Garver Memorial YMCA

The The Blair County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the revitalization of Garver Memorial YMCA in Roaring Spring. The Y serves adults and children, and helps neighbors find community at a time when it feels like we are more disconnected from each other than ever before.

📰 IN THE NEWS: A New Generation of Wellness at the Garver Y!

We are still buzzing from Tuesday's incredible turnout! If you missed the coverage in the Altoona Mirror, the secret is out: The Nason Foundation Wellness Center is officially open!

Our Board President, Scott Muthler, and Executive Director, Sharon Jones, cut the ribbon on a completely revitalized, 1,819-square-foot space featuring more than 35 brand-new pieces of state-of-the-art cardio equipment, strength circuit machines, and free weights. They were joined from Board Members and representatives of The Nason Foundation, as well as Board Members from the Garver Memorial YMCA and Blair Regional YMCA.

"It’s served its purpose, but now it’s time to move into the next generation."
— Sharon Jones, Executive Director

❤️ A Community Effort
This project truly took a village. Thanks to a generous grant from the Nason Foundation earlier this year—and the incredible hustle of our staff and volunteers—we were able to completely transform the space with fresh paint and high-performance fitness flooring in just 10 days! That minor closure was well worth the major upgrade.

👥 The Impact Already
We are more than just a place to workout. As Senior Program Director Frank Kopriva noted, the buzz is already bringing the Cove community together. We’ve already welcomed several brand-new members this week, and local families are already using the space to kick off their summer fitness journeys together.

Whether you want to break away from screen time, build strength for youth sports, or find a family-oriented spot to stay healthy, the new center is designed for all ages and fitness levels.

⏱️ Come Check It Out Today!

The weights are racked, the treadmills are powered up, and our team is ready to welcome you.

Monday – Friday | 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Saturday | 8:00PM - 12:00 PM
Sunday | 1:00PM - 5:00 PM

Borough Residents: Don't forget, your kiddos can apply their $75 Roaring Spring Borough Youth credit directly towards their membership or youth programs to get started!

Thank you to the Nason Foundation, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce, former and current Board Members and staff of the Garver Memorial YMCA, Board Members and staff of the Blair Regional YMCA, representatives from our local legislative offices, members of the Roaring Spring community, and every volunteer who helped us lift, paint, and build the future of the Garver Memorial YMCA.

We are currently looking for Evening and Weekend Front Desk Attendants.
Applicants MUST be willing to work evenings and weekends and be flexible in switching days and with filling in.
Schedules could change weekly on days needed.

🏗️ BIG NEWS: Your Wellness Center is Leveling Up! 🏗️
The wait is almost over. We are thrilled to announce a complete renovation of the Garver Memorial YMCA Wellness Center!

We’re talking fresh paint, modern flooring, and brand-new, state-of-the-art exercise equipment. We are committed to providing you with the best facility possible to reach your goals.

🛠️ We Need Your Help!
A project this big takes a village (or at least a very dedicated "Y" family). We are looking for volunteers to help us with the transition! Whether you’re handy with a paint brush or just have some muscle to help move gear, we’d love to have you on the crew.

Volunteer Dates: [May 5th & 6th]

Perks: Be the first to see the new space, earn some "sweat equity," and help us get the doors open faster!

⏳ The "Minor Inconvenience" for a "Major Improvement"
To make this happen, the Wellness Center will be closed from [May 4th-May 13th] with a tentative reopening date of May 14th.

We know that changing your workout routine is a hassle, but we promise: the results will be worth it. Think of this as a "rest week" for the building so it can come back stronger than ever—just like you!

Stay Tuned!
Follow our page for "Behind the Scenes" progress photos and the official Grand Re-Opening announcement.

Want to join the volunteer crew? Stop by the front desk to sign up!

Open Registration for 2026-2027 preschool has begun. Call to sign up.

Summer will be here before you know it. Sign up now!

⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾ Biddy T-Ball registration is open. ⚾⚾⚾⚾

You may call to register, but please also stop in to fill out the form.
⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾⚾

🏀 𝐋𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐔𝐩! 🏀

Think you’ve still got that jump shot? It’s time to prove it. Registration is officially 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 for the 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐘𝐌𝐂𝐀 𝐌𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐜 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞!

Whether you’re a high schooler looking for court time in the off-season or just looking for a high-intensity cardio session with the guys, our league offers a competitive, organized, and fun environment in Roaring Spring.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬:
Season: March – May | Sunday Evenings
Location: Garver Memorial YMCA Gymnasium
Format: Guaranteed 6 Regular Season Games + 1 Playoff Game
Who: Men 16+ (All skill levels welcome!)
Price: $450/Team

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧?
Stay Active: Swap the treadmill for the hardwood.
Bragging Rights: Compete for the title of Spring League Champs.
Community: Great way to connect with friends and neighbors.

⏳ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭!
Roster spots will fill up fast. Grab your squad, pick a team name, and head over to the Garver Memorial front desk to secure your place in the bracket.

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫:
📍 Visit us at 820 Grove St, Roaring Spring
📞 Call us at (814) 224-5101

Biddy Basketball Time 🏀🏀🏀

Our ties to Nason Hospital remain strong to this day!

Nason Hospital in the town of Roaring Spring, Blair County around 1908. William Albert Nason, MD was born in Townville, PA on June 23, 1862. Like his father and two brothers, he chose to be a physician. He began his medical practice in Pleasantville after graduating from Allegheny College, Meadville and Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL in 1892. Dr. Nason and six other Roaring Spring businessmen purchased the Park Hotel and established a private sanatorium on May 1, 1896. Dr. Nason served as the first Superintendent of the facility which was chartered as a charitable, non-profitable hospital, on April 1, 1900 and became a community enterprise.

In December 1900, an amendment to the charter changed the name of the corporation from the “Nason Sanatorium” to The Nason Hospital Association”. The charter was issued “for the purpose of conducting a sanatorium and hospital and the training of nurses.” A June 1,1900 account stated “While yet in comparative embryo, it has made wonderful progress. Its development has been marvelous, and as it now stands as an incorporated institution, we predict a glorious future. Dr. Nason is the right man in the right place. His success has been phenomenal, backed by a brilliant staff of the ablest physicians in the county, it will press to the front as one of the state’s leading institutions”.

Dr. Nason had a wide reputation as a skillful surgeon and is credited with performing the first appendectomy in this section of the country. He was superintendent and chief of staff at Nason Hospital until a few year before his death. He also had served as a surgeon for the Pennsylvania Railroad and was chief surgeon and chief of staff at Mercy Hospital in Altoona.. Dr. Nason’s salary from the corporation was $75 which was wholly applied to the Hospital. His only means of recompense during this time was derived from outside work. For a period of 25 years, the income was insufficient to cover the expenses, so the deficit was paid by Dr. Nason out of his private income. In “Looking Eighty Years Backward”, a 1920 historical publication about Roaring Spring, pays a high tribute to the late Dr. Nason and describes him as “a great blessing to our town and our community”. Throughout his life, Dr. Nason was committed to the success of Nason Hospital with both his dedication and endowment. Dr. W. Albert Nason died on April 29, 1934 at the age of 71. His picture still hangs in a place of honor in Nason Hospital. Dr. Nason’s vision of a having an excellent hospital for the Cove region continues to be the same as those who are leading the Hospital and caring for patients in the 21st century.
(Photo from Al Bowers via https://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Photos-of-Central-Pennsylvania-Beyond/217715425035960)
(Text from http://www.nasonhospital.com/)