Mark your calendars for July 30, 5 – 8 p.m. At the Pine Bush Town Park, the youngsters of the Boys and Girls Club are hosting their free community barbecue, and they're inviting community members to come on down, participate, and have a great time doing it.

It's all part of the Focus on Youth Initiative, the summer program that sends groups of Pine Bush teenagers out on the town streets in the trademark blue T-shirts. Last week, they were visible all over downtown Pine Bush, roaming the streets and visiting stores and businesses.

"This was the research phase of this summer's Focus on Youth Initiative," explains Teri Gemella of the Boys and Girls Club, Pine Bush. "We have twenty-five kids, eighth-grade going on ninth-grade. They are hired for the summer — that is they actually get paid — and they have been checking with businesses in the town to see what sort of jobs need to be done.

"In past years, the FYI kids have refurbished the gazebo, cleaned up graffiti in the park, run free car washes for residents, raised funds for the library: lots of things like that.

"This year," says Gemella, "they've chosen to put on the PB-BBQ. They've got a lot to do to get ready for this in just two weeks. They're inviting everyone in our community to participate. Everything will be free, and there'll be free entertainment for younger children and a live band, or a DJ; that's yet to be decided. They already have an agreement from local businesses to donate food, and help with equipment and to donate time.

"Plus, did I mention the free dog-washings?"

There will also be raffles, a clothing drive run in partnership with Classic Re-Runs, and a petition to get a skate-park in the town, something that would draw the skateboarders to an organized — and therefore safer — place to spin their wheels, and at the same time remove the nuisance value of groups of skateboarders using sidewalks, rails, and anything good to do their ollies, fakies and railslides.

Anyone can come down and set up a table, call the Boys and Girls Club at 361-2222 for more information.

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