Summer is in full swing, and so is the West Point Community Garden on Spink Road! Our garden boxes are full of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, and other plants which will soon be ready to pick and enjoy. Laurel has worked hard to start this wonderful garden, but now it is time for the community to pitch in. We need volunteers to water, weed, and care for the crop. And soon, we will need families to help us eat the food we are growing.
Remember, community gardens can grow more than fresh, delicious produce- they can also provide new friendships, family time, learning opportunities for kids, and so much more! Community Garden Parties will be held Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7pm, beginning July 27th.
If you are interested in getting hands-on in our community garden, please call 293 4500, an feel free to visit the garden any time!
Filed under: Uncategorized on July 16th, 2010 | 1 Comment »
Youth Center table
Roxy and her art in cloth.
Garden within a garden by Jane Childress.
Revive and Releaf and Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth & Families collaborate with a whole team of dedicated volunteers to create another successful Art in the Garden. Special thanks go to our gracious hosts the Vago family for their wonderful garden property and home opened to the public! I understand we have achieved recored attendance this year so once again a tip of our hat to all the dedicated and persistent work done in PR, set up, terrific food, clean up…and let us not forget the wonderful artist and their work. Thanks to our local musicians and the all around terrific atmosphere. Job well done, we look forward to next year and all the creative juices that will flow between now and then!
Filed under: Community, Events on June 26th, 2010 | No Comments »
It is difficult to put an article or letter to the editor in the paper. There is a word count limit and what there is to be said on behalf of the center simply takes too many words. Bear in mind this is being written by a board member, not a staff member. Enough can’t be said for our staff. Loving, caring, dedicated, resourceful, each one worthy of full time, well payed jobs with full benefits. Doing what they do under those conditions would transform this end of Calaveras County. You want a solution to homeless and nearly homeless youth in our area? We have it. You want a full power community radio station? Stay tuned. You want free, organic, home cooked meals for those who need it? We have it. You want art and creativity for every youth who wants it? We have it. We attract all kinds of terrific artists! Did you notice we have an out door stage? We put on and host all kinds of performances free to the community. You want community gardens with organic farmers to teach you more about how to grow food? We have it. How about a farmers market? Check us out toward the end of June and shop at our farmers market. Want to learn about green, sustainable building? It’s in the works. You want work shops on a variety of subjects? We can do that. Is there someone in your family in trouble and you need help navigating the system? We can do that. Do you want to get involved in a wide range of issues having to do with our community? We are here for you. Learn more about our arts program. Learn more about our community Radio. Learn more about our free Tues. and Thurs. meals. (more if we had the money) Find out about the Green House project. (Look at “pages” to the right) Talk to us and learn what it takes to become a vender at the BMCY&F farmers market. Get involved in the senior exercise program or the yoga session. Are you an aspiring writer? We have writers workshops for youth and adults. Find out what ECHO is. What the heck is a “Peace Storm”? (pages) Need to get your blood pressure and weight checked by a qualified practitioner? Come see us. This is just some of it. You have to see the interaction between the kids and the family of people (staff) working at the center. You have to hear the board planing the next “impossible” project to benefit our youth and the rest of our community. You have to experience working with guest artists who have the ability to bring out your creativity, the creativity you didn’t know you had. Sit down and have a meal with people young and old alike and see how community can work. What we do and how we do it has attracted the attention of more than one university.
So if all this great stuff is happening what’s the problem? BMCY&F is dependent on grants and grant writing for our funding. If I had a million bucks it would go in an endowment for the support of this youth center. It is that important, what BMCY&F does can help support our community you and me included.
Alan R. Willard
Filed under: Uncategorized on May 21st, 2010 | No Comments »
Blue Mountain Coalition for Youth&Families and the Green Party of Calaveras sponsored another successful Earth Day Celebration in Angels Camp. On the beautiful spring day of May the second Utica Park once again swayed to the sounds of joy, music and dance that are hall marks of Earth Day. Local musicians Stan Emmons and friend opened the day followed by Jens Jarvie and friend and Somer Moon. We were wowed by the West Coast Dance Project tap dancers. Between entertainment sets local candidates for public office introduced themselves, and made their pitch. There were many community service booths along with venders including spring garden plant starts, leather work, planter boxes and especially Aimee’s Kitchen organic and vegetarian food. The day continued with the Sonora Community Drum Circle, Planet Pulse, Clan Dyken, and Thick Soup. The BMCY&F kids zone created art and it was all a terrific, fun beautiful day!
BMCY&F kids zone art creation
Filed under: Uncategorized on May 9th, 2010 | No Comments »
Join us for our annual family fun day on Sunday, June 6 at 11:00 a.m. at the BMCYF Center. The event will feature music, games, activities, and food for all. Admission is free. Please call (209) 293-4500 for details.
Filed under: Community, Events, Kids on May 2nd, 2010 | No Comments »
