The Times

Saturday, July 17, 1976, page 12 (of 28)

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YOU NAME IT, THEY DO IT At Gables' Youth Center

1. The Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center sits amid lush foliage, as this rainy-day picture attests, but the sign in the foreground, above, lets everyone know it's there. 2. This group of youngsters comprise an arts and crafts class at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center. It's one of the more popular indoor activities, especially with the younger children. 3. Outdoors, baseball, football, soccer and tennis are popular with all ages at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, but fast coming into that circle is paddle ball. It's a fast-moving outdoor activity that can be engaged in by both the young and not too old. Although its name might tend to indicate otherwise, the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center actually provides a truly dynamic recreational program "for all ages from four to 104," to quote its director, Jeannette T. Hunt. And in that she is not exaggerating. Capsuled, the Center's programs range all the way from creative morning pre-school activities for tiny tots to such divergent diversions as Spanish lessons and belly dancing for older participants. For the record, the War Memorial Youth Center is located at 400 Anastasia Avenue, right at the confluence of University Drive and LeJeune Road. It has occupied that location ever since its dedication on December 7, 1956. The Center was founded on the premise that World War II should not be forgotten, and that the personal sacrifices it brought forth should not go unrecognized. Also that the youth of future years should be given an opportunity for a brighter future. Today it could, if it wanted, boast of having totally achieved both of these goals. Participation in the Center's almost unlimited activities is by paid membership, and is now nominally limited to Coral Gables residents, although non-residents who were members prior to the present restrictive rules and who have continued to pay a membership fee uninterruptedly can continue enjoying full participation. Resident memberships for all sports and fee classes are $26.00 for father, mother and one child per year, and $5.20 for each additional child. For fourth and subsequent children there is no extra charge. Non-residents pay $62.40 for themselves and one child per year, and $20.80 for each additional child. There also are some special memberships for non-resident children. For fee classes the charge is $26.00 per child per year. These classes include such activities as Judo, Gymnastics and the like. Under this membership category the child is not allowed to participate in any other activity or use any other Center facilities at any other time. Then there are special, seasonal only, sports memberships for participation in such things as basketball, soccer, baseball, football, cheer leading, and so forth. For these, Gables residents pay $10.40 per child per sport, and non-residents $26.00. Special sports memberships carry the same restrictions as the fee classes. Facilities for many of the Center's programs are either in or adjacent to its headquarters, but they also include the Biltmore and Granada Golf Courses; Venetian Pool; All States Friendship Club for Senior Citizens, Sunrise, Jaycee, Phillips, Winocur and Coral Bay Parks. Also Pierce and Salvadore Park Playgrounds, Freeman Tot Lot, and three public schools where educational programs for youths and adults are held — Ponce deLeon Junior High, Carver Jr. High, and Merrick School. With summer virtually here, the Center is enjoying heavy participation in its baseball program, which this year is being conducted within the Dade Youth Baseball League. Teams consist of lads 11 and under, 13 and under, and 15 and under. And women's libbers should take notice — there also are two girls' softball teams very much ready for action. Youth tennis and golf programs are heavy favorites this year, too. Proving exceptionally popular are tennis and golf clinics, conducted by the Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department especially for ages eight through 15 years. Golf activities are at the Biltmore Course. The tennis clinic holds forth at Salvadore Park. While this and just about every other imaginable youth activity go on apace, a large number of the more conservatively inclined (and older members, to be sure) are engaged in the intricacies of such things as the modern dance, Israeli folk dancing, belly dancing, playing the baroque recorder, yoga and the like; in fact even dog training and slimnastics. In short, having a ball while at the same time learning and accomplishing plenty! Surveying the entire dynamic Youth Center program would take virtually endless time and space, but mention simply must be made of its on-going, popular Tiny-Tot program for four and five year-olds, and its summer Day Camp and Summer Camp programs, the former for ages five through 12, and the latter for teens. 4. Here's a class in the modern dance, shown as it goes through its paces in front of a mirror at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center. This is just one of many adult programs available to Coral Gables residents at the Center. 5. And, inevitably, there is karate, although what appears above looks almost like a gold old-fashioned wrestling match. Whatever it may be called, the kids seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. 6. Here is a class in ceramics in session at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center. Although outdoor sports comprise a heavy part of the schedule at the Center, indoor activities, of which there are many, seem equally popular — are faithfully attended by both the young and adults.

THIS EDUCATIONAL ENDEAVOR IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE COOPERATION OF THE FOLLOWING CONCERNED PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS WHO ARE STRIVING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE.

COPYRIGHT 1976 KEY NEWSPAPER COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMMING ALLAN R. ABESS, JR., Pres. City Nat'l Bank of Coral Gables | JOHN C. BROCKWAY, Pres. Bill Ussery Motors, Inc. | M.H. FARNSWORTH, Chairman International Corporate Services Ltd. | MARIAN KRUTULIS, Director Gulliver Academy, Inc. | CLIFFORD J. NAGEL, JR., Pres. The Witters Construction Co. So. Fla. Chapter Assoc. Gen'l Contractors | ROBERT L. SEARLE, Pres. Searle & Morris Insurance JULIO ABISLAIMAN, Vice Pres. Riviera Jewelers | GLEN ALLEN BUFF | EUGENE F. STREWS, Pres. Fidelity National Bank of South Miami | MR. PETE LATA The Madrid Restaurant | DAVID C. NEALE, Div. Manager 7-Eleven Stores Division of the Southland Corporation | E. CARR SMITH ROBERT ULLMAN, Pres. Barni Blanks Men's Store Miracle Mile Merchants Association CARLOS J. ARBOLEYA, Pres Barnett Bank at Westchester N.A. | GUY C. CARMICHAEL, JR., Pres. Crow, Pope & Land of Florida, Inc. | GENERAL WATERWORKS South Florida Division | TIMOTHY F. LONG Sweden House Restaurants | RICHARD D. SWETONIC, Pres., Wallades/Dick Richmond WILLIAM BAGWELL, Pres. Miami Safe and Lock Inc. | G. HERNANDEZ-CARTAYA Chairman of the Board W.F.C. Group | WOLF HANAU, President Les Jardins Restaurant | RAUL P. MASVIDAL, Pres. Royal Trust Bank of Miami, N.A. | FRANK H. POE, Pres. Poe's Hardware & Rent Alls | NATHAN TARTAK, R.P. Riviera Pharmacy PETER L. BERMONT Vice Pres. & Res. Mgr. Drexel Burnham & Co. | C. DeWITT COFFMAN, Pres. The Coffman Corporation Hotel Consultants | RALPH JENSEN, Pres. Continental Travel, Inc. | GARY A. MATTHEWS, Pres. Gary's Paint & Body Shop., Inc. | RONALD R. READER C.L.U. General Agent Mass. Mutual Life Ins. Co. | SOUTH DIXIE DISCOUNT CENTER 8865 South Dixie Highway RICHARD D. THOMAS, Administrator Coral Gables Hospital CURTIS BLANK Co-owner Cafe Chauveron, Inc. | MARVIN S. CONE, Director Dearborn School | M. "DICK" JONES, Pres. Catalina Aquatech Pools, Inc. | FELIPE MORENO, Manager Distributor Sales Latin American Operation Ingersoll-Rand International | GERALD L. ROSE, Pres. Security Federal S & L Association | L. GERALD WRIGHT Chairman of the Board Chief Executive Officer Aristar Management Inc. NORMAN BRAMAN, Pres. Braman Cadillac | JAMES E. DOWNS, Pres., Lennar & Klein Jewelers, Inc. | KENNETH E. KAMBERG, Pres. Coral Gables Fed. Savings & Loan Assoc. HOWARD R. DOWNES Chairman of the Board The Dominion Companies | ROBERT G. KNIGHT, Mayor City of Coral Gables | FRANK H. WIRTZ, Gen'l. Mgr. The Rusty Pelican