OBSERVER Photo Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County members and staff have been utilizing the new floor for about two weeks.

Getting children to stay active in this era of technology and other gadgets is quite a challenge. Fortunately, there is a place for youth to go after school.

Located at the Salvation Army at 704 Central Ave., the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua is assisting youth in their studies while keeping them on the move. A recent addition to the gym there is a new floor that will benefit not only club members, but the community at-large who use the facility for basketball leagues.

“This new gym is a place where our kids can express themselves freely while they play,” said Anneliese Bruegel, executive director of the club. “Besides traditional basketball court lines, it also has a hopscotch and foursquare that has encouraged all ages to play together and enjoy the same space while being active.”

Installed earlier this month, the surface was purchased through a grant from the Ralph Wilson Foundation. It’s one more step in the right direction.

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Dunkirk Housing Authority Executive Director Elizabeth Cardona did not take long to right a wrong for residents at the Steger High Rise Apartments on Main Street this month. As part of an effort to greet tenants, she did something that went missing on July 4 by hosting a picnic.

It has been a rough three months for the authority with the transition of a new director as well as other internal issues. But the picnic event was in response to repeated concerns. That is a smart start.