Monday, Aug. 30, 2010

Final touches put on center for its debut

Sept. 17 opening to feature tours, music, dancers, more

Los Banos Community Center is preparing for prime time.

The center's grand opening will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 17 and will include speeches, presentations, tours of the Seventh Street facility and entertainment. Santa Fe Grade, a local band from the 1970s featuring former Mayor Michael Amabile, will reunite for the event and Folklorica Yolotli will dance.

Two events were held at the community center even before it was finished. The first was the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Freedom Fund Banquet.

Redevelopment Agency Director Elaine Post said the local chapter president in February asked to use the facility on Aug. 6, despite being told it would not be complete. Post said the NAACP rented the center for a discounted rate of $900 because it wasn't finished.

A quinceanera was held at the center the following day. Post said $1,400, including a $500 cleaning deposit, was charged for that event. Post calls the two events the center's "soft opening."

"I'm happy we did it that way," Post said. "It's one of those things where you don't know what the problems are going to be until you do it."

Fire Chief Chet Guintini said all the buildings that were occupied during the events passed inspection. He said opening the community center to the public without it being finished is not a case of the city giving itself special treatment.

When asked if he would allow private developments to be occupied without being finished Guintini responded: "It depends on life safety issues. If there are no life safety issues, we'll move forward."

This week, construction workers laid sod at the facility and Project Manager Don Price said only minor items are left to do.

City officials, meanwhile, are preparing for what they hope will be a bevy of activity at the facility.

Recreation Coordinator Rob Baker said Wednesday will be the first day the center's computer lab and game room will be available. He said on Sept. 10 and 13, Parks and Recreation Division programs will start for children and adults, and the last week of September will see the gymnasium open to students interested in playing volleyball.

Parks and Recreation has also teamed up with Merced College to offer courses at the community center beginning in October. According to Baker, some of the courses concentrate on exercise and fitness. There will also be a seminar on becoming a notary public and a course on filmmaking.

Baker said the college and Parks and Recreation will split the course fees 60-40, with the city receiving the higher amount.

He said the city wants residents to take advantage of the offerings at the community center.

"We're hoping people come out. Things are being advertised on the digital signs," Baker said.

Post said this week the city received its first advertisement on the digital signs. She said the Memorial Hospital Los Banos Foundation is paying the nonprofit rate of $300 to advertise its upcoming gala.