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Photos


Liz Allen, 21, with Bryce Brushnefski, 24, spray-paint the inside of a window. Allen and other local artists have started a mixed-media studio in their basement.
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /


Untitled work by Liz Allen
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /


A rolling piece of art: Liz Allen and Bryce Brushnefski painted their friend-s car. The car is getting a reputation around town as the "Art Car."
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /


A rolling piece of art: Liz Allen and Bryce Brushnefski painted their friend-s car. The car is getting a reputation around town as the 'Art Car.'
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /


A rolling piece of art: Liz Allen and Bryce Brushnefski painted their friend-s car. The car is getting a reputation around town as the "Art Car."
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /


Untitled work by Bryce Brushnefski
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /


Untitled work by Liz Allen
Staff Photo/Michael Betts /

For now, she maintains a Facebook account, and another on the popular social networking Web site myspace.com. Together (not barring repeat customers) they have 348 members -- individuals who voluntarily link their user profiles to hers out of an interest in the broad-stroke message Koinonia seems to offer. To wit: association, fellowship, intimacy, a share in a joint venture.

THE BALL STOPS ROLLING

The sentiment is nothing new.

Efforts by Ward 5 City Councilor Amy Valentine and the late Mike Mannix in forming the Youth Center in 2004 produced blueprints for a proposed renovation of the former Plattsburgh Air Force Base bowling alley into a multifunctional youth facility.

They got as far as developing a self-sustaining business model reliant on, among other things, private sponsorship. But in May 2006 the group met for the last time, forced to postpone its work indefinitely while Mannix underwent treatment for cancer.

According to Valentine, the city had for a number of years received requests from both kids and adults in the community who wanted a place to call their own.

"It was kind of interesting, simultaneously both OneWorkForce and United Way understood that there was a need for a youth center for our county's youth," Valentine said. "We decided to move this venture together, these three different entities, and we established the Youth Center commission. We had student representation from every school in the county."

The commission had begun asbestos removal at the site when illness forced Mannix to bow out. Ultimately, the committee was dissolved.

Despite his battle against cancer, Mannix, who died in December 2007, never lost passion for the project.

"When I last saw him, before he was re-diagnosed, he said to me, Don't worry, even after I retire, I'm still going to head up this committee.'

"And then it just didn't happen," Valentine said.

"You have to understand that we had been making great headway. The kids, you know, they wanted tutoring at the center; music; they wanted a room where bands could practice, a computer room. They were thinking of having their own radio station -- there were some really sophisticated ideas."

Although optimistic that things will pick up where they left off, Valentine said the passage of time and changes in city leadership could present challenges to getting the ball rolling again.

OPEN-AIR ARTWORK

So what are kids doing in the meantime?



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