RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
The 12th Services Division's Arts and Crafts, Wood Skills and Auto Skills centers are hubs of activity this summer - offering classes that give families an opportunity to bond and providing the setting and materials for do-it-yourself projects.
Classes scheduled in the coming months include stained glass, beginner's woodworking, mosaic stepping stone, beginner's automotive maintenance, sun catcher, youth make it and take it, plaster of Paris and decoupage. Perennial favorites include framing, pastel painting and beaded jewelry.
Debra Jamrozy, who manages all three centers, said one of the arts and crafts center's most popular adult classes returns next month.
Stained glass, on hiatus since December, will join the assortment of classes in the centers' lineup.
"Stained glass was a very active class before one of our instructors left in December," Ms. Jamrozy said. "I'm excited to have it back. We want our customers to come back and enjoy it."
The first session of stained glass is set for Tuesday evenings beginning July 3 and continuing through July 24. Tuesday evening sessions will continue in August and September. A session is also scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday evenings Aug. 22-23 and Aug. 29-30.
A variety of offerings for youth are available this summer - among them the make it and take it classes.
"We'll teach things like rock painting, reverse painting and pastel painting," she said.
The wood skills center offers a parent and child class the third Saturday of each month.
"We have kids as young as 2 years old," said Ms. Jamrozy. "It's really neat."
She also said it's not unusual for couples, parents and their adult children, and grandparents and grandchildren to take classes together - more examples of the bonding that can take place at the center.
Both Ms. Jamrozy and Dawnita Douglas, who was recently promoted to assistant manager, said it's also satisfying to see customers' reactions to their projects.
"We become part of customers' moments," said Ms. Douglas. "That makes us feel good."
The arts and crafts center is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The wood skills center is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Customers can purchase a variety of finished products such as flag boxes, coin holders, shadow boxes and other unique items that can be special-ordered from the wood skills center. In addition, do-it-yourselfers can become certified to use the facility equipment to work on their own projects with assistance from staff.
The auto skills center is planning sessions of the beginner's automotive maintenance class for July, August and September. The two-part sessions will be held July 10 and 17, Aug. 7 and 14 and Sept. 4 and 11 from 6 to 8 p.m.
"That class has been very well-received," Ms. Jamrozy said. "Hopefully it will provide a great service to the community. It's always good to learn the basics like changing oil, rotating tires and brake jobs."
In addition to classes, the auto skills center provides a variety of do-it-yourself services, she said. Customers can even rent a work stall with lift for an hourly fee and order parts. Mechanics at the center offer assistance as well.
"Mechanics are always there and willing to help," Ms. Jamrozy said. "They have a wealth of knowledge. They will help customers in any way they can."
One of the auto skills center's features is its Actron Auto Scanner, which allows users to diagnose what's wrong with their vehicles when the "check engine" light comes on.
"You hook this up to a car's system," mechanic Mondo Hinojosa said. "It tells you what's going on inside. A garage would charge $40 or $50 for this service. We charge $3."
The auto skills center is not a full-fledged garage, but the mechanics there do provide such services as front-end alignments, changing and balancing tires, resurfacing brake rotors and attending to basic air-conditioning system needs. They'll also tell customers if an auto repair shop is charging a fair amount for a particular service.
The auto skills center is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Ms. Jamrozy said classes at all three centers are unique because of the emphasis on one-on-one instruction.
"There's a maximum of four people per class," she said. "The classes are very personal."
For more information about classes and other services the centers provide, call Ms. Jamrozy at 652-2788. The arts and crafts ccenter and wood skills center are in Building 895; the auto skills center is in Building 896 on the southwest end of the base.