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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
November 3, 2016     Shelton Mason County Journal
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November 3, 2016
 
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Page A-12 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016 • • • With a basement space available, the group is now searching for funds By BRIANNA LOPER brianna@masoncounty, corn The Shelton Elks has the space; now it wants to build what the community has been calling for. The club, located at 741 SE Craig Road, hopes to cre- ate a youth activity center in its basement to give Shelton youth a place to call their own. The group is conducting a membership drive, which started last month. If the local Elks club can recruit 200 new memberships, it will hand its basement over to the youths. Memberships are $99 per year for a family of any size. Mishelle Thompson, office manager for the Shelten Elks, said the group is already host- ing many of the things that would make a good youth cen- ter. "We already have billiards, a computer lab, basketball," she said. "And we have our Friday night dances for teens." Thompson said the Elks have heard from other parents in town that kids and teens need a safe place to go. Many of the groups interested in helping create that space are looking at building a new facil- ity, Thompson said. However, the Elks' basement is already ready and available. The club just needs the funds to maintain a center once it gets it up and running. "The building is already here," said Elks member Gin- ny Beech. "There's no land to buy, no buildings to build. Ev- erything is here." Currently, the Elks base- ment is used for social gath- erings and bingo. However, the group plans to move most of the adult activities to the upstairs area once the youths take over. The basement is already home to some games, billiards, a computer room, a dance floor, and a bar and restaurant area, as well as restreom facilities. Thompson said the club also has blueprints for an outdoor play park and plans for a mini- golf course. The idea, Thompson said, is to actually hand the base- ment over to the youths, who will then form a board -- with adult guidance -- to let the kids decide what they want to see done with the space. "For instance, they have that bar back there: What do they want to do with it?" added Shelley Salinas, who has been volunteering with the existing Friday night dances. "Do they want to see a juice bar? Coffee? Food?" Jennifer Salinas, Shel- ley's daughter and a student in Shelton, has been attend- ing Friday night dances with friends. She said she's excited for what a youth activity center could mean for her and her peers. "I see it as a big opportuni- ty for other kids my age," she said. "There's not much to do besides go to the park or the movie theater, which are the two main hangouts. It would be nice to have some other "The building is already here. There's no land to buy, no buildings to build. Everything is here." Shelton Elks member Ginny Beech on building a youth activity center place that offers more." Jennifer added that a youth board would give kids a chance to be part of something bigger than themselves and become invested in a community proj- ect. Shelley said the Friday night dances, which take place from 7 to 10 p.m., give kids a chance to meet others and break out of their shell. "Kids from the whole gam- ut are there," Shelley added. "We've had kids from broken home _ come ..... We had one kid who wasn't really into dancing, but he said, "this is nice. I would come here all the time.'" In the future, Thompson said the Elks envision a place for local teen bands to perform or practice. The group is already tak- ing steps toward that with a two-day Battle of the Bands on Veterans Day weekend. The event is scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 11 and 12 atthe Elks club. The Nov. 11 event will finish with a Veterans Day dinner, and the Nov. 12 event will finish with a dance. There is no cost to attend or enter the event, and the two victors -- one from each day -- will win two paid gigs at the Elks club in 2017. Mishelle Thompson, office manager for the Shelton Elks No. 2467, shows off the restaurant and bar area in the basement of the Elks lodge. The local community service club wants to build a youth center in its basement; it needs 200 new members to fund the project. Journal photo by Brianna Loper The only thing the club asks is that attendees buy food at the club's restaurant during the event. Thompson said the club is already working toward its membership goal. Since starting the drive in September, the group has al- ready received 24 new mem- berships. However, Shelley said the main challenge for the group will be transportation for youths trying to get to the cen- ter. Currently, Shelley picks up many of the students who want to attend the Friday night dances. "We're like the bus," Jen- nifer said, gesturing to her mother. "We usually have a full load." There is currently no tran- sit route that goes to the Elks facility. However, Beech said, the clubs hopes that if a youth center did come to fruition, a public route might be created. If not, she added, the club will find other ways. "Maybe we'll make our own," she said with a laugh. Thompson said those inter- ested in joining can contact the Elks club for a tour and to fill out an application. For more information, call 426-2322, or email sheltenelks@gmail.com. $2,5 Imphnt, Start to Finish* t t for :he ,litt tl