GREATER JOLIET AREA YMCA

Bright, crisp apples are a fall favorite. If you can’t get to a pick-your-own spot, choose apples that are firm and shiny, without any bruises. Be sure to store apples in the refrigerator to keep them from getting mushy; they’ll keep for a couple of weeks.

Pro-Tip: If you’re not going to eat the sliced apples right away, keep them from browning by
dunking them in a bowl of three parts water to one part lemon juice.

Did You Know?

• 25 percent of an apple’s volume is air. That’s why they float when you go bobbing for them!
• It takes the energy produced by 50 photosynthesizing leaves to produce one apple.
• The crab apple is the only apple native to North America.

More information, including recipes for Apples with Creamy Honey Dip and Carrot-Apple Soup, can be found in the link below. Enjoy!

Recipes, Tips & More!

From left to right: Joliet Rotary Club Members Bill Lauer, Mark Griglione, Jim Watts and Greg Peyla stand alongside the Rotary/YMCA Sportsfield sign with Kidz Zone staff and participants.

Thirty years ago, the Joliet Rotary Club joined forces with the Galowich Family YMCA to update their facility and install the Rotary/YMCA Sportsfield, a 10-acre space that includes two soccer fields and two softball fields. The Y celebrated the 30th anniversary by hosting a summer picnic, which was attended by 185 guests, including Rotary Members, YMCA staff, summer day campers and other friends of the Y.

Christina Hester, a mother of three from Morris, was just months away from turning 30 when she realized she was in need of a lifestyle change. Her initial approach was simple: one hour of cardio each day at the Morris Y. Until one day, Christina decided to break her routine and attend AM Boot Camp, a fitness class known for its intensity.

“I was in the back of the room, terrified,” she said. “I was closest to the door, so in case anything went wrong, I could escape.”

Fortunately, her getaway plan wasn’t needed. Christina was instantly hooked. Now, in addition to Boot Camp, she’s a regular at Zumba, Hip-Hop Fit, and as of recently, yoga.

“The classes are intense,” she said. “You might think, ‘I’m never going to be able to do this.’ But you work your way up. It’s exciting.”

Today, Christina is 70 pounds lighter and no longer hides in the back. She visits the Y five days a week, typically two or three times per day.

During the Y’s August Fitness Challenge—in which members were challenged to swipe in 20 times in a month—Christina checked in 36 times.

“It’s weird when others start noticing you’ve lost weight, but it makes you feel really good,” she said. “My family and friends have been a strong support system. My girlfriends and I have a Facebook group, where we post ‘sweaty selfies.’ It’s in a closed group so everyone doesn’t have to see it. We motivate each other.”

Her biggest motivation, Christina says, are her children: Amber, Lola and Maximus. Thinking back, Christina recalls days when going up the stairs or playing at the park wasn’t so easy. But thankfully, now that Christina has chosen the path toward a healthy lifestyle, those days are behind her.

On August 8, the Morris Community YMCA hosted a free “Back to School” Camp Day in Coal City, where a tornado earlier this summer left many homes damaged and many residents displaced.

The event, held at Coal City Middle School, brought more than 120 kids together to enjoy a morning that included crafts, snacks, horse rides and much more. At the end of the day, parents were invited to join their children and YMCA staff for a free BBQ-style lunch, courtesy of Nutrition Services at Morris Hospital and Heathcare Centers.

From the Morris Herald-News:

The free camp day was created when Morris YMCA Executive Director Missy Durkin visited Coal City Superintendent Kent Bugg two days after the tornado, asking what she could do for the community.

“I talked to Dr. Bugg and went back to work, and spoke with the CEO and COO of the YMCA and told them that we needed to do something for the Coal City community,” Durkin said. “Then I talked to Dr. Bugg to come up with a plan where the kids could have fun, as well as the parents.”

Durkin and Morris YMCA Program and Membership Director Sarah Porzel put their heads together to create a free mini day camp and family lunch.

Photos from the day can be found on the Morris YMCA Facebook page.

Gus Rousonelos joined the C.W. Avery Family YMCA five years ago. He works out six days a week and regularly attends classes such as Pilates and yoga.

As a result of his hard work, and with the unwavering support of his trainers, Lisa Behounek and Melissa Vidito, Gus has completely transformed his life.

Not only has he lost more than 50 pounds, but Gus has become an avid participant in 5K and 10K races.

At this year’s Giving Gala, an event held each February at the Bolingbrook Country Club, Gus was the lucky winner of the “Strike A Pose” live auction item—which included the opportunity to be included on the cover of our 2015 Fall Program Guide.

With the help of generous individuals like Gus, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA’s Giving Gala has raised more than $350,000 to benefit families in our community. Thank you, Gus, for being a loyal Y member and a true campion of the Y’s mission in the Plainfield community!

The 2016 Giving Gala is scheduled for February 27, 2016 at the Bolingbrook Golf Club. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available. To learn more about supporting the Giving Gala, please contact:

Carolyn Hamilton
Vice President of Marketing and Membership
Phone: (815) 729-9638, ext. 313
E-mail: [email protected]

Six months ago today, the Morris Community YMCA opened its doors to a temporary facility, located at 320 Wauponsee Street. In that brief period of time, our membership base has grown tremendously, and we’ve had the opportunity to introduce a variety of new programming. We’d like to thank everyone who had a part in our growth, from our partners at Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers to our board members to our staff. Last, but certainly not least, we’d like to thank all of our members! The best is truly yet to come.