This Week in Clarkstown: Job Opportunities 

By Matt Veronesi

My dad’s first job as a teenager was at a bowling alley. On his first day of employment, the worker who was supposed to train him got called away on a family emergency and he left my father alone in the bowling alley to fend for himself. He told my dad that Mondays were usually slow so not to worry as he would be back before any real customers came in. Unfortunately for my dad, about 20 people came in from a nearby office to do some teambuilding. There he was faced with 20 customers and no idea what he was doing. My dad figured that it was bowling, how hard could it be? He was able to get all of the 12 alleys open but had no idea how to get the pin setters working. So in effect all that could occur was that someone could bowl on the first roll but would then have to move to another lane as he could not get the pin setters to work. With only 12 lanes that plan didn’t last long. It was utter chaos as he tried fruitlessly to get the alleys working, and the customers were not happy. They did not want to hear about how it was his first day on the job. After nearly an hour of confusion they all left to go find another option to have their teambuilding exercise. Of course, more and more customers started to show up. Unfortunately none of the lanes were working, so everyone left disappointed. A few hours later the owner of the bowling alley came in to check on his new employee and found there were no customers as none of the lanes were working. He fired my dad on the spot. This job may have been one of the shortest first jobs in history but it definitely left a lasting impression on my dad regarding proper training for the job you are hired to do. 

Working in Parks & Recreation for 20 years, I have had the opportunity to be a part of many young people’s first jobs. Whether it be as camp counselors, lifeguards, maintenance workers, cashiers, etc. the field of Parks & Recreation offers many opportunities for young workers starting at 15 years of age. Many of these workers will then work with us right up to the time when they finish college and go on to their full-time careers. Being in the field so long I have seen many of our past young workers go on to become lawyers, doctors, teachers, police officers, military personnel and more. It makes me proud to think that a first job in Parks & Recreation helped shape these young men and women into the future leaders that they would become. Working in Parks & Recreation for your first job, these young workers learned about hard work, responsibility, team-work, being on-time, customer service, and many other skills. 

If you are interested in or know anyone that is interested in working in Parks & Recreation this summer, whether it is a first job or not, the Town of Clarkstown Parks & Recreation Department is hiring. We are hiring cashiers, life guards, camp counselors, and grounds workers. Clarkstown hires certified lifeguards at the minimum age of 15, cashiers and camp counselors at the minimum age of 16, and grounds workers at the minimum age of 18. 

If you are interested in becoming a lifeguard or cashier and want more information please email Jack Walsh at aquatics@clarkstown.gov, if you are interested in being a camp counselor please email Steve Uhl at camps@clarkstown.gov, or if you are interested in being a groundsworker please email Ron Gaglione at r.gaglione@clarkstown.gov. And we promise that if you are hired by Clarkstown we will make sure you are trained properly! 

Got an idea for the column or an event in Clarkstown you want me to mention? Shoot me an email at mveronesi@optimum.net. Have a great week!