THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 29, 1995 TAG: 9511280121
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JODY R. SNIDER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Smithfield YMCA officials are still flexing their muscles in the old Smithfield High School, the home of the new Smithfield YMCA.
It's a routine that began four months ago when 250 volunteers converged on the old school and began painting walls, installing vinyl tile on the stage and replacing old windows in the 16,000-square-foot facility.
``The volunteers - that's what's made this work,'' said Leslie Bryant, recently hired as the new Smithfield Y's director.
In July, Isle of Wight County agreed to lease the school to the Peninsula YMCA for $1 a year for 20 years. Half the school has been renovated for use by the Isle of Wight County Library/Smithfield Branch.
Recently, Bryant wore blue jeans and a smock as she slapped paint onto bathroom walls at the facility.
``It's been kind of fun, but there's still a lot that needs to be done,'' she said. ``The phones ring constantly. Everybody's anxious. They want to see this happen.''
And slowly, it is happening.
If you walk into the gymnasium on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays, you might find two five-man basketball teams running a ball. Other nights, aerobics classes take over the court.
Former Smithfield High students who have visited the facility have noted that the `S' in the middle of the gym floor has been retained as a part of the school's history, Bryant said.
``They come in here and run over to it and say, `They kept the S! I thought it would be replaced with a Y.' ''
New weight-training equipment arrived in late October and has been installed on the school's old stage. Bryant said the Y will offer free introductory time for people who want to try the equipment out for a few months.
In addition, ``kinder soccer,'' the first of several sports classes for children ages 3-5, is under way at the Y, Bryant said.
In part, the opening of the new facility has been made possible by United Way funding.
``The United Way gave $20,000 to the YMCA,'' Bryant said. ``About $11,500 went toward opening this facility. The remainder goes toward helping families in need, at-risk kids who can't afford the programs offered here.''
In addition to the funding, 18 United Way workers recently rolled up their sleeves during the United Way Day of Caring and began painting, replacing windows and helping finish the gym floor at the old school.
Bryant said the interest in bringing a Y to Smithfield was spawned two years ago when the Peninsula YMCA began offering before- and after-school programs at the county's elementary schools.
When Peninsula YMCA officials conducted a computer search on the number of Isle of Wight residents holding membership at the Peninsula Y, they found more than 400 county families on the roll.
Peninsula YMCA officials estimate the Smithfield branch eventually could serve 1,000 more people who would use the facility on a drop-in basis.
Programs for senior adults also are in the works. Volleyball will be offered in the future, and other classes will be added as the community asks for them, Bryant said.
A funding-raising campaign with a goal of $200,000 to complete the facility began Nov. 6, Bryant said, adding that Smithfield Foods has donated $50,000 and Obici Hospital in Suffolk has pledged $25,000. A Smithfield High alumni basketball game is scheduled for February to help garner community support, Bryant said.
``The important thing is people want this Y for the whole family. And that's what's going to make this Y work.'' MEMO: For updated information on programs and costs, call the Smithfield YMCA
at 365-4060.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JODY SNIDER
Leslie Bryant, director of the YMCA, notes that the ``S'' will stay
on the gym floor.
by CNB