WEST MILFORD – At long last, the opening of the Teen Coffee House at Westbrook Park happens on Friday night.
When she was hired as the director of Community Services and Recreation earlier this year, Jayme Mulhern was told that the main focus for her was to get the coffee house up and running. That comes to fruition Friday night.
“It’s a pretty cool place,” said Mulhern. “I’d hang out there."
And she's hoping there are many high schoolers who will feel the same. The grand opening of the teen coffee house happens tonight starting at 7 p.m. All kids, parents, teachers and residents are invited to the opening tonight. But that’s a one-night-only invitation. Starting Saturday, the Teen Coffee House is only for teens in high school.
“We want them to have a safe place to go, a place they feel comfortable,” said Mulhern.
The coffee house has been totally renovated inside, Mulhern said. Fresh paint, new flooring and an open floor plan are inviting to the kids. The first floor has the snack bar, where snacks and refreshments will be available to buy, sofas, tables, TVs and a DVD player. The top floor has video games, a wii game system and an XBox. Some movies and video games are at the coffee house but kids are welcome to bring their own, as long as they are age appropriate, said Mulhern.
The Teen Coffee House has been renovated in large part thanks to grants. Passaic County gave the township $60,000 from its Open Space Grant program, which was matched by the township. That took care of the interior renovations.
Phase two of the renovation, the outside renovation, will take place later with another matching grant from the county, a total of $150,000, $75,000 from both the county and the township.
Jane Dellosso is the manager of the center. Dellosso has managed the day camp for the past 10 years, Mulhern said. And there will be paid chaperones whenever the coffee house is open. Kids will have to sign in and sign out. They must stay in the building.
Mulhern said she has received letters from kids saying their is nothing for them to do in West Milford.
“They say the only options are hanging out at ShopRite,” she said. “We hope the coffee house gives them a fun option.”
For right now, the coffee house will be open on Fridays and Saturdays, from 7 to 11 p.m. All high school students who live in West Milford, no matter where they attend school, are welcome to the Teen Coffee House. Eventually, Mulhern hopes to have middle school nights for kids in seventh and eighth grades.
Mulhern is very excited about the grand opening this Friday night and she is hoping the students who have expressed interest in a good, healthy place to hang out with their friends are just as excited.
“I’m so excited about it,” said Mulhern. “And I hope lots of kids come out.”
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