WS Chronicle

Those who frequent the Winston Lake YMCA showed off their talents to support it on Friday night, Nov. 3.

Winston Lake Friends Association held its second annual Senior Royale Revue talent show at the Enterprise Center to raise funds for the group, which supports the Winston Lake Y. Tickets sold out for the ’70s themed event, which featured performances of songs like “Shotgun” by Jr. Walker and the All Stars, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” by the Temptations and of Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise.”

Winston Lake Friends President Mary Hargraves frequents the Winston Lake Y three times a week and describes those who go there as a close knit “family” that looks out for each other.

Winston Lake Friends started about a year and half to help bring members of that “family” together and help out the ones in need. This included creating an album with names and photos of members there, raising money for youth, providing Halloween candy, helping sick members and “adopting” people there who are in financial need by giving them personal items and coats.

“We just make them feel at home and part of the family,” Hargraves said.

The group helps with the Winston Lake Y’s annual fundraising drive that starts in December. It’s also looking to help people outside of the Y by sending money and supplies to hurricane-ravaged parts of Texas.

The Winston Lake Y has experienced changes in recent years as the YMCA of Northwest NC tries to minimize the money it’s losing on the location. Hargraves said she was disappointed the city didn’t buy the Winston Lake Y, which was being considered last year. She said the pool is still open and she hopes to see membership increase, especially among much-needed younger members. She said it’s important to preserve the long-running historically black Y branch. 

“It’s the history and it’s important for us to keep our history,” she said.

The talent show was comprised mostly of Winston Lake Friends members with a couple others who also frequent the Winston Lake Y. The revue featured models sporting a variety of fashions along with singing, dancing, spoken word and even a martial arts demonstration. Covia Boyd performed Tai Chi Fan Form. He practices martial arts at the Winston Lake Y and was happy to come out in support of it.

“It’s close to my home and I love the people,” said Boyd about the WInston Lake location.

Friends of Winston Lake holds its meetings at 9 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Winston Lake Y.