The Catskill Chronicle

Left to right – Woodbourne CYO students Rochelle Luisa, Christina Neist, Kirsten Jacobsen, Olivia Castle, Emily Higgins, Caitlyn DeVito, and Grace Summa.- Provided photos

HURLEYVILLE – For the past two years, Sullivan County CareCorps/Communities that Care (SCCTC) has spearheaded the Stop Campaign designed to end the sale to underage youth of tobacco and alcohol products. Many sectors of the community including but not limited to law enforcement, faith-based groups, school districts, community action agencies, parents, and students work together by meeting with vendors throughout Sullivan County, speaking with them about the dangers of tobacco and alcohol on young people, and encouraging them to post stickers in English and Spanish that alert customers that they do not sell these products to underage children.

On January 8, 2010, the SCCTC acknowledged the many students leading the way in this campaign with a dinner and awards at Nardi’s Frankie & Johnny’s Restaurant in Hurleyville. Students organized by Woodbourne Catholic Youth Organization (CYO), Project D.R.E.A.M. Tank, and Jana Koradisand Hudson River Healthcare’s REMIX Program shared their positive experiences of enrolling the support of retailers all over the county.

In the photo (above right) are three students from Project D.R.E.A.M. Tank; left to right – Zariina Padu, Liiza Koradis, and Jana Koradis.

Tri-Valley High School student and member of the CYO group, Christina Neist, reprised her talk from the CareCorps press conference in early December. She eloquently spoke of the dangers of alcohol and drugs that have affected her peers.

SCCTC Chair Larry Schafman of Fallsburg Central School District ran the evening’s program and gave an overview of the mission of the organization and the role of each sector involved. Besides the STOP Campaign, the group is dedicated to creating a responsible server program to train bartenders and others who dispense alcoholic beverages in recognizing underage youth and protecting them from the dangers of alcohol. Another concern is to establish a social host ordinance county-wide to place responsibility on people that serve alcohol to underage youth in private parties and the drinkers end up in accidents causing anything from damage to loss of life.

Carolyn Massey, Project Director of SCCTC, presented certificates of appreciation to over twenty students. On hand to share in the presentation were Izetta Briggs-Bolling, CEO of the Recovery Center, Bob Korabik, Rural Health Network Coordinator, Travis Hartman, Detective in Town of Fallsburg Police Department, Marta Mangual of Project REMIX, Patricia Ocasio of Hudson River Healthcare, Linda Simmons, Secretary of SCCTC, and Barbara Durbak of the SCCTC Executive Board and Woodbourne CYO.

If you or your organization is interested in participating in this community effort, please contact Larry Schafman at (845) 434-6800, ext 2213.