Teen Services Blog

If there is such a thing as a “bicycle happening,” Teen Services’ Operation Bicycle just had one!

Following the ribbon cutting on February 10th, Executive Director Becky Jo Peterson thanked everyone for coming and then turned to Adrian Palenchar, Operation Bicycle Manager, for a few words. With an enormous grin, Adrian was clearly thrilled with the event and the opportunity to share the new shop. “This has always been my dream, but no dream comes true without a lot of help from a lot of people. Operation Bicycle works because the whole community is behind it.”

To read more about the Grand Opening and enjoy some photos, click here.

On Thursday December 13, Operation Bicycle, one of Teen Services micro businesses, received an early holiday gift. Christy Coulston, Vice President, and Socrates Vargas, Branch Manager, from the Rabobank Sonoma Valley branch office, presented a check for $1,000 to Adrian Palenchar, the manager of Operation Bicycle.

Rabobank, a longtime supporter of Teen Services, stepped forward to sponsor the Grand Opening of Operation Bicycle in its new location in Nino Marco Square on Highway 12. The Grand Opening will take place in February 2019.

For many years Rabobank has generously supported Teen Services financially and with many in kind gifts to Operation Bicycle. The bank has a history of active engagement with international bicycle racing. Also accepting the check form Rabobank are Becky Jo Peterson, Executive Director of Teen Services Sonoma, Doug Hanford and Sandy Drew from the Board of Directors.

On Saturday, four students from Adele Harrison participated in Operation Bicycle's first all-day, intensive bike mechanics course. Students spent over seven hours learning about the parts of the bike and tools, while fixing up their very own (used) new bikes to take home. The course combined OB's mechanics course with its earn-a-bike program.

The new class formula will be repeated the first Sunday of every month starting in February. Class is limited to four students. Email [email protected] to sign up!

Above: Anthony, Tyler, Diego, and Ryan pose with their new (used bikes). Below they are learning about the tools they would be using.

On May 10th, Adrian loaded up the van and headed off to a new place to explore – Stuart Creek in Glen Ellen. When they arrived, they were met by TSS board members Judy Scotchmoor and Doug Hanford plus Tony Nelson, a biologist and program manager with the Sonoma Land Trust.

After some brief introductions, Tony started off the conversation by talking about the steelhead trout that used to frequent Stuart Creek and the decision to re-route the creek in the hopes that they will return.

Doug, the landscape engineer in charge of the project, talked about the challenges his company faced, including bringing in 4-ton boulders to prevent the creek from straying from its new path.  

After a few questions from the boys, there was ample opportunity to explore the creek and perhaps the highlight was the discovery by Filemon of some tadpoles upstream. Now we will await news from Tony as he waits to see what kind of frog is inhabiting the creek!!

 

 

Leo Moya (with much help from his friend Esteban Torres) stripped, painted and reassembled this bike at our shop in a matter of days. It's one of the coolest looking bikes we've seen this year! Great work, guys!

Operation Bicycle volunteers Esteban and Irving (not pictured) and staff member Simon parked 30 bikes during the festival.

Staff member Adrian partnered with the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition to safety check 15+ bikes for the rodeo.

Kurtis, Luis and Francisco have all converted their bikes to gas-powered cycles totally on their own. They use them daily for school and work commutes as well as out-of-town excursions. Nice work, guys!

Teen staff and volunteers ready for more bikes.

Ok, that's enough bikes. We're out of space!

Martin Velazquez and Jose Napoles both presented their senior projects this week in front of judges at Sonoma Valley High School. The two became the fourth and fifth seniors to chose bicycle-related projects and work with us at Operation Bicycle. This year, both Martin and Jose chose to take bikes that had been donated, strip them down to the frame, overhaul and/or replace all parts, and then put them back together. Congrats, guys! You both showed great perseverance!!

Martin poses with his bike after the presentation.

Operation Bicycle volunteers Esteban and Irving (not pictured) and staff member Simon parked 30 bikes during the festival.

Staff member Adrian partnered with the Sonoma County Bicycle Coalition to safety check 15+ bikes for the rodeo.

Simon, Kurtis, Norma and a wholelottabikes.

The team poses with their new trailer before leaving for the market.

Joel replaces an axle on the rear wheel of his BMX bike.

Brayan and Brian team up to tighten some brakes.

TSS employee Simon replaces a spoke and trues a wheel.