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Thank you John Randall

 

John Randall will always be here.

He is in Brenda and Yasmin and the rest of the Lovin' Oven girls who are working their tails off catering, running a booth at the farmers market, learning about food services and how to start a business.

John is in Rick and Jake and the other Sonoma teens who spent many hours practicing their musical craft at The Shop, learning how to put on shows and all the issues that pop up.

John is in Neda and Dan and many others who were looking for a place to fit in, where their creativity could flourish. They found it in Red Cow World, an art program that showcased local professional artists.

John is in all the students who work and attend the Wednesday art program and many other vocational training programs at the No Name Café.

John is in the hundreds of kids who were provided free transportation home in a Vern's Taxi through Teen Safe Ride.

John is in Cristin and Rebecca and all the other adults (myself included) who have benefited from his drive and philosophy.

Operation Youth, The Shop, Red Cow World, the No Name Café, Teen Safe Ride, the Teen Center, many years of hard work, thousands of youth, this is his legacy.

Two months ago, the Sonoma Teen Services board was going to have to shut down programs due to a lack of funding, "I've worked too hard and for too long on these programs to see them go away," John said, as he committed to make up the financial deficit with his own money.

What is important in life is how long you will be remembered, by whom, and for what.

John will always be here.

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Walt Williams is a local teacher.