Smile

What makes Mya Ponto smile? “Being around my friends and hanging out with people from school,” said the then 14-year-old Noblesville resident. Today’s feature is a look back at one of The Times’ previous Faces of Hamilton County. She is a sophomore at Noblesville High School and, before that, she attended Noblesville West Middle School. She was found in summer 2021 working a summer job at the concession stand at Forest Park Aquatic Center, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in June 2021. Over the summer at the pool, she worked concessions, checked in guests and sold memberships. Her favorite job duty? “I like doing the concessions. I get to make people’s food and give it to them.” Favorite food to make and eat? “I like making pretzels a lot.” She is the daughter of Matt Ponto and Amy Ponto and has a brother, Camren. Pets? “I have one dog and two cats.” Her dog is an English bulldog named Stella. When she wasn’t working, she said she loves to swim and hopes to become a lifeguard there. This summer, she’s again working at the concession stand, which has several new food offerings, including popcorn. Being that today is the last day of school for Noblesville Schools, Forest Park Aquatic Center, beginning this Saturday, will be open for the summer pool season noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Sundays and noon to 7 p.m. weekdays. Admission is $8, with memberships and donor-level memberships available. Memberships include admission to Morse Beach. To read more about the pool, read the Betsy Reason column in the May 24 edition of The Times. Also, visit www.forestparkpool.org/