Courtesy photo.
WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The Southeast Ventura County YMCA is celebrating a re-opening and major improvements to its Simi Valley branch and the re-opening of the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village. Tours, kid fun, entertainment, food and other activities will take place Saturday, January 8 at the Simi Valley Family YMCA (3200 Cochran St., Simi Valley) and Saturday, January 22 at the Yarrow Family YMCA (31105 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Westlake Village). Celebration hours are 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days. Free tacos will be served while they last.
Improvements at the Simi Y include an additional group exercise and fitness studio, a small-group training studio, remodeled locker rooms, new equipment, new paint, flooring and energy-efficient lighting. “It’s been years since the Simi Y had these kinds of upgrades,” says Ronnie Stone, President/CEO of the Y. “They were needed to better serve the Simi Valley community.”
The Yarrow YMCA had its official grand opening in May 2019. “We were open less than a year before we had to shut down because of the pandemic,” says Stone. “We’ve spent the last three months staffing up to bring back the programs everyone loved prior to the pandemic.”
The Ys are keeping some of their popular programs introduced during the pandemic including outdoor fitness areas and exercise classes for those who feel more comfortable exercising outside, and access to a library of exercise class videos that can be viewed any time from home.
Visitors during the two events will be able to take part in exercise classes and tour the facilities. For kids, there will be face painting, arts and crafts, games and a scavenger hunt. An art show with artwork by children who participate in Art Trek art classes at YMCA childcare sites will be on display. The artwork will be judged with winners announced.
For more information, call the Simi YMCA at 805-583-5338 or the Yarrow YMCA at 818-707-9622.