Olympics-Caliber Diver and the Beede Center

Olympics hopeful Gracia Leydon-Mahoney learned from local coach Tracey Bird.

There are a lot of things I do for exercise: bike, power walk, lift weights, even, occasionally, run, but only when forced to by my daughter. However, I’ve never been able to convince myself to add swimming into my regimen. I think a big part of it is the cold – that water better be pretty darn warm for me to be willing to get into it. Plus there’s the whole hair thing: It gets wet, and you have to dry it and style it and fuss with it. Yes, I have many excuses for staying out of the pool. Not so for many others, as a day at Beede Center will attest. The center's pools are full of lap swimmers and water aerobics doers and toddlers with parents in tow. And, as I recently learned, a girl training for the Olympics. Yep. Right here in our local…

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The Week in Review

Beede Pools Close, a Doc Visits White House and Candidates Talk Economy

A look back at the week’s most notable stories.

  The short week (for some) began with news that MBTA officials will work to avoid cutting back service. Proposals currently call for eliminating weekend trains in Concord. We also introduced Housing Authority candidates Raymond Snay and Linda Escobedo this week. We also spoke with Mara Dolan, who is running for State Senator, and learned about her views on the state of the economy, as well as Concord specific issues like bus outsourcing. Those looking for a swim at the Beede Center this week found that several of the pools had been shut down due to a mechanical problem. The culprit? Sub-basement flooding that destroyed some of the pool motors. Concord’s Dr. Malissa Wood took a seat with some of the nation’s highest lawmakers Friday when …

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Malfunctioning Pool Motors Deemed Cause of Beede Closings

The Lap Pool remains open while other pools are closed.

  A flood in the sub-basement of the Beede Center is the culprit in pool closings that took place this week, according to a memo sent to residents by Christine Kelleher, senior administrative assistant at Beede Swim and Fitness Center. Kelleher detailed that a mechanical failure created a “major flood” in the building’s sub-basement, “submerging and damaging four pool circulating motors and pumps.” All four motors have to be replaced, causing the temporary closings of the Dive Well, Therapy Pool and Kiddie Pool. The Lap Pool remains open, but Kelleher does not yet have a timeframe on when the other areas might reopen. “We are working with our vendors to expedite the purchase and installation of the new motors,” she wrote. Kelleher related …

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Beede Center Pools Closed for Mechanical Reasons

The lap pool remains open.

  The “kiddie” pool, therapy pool and dive well at the Beede Center have been closed until further notice, according to an automated message established by Beede Center personnel. The message cites “mechanical issues” as the reason for the closures and relates that residents can continue to call 978-287-1000 for further updates on the availability of the closed pools. The lap pool remains open at this time. Check back with Patch for further information.

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About Town

Out for Blood

Beede Center runs a blood drive to benefit Tyler Berry, plus a volunteer opportunity and movie night at Fowler.

  Well, it’s finally looking like winter around here, what with the recent snowfall. And I have to say, I loved Chris Tanguay’s photos of winter around town last week – pure magic! But I especially love when the snowfall is followed by rising temperatures, resulting in snowmelt. That’s because, much as I love the look of new fallen snow, I really don’t love shoveling the stuff, or raking it off my roof. So it’s really nice when Mother Nature cleans up her own messes. Thank you, Mom! Now on to more important stuff: a few weeks ago, I told you about Tyler Berry, a personal trainer over at the Beede Center, who is battling Germ Cell cancer, and that his friends and coworkers would be planning a blood drive in his honor. Well, that time has …

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About Town

Helping Out

Beede Center employee can use a hand.

  Hello and welcome to Thursday! I have something really important to talk about today, so pay attention. I know it’s the time of year that we’re running around like crazy people, buying gifts for all the people on our lists, thinking how much money we’re spending on stuff. And I also know that this time of year makes people think about how nice it is to give to others, and then we start perusing the Heifer International catalog, and wonder if it’s better to buy someone a goat or a raft of baby chicks. Or is it a clutch of chicks? I can never remember. Well, as you’re doing all that wondering, I’d like you to think a little closer to home, because there is someone right here in town who may not need a goat or some chicks, but could really …

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Janet Beyer

8:40 am on Friday, December 16, 2011

Nice thoughtful article, Stefanie. Count me in.   more ›

About Town

Update: Two Sports and Some Culture/Taking Turns

Three great ways to get out there and get moving.

It’s Thursday, which means just one more day of this first week of school, and then it’s the weekend — or as we say in our house, Sports Saturday. Yes, all over town this weekend, sports fields will be overrun by soccer, baseball, football and field hockey players, and the roads will be rife with parents driving to and from these events. I should know: I’ll be one of them. Given that, and in light of Tuesday’s column where I outlined the driver’s education options in town, I thought I would take a minute to review some of the rules of the road. Specifically, the rules around the four-way stop. We have several of these around town; I drive through one in particular many times in the course of my day. And I can honestly say, there are plenty…

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