Over the last six years, North Miami Beach's J & S Procuts Barber Shop has become a place where people from all walks of life -- ex-cons and police, church-goers and streetwise teens -- can come together for lively discussions and snappy haircuts.

But the nondescript shop, located in a tiny strip on West Dixie Highway, also prides itself for having a kid friendly vibe.

No cursing allowed when children are around. Homework is encouraged. And barbers dispense words of wisdom -- and keep close watch on the youngsters left unattended.

The barbershop's family-oriented policies eared J & S Procuts city commendations this month.

Two awards were given to shop employees by Councilman John Patrick Julien, who thanked shop owner Julio Stanley at the Oct. 6 meeting for providing what he called a necessary community service.

``As a parent, I want to know that if I'm not there, the responsible adults will look out for my kid,'' Julien later said. ``The fact that they do it consistently, I found to be amazing.''

The shop's policies first came to Julien's attention in February, when his then-10-year-old stepson Blake went in for his usual high-and-tight haircut. When the kid stepped outside to wait for his mother, one of the shop's barbers, Edmir Watts, followed him and stayed by his side until Blake's mother arrived.

Julien first thought Blake received special treatment because of his stepfather's political status -- but neighborhood parents told him otherwise.

Barbers keep a close eye on kids who walk in the door, and once they've received their haircuts, they're given access to a computer in the shop's back room to do their homework or study. If they're bored, they can grab a game of Connect 4 or dominoes.

Stanley said it's all part of his desire to make his shop ``rated G.''

As shop employee Wesley Jean is quick to point out, barbers at J & S do more than cut hair.

``This is not just a barber shop. It's a family affair,'' said Jean, 23.

The Haitian-born Jean credits the shop with keeping his own life on track, adding that J & S's barbers provided him with much-needed advice, filling the void his absent father left behind. Years before joining the shop's staff, Jean was another one of the boys in the room, listening to the men's discussions and opening up about his own wounds.

Sitting comfortably in his swiveling barber's chair and stroking his goateed chin, Stanley listened as Jean -- his youngest staff member -- shared stories of growing up in North Miami Beach's rougher areas.

``This is a tough neighborhood back here,'' Stanley said, pointing south of his shop. ``But they know they're going to come here and get some respect.''

And that, said fellow barber Jorge Louis, keeps the clientele -- both young and old -- coming.

``If you leave your kid here, it's a compliment,'' he added.

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