European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 21, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                American students have shiny new club to Call their own monday april 21, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 3 by Dick Hodgson Kaiserslautern Bureau Ramstein a Germany More than 500 Kaiserslautern area american teen agers turned out saturday night for the opening of the Midnight Star a teen Center for High school students. I was hoping for at least 300," said Carol Smith Center director. But i never expected quite this Large a crowd. Halfway through the evening we completely ran out of soft drinks and ice and had to Send out for More. We used up More than $200 Worth of quarters just making change for the video games Smith said. The club built in less than 60 Days with mostly Volunteer labor and donated equip ment is something the Community  needed for a Long time said it. Col. David Stripling 377th combat support Wing vice commander. Especially in Light of events in the past couple of weeks and the increased Security a lot of people both teens and parents have been anxiously awaiting the opening he said. Stripling a driving Force behind the construction of the Midnight Star said nearly $40,000 Worth of donations and More than 3,800 hours of Volunteer work made the Center possible. The Midnight Star occupies a 1950s-Era wooden building that was formerly used for disaster preparedness training. We started off in february with an old building which was run Down and falling apart he said. Now we have a facility which would be hard to replace for less than "$250,000. And we have it because of the interest and hard work of the people in the  less than $10,000 of appropriated funds was spent on the structural renovation of the building Stripling said. Everything else was done by scrounging he said. Area merchants donated or sold furnishings for the Center at below their own Cost. And the gis from civil engineering who were doing the structural repairs during the Day frequently showed up on weekends or continued working until 7 or 8 . On their own As did air National guard troops who Are deployed Here teachers parents and the teens themselves Stripling said. The Center includes a disco game rooms with Pool tables Dart boards foosball and video games a video Jukebox a video theater a study room with computers and a fast food snack bar. We have a computer controlled Light show with something like 360 programs projectors flashing lights mirrors every thing any club downtown  and More Stripling said. In addition to the facilities within the Midnight Star cafes Europe  said a teen boutique will Opeo in mid May in the building. Ramstein Exchange manager Alan Grossman said he believes the Bou Tique will be Able to offer the same Quality and selection of european fashions and accessories As downtown stores and at better  Stripling said cafes  agreed to split the boutique profits with the teen Center which he Hopes will make the Center self sustaining. Those funds would pay for a Center director a professional do to run the disco and some part time recreation aides he said. The teen Center which is being managed by a Board of governors made up of 12 students from Ramstein and Kaiserslautern american High schools is open Only to Stu dents from the two schools and their guests. By guests we mean other students Stripling said. The members can bring in friends from German secondary schools or from other american schools from outside the immediate area. That s it no Active is photo by l. Emmett Lewis or. Angela Ayers of Kaiserslautern ., dances with Lawrence Bennett of Ramstein  Duty people and no parents will be allowed in. This place is for our students some thing they can Call their  the Center will open every Day after school and on weekends Stripling said. Bus service will be provided to and from the Vogel Weh housing area near Kaiserslautern on Friday and saturday nights. The bus leaves the Vogel Weh Aya at 7 . And leaves the Midnight Star for the return trip at Midnight the Center s closing time. At left Laura Gruebmeyer 16, looks on As Nikki Oldenburg 16, throws a Dart in the Midnight Star s lounge. The sports mural on the Wall behind them was painted by stud to