In the great debate over STATE OF EMERGENCY, much was said about a dearth of activities available in Richmond for young people to entice them away from a life of crime and violence. The E-FORUM believes that there are numerous opportunities available for young people and that the best use of City resources would be not to staff up to invent new activities but instead to focus on connecting the existing providers with willing participants.

This week’s featured youth activity is the Northland Sea Scouts. I don’t know why any young person in Richmond would not jump at the opportunity to join up and ship out on the Northland, a former 102-foot long former Navy torpedo retriever only 26 years old based at Marina Bay. Richmond youth, both boys and girls, 14 years and older are being recruited. For more information, go to http://hometown.aol.com/sssnorthland/, or call Jon Sargent, President, at 510 233-6481.

The NORTHLAND NAUTICAL FOUNDATION is the sponsor of the Northland Sea Scouts; a classic youth maritime experience and training program that was first chartered by the Boy Scouts of America in 1933. They are a 501c3 non-profit California corporation and a registered charitable organization. They can always use donations to help keep this effort afloat and available to the youth of Richmond. 100% of all donations are tax deductible and directly support their program. Please help us continue this valuable Richmond youth program by sending a tax-deductible contribution made payable to the Northland Nautical Foundation.