x
  1. Home
  2.  Entertainment

Teen Center officially opens

| 06 Dec 2012 | 12:28
    Mayor Bettina Bieri cuts the ribbon to the new Teen Coffee House at Westbrook. She had lots of official company. From left are Councilman-elect Mike Hensley, Councilwoman CarlLa Horton, Councilman Lou Signorino is to the right of the mayor, Councilman Mike Ramaglia is behind Signorino, Community Services and Recreation Director Jayme Mulhern is next to Ramaglia, and behind them is school board President Dave Richards.
    Mayor Bettina Bieri cuts the ribbon to the new Teen Coffee House at Westbrook. She had lots of official company. From left are Councilman-elect Mike Hensley, Councilwoman CarlLa Horton, Councilman Lou Signorino is to the right of the mayor, Councilman Mike Ramaglia is behind Signorino, Community Services and Recreation Director Jayme Mulhern is next to Ramaglia, and behind them is school board President Dave Richards.
    Teen Center staff member Victor Conti enjoys a movie and conversation with teens Paul Sullivan, Christina Serven, Kelly McGill, Sarah Frueh, and Conor Bickman.
    Teen Center staff member Victor Conti enjoys a movie and conversation with teens Paul Sullivan, Christina Serven, Kelly McGill, Sarah Frueh, and Conor Bickman.
    Katelyn Seibel and Nicole Heuer play the racing games at the coffee house.
    Katelyn Seibel and Nicole Heuer play the racing games at the coffee house.
    Bubble hockey was a favorite opening night.
    Bubble hockey was a favorite opening night.
    Aimee and Kaitlyn played a fun game of Foosball at the coffee house last Friday.
    Aimee and Kaitlyn played a fun game of Foosball at the coffee house last Friday.

By Patricia Keller

WEST MILFORD — The community came out last Friday for the official grand re-opening of the new West Milford Teen Center. Formerly known as the “Teen Coffee House” at Westbrook Park, the recently renovated Teen Center is clean, bright, spacious, and filled with things for high school teens to do for fun.

Jayme Mulhern, director of Community Services and Recreation, was beaming with pride as she hosted the grand re-opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I honestly love this place,” said Kaitlyn, one of the teens who came for the opening. “It’s something to do and very entertaining with stuff kids our age would do.”

The remodeled Teen Center has a spacious open floor plan on both levels. The main floor has a ping pong table, pinball machine, Foosball, bubble hockey, and car racing, boxing, shooting and poker arcade games, and even a separate room with Wii and Xbox video game systems.

On the lower level, teens can hang out with friends on the comfy sofas to watch a movie on the big screen TV or have a snack and chat in the snack bar/café area.

“I’m glad it’s here. It gives us teens somewhere to go - not in the woods,” Katelyn said.

Staff member Frank Abbate said he was glad to see the Teen Center reopened after many years.

“It’s nice to see the state investing back in our youth,” he said. “I just hope the youth appreciate it” he added.

The Teen Center is open Fridays and Saturdays, from 7 to 11 p.m., to all high school age students who live in West Milford. Students must show school I.D. or other proof of residence, sign in as they arrive and sign out as they depart for the evening.

Go to westmilfordmessenger.com and tell us what you think.