Finally Something Being Done For Our Youth

by: Bill Liblick

We continually hear from children, preteens, and teenagers that they have nothing to do. They repeatedly argue they are bored.

Parents are often not home during the day to supervise their children because they are working. Both spouses usually are forced to work to support their families.

There is little to offer our children and teenagers in Sullivan County except for several summer programs and organized sport activities

Sadly, because of lack of supervision and/or boredom many hang out on the street, become rowdy, and experiment with illegal drugs.  Others stay home and do things like watch television, surf the Internet, or go to movies and shopping malls with their friends.

Finally something is being done in Sullivan County to bring some structure and activity for our youth.

The talks of bringing a Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, and other types of youth centers to Sullivan County is fantastic news, and must be applauded by all.

Thanks to Supervisor Tony Cellini, Monticello is becoming the proposed hub for such centers. Cellini is working on bringing a domed facility to the county. Although the plans are sketchy, the town says it will build a 65,000-square-foot domed center with an indoor field and basketball court, weight rooms and play areas.

Concord developer Louis Cappelli has committed $1 million for a youth center. And, Cellini is talking to Robert Berman, former president of the Monticello Raceway, to assist in constructing such a domed facility as well.

Both men have a lot to gain by participating in such projects besides the tax write offs they will benefit from. They want to bring big projects to Sullivan County, and Cellini knows that now is the time to get them to do something great for the community to garner the support they need.

With all the criticism I levy against our legislature I am pleased to see that they are also getting into the act. They are wooing the Boys and Girls Club of Orange County to come to come here.

The Boys and Girls Club is respected and highly praised for their great programs. All parents should join the legislature in their attempt to bring them here.

And, there is even more great news - SullivanArc Executive Director Ric Schwartz recently said they would like to bring a multimillion dollar YMCA facility to Sullivan County.

SullivanARC which runs programs for people with disabilities plans to build an office facility and YMCA on the same site.

The YMCA is currently conducting a feasibility study to see if our county can support a YMCA.

It doesn’t even end here.

All over Sullivan County, they are getting into the act. There are many other great plans and proposals in the works. There is a Skater Park planned for Liberty.

Elected officials, community leaders, and the business community throughout Sullivan County are finally listening to the needs of our children.

The horizon looks bright for our youth.  Children, preteens, and teenagers will finally have something to do!

Now, we need to work on finding them proper employment to keep them in Sullivan County when they complete their education. But - that is an entirely other story.

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