Staff report
The Hurley YMCA on Jake Alexander Boulevard opened its doors wide Saturday for a community celebration of its fifth birthday.
The celebration, complete with exercise classes and birthday cake, attracted around 500 participants.
Sandy Flowers, executive director of the Y, described the turnout as excellent.
“A lot of folks came through to try out the Y,” said Flowers.
Offering activities for all age groups and entire families, the Y ran classes including Body Vive, Body Pump and Body Flow.
And the birthday celebration was the perfect place to kick off a new class called Zumba, which involves Latin dance.
The Y staff showed off an array of classes for all ó from beginners to advanced.
Others took advantage of open swim time.
Youngsters tried out their skills tumbling, jumping rope and wall climbing.
The dance revolution competition sparked some intense rivalries as contestants danced side by side, trying to duplicate the moves on the screen.
Volunteers conducted tours and provided information to visitors about the Y, its various departments and programs.
Other special activities included face paining, along with displays of arts and crafts.
The Hurley Y currently has more than 10,000 members and is in the midst of a campaign to add more members.
During January, there is no joining fee at Hurley and all other YMCAs in Rowan.
Membership normally jumps in January as more people try to work off holiday pounds or start the year with a resolution to become more fit.
The birthday celebration was for the Y’s move to Jake Alexander and renaming as the Hurley YMCA to reflect the support of the Hurley family.
The Salisbury YMCA opened in the early 1950s.