We are joined by Tony Vasile, program manager at Adaptive Sports Foundation. Based at Windham Mountain, ASF provides winter and summer programs for individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. Tony’s journey through his education in physical therapy set him up perfectly for the role that opened up at ASF. He speaks on how he grew up, how that affected his career choice, and how that brought him to applying for the job at ASF. Opening up about his current position and the programs provided, Tony talks about the different gear, how that gear fits the individual, the training needed to use that gear, and the massive number of volunteers who step up to make the programs what they are. These volunteers are the backbone of the programs from taking out lessons to cooking food and everything in between. Huge shoutout to all of their effort over so many years! ASF recently produced a short video “We Are Athletes” which is viewable on Youtube. The short follows the stories of two individuals and their journey through ASF and how it has impacted their lives. Incredibly powerful.

Jen joined the podcast to talk books, Windham, books, Main Street Community Center, books, and more books. 7 years ago, Jen found herself in need of a new book to read while at her home on Windham Mountain and quickly realized there was not only nothing in town, but there were no options even at a reasonable drive! Well one thing leads to another and within a few months the lease was signed and the boxes of books began flowing in. It did not take long for people to catch on to this new addition to Windham and new clubs, programs, and projects around reading, authors, and art have followed ever since. One of these projects, amidst Covid no less, was the birth of the Main Street Community Center (see our first ever podcast featuring the executive director Sadhbh Aborn).

Danny Hairston is the Founder/Executive Director of Snowboarders Help Reimagine Education or better know as SHRED. His journey from snowboarding 15 years ago to creating one of the best programs in upstate New York is extraordinary.