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| "We definitely had to get creative," said Rebecca Hermosillo, the center's executive director. Hermosillo is a longtime boardmember who took over as executive director in March.After a number of construction delays due to weather, permitting and other setbacks, the new center is finally complete at 17440 Sonoma Highway. The 2,750-square-foot modular building includes a commercial kitchen, computer lab, lounge and a sports court.
"The building wouldn't be there without the community's support," said Osias Encarnacion, board president. The center has received immense community support through donations of money, supplies and equipment, not to mention a plethora of volunteer hours. "There's so many people who have helped us, (1st district Supervisor) Valerie Brown was out there planting flowers for us," said Hermosillo. The center is planning a ribbon cutting ceremony outside the building at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 31. The following day on Aug. 1, the teen center will reopen to the Valley's youth, providing hundreds of youths with programs designed to empower and inspire them to overcome obstacles in life. "It's way more than just the building when we say the new teen center," Encarnacion said. Many of the favorite activities will be returning, such as Cycle Links, a bike repair program where participants have the option of fixing up their own bicycle after spending at least 40 hours of work on bikes that are donated to kids in need. However, the center will be reinvigorated with some new programs - designed for keeping the family involved, job placement skills, community service and making healthy lifestyle decisions. Encarnacion and Hermosillo said the center will focus on programs that get parents involved and informed about the issues their children face daily, including gangs, sex, education and work. "Most parents don't even know what 'at-risk' means," Hermosillo said. "We're going to work with parents and teens ... and it's going to be bilingual." Community members are invited to teach classes and programs at the center. Any special skill can be made into a workshop, from painting to yoga to finance. "We're looking for the community to come up with the ideas, there's a lot of very talented people out here," Encarnacion said. |
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Newcomers raise $4,416 for Teen Center The Sonoma Valley Newcomer's 11th annual Philanthropic Tea raised $4,416 in proceeds for the Valley of the Moon Teen Center. The Tuscan Villa of club member Ann Spinola was the setting for the tea party. More information about the Newcomer's club can be found at http://www.sonomanewcomers.org |
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IN THE NEWS. By Emily Charrier, Index-Tribune Staff Writer. Published Mon 7/28 6PM After months of construction, the Valley of the Moon Teen Center is set to re-open on Friday with a new executive director and a new line-up of programs. Plans began several years ago to replace the aging clubhouse on Highway 12 - a long-standing eyesore with broken windows and rodent infestations. Construction began last year, but in February the old facility was deemed unsafe. Since then, the center's board did the best it could to keep the teens engaged without having an actual headquarters. < READ FULL ARTICLE AT SONOMANEWS.COM> |
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BOY SCOUT TROOP #16 TAKES ON FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE On Saturday, May 24, 2008, members of Boy Scouts of America Troop #16 worked with community volunteers to put in place landscaping for the new Valley of the Moon Teen Center. Leader of this effort was Andrew Yenni, who chose as his eagle scout project the teen center because he wants to give the teens at the new Valley of the Moon Teen Center the landscape they deserve. The teen center building nears completion and will be ready for occupancy this summer. Landscape installation is one of the final tasks to be completed before the building can be occupied. “It takes about five years on the average”, stated Andrew, “to earn the eagle scout rank”, which requires 21 badges earned for projects, of which the teen center is one project toward reaching his goal. Andrew was joined by boy scouts in troop 16, who include David Yenni, David DeSmet, Matt Fraser, Michael Lee, Douglas Weller, Vincent Bouquet and Ronald Kohut. The scouts worked in the pouring rain all day Saturday to move rocks, prepare soil and plant trees and bushes around the sports court, parking lot and building. They were helped by Master Gardeners, Susan Angell, Cathy Williamson and Jean Hopeman, who instructed them on soil preparation and proper planting of trees and bushes. Parents and friends also helped to move soil and place decorative rocks donated by Tony Garcia, owner of Sonoma Materials. Norm and Nadine Yenni worked alongside their sons, Andrew and David, as did Rich Lee, father of Michael Lee. Mark Ohman and Carlos Flores, laid out the irrigation system, which was donated by Conny Gustafson, owner of Scandia Landscaping. Sonoma Mission Garden owner, Dave Fazio, donated his time to develop the landscaping plans and was instrumental in managing this project with Conny Gustafson and Eric Garcia of Sonoma Materials. Other adult volunteers included Supervisor Valerie Brown, Mark Bramfitt, member of Sonoma Valley Citizen’s Advisory Commission, John Young, Bob Williams, Raul Cuevas-Garcia, Cynthia Wood, Judy Baker as well as Garry Baker, architect of the VOM teen center and Stefanie Shackelford and Rebecca Hermosillo, executive directors of the VOM teen center. The teen center board, staff and teens thank all of the contributors and supporters who help to make the dream of a new building and sports area come true. |
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Valley of the Moon Teen Center elects new Board President The VOM Teen Center Board has nominated Osias Encarnacion as its Board President. Osias has lived most of his life in the Greater Bay Area and moved to Sonoma ten years ago. He is the VP of Information Technology at the Nelson Family of Companies and has been with the Teen Center board for over three years. He has two children, Ari and Hannah attending Adele Harrison and Prestwood Elementary; and wife Anastasia, who teaches aquatic and general fitness instruction. |
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