“My Zone.”  Sounds like a place you’d like to be in, right?

Well, if you’re a middle schooler, there is such a place now housed at Newberg Christian Church …. an after-school youth center featuring lots of fun activities, food, games and classes.

dave-case-explains-my-zone-110916

Dave Case explains “My Zone.”

Dave Case, senior minister, gave us a presentation last week packed with information about My Zone.

“It provides a safe place for kids to hang out after school,” he said.  “It has had a strong start this year, with over 300 unique middle school participants.”

Some of the fun and educational experiences that have been provided to the kids so far:

  • A welding demo by our own Jeff Lane‘s Newberg Steel and Fabrication
  • A theater class teaching improv acting techniques
  • A visit from Newberg PCC to share opportunities to train for careers through apprenticeships vocational certificates, technical degrees or classes for a Bachelor’s Degree
  • A “Fun with Cooking” class (Dave said some of the kids had never peeled a carrot in their lives. They ended up making a carrot cake and were so proud!)
  • A bicycle repair and maintenance class
  • A robot demonstration by the Newberg High School robotics team
  • Our own Jim McMaster will visit in February to discuss water polo and Croatia

Dave gave a sobering statistic that 80% of all teenage drug use occurs Monday through Friday between the hours of 3 and 5 pm.  So when is My Zone open? Of course! Monday through Friday from 3 to 5 pm.  But they often find they are still trying to close the doors at 5:30 or 6. “Some of the kids just really don’t have much to go home to,” Dave said.

Not everything goes well all the time. Bus transportation to and from the two middle schools has had some glitches, but those are being worked out.

One neat thing is the kids also get a chance to help out with community service projects.

Dave thanked all the community partners who support My Zone, including Rotary, George Fox University, Dutch Brothers Coffee and others. He indicated they are always interested in volunteers, too.

************************************

Our guests last week: new-member-any-second-now Dan Keuler from the City of Newberg; Tom Stram, Jim Bush, Debbie Groat and Tami Foster with My Zone and Newberg Christian Church.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It’s both happy and sad. We get to say “Congratulations!” to Colby Strunk, who is starting a new position with Tanner Spring, an assisted living and memory care facility in West Linn, on Dec. 5th. He will be their Director of Marketing and Community Outreach Specialist. But it also means we will be saying “Farewell,” as he will be transferring to the West Linn Rotary Club.  Colby says he looks forward to serving the community he grew up in, but will sorely miss everyone here. We wish him the best and hope he will visit us often.

**************************************

The rare opportunity to hear from a Holocaust survivor is available this Thursday night at 6:30pm at the Chehalem Cultural Center. If you haven’t signed up, don’t miss this special event with Anneke Bloomfield.

*************************************

It’s still 5 months away, but next year’s auction is already being planned under the leadership of Denise Bacon (thank you, Denise, for stepping up). There will be a planning meeting this Wednesday at 5pm at Adec….committee chairs needed!

*************************************

December is starting to look busy…. the tree lighting ceremony is on the 2nd from 6 to 8pm (but please come earlier– from 4:30 to 5:30pm– to help set up).  And Spike Sumner‘s retirement party is on the 7th!

come-package-these-lights-next-week-110916

*************************************

Please consider staying after this week’s meeting to help stuff gift bags to hand out to children at the Dec. 2 tree lighting ceremony. Candles like the one at right will be part of the bags.

Photos by Auggie Gonzales. So glad you’re back, Auggie!