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Plaistow Recreation Commission approves minutes; director outlines trips, facility work and summer program dates
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Plaistow Recreation Commission approved October 2024 minutes and heard Recreation Director Jennifer Gusler present upcoming trips (including a Feb. 14 Foxwoods casino trip, $45), facility repairs, senior and youth programming, and Summer Rec scheduled for June 23Aug. 8, 2025.
The Plaistow Recreation Commission convened on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, and approved its October 2024 minutes. Vice Chair Pat Buckley moved to approve the minutes and Lucinda Ward seconded; the motion passed 4-0-1 with Secretary Jessica Halloran recorded as abstaining.
Recreation Director Jennifer Gusler gave the commission an overview of planned programs and operations for early 2025. She listed scheduled trips including a Valentines Day casino trip to Foxwoods on Feb. 14 ($45 per person), a spring trip to the Made in NH Expo on April 4 with lunch at the Puritan, a summer trip to the House of the Seven Gables with lunch at the Hawthorne Hotel, and a holiday trip to the Norman Rockwell Museum with lunch at the Red Lion Inn.
Gusler reported several facilities updates. She said the toddler swing at Ingalls Terrace has been replaced and an invoice has been sent. Maintenance is working with the commission to repurpose the lower floor of the Town Hall Annex; maintenance staff member Jim will install a sink donated by the Fire Department. Gusler also said the Recreation Department is coordinating with the public library to move eight tables into the Annex.
The commission was briefed on upcoming professional development: the minutes note the NNERPC conference scheduled Jan. 14Jan. 16. Senior programming was also outlined: Bingo and Bagels will be held on the second Wednesday of each month and scrapbooking/card-making on the fourth Wednesday, beginning Jan. 22.
Gusler reviewed youth outings and registration details: a Jan. 20 no-school trip to Fun City (122 p.m., $20 per person); a Feb. 25 outing to Launch; tubing at Nashoba Valley Ski Area on Feb. 26 ($24 per person); a March 11 no-school Remix roller-skating party; and Launch activities during April vacation, including April 29. She said job postings for Summer Rec positions would go out by Monday, Feb. 6, some interest was already noted, and enrollment will open May 1 for the program that the minutes record as its 44th year. Summer Rec is scheduled for June 23 through Aug. 8.
On future programming, Gusler said the department will draft a rental agreement for the large room (to consider hourly charges and a security deposit), and pursue instructors for Drums Alive, monthly yoga and monthly painting classes. The department also plans monthly craft classes for seniors and adults, kids movie nights, a middle-schoolers night out, and family game nights.
Under "Open" items the commission noted the town Deliberative Session set for Feb. 1 at 9 a.m. at Town Hall to address warrant articles. Jon Gifford suggested establishing a community pumpkin patch to plant in spring and harvest in the fall. Members also discussed recruiting two additional members or alternates to bolster the commission.
The commission scheduled its next meeting for Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. The session adjourned at 7:14 p.m.
