Bill Meyers, Dmitry Feld and David Balestrini (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

So far this year, the Thomas Shipman Youth Center in Lake Placid is busier than ever. How busy? Around 30 to 35 youth a day, with spikes of over 50.

The center provides Lake Placid youth not engaged in organized sports with a safe place to hang out, play games, socialize and work on their homework after school. As many parents work, the center enables them to pick up their kids on their way home, rather than having them go to an empty house or wander about in the community, potentially vulnerable to bullies or other challenges.

Kids like it for various reasons. Blaze, 14, said he has been attending for three years. His favorite class in school is global history.

“I come to hang out with my friends,” he said. “I have a lot of friends here. I like playing video games, and it’s a good place to do my homework.”

Kelsey, 12, who thinks of herself as one of youth center Director Jason Hooker’s favorites (many think of themselves in a similar light), plans to keep coming until she is old enough to drive and maybe will still come then, as this is where her friends are after school.

Blaze and Jason Hooker (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

Hooker has nearly two decades of experience working with youth. The center couldn’t function without a solid core base, partnerships with organizations like USA Luge, support from local businesses and civic groups, and individual contributions. A vital source of funding is the annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival, the center’s biggest fundraising event held at the North Elba Show Grounds on Labor Day weekend. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated volunteers, this event annually raises about $20,000.

“It’s been a busy year,” said Hooker, now in his eighth year as director. “This year, we took eight students and three adult chaperones to New York City. They visited the Empire State Building, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Rockefeller Center and Times Square and saw the Broadway show ‘Camelot.’ For the kids, it was a great cultural education and experience; plus, it enabled them to get out of town and see a new part of the world.”

“The trip to New York was fun,” said Hayden. “I liked seeing all the wildlife and going up the Rockefeller Center; it was so colorful, and the Metropolitan Museum was so huge.”

“I liked going in all the different buildings, especially the Empire State Building,” said Rikki. “I’d like to go again.”

The three-day, two-night trip was made possible by proceeds from the barbecue festival, grants from the Lake Placid Education Foundation, Uihlein Foundation and United Way.

Volunteers Steven Lupis, Zowie Lucus and Ona Allen (Provided photo — Naj Wikoff)

To show their appreciation for the support of many people and agencies, the Shipman Youth Center has been hosting an annual dinner of thanks, which was held this year on Thursday evening, Dec. 14. It was emceed by the center’s board president, Dmitry Feld. U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Center chef Heather Stevens-Regnier and Generations restaurant chef Chris McDermont cooked most of the food. Board members made some of the dishes; Katie Stevenson made the cranberry sauce, and Petra Weber made baked ziti. Price Chopper and the Whiteface Lodge donated the desserts.

In attendance was Bill Meyers, general manager of Casella Waste Systems, who said their reason for supporting the center is that it is such an essential part of the community and how much it means to the community.

“One of our main focuses is to support the community we serve,” said Meyers. “The Shipman Center provides the kids so much value; it provides them a safe place to come and be with their friends, and they obviously are provided good mentors. I think it’s invaluable; it’s special. Unfortunately, it’s one of those places that’s missing in so many of our communities.”

The youth center was inspired by Thomas Shipman, a Lake Placid police officer who donated much of his time and resources in support of area youth. After his unexpected death in 1995, a dedicated group established a nonprofit in his name and built the center on a site off Cummings Road provided by the Lake Placid Central School with labor, materials and monetary donations.

The center serves youth ages 10 to 18. It provides them with community service, recreational and volunteer activities, occasional trips, family-style dinners, and a nurturing environment where they can grow and develop as individuals. It’s close enough for middle and high school students to walk there after school.

“In today’s world, children have many distractions, and not all of them are very positive,” said Steven Lupis. “The Shipman Youth Center brings like-minded kids together to interact with each another. They play games and sports like I did growing up in the sixties. I think that builds a better foundation for the youth as they progress into adulthood because it helps them with socialization and improves their decision-making skills as to what’s right or wrong. The center engages them in activities other than being on their phone or watching a screen; doing so helps them develop their brains; it fills a void at a critical time.”

“Sometimes kids are facing such a dilemma because they feel they can’t approach their parents at a certain moment, but that they have trust in another adult who can look at the situation objectively is a gift that the center provides,” said Zowie Lucus. “Having adults they can trust, who are mentors, is so important as they grow up; they will never forget them.”

“I think we need a place for the youth to hang out, be themselves, meet other friends, and network,” said David Balestrini. “So many positive things happen at the youth center.”

“We are so happy and proud to bring all our volunteers, supporters, and families together and share our appreciation, and they like to eat,” said Feld.

(Naj Wikoff lives in Keene Valley. He has been covering events for the Lake Placid News for more than 15 years.)