JANUARY 2026
AT THE MID-WILLAMETTE FAMILY YMCA
REMINDER: THE YMCA WILL BE CLOSED ON 1/19 FOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY
Y STORIES: BILLIE MAURER If you have used the YMCA pool, you have likely seen Billie Maurer, our Aquatics Director. Whether in the pool, on deck, or elsewhere in the facility, Maurer is a mainstay of the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA. Many mornings, you can spot her teaching water aerobics classes to a pool full of people, giving instructions to the crowd over music blasting from nearby speakers. Other times, you can see her lifeguarding or shepherding kids across the pool during swim lessons. Maurer—like many at our YMCA—wears several hats.
IN THIS ISSUE Y Stories: Billie Maurer Page 1-4 Birthdays & Locker Room Update Page 5 Community Partner Highlight Page 6-7 YFit 60-Day Blast & Tumbling Tots Page 8 Middle School Dance & Ballroom Dance Class Page 9 Lifeguard Certification & CrossFit Page 10 Hand Drum Class & Chess Club Page 11 Volleyball Academy & Boxing Page 12
Friday Night Out & Preschool Page 13 Fitness & Pool Schedules Page 14
JANUARY 2026 AT THE YMCA
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Maurer joined the YMCA staff in 2022 during a period of change and uncertainty amid the COVID-19 pandemic. She previously worked as the Aquatics Director of the Stayton Family Memorial Pool in Stayton, Oregon. When members at Stayton heard she was applying, they called the YMCA and urged leadership to hire her. Maurer grew up on a horse ranch in Scio, Oregon. As a child, she spent time swimming in Thomas Creek and took her first swim lessons at Stayton. Before managing aquatics, she taught preschool at Salem Child Development Center and later served as a 911 dispatcher. Maurer said that her career in aquatics developed organically: a longtime softball coach, she was asked to help teach Parent & Tot swim lessons in Stayton. From there, she became an Aquatics Coordinator, then an Aquatics Director. Along the way, she coached swim teams, taught aerobics classes, and learned how to repair equipment and manage a pump room. At the YMCA, Maurer oversees all aquatics operations and staff. Her responsibilities include swim lessons, aquatic fitness classes, lifeguard training, and pool maintenance. She is also BLS certified, a certified pump operator, and a lifeguard course instructor. She has a varied background in hostage negotiation training, verbal judo training, civil and criminal law training, and more. Additionally, Maurer serves as our YMCA's Safety Chair and is responsible for maintaining emergency equipment throughout the facility. The YMCA is also a family affair for Maurer. She works alongside her daughter, Sydney, and her son, Mason. Both began working in aquatics as teenagers in Stayton. Sydney recently welcomed a baby, making Maurer a grandmother. Many YMCA members shared in the milestone: Some have given the family gifts, and many attended Sydney’s baby shower earlier in the year. One aspect of Maurer’s role as Aquatics Director that she enjoys the most is the ability to participate in different work and activities all the time—whether playing with kids, teaching classes, moving around the building, or utilizing her skills and knowledge.
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Maurer is also grateful to impart water safety to both kids and adults. Once, while working at Stayton, she received a call from a mother whose son had participated in water safety training, which teaches children how to respond if someone needs to be rescued. “She called me and said, ‘My son just saved my daughter.’ Her daughter had just started to walk, and they had a boat up at Detroit, and they were on the dock. She reached down to put the life jacket on the baby, and the baby fell in. The son was on his tummy and grabbed hold of the baby. She said, ‘It literally happened that quickly,’ and she was in tears,” Maurer said. “It was just one of those quick little reflexive things that you don’t think about.” It is moments like this, Maurer said, where she is particularly grateful to help provide water safety education—especially because, as Oregonians, we are around water all the time. Yet, her favorite memories are the impactful stories shared with her by members, particularly senior members who find health, community, and connection through aquatics classes at the Y. “I think my favorite moment would be when one of the older ladies came up to me and said, ‘Billie, I have just hit 50 pounds lost,’ and she started crying. She goes, ‘I haven’t been this weight since I was in my 40s,’ and she was in her late 60s, early 70s,” Maurer said. “I also look at some of the kids that I work with, because I specialize in swimming lessons—I work with a lot of autistic kids. So, when they figure out how to swim, that is so rewarding. There are just so many moments.” As a supervisor to over 45 employees—many of whom are working their first jobs as lifeguards in their teenage years—Maurer strives to serve as a mentor and hold her staff to a high standard. She operates by the motto that she would not ask her staff to do anything she would not do. And, she emphasizes customer service: growing up, her dad was a barber, and her mom worked for Wilco for decades. “My sister and I learned, at a very young age, that customer service is huge,” Maurer said. “So, I really push my staff to say hello and goodbye to people. If they chat for a bit, that’s good, because for some, we may be the only people they talk to all day. Even if I can make somebody smile for a brief moment, that’s great.” The community Maurer fosters at the Y is visible in her classes—particularly in shallow- and deep-water aerobics, mainly attended by the YMCA’s Active Older Adults population. The pool helps seniors maintain their mobility, lose weight, and stay active—and, for many, the classes become an outlet for socializing and friendship, positively impacting the lives of members in various ways.
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For example, Maurer said that many older folks come to the Y and realize they are in the same boat: maybe they have lost a spouse, and they need an opportunity for activity and connection. The Y, she said, provides that. “At Stayton, we had one lady who came every morning, like clockwork. And there was a group of them that worked out together. That was her social time. One day, she didn’t show up. And so I called—no answer. So one of the ladies got out and went to the house. She had had a heart attack, but she was alive,” Maurer said. “But if we hadn’t got there and done something, she would have been alone. But she made it, and she made it for another six years.” That kind of support and community is something Maurer witnesses each day at the YMCA. Her popularity among members—and her full classes—are a testament to her dedication to the YMCA organization, facility, and community. For more information on Billie's classes and the rest of our aquatics schedule, visit our Aquatics Exercise Classes webpage.
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BIRTHDAYS AT THE YMCA Thank you to everyone who recently celebrated a birthday with us. We are so glad to be part of your special day and help make it one to remember.
Elijah Boyanovsky Alex Weber Synleigh Pan Drake Hennick Interested in celebrating your birthday at the YMCA? Click here or scan the QR code below to learn more about our Facility Rental options.
YMCA LOCKER ROOM UPDATE Thank you for your continued patience as our locker room remodel moves forward. Below is a quick update on where things stand, what’s coming next, and what to expect during construction. Men’s Locker Room Timeline: We are nearing the finish line in the men’s locker room, with an estimated completion by the end of January. While the project has experienced some setbacks including material delays and unforeseen construction challenges, our team and contractors are working diligently to complete the space as quickly as possible without compromising quality or safety. Once the men’s locker room is completed and reopened, we will move shortly after into the women’s locker room remodel. Additional details and timelines for that phase will be shared as soon as they are finalized. What’s Coming with the Remodel: The updated locker rooms are designed to improve comfort, accessibility, and overall functionality. Enhancements include: A new doorless ADA-accessible entrance Non-slip flooring throughout Larger, modernized showers with changing areas Two private ADA-accessible shower rooms in each locker room Temporary Locker Room Access During Construction: While each locker room is being remodeled, members will have access to alternate options: 1. The Family Locker Room, featuring four private changing areas. 2. A shower trailer provided by Best Pots, offering three private changing areas and showers. This trailer is located on the concrete pad at the east end of the Lap Pool. We understand that construction can be disruptive and truly appreciate your flexibility and understanding. These updates are an important investment in the long-term quality and accessibility of our facilities, and we’re excited to share the finished spaces with you soon. Thank you for being part of our YMCA community!
BIRTHDAYS & YMCA NEWS
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MIDWAY PLUMBING FAST FACTS Founded: 1963 Ownership: Three generations, family-owned and operated Current Owners: Stephanie King; her husband, Lance; brother-in-law BJ; and sister-in-law Kyla King Employees: 28 team members Services: Residential and
COMMUNITY PARTNER HIGHLIGHT: MIDWAY PLUMBING For more than six decades, Midway Plumbing has been a trusted presence in the Albany community—quietly doing the work that keeps homes, businesses, and families running. Founded in 1963, Midway’s story is one of generational leadership, long-term relationships, and a belief that strong communities are built when businesses invest in people. The company began when Stephanie King’s grandfather opened Midway Plumbing in the early 1960s, originally selling appliances alongside plumbing services. In 1972, Stephanie’s father purchased and incorporated the business, establishing its longtime home at its current Albany location. From the start, Midway was built on practical values: do the work right, treat people fairly, and show up when the community needs you. Stephanie began working at Midway as a junior in high school in 1989. In 2008, she and her husband, Lance, along with her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, BJ and Kyla, officially purchased the company. Today, they carry forward a three-generation legacy rooted in integrity, loyalty, and a long view of relationships.
commercial plumbing, water treatment, water softening, backflow testing Community Focus: Longtime supporter of youth sports, local nonprofits, and community programs YMCA Connection: Involved since the YMCA’s founding; provided plumbing services for multiple facility expansions
A defining characteristic of Midway Plumbing is its commitment to its employees. “When we hire someone, we hire them forever,” Stephanie said. Many team members have spent their entire careers at Midway, while others have gone on to start their own plumbing companies in Albany—still speaking highly of the culture and leadership that shaped them.
COMMUNITY PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
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That same long-term mindset has shaped Midway’s relationship with our YMCA. Stephanie’s father was part of the original leadership group that helped raise funds to establish the YMCA, and Midway Plumbing supported early projects and multiple facility expansions, including the current campus. Beyond construction, the YMCA has also been part of Midway’s family life. Stephanie’s children played YMCA sports, and her family experienced the Y as both partners and members. She has been especially inspired by the YMCA’s recent growth and visible impact across the community. “The YMCA isn’t just a nonprofit in name,” she said. “It’s visible. It’s helping kids and families every single day.”
Midway’s commitment to community extends well beyond the YMCA. Over the years, the company has supported youth sports, Parks & Recreation programs, and longtime partners like the Boys & Girls Club—believing that communities are strongest when organizations work together.
A MESSAGE FROM GREATER ALBANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS GAPS is launching a Community Newsletter! This monthly newsletter is designed to keep the entire Albany community—whether you have students in our schools or not—informed and connected. Each edition will feature updates from the Long Range Facility Advisory Committee, district highlights and celebrations, and messages from Superintendent Andy Gardner. This newsletter is separate from our weekly Friday Focus and open to anyone interested in staying engaged with the Greater Albany Public Schools.
Today, Midway Plumbing employs 28 team members and continues to grow thoughtfully, expanding services to better serve customers while protecting the family-centered culture that defines the company. “We take care of our people,” Stephanie said. “That’s always been our priority.”
GAPS invites you to sign up and share the link below with friends, neighbors, and anyone who wants to stay in the know about what’s happening across our schools!
As Midway Plumbing looks ahead, its focus remains rooted in the same values that carried it through six decades: loyalty, service, and community investment. For Midway, success is measured not only in years or projects, but in relationships built and a community strengthened along the way.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR GAPS COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
COMMUNITY PARTNER HIGHLIGHT
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YFIT 60-DAY BLAST
JANUARY 5-MARCH 5 REGISTRATION DEADLINE JANUARY 5 Achieve your goals in 2026 with our YFit 60-Day Blast! Start your year off right with a program designed to support your unique goals. Join and receive exercise and meal plans, access to our YFit Facebook Group, goal setting, options for one-on-one meet ups with fitness staff, and more.
For ages 16+ Level 1: $10 Members / $15 Guests Level 2: $25 Members / $30 Guests Level 3: $40 Members / $45 Guests Click here for more information and to register.
TUMBLING TOTS JAN. 27-FEB. 24 / JAN. 30 - FEB. 28 REGISTRATION DEADLINE JAN. 27 / JAN. 30 Looking for an active outlet for your toddler? Tumbling Tots is perfect for young children just beginning their tumbling journey! This fun and safe class helps kids develop basic tumbling skills while building confidence and coordination. Activities include trampoline, vault, balance beams, and gymnastic bars, along with an introduction to tabletops and forward/backward rolls.
Sessions on Tuesday Afternoons or Saturday Mornings Class 1: Ages 2-3, Class 2: Ages 4-5 $60 Members / $80 Guests Click here for more information and to register.
JANUARY PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
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JANUARY MIDDLE SCHOOL DANCE: WINTER WHITE OUT FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 REGISTRATION DEADLINE JANUARY 9 Mark your calendar! Every 2nd Friday of the month from 7–9 PM, middle schoolers are invited for a night of music, fun, and friends. Our next dance is January 9: Get ready for a Winter White Out Party! Entry is FREE. Pre-register or register at the door.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Bring your Student ID or proof of middle school attendance. Free entry Click here for more information and to register.
BALLROOM DANCE CLASS JANUARY 21 - FEBRUARY 25 REGISTRATION DEADLINE JANUARY 21 Get ready to glide across the dance floor with your favorite partner! Our Ballroom Dance program caters to everyone, regardless of your dance background or experience level. Every week, you'll learn a new style of dance: Swing, Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha, and more. 6-week session Wednesdays, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM Ages 16+ $120 per couple (Members) $140 per couple (Guests) Click here for more information and to register.
JANUARY PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
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LIFEGUARD CERTIFICATION JANUARY 9-11 REGISTRATION DEADLINE JANUARY 3
Ready to make a difference? Join us for our Lifeguard Certification Training and gain essential skills to save lives! This comprehensive training is open to ages 15 and up and will equip you with the tools to ensure water safety and rescue. Certifications are valid for 2 years! Plus, if you secure a position with the Mid-Willamette Family YMCA, the class fee will be refunded (deposit not included).
$100 Members / $175 Guests A non-refundable deposit of $75 is required to secure your spot Click here for more information and to register.
CROSSFIT MID VALLEY ONGOING Join us for CrossFit at the YMCA with CrossFit Mid Valley! Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or a beginner, CrossFit Mid Valley offers strength, conditioning, and community that will push you to your limits—and leave you feeling amazing!
YMCA Members: $50/month per person CrossFit-Only Memberships: Individual: $90/month Couple: $150/month Family: $240/month Drop-in Rate: $15 per session Click here for more information and to register.
JANUARY PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
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WORLD RHYTHMS HAND DRUM CLASS JANUARY 7, 14, 21, 28 REGISTRATION DEADLINE JANUARY 7 Join us for a vibrant series led by Michelle Lovrich, founder of Drum Circle Connection. Discover how drumming awakens the mind, body, and spirit— connecting you to a global rhythm of joy, creativity, and healing.
4-week series, Wednesday evenings Open to ages 12+ (ages 12-18 must be accompanied by an adult) $75 Members / Guests Click here for more information and to register.
CHESS CLUB STARTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 ONGOING This chess club is a social, informational, instructional, or competitive meeting place where people come together through chess. We offer a wide variety of activities, including instruction, and recreational play. Every member is important to the success of the club, and it cannot exist without active participation! Tuesdays at 5:30 PM in the Community Room Ages 8+ Free Click here for more information and to register.
JANUARY PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
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VOLLEYBALL ACADEMY ONGOING At YMCA Volleyball Academy, we inspire a love for volleyball while empowering young athletes to reach their full potential. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, our premier training programs are designed to help you elevate your game in a supportive and engaging environment.
Beginner Level: Wednesdays, 5:00 PM-6:00 PM ($40 Members / Non-Members) Intermediate & Advanced Levels: Tuesdays, 5:30 PM-7:00 PM ($50 Members / $60 Non-Members) Click here for more information and to register.
ELITE BOXING ONGOING Our Elite Boxing program welcomes people of all ages and skill levels, as there are classes for kids, beginners, and advanced boxers! The first class is free, so you can try it out before committing to joining the program. Kids Class (Ages 6-10) Beginners Class (Ages 11+) Advanced Class (Ages 18+) Prices varies Click here for more information and to register.
JANUARY PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
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FRIDAY NIGHT OUT EVENING CHILD CARE EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT Need a break? The YMCA has got you covered! Our Friday Night Out program allows you to enjoy some welldeserved downtime while your child dives into a night of games, crafts, swimming (ages 6+), pizza, and more. Every Friday 5:30 PM-8:30 PM Ages 8 weeks - 5th grade $15 Members / $20 Guests Click here for more information and to register.
YMCA PRESCHOOLS
PRESCHOOL / TODDLER CARE / EARLY LEARNING FULL DAY & HALF DAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE Is your child ready for preschool? It’s never too early to plan for their future! At YMCA Preschools, every day is full of growth, discovery, and fun.
Flexible Options: Choose from full-day or part-day programs to suit your family’s schedule. We also have Toddler Care for ages 2-3 at our Growing Leaders Early Learning Center. Whole-Child Focus: We balance academic learning with social-emotional development for a well-rounded start. Fun & Discovery: From hands-on activities to making new friends, every day is an adventure! Click here for more information.
JANUARY PROGRAMS AT THE YMCA
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FITNESS & POOL SCHEDULES WINTER FITNESS SCHEDULE WINTER POOL SCHEDULE OPEN SWIM SCHEDULE HOT TUB SCHEDULE
FIND US ONLINE Website: ymcaalbany.org Facebook: facebook.com/ymcaalbany Instagram: @ymca_albany
FROM THE ARCHIVES
CLASS LINKS MW 12:00 PM Yoga: meet.google.com/igu-akrt-jhu TTH 7:30 AM Yoga: meet.google.com/qxb-vfrx-guj W 5:30 PM Power Yoga: meet.google.com/ake-ianf-ttw
WINTER FITNESS & POOL SCHEDULES
A New Year’s deal from 1999!
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