Winston Lake saga continues I
BY TEVIN STINSON
THB CHRONICLE
The YMCA of
Northwest North Carolina
is looking for partners to
help run the Winston Lake
branch on Waterworks
Road that serves those who
live in the East Winston
community.
According to President
and Chief Executive
Officer Curt Hazelbaker,
board members have had
discussions with a number
of non-profit organizations
and representatives with
the city to help with the
overall finances of the
branch. s"<
Last month The
Chronicle broke news that
board members were look
ing to close the entire por
tion of the building where
the pool is located, cut
hours and transfer staff
members. The proposed
changes are expected to
help Winston Lake over
come a yearly shortfall of
$400,000.
Senior Vice-President
and COO Darryl Head also
noted the branch needs an
additional $500,000 for
repairs that have to be
cpmpleted in the next five
years.
While hours' changes
and staff changes will be
implemented May 21, the
pool will remain open
while board members seek
partners to help with the
upkeep. Partnership dis
cussions began after a
number of members said
they wanted the pool to
stay and the city to step in.
Hazelbaker said if the
association agrees with a
partnership with the city,
the branch would be run
similar to recreation cen
ters in the area. He also
assured members that
although the pool may
close, the branch would not
be closing.
"The Winston Lake
branch will not be clos
ing," he said. "We are
doing everything we can to
keep a presence in the East
Winston community."
During a recent meet
ing with members,
Hazelbaker discussed the
financial reasons that led to
the proposed changes at the
Winston Lake branch.
According to Hazelbaker,
the association has lost
$389,000 in 2015. The loss
is a combination of mem
bership rates and program
revenue at all branches in
the system.
Tlie budgeted loss for
2016 is $696,000.
Hazelbaker said $389/XX)
of the loss is Winston Lake
alone. While a number of
Ys in the system have seen
a decline in income,
Winston Lake has seen an
annual loss of more than
$350,000 for five years in a
row.
Lack of participation in
a number of programs over
the years has led to a num
ber of programs being
removed from the branch
which is believed to be the
reason for the loss at
Winston Lake. Since 2011
more than five programs
have left the branch,
including the after-school
program, summer camp
program and others.
"That played a big part
in the proposed changes,"
he said. "The current way
we operate is not sustain
able."
Hazelbaker noted that
board members usually
don't make financial infor
mation public, but follow
ing the backlash from
members, he felt the need
to make the information
available to the,public.
"This isn't information
that we usually share with
our members," he said.
"We wanted to make sure
the members here at
Winston Lake understand
how and why we decided
to make these changes."
While a number of
members applauded
Hazelbaker and other
board members for their
transparency, a number of
members urged the board
to consider die community
that the branch serves.
Members mentioned that
Winston Lake is different
from any other branch in
the system because of the
number of minorities that
use the facility.
Cynthia Curtis said
when making plans for the
future of Winston Lake, the
diversity of the members
should be taken into
account.
"As they are contem
plating the future of
Winston Lake, they have to
take into the consideration
of the diversity that* exists
here," said Curtis. "This
branch is unlike any other
and should be treated as
such."
Winston Lake branch's
roots date back to 1924
when a branch opened on
Depot Street to serve
African-Americans in the
city before moving to its
current location in 1985.
Many of the current mem
bers say the friendships
they made at the original
branch on Depot Street
have grown and carried
over to Winston Lake.
Tarshalla Sitton said
although she uses a num
ber of different branches
across the city, Winston
Lake is different because
of the relationships the
members have built over
the years.
"Winston Lake has a
different feel than any
other YMCA in this sys
tem," said Sitton. "It's like
a family here.
"If they continue to
take away programs and
things like the pool, I fear
that feeling may leave as
well. This branch should
remain the way it is."
Photo by Tevin Stinson
More than 400 people registered to participate in the 2016 Hammerbird 5K on
Saturday, April 30. The event is designed to help local families purchase afford
able housing.
Hundreds participate
in Hammerbird 5K
BY TEVIN STINSON
THE CHRONICLE
Last Saturday hundreds of residents
from Winston-Salem battled rain and
strong winds to participate in the third
annual Habitat for Humanity Hammerbird
SK. While there are dozens of SKs held
throughout the area, Hammerbird is unlike
any other in the region.
The 5K started at Kimberly Park
Elementary School and made its way
through the historic Boston-Thurmond
neighborhood. As they ran and walked
through the streets, participants passed by
mote than 70 homes that have been built or
renovated by Habitat for Humanity,
jf 4 The fust person to cross the finish line
was Anderson Ward, who finished the
course in just under 18 minutes. Not too far
behind Ward was Molly Nunn who fin
ished the course at the 18:13 mark.
JPSftc.,. +
While a number of participants like
Ward and Nunn competed in the 5K to
compete against other runners, longtime
volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Laura
Spedding said she signed up for the SK this
year to help local families in need.
According to representatives from
Habitat for Humanity, proceeds from the
race benefit Habitat for Humanity's mis
sion of helping local working families pur
chase their own affoitlable, high quality,
energy efficient homes.
Spedding, who only ran a mile, said
although she didn't finish the race, it feels
good to help those in need.
"This is a wonderful event," said
Spedding. "Even with the rain, this shows
how much people really care about each
other in this community."
For more information on the
Hammerbird 5K and to see the results from
the event, visit wwwhabitatforsyth.org.
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May 14,9 tm. - 6 pj&
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