Just received an email indicating that Val England, director of the White Rock YMCA and before that the East Dallas YMCA, has stepped down after something like 25 years associated with the neighborhood YMCA branches. Val grew up around here and was one of the kids who spent time at the YMCA while growing up; she was a program director when the Y was located in the old farmhouse near J.L Long Middle School, and eventually was promoted to be director around the time J.E.R. Chilton made a significant donation to the Y, allowing it to move to new quarters south of the spillway at Gaston & Garland. Y board chairman Richard Vitale told board members that a "national search" for Val’s replacement is underway. No word on Val’s plans at this point.