Meet Groton Youth Program’s new director

Nick Wagner visited Ithaca when his sister attended Ithaca College in the early 2000s. He never forgot how much he loved the Finger Lakes, so he contacted an Ithaca realtor in 2016 when he wanted to move his wife, Katelynn, and toddler daughter, Vera, to a small town in the area.

The Wagners were living in Asheville, North Carolina, at the time and desired better educational opportunities for Vera.

Groton was top on the list of the realtor’s recommendation because she felt that the Groton School District was “an up-and-coming place for education” and because of its resources for children such as pre-kindergarten, the Groton Public Library and many other child-focused opportunities.

One such opportunity for children is the Groton Youth Services Program (GYP), in partnership with Rural Youth Services of Cornell Cooperative Extension, which is funded by the United Way, the Tompkins County Youth Services Department and the town and village of Groton.

The Wagners relocated to Groton in 2017, and as it turned out, Nick became the GYP’s new director at the end of September 2020, just about four months after Monica Dykeman had vacated the position that she’d held for 20 years to pursue another career path.

Nick was born and raised in Fredonia, New York, and was involved in the 4-H program and in soccer at Fredonia High School until he graduated in 1999. He has coached and refereed youth soccer since he was 16.

Working with and helping people, especially kids, is something Nick has always enjoyed, so it seemed a natural and logical path for him to study psychology and pursue a career in human services.

Nick attended Medaille College in Buffalo, New York, earning his bachelor’s in psychology in 2006. At Medaille, Nick began coaching college soccer and lacrosse, and that became his full-time focus for the next few years.

Nick coached at Medaille for a while, then at Erie Community College in Buffalo and finally, from 2010 to 2012 at Lees-McRae College in Banner Elk, North Carolina.

There, in Banner Elk, Nick met Katelynn while both played on an adult soccer team. At the time, Katelynn was a ski instructor at Sugar Mountain, and though Nick says his skiing prowess is not even close to his skills in soccer and lacrosse, they fell in love and married in 2013.

The Wagners moved to Asheville, North Carolina, when Katelynn got a job at the Biltmore Estate, and not too long thereafter, Vera was born.

Nick made a switch then to caring for Vera but also coached girls’ lacrosse at Carolina Day School and officiated NCAA lacrosse games.

It was at this point when the Wagners were making their plan to move to the Ithaca area when Katelynn landed a job at Cornell University, which brings us back to when they moved here in 2017.

Nick still spent most of his days caring for Vera, but he also worked part time at Racker and by night officiated soccer and lacrosse games.

Over the next few years, Nick worked at Elmcrest Children’s Services in Tully, the J.M. Murray Center in Cortland and most recently as a case manager for Catholic Charities of Cortland County.

Soccer has continued to be a love in Nick’s life. Since moving to Groton, he has held positions coaching both the modified and varsity boys’ teams at Groton High School.

“I enjoyed coaching the modified team the most because you get to see youth at that age (seventh- to ninth-graders) learn and develop at a rapid pace,” he said.

Nick no longer has time to coach high school teams, but he is very excited about his new role for GYP.

At his new position, Nick has been coordinating some fun programs that began this week but are open to registration throughout the course of the sessions if spots are available.

On Mondays, Nov. 9 to Dec. 21, “Games of the World” sessions are open from 12:30 to 3 p.m. or 3:30 to 6 p.m. for grades four through eight, with participants learning about and playing games from all over the world.

Tuesdays, Nov. 10 to Dec. 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. for grades five through eight, “Explore! Groton” to explore all the Groton community has to offer and learn about the history of our town.

“Holiday Crafts” is the thing for Wednesdays, Nov. 11 to Dec. 16, for grades three through eight with sessions from 12:30 to 3 p.m. or 3:30 to 6 p.m. All supplies provided.

On Thursdays, Nov. 12 to Dec. 17, from 3:30 to 6 p.m., participants in grades five through eight will work on designing and building their own toboggan or sled using wood and/or other materials and if weather permits, perhaps even take them on a test run.

All programs have the possibility of being outdoors at times, and youth participants should prepare appropriately for the conditions. Programs during November will take place at the Groton Masonic Lodge, 301 Main St. In December, most programs will move to Saint Anthony Parish, 312 Locke Rd.

To register for any or all, visit https://reg.cce.cornell.edu/Groton_Fall_Registration-2_250.

When asked how he’s feeling about the job so far, Nick said, “I love it!”

“It mixes the human services part of helping people with being able to work with kids,” he said. “It’s the perfect blend of both my passions.”

Groton on the Inside appears weekly. Submit news ideas to Linda Competillo, lmc10@cornell.edu or 607-227-4922.

In brief:

Wreaths Across America

The Groton Rotary Club is partnering with the Bun Appetit Bakery, 215 Main St., to host a “Wreaths Across America” event from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Those who come in to purchase a wreath for $15 will receive a free cup of coffee at the bakery, and each wreath purchased will be matched with two more by Groton Rotary. All wreaths will be placed on the graves of United States veterans at the Bath National Cemetery on Dec. 19.

Those unable to purchase wreaths in person at the event but would still like to participate may send a check to Groton Rotary, PO Box 253, Groton, NY 13073 with the notation “ID# NY0311” on the check.

Chicken coop raffle

The Groton High School STEAM Learning Center’s building trades program has started its residential carpentry course this fall. Attendees will be advancing their knowledge of basic carpentry by moving on to chicken coops before tackling building a shed from the ground up.

In order to support the program in its cost of building materials, the school will be raffling off a completed chicken coop. Tickets are available for $5 each and will be sold out of the district and main offices of the high school, as well as by members of the building trades course. The drawing will be held Thursday, Nov. 19.

Still time for Thanksgiving pie

The Groton Assembly of God Women’s Ministries group will hold its annual Thanksgiving pie sale on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, pies will be sold via preorder only and picked up curbside from 9 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Nov. 25 at Groton Assembly of God, 701 S. Main St.

Traditional and Dutch apple, cherry and pumpkins pies are available for $10 each. Banana, banana nut, pumpkin and zucchini breads are available for $5 each.

To preorder your pies and breads, contact Caren Arnold at (607) 229-6552 or carend1625@gmail.com.

Virtual book clubs

The Groton Public Library will host virtual book clubs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18 for a discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ book, “Between the World and Me” and at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19 on “The Hidden Life of Trees” by Peter Wohlleben. Contact director@grotonpubliclibrary.org for Zoom links and copies of the books.