The cuts that were approved by the city council include the following:
X Eliminate the Human Relations Coordinator position that manages the Greensboro Community Forum, Annual Multicultural Unity Festival, and the Mosaic Program.
X Reduce the staff position for the Commission on the Status of Women to half-time.
X Make program reductions in the Organizational Development and Communications Department that would eliminate the Channel 13 broadcasts of Parks & Recreation Commission and Human Relations Commission meetings; cut one Communication Specialist position that may reduce the amount of printed materials produced by the city, including the calendar and/or city map.
X An Associate General Counsel and paralegal position were cut in the Legal Department, enabled by the elimination of the Homeownership program from the Nussbaum Fund.
X The Planning Department lost a Mapping Technician position that works with GIS.
X One Program Specialist who oversees the hockey program at the Sportsplex was eliminated.
X The Assistant Park Supervisor was cut from Tannenbaum Park.
X The Office Assistant at the Maintenance Shop was cut.
X A part-time maintenance worker was cut from the Bryan Park Soccer Complex.
X The opening of the Barber Park Sprayground is delayed until July 2008 due to design and construction delays.
X Two of the Waste Reduction Inspectors (persons who examine residential recyling cans to limit contamination) in Solid Waste will be cut.
X Funding for a Roadway Maintenance Crew (9 positions) will be shifted to the Powell Bill money that is used to fund street resurfacing, resulting in a slowdown in repaving neighborhood streets.
X The Homeownership program under the Nussbaum Fund was eliminated with all the other programs (Homelessness, Affordable Housing, etc.) left untouched.
The manager noted that many of these cuts would not necessarily eliminate a particular program or service, but it might take longer to perform the service or fulfill a request. Any personnel whose job is eliminated will be given first preference for other vacancies in other city positions for which they are qualified.
All the other proposed cuts on the list were NOT approved. We councilmembers received numerous emails, calls, and letters begging us not to close the marinas at Lakes Higgins and Brandt, or eliminate the information reference service at the library, or cut the Children's Theater, among others. Every program obviously has its own loyal constituency.
On an 8-1 vote, the council approved the changes to the GTA fares (raise them by 10-cents/year for the next three years) and SCAT fares and policies with one adjustment (the cost for the 40-ride ticket will remain at the current level of $56 as a compromise with riders instead of raising it to $70 as originally proposed). The unlimited ride pass will be eliminated and all trips charged on a per-trip basis. There were six votes to approve and fund 30-minute service on all GTA routes and to begin the South Town Connector serving the Hemphill Branch Library and the WalMart shopping area on South Elm-Eugene.
One item that is NOT funded in this budget proposal are the additional 32-police officers we should have added this year according to the police staffing report. If they are not added this year, the city manager has made it clear that it MUST be done next year. The cost to hire, train, and outfit those additional officers would have resulted in an additional .75 cent increase in the tax rate, bringing the grand total to 5.5 cents. Councilmembers Dianne Bellamy-Small, Yvonne Johnson, Goldie Wells and myself supported this idea, but unfortunately, we were one vote short of being successful. I think this is an important need to be addressed in our city and I'm not quite ready to give up on it yet.
As I noted earlier, nothing is official until the June 20th vote, but at this point, it is unlikely there will be any major changes. But who knows, that fifth vote for the additional police officers could materialize (or not) by then -- one can always hope.
36 comments:
Hi Sandy, I have enjoyed reading your blog from a non-resident standpoint for quite a while now. You do some great work. I will have to bring to your attention the major MISTAKE I believe you and all of the city council are about to make. Ed Hathaway should still be the overseer of the hockey program at the SPORTSPLEX. He has been one of the greatest influences in so many young peoples lives as a coach, referree, and most of all friend. He has been recognized with a lifetime acheivement award from USA HOCKEY (the same group that oversees the Olympic ice teams). From a personal standpoint, I dont know of a better person, or friend that I could turn to when I am ready for my daughter to learn to skate and play. He has exemplified sportsmanship and demands respect from and to all of the players, coaches, refs, and parents. We may not always agree with him, But we know exactly where he stands when he speaks and that is the measure of a man. Numbers on paper are worth a lot in business and I understand that. HOCKEY IS NOT JUST A BUSINESS. HOCKEY IS LIFE. If you dont believe me just come out and see all of the families that come to see and participate in the games. Their worth cant be put into a number on a sheet of paper. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
Yours Truly,
TRAVIS TROTTER
formerly SARGE 99
None of the cuts were easy to make, and I'm sure every one of them will negatively affect various citizens in one way or another. We tried to identify those programs/positions that would have the least impact.Having to say "no" is one of the hardest parts of being a council member.
Cutting the hockey program would be a very bad mistake. Ed Hathaway has been a very good friend to a lot of people and there would be outrage if this program is cut. Certain people, mainly Ed Hathaway have continued to work to make this league better, even though they have not been paid for 6 months. If you ask me, thats dedication and fi you cut the position, it would all be for nothing. I have disagreed with a lot of things this city has done, but this would be the worst of them all. I will be in contact with every council member i can get a hold of and let them know how much Ed Hathawya means to all of us, and how bad of an idea this is....
Cutting the Roller Hockey program at the Sportsplex is a mistake. I'm sure it doesn't seem like it affects a lot of people, but consider a couple of things. This is the only place a child in this town can play roller hockey. There are numerous leagues and opporutnities for baseball, soccer, football, etc., but for hockey, this is it. We made the final decision to relocate to Greensboro a few months ago, taking into account this hockey program for our son. He's been playing for years and if you cut this program, he doesn't get to play anymore...at all....anywhere.
We are in a place in our society where studies are showing the health of our children is at risk, problems of which stem from sedentary lifestyles. Resources to fund programs to help combat this problem should be a priority in our government agencies. To cut the city's only roller hockey program is just a wrong decision at a wrong time and it will negatively affect many more lives than just Ed Hathaway's.
Sandy,
I can't believe the callousness of the decision making that has gone into the decision to cut the Hockey director position at the sportsplex.
Saying you are cutting the positions that will have the least impact is unbelievable. How many other sports in this city could be eliminated by dropping one position. I would venture none. If we lose roller hockey at the sportsplex, we lose roller hockey in Greensboro for the forseeable future. You will be taking away the one thing that means the most to my 2 boys, the thing at which they excell and something that provides a drive to succeed that is so important to their future success.
If you want to crush the spirit of several dozen kids, it is on your back, but when I think of some of the ill fated programs that the city has supported in the years, I would hope that the city could find its way to continue a program that may not be financially successful or impact thousands, but is so successful a providing something so vital to the development of our children.
Please do not make these cuts.
Sandy. I cannot belive this is happening! You have the best director of any sports in Greensboro of Ed Hathaway. He greet every kid that come to the Roller Rink with a big hello and smile. He is incredible in what the man accomplishes, he does the registering, all the scheduling, refereeing, score keeping, runs the website, awards at the end of the season, teaches begginer skaters, runs the sports camps, set up practices and coaches one of the Spyder travel teams,and equipment repair. Does the man have time to breath? He does all of this with love for the game and the families that bring their kids to play. Taking Ed away from this program will be a disaster and it will die. There is NO replacement for Ed, period. This man needs to be given the Key to the city for his efforts and not be displaced. My son's favorite sport will be taken away from him, and I believe he may lose interest. I really don't know why the city always gives Hockey the wrong deal. When the Greensboro Monarchs came to town in 1989 thru mid 1990's , they won a Championship and there was alot of excitment in the air for Hockey. We voted and passed for a Ice Rink at the rear of the coliseum , which we never recieved. If we had embraced Hockey back then we may have the Carolina Hurricane playing here instead of in Raleigh. Now the Hurricane are in the Stanley Cup and again there is excitment in the air for Hockey, and what do I findout, is you are going to end Roller Hockey in Greensboro. Please find an alternative and keep Ed.
Very Concerned
B. LaValley
Roller hockey fans,
Please understand that this hoceky coordinator position was not just targeted "out of the blue" -- Parks & Recreation included that program specialist position on its list of proposed cuts, and councilmembers approved the cut. For many of the other proposed cuts on that list, citizens immediately reacted and contacted us BEFORE our last budget work session and were successful in convincing a majority to reject their particular pet project. With no other work sessions scheduled before the final vote on June 20, I'm not sure if it's too late to effectively lobby for your sport or not, but it certainly doesn't hurt to keep trying.
My focus is going to be on getting the additional 32 police officer positions added to this year's budget. (I'll write more about that later.)
Dearest Councilwoman Carmany,
I am very disappointed at the news that the position of Hockey Director at the
Greensboro Sportsplex was being eliminated due to budgetary concerns. I spend
alot of my time at the sportsplex in relation to my positions as the current
president of the Greensboro Spyders travel organization, as a founding member
of the Greensboro Hockey Organization and as a volunteer coach for not one, not
two, but for three of the house league teams, and as the parent of five
children who use the facility. Ed hathaway is more than an employee of the City
of Greensboro. He has been the staple that has held together countless parents
and children who love roller hockey in Greensboro. It is easy for us parents to
think that we are voiceless do to the never ending cuts in both facilities and
personell in which our children can play the sport they truly love.
Ed Hathaways position is the one glimmer of hope we parents see as the citys
concern about our children. Ed not only does his job very loyally and
effectively, but he also volunteers his time to our Spyders travel program by
coaching not one but two of our travel teams. It is this example of dedication
and loyalty that drives people such as myself to also volunteer my time and
resources to our children. There is no budgetary price you can put on having on
your staff at the facility a person with such fine values and with the
experience and qualifications Ed Hathaway brings. I feel to cut this position
is sending the wrong message to myself and the other parents that follow roller
hockey it says plain and simply....after you have heard all of our voices over
the years about a regulation facility...too bad so sad... We realize we are in
a minority being hockey lovers but please recognize the fact that we have no
regulation facility any where in Greensboro to play (indoor or outdoor) and
demonstrate to us you can hear our voices...Keep Ed Hathaways position we need
our representation and the city needs the fine representation to the community
Ed Hathaway presents,
thank you for your time,
Jim Joyce
297-1117
jfjoyce@bellsouth.net
Why not raise the bus fare?
Why can't people who ride the bus pay a reasonable price for the priviledge? Why do I have to pay for bus transportation for others? Will the City kindly pay for 90 percent of my travel costs in return?
Anonymous,
The city council IS proposing to raise the bus fares over the next three years in hopes of reaching the national average of recovery cost, around 30%.
Assuming you are referring to subsidizing automobile transportation, the city (as well as the state and federal governments) do indeed heavily subsize this mode of tranpsortation (as well as airline travel). Gasoline taxes do NOT cover all the expenses for construction and maintenance -- Greensboro has spent millions and millions of PROPERTY TAX dollars on streets through bond referendums for many years. That's not even factoring in the costs for police (traffic enforcement, EMS/rescue (for crashes), mowing and maintenance of medians and shoulders, litter pick-up, etc. I don't have the exact figures, but yes, automobile travel is subsidized as well.
Sandy,
When you say "others reacted BEFORE the last budget work session and were successful in convincing a majority to reject their particular pet projects". That is all nice but when NONE of the Hockey families were aware that this was even an issue it is hard for us to fight for something we all believe in so strong. I can not imagine how many people would have come to the meeting in support of Ed. Obviously, NONE of the council members have been to the hockey rink and seen the impact Ed Hathaway has on all the kids and how close the families are. The kids were so proud when Ed received the lifetime hockey award for USA Inline Hockey, and when he was recognized at the resent Coastal Cup championship as one of the founders of the program. My son, now 16 has played since he was 7 1/2, and Ed has ALWAYS had a positive impact on him. My son plays house and travel hockey, and this year in the first term in school he let his grades slip, I made him go to Ed and tell him that he could not attend the first travel tournament because his grades were not were they needed to be, my son's response was "That was the hardest thing I ever had to do, because Ed said he was disappointed in me, I never want to do that again". He has NEVER let his grades go down again. Ed's interest in the kids is not just related to Hockey, he wants all his kids to succeed in every thing they do.
Quote: "We tried to identify those programs/positions that would have the least impact."
Your failure on this point couldn't have been more complete if you had tried. Ed's positive impact is greater as a single individual than anyone else in the entire City workforce.
This is so terribly disappointing.
I started playing hockey in September. It took a great amount of pushing by Ed to get me out there. I was nervous to do so, but he kept after me and offered many good words. This was a great thing and have no regrets about skating again. He always has a good attitude and shows great enthusiasm towards the guys that play. Ed has been a great roll model and watches out for all that put on pads and come skate. That includes our families. To lose all this,leaves no reason to drive all the way up to north east greensboro. The city has lost a great thing and will worse off because of it.
I can understand the dismay, however what Greensboro should be looking into is the proposal to build a hockey facility to stand alone from the Sportsplex. At one time there was a petition circulating through the Sportsplex for just such a thing. I am unsure as to what became of this petition, however I am certain that it had gathered several signatures when I'd added my own to it. I would be more than happy to support this current decision if some type of plan to keep hockey in Greensboro was included, as I feel the Sportsplex was losing rink availability more and more as it conflicted with Soccer, Volleyball, and Basketball events. What hockey in Greensboro needs is a facility of its own that cannot find itself being interupted by other events.
GREENSBORO SPYDERS ORGANIZATION
IN-LINE HOCKEY TOURNAMENT TEAMS
PRESS RELEASE:
for immediate release
Three Greensboro Spyders teams will be heading off to Columbia, SC this week to compete at the National Games hosted by 2Hot4Ice. Dave Burr's u14 team and Ed Hathaway's u16 team will be playing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday with Ed Hathaway's u18 team playing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The complete tournament schedule has been posted on the 2Hot4Ice web site (CLICK HERE).
This is the first time the Spyders organization has qualified a team for Nationals and to send not one but THREE teams is quite exciting and a testament to the programs depth. In addition to the three Spyders team attending, our good friends, the Carolina Comets u10 team coached by Keith Allen will also be there. Many of the players for the Comets play in the Greensboro Sportsplex roller hockey leagues throughout the year. So in a way you could say that Greensboro will have FOUR teams competing at the National Games! That is FOUR as in the number '4' teams who qualified to compete in this most prestigious tournament from a rink so small that it can't even sanction a tournament let alone host one. From a facility (Greensboro Sportsplex) that is about to cut the hockey director position from the City of Greensboro annual budget. Instead of celebrating our team's accomplishments we are faced with having to defend the very foundation of our program.
During the time that our teams are at the National Games they will be representing themselves, their families, the Spyders organization and yes, the City of Greensboro and its citizens. All are in full support of our program with the exception of one, the very officials that represent us in the city we live in! Their public displays of lack of support leave me bewildered and disappointed.
All I can say is, GOOD LUCK SPYDERS! Go and represent yourselves, your families, your team mates, and your community with great pride. Showing us all the great character and determination against adversity you have been taught by people such as Ed Hathaway. “Play hard and play fair and bring us home some hardware.”
Jim Joyce
Greensboro Spyders President
336-297-9631
2801 York House Dr.
Greensboro, NC 27407
jfjoyce@bellsouth.net
Just another KUDOS to Ed Hathaway and the program he runs/ran at the GSO sportsplex. I am an adult player got introduced to the sport through friends and was coached by ED. Bad mistake by GSO cutting this position. This program was a win win for GSO, the kids, teenages and adults all enjoyed the leagues and open skate time. When the sportsplex closed the alternate court to be used for soccer, I should have seen the writing on the wall. Go ahead GSO cut the position close the court have another place to play soccer. Make more money at the sportsplex. But you lost a good man, ED, and disappointed many people in the process.
Tom Lewis
tlewis@triad.rr.com
I don't know all the details, but it is my understanding that Mr. Hathaway will have the option of filling another Sportsplex position if he so choses, and the hockey program could continue to operate.
I understand that Ed Hathaway's position is THE ONLY POSITION on the proposed budget cuts that actually generates PROFIT. If your goal is to create a more even budget and to reduce costs, then the elimination of Ed's position would be a step backwards.
Anonymous,
Your understanding that Mr. Hathaway's position generates a profit is different from the information provided in the explanatory information to the city council. I will quote directly from those notes:
"This position's focus has been the in-line hockey program. Due to size limitations of the hockey floor, the program has not been financially successful. The loss of this position will require existing positions to absorb summer camps and a diminished hockey program..."
Quote: "The loss of this position will require existing positions to absorb summer camps . . ."
The summer camps are a success solely due to Ed. Every year my son has participated, there has been one or more entire teams from outside Greensboro attending (I recall a team from Columbia SC last year). In talking to some of the parents from those teams, they come up and spend a week as a family in Greensboro - spending money in hotels, restaurants, etc. (sounds like an argument that works for the Coliseum). Yet another reason why this is a foolish decision.
Dear Sandy,
I am 19 years old and have been part of the hockey family at the Greensboro Sportsplex for nearly 3 years now. I work a full time job, am a full time student in college, and still manage to make time to play hockey in the adult league at the Sportsplex. I drive from High Point twice a week to participate in the hockey program in G-boro. Due to this consistency, I spend a lot of money in the G-boro area on various things (I only choose to mention this because this decision to eliminate the hockey program is all because of the concern of money). Of course I wouldn’t make the 45 minute drive if I didn’t enjoy playing in the league. The hockey program in G-boro is the only one of its kind in the area. Numerous other places come to mind when searching for somewhere to play other various sports such as basketball, soccer, etc. But not hockey. Yet Greensboro has already taken one hockey rink from the Sportsplex to add another soccer field. And now it wants to take the final rink and eliminate the entire program after a season with a near record breaking turnout. As a matter of fact, I see more people using the hockey rink in one day then all 4...let me repeat that...FOUR...soccer fields combined. But of course you people that make these decisions (the council members) have no idea since yous most likely have never even been to the Sportsplex and are only basing your decisions on what a simple sheet of paper says. If I had known that the hockey program was in jeopardy, I can assure you that I would have acted much sooner then this.
As for the position of hockey director, Ed Hathaway has run the hockey league effectively since I have joined it. He helps many kids daily learn how to play the game and spends countless hours at the rink to improve playing conditions. He also travels with many of the teams to tournaments around the east coast. Ed is one of those people that you can talk to about anything. Even if it has nothing to do with hockey, Ed is always there to give advice. Not to mention, he has become close to ALL the hockey families that are involved in the Sportsplex and many of the players look up to him. He is a friend of mine and has put so much into the hockey program.
Earlier you referred to us as “roller hockey fans.” Well I will be one to tell you that not only are we fans, many of us are also players. And I’ll speak for all hockey players everywhere...when you mess with one player, you better be ready for the whole team!
--Gary Haver
Njdevils155@triad.rr.com
When you say Mr. Hathaway will have the opportunity to take another position at the Sportsplex if he wishes, you are completely missing the point and not hearing the comments of most of the others who have written. MR. HATHAWAY IS THE HOCKEY PROGRAM. This man puts in hours and hours and hours to help the kids and you are telling him that all his efforts were for NOTHING! How is the program going to continue with out Mr. Hathaway running it? He does it all! You and the others who have proposed and approved this cut don't have the slightest idea what a mistake it is. If you honestlybelieve this is one of the cuts that would have the least amount of impact, you are sadly mistaken!
It is my understanding that Mr. Hathaway could continue to oversee the hockey program if he chooses to accept the other position, but would have other responsibilities as well.
I'm certainly open to other options on how to cut this money from another place in the budget. But I've a feeling it would be a matter of "goring someone else's ox."
I appreciate your willingness to respond, but grow increasingly irritated by your responses.
Ater you feel sorry for yourself in having to deal with responsiblity - it's so hard to say no - you then turn on your constituents by implying that we dropped the ball, and could have protected the program with a bit of effort: Quote - "For many of the other proposed cuts on that list, citizens immediately reacted and contacted us BEFORE our last budget work session and were successful in convincing a majority to reject their particular pet project." Thanks for the CAPS - I'm sure everyone appreciates being yelled at and being told its all our fault.
In your latest response, you once again point to those nebulous ad dasterdly "others" who prevent you from making any changes to pre-ordanined decisions : Quote - "But I've a feeling it would be a matter of 'goring someone else's ox.'"
The only animal this decision reminds me of is a particular part of another hoofed beast.
This is a bad decision, based on bad and limited information.
Only in Greensboro would we eliminate the position of a person with a national reputation, running a perennially successful organization, under extreme odds (that's right - your own info said the small rink was the source of problems) to save a very limited amount of money.
In the interest of full disclosure, we no longer live in Greensboro and are no longer part of the hockey league. We are part of both travel and rec programs in Charlotte, where the Greensboro program is viewed as an ideal to aspire to. I guess those days are about to pass. Our current participation is limited to a week at the summer camps. It looks like our small contribution in the way of a week at a hotel, eating out every meal, etc. in Greensboro will be history.
Just do me a favor - instead of "understanding" this or "having a feeling" that, why don't you ask staff for some additional justification for this cut. Push back a little - the kids deserve that much.
Bill,
Sorry you find my responses irritating. I was not implying that hockey supporters dropped the ball -- I was only explaining that city council members received no complaints about this cut prior to our work session so...
Again, all the items on the five+ pages of suggested cuts were compiled by the staff of each of the affected departments as ones that were most expendable if cuts had to be made. Department heads were present during the discussion to clarify and respond to questions from council members.
Sandy,
Thanks, again, for taking the time to respond to these concerns. Although commenters here seem to be unloading on you, that is only because you, again, are the only council person who lays it out here for all to read and respond.
That said...
P&R formulated a CIP last year for future consideration by Council. A group of hockey families came before the P&R commission urging us to support transforming part of the Sportsplex intyo a full sized rink by "clearspanning". A pro-forma was shown that made the investment quite attractive and a public/private partnersip was proposed.
Shortly after, the auxillary hockey rink was given over to soccer. Then, the area that was to be 'clearspanned' was outfitted with weight equipment and volleyball courts.
It just seems that the hockey program has never been given the tools it needs to succeed. The only tool we have had to keep things going was Ed. Now that is going away.
He has been offered a PT30 position at the Sportplex from my understanding. By splitting his duties and cutting hours, hockey would be dealt a death blow (that is if he decided to take accept the cut in the first place) If Ed decides he can't afford to take such a cut, well... P&R might as well go ahead and remove the remaining rink so we hockey families can start figuring out our carpooling-to-Charlotte or Cary schedules.
In light of where this program could be with a little support and planning, this was a bad, short-sighted decision on the part of P&R, IMHO. My regret and disappointment is that I didn't get wind of it earlier in the process. Perhaps I sould get on some Commission or something to stay better abreast.
Again... thank you for being so accessible Sandy. I know what a sacrifice of time it is for you and it is appreciated greatly.
Thanks for the additional information, David! Your explanation of the need for "clearspanning" the space and the encroachment of other sports and activities highlights the problem we face in many of our facilities -- competing needs without enough money to address all. We are seeing this in many cases -- the push for the acquatic center on the bond referendum, for example. That's the constant struggle city staff and council members have to balance -- the need for improvements and expanded services versus the desire to keep expenses under control and the tax rate down. Unfortunately, we seem to upset many people with whichever decision we make, the old "you can't please all the people all the time" adage.
I am not taking the passionate comments on this issue as personal attacks -- I can see how much the hockey program is valued and how much respect and support there is out there for Mr. Hathaway. Commenters are advocating for what they think is important, and their feelings about it are strong. I have not had to reject a single one due to profanity or name-calling so although strong emotions have been expressed, the comments have been "clean" and sincere. Uncomfortable for me sometimes, but no offense taken.
The clear spanning project probably could have been funded with a PARTF grant from the state with minimal cost to the city, but the city has pretty much had deaf ears when there has been discussion about improving the hockey facility.
Sandy,
Do you know how much was spent on the new weight room at the Sports Plex by the city and how much it is being used. I know that I am personally at the sports plex twice a week and have NEVER seen more that 4 to 5 people using the equipment. Seems like a lot of money was spent for this and appears to have little return. Seems to me the money could have been better spent on the Director of Hockey position, which directly effects so many children and families. Has the council thought about how many children and teenagers will even want to play without Ed there? How will this effect the budget with NO money coming in for hockey? Seems to me they have not thought about the amount of income the city will be loosing.
Sandy
Thanks for your comments concerning Ed Hathaway and the Inline Hockey program at the Sportsplex. I hope there can be some compromise with the city to keep this program and Ed Hathaway. I can only repeat the same outstanding comments made about Ed and the program he runs. I hope that you and the city understand that this is the only place to play In-Line Hockey in GSO. Again I can't ask enough to reconsider this decision keep In-Line Hockey alive and kicking in GSO.
Thanks
Tom Lewis
twlewis@triad.rr.com
Anonymous,
No, I don't know how much was spent on the weight room at the Sportsples. Sorry!
There is some very exciting news regarding the 18 and Under
Greensboro Spyders tournament roller hockey team...THEY WON
THE 'NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP' for their age division late Sunday evening against a great team from Florida. The team went undefeated through their round-robin games and playoffs. Every game they played was some of the best roller hockey I have had the pleasure to watch.
What was most pleasing was the fact that unlike other teams they competed against, the 18 and Under roster (as with the 16 and Under and Dave Burr's 14 and Under Greensboro Spyders) were made up of ONLY Greensboro Sportsplex roller hockey house league players. They did not go out to recruit or draft players from other cities or programs to
play at these national games.
As a point of reference, David Hoggard's son, Jackson, won the tournament top goaltender award. Other team mates of Jackson also received top scorer (Chris Davis) and top points leader (Marty Previtte) awards.
the hurricanes win the stanley cup (bringing north carolina its first professional sports championship) and the city of greensboro is considering eliminating Ed's position as hockey director?????
something is definitely wrong with this picture. the canes winning the cup has the potential to increase participation in the roller hockey program in greensboro.
a healthy roller hockey program in greensboro is one of the keys to keeping a professional ice hockey team playing at the coliseum. these two programs must work together for long term success.
now is NOT the time to eliminate funding for Ed's position. if anything, the city should seize this opportunity and provide the proper facilities and funding for roller hockey to grow in greensboro.
Sandy,
I want to thank you and other city council members for your decision to keep the Director of Hockey position. I would also like to thank you for having a blog and responding to comments being made, even when some come across almost rude.
Sandy,
You and the rest of the city council members have done a WONDERFUL thing by deciding to keep the hockey director position. Many, many people will benefit from this decision. Thank You!
Ditto...
Now, about that 'clearspan' project....
Post a Comment