Published: July 24, 2008 02:27 am            

NEWFANE: Boys & Girls Club announces it won't reopen

NEWFANE — Parents of children who take part in the Newfane Boys & Girls Club will get some sad news in the next few days. The afternoon program that has served hundreds of children at the Grace Bible Church will not reopen in September.

Phil Penichter, the Chief Professional Officer of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns, prepared the announcement Wednesday. “I’m sure we can all agree that the real impact this will have on the children and families in the Newfane community is what’s most devastating,” he wrote. “We really want to thank the many people in the area who put their time and energy into making the Newfane Boys & Girls Club a very special place for the past six years — you really did make a difference.”

About 250 letters were being mailed to parents and staff.

The club served children from 6 to 18 years of age from 3 to 6 p.m. on Monday through Friday during the school year on Dutton Place. Several community leaders, concerned citizens, civic organizations, parents and the Niagara County Youth Bureau were involved to develop funding.

However, the club received less than 10 percent of the funds spent to operate the club from the Newfane community, according to Penichter. That included a $50 membership fee charged per child.

“I’m very sad,” said Sen. George Maziarz, R-Newfane, who helped the club get several grants. “I grew up in a boys club in North Tonawanda. I knew they were having trouble. It’s a setback for the community.”

Grace Bible provided the building and did not charge for rent or utilities.

“We appreciated to be able to partner with them,” said the Rev. Tom Martin, who has been at Grace Bible for 10 years. “We recognize its importance to the community and we’re sorry if it is not able to continue. We said they could stay for another year.”

The club and the church had a year-to-year agreement, according to Christopher Scrufari the discipleship and counseling minister. “They desired a home of their own,” he said. “Each year they would ask to stay again. They didn’t have funds to build a new one.”

The club has provided computer programs, arts and crafts, recreational programs, field trips, community service projects and programs dealing with the real life issues children face.

“The community support has been terrible for it,” Supervisor Tim Horanburg said. “They’ve got tons of kids. I don’t understand the community support. Maybe the people will now realize what an important program that is. I feel really bad because it’s a great program. People will miss it.”

The town put $5,000 into the program the past two years.

The club used the church gymnasium, the library for homework, the kitchen and the youth room for computers.

According to Penichter, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northtowns spent thousands of dollars, which were raised outside of Newfane, to keep the Newfane Club doors open. He wrote. “From an ethical stand point, as well as a good business decision, we can not allow this to continue, as it will cause permanent damage to our other clubs.”

The Northtowns administrative office is on Riverdale Avenue in Buffalo. Other clubs are the All Saints Club; Black Rock/Assumption Club; Charter School For Applied Technologies Club; the Franklin Club of Tonawanda; the Gilmore Club of North Tonawanda; the Shaffer Village Club; and the Town Club.

Heather Palmer of Newfane knows counselors who worked at the Newfane Club. “It’s too bad,” she said. “It would be nice to have something like that for the kids around here. Where are they going to go? A Youth Center would be a great idea.”



Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, ext. 6246.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.