LEWISTON – The city of Lewiston has announced that members are being sought for the 2008-2009 Lewiston Youth Advisory Council year.

Youth who reside in Lewiston are encouraged to apply for membership on the council, and applications will be made available at Lewiston High School, St. Dom’s, Lewiston Middle School, the Lewiston City Administrator’s Office, 27 Pine St., and the Lewiston Recreation Department, 65 Central Ave. The deadline for application submission is May 9. Current members may re-apply.

To be considered for membership, an individual must be a Lewiston resident and a high school student or home-schooled student in grades nine through 12 or at the time of application, an eighth-grade student who will enter grade nine in the upcoming academic year.

The council was first established by the Lewiston City Council in October of 2001 and has since received local, state and national recognition. The purpose is to serve as an advisory council to the Lewiston City Council in regard to community issues affecting youth.

Members also serve as a liaison between the youth of the community and the city. The LYAC also enables youth to work toward goals that empower all of the community’s youth, and it undertakes service projects that enhance the community.

Projects have included the U Booze U Looze, youth-to-youth underage drinking awareness initiative, and premiere of “SMASHED,” a film that’s been approved for driver’s ed curriculum statewide; leadership in the city’s quest for the National Civic League All-America City Award; a Youth Fine and Performing Arts Celebration; partnering with the Lewiston Fire Department for “Is Your Number Up,” a house/business address posting campaign to enable quick response by emergency responders; raising funds that sited the city’s 1891 E. Howard timepiece as a multi-level siting at Lewiston City Hall; leading and a community-wide noise pollution awareness campaign that resulted in an enhanced Lewiston noise ordinance.

The group, in partnership with the Lewiston School Department, is wrapping up a fundraising effort to site an electronic message board at the entrance of Lewiston High School as a community communication tool.

In addition, at the Tuesday, April 15, meeting, members will decide on a project to heighten the importance of recycling in the community, and on Saturday, April 26, LYAC will host a “Lessons Through Expressions” art event for elementary-age children.

When applications are received, a Selection Committee will review them, conduct group interviews and appoint up to 15 youth. The committee will make its selection by the last Friday in June, and selected youth will be officially appointed during a July Lewiston City Council meeting.