Youth center proposes of old school as new facility
MASONTOWN – During a brief meeting Tuesday, borough council heard again from the director of the Power Plant Youth Center about the use of the old Masontown Elementary School as a new facility for the center. Barbara Lewis, along with 12 children representing the youth center, again asked the council to help them work with the Albert Gallatin School District to try to obtain the school for use by the youth center.
“We are still very interested in working with the borough and the school board to bring a community center to Masontown,” Lewis said.
“These kids need a place where they can run and use up there energy. I want to encourage this council to think about what this community needs to be healthy,” Lewis added.
The council also heard from Brittany Stewart, a 13-year-old eighth-grader who said that she and her classmates benefit from the center and that a new facility could greatly improve activities and provide an outlet for the community in general.
“This is a place that I can come and share some time with old friends and meet new friends to have fun and learn about what is important in life,” Stewart said. “Now my personal dream is to have a community youth center that is open every day. One that not only kids can come to but also adults…help me with my dream. Help us get this community youth center.”
After Stewart concluded her statement, she and the other children presented the council with dozens of letters from area kids about the current youth center and the prospects of a new facility.
The council members told the residents that they appreciate the time and effort the group puts into the center and that they will do all they can to support the center.
“Hopefully this can work. There could be nothing better for this town,” said Council President Joe Volansky.
According to Lewis, the Power Plant Youth Center, which was formed a year and a half ago, is a group that meets each week to allow children in the area a time to relax, to play and to encourage each other. She said that on any given night the center has up to 60 children in attendance, and rarely are there fewer than 20. Lewis said that she has been looking for a new facility for the center because of the demand and need for more space.
According to council member Harry Lee who is heading up the borough committee for the youth center, the borough and the center are waiting for the school district to decide if the school is available, but noted that it will not be until at least July.
“The school district is using it for classes at least for the rest of this term,” Lee said. He also noted that the Power Plant Youth Center directors are currently exploring other options should the elementary school proposal fail.
The council also conducted the following business:
– Announced that there is a vacancy on the recreational board and that interested residents are asked to write a letter of request to the borough.
– Awarded Masontown Police Chief Rich Barron with a plaque of 25 years of dedicated service to the borough.
– Informed area residents that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting concerning the Masontown Bridge Project Wednesday March 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the American Legion along Route 21.
– Announced that two public meetings will be held to discuss the Mon-Fayette Expressway on March 4 at the Redstone Community Center and March 10 at the South Union Township municipal building. Both meetings will be held at 6 p.m.
– Commended area residents for there efforts at snow removal during recent snowstorms.