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'Y without walls' to begin class offerings
By JULIANNE WU, Times Staff Writer INDIAN ROCKS BEACH -- For about eight months, a North Beaches YMCA was just an idea. Now, it's a reality and classes will start next Sunday. Indian Rocks Beach was the last of four communities to sign the contract with each other and the YMCA of the Suncoast. "It's a done deal," said Brian Kridler, the Y's director of new development. The YMCA has rented an office at 500 Second St. (near the corner of Second and Walsingham Road) in Indian Rocks Beach, on the north side of the bridge connecting Largo and Indian Rocks Beach. Roger Jacobs is the full-time program director. And the office has a phone number: (727) 595-5610. About 12 activities will be offered by the North Beaches Y. There are no plans for a new building, Kridler said. Considered a "Y without walls," the North Beaches YMCA will use existing facilities. For instance, water exercise classes will be offered at the Holiday Inn Harbourside, 401 Second St., Indian Rocks Beach, from 9 to 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Oct. 7. The classes will be free to residents and Y members on Oct. 7 and 9; beginning Oct. 16, a YMCA group exercise punch card will be required. Preschool swim lessons also will start at the Holiday Inn Harbourside on Oct. 7; they will be held from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays for three weeks. Other activities will include youth and adult tennis lessons, preschool gymnastics, youth basketball, an adult cooking class, group fitness and adult computer classes. A complete list of activities and fees is available at the new office. Other venues that will be used include Kolb Park, Calvary Episcopal Church and the Church of the Isles in Indian Rocks Beach, the Belleair Beach and Indian Shores city halls, and parts of the beach along the Gulf of Mexico. "Our people will now have access to the same type of services as are available in other cities that have recreational facilities," said Indian Rocks Beach City Manager Tom Brobeil. "I'm happy this is finally coming to fruition," said Belleair Beach Mayor Mike Kelly. "Under this plan, we have about 50 instructors that we otherwise wouldn't be able to provide. Now, all we have to do is get the word out." The four communities will pay a membership fee of about $10 for each resident, Brobeil explained. In other words, residents will be automatic Y members, but they might have to pay additional fees for some programs. The four municipalities will pay about $100,000 a year to maintain the program. Each community will pay based on its population, Brobeil said. Indian Rocks Beach, with about 5,100 residents, will pay about 60 percent, or $60,000. Indian Shores and Belleair Beach each will pay about $19,000 (both communities have populations of slightly over 1,700). Belleair Shore will pay proportionately for its roughly 100 residents. For information, call the office between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. See and sign upA kickoff for the newly formed North Beaches YMCA is scheduled for 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at Kolb Park in Indian Rocks Beach. Open to residents of Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores, Belleair Beach and Belleair Shore. Will include some demonstrations of martial arts, dance, tennis, yoga and group fitness. People also can sign up for classes, many of which begin Oct. 7. Food will be provided by Crabby Bill's Restaurant. For information about the new YMCA, call the office in Indian Rocks Beach, 595-5610.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks Letters |
