By Sharon Strauss

BOISE — A Nampa non-profit agency that offers alternatives to gang lifestyles drew the spotlight at the 80th annual meeting of the United Way of Treasure Valley on Tuesday in Boise.

About 70 local high school students dedicated their spring break to beautify the grounds of the Original Gangster’s Basic Academy of Development (OG’sBAD) at 304 16th Avenue N. At Tuesday’s meeting, the project’s steering committee member updated the nearly 350 people in attendance at the soldout meeting.

“In the end we exceeded our lofty goals,” said Kylie Poppen, a sophomore at Boise’s Riverstone International School, who helped head up the project by investigating what local high school students could do during their vacation to help the community. “We passed on slacking and decided to make a difference instead.”

The students created a 300-foot pathway lined with trees and bushes and landscaped the rest of the block-long property, which was mostly sand, dirt and rocks before the two-day project in March.

Students also constructed benches, built a volleyball and basketball court and installed shutters. They hope to return next spring break to continue the community service project.

OG’sBAD director Steve Torrano received a poster made by the students.

Carl Arriola, CEO of Tates Rents and United Way community impact council chair, also received a poster for his role in donating equipment and materials to the project.

New detox center to open

During the meeting, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter said 100 percent of the funding needed for the construction and operation of a substance abuse and mental health crisis center has been secured.

“Substance abuse and mental health touches everybody, whether our family or friends,” he said. “We’ll be breaking ground in the next couple months.”

Despite many efforts, the ability to create such a detox center has eluded the city for years, Bieter said.

“This is a momentous day in the city of Boise and in the valley,” he said. The center is the result of cooperation between the United Way, federal and state government, and the cities of Boise, Eagle and Meridian.

The detox center will serve Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties. It does not include Canyon County.

“I think those are the types of models we in Canyon County should explore,” said Sen. John McGee, who also serves as a United Way board member.

McGee, of Caldwell, represents District 10 in Canyon County and is West Valley Medical Center’s marketing director.

“The need is just as great in Canyon County. Hopefully sometime in the future we can do that,” McGee said. “The most exciting part about it is this is a model for a partnership between federal, state and local government with private entities such as the United Way to fill a need in the community. That’s the best way to attack these problems.”

Multiple services planned

The Boise center will provide emergency sobering services, detoxification services and crisis mental health services. There will be 12 beds for detox and eight beds for crisis mental health.

The 8,500 square-foot facility will be located on Allumbaugh

Nampa city honored