Duluth and YMCA Struggling To Recruiting Park Point Life Guards

Duluth Area Family YMCA and the City of Duluth are struggling to recruit lifeguards to staff for Park Point.

They even raised the pay from $11 to $14 and waived the $250 certification fee in order to lure more candidates, but it's not working for some reason. Cheryl Podtburg, the YMCA risk manager told MPR that by this time she has 80% of the staff filled, not the case this year. There are zero prospects for the job.

She also told MPR that she has 12 lifeguards on staff at the Downtown Duluth YMCA, which is down from 25. She needs a dozen, at least, for the Park Point staffing. She says the shortage is from a lack of training time. The Pandemic made it hard for new lifeguards to train.

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She said to MPR, that even the Twin Cities have had a tough time the last two years. Then again, it's a nationwide problem. Lifeguards in Duluth are especially needed. Many people don't pay attention to the warnings and get caught in rip currents and other dangerous conditions.

The City is under the gun now too because the lifeguards have to be trained and ready for Memorial Day weekend. The City and the Duluth Area Family YMCA are asking for the public’s help recruiting lifeguards or people who want to become a lifeguard for the upcoming beach season. Lifeguards are urgently needed to apply to ensure that lifeguard services can continue this summer.

If you are already a lifeguard: the city and the YMCA are asking for you to please apply to be a Park Point Lifeguard on the Duluth YMCA website.

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Not a lifeguard yet – or not currently certified? Apply anyway! Applicants who can pass all other components of the hiring process may be offered a position conditional upon successful completion of the lifeguard certification class, held at the Duluth YMCA for free. Find out more info on salaries and bonuses.

Questions regarding employment as a Park Point Lifeguard can be directed to Cheryl Podtburg at cpodtburg@duluthymca.org, or by calling 218-722-4745 ext. 115.

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Where Is The Best Fish Fry In The Twin Ports?

The fish fry is one of those meals that has become synonymous with Upper Midwest cuisine. While New England claims its seafood, Texas has its barbecue, and California is the land of 10,000 salads - it seems like the fish fry is omnipresent on a lot of restaurant and grill menus in the part of the country we live in.

And while some could argue what constitutes a proper fish fry (i.e. is the fish battered and deep dried, grilled, or broiled?). And - some might debate whether or not the side dish matters (i.e. is it served with "chips" (French fries) or some other side like mashed potatoes or rice?). No one debates what day of the week is traditional for a fish fry meal: That honor goes to Friday. The Friday connection has it's origins because a variety of religious denominations couldn't eat meat on that day of the week - especially during the Lenten season. However, even outside of Lent, the fish fry special is something most people expect to see on the menu at a restaurant on a Friday.

Even with the special being so prolific to Friday restaurant menus, it seems like the common question - especially here in the Northland - is "who has a fish fry?" or "who has the best fish fry?".

To answer those questions, we've compiled the following list of businesses - listed in alphabetic order - who specifically make mention of their Friday fish fry special on their menus, websites, and social media sites.

Try one, try some, or try them all. You can't go wrong!