JERSEY SHORE - For 100 years, the Jersey Shore YMCA, 826 Allegheny St., has served the community. It started on Dec. 22, 1909, when a charter for what began as the New York Central Railroad's YMCA was granted by Judge William Hart.
Building additions and program expansions came quickly. In 1912, both a gymnasium and an auditorium were constructed.
In 1915, the first summer camp was held at Waterville, with about 20 boys attending. In 1920, a permanent camp was established near Cedar Run. Called Camp Cedar Pines, it provided recreation and instruction for both boys and girls until 1946.
Also in the 1910s, the YMCA offered swimming programs in its swimming pool, bowling leagues at its lanes and a Garden Club for boys and girls. Membership in the latter could be obtained by giving one's name to YMCA Secretary Clyde E. Baltzer, who also directed the Camp Cedar Pines' summer camps.
Other offerings in the early years included "Bible classes, billiards-pool-checkers, lectures and musicals, orchestra and band, reading room, volleyball, basketball, tennis, baseball and hiking," as advertised in issues of Jersey Shore High School's literary publication, "The Orange and Black," which later became the yearbook.
One of those ads (in the October 1915 issue) listed the YMCA's membership fees: "businessmen and seniors $5, intermediates $3, juniors $2, cadets and girls $1." A March 1916 ad offered "companionship, recreation, physical fitness, socials and spiritual growth." And a February 1917 one made an appeal to "men and boys": "Let Dr. Gym fix you up."
Although both the swimming pool and the bowling lanes are gone, the Jersey Shore YMCA continues today, in many other ways, to be a center of activity for both the youth and adults of the borough. Next Sunday, what has become an important fundraiser for the active community center will take place for the sixth consecutive year.
The Sixth annual Jersey Shore Branch YMCA Ride-Walk with the 'Y' offers bicyclists, walkers and joggers the chance to get out and get some exercise over a choice of 5, 9 or 25 miles; enjoy the Pine Creek Rail Trail in the fall, and support the YMCA. All money raised goes toward program scholarships for youth and their families, and all the money stays at the Jersey Shore branch.
Keith Handwerk, YMCA advisory board member and volunteer, started the annual ride in 2004 and has overseen its growth since then. That first year only five people participated, but it has grown to more than 200 the past couple years.
According to Jersey Shore YMCA Executive Director Elisabeth Miranda, "This is a real volunteer-driven event. We couldn't do it without them, and we probably couldn't do it without Keith. He really gets people in the community excited about it."
Supporting Miranda's comments, Seth Welsh, the YMCA's program director, said, "I help out Keith with anything he needs. Because it's a fundraiser, it's more board-driven than staff-driven."
Handwerk has been bicycling the rail trail and driving to area businesses for a couple of months, handing out applications and obtaining "door prizes" to be distributed to participants in a random drawing at the picnic at the end of the event on the grounds of the Venture Inn off Route 44 about two miles above Jersey Shore. These gifts number more than 50, including dinners for two at various restaurants, gift certificates and a variety of store items.
"The businesses in Jersey Shore and the surrounding area have just backed this event tremendously. In these six years, I've been turned down only one time, and that business said it was because of a real financial crisis, that I should come back the next year when they hoped they could contribute. We have close to 30 sponsors on our T-shirt this year," Handwerk said.
"If anyone would like to donate a last minute door prize, contact the Y," Miranda added.
About the ride-walk itself, Handwerk stressed, "It's not a race. It's meant to be a casual ride, at your own leisure, to stop when and where you want to, to rest or get an ice cream cone or a beverage.
"We welcome groups; we have a number of walkers in our YMCA's Silver Sneakers program signed up to walk from Ramsey (a 5-mile walk). We've had people riding tandems, recumbents, and tricycles - people with kids and dogs in carriers. Kids 12 and under must wear helmets."
For those taking on the lengthier ride from Slate Run, Cammal General Store will have complimentary snacks available. Restrooms are available along the trail at Black Walnut Bottom (about 2 miles below Slate Run), at the Cammal Comfort Station (just south of the village of Cammal), at Dry Run Comfort Station (about 3 miles above Waterville), at Bonnell Flat (3 miles below Waterville), and at the Venture Inn at "trail's end."
Other conveniences include the two well-water pumps along the way - one at Black Walnut Bottom, the other at Bonnell Flat. Also, a bicycle mechanic from Bonner Sports will be the last person coming down the trail in case anyone has any type of bike problem.
For a contribution of $10 per individual or $20 for a family, participants receive a bottle of water before the ride; transportation of themselves and their bicycles to either Ramsey, Waterville or Slate Run; a lunch consisting of hot dogs, a snack, fruit and water; and the chance for a door prize.
At least 25 volunteers are working hard to make the event a memorable part of the centennial celebration of the Jersey Shore YMCA. Call the 'Y' at 398-2150 for more information or to register, or go online to www.jerseyshorepaymca.org, click onto "events."
Registration also will be held the morning of the day of the event, either at the YMCA, or beginning at about 10:30 a.m. at the two bus-loading locations - one at Fred Hamm's Disposal lot on Railroad Street in Jersey Shore, across from the New York Central caboose for those going to Slate Run at 12:30 p.m., and the other at the Venture Inn parking lot, for those going to Ramsey or Waterville at 10 p.m.
