September 12, 2006
Redlands Daily Facts
David James Heiss, Staff Writer
 

Y serves family fun at fourth social

REDLANDS - The Redlands YMCA was a family hot spot early Saturday evening as hundreds of people attended the annual YMCA Ice Cream Social at their site on Citrus Avenue.

A variety of games and bouncy houses geared toward children, as well as free ice cream floats and popcorn proved popular.

Ricky Miller, 7, of Colton, came to the event with his mother Autumn. While he ate blue cotton candy, he recalled his experiences: "I went on the jumper and rode on the train," describing a miniature three-cart train that pulled people around the roller hockey rink.

"It's one of the most exciting days of the year, when all the people who have never been here get to see what a wonderful place the YMCA is," said Patsy Oppenheim, a Y board member who sold tickets for corn dogs and candy.

Scores of YMCA employees and board members and volunteers from the Redlands Target store, Assisteens, United Way's Hands On Inland Empire and members of the Highland and San Bernardino YMCAs helped serve food and man a variety of game booths.

The event's founder and continuing sponsor, Dr. D.L. Van Voorhis of San Bernardino, pitched in about $7,000 to throw the ice cream social, now in its fourth year.

"I'd say we've had about 2,000 people" visit, Van Voorhis said. "Everybody seems happy. There have been no complaints - of course, most everything's free, so people are willing to stand in line."

Martin Leyva, a Target employee, was one of more than 20 volunteers from the store helping out at the ice cream social.

"I've done it in past years, and chose to be part of it again to be part of the team," he said. Leyva has been a volunteer with the YMCA's Parent University program. "It's fun and exciting to see kids having a blast."

Maria Stephenson of Loma Linda came with her husband, Darrell, and daughters Justice, 5, Jessica, 3, and Jacklyn, just days shy of her second birthday.

"It's a nice family atmosphere," Stephenson said. "They go to day care through the Redlands Y, and we wanted to be part of their school functions and the community. We promised them we'd come today, and had been talking about it since they got up this morning."

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