The Grizzly Youth Academy on Friday celebrated the graduation of its largest class since the program began in 1998.

The ceremony was held at the Madonna Inn Expo Center in San Luis Obispo, where nearly a thousand families gathered to honor the graduates of the National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program.

After completing the intensive five-and-a-half-month program, we caught up with two graduates who reflected on the changes they’ve made and their plans for the future.

“A lot of us came here because we were making mistakes back home,” explained graduate Howard Truong. “We weren’t very proud of ourselves, proud of the decisions we made, so we came here to make a change, and it’s been a long five-and-a-half months for everyone, and I’m sure everyone has put a lot of effort into changing themselves, and it’s going to be really nice to see our families again.”

“I personally plan to go to college after this. I plan to go to independent studies as a 16-year-old. I will graduate in March, and after, I will go to Cuesta College, get my master’s degree, and hopefully become an elementary school teacher,” said graduate Jahleeyah Amos.

The Grizzly Youth Academy is designed to provide military-style structure and support to 16-18-year-olds who have struggled in school due to academic and social problems.

It’s one of only three such academies in California.

RELATED: Grizzly Youth Academy donates over 400 pounds of food to SLO Food Bank

Grizzly Youth Academy donates over 400 pounds of food to SLO Food Bank

“Holly’s in the window, home is where the wind blows, can’t walk for runnin’ Christmas time’s a-comin’,” – Tex Logan

Past the dimmed and cracked corners of the memories in my mind’s eye, I can see those week-before-Christmas days of my very young boyhood.

Even in those early times, we were being indoctrinated and transformed from innocent and curious toddlers into ravenous post-war American consumers.

We were being raised up on Saturday morning cartoon television and big department store holiday catalogs. We were far too simple then to understand Madison Avenue concepts like cross promotion, product placement and motivational research.

Those now-classic Christmas television shows, like A Charlie Brown Christmas, which originally aired with Coca-Cola advertising included, and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” with embedded plugs from The Foundation for Full Service Banks, the presentation sponsor, were making their debuts.

Even though both these kids’ television programs showcased the virtues of Christmases based on kindness and love, rather than Christmas presents, abundance and commercialism, the crucial confluence of kids, advertising and Christmas gift-getting had already been galvanized. It was as though television producers and advertising slicks had been there since the beginning with us kids – in the crib and maybe even before that.

To kids, the idea of Santa Claus, in all his storied toy-giving altruism, was as vibrant and alive as a big, hard snowball smacking you right against the side of the head. In this, he was unlike the far-less convincing Easter Bunny. We were familiar with rabbits. We were used to seeing them almost daily in our backyards or on our walks to school. Supposedly, the Easter Bunny was hopping around outside, bringing us candy eggs, on beds of green, plastic grass inside woven baskets. There was no explanation as to how he got into and out of our homes, while we were asleep.

Santa Claus was a god-like figure. He was omniscient and omnipresent – even when it wasn’t Christmastime. He was also watching and keeping track of all the times we crossed against our parents. There were even songs that spelled it all out. “He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake. He knows if you’ve been bad or good, so be good for goodness’ sake.”

Yeesh. If we wanted toys – and we most certainly did – kids had but to conform, straighten up and fly right.

We had questions, as we rightfully should have, but mostly, we swallowed the idea hook, line and sinker – probably because the bait looked so tempting. I can still hear kids my age arguing about Santa.

“Oh yeah, he’s real. He’s gonna bring me everything I want.”

“Oh yeah, what’s he gonna bring you?”

“Stuff. Why would I tell you? You don’t even believe in him.”

“As if.”

“As if what?”

“As if he will.”

“As if he won’t.”

Kids with older siblings usually tended to be the ones most likely to cast doubt.

It was usually about this time that any parent overhearing the conversation would chime in with something like, “Now, let’s not ruin anyone’s Christmas.”

“Thanks, mom.”

Our Christmas wish lists could be long, but best prioritized.

We could ask, wish and hope for anything we might possibly want – things we’d seen in those 2-inch-thick catalogs from Sears, J.C. Penney and Montgomery Wards or the latest gadgets and toys advertised on TV. I remember that sometimes we just wrote down catalog page numbers where we had circled things we wanted.

We only needed to send a letter to Santa at the North Pole, that our parents could help us write, and on Christmas Eve before bed, leave out a few Christmas cookies our mom baked with a glass of milk for Santa and his reindeer. When we awoke on Christmas Day, all would be revealed.

Parents and kids would all tumble down the stairs from bed to the living room to see what Santa brought. The thrill and happiness we felt separating, opening and receiving the gifts we got from Santa and parents and relatives almost always overshadowed any disappointments we might have had – especially since we got extra things we hadn’t even asked for.

Occasionally, there would be one kid who felt they were “ripped off” if they hadn’t got the doll or car or toy they wanted – even if cost about as much as a king’s ransom. Regarding Santa Claus, we all would have been shocked, doubters included, if we had any idea how complicit our own parents had been in perpetrating that fantastic fiction.

When they eventually pulled out the hook we had swallowed, it really hurt.

Still aghast at the idea that this all could have been some sort of lavish betrayal, it wasn’t long before we would hear something like, “Oh yeah, and about the Easter Bunny…”

Reactions on that disclosure were mixed in our house, ranging from “No, not the Easter Bunny too?” to “Well, I figured that. Now what?”

But before all those revelations, in those halcyon snow-globe wonderland days of youth, during the week or so before Christmas – the days I mentioned earlier – we would be so full of excitement and anticipation we could pop.

We were like Mexican jumping beans, probably fidgeting wildly and constantly bugging my mom with questions like “How many more days?” “Is he coming tonight?” and “When are you going to make the cookies for Santa?”

This is probably why my parents would send us outside to play.

They could get some peace and quiet while we could roll down snowbanks, run and jump in the snow, throw snowballs or walk around sucking on a freshly picked icicle.

There were also flying saucers to pull each other on and ride down hills and snowbanks with.

Looking back, one of my favorite activities was doing almost nothing.

When we kids got tired, we would just fall back into the snow and lay there silently in our winter snow suits, boots and knitted mittens, huffing and puffing – just looking up at the sky.

I enjoyed the intermittent silences as much as I did the conversations.

After a minute or so, one kid would say something, and another would chime in.

“Do you think Spiderman could beat up Superman?”

“I doubt it.”

“Why?”

“He just has those webs.”

“So? I think he could.”

“You don’t know.”

“YOU don’t know.”

“Hey, look at the moon.”

“Whoa, that’s cool.”

“When we were at my grandpa’s camp, we saw a meteor with a big, long tail.”

“That’s boss. When we went fishing, out by the basin, we saw a bear run across the road.”

“No way. How big was he?”

“Bigger than my grandma’s davenport.”

These conversations might continue for as long as a half hour or so, until one of us got cold from laying in the snow for that long.

“I’m going in.”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Yeah.”

Then, even all alone, a kid might very well stay outside and continue to play.

I remember doing that.

It was often just doing things like trying to knock down house icicles with snowballs or digging paths with a shovel or maybe starting to try to build a fort.

I might also go inside the house, strip off all the winter clothing, some of which might now be wet, and put it on the floor by the furnace register to dry.

Then, after a snack and a chance to warm up, I remember trying to convince a previously reluctant sibling to go outside and play in the snow.

Many times, they would – especially if they had just been bored in the house doing nothing while my mom was in the kitchen and my dad was watching football or reading the newspaper.

Anyone allowed to stay in the house would have had to have mustered up a pretty good excuse. It was usually a strict order to get outside and play.

I wasn’t the kind of kid you had to tell twice to do that – everything else maybe, but not that. I was usually the first one out the front door.

Those December outings focused conversation on the upcoming excitement of Christmastime.

I liken it to the banter of bank robbers on the evening before the big heist.

“What are you gonna do with your share of the loot?”

“I don’t know, maybe go out west, where it’s warm. You know?”

“Yeah, I know. You got some big dreams, cowboy.”

Even once we had come into the house and got ready for bed, the anticipation and excitement often kept us from falling into restful sleep.

We just couldn’t stop thinking about Christmas. We told ourselves that if we fell asleep, we’d wake up and it would be one day closer to Christmas, but even that strategy couldn’t often dampen my holiday exuberance.

Life is so odd. Nowadays, I don’t really care if I get a single Christmas gift – a far cry from those kid days.

Instead, I most appreciate the quiet and wintry nights relaxing in a room lit only by Christmas tree lights – maybe enjoying a mug of eggnog and biting the head off a sugar cookie Santa or two.

Outdoors North is a weekly column produced by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on a wide range of topics important to those who enjoy and appreciate Michigan’s world-class natural resources of the Upper Peninsula.

Four host venues have been selected for Canada Soccer’s 2026 and 2027 Youth National Championships, with St. John’s (U-17 Cup) and Surrey (U-15 Cup) to welcome the nation in 2026 and then Montréal (U-17 Cup) and Cape Breton (U-15 Cup) to welcome the nation in 2027. The four host venues will help deliver Canada Soccer’s pinnacle event open to all provincial and territorial member associations from coast to coast to coast across the country.

As Canada’s most accessible sport, soccer welcomes more than 750,000 registered players across the nation. This past year alone, 580 youth teams took part in qualifying for the National Championships in the U-17 and U-15 age groups for both boys and girls. From that group, 12 youth teams qualified in each of the four divisions, with each venue hosting 24 qualified teams across the week-long event heading into the Canadian Finals on Thanksgiving Monday.

“Canada Soccer is proud to announce St. John’s, Surrey, Montréal, and Cape Breton as host communities for our 2026 and 2027 Youth National Championships,” said Peter Augruso, Canada Soccer President. “As part of Canada Soccer’s Youth Competitions Network, the National Championships showcase our commitment to delivering inclusive, high-quality national competitions from coast to coast to coast across the nation. With hundreds of youth teams participating in qualifying each year, the National Championships showcase the depth of talent in our game while creating lasting sport and community legacies in each host city. We look forward to welcoming players, coaches, officials, volunteers, and families to four outstanding destinations that will help make these events memorable for everyone involved.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Canada’s top youth soccer talent to St. John’s for the U-17 Cup in 2026,” said the Honourable Andrea Barbour, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation. “This is an incredible opportunity to showcase our province’s vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and warm hospitality to athletes, families, and fans from across the country. Supporting this event, through Celebrate NL, reflects our commitment to growing sport tourism and creating unforgettable experiences for visitors while contributing to the growth of soccer in Canada.”

“It’s a privilege for Surrey to host Canada Soccer’s 2026 U-15 Cup,” said Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “This national event highlights our strong soccer community and our commitment to supporting young athletes as they grow and compete. We look forward to welcoming teams and families from across Canada and showcasing the energy, diversity, and hospitality that make Surrey a fantastic host city.”

“Montréal is proud to be selected as the host destination for the U-17 Cup at the 2027 National Championships,” said Vincent Dumas, Manager – Sports Market, Sports Events Montréal. “As the host destination, Montréal brings together a passionate sports community, world-class venues, and an unforgettable atmosphere to deliver an experience that goes far beyond the game of soccer.”

“We are thrilled to welcome players, coaches and families from across Canada to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality for the 2027 National Championships U-15 Cup,” said Cecil P. Clarke, Mayor for Cape Breton Regional Municipality. “Hosting this event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful communities, rich culture, and warm hospitality, while giving visitors an unforgettable Cape Breton experience.”

As part of the Youth Competitions Network, an enhanced schedule for the Youth National Championships was introduced in 2025 whereby each division now features 12 qualified teams. Group matches are played Wednesday through Friday followed by knockout and playoff matches from Saturday through Monday. Each host welcomes the qualified teams to their community with a unique Opening Ceremony, friendly volunteers at each of the competition venues, transportation to and from the team hotels, and a Finals Day atmosphere whereby all teams are in attendance for the Canadian Finals.

Canada Soccer’s National Championships are hosted each October across multiple divisions and venues, with other host cities to be announced in the coming months. As Canada Soccer’s largest national event featuring clubs from coast to coast to coast, the National Championships provide a meaningful week-long soccer experience for host cities and participating teams, as well as the players, coaches, support staff, officials, and volunteers.

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The sporting goods manufacturer CCM Hockey has established a long-term collaborative agreement with both the Montreal Canadiens organization and its charitable arm — the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. The aim is to lower the financial and logistical barriers to entry for the sport, thereby promoting greater participation and fostering inclusivity within local communities.

This alliance designates CCM as the principal corporate backer for the Bleu Blanc Bouge skating program, which focuses on supporting access to the sport for youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In this role, CCM Hockey will supply “helmets and skates to more than 650 underprivileged kids throughout Quebec to participate in a six-week learn-to-skate program.”

Additionally, CCM Hockey will contribute additional athletic gear to support the construction and operation of public ice rinks managed by the Montreal Canadiens Children’s Foundation. This is known as the Foundation’s flagship program.

Image Credit: CCM Hockey

Published: Dec 20, 2025 6:50 am

Newtown Travel Basketball kicked off the season, participating in the Milford Knights Tip-Off Tournament that brought competition from 178 teams across four divisions over two weekends of play. Newtown had 17 teams, with six finishing in second place and two teams taking home championships.

Championship Winners:

Platinum Division — Grade 8 Boys’ Gold, coached by Pete Szklarz and Lynn Yeager.

Silver Division — Grade 5 Boys’ Blue, coached by Joe Brown.

Second Place Winners:

Platinum Division — Grade 4 Boys’ Gold, Grade 4 Girls’ Gold, Grade 7 Boys’ Gold, Grade 7 Girls’ Gold.

Silver Division — Grade 4 Boys’ Blue.

Bronze Division — Grade 6 Boys’ Blue.

Grade 8 Champs

The Newtown Grade 8 Boys’ Gold Travel team won the Milford Knights Tip-Off Tournament Platinum Division Championship. After a rough start in pool play, the boys found themselves down 24-4 in the first half to a hot-shooting Milford Knights team. They picked up the intensity on the defensive end with Kellan Kane as the leading rebounder and started moving the ball offensively and were able to cut the lead to four at the half. The second half was back and forth. The relentless effort on defense wore down the Knights, and the Nighthawks won by six. Leading scorers were Bryce Lowe with 17, Kevin Rancourt with 14, and Will Yeager with six.

The semifinal game featured a matchup against a good Westport team. It was back and forth the entire game. The Nighthawks executed down the stretch and hit key foul shots to pull out another close victory. It was a total team effort where everyone contributed on both ends of the floor. Leading scorers were Kevin Rancourt with 19, Bryce Lowe with 12, and Will Yeager with five.

In the championship game against Fairfield, scoring was at a premium for the first few minutes. Once the first basket was scored, Newtown was off and running. Once again the Nighthawk defense forced turnovers and allowed them to get out and score in transition. Offensively, the ball movement was great, which created a number of good looks. Once again it was a total team effort as Newtown cruised to victory by a score of 45-18.

Grade 5 Champs

The Grade 5 Boys’ Blue Nighthawks drew the FBA Demon Deacons and the FBA Hokies in the pool play portion of the Tip Off Classic in Milford. The Hawks split the two games, losing to the Demon Deacons 28-20 but bouncing back to beat the Hokies 26-20, setting the stage for a fantastic run to the championship.

The championship weekend started out with the Hawks facing the FBA Yellow Jackets in the semifinal game. The first half was back and forth, with both teams taking the lead multiple times, but saw the Hawks losing by two at halftime. That would be the last time the Hawks trailed in the game, going on a 18-0 run sparked by timely steals by Owen Boles and Joey Brown which turned into points, setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Hawks kept pressure on the Yellow Jackets until the final whistle, with Grey Antoinette and Owen Boles leading the team in scoring. Thomas Glovaski and Levi Garrison were beasts on the perimeter on defense, stifling the Yellow Jacket guards.

The Hawks couldn’t celebrate too long, having a small break before facing off in the championship game against the FBA Demon Deacons, setting up a chance at redemption for the Hawks from their pool play loss to the Demon Deacons the previous weekend. The game started with both teams playing tight defense, holding the game scoreless on both sides for the first six minutes. Eventually both teams found their rhythm, however, it was the Demon Deacons leading by four at half. The Hawks were able to regroup and keep the game close in the beginning of the second half, but the Demon Deacons extended the lead to six with under six minutes to play in the game. Even though the lead seemed out of reach at the time, the Hawks stuck together and played the best five minutes of basketball of the game at the end. Grey Antionette led the way, scoring six unanswered points and finding a cutting Brady Singer on a fast break, and Singer hit a jump shot to take the lead by two with one minute left. The Hawks stood tall on defense led by Joey Skura and Santi Puebla, holding the Demon Deacons to tough shots. The game was iced by two key free throws from Brady Singer on a 1-and-1 foul shot and second free throw to push the lead up to four with ten seconds left. The Hawks won 26-22. Hawks centers Billy Harrington and Paxton Rotas had their hands full on defense all game, having to guard players much larger than them but limiting their points and securing key rebounds.

The fifth grade Boys’ Blue team captured the Milford Knights Tip-Off Tourney title. Pictured are, from left, front: Thomas Glovaski, Joey Skura, Grey Antoinette, Santiago Puebla, Joey Brown, and Brady Singer; and back: Paxton Rotas, Levi Garrison, Coach Joe Brown, Owen Boles, and Billy Harrington. —photos courtesy Newtown Youth Basketball Association

The Grade 8 Boys’ Gold team won the tourney title. Pictured are, from left, front: Kellan Kane, Mikey Paloian, Reid Keil, Liam Cooney, Ryan Szklarz, Kevin Rancourt, Davis Gottschalk, and Cian Lahey; and back: Assistant Coach Lynn Yeager, Reed Sgagliardich, Will Yeager, Bryce Lowe, and Coach Pete Szklarz.