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Southern Inyo youth centers two weeks out from opening |
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Monday, 29 June 2009 |
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By Mike Gervais
Register Staff
9-27-2009 Lone Pine and Independence are just two weeks away from opening their much anticipated youth centers.
After months of planning, negotiating and collecting materials such as pool tables, TVs and board games, Healthy Communities of Southern Inyo is finally preparing to open the doors to three youth centers.
“We’ve signed the paper work and put our security deposits in, and now we’re just waiting for (county) Risk Management to verify our insurance,” said Healthy Communities Executive Director Charles James. “I’m shooting to have them open in two weeks. It’s been a long haul.”
Healthy Communities plans to operate one youth center out of the American Legion Hall in Independence on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 1-5 p.m.
In Lone Pine, James hopes to operate out of Statham Hall Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 3-7 p.m.
Healthy Communities also plans to host a youth center in Olancha on Thursdays from 3-7 p.m.
“We hope in the future to expand the hours in Olancha” and add to the number of days the youth center is open, James said.
The youth center project was held up last month when Healthy Communities saw what it could expect to pay in utility expenses on the facilities. From there the group asked the Inyo County Board of Supervisors to waive the fees to help keep the project within a reasonable budget.
The board agreed to reduce the utilities charge for Healthy Communities so that the organization would only be paying for the costs it incurred, rather than paying a flat rate every month.
With that approval from the board, Healthy Communities began planning the logistics of the youth center and hiring the help that would be needed to oversee the operations.
Each of the youth centers will be directed by a youth site coordinator who will work with volunteer parents and community members to manage and oversee the youth facilities while youngsters are there.
Each of the youth site coordinators has gone through extensive background checks through the schools, James said.
Healthy Communities, with the help of community members like Bishop Mayor Susan Cullen, who donated a car-load of board games, to the Coso Geothermal Plant, which donated a set of pool tables, has gathered enough games and equipment to fill the youth centers and James, for one, can’t wait to get the facility operating.
“We have pool, air hockey and ping pong tables, we’re going to have a couple computers, we have a whole bunch of board games and we’re looking at arts and crafts,” James said, adding that Healthy Communities is working with the Inyo Council for the Arts to get an art class going for the youth centers.
James also said that Healthy Communities has two wide-screen TVs to use in the youth centers and is planning to purchase a Playstation 3, X-Box 360 or Nintendo Wii.
“But we want to leave that up to the kids and let them decide which one they want,” James said. “We met with the students and asked them what kinds of things they would like. This is supposed to be a place that’s comfortable for them, that they can call their own.”
Healthy Communities is still accepting donations of games and activities for the facilities.
“Anything someone thinks might find some use at the youth centers, well, they’re welcome to give us a call,” said James. “Of course, money donations are always great because then we can just go out and get what we need.”
Healthy Communities is looking for activities that will appeal to students between the ages of 11 and 16, who James said he thinks will be most interested in the youth centers.
“We’re looking at primarily middle school and high school, but we’re not trying to restrict it. Under 10 years old, they may be too young and after they’re 16 they’re driving and probably won’t need a youth center as much,” James said, adding that no one will be turned away from the youth centers.
“I’m just really happy we’re getting towards the end of this,” James said. “I had hoped to have it open months ago, but I’m glad we’re getting it done.”
The youth centers are funded through Healthy Communities of Southern Inyo and the Lone Pine and Owens Valley school districts with help from Inyo County.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 July 2009 )
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