Staff writer
The HUB will be undergoing changes in the next week or two, and a big change will be a new director.
“We have hired Justin Rempel to manage the HUB,” founder Doe Ann Hague said. “Justin spent a lot of time here when he was growing up and he has been on our board of directors. He has come back to help out since he graduated in 2012 and it has been great to have him.
“The HUB is closed now until Sept. 25. We are going to restructure the hours and services and bring back more of the student-oriented events.”
Nancy McLeod has served as director for the past five years. She suffered a stroke in June, and while her recovery is nearly complete, she has decided to retire and concentrate on her family, especially her grandchildren.
“We appreciate the job Nancy did for us at the HUB. She plans to still be around and she will fill in for Justin from time to time,” Hague said. “She’s made good strong connections with some of the kids and they will want to be able keep that relationship with her and see her now and then.”
Rempel, 21, says he is excited about getting started.
“My friends and I spent a lot of time at the HUB when we were in school,” he said. “We’d just hang out and we had a good time.”
He said the HUB still has six or seven computers for young people to use doing homework, playing games, or just surfing the Internet. Video games and X-Boxes are also available.
“We have talked about special events and plan to bring them back to the HUB,” he said. “First, I hope to get people accustomed to our new hours and then find out what the kids would like.
“One thing we plan to do is offer a movie night every weekend. We’ll see how that goes,” he said.
Hague said community support for the HUB has not wavered. Different church groups and other organizations support the youth center with donations of paper goods, cleaning supplies, and money to pay utilities.
The building still is available for showers, receptions, graduation parties, or meetings.
“Everyone continues to be very supportive,” she said. “It doesn’t pay for itself and probably never will. But it isn’t a business, it’s a ministry and community support is what keeps it going.”
She said the HUB maintains its 501(c)3 status, making all donations tax deductible.
“Everything helps. We even encourage people or groups having receptions or parties to bring in left over vegetable trays, dips, or other fresh food items. Kids really love that,” she said.
Tentative hours of operation are 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. It will be closed on Monday and Wednesday.
“I’m looking forward to working with the kids,” Rempel said. “The main thing is to provide a safe, fun place for them to be. We want it to be a good place to hang out.”