Valley citizens address the problem of underage drinking

Meeting was hosted by Parents Council, a group of leaders from elementary and secondary public schools in the Valley

   Fifty-six community leaders gathered May 18 to discuss the issue of underage drinking in Hopewell Valley at the invitation of the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance.
   The meeting was hosted by Parents Council, a group of leaders from each of the elementary and secondary public school in the Valley. This group meets monthly with the school administration.
   Students, parents, educators, clergy, law enforcement and mental health professionals and municipal leaders met for two hours to discuss concerns, efforts already taken to address those concerns and further steps that the community could take to enhance those efforts.
   The goal was to gather facts, acknowledge the different roles each sector plays in addressing the problem of underage drinking in the community, and explore options. The meeting began with a short DVD, "This Place," which sends the message "that there is widespread recognition that drinking among youth today is dramatically different than it was 20 years ago and it has now reached the level of a public health crisis. Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among America’s youth" — according to promotional material for "This Place."
   Reactions to the DVD were followed by a discussion of local incidents of underage drinking from township police Chief George Meyer and a review of local survey statistics from Alliance Chairwoman Sheryl Stone and HVCHS principal Joe Mangiaracina.
   "Hopewell Cares member, Phil Ludeke, discussed efforts in Hopewell Borough to create a teen center in the borough to give youth an alternative to at-risk behavior. Heidi Kahme, Timberlane Parent Organization trustee, outlined the many parent education presentations and the response from the parent community at the middle school. And, township Detective Ray Pental spoke about his role with students at the middle and high school and the juvenile justice system.
   The final presentations focused on steps already in place to further respond to this issue. These include a grant received from Rowan University, which will address changing norms at the middle school and high school on the issue of alcohol and drug use.
   Kat D’Ambra, CHS vice principal, spoke about the efforts that will begin next year to address the issue of perception vs. reality in the understanding of substance abuse issues in our schools.
   Chief Meyer discussed an Underage Drinking Ordinance that will be introduced in all three municipalities shortly.
   Lauren Sheidler, a student on the newly formed Youth Advisory Committee, spoke about the work of the committee, their extensive survey of their peers at the high school, and some of the results of that survey in relation to the development of a teen center.
   The final segment was devoted to feedback from all attending on what each group could do to address the issue. "Suggestions and comments from students as well as adults gave everyone in the room lots of food for thought," said a spokesman.
   The discussion continued at the Municipal Alliance meeting held at 7:45 a.m. today (May 25) and at meetings across the community.
   For more information, contact the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance at 737-0120, ext. 642.