Program volunteer Elizabeth Crawford is at Hyde Park with her family, where the New Berlin summer youth program will be located on Main Street in New Berlin. Free breakfast will be provided from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m and lunch from 11:30 a.m to 12:00 p.m. to children 18 and younger, Monday through Thursdays July 31 to August 17. Creative painting, light carpentry, and dance will be taught. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

NEW BERLIN – The Village of New Berlin is finalizing preparations for its free and fun summer program for local children ages 8 through 12. The program will start at 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays from July 31 to August 17 at Hyde Park.

According to the Village of New Berlin, participants will be taught elementary painting and carpentry skills to develop a greater attachment to their community. Construction and painting of multi-colored tree-style signs displaying inspirational messages for all ages will be placed in high-visibility sites throughout the village.

The program is the brain-child of the Artistic Director of the New Berlin Cultural Center and famous ballerina and artist Andreia Keller; who will lead the program and was recently appointed to this position after completing civil service process and approved by by the Village Board of Trustees.

Recently, Keller said, “I want to give to the community everything that the community gave to us without knowing. I want to give what they don’t have because they gave me what I didn’t have.”

“This village is absolutely amazing,” said Keller. “It’s a beautiful storybook village; but in a lot of ways, people don’t see that. That’s what we want to show them.”