The Town Shop

By Jennifer Graham

Some people sit back and watch television for hours upon hours, dreaming and wishing for certain parts of their life to just happen before their eyes. Some, perhaps, wish to become great mathematicians yet fail to study their craft, while others dream of becoming the next American Idol but never practice a single chord of an audition piece. However, some people believe in following their goals and dreams. Rob Wolf is one of those accomplished dreamers.

“When I began web design, I had no idea what I was getting myself into,” said 23-year-old Rob Wolf, a West Genesee High School graduate who is currently enrolled at Onondaga Community College where he studies graphic design. Like many other students and graduates of Camillus area schools, Wolf is a volunteer at the Camillus Town Shop and has been for quite some time. He has recently designed a remarkably appealing web site designated for the Town Shop and those who are interested in the local teen hangout.

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By Zachary V. Zagger

Cheryl Vermilya sat at the dining room table on the third floor of the Town Shop Youth Center cutting cloves of garlic for a future meal or cooking lesson. She was still indignant.

Only recently a man getting coffee next door accused her of “cooking the books” for the Town Shop, which she and her husband have run for the past 36 years. She was infuriated by the accusations, but tried to stay calm. She told of the volunteer work the teens do around the village of Camillus, at places like the St. Paul’s Samaritan Center, the Sunshine Horse Rescue and soup kitchens in Syracuse.

But she said the man was not appeased. At the next village board meeting, he stood up and said Cheryl had approached him, angry and yelling. She was not at all happy how he portrayed her to the community.

“Where does this depth of hatred come from?” she asked. “I don’t know.”

Teens Not A “Problem”

Since the Town Shop opened in 1971, the Vermilyas have understood that some dislike the Town Shop because it sits on the main street. But the Town Shop has been at its current location for almost its entire 36-year history, and Dave and Cheryl think the teens are not the problem some portray them as.

“They’re nice kids but they are not the athletes or the national honor society students for the most part,” Dave said. “But they are still good kids, kids who in other places are under served.”

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By Mary Jo Miuccio

Back in the early 70s, when young people were in the middle of a nationwide social revolution, a group of teens in Camillus wanted their own special place for meeting friends, listening to music, and talking about timely concerns. Together, they approached a community group with their request.

Not long after, an abandoned clothing store called the Town Shop, at 67 Main St. in Camillus, was revitalized into a meeting place for area teens.

Now, 36 years later, the Town Shop continues to offer area youths a “place of their own,” to share common interests, as well as offering many motivating programs.

“In most New York communities, there is little for teens to do if they are not into athletics,” said David Vermilya, who co-directs the Town Shop with his wife, Cheryl.

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By David Vermilya

On March 7 the Town Shop reached a remarkable milestone. The program celebrated its 36th birthday. Many people claim it is the longest enduring teen program of its kind in New York State. Some say it may be so for the entire United States, particularly under the same leadership. And it is a tribute to the Camillus community that has supported and sustained a program that honors the interests of the youth population that is underserved in most other communities.

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