RED WING – Bryan Soper started as the YMCA’s new executive director on Oct. 1, 2021, bringing 30 years of nonprofit experience to help ease pandemic-related challenges.
RED WING – Bryan Soper started as the YMCA’s new executive director on Oct. 1, 2021, bringing 30 years of nonprofit experience to help ease pandemic-related challenges.
The ice carousel took two hours to create and attracted 80 people for ice skating and bonfires. 10:00 am, Jan. 26, 2021 ×
The Ice Carousel in Lake Pepin. (Taken from video by Sam Tittle)
RED WING The Red Wing YMCA created the first-ever ice carousel on Lake Pepin on Jan. 9, giving the community a new spin on ways to enjoy the frozen lake.
The carousel a disk of ice cut free and kept spinning by a small engine was open for 10 hours and 80 people turned out for ice skating and bonfires, YMCA Executive Director Martha Harris said.
“It was great. The families that came were saying ‘oh my gosh we really needed this,’” Harris said. “People met new people from both sides of the river that night from a safe distance with masks on and parkas and hoods pulled.”
RE top 10: Red Wing YMCA poised for another 150 years
Story No. 10: In January, the Y kicked off what was to be a yearlong sesquicentennial celebration. The pandemic put a halt to that, but the board members, trustees and staff shifted to work with schools and civic organizations to address people’s needs. Written By: Anne Jacobson | ×
Red Wing YMCA Executive Director Mike Melstad stands in the lobby next to Joe Saul s plaque while holding a photo of the 1909 building. Melstad, who served as director from 2008-2020, noted that Saul became physical director in 1916 and continued to serve until retiring as executive director in 1958. Camp Pepin was established during Saul’s tenure. Ruth Nerhaugen / Contributor