To the editor:

Vicksburg City Pool’s 2016 ARC Learn to Swim program…what a summer it has been!

Enrolled were 467 students in our annual Levels, Parent/Child Aquatics, and Adult LTS classes. That is more than 460 people who will be safer and experience more enjoyment around the water.

Participants from Utica, Port Gibson various towns and parishes in Louisiana as well as the Vicksburg area, took advantage of our multiple class/session schedule and put their confidence in our trained/certified water aafety instructors to teach them top of the line water safety skills. As the administrator of this program, I am pleased to say our staff and volunteers not only met the challenge, but surpassed it.

We must thank Mayor George Flaggs and Aldermen Mayfield and Thompson for keeping our prices low. It is still only $12 for two weeks of premium swim lessons.

Tremendous appreciation goes to our volunteers: Joan Clarke, Peggy Robinson, Will Gurtowski, and Susan and Bob Athow. Without your dedication, time, and genuine desire to help the community, this program would not have had the success it is enjoying.

To the staff at the city pool, bravo! This has been a summer like no other. It seems we have had obstacle after obstacle, trial after trial: pink-eye, shingles, stomach flu, the list continues. However, we all joined forces and with a little luck and divine assistance put together a swim program that was as good, if not better, than any in recent memory.

Heartfelt gratitude goes to all students, young and not so young, who participate year after year in our program. And of course, the parents who stand in line every May to register their children or themselves for swim lessons. It is for you that we have this program. Without you “Learn to Swim” at City Pool would not exist. Thank you for your trust; it means so much.

I must mention the staff at the Vicksburg Post. Thank you for the wonderful publicity that you give our little program.

God willing, American Red Cross “Learn to Swim” registration will begin on the Wednesday following Mother’s Day 2017. Hope to see you all next year.

Sylvia Gurtowski

Learn to Swim 2016 coordinator