Sharon Brummert was headed to the Town Manager's Office on Friday to answer a question about ski buses coordinated through the Recreation and Parks Department when Rec Director Glenn Marston pulled her into the Selectmen's Chambers.
A surprise party organized by her colleagues awaited her, honoring her for her 25th anniversary working for the town of Avon.
Brummert is one of the core veteran employees left in Town Hall.
She applied for the job on a whim as a single mother, never having worked in recreation before. But it wasn't long before she settled in and realized the field was her calling. As she watched her kids grow up into adults, she also witnessed children in other families signed up for town recreation programs grow up.
Interaction with town residents is her favorite part of the job. While the advent of online registration and her work building up to department's online presence has reduced her interaction with the public, many still stop by the office to visit.
She also is one of the key organizers on the Avon Day Committee, a day originally organized spearheaded by the Recreation and Parks staff.
Participation in town recreation programs continues to grow and Brummert has a hand in new programs being offered like fencing and karate instructor Dominic Violante's women's self defense class.
Youth basketball is one of the most popular classes currently offered.
The public often rents out Avon's parks facilities for functions. Brummert said that Countryside Parks' building is rented out most weekends.
Brummert is a native to the area, having grown up in Canton, an now resides in Simsbury.
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