New teen center opens doors for PL

While Plumas Lake is a wonderful blossoming community that offers many amenities for families such as parks and sports, it also suffers a bit from what is typical of small new communities - few activities for area teenagers.

Recognizing the need to have a safe haven for teenagers to hang out and be entertained, the Calvary Christian Center is opening its doors at its new location in Olivehurst to offer teens an alternative location to have some fun.

The youth center is the vision of Dr. Phillip G. Goudeaux, pastor of Calvary Christian, who felt the center would help to empower and engage adolescent development.

Assistant pastor Richard Braxton has been charged with the project that will hopefully positively impact the Plumas Lake/Olivehurst area.
"We believe that we will make a difference in young people's lives, which will affect the Plumas Lake/Olivehurst area as a whole," said Braxton. "The center will challenge youth to look beyond their current situations and circumstances and create an environment that will develop character, challenge them mentally, and cultivate team building."

The center ,which hosted its grand opening June 18 with a family movie night, will be open 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays, for teens between 12 and 18 years old.

The center will have a youth sanctuary where teens will be taught to be leaders in their community and will also enjoy live concerts and teen rallies. The facility hopes to soon provide table games such as ping pong and pool, along with game consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation played on flat-screen televisions.

"The dream is to build a program that will provide activities and youth services, both recreational and educational through showing and teaching positive influence through community building, mentoring/ leadership training, creative self expression and responsibility," continued Braxton.

The Teen Center is currently located at 4906 Powerline Road in Olivehurst in the same complex as Mama Mia's pizza. Calvary Christian is currently looking for volunteers who share an interest in youth development, to partner with them, so that the center doors can remain open Monday- Friday.

For questions, or to make a taxdeductible donation for the center's work, contact Amanda Basquez at (916) 529-9109.

Plumas Lake correspondent Michele Perrault can be reached at (530) 483-3664 or email her at mperrault@plumaslakelife.com.