is another program partnership between CBFYMCA and Doylestown Fire Company, for youth age 8-14. Cadets meet monthly and learn about firefighting, get to participate in fire prevention activities, and feel what it’s like to be part of a firefighting organization. After graduating from the brigade, they can become explorers when they turn 14, junior firefighters at 16, and active firefighters at 18. The cadets have visited both stations, washed trucks, met firefighters, toured the Bucks County 911 center and Hazardous Materials Team headquarters, and assisted at fire prevention events.

For more information on Firefighter camp, connect with Kevin Crail, 215.348.8131, x1147 or click here to view the brochure page.

Central Bucks Family YMCA is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of community life. The Y strengthens the spirit, mind and body of its members. We build character by promoting the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility.

One Friday night after work, I was out for my weekly dinner with my dad and I was telling him about the new ballet class I started taking at the Y. Our conversation started out in a simple, “What’s new?” kind of chit-chat, and quickly became a, “Dad, I can’t believe how amazing it is. I feel like I’ve gone back to my childhood and like I’m a new person,” type of conversation. While describing this class to him, I became overwhelmed by how important and special it had already become to me. And this was just after the first class.

Growing up, I was a dancer for years at various studios, but I chose to give up on dancing when I was 14. Leaving ballet was a very sad and difficult thing for me to do, and I’ve missed what dancing did for me ever since. I never thought I would feel that joy again. Then, a few weeks ago, I noticed that the Y was going to start offering an Adult Ballet Class. Not knowing what to expect, I decided to sign up for it and just see what happens.

One class – that’s all it took. One class, and all of the joy that dancing brought to me as a young girl came rushing back. The simple movements in my arms and legs, at the barre and across the floor, carried me back to a time in my childhood when dancing was just about having fun and feeling good. The camaraderie amongst those of us in the class is so motivating and accepting. Our instructor, Janelle, has set a tone that encourages all of us to listen to our bodies, challenge ourselves, and also take pride in every accomplishment, big or small.

I feel so fortunate and changed by this class. It’s funny, because every day, all I think about is how I as a Y employee can do my best to make an impact on our members’ lives. Then this class and group of individuals snuck up on me and made me remember that I can be just as impacted by our Y and all it has to offer too.

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For more information on Adult Dance classes at the Y, connect with Rebecca Miller Russo, 215.348.8131, x1185.

Central Bucks Family YMCA is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of community life. The Y strengthens the spirit, mind and body of its members. We build character by promoting the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility.

What’s Your Style Lets face it. There are about as many styles of martial arts as religions. Karate, Taekwondo, Kungfu what’s the difference?  I get this question all the time. He are a few of the more popular ones:

Aikido   is a Japanese art that consists of grappling.  It flows with the motion of the attacker more then meeting them straight on. The practitioner doesn’t relay on total strength. They redirect the attackers movements followed by various joint locks and throws.

Hapkido is a Korean Art. They use punches, kicks and joint locks and other strikes. Hapkido uses circular movements to manipulate  and control their opponent. They use footwork and leverage to gain advantage not strength.

Judo is a Japanese Art. Getting your opponent on the ground by a throw or takedown to subdue them is the objective. They use grappling, joint locks and choking. Like Taekwondo this is included in the Olympics.

Karate is from the Japanese island of Okinawa. It means Empty Hands. It is a striking art using punches, kicks, knees, elbows, and open knife hand strikes. The most common traditional styles are Shotokan, Wado Ryu, Shito Ryu and Goju Ryu.

Krav Maga is an Israeli art. Is consists of wrestling, grappling, and striking. It is known for its brutal counter attacks. There is no uniform you fight with what you wear. There are no rules. You incapacitate your opponent by any means necessary.

Kung Fu is a Chinese Art. There are a number of fighting styles. Many of which mimic the movements of animals. Some focus on internal Qi (chi). It is energy or life force.  Some focus on the external by improving muscle and cardiovascular conditioning.

MMA or Mixed Martial Arts  It’s a full contact style that is all sport. They fight standing or on the ground. Most fighters are skilled in multiple styles of martial arts. They lean more against tradition and use only what’s effective in their sport.

Taekwondo is a Korean art. It is one of the most practiced arts in the world. A lot of the roots trace back to Shotokan Karate. It is self defense as well as sport oriented. They use punches, blocks and strikes but is mostly known for the kicks. Like Judo this is included in the Olympics.

Tai Chi s a Chinese Art. Tai Chi means Supreme Ultimate. Some of the the movements mimic animals and birds.  It is used for self defense as well as an internal art used for health benefits. The movements are slow soft and graceful. They focus on channeling the opponents attacking energy and send it away in another direction.

These are just a few of many. I have tried to summarize each one briefly. I mean no disrespect if what I have written doesn’t sit well with you and your listed art.  Remember- It’s not the Art that makes the difference,  it’s the Student.

Are you curious about Martial Arts?  No experience is necessary…JOIN US!

Martial Arts Combo Class
Saturday, June 16 2-4:00
Central Bucks Family YMCA, studio A
Ages 12 and up
2:00 Budokan
2:30 Body Combat
3:00 Karate
3:30 Tai Chi

$20 Member
$34 Potential Member

Connect with Rebecca Miller Russo with questions out martial arts programs at the Y, 215.348.8131, x1185.

Stacy Pursell is a martial arts instructor at Central Bucks FAmily YMCA.

Central Bucks Family YMCA is a charitable non-profit organization whose purpose is to improve the quality of community life. The Y strengthens the spirit, mind and body of its members. We build character by promoting the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility.