by David Flint
Youth 2 Youth Berlin, a community youth group formed under the auspices of TRACs (Together Reducing Alcohol and drugs in our CommunitieS) held its kick-off Teen Night event, “Glow Crazy,” on Friday, March 9, in the Ballroom of the Bridgeway Restaurant in Cherry Plain.
The event was attended by approximately 50 area youths who had a great time taking part in group dances, balloon stomping, twister, pool games, door-prizes and raffles. Raffle tickets were available for sale, but youths could also earn them by dancing or participating in the games. They could even earn extra tickets by dancing with the giant bear that was later raffled off.
Door prizes and raffle items included two all day Jiminy Peak Adventure Summer Passes, ten TRACs back-packs, the giant stuffed bear, a shower microphone radio, Youth 2 Youth/TRACs T-shirts and iTunes® gift cards.
Youth 2 Youth Berlin is an outcome of attendance by six area youngsters at the Eastern States Youth To Youth Conference in Rhode Island last summer. Youth To Youth was founded in 1982 in Columbus, OH, as a community based drug prevention and youth leadership program focusing primarily on middle school and high school students. The goal of its many projects is harnessing the powerful influence of peer pressure, making it a positive force that encourages young people to live free of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
The Bridgeway event was also a fundraiser to help cover the costs of sending youth to the next Eastern States Youth To Youth Conference in Rhode Island this summer. TRACs would like to send as many kids as possible to this conference. It is a positive experience about learning how to be drug-free in a way that previous attendees described as “epic” and “amazing.” It is hoped that sending more kids to this conference can reduce the use of drugs and alcohol in the community.
The Berlin group, serving the Berlin School District, intends that this Teen Night will be just the first of monthly Teen Nights held locally to provide kids with fun, safe, drug-free entertainment.
Several parents had expressed concerned about the choice of location since the Bridgeway bar is located right next to the ballroom. TRACs Vice President Biffy Cahill said that the decision to have the event at The Bridgeway was not decided upon hastily without discussion of the location of the bar or the concerns about the youths’ exposure to the bar. It was decided, however, that since the area was divided not only by a sizable entrance room but a large heavy door, that any exposure would be less than at a typical restaurant dining room where alcohol is served. Youth and adult volunteers finally decided on the Bridgeway Ballroom as it was the only location that was not only free but would be able to have a DJ, live entertainment, dancing, pool, games and tables to sit at for pizza and soda.
To ensure the safety of the youth and minimize the possibility of their exposure to the bar area, two adult chaperones were present in the entrance area between the bar and the ballroom at all times. A separate entrance into the ballroom allowed youth to enter without even passing by the bar area and signs were hung on all doors indicating where the entrance for the Teen Event was. Additional signs were placed at the entrances to the ballroom that clearly stated that only youth 11-17 years old were allowed, with the exception of the chaperones of course. Cahill said that a few parents, who had concerns about the location and stayed to make sure that everything went as smoothly as was anticipated, later mentioned that they were impressed at how well it went and thought that there should be more events like this.
Youth 2 Youth Berlin would like to thank Ralph deLeon and Joy Lowenthal for everything they did to help make this happen and all the parents and volunteers who chaperoned the event and made sure everything went smoothly.
