Generally clear. Low 73F. Winds light and variable..

Generally clear. Low 73F. Winds light and variable.

Fourteen-year-old Arlando “AJ” Madison is all smiles as he watches the high-tech, computerized cutting tool etch a name into a block of wood, Wednesday, March 16. He and other teens attended the hands-on Handy Hicks Skill Building Class in Homosassa to learn a variety of basics in the construction trade.

Josh Hicks, owner of Handy Hicks, explains to River Dyer, 14, how a computer program interacts with a cutting tool to etch letters into wood during a class at his Homosassa handyman business. The weekly class hosted the Citrus Construction Academy Wednesday, March 16.

The Citrus Construction Academy’s bus visited Handy Hicks Wednesday, March 16. The bus is equipped with a host of tools and instructors to introduce youngsters to the construction industry.

Some examples of the Handy Hicks Skill Building Class wood-carving project are displayed Wednesday, March, 16.

Fourteen-year-old Arlando “AJ” Madison is all smiles as he watches the high-tech, computerized cutting tool etch a name into a block of wood, Wednesday, March 16. He and other teens attended the hands-on Handy Hicks Skill Building Class in Homosassa to learn a variety of basics in the construction trade.

Josh Hicks pointed at the corner of a computer screen, guiding the mouse controlled by one of his teenage students to make a final click.

Right after the button press, an automated lathe nearby whirred to life and positioned its sharp, V-shaped bit above a wooden plaque wedged into place atop the machine’s worktable.

Hicks stood back and watched the curiosity of his Handy Hicks Skill Building Class of 24 aspiring handy men and women, along with their parents.

As the robotic blade struck the wood, carving down and side to side, the friction’s piercing sound echoed inside the open garage of the Handy Hicks workshop near the corner of Portland Terrace and Homosassa Trail.

Hicks re-explained to his class of young apprentices over the noise about how the computer numerical control, or CNC, router machine uses software and code to create precise etchings on a 3D axis.

After a few minutes, the device stopped to await its next command. Hicks removed the small, wooden slab to show off his student’s name engraved within it.

Another lesson taught, another memory made.

Josh Hicks, owner of Handy Hicks, explains to River Dyer, 14, how a computer program interacts with a cutting tool to etch letters into wood during a class at his Homosassa handyman business. The weekly class hosted the Citrus Construction Academy Wednesday, March 16.

Wednesday, March 16, was the 10th of 12 weekly vocational sessions the free, not-for-profit Handy Hicks Skill Building Class offered for a second year to youths 10 to 18 years old.

Hicks, an insured handyman, launched his program in 2021 to not just teach the basics of skilled labor, but also pass invaluable work ethics and life lessons to absorbent and growing minds.

“And that’s pretty important,” he said, “considering when you get of age to make big-money or buying decisions ... to have that experience, confidence-building, certain things that would excel you.”

Each Handy Hicks course focuses on a particular trade or craft – from drywalling, welding and tiling; to cooking, sewing and changing a vehicle’s tires and oil.

Hicks and his partners from local businesses and organizations donate their time, tools, materials and knowledge to give a hands-on demonstration and tutorial about their specialty.

“It just shows that community support is a betterment of our future,” Hicks said. “It brings the community closer together.”

Hicks said he’s always working to fine tune his curriculum to make it as interactive as possible.

“When they enjoy it, they’re more engaged and more apt to remember,” he said about his students. “I can experience their impact with each class, and it’s amazing.”

Board members of the Citrus Construction Academy hosted Wednesday’s Handy Hicks class, and brought the CNC router machine for students to personalize their own wooden nameplates.

Harold Walker, president of the academy, instructed the Handy Hicks class on how to stick a layer of Oramask vinyl tape on their plaque before they took it to Hicks to be engraved.

“Do you know who’s going to go first?” Walker asked before half the class shot their hands up.

As it cut into the wood, the lathe also removed that section’s Oramask, giving students a stencil to spray paint and highlight just the lettering.

Some examples of the Handy Hicks Skill Building Class wood-carving project are displayed Wednesday, March, 16.

Moms and dads brandished cellphones to capture photos and videos of their children at work.

“They’ve enjoy learning themselves ... or they enjoy the break,” Hicks said about parents being there, “but they understand what the classes are for, and they see their (child’s) confidence levels are being excelled here and at home. It’s a very overwhelming and great experience.”

Stacie Yule, of Inverness, said Handy Hicks helped introduced her 11-year-old son, Nathan, to professions and careers he didn’t know existed.

“He’s really enjoyed it; it’s opened his eyes to something he hadn’t thought about or something he didn’t give thought about,” Yule said. “He’s talked more about the possibilities for the future that aren’t the typical ones.”

Nathan said he’s looking forward to putting his newfound expertise to the test at home.

“I hope to use them in my life and remember them,” he said, “so I can use them in the future to help with my family and friends if they need it.”

With the construction academy’s help, Handy Hicks students built their own wooden toolboxes during their first class to house fundamental equipment they also got to keep.

Walker said the academy and Handy Hicks are “in total lockstep with each other” toward a common mission to provide a variety of possibilities for younger generations to pursue.

“We need to build opportunities for kids,” he said.

The Citrus Construction Academy’s bus visited Handy Hicks Wednesday, March 16. The bus is equipped with a host of tools and instructors to introduce youngsters to the construction industry.

Welding has been one of the course favorites at Handy Hicks.

“When in the heck are you going to get the chance to do that any other time?” Yule said.

Nathan said he also enjoyed learning how to install and repair drywall.

“So if somebody like my sister punches a hole in the wall, I can fix it,” he said before chuckling. “I’m just excited to learn anything so I can use it whenever I need to.”

Pamela Rutzebeck, of Pine Ridge, said her 14-year-old grandson, AJ Madison, already has his own car-detailing and handyman business, AJM Enterprises, but now has some new interests thanks to Handy Hicks, like tinkering with cars.

“AJ’s a very enterprising young man as it is, and quite the handyman himself,” she said. “He’s adding onto that, that’s for sure. ... He’s earning the skills, and will apply them to his future.”

“Well, the class is pretty almost much over, but all the things that I learned, I’m going to take home with me,” AJ said. “I’m thinking about building a wall in my garage and putting tile on it to practice.”

Enrollment for next year’s Handy Hicks class will start in January. Call Hicks at 352-436-3105 for more information.

Hicks said he hopes local school and government officials try to implement and approve similar programs that will engage and empower the youth for years to come.

“Life skills and opportunities are not always construction but they kind of work hand in hand,” he said. “Hopefully, we can network the right people to expand more; it could be introduced to a bigger part of the community…Let’s wake up and get to it.”

Contact Chronicle reporter Buster Thompson at 352-564-2916, bthompson@chronicleonline.com or visit tinyurl.com/yxn2ahso to see more of his stories.

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.