NEREID NEWS

19 August 2011

 

 

DEP APPROVES SOFT BANK PLANS

 

The New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection last month gave approval to Nereid’s revised plans for the soft bank and park project, clearing the way for construction to start this fall. The planning team is now finalizing a bid package. The bidding process will be managed by the town of Rutherford in keeping with state and local requirements.

 

The target date for construction is late November (after rowing season) with completion in late winter before the season re-opens in 2012. Temporary modifications will be made to the design to accommodate high school rowers and boats on club premises as a result of Route 3 bridge construction.

The soft bank project involves a range of improvements to 350 Riverside Avenue including stabilization of the river bank, replacement of the deteriorating wood bulkhead, new and expanded dock facilities, new boat racks and other club improvements, and the establishment of a public park. The project is being funded primarily through a combination of grants and low-interest loans from the state of New Jersey through its Green Acres and IBoat programs. 


Many thanks to Bob Hoguet, Peter Willcox and John Van Der Tuin for their diligence in shepherding this project. Watch the NN for updates as the process unfolds.

 

NEW MASTERS COACHING PROGRAM

 

An announcement from Captain Sheila O’Shea:

 

We are pleased to announce that Nereid will be offering a masters’ program this fall coached by Clemens Reinke, an accomplished oarsman and an experienced coach who won a gold medal for Germany in 1979 as a member of the German Junior National Team. Clemens earned a coaching license in Germany and also holds a USRowing Level 2 certification. Clemens was a regular guest coach at Craftsbury Sculling Center from 2001 to 2008. He previously coached masters at Nereid in the 1990s, and has also coached at PRRA and Don Bosco. Clemens is currently head crew coach at Teaneck High School and Farleigh Dickinson University.

 

The coached sessions will be held September 6 through October 8 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 7 a.m. and on Saturdays from 7 to 8 a.m. (with two exceptions listed below.) 

 

Rowers of all skill-levels are welcome to participate. If you are a recreational rower looking to improve your technique, or a competitive athlete gearing up for the fall head race season, Clemens will customize a training program for you or your boat and help you achieve your goals. He will also videotape participants and review the videos with you.

 

The cost for the 15 sessions will be just $100. (Checks should be made payable to Nereid Boat Club).  This is a “promotional” price to get the program started, and a portion of the expense will be borne by the Club.  If this pilot program proves successful, we will continue it next spring and beyond.

 

We need a minimum of six rowers and a maximum of 20.  Please sign up early to ensure a spot! If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please contact sheila.oshea@comcast.net.

 

Please note: the Saturday sessions on September 24 and October 8 will be held on Sunday September 25 and Sunday, October 9, from 2 to 3 p.m.

 

 

NEREID ROWER RECUPERATES FROM HEART TRANSPLANT

John McEldowney reports that long-time Nereid member Eli Avizov is doing amazing well following a recent heart transplant. A rower for more than five decades, Eli competed in the World Championships several times in the 1960s on behalf of his country of birth, Israel.  In a phone conversation from his hospital bed, Eli told fellow Nereid Dan Rouse that he can’t wait to get back into a 2x!  Please keep Eli in your thoughts and prayers.

 

 

NEREID TEES AND TANKS

 

Club member Erik King has printed up some fine-looking Nereid shirts, include sleeveless, nylon tanks and traditional Nereid cotton tees. All have the Nereid logo on the front and a big green “x” on the back. The men’s tanks include either light-weight or heavy-weight double mesh; the women’s tank has a v-neck. Prices range from $15-$20.  Please see Erik around the club if you’d like to buy a shirt.  Thanks Erik for organizing those!

 

 

HOCR BOATS FOR INJURED ROWER

 

Nereid is teaming up with rowers at PRRA to fundraise and enter special boats at the 2011 Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston in honor of Helen Woznack, a much-loved area rower and Ridgewood High School coach who was seriously injured in a sky-diving crash July 31.

The Head of the Charles Rules Committee granted “Team Woznack” a guaranteed entry for a women’s 8+, which will be rowed by a combination of Helen’s fellow PRRA teammates and a handful of Nereid master’s women whom she coxed in three prior HOCRs. Gratia Pelliciotti is taking the lead in organizing the 8+ and other “Team Woznack” boats, which may seek HOCR entries through the lottery system. (While there is no guaranteed entry, the regatta committee is well aware of Team Woznack’s ambitions; we are hoping for their favorable consideration!) If you are interested in rowing or otherwise helping with the fundraising effort, please contact Gratia at gratiapell@gmail.com

 

With sights set on a minimum of $1,000 per seat, the rowers’ goal is to raise as much money as possible to support Helen’s tremendous health care costs. Team Woznack will be reaching out soon to ask for your support -- please be generous!

 

BTW, Helen has made remarkable progress in regaining feeling in all her extremities but still has a long way to go to. To follow her recovery and offer support, check out her online care page here.

 

 

TOWN HALL MEETING A SUCCESS

 

Thanks to the nearly two dozen club masters who attended the August 6th town hall meeting.  Stacey Ornitz, board membership chair and co-organizer of the meeting along with Club Captain Sheila O’Shea, reported that: “Concerns, goals and thoughts on the current and future state of the Nereid masters’ programs were heard, and are already being addressed.” Anyone unable to attend may still to send feedback or ideas to sdornitz@gmail.com.

 

SHORT STROKES

 

·         Doug Boydston’s club rows, for athletes of all experience levels, will take place in coming weeks on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 6 pm and Saturday at 8:30 am. Email him at dboydston@handi-lift.com to get on the notification list or just show up.  Here’s what Doug says: “We have had some great rows in 4xs and 2xs rows this summer -- let’s see if we can get in a few more in before Labor Day and the fall head race season!!”

 

·         The Head of the Passaic Regatta, organized jointly by Nereid and PRRA, will be held this year on SATURDAY October 15. Please contact Glenn Gero at njnaturaldoc@aol.com to get on the volunteer list.

 

 

·         The 2011 Passaic River Paddle Relay will be held Saturday, September 24. The registration packet is now available on www.lowerpassaic.org. Standby for further information on Nereid entries!!

 

·         A recent Glen Ridge Voice article features Nereid junior rower Averyl Freimarck. Click here for the story.

 

·         Rowers re-enact war-time crossing from Holland to Suffolk. Read more here.

 

·         Countdown to the 2011 World Rowing Championships. Read more here.

 

·         Nereid the horse in third place.  Watch the race here.

 

 

MEMBER BIKING FOR MS

 

Nereid member Sean Cefalo is biking in the 2011 Bike MS Hops to Hops Ride to raise money for multiple sclerosis research. Sean will be riding under Team Novartis, his employer, which has graciously offered to match donations. Click here to make a secure, online donation on Sean’s page or mail a donation to: Sean Cefalo, 7 William Drive, Rockaway, NJ, 07866-3304. Make checks payable to the National MS Society.

 

Find Nereid Boat Club on Facebook

Find Nereid Boat Club on Twitter