CITY APPRENTICES LEARN SKILLS TO SET OWN COURSE.

Byline: Amy Collins Daily News Staff Writer

Abel Hernandez returned to Santa Clarita midway through college, returning to the place he grew up and a place where he had no job.

``I just wanted to do something new, learn some skills,'' said Hernandez, 22.

He fell in with the city six months ago, into an apprenticeship program targeted at young people who aren't quite sure how to find the next step.

Hernandez was one of six people hired into the public works training program to teach skills and provide a focus for future employment goals.

City Manager George Caravalho said the program helps fill a gap in society. ``We seem to have trouble figuring out what to do with young people between roughly 16 and 24,'' said Caravalho, whose agenda shows an emphasis on creating opportunities for young people.

The apprenticeship program grew out of the California Conservation Corps program that was here following the Northridge Earthquake. When that program left town, the city started its own.

``We liked what we saw. We saw people learning skills, we saw people helping their community,'' said Vytautas Adomaitis, a management analyst for the city's Public Works Department. ``It's been a real good program for youth. We want to see this program continue.''

The training went beyond construction work, focusing on people skills that can make or break a work environment.

``We saw some real bonding between the apprentices and the field staff,'' Adomaitis said. That camaraderie was apparent Thursday afternoon at the graduation ceremony for the trainees, held at the city's corporation yard, on the spot where the Conservation Corps had bunked following the quake.

Next to maintenance vehicles and heavy machinery, tables with red gingham tablecloths had been set aside Thursday for a celebratory lunch that ended with a sheet cake adorned in icing with the city's logo. Although there was a joke about the good attendance being for the free food, the city employees in the audience watched the ceremony like a group of proud parents.

Ed Ostroski, a crew leader, described the trainees as eager studies. ``It can get down and dirty, but these guys were,'' Ostroski paused and smiled. ``I was pretty surprised.''

Hernandez said that although the work was hard, he liked working at the city. ``We have too much fun,'' he said in describing the teamwork in the field crews.

``I picked up a lot of experience,'' Hernandez said, naming concrete work as his favorite rotation. He poured curbs and gutters and did sidewalk repair.

``I could use these skills down the line,'' he said.

And what is down the line? ``Maybe start my own business, get my contracting license,'' he said.

More immediately, Hernandez plans to re-enroll in college locally, and in the meantime hopes to find a job. ``I've been looking for work, but no one has called back. It's hard,'' he said.

Dennis Welch, the city's street supervisor, said the men were temporary employees for six months, working at minimum wage without benefits. They rotated in teams among three areas: cement and asphalt, signs, and vehicle maintenance.

The program also hooked up the trainees with We Care for Youth to learn interviewing skills, resume tips and how to research a company before applying for a job.

``It was a learning experience all the way around for them,'' Welch said.

The other participants in the program were Sebastian Jiminez, Jeff Jones and Jonathan Martinez. Two of the six didn't complete the program because one, Chris Smith, got another job and one broke his leg at home a few weeks into the program.

The city budgeted $31,000 for the program and hopes to start a new round within the next few months. ``I'm wishing like mad to have it continue from now on,'' Welch said at the graduation ceremony.

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Photo: (color) Apprenticeship program graduates are, from left, Sebastian Jiminez, 21, Jeff Jones, 20, Jonathan Martinez, 21, and Abel Hernandez, 22.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News