JOHNSTOWN A downtown fitness center is looking to expand the after- school program its maintained for more than 10 years. Now, with support from state Rep. Bryan Barbin, Greater Johnstown School District administrators and other local organizations, the gym is set to take larger strides toward youth development in the community.

Oscar Cashaw is the co-owner of Fitness Weights & Aerobics, 110 Franklin St. He said he was approached by Barbin in September to make the gym an official safe haven for area youths who may be without supervision in the evening hours.

The need for more and longer after-school programs was expounded in the Johnstown Crime and Violence Commissions 2013 report. The subcommittee found there was a lack of any programs past the 5 to 6 p.m. time frame. And none was within walking distance from Greater Johnstown schools.

The subcommittee believes the best way to support our children and youth, parents, community, and the efforts of GJSD is to build upon existing programming to create neighborhood activity centers that provide food, tutoring and homework assistance, physical education activities, cultural activities, mentoring and parent support services that extend to at least 8 p.m. every night with additional activities on the weekends, the report states.

The subcommittees direction follows the old saying of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Cashaw said his gym currently hosts an average of 20 to 30 kids a day through the unofficial after-school program thats been running since 2001. He said he expects that number to swell once the safe haven project gets rolling.

The official program will complement the 3 to 5 p.m. after-school program at Greater Johnstown. Cashaw said signing up is free and done through the schools program enrollment. The centers doors will be open from 6 to 9 p.m. with myriad activities.

Laura Hanley, recently hired as the safe haven program coordinator, said not only will kids be able to get a workout on the weight-training or cardio equipment, there will be a general rec room, pool and pingpong tables and a homework area with computer access. Hanley said the gym is looking to build a mini-library of donated books. Cashaws nonprofit benefit band Smooth Sound will also be on hand for music instruction.

Barbin said hes seen how Cashaws program has been a success over the past 13 years, and one key to cutting back on the citys ills is being able to do more for the local youth.

What we dont have is evening programs and places that are safe and supervised for kids to avoid some of the problems they might have on the street, said Barbin, who said he pointed Cashaw toward grant money available through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. As a legislator, Barbin said he can help put weight behind important community causes and point community leaders toward assets.

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City gym takes part in after-school program