By Laura Stabbert
MONTICELLO — January 7, 2011 — Pedro “Pete” Tweed retired from his position as Director of the Village of Monticello Parks and Recreation Department this past fall.
But Tweed continues to train athletes daily at the now independently run Monticello Gymnastics Club.
The club, located on the corner of Lakewood Ave. and Bedford Ave. in Monticello, is still encompassing over 100 athletes and its doors are open to all. Tweed allows his students to start competing at age 6.
“We have kids from as close as next door to Pine Bush and further,” said Tweed
The Monticello Gymnastics Club trains everyday, reserving weekends for competitions.
Tweed explained that he is still heavily involved in his passion, gymnastics, and hopes to encorporate some ti chi and escrima classes into his work. Tweed is also leading an adult gymnastics class on Fridays at 6:30 p.m.
As for his feelings of retiring from his veteran job as a Village of Monticello employee Tweed said, “This gives me more time to work on gymnastics.”
“We started out great, there is a lot of positive energy in the gym,”said Crystal Tweed, who is Pete’s wife and the President of the Monticello Gymnastics Booster Club.
“We are looking to expand the program, to adults and all around, birthday parties, you name it,” Crystal added.
On Saturday, Jan. 22 and Sunday Jan. 23 there will be a gym clean-up beginning at 10 a.m.. The Tweeds welcome any and all community volunteers to help at the event.