East Rockaway's youth coalition seeks volunteers

At the third meeting of the newly-formed Coalition for Youth in East Rockaway, held on June 24, an urgent request was made from the Coalition steering committee’s “Expanding Opportunities for Kids” Task Force team leaders Kristen O’Hagan and Cathy Tierney for parents to volunteer as responsible adult chaperones for currently planned Summer 2010 recreational activities for the village’s young people.

Tara Marie Overs Gonzalez said the Education Task Force was planning an informal series of “Coffee Klatches” starting in September to inform parents on steps they can take to be better prepared and to help keep their kids safe.

Coordinator Theresa Barto summarized the Coalition’s first sponsored event — which was cosponsored with the East Rockaway High School PTA — Nassau County Police Department’s “Too Good for Drugs” community forum held at the high school on June 16, which was coupled with a “Medicine Cabinet Clean-Out” program where residents also were able to drop off old unneeded prescription drugs with the police.

Diane LauKaitis and Theresa Gaffney said the Enhanced Laws and Enhanced Enforcement Task Force was reviewing relevant laws in various communities and the current intensity of enforcement in East Rockaway with recommendations to be brought back to the Steering Committee in the future.

The next Coalition meeting is at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 5 at the Village’s Senior Center, 6 James Street in East Rockaway.

For more information regarding the Coalition for Youth in East Rockaway, contact Coordinator Theresa Barto at (516) 887-3932 or e-mail vballmom33@verizon.net. Other communications can be mailed to Coalition for Youth in East Rockaway (CFYER), Post Office Box 236, East Rockaway, NY 11518.