by BRIAN SMITH
For new (or existing, longtime) businesses, the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Breakfast Before Business is a great way to get yourself known in the community.
The monthly event, which takes place the 2nd Friday of every month between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. at a venue such as the Doss Heritage and Culture Center or First National Bank, generally has between 70 to 100 business people attending. Everything is very informal with businesses putting out information on what they do. The first half of the breakfast is geared toward networking with plenty of business cards being exchanged.
One business card needs to be placed in the jar at the front for a chance at some door prizes which businesses that attend are encouraged to bring. A speaker then handles the second half of the program. Staff members from the city, county or schools come and speak about what is happening in their area right now.
The most recent breakfast had Tyler Sievert with the Weatherford Parks and Recreation Department speaking on the always popular summer activities at the Cherry Park Pool. Sievert, the city’s athletics and aquatics supervisor, said there have been some changes to the pool schedule for the upcoming summer season.
The pool will now open at 1 p.m. Monday through Friday for open swim due to change in swim lesson offerings. More classes will be offered in the mornings beginning at 9:25 a.m. and the last 45-minute lesson starting at 11:55 a.m.
“We were finding our last evening lesson was only about 60 percent full, so we moved it to the morning where there was more of a need,” Sievert said.
Swim lesson registration for Weatherford residents will take place Friday May 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at City Hall. A driver’s license and utility bill will be required. Non-resident registration will take place Saturday, May 11 from 9 to 11 a.m. Last year more than 800 children took part, Sievert said.
The water aerobics program, which started last year, will be expanded to accommodate two evening classes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 7:45 p.m. The Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning classes will remain the same.
“The only problems we had last year was we didn’t have enough sessions and people who worked were unable to take advantage of it,” Sievert said.
Also returning is the Special Needs Swim time Fridays from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. when the pool is not needed for makeup swim lessons due to weather. Families with special needs children can use the pool for free during the time and receive assistance from Weatherford ISD staff.
Sievert said he hopes to expand the program to neighboring districts this summer while keeping the easy family atmosphere. Families wanting to know if the pool will be available can call Parks and Rec every Friday starting May 31 for information.
Lifeguard training will begin April 30 through May 7 at the pool. thirty lifeguards were hired last year. Sievert sad the hardest part of the training is meeting the pre-requirements of being able to swim 300 yards and treading water for two minutes.
“We’re looking for good hardworking kids who are willing to undergo lots of training,” Sievert said.
Some changes have also been made to the lap swim program. Because of popularity, six lanes of the pool will be open Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
“We were having 15 people having to share one lane because there was something else going on at that time,” Sievert said. “That’s not conducive to swimming.”
Private parties can be scheduled from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday nights. Reservations for those will start being taken April 1, Sievert said.
For more information on Breakfast Before Business, contact the Chamber at 817-598-3601. For more information on the pool, call Parks and Rec at 817-598-4124.
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