Teens Detail Pot and Beer Use Karyn's Walk Karyn'8 Fund, a Group Last Week's Town Meeting on Teen Sub- All Four Started Using Some Substance at "Friend" at School
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MamStreet launches major campaign to sustain its momentum. Page A 10 To subscribe, call (800) 300-9321 Vol. 7, No. 22 e^festfield Record Thursday, June 8, 1995 A Forbes Newspaper 50 cents I Briefs Teens detail pot and beer use Karyn's walk Karyn'8 Fund, a group Last week's town meeting on teen sub- All four started using some substance at "friend" at school. Several of the teens went Beer is very popular among students. It is founded to help a 13-year-old stance abuse (See stories, Page A-2) got West- age 14. The drug of choice was "pot" (mari- to New York City to obtain drugs. Were they relatively inexpensive and is drunk in group Westfield girl battle leuke- field talking. But what about the people juana). The usual pattern: one joint two afraid? situations as a sign of being "one of the mia, will sponsor a walk-a- being talked about? The Record asked Milt times a week and then graduating use to "Not really," said one. "Part of the excite- guys." thon 4-6 p.m. Friday, June 16 Faith, executive director of Westfield's Youth four-five joints a week. Two now smoke one- ment is doing something that is against the All four felt accepted by their peers and «t Kehler's Field House on and Family Counseling Service (YFCS), to two joints every day. The other two remain law." enjoyed the instant high which pot, beer or Rahway Avenue. Sponsor discuss drug and alcohol use with his teen- at two times a week. The question of payment for drugs came mixed drinks provided. When high, they sheets are available at age clients. Mr. Faith, a Licensed Clinical The two boys also began drinking beer at up. Allowances, odd jobs around the house didn't have to worry about everyday stress- Tamaques School during Social Worker and 30-year veteran at YFCS, age 15 and continue to drink one-two six- and stealing from parents (from purses, wal- es. school hours. polled a foursome of Westfield adolescents packs on the weekends. One 16-year-old ex- lets, loose change, etc.) made the purchases The boys, in particular, felt peer pressure (two girts, aged 14 and 15, and two 16-year- perimented with cocaine, felt "out of it" and possible. to engage in substance abuse. "Being in" Summer concerts old boys) on their drug use arid summarized discontinued using it. The four students were not alone in drug permitted them to be "different" in "conser- The annuaJ Union County their responses. Pot is easy to purchase, usually through a use. Many of their peers use pot or alcohol. (Please turn to page A-2) Summer Arts Festival begins its season Wednesday, June 21 in Echo Lake Park. Con- certs are 7:30 p.m. every Wednesday. The first concert Write-in Dems is Italian Night with Marty DeRosa. Friends needed win big in light The Arc of Union County needs volunteers to develop friendships with individuals with developmental dis- abilities. Volunteers will be primary voting matched with a compatible person and receive orienta- tion. They will then become a Salerno and Samuel to face regular part of their new friend's life. Call Lois Gold- berg, 754-7658, for informa- Bagger, Augustine in Nov. tion. By KEVIN COLUGAN fore the polling, he brushed off Mr. THE RECORD Salerno's charges as "pure, childish Rummage sale name-calling." The candidate said A write-in campaign by a West- the Democratic assault was merely The New Jersey Workshop field man and his Scotch Plains for the Performing Arts holds a vendetta by political bigwigs. RANDALL MILLER/THE RECORD running mate successfully blocked "I'm really running against po- a rummage sale 10 a.m.-4 the bid of a controversial candidate p.m. Friday and Saturday at Puppeteers Chrlssy Skubish, Josh Blumberg, Renee Skublsh, Jenna Mulford, Shan Gersch, litical bossism," said Mr. Kucek. adviser Marilyn Schaeffner and Diana Fusco display puppets Melody, Valerie, Joanne and Marc. for the Democratic nomination in "These charges are flat-out lies, not the Workshop center, 152 E. the state's 22nd legislative district. issues. They are just running a Broad St Proceeds will ben- The win came in a light turnout in efit scholarships for the hate campaign against me." Tuesday's primary election. Joint Salerno/Samuel campaign Music Studio and Westfield John Salerno and Geri Samuel Summer Workshop. literature attributed several anti- Kids on the Block help handily defeated North Plainfield Semitic, anti-black statements to resident John Kucek, the only As- Mr. Kucek. One statement, alleg- Aces high sembly candidate on the Demo- edly taken from a December 1988 The Women's Club of cratic ballot. Vote totals as of letter to the New Jersey Legisla- Wednesday morning showed Ms. ture, reads, "Under no circum- Westfteld invites members kids in Jhe town to grow Samuel with 2,009 votes, Mr. Sal- and residents to a series of stances should New Jersey of- erno with 1,949 votes and Mr, ficially memorialize the alleged vic- summer luncheon card par- •y KEVIN COUJGAN out of it," said Ms. Schaeffner. 'There is a tremen- Kucek with 369 votes. In Westfield, ties noon on Wednesdays, tims of'the Holocaust.' " THE RECORD dous amount of teamwork. Their volunteerism is out- Ms. Samuel garnered 553 votes, June 21, July 19, August 16 standing. They'll do anything to make it work." Mr. Salerno received 539 votes and When asked if he wrote the and September 27 at the For the most part, they look as you would expect, For many of the high schoolers, working the Kids Mr. Kucek received 39 votes. statement, Mr. Kucek said, "I clubhouse, 318 S. Euclid Ave. large Pac-Man mouths, yarn-like hair, round button on the Block puppets fulfills a dream they've held Mr. Salerno, who painted Mr. would have to see it ... I don't Tickets are $10. Reserve by noses. since elementary school. Junior Debbie Lintz, 16, said Kucek as a bigot with links to know." Mr. Kucek did flatly deny phone at 233-7160, or mail to But even their third-grade audience notices some- she wanted to be a Kids on the Block puppeteer since former Ku Klux Klan leader David harboring any animosity toward the above address. thing different about these oversized puppets. One she saw the show in third grade. Duke during the campaign, said Jews and/or African-Americans. He sits in a wheelchair. Another has a white cane. "I thought tliey were so cool and so old," said the victory was one for the Demo- also said he had "absolutely no Loafing 101 They are the Kids on the Block, a troupe of puppets Debbie. "1 like playing and acting and working the cratic party. contact" with David Duke, al- whose disabilities and/or ethnic backgrounds make puppets. It's so much fun." "What you saw was the party re- though he ran for the U.S. Senate Rutgers Cooperative Exten- them different than their young audience. The pup- "We are celebrating differences," said Debbie, who affirming it did not believe what under the banner of Mr. Duke's sion offers a class on bread pets are operated by Westfield High School students helps Ms. Schaeffner coordinate the program. "We John Kucek stood for," he said. Populist Party in 1990. making 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, who put on shows Cor the district's third-graders to show how to deal with differences. The moral of the The victorious Democrat said he In his defense, Mr. Kucek pro- June 15 at 300 North Ave. teach them it is OK to be different. story is everyone should be treated the same." expected to win the election, but duced a petition vouching for his The cost is $5 per person. Marilyn Sehaeffner, director of the high school's Junior Jonna Mulford, 16, said the show teaches not by such a wide margin. "We character purportedly signed by 13 Space is limited and reserva- Community Service Program, has overseen the Kids children to be more kind to others around them. expended a lot of shoe leather and African-Americans. Omar Deen, a tions are required. Call 654- on the Block program since it started more than six "Kids can be so cruel because of ignorance. When a lot of time showing people how black man who signed the petition, 9854 to register. years ago. "The high school kids here really get a lot (Please turn to page A-3) to write-in," he said. called the candidate "a wonderful The Record was unable to reach patriot" without "one iota of rac- Hamburger helpers Mr. Kucek after the election. Be- ism." Mobile Meals of Westfield needs volunteer food packers and driver/deliverers to pre- Reduced construction pare and distribute low-cost dinners to disabled residents Voters shrug at all of Westfield and surrounding towns. Call Mae Frantz at 276-2264, or Kay of Mobile plan gains some favor local, county hopefuls Meals at 233-6146, for infor- As expected, Westfield voter race, Westfield resident Carol mation. By KEVIN COLUGAN plan should be studied further before being dropped. turnout in Tuesday's primary Cohen received 492 Westfield "The main criteria for (the alternate pairing plan) is election was light. votes. Her running mates Walter TlIE RECORD Christian rock the ability to develop elementary enrollment bound- Among the three Republicans D. McNeil Jr. of Plainfield and As the Westfield Board of Education discussed the aries that can be consistent so children in the same seeking nominations for the Daniel P.