Bay Windows Spring 2025

BAY WINDOWS Youth Development at Silver Bay

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

T HELP PEOPLE GE ATHLETICS INTERESTED IN

SPRING 2025

BE MORE KIND AND GET OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE

GET OUT MORE AND BE WITH THE COMMUNITY

BE MORE OPEN

PLAY SPORTS WITH FRIENDS TALK TO PEOPLE MORE AND DO STUFF OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

Silver Bay YMCA Ticonderoga Teen Center Inspired me to...

R OTHE H T I ECT W FRIENDS CONN E AND S PEOPL LAY GAME AND P

KEEP WORKING HARD

BECOME A LEADER AND HELP PEOPLE OUT

TRY MORE THINGS

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Silver Bay: Supporting Youth Development 9

Success Story: Paul Nasrani

4 Building Futures: Testimonials

10 Beyond The Classroom

5 Benevolent Fund

11 Youth Impact

6 Success Story: Mack Woodruff

12 Youth Economics

13 Milestones 7 Success Story: Paige Hughes Binfield 8 Empowered Youth, Stronger Communities OUR MISSION: To cultivate relationships, strengthen communities and nurture spirit, mind and body for all.

OUR IMPACT: Because of Silver Bay YMCA, connections between people and family are stronger.

People are more connected, respectful and caring. They have the confidence to develop to their full potential and to positively impact the communities in which they work and live. As a result, communities are more dynamic, comprehensive and varied. As stewards of Lake George, we inspire people to be stewards of the environment while they are visiting our magnificent campus and in their home communities.

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SILVER BAY: SUPPORTING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT UNLOCKING POTENTIAL preschoolers in the area. Silver Bay’s Ticonderoga Teen Center and Silver Camp have now been passed to us, Kathleen Leonard and Jason Waddell. As former campers and camp counselors under Jackie, we are proud to continue supporting Silver Bay’s Youth and Teen programs as they grow.

computers, video games, ping pong, pool, air hockey, and much more.

We offer a busy monthly calendar Jason Waddell with arts and crafts, sports, and Kathleen Leonard cooking and baking activities to engage teens and teach life skills.

We cannot overstate the impact that this resource has on our local teens by providing them with a safe space to have fun with their The Silver Bay YMCA Ticonderoga peers, get support from trusted Teen Center is a free drop-in adults, develop social-emotional program for teens serving Hague, skills, and simply be themselves.

Ticonderoga, Moriah, and Putnam.

Approximately 180 teens make use Jason Waddell of the program each year, some Youth and Teen / Camp dropping in for special events such Coordinator as dances or our annual New Years Youth Development is a key Lock In, others arriving nearly component of the Y’s mission and every day after school. Teens can Kathleen Leonard Silver Bay’s commitment to serving access homework help, free snacks Teen Center Supervisor our local community. In addition and meals, a basketball gym, to seasonal children’s programs such as summer Child Watch and Silver Camp held on Silver Bay’s beautiful lake shore campus, we also operate two programs in nearby Ticonderoga for year-round residents of the region. Jackie Palandrani, long time Silver Bay Youth and Teen Director, has taken a new role as Education Director and spearheaded the opening of the Ticonderoga Community Early Learning Center this past fall. This new program provides much needed childcare for infants, toddlers, and

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TESTIMONIALS

Quality childcare for youth ages 6 weeks to 5 years old

I highly recommend TCELC. They go above and beyond at making it accommodating for your child! Everyone is very friendly and helpful!

Cassie LaPier

We love the Ticonderoga Early Learning Center! Mrs. Bush, Sam, and Meg are so great with our son and all the kids! They plan fun learning activities, and we love having the daily updates. We feel like they are our second family and wish they had options for our older kids too because they never want to leave after we drop them off.

Ashleigh Maring

All the staff have been wonderful and take great care of our daughter. She loves going to daycare, and it’s so nice to know she’s comfortable and having fun while we’re at work.

Rebecca McNamara 4

BENEVOLENT FUND The Benevolent Fund of Silver Bay underwrites the expenses associated with providing these vital programs to help renew and refresh families and individuals in these special circumstances.

Cancer Respite Program Foster & Adoptive Family Retreat First Responders Respite Program Military R&R Program

Please give generously to support Silver Bay’s respite programs.

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SUCCESS STORY BEYOND CAMP: HOW SILVER BAY SHAPED WHO I AM TODAY

Mack Woodruff

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL Camp at Silver Bay shaped my life in ways I’ll never fully be able to explain. Every summer, from the time I was a young child until I was 17, I returned to camp. It was a place where I felt independent, where I made lifelong friends, and where I encountered incredible role models in my counselors.

The experience broadened my concept of play and taught me the value of teamwork, planning, and leadership.

there that I learned how to lead, work together, and create meaningful experiences for others. Camp was a stabilizing force in an ever-changing world, a place where I always knew I could rely on my friends, the traditions, and the activities like the 4th of July parade and capture the flag. These moments were the bedrock of my childhood, providing me with firm footing as I faced life’s challenges.

things I may not have liked. It’s in those moments of discomfort that true personal growth happens. For me, Silver Bay holds the deepest connection I have outside of family, and it continues to inspire my work as a documentary filmmaker. I love exploring what other people’s deep connections are in their lives. For me it’s Silver Bay.

Mack Woodruff

Emmy Award Winning In fact, my first job was as a Camp also pushed me out of my Cinematographer & counselor at Silver Bay. It was comfort zone, forcing me to try Co-host of Rogue Trip

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SUCCESS STORY FROM YOUTH TO LEADERSHIP: THE IMPACT OF SILVER BAY ON MY JOURNEY

Paige Hughes Binfield

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL My YMCA journey began at age 11 when I joined the Silver Bay after-school program, followed by several summers at Silver Camp. By middle school, I had joined the Youth and Government program, which sparked my passion for civic engagement and community development. I quickly learned firsthand the power of the Y to build confidence, foster meaningful connections, and create opportunities that shape futures for young people.

Growing up in a small town, I could never have imagined the experiences that Silver Bay YMCA would provide – opportunities to not only “just be a kid” but also to develop lifelong skills that continue to guide me today.

Paige Hughes Binfield is a 2012 graduate of Ticonderoga High School. She currently serves as the Director of Development for the YMCA Alliance of Northern New England, supporting 25 local YMCA Associations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

In 2017, I officially began my YMCA career, and I have not looked back since. Words cannot Paige Hughes describe how rewarding it is to Binfield work for the very organization Director of Development that helped shape the person I am YMCA Alliance of today. The Y has always felt like Northern New England home, and I am forever grateful to Silver Bay YMCA for opening doors that changed my life.

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The students of District 3 Youth and Government pose for a group photo at Silver Bay YMCA.

EMPOWERED YOUTH, STRONGER COMMUNITIES UNLOCKING POTENTIAL Youth and Government (YAG) is full of intelligent students that come together to learn about how our government works, along with providing a safe space for them to create their own laws in order to make a difference in their communities.

Silver Bay kindly opens up their space for delegates to have district meetings in order to prepare for the big conference in Albany later that year. They provide us with a warm and open space where legislative delegates can practice presenting their bills and judicial delegates can work hard on their briefs.

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In Youth and Government, students have an option of what branch they would like to participate in: Judicial, Legislative, or Press, as well as Committee Chair and Presiding Officer positions.

interviewing separate bill groups to get a better understanding about what changes they want to make in society.

Aside from the fun party that is held at the end of each yearly conference, one of the best parts about Youth and Government are the conversations that I have had with young delegates who strive to make a difference in their communities and the lifelong friendships that I have made.

During my first year of YAG, I chose to be in Press because it combines all of my interests of writing, editing, interviewing, and taking pictures, but little did I know that when I attended my first district conference, I was going to immediately fall in love with the program. As a Press delegate, I enjoy listening Youth & Government in on bill presentations and Participant

Hannah P.

SUCCESS STORY THE TIMELESS MAGIC OF SILVER BAY It’s been more than a few trips around the sun (probably more than 40) since I counted down the days to early August when I would be reunited with friends, many of whom I count as best friends to this day despite seeing them only once a year.

For a week we would forget about where we came from, friends from home, and just about everything else to live our best lives for a week as Woozles, Chippies, Eagles or Falcons.

On the surface, the children’s program seemed simple yet it never failed to deliver amazingly fun days, kickball in the field, Olympic events in the shadow of the gym, hikes to Jabez pond, canoe trips, playing Skipper Mac on the dry docked Silver Spray, reaching the raft at slim point, hide and seek in the auditorium, overnights to Odell,

Paul Nasrani

and of course massive capture the flag games that sprawled campus from VanBuren Bay to the council ring – a game which probably reached beyond campus a few times and lives on as one the most epic childhood memories I have.

What was it that made these experiences so memorable and the friendships so deep and long lasting? The ingredients were all there – spectacular natural beauty, space to roam, terrain offering challenges mental and physical. Looking back it is clear that our leaders, while adults but not too far from our own age, were the sauce that put it all together to make the magic happen. To this day I can still recall many of them by name.

They brought an enthusiasm that made a simple march to

the gym f u n .

They kept us safe, made sure everyone was included, and while laying out the ground rules at the same time let us feel free.

At the end of the week I faced the Saturday morning drive back over Tongue Mountain towards home in Pennsylvania. I was filled with a bit of sadness, and a longing for the year to quickly pass by to return again and pick up where summer had just left off. Funny thing is I still get that feeling each time heading south over Tongue Mountain to this day.

Paul Nasrani

Founder of Adirondack Creamery Ice Cream & Silver Bay Trustee

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BRISTOL HIGH SCHOOL

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM UNLOCKING POTENTIAL Bristol High School’s Writer’s Voice Project is a writing, public speaking, leadership program that is in its 28th year of bringing creative teen students from Bucks County, PA to the Silver Bay YMCA. For these students, the Silver Bay experience is learning they have never known before. While schoolmates are in the brick and mortar, the Writer’s Voice Project students are building cooperative skills on the ropes course, hiking trails up to Uncus Cliff and Jabes Pond, walking to Slim Point to describe the intensely cascading quiet of Lake George, writing verse at the Boathouse inspired by the incredible scenery of Lake

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George, and sharing original, artistic reflective expression in a culminating coffeehouse setting. Bristol’s students bond through their shared activities and feelings which truly edify their souls and amplify their voices. The idea of the Writer’s Voice Project, born from former Executive Director at Silver Bay YMCA Mark Johnson, organized

by Bristol High School teachers, and guided by a published poet, continues to amplify the brilliance of young writers.

For Bristol High School’s WVP students, their time in Silver Bay is high school defining, mind awakening, and life changing.

Bristol High School

Ron McGinn

Writer’s Voice Project

YOUTH IMPACT

224 Kids enrolled in swim lessons

216

Silver Camp Attendees

111

Teens at Teen Center

$220,000 Value

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Children enrolled in the Early Learning Center

16

Scholarship Campers in Silver Camp

$6,700 value

152

Foster and Adoptive Respite Program Participants

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YOUTH ECONOMICS

In 2024 Silver Bay YMCA’s Youth Development programs cost over $370,000 to operate. These programs directly benefit Ticonderoga and its surrounding communities.

These Include:

These program offerings are:

• TICONDEROGA TEEN CENTER SUPPLIES

• SILVER BAY YMCA

• CHILDREN’S PROGRAM SUPPLIES

TICONDEROGA TEEN CENTER

• TICONDEROGA COMMUNITY EARLY

• TICONDEROGA COMMUNITY

LEARNING CENTER SUPPLIES • BUS TRANSPORT

• SWIM LESSONS

• OPEN PATHWAYS

• SILVER CAMP

These programs would not be possible without your support.

GIVE TODAY!

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EARLY LEARNING CENTER

MILESTONES SILVER BAY

Gar-Wood Nordenholz Burwell

Passed on October 17, 2024 Age 96 A long-time Silver Bay Member and Donor.

Joan Reed Close

Michele) Close, James A. (Jayne) Passed on November 23, 2024 Close and Carolyn E. Close; sister of Kay Goetz, Dale Reed, Carol Age 90 A long-time Silver Bay Member Bryndle, Caren Frank, and the late David Reed; grandmother of and Donor.

Russell, Jordan, Taylor, Connor and Kristin. Joan was an incredible After graduating from High person and a friend to all.

School, Joan left home and went to Buffalo, NY to attend the Buffalo General Hospital School Michael J. Coleman of nursing. Upon graduation as an Passed on March 13, 2025 RN, she worked at Buffalo General Age 81 Hospital. Joan later attended The A long-time Silver Bay Member University of Buffalo School of and Donor.

Following high school graduation, Gar enlisted in the Air Force as a communications officer. Once discharged, he went to work fulltime for the business his father started – the Rails Company – and spent summers out with the rail gangs installing rail fasteners. Nursing, receiving a Bachelor of When his father passed on, he Science degree in Nursing and was appointed president. was promoted to become a Nurse Manager of a floor at the hospital.

While in the military, he married Mariana Hiser in October 1951, Joan met her husband Donald at with whom he had four sons. Foursquares, a young adult group The favorite summer family sponsored by First Presbyterian vacation spot was Silver Bay on Church of Buffalo where she also Lake George, NY. With the help met a fantastic group of lifeof his friends in the community long friends. Don and Joan were and at Silver Bay he became an married in 1961. accomplished and competitive tennis player.

After Don passed, Joan traveled to many countries with friends Gar made time to mentor and and a local tour group. In 2024, counsel his sons. He put his sons Joan traveled to visit with Jim and to work Saturdays and during family in Cincinnati, with Carolyn school vacations at the family and the family at Lake George business. He also participated in the Adirondacks at Silver Bay in YMCA camp-outs and YMCA YMCA, and to West Valley for her birthday pool parties, house 90th birthday and a Reed family and yard maintenance activities, reunion. Joan’s love of travel and motor boating, amateur radio, her family never faded tennis, scuba, and winter ski trips.

Wife of the late Donald L. Close; dear mother of William D. (Fiancée

Coleman started his career as a general assignment reporter for his hometown newspaper in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., in 1963 and was promoted to city editor and then managing editor there.

Gannett transferred Coleman to Port Huron, Mich. in 1977 to become that paper’s metro editor.

Four years later he returned to Saratoga Springs as the newspaper’s publisher.

After retiring from the newspaper in 2007, Coleman remained active, assisting with a number of community organizations and non-profit groups and serving on the boards of the Brevard Zoo, The King Center, Ron Jon Surf Shop, the Florida Bank of Commerce, Dentsply International of York, Pa., the Freedom Forum and the Newseum in Washington, D.C. He also founded and operated Cool Media Consultants in Brevard.

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Coleman is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Louise (Natale) Coleman; sons, Mark and Christopher Coleman; and two grandchildren. He was predeceased by his son, Michael J. Coleman, Jr.

Ruth Goewey Haase

Passed on August 11, 2024 Age 90 A long-time Silver Bay Member and Donor and a member of the Silver Bay Council.

Ruth Goewey Haase, 90, of Jamesville, NY passed away Sunday, August 11, 2024 at her home. Ruth was born December 16, 1933 in Irvington, NJ to the late Galen T. and Carolyn T. Goewey. She graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a double major in Elementary and Art Education, and was a life-long Sister of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

She was an active member of Ocean Grove Auditorium Choir, in New Jersey, participating in Sunday Morning Worship, their annual Ocean Grove Auditorium Festival and their Summer Sacred Concerts. She was a member of Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary, where she was a summer bazaar volunteer. She cherished Silver Bay YMCA, where she participated in watercolor classes and was a member of the “Mozart Singers” summer concert series. Ruth will be forever remembered as a gifted watercolor artist, featuring scenes from Silver Bay on Lake George, NY. She was a true artist and her talent was beautifully displayed in her sewing, needlepoint, embroidery, counted cross stitch, knitting, crochet and macramé projects.

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Jules F. Halm

son, Joseph (Joe) A. Halm, and Passed on November 13, 2024 granddaughter, Jo Ellen (Ellie) Halm. He is survived by his wife Age 93 A former Trustee, Silver Bay of sixty-two years, Gale Halm, Council member, volunteer and daughter, Suzanne Locke, sonin-law Steven Locke, daughterlong-time Donor. in-law, Joey Lockwood Halm, Jules F. Halm {93) of Harrisonburg, grandchildren Abby Halm, Charlie VA, and formerly of Silver (Mac) Halm, Connor Locke, Ryan Bay, NY and Essex Fells, NJ. Locke, and nieces Candie Halm, Jules was born and raised in Sara Miller, and Carol Calvert.

Roseland, NJ, and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science in Joan T. Jacoby Administrative Engineering from Passed on February 20, 2025 Lafayette College in June 1953, Age 94 subsequently working for both A former EMP Alumni, Emp Bethlehem Steel and the Curtiss- Fellowship member, Silver Bay Wright Corporation. Following Council member, Silver Bay his service as a First Lieutenant, Member and long-time Donor.

First Rank in the United States Army, Jules returned to Roseland Joan was born in Manchester, New to both raise a family and give Hampshire, to Dr. G. Ernest and back, through volunteerism. Mildred Thomas. When she was Jules next moved to Essex Fells, 15, she met her future husband, NJ, and turned his sights toward Walter, at the Silver Bay YMCA supporting the Silver Bay YMCA Conference Center, on Lake George where he served on the Board of in New York. They married in 1952 Trustees for eighteen years. For and honeymooned in South Hero, most of those years, Jules acted VT, on Lake Champlain. Both Silver as the Facilities Committee Chair Bay and South Hero would become where he oversaw construction important places to the family. projects vital to both the organization’s infrastructure Family was very important to Joan. and its ability to serve out its She was an amazing, supportive charitable mission. Additionally, mother and grandmother. She and he served as the Treasurer of the Walt enjoyed camping, bicycling, Board of Trustees for three years, sailing, and traveling with family and he was on the Business, and long-term friends. They also Planning, and Capital Priorities had a lifelong love of playing and Planning Committees, and the games, especially bridge.

Master Site Planning Task Force.

Joan is survived by her four children Jules was truly a fine, yet and their spouses: Susan Jacoby unassuming man whose dedication and Susan Baumgardner, Gail and to service bettered the communities Dave Orser, Nancy and James in which he lived. Above all, though, Aman, and Russell and Barbara family came first.

Jacoby; her five grandchildren and spouses: Christopher Jacoby and Jules was predeceased by his Zoelle Egner, Matthew Jacoby, brother, Joseph C. Halm, Jr., Joshua Aman, Timothy Aman,

Beth Aman and Mikael Ellingson, and great granddaughter Anieve Jacoby. Joan is also survived by her brothers, Norman and Donald, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Walter, her parents, and her sister, Carol.

W. Everett Molony, Jr.

Weinbach, Sara (Christopher) Reynolds and his seven grandchildren, Ryan and Kyra Chevalier, Carter and Hope Duncan, Noah, Jonah and Ethan Reynolds.

Betty is survived by her husband Harvey; her children John Mark Noordsy (Martha), Douglas Noordsy (and partner Callie Sullivan), and Jeanne Noordsy (and partner Russell Serrianne); her grandchildren Peter (Kristen) Noordsy, Anne Noordsy, Charlotte Betty Joan (Koehler) Noordsy, and Jack Noordsy; and Noordsy her great-granddaughter Gia Passed on March 6, 2025 Noordsy; and several nieces, Age 94 A long-time Silver Bay Member nephews and cousins. and Donor.

Passed on December 8, 2024 Age 82 A former Trustee, Silver Bay Council member, Silver Bay Member and long-time Donor.

Betty Joan Koehler was the youngest of 4 children born to Walter Everett Molony, Jr. was the late John Peter and Clara born in White Plains, N.Y. After Martin Koehler in Ainsworth, graduating from Plainfield HS IA on December 28, 1930. She in Plainfield, NJ, he attended enjoyed good times (as well as Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, hard work) with her late older where he was a member of Theta siblings Louis, John, and Julie. She Chi fraternity. He graduated with attended Central College from a Bachelor of Architecture degree 1948 to 1951 where she received and spent six years in the Coast a teaching certificate.

Guard Reserves. He was always proud of the Coast Guard and the Betty met Harvey William Noordsy work it does. at Central College. They married on June 19, 1953, at the United Although he loved the nine years Presbyterian Church, in Ainsworth he spent working as an architect, and then moved to New Brunswick, he was always fascinated by the NJ while he attended Theological world of investing. He joined Seminary. After his graduation Merrill Lynch where he was a they lived in various places in New financial advisor for 33 years.

York State. She was a full time mother and homemaker while her He was on the Board of Trustees children were in their school years of the Silver Bay Association inspiring them to read, play music and was the Vice President of and enjoy creative cooking and the Board of Trustees for the creative arts. She was a talented Allendale Columbia School in seamstress and embroiderer, Rochester, NY. He was an EMT for creating quilts and beautiful Pittsford Volunteer Ambulance. stitched wall hangings. She took care of grandchildren several days He loved skiing and car racing. a week. She loved the outdoors, Most of all he loved his family. including bird watching and flower gardening. Summers, she and He is survived by his wife, Lee Harvey have long been members Molony; His daughters, Laura of the Silver Bay, NY community, (Tim) Chevalier, Kristen (David) where family often gathers.

Maurice L. Rasbeck, ”Morey”

Passed on September 10, 2024 Age 92 A former Trustee, Silver Bay Council member, Silver Bay Member and long-time Donor.

Predeceased by his wife of 59 years Christianna “Ann”, Survived by brothers Leon (Jane) Rasbeck, Dwight Rasbeck, and many nieces and nephews. Morey was born and raised in Wolcott, New York.

He attended Red Creek High School and SUNY Oswego before relocating to Fairport, New York.

He worked for Fairport Municipal and retired in 1991. He was a long-time member and was a member of the board of The Silver Bay Association on Lake George, actively volunteered with Advent House and School of the Holy Childhood.

Do you have a loved one you would like to be acknowledged in future Bay Windows?

Please email details to: development@silverbay.org

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SILVER BAY YMCA 87 Silver Bay Road Silver Bay, NY 12874 www.silverbay.org

Artwork made by the youth enrolled in our Ticonderoga Community Early Learning Center