Podcast: Bridget Russell, College Station’s Pool Shark
By Jay Socol, Public Communications Director
May is Water Safety Month, which obviously highlights the importance of knowing how to swim and how to watch family and friends when at the lake or at the pool.
In this podcast, College Station Pools Supervisor Bridget Russell talks about the challenges she and her staff face, how they’re not to be considered babysitters, and how you can stay safe this summer.
Total run time: 26:01
- 00:00 — Show open
- 01:52 — About Adamson Lagoon
- 02:53 — About Bridget
- 04:26 — A pool supervisor does…everything.
- 05:53 — How tough is it to get teens to be lifeguards?
- 07:30 — Why is Water Safety Month so important?
- 08:49 — Bridget does lakes and pools WAY different than the rest of us.
- 09:48 — How people enjoy water has changed: “Flat water” is out.
- 11:05 — About CS’s two OTHER pools (Hallaran, Thomas)
- 13:20 — Habits of parents are different now
- 14:54 — We are NOT babysitters!
- 16:33 — Teaching adults to swim, too.
- 18:22 — CS Baby Boomers still love the water
- 19:40 — Resources for keeping your family safe in and around the water
- 20:50 — Weird things at the pool (Spoiler alert: POOP)
- 22:52 — Final thoughts + upcoming events and essential tips.
About the Blogger
Jay Socol (@jaysocol) is in his ninth year as College Station’s public communications director. A 1991 graduate of Texas A&M. Jay has also been communications director for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, public information officer for the City of Bryan, and news director at several Bryan-College Station area radio stations. A native of Breckenridge, he also serves as president of the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers.
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Podcast: Heart of local aquatics moves on after 30 years
By Jay Socol, Public Communications Director
This edition of the podcast is one where our guest is being interviewed for the very first time — but we’re actually saying goodbye.
Vera Solis served as College Station’s pools supervisor for 30 years. In this interview — recorded on her next to last day with the city — Vera talked about how she approached the profession, her legacy, where College Station could use another pool, and what her next adventure is all about.
Run time: 23:00
- 00:00 – Opening comments.
- 00:40 – Her start with College Station and in the aquatics industry.
- 02:26 – Water activities were part of her own childhood.
- 03:40 – What College Station Aquatics looked like in the mid-1980s.
- 05:40 – How did you set out to change things?
- 08:20 – Any changes in how you do what you do?
- 09:50 – Will we always have public pools?
- 12:20 – About the safety of College Station pools.
- 14:00 – Proudest moments from the past 30 years.
- 16:00 – Other highlights.
- 16:50 – What did you NOT accomplish that you hope the next person does? (spoiler: establish another pool…)
- 17:50 – What else would be nice? (yet another spoiler: water park)
- 19:35 – What’s your legacy?
- 20:15 – You’re now going to do what?
- 21:30 – Final thoughts.
Click below to listen. If Soundcloud doesn’t play in your older version of Internet Explorer, click here to hear to the audio file from your system.
Jay Socol (@jaysocol) is in his eighth year as College Station’s public communications director. A 1991 graduate of Texas A&M. Jay has also been communications director for the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, public information officer for the City of Bryan, and news director at several Bryan-College Station area radio stations. A native of Breckenridge, he also serves as president of the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers.
If you found value in this blog post, please share it with your social network and friends!
What could be more rewarding than being a life saver?
By Vera Solis, Aquatics Supervisor
For many of us, summers are a time to swim and enjoy the water. For me, it’s about making sure our local pools are safe places for our residents, visitors, and their families to relax and have fun.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 people – including two children – drown every day. For every child who drowns, five more are taken to emergency rooms for related injuries. With drowning being among the leading causes of preventable death, knowing how to swim is imperative.
At College Station’s municipal pools, your safety is in the capable hands of our trained lifeguards.
More than a job (more…)
