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Jennifer Hall, 10, aims her shot as her friends watch. Tanya Fournier, 9; Christina Gandioso, 5; Stacy Perkins, 10; + Jennifer Love, 6.Language
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by Michelle Bourrie
Neighborhood Times Staff Writer
SEP 25, 1986
GULFPORT -- The city's after-school program for children is growing so large that Gulfport officials are hiring more help and limiting further registration.
So far this year, 141 children have registered, which means the Gulfport Community Center program is handling about 50 children more than it did when school closed last spring.
The children come to the center on a city activity bus from Gulfport Elementary, Bear Creek Elementary and Holy Name of Jesus schools. Most are in kindergarten through the fifth grade.
They come to the Community Center, 5730 Shore Blvd. S, for a variety of recreation.
"I like it when we go swimming and stuff. I'd rather be here than at school," said Jill Buprey, a fourth-grader at Gulfport Elementary.
In its third year at the Community Center, the program now caters to about 120 children who show up each day sometime between 2:30 and 3 p.m. The children's parent's pick them up around 5 p.m.
"I find it convenient for my hours at work, and it's reliable," said Betty Latta, whose daughter Deanna participates in the program. "She gets to be with her friends."
Participation is up, said Jan Vance, recreation supervisor, "due to word of mouth. We don't advertise heavily . . . The parents come in and are satisfied with it, and they bring other people in."
The after school program began about 20 years ...
Jennifer Hall, 10, aims her shot as friends watch. Next to Jennifer are from left, Tanya Fournier, 8, Christina Gandioso, 5, Stacy Perkins, 10, and Jennifer Love, 6.Language
English
