City Council: Teen Center to Remain Open on Fridays

The will remain open five days a week, despite the city's to decrease the budget deficit for 2011-12. At a City Council meeting Tuesday evening, Teen Center Director Beverly Owens said she would be willing to work unpaid on Fridays to keep the center open for teens.

Owens said the Teen Center is important to youth, and she doesn't want to see the days of operation cut.

"There is a great need for the Teen Center on Fridays," Owens said.

Teen Center participation is up, due to increased interest and Clawson school of choice students who choose to go to the facility after school instead of going home, Owens said. 

Owens continues to seek funding for the Teen Center's activities, and an anonymous Clawson resident recently donated new music equipment for the center, she said. 

The Teen Center is open to Clawson students or residents and offers quiet study time as well as activities such as soccer, dodge ball, flag football, outdoor water activities, movie showings and video games.

The summer program at the Teen Center runs from 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. The summer membership fee is $100 a person, with payments due a week in advance. Day-by-day fees are $25 a person.

Scholarship awarded

A Clawson resident will attend a summer music camp at the Academy of Music Performance (AMP) in Troy, thanks to a scholarship the school awarded her Tuesday.

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, 9-year-old McKenzie Kopf received the scholarship from AMP owners George Friend and Ofelia Saenz. She was selected for the scholarship after an outstanding performance in the AMP's music workshop May 22 at the Clawson . Youths were able to experiment with different instruments during the workshop, and AMP chose Kopf as the standout musician.

AMP will hold more workshops at the Clawson Farmers Market this summer, which runs every Sunday beginning July 17-September 18. No experience is necessary for children to participate. 

New preschool

A new preschool will soon be housed in . The Clawson City Council approved a one-year lease agreement with Joyful Beginning during its meeting Tuesday. The school offers parent and toddler classes and play groups. Keep checking the Clawson Patch for developing details on the preschool.

Lemonade Day

Members of the City Council approved a proclamation to designate June 12 as Lemonade Day in Clawson. Lemonade Day is an initiative that encourages children to set up lemonade stands so they can learn and experience entrepreneurship. This will be the first year the city has officially celebrated Lemonade Day. To register for a lemonade stand kit, visit detroit.lemonadeday.org.

The kits will be available for pick up at locations across metro Detroit. The closest location to Clawson is at 791 W. Big Beaver Rd. in Troy.

Correction: An anonymous donor donated music equipment to the Teen Center.