Steamboat Pilot & Today

Students counting down the last days of summer vacation will have more to enjoy when they hang out at the newly improved Emerald City in downtown Steamboat Springs.

A scenic painting, foosball table and pool table were all part of a donation package given to the teen center by First National Bank of Steamboat Springs.

Emerald City is a base for teen activities. Since its opening, the facility has housed after-school activities including educational programs such as Rally, a project led by three high school seniors, Partners of Routt County and programs for Horizons.

According to facility manager Michelle Petix, the impressive part of the First National package was the time and personal attention bank employees donated.

"One of the biggest things was they actually came down here and spent a day," Petix said. "The personal contact they gave us made us know that they were truly interested."

Employees of First National Bank, including Ruth Dombrowski, spent a work day setting up the pool and foosball tables, as well as blinds for the snack bar.

"We wanted not only to donate funds, but to give our time as well" Dombrowski said.

An interactive mural by local artist Mary Levingston was painted in one of the rooms. The mural is interactive, with a Plexiglas cover onto which young viewers can add their own drawings or erase mistakes.

"We thought it would be neat for kids to contribute their own picture without ruining the mural," Dombrowski said.

Levingston said the Plexiglas is a clever idea."I think it will be fun for the kids," she said.

The attention First National Bank employees gave to Emerald City was an effort to let people know that they should help out too.

"A lot of people have missed the opportunity to donate to Emerald City, but there is a need" Dombrowski said. "There are a lot of things that can be done, if people would just take the time and walk through the building."

The Steamboat Springs School District's first day of classes is Aug. 28; Oak Creek begins Aug. 30 and Hayden's first day is Sept. 5.