Senior center pool team wins state championship, Council on Aging hears

NEEDHAM --

TOWN -- Needham's Park and Rec Commission reviewed its camp and pool reports at its October 7 meeting. Director Hannah told commissioners that summer camp revenue rose sharply after an extra week was added to the schedule and after the Tennis Academy returned to the Needham High School tennis courts. A new "Art Lab" camp, aimed at an older age group, was added at a resident's suggestion alongside the popular Kids Art camp. At the town pool, the Needham Sharks youth swim program saw a notable jump in participants, with one age group, eight and under, filling to 47 swimmers. The department also runs a high school conditioning program that precedes the Needham High School swim team's season, and it is exploring adding a weekly swim-lesson day for the high school's fifth-year program students.

YOUTH LEAGUES -- The Needham Youth Hockey Association's travel teams took the ice across age levels, with games listed at West Roxbury, Wellesley, Metropolis Rink, St. Sebastians, Cambridge, North Star, Flynn Rink, Norfolk Arena and Hyde Park against opponents including Norwood, Wellesley, Junior Crusaders, Newton, Natick, Acton-Boxboro, Medfield, Junior Railers, Dedham, Belmont, King Philip Walpole and Brookline squads. A Girls U14 matchup against Winchester was canceled. The association's holiday store is now open online and closes Wednesday, October 28.

COMMUNITY -- At the October 8 Council on Aging meeting, senior center member Gino Orsona told the board that the Needham pool team won the Metro West Division and the state championship this year, competing against 29 other senior centers. He said the team, which plays two 10-week sessions a year plus playoffs, has also run charity fundraisers benefiting children's causes and local health programs. Orsona and other speakers raised concerns about a plan to have the pool team share game-room space with a ping pong group, asking the board to reconsider the arrangement; the board said it would discuss the issue with staff and aim for a decision in the coming week.

Compiled from team and league reports, reader submissions, and local coverage.