Youth Center Summer Hours:

Monday - Friday 3 - 9 p.m.
Saturdays 7 - 11 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

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Youth Spotlight: Rebekah Ellis

Becca is 14 and in the 7th grade at CJSHS. She has been coming to the Teen Center regularly for quite some time now – primarily to hang out with her friends, visit the staff, and eat. Ice cream is her favorite food, especially vanilla. According to Becca, she eats a lot when she’s bored. She also enjoys listening to most music, but particularly rap, r&b, and pop.

Here at the Center, Becca has become interested in our Volunteer Incentive Program and is hoping to earn enough service credits to go on some trips this summer – especially the one to Maine. Pennsylvania is the farthest she has ever traveled from home, and she’d like to change that. Becca volunteered at the two chicken barbecue fundraisers in March and thought they were a fun time.

Becca says that she gets into trouble at school for what she describes as her “big mouth.” If she had to pick a favorite subject, it would be science because she “like[s] to blow up things.” Becca was here at the Center for the Chemistry of Fire presentation last month and thought the demonstrations were cool. Art is another interest of Becca’s. She’s worked on the Teen Center’s mural, likes to doodle, and says she still loves to finger paint. After she graduates, she plans to work in cosmetology; she already cuts her own hair.

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t see Becca, and we enjoy it that way. We’re glad she’s a regular here at the Teen Center.

Open Gym: Closed for the Season

Beginning this month, Thursday Night Basketball at the County Gym will be on hold until September. The Teen Center’s court, however, is now ready to be used, and don’t forget that there are basketball courts at Suggett, Beaudry, and Dexter parks.

Garden Days

The Teen Center’s garden project is underway! We’ll be growing our own vegetables this spring and summer to help keep our new kitchen stocked. Kids who help can earn service credits for field trips or admission on Saturday nights. Talk to Erica if you’re interested.

Relay for Life

The Youth Bureau’s Relay for Life team, the Cortland City Slickers, want you to join us on Friday, June 20th. Held at SUNY-Cortland, Relay is a fun, all-night event in which you walk to raise money for the American Cancer Society. You don’t have to walk all night, but we need someone from our team on the track at all times, so the more people the better. You need to register online by May 9th to get a free T-shirt. See Susan or Erica to help you sign up.

CACTC Youth Conference

The 2nd Annual Cortland Area Communities That Care Youth Conference will take place on Saturday, May 10th, from 2:30pm to 9pm at the Cortland Ramada Inn. The registration deadline is Friday, May 2nd. Cost is only $5.00 and includes dinner, snacks, a T-shirt, and a gift bag.

Agency Spotlight: The Jacobus Center

The Jacobus Center for Reproductive Health (JCRH) is a division of the County Health Department. JCRH deals primarily with STD services and family planning. They provide GYN exams, pregnancy tests, birth control, HIV testing, and STD diagnosis and treatment. Charges for these services are determined by a sliding fee scale (i.e. the cost will depend on each client’s individual financial situation).

In New York State, it is your legal right to receive reproductive health services without parental consent. JCRH provides strictly confidential services, though they do promote sharing information with your parents. On Tuesday afternoons from 3pm to 4:30pm, JCRH holds appointments with teenagers only. About 25 percent of the Jacobus Center’s clients are teenagers.

All members of the community, regardless of age, are encouraged to contact the Jacobus Center with any questions regarding reproductive health. The Center is dedicated to providing information and services with complete confidentiality.

For more information, give the Jacobus Center a call at 753-5027. They are located in Room 115 of the County Office Building at 60 Central Ave. Some walk-in services are available, but it’s always best to make an appointment. Their general hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm, and don’t forget about the Teen Tuesdays, which go until 4:30pm. The Jacobus Center also holds evening appointments on one night every week.