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Show Page B12 'SItmeg-(3ln&cpgttbe- Thursday, December 23, 2004 nt Center set to open im September of 2005 Teem After seven months of planning,' the Teen The TCSC will also recruit adult volunteers and specialty class instructors. Committee member Sarah Bauman believes that the Teen Center will lead to new and beneficial relationships between youth and community members. The Teen Center will serve as an opportunity for Center is quickly becoming a reality. In June of 2004, various community members gathered to form the Teen Center Steering Committee (TCSC). The committee is comprised of concerned citizens interested in creating a safe space where diverse adolescents can convene, study, recreate, access tutors, computers, resources, art classes and mentors. The committee is comprised of organizations including the Division of Child and Family Services, Seekhaven, Four Comers Community Beafter-- school community members to interact with our youth outside of work and school. Adults will be volunteering, sharing skills, teaching classes, tutoring and building relationships that will enrich the lives of everyone involved. At the City Council Meeton ing November 16, the City Youth Garden Project, the City of Moab, the Department of Workforce Services, WabiSabi, the Grand County Library, the Infant Through Youth Foundation, and concerned individuals. Almost all participating sig- nificant personnel time, donations andor seed money. Why a Teen Center? According to one member of the committee, Mara Shurgot, research suggests a real need for Make One Take One . . in-ki- ol have seen our youth struggle with substance abuse, pregnancies, and suicide. We are dedicated to creating a posi- Power wheelchairs available, often for free tive alternative to these outcomes." In the last five years, Grand County has experienced some of the highest levels of poverty, di- vorce, percentage of youth living with a single parent, and child abuse in the state. After determining the need, the TCSC began meeting monthly to brainstorm, pool resources, and lay the ground work for a Teen Center in Moab. Committee member Melinda Snow, principal of Grand County Middle School, has been an advocate for a Teen Center and comments that students are coming to me and asking when the center will be open. They not only need it, but they are really excited about it. Paul Smith, recently appointed Eastern Region Director of the Division of Child and Family Service, believes that a Ifeen Center will serve as an opportunity for children to build assets such as relationships with adults and peers, skill enhancement and talent discovery. These assets can benefit them throughout their lives. In response to Moabs risk factors, the TCSC points out that the Ifeen Center will be a safe, supervised space providing a supportive environment The for adolescents, ages Ifeen Center will be staffed by qualified adult mentors and educators. Initially, the Teen 12-1- Center will be open . Dozens of local children (along with many parents) participated in the annual Make One Take One Monday afternoon at the Moab Arts and Recreation Center. The free event, organized and sponJuan Prevent sored by the Grand County 4H Club and Grand-Sa- n Child Abuse, is designed to help young children select and wrap holiday presents for their own family members, picking from a wide assortment of new and used donated gift items. The children also got to make holiday craft items such as ornaments and other decorations. About 75 children participated in this years event, orgaPhoto by Jeff Richards nizers said. expanded programming for teens. Many ofus on the commit-te- e after-scho- gram director through the City Recreation Department. The city also agreed to the concept of donating the Center Street Gym as the future home of the Teen Center. Additionally, Mayor Dave Sakrison indicated that he had approached Tom Brown about the possibility of providing space at Grand County High School for one of the Center Street Gyms current residents, the Taiko Drummers. This move is currently being discussed and looks hopeful. havioral Health, the Grand County Middle School, the agencies have contributed of Moab tentatively agreed to supervise the Teen Center pro- Miracle on Wheels makes . available power (electric) wheelchairs to senior citizens (65 years old and up) usually at no ry et expense if they qualify. No deposit is required. The electric wheelchairs are provided to those who cannot walk and cannot a manual wheelchair in their home or independent living quarters and who meet the additional qualifications of the self-pro-p- el program. This service may also be available to the permanently disabled of any age. Please call 1.800.749.8778 or visit our at web site www.durablemedical.com for more information on the details of this program. The Miracle on Wheels programs main purpose and goal is to develop public awareness that there are assistance options. Committee members are excited about the space for many reasons. It is in close proximity to the MARC, the baseball fields, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, the outdoor Sim Court, the new Moab City and Moab Police offices, and the new Grand County library. It will be easily accessible from all of Grand Countys schools and will provide youth with one safe, visible, centralized location in which to participate in multiple activities. Since the TCSC began nancial contribution has helped lay a strong foundation for the Teen Center. The committee has raised over $2,000 through private donations and donations fundraisers. adto date include a part-tim- e ministrator donated by the Moab Arts & Recreation Center, a secretary donated by the Department of Workforce Services, and supplies and furniture donated by local businesses. The collective vision for the Teen Center is that it is a In-ki- nd safe, fun, professionally-staffed- , nity and a supportive environment for their families. Wed love to hear from more parents, teens, and other interested adults in the community about what theyd like the center to provide or how theyd like to participate. If you have any ideas, please give us a call, says Mara Shurgot. The Teen Center is set to open on September 1, 2005. Anyone interested in attending a meeting joining the committee, donating to the Teen Center, or for more information contact TCSCs spokes1 persons Mara Shurgot at or Jessie Dudley at 259-613- and resourceful Cen meeting in June they have made great strides. The Infant Through Youth Foundation has offered to serve as the nonprofit umbrella organization and will partner in fundraising efforts. The goal of establishing a Teen Center in Moab is A Most Welcome Season closely aligned with the foundations goals of improving the lives of families and youth in our community, and the Teen Center will benefit from the foundations strong relationships and fundraising expertise. In addition to Theres no place like home for the holidays, especially when there're people like you for neighbors! Merry Christmas and many thanks. partnering with the Infant Bill Schultz through Youth foundation, The TCSC is partnering with the Youth Garden Project to utilize Attorney At Law two full-tim- e AmeriCorps members in 2005. The TCSC reached a milestone when the Grand County Serving Moab and Monticello 435-259-59- 435-587-28- 14 08 JUST LISTED: OUR BEST WISHES ' To all our clients, friends and associates everywhere, we extend our sincere best wishes and gratitude this holiday season. Its always a pleasure doing business with you and we look forward to serving you in the future. a popular pain medication, has been taken off the market due to unreasonable risks of heart tttsck,trok3 end dcoSi. Vioxx, Angel Rock , Internal memo indicate that Merck, the manufacturer, knew of the Increased dangers even before the drug's approval, but continued to sell it enywsy. ' IF YOU CR A 10VED ONE HAVE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK, STROKE, OR OTHER CARDIAC INJURY WHILE USING VIOXX, CALL US FOR A FREE COKCULTATEN Dewsnup, King & Olsen a law firm whose members collectively have over 100 years of helping people harmed by unsafe products 8. after-scho- ter that will serve as a hub for adolescents in the commu- Recreation Special Services District decided to award $22,900 for a Teen Center program director, grant writer, and initial food costs. This fi- Best Wishes... 36 S. State St., Suite 2020, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 Kevin & Julianne Fitzgerald, Diane Childs, Marisa McDowell www.dkolaw.com Toll-fre- e (800) 404-852- (801) 0 533-040- 0 ol until approximately 8 p.m., and will offer a multitude of supervised activiMonday-Frida- y, ties. Activities will include: tutoring, mentoring, art projects, recreation, career development, a Department of Workforce Ser- vices job board, computers, snacks, and exploratory outings. Committee member, Jessie Dudley, has had experience working with a Teen Center in Boulder City, Nevada and wants to see the same services offered to teens in Moab. After moving from the Provo area and working with youth corrections, I realize the need for a Teen Center. We need to show our youth we care about them and have a supervised, yet fun atmosphere where they can do things from getting help with their homework to learning a new skill. Eventually the Teen Cenwill ter expand its programming and include weekend activities. Youth will become members and will sign a Code of Conduct that ensures the Teen Center remains a drug-fre- e, violence-fre- e alcohol-free- , and environment. Guess You vos coming for winte never know exactly when Mother Nature will show up for her winter visit, but you know she will. And she'll probably bring surprises. Be prepared. We're taking steps to make sure we're ready in case she's especially fierce and knocks out power, and you should, too. Make an outage kit. Have these or items in a bag or backpack: flashlight, battery-operate- d radio, battery-operate- d foods and wind up clock, extra batteries, manual can opener, canned ready-to-ebottled water. Keep this important number near your phone: to report an outage and to help us pinpoint your location. at Were ready, too. We've been pruning trees and investing in our system to cut down on problems before they start. But if a storm does knock out power or cause a major outage, we have teams from all over our service area standing by to help. For your copy of Getting Ready for Mother Nature, our booklet with tips to help you prepare for an outage, and to see what we do to get the lights back on, visit utahpower.netoutage. Still have questions? Call us anytime at cant outwit Mother Nature. But were working on it. You UTAH POWER |