Millville Housing Authority

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Magazzu makes a splash at fitness center

By KRISTI FUNDERBURK
Staff Writer
June 15, 2009

MILLVILLE -- The county's freeholder director walked into the pool area in a polo shirt, swim trunks and flip-flops Friday morning.

A minute later, Louis Magazzu donned a float belt, stepped into the pool and joined the 10 a.m. Deep Water Cardio class at the Holly City Family Center.

The center staff invited him to join the class for a dip in the pool as thanks for his role in saving the center from closure last summer -- a "thank you for keeping us afloat" party.

"When we were being threatened to close, Lou Magazzu helped us as much as he could to keep us running," aquatics coordinator Sandra Bennett said.

The Holly City Development Corp., a subsidiary of the Millville Housing Authority, had planned to close the East Mulberry Street facility last July, citing a growing and irreconcilable revenue and spending gap.

But the center was able to remain open with a grant from the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, contracts and contributions from the Millville school district, the city and South Jersey Healthcare, and help from several local officials, including Magazzu.

Now, the facility has roughly 1,400 memberships, which includes full-time individuals and families and about 370 people who pay to use certain programs, Center Director Janet Reeves said.

"It's much better picture than we had last year. We're bringing in about $50,000 to $55,000 a month, which pretty much goes to pay the bills, but at least I can say we're breaking even," Reeves said.

Friday, Magazzu lifted pool weights and chatted with the dozen women in the cardio class. He joked it was the first time in 24 years he had been surrounded by so many women.

"Two meetings occurred over a month and we got it done," Magazzu said of keeping the center open. "Had those meetings not occurred, there would have been a shutdown and none of these ladies would have the chance to continue this program."

Magazzu noted he was only one piece of the puzzle in keeping the center open. He said he's pleased that the community has embraced the center over the last year so that membership numbers and revenue continue to increase.

"It shows the community had the capacity to support this center. It just, ironically, needed a lifesaver, and the group of people collectively were the lifesaver," he said.

Carole Hill joined the center a year ago, just before the potential closure. She said she enjoys the facility's programs, including the Deep Water class, because she can exercise and have fun. "Without him, it just wouldn't have been able to keep open, and it's so beneficial to so many people," she said of Magazzu.

	Press Release About Us > News & Press Releases > Press Release Magazzu makes a splash at fitness center By KRISTI FUNDERBURK Staff Writer June 15, 2009 MILLVILLE -- The county's freeholder director walked into the pool area in a polo shirt, swim trunks and flip-flops Friday morning. A minute later, Louis Magazzu donned a float belt, stepped into the pool and joined the 10 a.m. Deep Water Cardio class at the Holly City Family Center. The center staff invited him to join the class for a dip in the pool as thanks for his role in saving the center from closure last summer -- a "thank you for keeping us afloat" party. "When we were being threatened to close, Lou Magazzu helped us as much as he could to keep us running," aquatics coordinator Sandra Bennett said. The Holly City Development Corp., a subsidiary of the Millville Housing Authority, had planned to close the East Mulberry Street facility last July, citing a growing and irreconcilable revenue and spending gap. But the center was able to remain open with a grant from the Cumberland County Improvement Authority, contracts and contributions from the Millville school district, the city and South Jersey Healthcare, and help from several local officials, including Magazzu. Now, the facility has roughly 1,400 memberships, which includes full-time individuals and families and about 370 people who pay to use certain programs, Center Director Janet Reeves said. "It's much better picture than we had last year. We're bringing in about $50,000 to $55,000 a month, which pretty much goes to pay the bills, but at least I can say we're breaking even," Reeves said. Friday, Magazzu lifted pool weights and chatted with the dozen women in the cardio class. He joked it was the first time in 24 years he had been surrounded by so many women. "Two meetings occurred over a month and we got it done," Magazzu said of keeping the center open. "Had those meetings not occurred, there would have been a shutdown and none of these ladies would have the chance to continue this program." Magazzu noted he was only one piece of the puzzle in keeping the center open. He said he's pleased that the community has embraced the center over the last year so that membership numbers and revenue continue to increase. "It shows the community had the capacity to support this center. It just, ironically, needed a lifesaver, and the group of people collectively were the lifesaver," he said. Carole Hill joined the center a year ago, just before the potential closure. She said she enjoys the facility's programs, including the Deep Water class, because she can exercise and have fun. "Without him, it just wouldn't have been able to keep open, and it's so beneficial to so many people," she said of Magazzu.