Keeping Up With The Joneses

Yuba College will be “Moving On Up!”  for the Fall 2011 semester, thanks to 3-4 million dollars in Measure J Bond money that will be used to renovate the entire 300 building, along with opening up the hidden courtyard and landscaping the surrounding area. Upgrades are scheduled to start the day after spring classes finish and will be finished before the fall semester begins. All of the renovation plans have been established but details are subject to change.

The cafeteria will have improved seating, sound, lighting, and decor. The fireplace will be removed and the ground floor will have glass enclosed rooms for different purposes, including a new ASYC office. One of the two staircases will be removed but the elevator they had hoped to put in will not fit into the budget. Because staircases are not ADA compliant the upstairs rooms will become storage only. The entire area where food is ordered will become more organized and efficient, enabling quicker, faster service and more maneuverable lines. The coffee kiosk will be moved and the idea of having a coffee window that remains open when the cafeteria is closed is currently under discussion.

Original plans called for the outside quad area between the bookstore and cafeteria to become a glassed in lounge area with  more tables, chairs and couches, and a snack bar kiosk run by the culinary program. These changes will not be implemented, however, the quad area will be opened up so it’s no longer hidden behind the ivy wall and the fountain will be removed to make room for more tables.

The offices that are inside the courtyard belonging to the President, Vice President, and Public Information Officer will become a large, open meeting room because the current offices will be moved and the separating walls will be knocked down. The bathrooms will be completely upgraded and the bookstore will be getting a new unloading area to prevent boxes in the middle of the store from being a trip hazard.

Flavors Restaurant will have new floors, doors, walls, lighting, windows and furnishings. There will be a separate area for staff dining as well as outdoor patio seating for everyone. The classroom will be separated from the dining area, and modernized with new desks, power point, and LCD screens. The kitchen will become more instructional rather than institutional, making a much more efficient, user friendly environment for students to learn in.  

 

A Letter From The Author

I am a first semester student and I have spent much of my time in Flavors getting to know Rick Prondzinski and his culinary students. I was present for several B.B.Qs and events in the quad, the building of their clay pizza oven, the firing up of the oven for the fire department, and of course several lunches to enjoy their tasty treats.  

I was there as reporter and photographer, but somewhere along the line I felt more like a friend. I’m very excited for the Culinary Program and I think it’s a shame it took so long for these much needed changes. Rick begins an early retirement after next semester, right before the plans for upgrades become reality.

He will be missed, but remembered for years to come. Whoever replaces him as the Culinary instructor has some very large shoes to fill and I hope he or she does the Culinary Program justice, as well as appreciates and enjoys the changes as much as Rick would have. Also, a big welcome back to Tim Levitt, Flavors Teaching Assistant.