FREMONT, Ohio — Next month, members of two community staples in Fremont will be able to use their memberships for both organizations.
For the first time, the YMCA of Sandusky County will be participating in a membership swap with the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums.
So for the entire month of March, members of either organization will be given full access at both locations.
"We know that many of our members have not experienced the presidential museum and library and potentially that there are folks who haven't been over (to the YMCA). So, it's a great opportunity for some cross-pollination," said BJ Duckworth, YMCA of Sandusky County's senior director of operations.
Alina Hart, Hayes Museum education coordinator, said the same.
"We're looking for some cross members and being to get some people who are really into exercising over here, maybe walk the grounds occasionally, come through the house and museum. And then the same for our members over there, definitely looking forward to that," she said.
Along with offering their members additional access and services for free, YMCA leaders believe these kinds of partnerships can help strengthen the community as the two legacy organizations could continue working together once the promotion ends.
"Two organizations very rooted in the community," Duckworth said. "It's a great way to share our resources and collaborate not only with each other but start up some other collaborations in the community."
The YMCA of Sandusky County will also be hosting a public forum next month with multiple local and state elected officials invited to speak about ways it can improve services in the community.
And what better way to spend your President's Day than at the former home of a president?
The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library & Museum in Fremont will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday with no admission necessary.
Free walking tours of the museum and the historic Hayes home will be held throughout the day along with family-friendly activities, crafts, story time for the kids and presidential trivia.
"Especially, I think, it's a really cool opportunity for kids to see that a president lived right down the road from them, and that is just great for them to learn," Hart said. And also for everyone to come out and see that tradition as well and being able to celebrate a wonderful legacy of American presidents and see that Fremont was a part of that."
There will also be horse-drawn trolley rides by South Creek Clydesdales from 1-4 p.m.