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08/17/2020 12:00 AMEach summer, Branford's lifeguards keep swimmers safe and stand ready to save lives. But with the added challenge of COVID-19 protocols and practices, this year's very special group of guards brings a mix of years of experience and fresh energy that has not gone unnoticed at Branford Point and the CT Hospice Pool, said Parks and Recreation Director Alex Palluzzi Jr.
"I know I can say confidently, in my career, we have never had a better, stronger senior/rookie class than we have now," said Palluzzi.
Park and Rec Program Supervisor Victor Amatori oversees the lifeguard program and says all of the credit for the incredible group should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the lifeguard team.
"It's a neat group that's really bonded," said Amatori. "Back in early summer, they asked us if they could do open water swimming at Branford Point as a way to condition for lifeguarding. They started in late June and they have been committed to it ever since. They wear yellow caps for safety and they affectionally call themselves the Lemon Heads. It really ties in, because life has given us some lemons this year, and this group has made some lemonade with this. It's bonding together, it gives them training with issues that may happen at the beach or Hospice pool, and it keeps them positive."
Senior guard Lisa Rathsack, assisted by senior guard Kathleen Daley, works with the guards to keep up skills and to incorporate COVID-19 training protocols.
"It's an amazing group of people," said Daley, who is also mom to two of the guards on the team, her son Matthew and daughter Caitlin. Daley said the Lemon Heads' early morning practices and skill sessions have created a way to bring everyone together, from experienced to new arrivals.
"What's great about it is we started it as a voluntarily thing because we do it off hours; and the response has been tremendous, because everybody wants to do it. With everything being so unpredictable right now, I think this has become something everyone looks forward to every day," Daley said. "It's also developed this very supportive team environment that translates very well when we're on the job."
Amatori certainly agrees with that assessment.
"Every individual guard brings something to the group," Amatori said. "Normally you might not see this type of group mesh with the different age levels and levels of experiences."
Branford has both beach-and-pool qualified guards, and pool-qualified guards. Beach and Pool guards are Christian Bjork, Caitlin Daley, Kathleen Daley, Matthew Daley, Megan Ferraro, Eli Houlton, Cordelia Keberle, Kristy Latella, Rob McLarty, Alex Mniniter, Valerie Parker, Lisa Rathsack and Stephanie Sullivan; and Pool Guards are Olivia Caldarella, Taylor Chomicz, Marisa Ferraiolo, Marina Giammattei, Alyssa Hackley, Julius Herzog, Emmy Steinbrick.
In addition to distance training, integral training and other practices, this group of Lemon Heads loves to challenge themselves, says Daley.
"We do something we've coined 'Surf and Turf.' We'll do some swimming, then we'll get out and do dryland activities like planks, [workouts for] abs, and then get back in the water again," she said, speaking to The Sound last week.
"We do it almost seven days a week. We were out there 7:30 this morning," Daley said. "They've all been so dedicated; especially on days when they know they're going to be coming out to training and then reporting to a full day of work. And no matter what I say we should try, everyone's so open to it."
The Harder Road
While a notable number of shoreline beaches did not open with lifeguards on duty this summer due to the pandemic, Branford Parks and Recreation worked with its staff and lifeguard team members to pull together to provide a safe summer with guarded public swimming at Branford Point and CT Hospice Pool. The town's smaller beach at Stony Creek was not guarded this year and will hopefully resume guarded duty next season, said Amatori.
Palluzzi said the amount of preparation and follow-through required to allow safe use of the public sites, especially at Branford Point, was a challenge but one that the department wanted to meet.
"We took the harder road of getting lifeguards organized and trained, and setting up with COVID-19 protocols," said Palluzzi. "We did extra training for COVID by providing the proper equipment for the staff."
To keep the public safe during a pandemic, Parks and Recreation staff have also become indispensable members of the teams at work at Branford Point and the CT Hospice Pool. That includes having staff on site at Branford Point seven days a week from 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to help keep an eye on social distancing and other pandemic health practices.
"Our staff members have been on duty to help out," said Palluzzi. "Even at the restrooms, we make sure we have one person going in at a time, and that they're getting their masks on when they go in there. And we've been keep the restrooms extra clean."
Extra site duties at Branford Point have been shared by Palluzzi, Amatori, and staff members Dale Izzo, Andrea Kenney, Monica Sullivan, Megan Cunningham and Colin Sheehan; while staffers Maeve Cunningham and Erin Emerson have been supervising temperature monitoring of swimmers arriving to use the CT Hospice Pool.
Daley notes the town's Rec department also worked with guards well ahead of opening the swim areas this summer.
"Prior to the opening, we had a lot of Zoom meeting with Rec Department administration and we went through various protocols and guidelines and the equipment we needed to use," said Daley.
The public can continue to assist the guards and recreation staff by continuing to follow social distancing protocols and practices which are outlined at each site.
"People have been really good about policing themselves," said Daley. "Our first priority is always about the safety of everybody, so we hope they will continue thinking about not only the safety of themselves but the safety of others. And just for them to keep in mind that when we make a call for something, whether it's '...please don't go on the rocks' or certain non-U.S. Coast Guard approved floatation devices they're trying to bring in, we're doing everything for the safety of people."
On Sunday, Aug. 16, after their shifts ended; many of the guards gathered for a team barbecue/get-together at Branford Point (of course, they dubbed it Surf and Turf) to share some time together as the season winds down. While the town's guarded beach and pool swimming season while continue through Labor Day, some of the guards are also soon heading off to college and other responsibilities – and more than a few of them are hoping that the morning Lemon Head gatherings will continue as an online group, said Daley, who is a teacher during the school year.
"It's been such a great team. All the guards bring something unique to the group; and I think that what we've created here is going to stay with all of us," said Daley. "It's been a very special part of our summer. It's been a great group to work with and such a supportive environment. We appreciate the administration within the Rec Department and the whole team; the maintenance people, the parking attendants. Everyone has been super supportive of us."