We’re Back ( sort of )!

Okay, there’s a lot to unpack here for one post, but we’ll do our best:

1.     Yes, staff members have returned to the building and will be working limited hours for the time being. If you need to reach us with any questions or for information, the best way is still via email or at 276-5039. You can certainly stop in to say hello as well (we’d be happy to see you!), but we just ask you do your best to remember a face covering.

2.     What about the gym?

Per order of the State of Maine, our gym is currently closed for public access. One-on-One training sessions are permitted with certified trainers. For information about this, please contact our Health & Fitness Director, Debra Neale (debra@theneighborhoodhouse.com).

When the State issues an opening date along with the Covid-19 checklist for fitness facilities, we will evaluate how/when/if the gym will reopen. We are going to err on the side of caution, so at such a point as we determine it’s safe to begin allowing access, do not expect it to return to “normal” right away.

If you had a valid membership at the time we initially closed the gym (March 16), we are happy to reactivate the remainder of your membership at a date of your choosing (just let us know). Additionally, if you would just prefer a pro-rated refund for whatever time you had left following 3/16, we’re happy to accommodate you as well.

3.     What about classes such as Yoga?

The current “reopening” guidelines only allow for outdoor classes at this point. We think it will be possible to hold certain classes in the Great Hall with appropriate distance between participants soon but will wait until State guidelines officially allow for such activities. A “reservation” system might be put in place depending on the number of interested students. We’ll post that info. here when we’re able/allowed to make such offerings.

4.     Now that we’re back in the office we’ll be collaborating on some new special events and activities for children and families. Stay tuned for details, but rest assured we’re brainstorming all sorts of ideas from distributing “crafts in a bag” to online Tiktok dance tutorials, and much more. Got an idea? We’d love to hear from you!

5.     Is Day Camp still off for the summer?

Unfortunately, yes. We made a decision and announced this back in late April to give as much leeway for alternate plans as possible. Even several weeks later when the State made a decision to allow such programs, we felt the guidelines were impractical and out of sync with the nature of our particular program. For the safety of not just the children participating but our community at large, we still strongly believe this is the right choice for us. But rest assured, we’re looking forward to many more fun filled summers!

6.     What about the pool?

This was a tough decision for us, but much like our day camp program, the concept of “social distancing” simply does not jive with groups of children and families gathering in a small fenced in area. While the CDC advises that properly chlorinated water will not spread the virus, it was the activity outside of the water that concerned us. Again, this was not an easy decision, but we feel it is the correct one. There are still plenty of spots on our island to cool off safely on a hot summer day, and we’ll certainly look forward to staffing and maintaining the Town’s pool in future seasons when it can be enjoyed safely.

7.     Will we still see summer events like the Bike Parade or Bash at the Boatyard?

As you might have guessed, we’ve had to cancel our Bash at the Boatyard (but mark your calendar for July 8, 2021… we’ve already booked Bar Harbor Catering Co. to handle the food and can’t wait to celebrate!). The good news is we WILL be holding our 20th annual Bike Parade and Ice Cream Social this summer. We’re going to get a bit creative with it to keep everyone safe, but the silliness (and homemade hot fudge) will remain the same.

We’ll post any updates as we all work together to navigate our way through this new territory. Thanks for your patience, and we look forward to seeing you (or at least the part of your face above the mask) soon!