YMCA
from page A1
YMCA. The regional
YMCA has been subsidiz
ing the Winston Lake Y
since the branch moved to
its current location at 901
Waterworks Road in 1985.
YMCA of Northwest
N.C. President Curt
Hazelbaker said with drop
ping membership revenue
across its branches, the
regional YMCA can no
longer afford the $300,000
$400,000 shortfall from
Winston Lake. He said rel
atively low membership,
the majority of whom are
seniors who use insurance
to pay, is responsible for
the shortfall. He said it's
also one of the larger
branches with a lot more
space than is needed. He
said changes like reduced
hours and staff changes
have already been put in
place. Closing the pool, the
most expensive amenity
there, was also considered.
He said the situation isn't
unique to the Winston Lake
Y, with similar measures at
four other branches facing
shortfalls.
Hazelbaker said part
nering with the city was
suggested at a meeting on
the issue that was held with
Winston-Salem Y mem
bers. The potential deal
with the city would let the
YMCA continue to have a
location there with a fully
renovated Wellness Center
including new strength
equipment and a group
exercise room, along with
upgraded locker rooms
with a
sauna,
steam
room
and
whirl
pool.
He also
expects
m e m -
bers to
have
access
to the gym and pool for
classes. The YMCA plans
to invest up to $200j000 to
renovate its space.
Hazelbaker said no jobs
or programs would be sac
rificed by the reduced
space. The branch's popu
lar Black Achievers and
Hispanic Achievers pro
grams are held off-site at
local schools and wouldn't
be affected.
"We think it's a great
opportunity for the Y, it's a
great opportunity for the
city," said Hazelbaker.
The city's tentative
plans would be moving the
Recreation and Parks
offices and activities for
seniors and special popula
tions into its part erf' the
building, including Senior
Games and Special
Olympics. Though the
YMCA has invested sub
- stantially in upkeep of the
facility, it will require
$125 million to $13 mil
lion in renovations over the
next three to five years due
to its age.
The Northwest
YMCA's board voted to the
support the deal, as has the
Winston Lake Y's board.
Barbara Carter, who heads
the Winston Lake board,
said she felt the deal was a
"win-win."
The potential agree
ment went before the city
finance committee for dis
cussion on Oct. 10.
Numerous city council
members talked about the
importance of the YMCA
for East Winston. Derwin
Montgomery, who repre
sents the East Ward that
contains the Winston Lake
Y, supports the plan.
"it offers the oppoctuni
ty for the asset to remain in
the community and for
some of the needed invest
ments to take place," said
Montgomery.
The proposal will come
back before the finance
committee on Nov. 14 at
4:30 pm. A letter has been
sent out to Winston Lake
members informing them
about the potential partner
ship, and a forum on it is
planned once more details
have been finalized.
Haielbaktr
Photo* by Tcvin Stiinaon
Ministers Mike and Darla Rakes discuss the importance of keeping the faith
following a on stage performance of "The Sting of White Roses."
JVC Black Repertory Company artistic director Jackie Alexander welcomes the
audience before the start of "The Sting of White Roses", an on stage drama
written by Angelica Cheri.
"The Sting of White
Roses," a production by
the North Carolina
Black Repertory
Company, is steered
toward the family and
friends of those dealing
with illness and the
importance of having
faith. (In Photo: David
Seed played by Brandon
Jones, Thea Seed played
by Petri Gaffney, and
Mina Seed Played by
Eboni Keita.)
Play
from pane A /
with breast cancer,
and for the first
time in his life
David is faced with
a challenge that he
doesn't have the
answers to. While
Mina fights like a
champion, David
begins to question
his faith. Along the
journey to renew
his faith, David
receives a lot of
support from moth
er Thea, and older
sister Esther.
While it is no
secret that more
than 100,000
Americans are
diagnosed with
some form of can
cer each year, "The
Sting of White
Roses" is steered
toward thousands
of family
members and
friends who
are indirectly
affected by the
dreaded diagnoses
of cancer or any
other life threaten
ing illness.
That's a feeling
Winston-Salem
First's ministers
Mike and Darla
Rakes know all too
well. Last summer,
the Rakes' family
received terrible
news that their
daughter was diag
nosed with
Hodgkin's lym
phoma, a form of
leukemia that
affects the circula
tion of blood.
Just as it did to
the Seeds, the
dreadful news
shook the family to
the core. Following
a production of the
onstage drama last
Saturday, the cou
ple led an open dis
cussion on the
importance of
keeping the faith
during times of
adversity.
They also gave
their thoughts on
the production, and
discussed what it's
like to watch their
daughter fight
every day. Darla
said a number of
scenes throughout
the play hit close to
home.
"All of the
emotions expressed
in the play, we have
felt. So many parts
of the play are
real."
Mike said the
same questions
David asked in the
play he asked as
well. He mentioned
that now he and his
wife are at a place
where they have
put all trust in God,
and put all of their
conftdence in Him.
"We're walking
through this, and
we're struggling
but we have put all
our trust in God,
and He has heard
our prayers," he
said. "Deep down
in both our hearts
we know our
daughter is going to
win."
When asked
how she is able to
sustain her faith
during such a hard
time, Darla said,
"Without faith in
life there would be
no comfort at all."
"We have to
trust God." she
said.
Rates
from page AT
Superintendent Beverly
Emory said, "We remain
committed to our goal to
raise the graduation rate to
90 percent by 2018," she
said. "As we get closer, we
must do all we can to help
our students graduate pre
pared for college and
careers."
Local high school stu
dents' science scores
increased as well, while
reading and math scbres
saw a slight decrease.
When using the GLP,
or grade level proficient
scale, to measure high
school courses, 53.6 per
cent of WS/FCS students
were proficient in Biology,
56.8 percent were profi
cient in English Q and, 55 3
percent were proficient in
Math I. The scores for the
2014-2015 school year
were 48.5 in Biology, 563
in English n, and 603 in
Math I.
The CCP (college and
career proficient) scale
shows 46.0 percent of stu
dents were proficient in
Biology, 483 percent were
proficient in English II and
44.9 percent were profi
cient in Math I. This com
pared to 41.4 percent, 473,
and 48.1 percent the previ
ous years.
To improve math and
reading scores, the board
has implemented a number
of student- centered initia
tives, including a new bal
anced approach to reading.
Each school will also have
a goal addressing its
achievement gaps, and an
improvement plan based
on data and accountability.
Emory said the initia
tives are geared toward
holding schools more
accountable. She said,
"Our work this year is root
ed in our imperatives,
which all schools will be
held accountable for imple
menting with fidelity.
"We will model integri
ty by improving our sys
tems of evaluation and
feedback," she said.
"These are not new initia
tives, but we are redirect
ing ourselves to making
sure they are monitored
and evaluated."
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest
H. Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published
every Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing
Co. Inc., 617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C.
27101. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C.
Annual subscription price is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1636
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