ORANGE — As it is generally overshadowed by the larger facility in Athol, the YMCA location in Orange plans to hold a grand reopening and its second Spartan DEKA STRONG event on Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Y in Orange, located inside the Orange Innovation Center at 131 West Main St., will have the Spartan DEKA STRONG competition from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The community event for residents and visitors is designed to showcase the space and its amenities, including a two-story gym. Open gym will be available so people can work out and sign up for a membership.
“The grand reopening is because we have a brand-new room,” said Liz Day, healthy living director at the Athol Area YMCA, who runs the Y in Orange. “We’re trying to make everybody aware of this new style of training that we’re offering.”
Spartan DEKA STRONG is an indoor functional fitness test and competition featuring 10 standardized fitness zones. It’s a format that tests strength, endurance, power and overall conditioning. Day said the new 10-zone function room spans about 2,400 square feet.
The Y in Orange held a Spartan DEKA STRONG event on July 18. Day said there were about 25 competitors.
“That was so fun,” she said.
The competition will be judged by the number of repetitions completed at set weights for men and women. Prizes will be awarded to the top male and female winners.
Local businesses from within the Orange Innovation Center will set up tents and tables outside at the grand reopening. A raffle will also be held.
“The Orange Innovation Center is thrilled to celebrate the grand reopening of the YMCA in Orange as they have expanded their space to include the ‘Garage’ and welcome the community back for this exciting milestone,” Orange Innovation Center Operations Manager Michelle LeBlanc said in a statement. “We’re especially looking forward to Saturday’s DEKA STRONG event, hosted by the Y in Orange, which brings people together through fitness, wellness and community spirit. We’re excited to see the energy and enthusiasm this event will bring to Orange and look forward to being part of such a wonderful day for our community.”
First Shift Cafe, whose owners hope to open for business inside the Orange Innovation Center on Oct. 31, will have a tent outside to hand out free samples of coffee and sweet treats, and offer a sneak peek behind the scenes.
