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Health & Fitness

I Have A Friend Youth Center President Retiring

After 21 years, Middletown's I Have A Friend Youth Center is closing.

Barbara Miller, the president of I Have A Friend Youth Center, will retire as of Dec. 31. After careful discussion and consideration of Barbara’s 21 years of service, the Board of Directors and Miller have decided to close the Middletown Youth Center as of the same date.

Barbara and the Board feel that this is the right action for the center upon her retirement. The children will be in transition to other programs in the city, and the center will provide referral information to all their parents as well.

All furniture and computers will be given to two women and children’s shelters and Habitat for Humanity in the Middletown area. Books, school supplies and games will be given out to children currently served by the Center.

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The Center has planned to honor the support to everyone who made major gifts and donations over the years making a huge difference in the lives of hundreds of children who attended the Center. Also invited are the hundreds of youth and adult volunteers who tutored, provided homework assistance, cooked meals, cleaned, painted, planned and executed outings for the kids.

They are all invited to a gathering at St. Pius X Church Parish Hall directly below the church, accessibility is from the lower parking lot at 310 Westfield St. in Middletown on Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 7 pm. It is a community potluck celebration for the accomplishments of the Barbara A. Miller I Have A Friend Youth Center. Please bring a dish, dessert, beverages or paper goods to share. For more information you may call the Center at 860-343-1650 or the Board Chair, Cindy Bartholomew at 860-301-0640 or email her at cbartholomew13@comcast.net.

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