16 Terrace Review ~ Wednesday, July 9, 1986 Local family recreation promoted TERRACE — One local businessman believes he is providing constructive leisure options for family members around town. Konstantinos Sfikas, owner of Gus’s Family Recreation Centre on Greig Avenue said, ‘I believe that recreation is not a crime. I am work- ing hard in this com- munity to introduce social evenings without alcohol consumption. This is my goal.”’ Sfikas stands at the counter situated in the recreation centre. Behind him are shelves which house hot dogs, snacks, coffee, pop, chocolate bars, and cigarettes. “Unfortunately we have to sell them (cigar- ettes),”’ Sfikas said. But I tell the young people that tobacco is no good for them. He reaches across the counter and exchanges a dollar bill for four quarters which are taken by two native Indian youths who are about to engage in a game of pool. “I care for my customers,’’ Sfikas says with a smile. He provides patrons with four bar pool tables, and five of the larger tables. The smaller bar tables have proved most popular. ‘‘The kids really like them,” Sfikas said. The coin-operated bar pool tables cost 50 cents per game as oppos- ed to approximately 75 cents at local liquor Friendships are made Russell Lamke, 15, takes a break at a picnic table Greig Avenue. He meets with friends at the centre, and enjoys conversations In his leisure time. situated inside the recreation centre on sometimes makes new acquaintances, establishments. ‘‘Most of my customers are not working,’? Sfikas ex- plained, We like to offer “more fun with less money” as they do not have much to spend. He offers customers a choice of about 60 game machines for their enter- tainment. We are con- tinually bringing in new machines to fulfill customer choice, Sfikas said. There are plenty of different games so patrons can find. one they are pleased with and enjoy themselves, he added. Although negative statements have been at- tributed to actions of youths outside the recreation centre, Sfikas said patrons are well behaved in his establish- ment. ‘‘We never have any problem inside here.’’ If difficulties oc- cur outside the building, Sfikas said, “I would call the police. They represent the law.”’ He added, ‘‘We work hard to discourage bad habits.”” On occasion he has had to collect empty beer bottles front the parking lot situated in front of the recreation centre, The bottles come initially from liquor outlets. They get the pro- fit, and I get empty beer bottles, Sfikas noted. ‘“‘We make every effort to discourage drinking continuously, and we succeed.’’ Sfikas does not drink or smoke and he forbids the use or sale of illegal drugs in his establishment. But there is only so much a private citizen can do to ensure that rules are obeyed, Sfikas said. “I am not the law.’? Some situations require enforcement from police officers, he noted. On Nov. 17, 1976, Sfikas opened the doors of the recreation centre to the general public. He can name many young people who have become friends with one another at the centre while others have married and now have families. From time to time, the married couples drop by for a visit. Sfikas said the recrea- tion centre is a family- oriented outlet with visitors of all ages welcome. Visitors pur- chase a coffee, pop or snack and seem happy in his establishment, Sfikas said. “The people don’t cause any problem’’ They often get involved in playing the game machines which direct participants towards constructive activities, Sfikas noted. Many of the games require a high degree of concentration Owner and operator Konstantinos Sfikas |s the owner of Gus’s Family Recrea- tlon and Amusement Centre In Terrace. and to win consistently, players must perfect motor skills and develop quick reflexes. Some of the games are quite educational, Sfikas noted. One of the machines requires operators to demonstrate proper driving habits to win at the road test. Par- ticipants learn how to drive a motor vehicle and become ‘“nerfect drivers’? even before they are old enough to own a drivers licence, Sfikas said. These sort of recrea- tional pursuits beat hav- ing young people hang about on street corners, spending their time idly or engaging in destruc- tive tendencies through boredom, Sfikas added. He noted that the availability of liquor has created devastating pro- blems for both adults. and young people in society, Children often go without due to an ex- cess of funds spent on li- quor by parents and family quarrels often erupt more consistently due to liquor consump- tion, Sfikas sees the effect the availability of liquor has on some of the young people who gain the legal right to enter establishments where li- quor is served. ‘‘When they turn 19, I lose them. They go to the bars and then the disaster starts.”’ The recreation centre is open seven days a week. Sfikas and his wife work full time running the operation and hire four part time em- ployees. He contributes his share of money to the municipality of Terrace. Last year he paid ap- proximately $12,000 in property taxes. “‘I try and stay on my feet.” Sfikas: added, ‘‘We have a family recreation centre,” that is operated to provide constructive leisure hours for local residents. Plans for the future include expansion of the premises to incor- porate a roller skating tink, ping pong tables, and a disco. -Qur customers sup- port us, we are con- tinuously working on a program of expansion, Sfikas said. Police report ’ On Wednesday, July 2 | Terrace RCMP attemp- ted to pull over an im- paired driver on Queensway Drive. RCMP reported the. vehicle failed to stop which resulted in a high speed pursuit. The driver lost control of the vehicle hitting a power pole causing $5000 damage to the vehicle. It turned out the vehi- cle was stolen. RCMP reported no injuries. The driver, an 18 year old Prince Rupert man, will be appearing in Pro- vir.cial court facing the charges of impaired driv- ing, dangerous driving, and failing to stop for a police officer. Terrace RCMP said the driver is facing an automatic three years drivers licence suspen- sion for causing officers to enter in pursuit.