Community

YMCA honors Volunteer of the Year

The YMCA of Jamestown has recognized Herb Rice as its Volunteer of the Year.

A lifelong resident of Chautauqua County, Rice grew up in Ripley and spent most of his adult life in Sherman. Throughout the years, he has owned local businesses, worked with the Small Business Development Center, served for 14 years on the Sherman Central School Board and served on the Sherman Village Board during the important installation of the village sewer system.

Rice established the YMCA's senior spin class nearly 11 years ago with the cooperation and encouragement of Tom Anderson, retired Lakewood YMCA director. October will mark 11 years of Rice leading the class as a volunteer instructor.

Before becoming an instructor, Rie was a dedicated participant in spin classes at the downtown Jamestown YMCA. Motivated by a desire to stay in shape and continue playing his favorite sport, racquetball, he discovered the benefits of cycling and has since shared that passion with YMCA members.

Although the class is called Senior Spin, Rice's philosophy is simple: everyone is welcome. Participants of all ages are encouraged to join, and Rice enjoys when his teenage grandchildren are able to attend, helping lower the average age of the class by a few years.

Class members also remember the days when Rice's youngest grandson, then just two or three years old, would arrive after class to share a banana with Rice and count repetitions as participants finished their weightlifting exercises.

"Those moments captured the family atmosphere Herb has helped create within the YMCA community," YMCA officials said in a news release. "For more than a decade, Herb has given generously of his time, energy, encouragement, and leadership. Through every class he teaches, he helps members improve their health, build friendships, and enjoy the supportive community that makes the YMCA so special."