Saturday, February 17, 2007

Lives and lodge to be restored

Project will employ people at detention center as part of education and treatment program

Evelyn Cronce El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

If Athena Gassoumis has her way, there will soon be a place to stop for information, coffee, and a snack or a meal midway between Socorro and Magdalena. She is in the process of establishing a non-profit organization that will renovate and restore the old Water Canyon Lodge.

The plans are to have both a restaurant and a quick stop café at the location.

The project is the vocational element of a larger treatment program currently involving individuals in the Socorro County Detention Center who have substance abuse or DWI charges. By providing people with an education and a vocation, she hopes to help lower the staggering repeat-offender statistics. The restoration project is not just to restore the lodge, but to restore these individuals to productive, non-addicted lives.

Participants will have access to such things as GED and fatherhood classes as well as different areas of vocational training.

Gassoumis already has had contractors and other professionals offer their services to help former inmates get the certifications needed to qualify for better jobs.

"Everyone has been terrific," she said. "Martino Ortega, the executive chief at the Marriott in Santa Fe will be coming to help up get equipment and set up the kitchen for the restaurant. He has also expressed an interest in helping with training."

Gassoumis said the Socorro Electric Co-op has been a great help as she attempts to make the old lodge a sustainable site. The co-op has referred her to an expert in solar energy who will help set up solar power. The buildings that are already on the grid will be set up as solar powered with an electrical backup. Any excess power produced by the solar system can be sold back to the co-op. The buildings that are not already on the grid will be set up as totally solar powered. Vocational students, under the direction of experts, will build the whole solar project.

Jerry Ford, with the state environmental department is looking into vocational training for more local workers to help with inspections and repairs.

Gassoumis hopes to add gardening and landscaping to the vocations being taught.

"Maybe we'll have an organic garden for the restaurant," she said.

After the row of former motel rooms is rebuilt, she hopes to provide low-cost rental stalls to local artists from Alamo, Magdalena or Socorro to sell their arts and crafts.

The long range goal is to serve the entire community, but offering vocational training as an optional part of treatment programs not just to the detention center, but to all treatment agencies who would like to refer clients to the new Water Canyon Lodge restoration projects.

ecronce@dchieftain.com

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