Pubdate: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (PA) Copyright: 2008 PG Publishing Contact: http://www.post-gazette.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/341 Author: Sandy Trozzo ALLIANCE COMBATS 'BIG CITY' ISSUES FOR TEENS HERE For those who live in rural areas, it can be easy to turn a blind eye to the problems facing young people, believing those things can't happen here, said Blane Martin, a supervisor in Clinton. "Everybody wants to put their head in the sand and not admit to anything," he said. But officials and residents in the southeastern corner of Butler County are trying to change that. The Southeastern Butler County Community Alliance was formed in September 2006 with representatives of Buffalo, Clinton, Winfield and Saxonburg to educate residents and groups about child safety, including drug and alcohol abuse and Internet dangers, said Mary Zacherl, Clinton supervisor and secretary. On Thursday, alliance members will meet for final adoption of their bylaws. Then the group can decide how to provide more programs with a $25,000 grant received from the Alle-Kiski Valley Health Foundation, Mrs. Zacherl said. The group was the first to receive a "challenge grant" from the nonprofit, independent foundation. "We put together a small group of involved citizens from that region and asked, 'What is your most pressing health, wellness, quality of life issue?' And that group said we'd like to make the community aware of these new threats to teens and young adults that haven't really surfaced in this region before," said John Pastorek, chief executive officer of the foundation. The challenge was for the group to educate at least 500 people on those dangers in six months. That goal accomplished, the $25,000 grant was received late last year. The bulk of the 500 people heard information on drugs during two "movie nights." Nick Mulone donated the use of his South Pike Cinemas in Buffalo. Those attending heard Butler County Detective Pat Cannon, then-District Attorney Randa Clark and state police officials talk about drug abuse and how to recognize it. A former addict also spoke. That was a great idea, Mr. Pastorek said. "You get to go to the theater, and you get some popcorn and you get to watch a first-run movie afterwards," he said. In between the two movie nights, the group gave presentations to church groups and in banquet halls. "They had an excellent group of expert presenters," Mr. Pastorek said. "We're proud that our first community challenge group has met the challenge." Mr. Martin said they want to do smaller programs for groups of 10 to 15 people, such as parents and teachers or grandparents. "It's hard because a lot of parents, they don't face the problem," he said. "You just don't think it's going to happen in our area, but it does." "It's certainly been an eye-opener for me, some of the dangers that children and families and people have to be exposed to," Mrs. Zacherl said. "In my generation, you didn't see any of this." Older people also should be informed, alliance members said. "Some people would say, 'Gee I'm a senior citizen. I've been retired for 10 years. I don't have to worry about teens on drugs.' But they could be a victim of somebody looking for drug money," Mr. Pastorek said. Alliance member Michelle Phillips said she became involved because the idea of educating young people about the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse appealed to her. "The idea of trying to instill the idea of responsibility and consequences to our youth is really important," said Mrs. Phillips who, with her husband, owns an insurance business in Saxonburg. In her case, it is also personal, she said. Her sister, Annette Miller Clark, died after a car accident that killed her husband, Glenn Clark. The driver of the other vehicle had been drinking. "I have a personal interest in the idea of not drinking and driving, and what happens when you do. We suffered the consequences personally," Mrs. Phillips said. "No one ever thinks it is going to happen to them. They never think they're going to cause an accident, or even be the victim of one." With receipt of the grant, Mr. Pastorek said, he is hoping that local leaders emerge for the alliance. "We want them to be independent to work on their own," he said. "But I'll be there as a resource." The foundation has issued a second challenge grant to officials and residents in Harrison, Fawn, Brackenridge and Tarentum. The goal of the Highlands Emergency Services Alliance is to increase membership in volunteer fire companies in the region, and it may do so by offering scholarships to young people to take fire-training courses, Mr. Pastorek said. The Alle-Kiski Valley Health Foundation was formed in 1983 and is not affiliated with the Alle-Kiski Health Center, formerly Allegheny Valley Hospital, in Harrison. "In the past 10 years, we've provided more than $3 million in grants, programs and services in this region," he said. "We're so unique that nobody knows what to do with us or how to take us. It's humorous because we do these great things and everybody says, 'That's the hospital doing that.' " - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath