Child Programs: Youth age 12 to 18 Still Lacking

Dear Gramps:

I wish she ( The Mayor) would not just create an image of caring but create after-school programs and develop a recreation department for our city. Then she would be a real hero


By JULIE FARRENThe Press-Enterprise
Sean Summers giggled as Cathy Varela painted his right hand green.The 3-year-old then put his green handprint on a blue tile that will be one of 315 used in a mural in Grand Terrace's new park.Sean was among 60 children at the Grand Terrace Child Care Center putting their handprints in paint for posterity Wednesday morning. Along with the kids, adults wrote their names on tiles and dogs marked some with painted paws.

The tiles will be used in one of three murals at the park opening this spring at Mount Vernon Avenue and DeBerry Street .

Assistant City Manager Steve Berry said the tile painting is one of many events celebrating the city's 30th anniversary. Another chance to create tiles is set for 9 a.m. Jan. 26 at Rollins Park .
"If people feel they have a tie-in to the community, I think it can affect the way they treat the city and the parks," Berry said. Berry , Mayor Maryetta Ferre, MaryAnn Stewart, a member of the 30th anniversary celebration committee, and sculptor Patrick Jewett readied tiles for the children, painting them blue, rose, green and yellow.

Lelah Hetrick, 8, painted a blue flower in the middle of a red tile, with mini flowers in each corner. Her brothers Alex, 3, and Cameron, 4, attend the child care center, said their mother, Carrie Hetrick.

Jewett, a San Bernardino sculptor, said the murals will include an orange-crate design based on the city's Blue Mountain and the American flag. A highlight of the park, designed by Richard Pope, will be a six-foot-tall replica of a Blue Mountain hawk, sitting on an eight-foot pedestal, Jewett said.