The 2011 S.A.F.E. Summer Program is just weeks away! First session will begin on June 6, at Runge Park in Santa Fe. We will have three fun weeks packed with fieldtrips, guest speakers, games, art, and all sorts of excitement. We are limiting each week to a maximum of 60 students for grades 1-5 (must have completed 1st grade). Your child may attend only one of the weeks in order to serve more youth.

Youth 6th-12th grades will have the opportunity to go on fieldtrips three fridays in June, beginning June 10. Teens will also be offered free archery, golf and tennis lessons throughout the summer.

Space is limited, so fill out your applications immediately and return them (with $5.00 committment fee attached) to the Mark Kilroy Foundation drop box as per instructions. Watch for the applications at your child's (SFISD) school. They should be bringing them home by the second week in May. For your convenience, forms will also be available at the Mark Kilroy Foundation S.A.F.E. Center, 12026 16th Street. A drop box is located right above the forms.

We would like to add a big thank you to our sponsors and members of the Safe Communities Coalition, The Mark Kilroy Foundation, the City of Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Independent School District.

NEWSFLASH!! We are adding a new FREE Hitchcock Summer Program this year. Dates will be from July 11-22nd. Your child may only attend one free week, so that more students may be able to attend. Forms for this new program will be out by the 4th week of May and will be delivered to Hitchcock ISD (as well as having them here at the Mark Kilroy Foundation). The format for this program will be the same as Santa Fe's...four days each week for 1-5th grades and two free fieldtrips for Hitchcock 6-12th grades, on July 15 and July 22.

Mark Kilroy Foundation
16th Annual Dinner-Dance Fund Raiser
Benefit for S.A.F.E. Youth Activities
Saturday, February 19, 2011
6:30 pm - 10:30 pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)

Our Lady of Lourdes Madonna Hall
10114 Highway 6 - Hitchcock
Music, Prizes, Auction & Much More

Ticket prices:
Corporate Table for 10 - $ 250
Reserved Table for 8 - $ 140
Couple - $35
Single - $20

Sponsorships:
(includes table for 10)
Platinum $5,000
Gold $2,500
Silver $1,000
Bronze $ 500

ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY
Tickets available from:
S.A.F.E. Center 409-925-7771
Jim & Helen Kilroy 409-925-3819
Santa Fe City Hall 409-925-6412
Amegy Bank, SF 281-337-9552
Amoco FCU, SF 409-925-9150
BBVA Compass Bank, SF 409-925-2557
Gardner State Farm Ins, SF 409-925-2511
Texas First Bank, Santa Fe 409-925-2582
Texas First Bank, Hitchcock 409-986-5541

The S.A.F.E. Program, along with the Mark Kilroy Foundation, wants to wish you a very happy and healthy New Year!

We have many questions from parents on how to deal with their children. Rather than telling them what to do, or barking a command, Dr. Jim Fay says this method might work to your advantage. Here's an excerpt from Dr. Jim Fay's Christmas letter:

I last wrote about the power of questions: how questions can actually divert the brain's focus. A person who is thinking in one direction can suddenly find himself/herself thinking in a totally different direction when hit with a question.

An example of this happened when Jill said to her teacher, "Well, I wasn't the only one throwing food." Her teacher responded with empathy and a question, "Oh, this is sad. Where are you going to eat now that you can't eat in the cafeteria any more?"

"Huh?" Jill's brain, driven by nature to answer questions, had to switch gears and go off in a totally different direction.

Most things we say can be turned into a question, putting us in charge of the conversation. Here are some examples of changing orders or statements into questions:

Order: "You aren't going to talk like that in this house."
Question: "Is this the right place for that language? Thank you."

Order: "If you don't do your homework, you're going to get a bad grade."
Question: "What kind of grade do you think you'll get without doing your homework?"

Order: "You are not going to drive if you drink."
Question: "What do you think will happen to your driving privileges if I start worrying about you drinking?"

Order: "You guys better quit fighting over that remote control."
Question: "Have you guys thought about what might happen to the remote if you keep fighting over it?"

Order: "Quit that bickering!"
Question: "Hey, guys, what do you think is going to happen if that doesn't stop?"

Another example of using a question to change a situation happened when Dr. Charles Fay witnessed three young boys on the school bus becoming rowdy. A teacher told them to settle down. They didn't. Dr. Fay went over to sit with them and asked, "Hey guys. Which one of those Pokemon figures spits fire?"

As you can guess, the entire scenario changed as these kids started answering and talking. No discipline was needed. A simple question made a huge change.

If you find these articles helpful, find over a hundred more in our Love and Logic Powder Room Reader and forward this article to a friend.

Jim Fay

The following came in my email today. I think it's worth passing on. It's written by Dr. Charles Fay, a genius when it comes to parenting. His words of wisdom can be found at http://www.loveandlogic.com/

The Mark Kilroy Foundation wishes you the happiest of Holidays!

The Most Beautiful Gift:Love and Logic Institute, Inc.

"Have you noticed how much effort some folks put into finding just the right Christmas gifts for their child? I bet you know someone who doesn't think twice about spending endless hours - or even days - scouring store shelves for that awesome action figure, digital doodad, or doll their child has been wanting.

Let's think about it. Is there anything wrong with this? What's the problem with spending lots of time and energy looking for neat and nifty Christmas gifts for our kids?

Nothing. But…

What happens when we exert more energy on finding these gifts than showing our youngsters what a gift they are to us?

Ouch! I've done this. Yes, I've fallen into this trap! I've worn-out myself trying to make things perfect that I've forgotten the most perfect gift of all: the expression of never-ending, unconditional love.

We're all wired to need it. All of us yearn for a relationship with someone who will love us forever, regardless of how stinky we behave. Isn't this the greatest gift we can give our loved ones? Isn't this what Christmas is really about?

During this Christmas season, my hope is that you'll…
spend more time playing with your kids than you spend shopping for them;

remember that the gift they really yearn for is you;

hug them and smile into their eyes as often as possible; and
show them through your never-ending love what a precious gift they are.
Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit, forward it to a friend.

Dr. Charles Fay"

H.I.S. Ministries

West Galveston County

Interfaith Caring Ministries

H.I.S. is getting ready for their big Holiday feasts. Each year, they offer clients a Thanksgiving turkey feast as well as a Christmas ham dinner. Turkeys and hams are generously donated by the Gates family for literally hundreds of local families.

Their generosity compells others to do the same for unfortunate people in the area. Please donate!

H.I.S. needs toys, books, games, food, or anything you want and are able to give.

Please contact H.I.S. at hisministries@yahoo.com

Mailing address: PO Box 1426

Santa Fe, TX 77510

A hungry family will Thank you!

Dolphin watching in Galveston Bay

Having fun at the S.A.F.E. Summer Program!

S.A.F.E. Summer Program 2010

The 2010 S.A.F.E. Summer Program is just weeks away! First session will begin on June 7, at Runge Park in Santa Fe. We will have four fun weeks packed with fieldtrips, guest speakers, games, art, and all sorts of excitement. We are limiting each week to a maximum of 60 students for grades 1-5 (must have completed 1st grade). Your child may attend only one of the weeks.

Youth 6th-12th grades will have the opportunity to go on fieldtrips every friday, beginning on June 11. TEEN FRIDAY fieldtrips this year are Cavalier Bay Fishing, Space City Ice Rink, Alpha Bowl, and Galveston Schlitterbahn. Teens will also be offered free archery, golf and tennis lessons throughout the summer.

Space is limited, so fill out your applications immediately and return them (with $5.00 committment fee attached) to the Mark Kilroy Foundation drop box as per instructions. Watch for the applications at your child's (SFISD) school. They should be bringing them home by May 11. For your convenience, forms will also be available at the Mark Kilroy Foundation S.A.F.E. Center, 12026 16th Street. A drop box is located right above the forms.

We would like to add a big thank you to our sponsors and members of the Safe Communities Coalition, The Mark Kilroy Foundation, the City of Santa Fe, and our Santa Fe Independent School District.

Mark Kilroy Foundation
15th Annual Dinner-Dance Fund Raiser
Benefit for S.A.F.E. Youth Activities
Saturday, February 27, 2010
6:30 pm - 11:00 pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)

Our Lady of Lourdes Madonna Hall
10114 Highway 6 - Hitchcock
Music, Prizes, Auction & Much More

Ticket prices:
Corporate Table for 10 - $ 250
Reserved Table for 8 - $ 140
Couple - $35
Single - $20

Sponsorships:
(includes table for 10)
Platinum $5,000
Gold $2,500
Silver $1,000
Bronze $ 500

ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY
Tickets available from:
S.A.F.E. Center 925-7771
Jim & Helen Kilroy 925-3819
Santa Fe City Hall 925-6412
Guaranty Bank, SF 925-2557
Bill Reitmeyer Insurance 925-2511
Texas First Bank, Santa Fe 925-2582
Texas First Bank, Hitchcock 986-5541

City of Santa Fe 10th Annual Holiday in the Park

The City of Santa Fe Parks and Recreation Board will have their 10th Annual Holiday in the Park at 6 pm Thursday December 3 at the gazebo in Mae S. Bruce Park at Santa Fe City Hall, 12002 state Highway 6, in Santa Fe. Punch and popcorn with Santa Claus will be provided. The Boys and Girls Scout troops and Universal Dance Studio will perform.

All are invited!

Listening Lessons with Elementary Students

The S.A.F.E. Program offers support groups for elementary students at Cowan and R. J. Wollam in Santa Fe, as well as Stewart and Crosby Jr. High in Hitchcock I.S.D. These counseling services include life skills lessons and student support groups. In these groups, students learn to be mindful and accountable for their actions. In the photo above, children are listening carefully for the diminishing guitar chords to stop ringing. They are instructed to close their eyes, and raise their hands when they no longer hear the vibrating chord. This exercise helps them to be more patient and "mindful" in listening to others, and to be more aware of their surroundings. These are useful skills to have in life.

H.I.S. Ministries serves families in need in the areas of Hitchcock and Santa Fe. It is located at 4205 Jackson Street in Santa Fe, Texas. Every year, the wonderful people at H.I.S. Ministries care for many families during the Holiday season. Please let your friends know about these important events!

 

October 19 -- Sign up for Thanksgiving/Christmas Dinners/Toys began.

 

November 4 -- Sign up for Thanksgiving Dinners ends.

 

November 23 -- Distribution of Thanksgiving dinners at H.I.S. Ministries (9:00 am - noon)

 

December 5 -- Sign up for Christmas Dinners and Toys ends.

 

December 14 -- Set up at Aldersgate Methodist Church for Toy Distribution (8:00 am until ?)

 

December 15 -- Toy Distribution at Aldersgate Methodist Church (9:00 am - 11:00 am)

 

December 21 -- Distribution of Christmas Dinners at H.I.S. Ministries (9:00 am - noon)

 

If you would like to donate any food items or money to purchase them, it would be appreciated.  Below is the menu:

THANKSGIVING DINNERS:  Turkeys (donated)

green beans, corn, dressing, cranberry sauce

 

CHRISTMAS DINNERS:  Hams (donated)

sweet potatoes, mac & cheese, applesauce

 

Also, if you or someone you know would like to donate toys it will be helpful.  Many of the toys are from the Marines "Toys for Tots" but still many more are needed.  And "ELVES" are needed to help with the set-up and distribution.  Please consider helping this year.  Dates and times are listed above. 

 

For more information, call H.I.S. Ministries at 925-4697 (Open Mon, Wed, Sat -- 9 am - 1 pm).  Email is hisministries@yahoo.com.

 

Please share this information with those who might need help and those who might be able to help.

 

Helen Kilroy, Mark Kilroy Foundation

Chairperson, Safe Communities Coalition

~A few Summer Program photos from S.A.F.E. Summer Camp 2009~

Grades 1-5 Sessions

Summer Feeding Program in Hitchcock

Hitchcock I.S.D. will provide breakfast for children ages 1-18, regardless of economic status.

Mondays through Thursdays, beginning Monday, June 1, through July 2, at Hitchcock High School Cafeteria, 6625 FM 2004.

Summer school students will have breakfast at 7:15 AM and lunch at noon. Other children will have breakfast at 8:00 AM and lunch at 1:00 pm.

Call 409-986-6462

3rd Annual Car & Bike Show Swap Meet

Date: June 20, 2009
Website: http://santafetexaschamber.com
Location: 16000 Hwy. 6 - Santa Fe High School parking lot
Contact: Fay or Diana (409-925-8558), Roy Weiland (409-256-2025 or roytotherescue@verizon.net)
Email: sfchamber@comcast.net
Fees/Admission: Vendors - $35 per space

Enter car and/or bike - $20 per entry

Click on form to enlarge!

An enrollment form may be picked up from your child's school, City Hall (Santa Fe), Texas First Bank, SFISD Administration Building, and Mark Kilroy Foundation. We did not post it on this blog and do not email out due to high volume, but the cover sheet that is posted here will give you an idea of which week your child might want to attend if 1-5th grader. (He or she should have already received one if they are in 1-5th grades unless they were absent on the day they were handed out, which was the week of May 11th).

The teen information is on the right hand side of the cover sheet form, but you will still need an enrollment form, which can be picked up from one of the above places. Teens can sign up for all 4 fieldtrips, at $5.00/ea week.

1-5th graders may pick one week for $5.00 committment fee. This includes fieldtrips.

Bob Walcutt, with the Laura Recovery Center, presented the SKATE (Safe Kids are Taught Early) Program to all Pre-K through 3rd graders in Santa Fe in March. This program is an interactive safety program that concentrates on the lures a predator might use and steps a child can take to identify and avoid an abduction. Mr. Bob makes it all fun, not scary! The Laura Recovery Center has presented the SKATE Program to over 160,000 children.

LASER Indian created just for Santa Fe I.S.D. The Prismatic LASER Light Show was fantastic. A total of over 4000 people watched as the magic of lights moving to sound filled FBI Auditorium on the week of March 9th. A nice way to begin a Spring Break!

FAMILY NIGHT AMERICAN PRIDE LASER SPECTACULAR

March 10th from 6-7 PM

Fritz Barnett Auditorium

The Mark Kilroy Foundation and Safe Communities Coalition is sponsoring a dazzling laser-light show for all Santa Fe I.S.D. schools during the week of March 9, 2009.

You (regardless of the age of your child) are invited to FAMILY NIGHT American Pride Laser Show on Tuesday March 10, from 6-7 PM, at Fritz Barnett Intermediate auditorium. It's immediately following FBI Open House.

This will be an exciting way to celebrate our nation's heritage with your children, making a memory that will last forever. Here is just a small sample of what you will see on a grander scale. See you there!

Presented by: Prismatic Magic

http://www.prismaticmagic.com/

Every community needs a H.I.S. Ministries. Every year, Santa Fe H.I.S. comes to the rescue of thousands of families. In 2008, H.I.S., members of our Safe Communities Coalition, fed the hungry, clothed the poor, and donated hundreds of toys to children in our area.

Here are just a few of the charitable contributions donated in 2008:

4,346 families were fed
500 families were given Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners
311 children were given toys for Christmas
249 children were given school supplies
Over $66,000 worth of clothing was given away

Contact H.I.S. Ministries at 409-925-4697. Donate. It feels good!

The Mark Kilroy Foundation Annual Dinner will be held this year on February 14th. Celebrate your Valentine's Day with us!

Doors will open at Our Lady of Lourdes Madonna Hall at 6:00 PM. We would like to remind you to join us for this fundraising event for our S.A.F.E. Summer Program this year, which provides our youth with new learning experiences, social and coping skills, as well as healthy new friendships! Please regard the invitation provided below (blog of Dec. 16th) for exact location and ticket prices of the dinner and auction. Thank you for your part in keeping our youth safe and drug-free!

Happy New Year!

from the Safe Communities Coalition

and Mark Kilroy Foundation

We hope you are having a wonderful new year.

HAVE A PERFECTLY IMPERFECT CHRISTMAS

Article by Jim Fay

What was your best Christmas as a kid? Was it the one where there was a lot of stress about a perfect meal elegantly served—on time—to a perfectly dressed family? Or was it the one where the dog pulled the turkey off the stove and dragged it away through the dog door? There was no perfect meal that day. Everyone rolled with the punches. They rolled up their sleeves and worked together in the kitchen to salvage a makeshift meal.

The beauty of that memory is not in perfection and organization, but in remembering the joy of being together and doing things together. It was the laughter. It was one of those days when the choices were to laugh or to cry, so you all laughed it off and enjoyed one another. It brought you all together in a different way.

Holidays are times for enjoying one another. We are not suggesting that you purposely feed the turkey to the pets, but we strongly suggest that an imperfect day with little stress will create better memories of loving relationships. We wish you a perfectly imperfect holiday season.

An article by Jim Fay, author, teacher, and parent educator

Mark Kilroy Foundation

14th Annual Dinner Fund Raiser

Benefit for S.A.F.E. Youth Activities

Saturday, February 14, 2009

6:30 PM-11:00 PM (Doors Open at 6:00 PM)

Our Lady of Lourdes Madonna Hall

10114 Highway 6 - Hitchcock, TX

Music, Prizes, Auction & Much More

Ticket Prices:

Corporate Table for 10 - $250

Reserved Table for 8 - $120

Couple - $30

Single - $20

Sponsorship (includes table for 10)

Platinum $5,000

Gold $2,500

Silver $1,000

Bronze $500

ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY

409-925-7771 or 3819

PO Box 777

Santa Fe, TX 77517

Please join us in February, but buy your tickets now

before they sell out!

NEWS from the United Nations and CADCA (The following is an excerpt from a CADCA article published on November 13, 2008)

A drug used to tranquillize horses, called ketamine, is gaining popularity within the dance scene in a number of countries throughout the world, according to a recent report by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, which warned that long-term use of ketamine use can have serious effects on the brain, the kidneys and internal organs.

Nicknamed Special K, ketamine can be taken in powder, liquid or tablet form but is often mixed with other drugs or alcohol. Sometimes ketamine is laced with synthetic drugs such as methamphetamine and then sold as ecstasy because it commands a higher price than straight ketamine.

Sources refer to it as new candy for the youth. This drug is an anaesthetic and can induce a catatonic state. Long term use impairs memory and cognitive functions, and damage to the kidneys and internal organs will occur. Unfortunately, the use of Special K is growing both in developing countries and in the west.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving...from your Safe Coalition!


H.I.S. Ministries will once again prepare dinner for each family who pre-registers for Thanksgiving dinner! They will receive a frozen turkey, green beans, corn, mashed potatoes, stuffing, apricots, and cranberry sauce if they pre-register in time. Please donate to H.I.S. if you can, and refer anyone who you think might need one of these wonderful Thanksgiving dinners! Call 409-925-4697. They will also be giving away hundreds of Christmas dinners for families, so go ahead and give!! It'll make you feel good.

This is Red Ribbon Week! Read the history of
Red Ribbon Week here.

We finally got our electricity back last week at the office, almost a month after Hurricane Ike hit our community, but we are forging ahead and looking forward to the rest of the year!

I have a little catching up to do since we also just got our internet running again, so I'll start with the summer. Above photos are just a few of hundreds to choose from!

The S.A.F.E. Summer Program 2008 went very well. We had close to 600 participants, which included volunteers, guest presenters, and staff. The Safe Coalition and Mark Kilroy Foundation would like to thank those of you who joined us to make sure the S.A.F.E. Summer Program was a success! So, hats off to you, volunteers!! We had some fantastic teen volunteers this year and we thank you, too! More photos to come.

Chaslin and her first fish. Cavalier Fishing Boat-Pier 19
First Teen Friday of the Summer 2008

Click on the image below to view details of our 2008 Summer Program! This is not an enrollment form. If your child has not received an enrollment form, you will find them at all Santa Fe schools or at the Mark Kilroy Foundation office, 12026 16th Street, Santa Fe, Texas. Thanks!

The S.A.F.E. Summer Program flyers and enrollment forms will be available at your child's school on Friday, May 9th! Hurry and get yours in! If you do not see an enrollment form in your child's backpack by the weekend of May 10th, maybe you'll want to come by our place and pick one up! The address is 12026 16th street, Mark Kilroy Foundation. For questions, call 409-925-7771. Jr. High and High School students must get a copy from the front desk of the school they are attending.

This summer program is for 1-5th grades (must have completed 1st grade) and 6th-12th. We look forward to seeing you!

Thanks!
Program Staff

HERE'S A GREAT IDEA! COME JOIN US.

THE SANTA FE COUNCIL ON ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE

CHICKEN FRIED STEAK FUNDRAISER!

MAY 3, 2008 SATURDAY

CORNER OF 15TH & AVE. K SANTA FE, TX

1 PM UNTIL ALL GONE

SILENT AUCTION

CAKE AUCTION

MENU: CHICKEN FRIED STEAK, HOMEMADE MASHED POTATOES, FRESH GREEN BEANS, GRAVY, DINNER ROLL & ICED TEA (YUM)

PRICE: ADVANCE TICKETS-
ADULTS-$7.00 CHILDREN-$5.00

PRICE AT THE DOOR-
ADULTS-$9.00 CHILDREN-$5.00

SEE A SFCDA MEMBER FOR TICKETS-OR CALL 409-925-1025

New Campaign to Ensure the Safe Disposal of Prescription Medications

In light of recent media reports about prescription drugs in drinking water, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to help educate the public about the proper way to dispose of medication. The campaign -- dubbed “SMARxT DISPOSAL” -- will inform people on how to safely dispose of medicines in the trash, and highlight the environmental threat posed from flushing medicines down the toilet. Pharmacies will offer information about this to customers; and state and federal agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers and conservation groups will join the outreach effort.APhA, PhRMA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommend the following steps can make a huge difference:

• DO NOT FLUSH unused medications or POUR them down a sink or drain. Consumers were once advised to flush their expired or unused medications; however, recent environmental impact studies report that this could be having an adverse impact on the environment. While the rule of thumb is not to flush, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that certain medications should be flushed due to their abuse potential. Read the instructions on your medication and talk to your pharmacist.

• Dispose of Unused Medication in Household Trash. When discarding unused medications, ensure you protect children and pets from potentially negative effects: Pour medication in a sealable plastic bag. If medication is a solid (pill, liquid capsule, etc.), crush it or add water to dissolve it. Add kitty litter, sawdust, coffee grounds (or any material that mixes with the medication and makes it less appealing for pets or children to eat) to the plastic bag. Seal the plastic bag and put it in the trash. Remove and destroy ALL identifying personal information (prescription label) from the medication container.

• Check for Approved State and Local Collection Programs. In certain states, you may be able to take your unused medications to your community pharmacy. Consult Your Pharmacist with any questions. Visit the SMARxT Disposal website at: www.smarxtdisposal.net/.

source: CADCA Coalitions online www.cadca.org

Love & Logic Workshops coming Friday, March 28th!

Fritz Barnett Intermediate 9-10:30 AM

SHATTERED DREAMS

SANTA FE I. S. D.

Luckily, this is not a photo of a real crash scene. Shattered Dreams is an alcohol awareness education program. The goal is to save lives, while emphasizing this one thing...drinking and driving do not mix.

This major production is all volunteer. People from the school and community give their time and efforts to make the program the success that it is. A crash scene is enacted and local emergency techs, LifeFlight, police, fire and hospital responders play out their parts in delivering this realistic catastrophy.

Finally, after the dead are picked up by the hearse, and the barely living are sent to the hospital via ambulance, the students watching are returned to their seats in the classroom. But the day is not over. Every fifteen minutes, to emphasize how often a life is lost due to drunk driving, a living dead student is removed from the classroom by the angel of darkness. The faces of these volunteers are painted with white makeup and they return to their class. They are not allowed to speak (and no one is allowed to speak to them) for the remainder of the day. An obituary is read for each of these living dead, reminding those still alive of their accomplishments and personalities.


At an overnight retreat, all volunteers debrief and share feelings about the events of the day. Letters written to each other are read by students and their parents explaining what they would have missed if the event had been real.

Thanks to all of the staff at Santa Fe High School and volunteer students, as well as community members, Santa Fe Police and fire departments, emergency personel, and Life Flight. A special thanks to Lisa Byrd and Steve Rose. What a great message you have delivered to our community.

Alcoholism

(Source: Addiction Treatment Help Line)

Alcohol (including beer, wine, and hard liquor) is the most commonly used and widely abused psychoactive drug in the country. Alcohol is the most widely tried drug among teenagers. Over 50% of 8th graders and 8 out of 10 12th graders report having tried alcohol. Many teenagers report binge drinking. Even young teens report irresponsible use of alcohol -- 25% of 8th graders have been drunk.

About half of all alcohol consumed in this country is ingested by heavy drinkers, estimated to be between 6.5 and 10 percent of the total population. The extent and frequency with which these individuals drink cause serious health and behavioral problems—disrupting their own lives and that of their family, friends, and employers—and also extracts a heavy societal toll.

Alcohol use is involved in:
One-half of all murders, accidental deaths, and suicides
One-third of all drowning, boating and aviation deaths
One-half of all crimes
Almost half of all fatal automobile accidents
The health problems associated with alcohol include brain damage, cancer, heart disease, and cirrhosis of the liver. Binge drinking is killing our youth and college students.

If anything, this data has risen since this report. Irresponsible drinking kills. Please decide to be part of the solution...not part of the problem. Be a good role model for your child!

Capitol Hill Day
National Leadership Forum XVIII, Feb. 13, 2008
Safe Communities Coalition

Although 2008-09 will be the Safe Coalition's last potential year for federal funding under this particular Drug-Free Communities grant, advocacy for drug/violence prevention needs to remain on top of the agenda in Washington DC. If you've ever had a family member or friend succomb to the perils of this kind of devastation, you don't have to wonder why this is true.

We (members of the Safe Communities Coalition) marched on Capitol Hill again this year, as a reminder to Congress to keep the prevention money available to communities and coalitions across the nation. Even though next year will be our last year under this grant, we should not forget that coalitions just starting out still need this seed money to begin their community projects in regard to substance abuse.

At the CADCA Leadership Forum, we heard Dr. Drew Pinsky (Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew) speak about the myths of marijuana and stories of marijuana addictions. He talked passionately about the biggest marajuana myths...that it is not addictive, and that it is not a gate-way drug. Dr. Drew gave us first hand stories of young kids ruining their lives because of their belief in these lies. As a coalition, we will continue to educate the public about the truth surrounding these myths, and continue to work with those in this community who share similar missions. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our future generations.

We would like to thank all of you involved in making this community a safer and more responsible place to live. To all of the wonderful parents who stay involved, thank you! We appreciate the efforts of all members of the Safe Coalition, with special thanks to Santa Fe I.S.D., Hitchcock I.S.D., the city of Santa Fe, and the Mark Kilroy Foundation. Your support in our continuation of this effort will provide a better future for our wonderful youth.

 

As many of you know, the president has recommended severe budget cuts for most drug prevention and treatment programs in 2009. The Drug Free Communities Program is at the top of those cuts. We should do everything in our power as a coalition, to take charge and keep our own community clean, safe, and drug-free...at a grassroots level. Support local events, volunteer, make a difference! Contact markilroy@verizon.net if you would like to help by joining our coalition.

(above: Theresa Etzel and Gail Bixler-Thomas march on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, February 13, 2008)

It's that time again, so please mark your calendars and come join the fun!

Advance tickets only, so purchase your tickets now!

Mark Kilroy Foundation 13th Annual

Dinner-Dance Fund Raiser
Benefit for S.A.F.E. Youth Activities
Saturday, April 5, 2008

6:30 pm - 11:00 pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)

Our Lady of Lourdes Madonna Hall

10114 Highway 6 - Hitchcock

Music, Prizes, Auction & Much More

Ticket prices:

Corporate Table for 10 - $ 250

Reserved Table for 8 - $ 120

Couple - $30Single - $20

Sponsorships(includes table for 10)

Platinum $5,000

Gold $2,500

Silver $1,000

Bronze $ 500

ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY

Tickets available from:

S.A.F.E. Center 925-7771

Jim & Helen Kilroy 925-3819

Santa Fe City Hall 925-6412

Guaranty Bank, SF 925-2557

Bill Reitmeyer Insurance 925-2511

Texas First Bank, Santa Fe 925-2582

Texas First Bank, Hitchcock 986-5541

The Morris Brothers

The Morris Brothers performed this week in Santa Fe I.S.D. These nerdy guys have provided our school district with lots of fun-filled, interactive entertainment over the last few days...and the kids loved them! Somehow buried in the fun, they snuck in great tips on how to deal with bullies, make good decisions, and act responsibly.

Part of our Safe Coalition staff just ran into them (literally) at Sherry's Busy Bee Cafe, right here in Santa Fe, Texas. They wanted directions to the ski lofts in Santa Fe...and where are the mountains? they asked. I think they were confused. Can you tell by looking?

Thanks to Phyliss Coleman, Assistant Superintendent, Donna Loftin, counselor at Kubacak Elementary (she found these guys) and also to the Safe Communities Coalition, who sponsored performances for the district.

For more information, go to themorrisbrothers.com.

5TH ANNUAL SANTA'S KINGDOM PARADE & FESTIVAL

Santa Fe, Texas

December 14th, 15th, 16th

For more details, come by Santa Fe Chamber Office or go on their web-site
www. santafetexaschamber.com or contact Kevin Salter, Director of the Event (409) 682-3513 kevin.salter@yahoo.com

Santa’s Kingdom 5th Annual Toy and Food Drive
GOAL THIS YEAR: 3000 lbs. of food and 3000 toys Please bring your donations of non-perishable food and unwrapped toys to the following Santa Fe locations: Texas First Bank ~ Guaranty Federal ~ Amegy Bank ~ Big Chief Foods ~ Amoco FCU ~ Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce ~ Prosperity Bank in Hitchcock

December 14th – 7:00 p.m. (starting at Runge Park and ending at Santa Fe Junior High) **Grand Marshall – Bryan Lamb**

Santa’s Workshop will be open on December 15th and 16th at 9:00 a.m.
Santa will arrive by helicopter at 9:00 a.m.
Pictures with Santa - $3.00 per person
Bar-B-Que starts at 11:00 a.m. (Plates - $7.00 and Sandwiches - $4.00)
Dance Recital with Dana’s Dance Studio
Bar-B-Que Cook-off, Jalapeno Eating Contest, Hot Dog Eating Contest, Cookie Baking Contest
Arts and Crafts Show, Beauty Pageant, Outdoor Decorating Contest
Kid’s Games, Crafts, Moonwalk, and Snow
Live Entertainment with Tanya Nolan & Art Sessionz!!!

HAPPY

H.I.S. Ministries of West Galveston County will be handing out over 300 Thanksgiving turkey dinners this Holiday season and just as many Christmas dinners in December for families who cannot afford it on their own.

Sign up for the Thanksgiving dinners is ongoing and lasts until this Saturday, November 10th.

Sign up for Christmas dinners begins November 24th. H.I.S. will also be giving toys away on December 18th at Santa Fe Methodist Church. Last year, they gave away over 200 toys to needy families.

If you have any questions or want to donate canned food items or toys, please call 409-925-4697. It's a very worthwhile cause. Thank you, H.I.S. Ministries!

Mark Kilroy Foundation
13th Annual Dinner-Dance Fund Raiser
Benefit for S.A.F.E. Youth Activities
Saturday, April 5, 2008

6:30 pm - 11:00 pm (Doors open at 6:00 pm)
Our Lady of Lourdes Madonna Hall
10114 Highway 6 - Hitchcock

Music, Prizes, Auction & Much More
Ticket prices
Corporate Table for 10 - $ 250
Reserved Table for 8 - $ 120
Couple - $30
Single - $20
Sponsorships
(includes table for 10)
Platinum $5,000
Gold $2,500
Silver $1,000
Bronze $ 500
ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY
Tickets available from:
S.A.F.E. Center 925-7771
Jim & Helen Kilroy 925-3819
Santa Fe City Hall 925-6412
Guaranty Bank, SF 925-2557
Bill Reitmeyer Insurance 925-2511
Texas First Bank, Santa Fe 925-2582
Texas First Bank, Hitchcock 986-5541

Teen Parenting Program

The Safe Communities Coalition is looking forward to helping out with the Teen Parenting Program again this year. Last year we had a very enlightening time with wonderful guest speakers and workshops throughout the year. We met for an hour each time, offering important and critical information to the teen girls who will be delivering their babies within the school year. We had pediatric nurses, WIC reps, nutrition specialists, films on baby topics, relaxation workshops, and a hospital tour with Community Outreach coordinator Sylvia Fuentes, who works at the brand new Women's Center at Mainland Medical Center.

Sylvia deserves much credit for going above and beyond to help our teen parents connect with the right people in order to make their pregnancies safe and comfortable. This year, Martha Trevino, family nurse practitioner, will also be helping the cause.

Much credit also goes to Tanya Lanmon, SFHS teacher, and Brandy Babcock, SFHS 9th grade Counselor. Thank you all for helping our teen parents!

One last Summer Program Picture with Roy Weiland and Dawn, courtesy of Dana Huoni

The Safe Communities Coalition wishes you a happy new school year! Hats off to all of you who are working with children and making a positive difference in their lives.

We recently received news that we will be awarded a continuation grant from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services), which will enable us to continue working with the coalition goals and objectives. Last year, the coalition provided services for teen parents, the after school program, anger management workshops, life skills presentations, summer camp, and more. This grant will begin on October 1, 2007 and ends September 30, 2008. The following people are a part of this wonderful collaboration and we would like to thank all of them for their community support in helping make this life a healthier one for adults, youth and children of Santa Fe and Hitchcock Independent School Districts. This list is from the past year. If we have forgotten anyone, or if you have joined since and are not listed, remind us by sending an email...please!

Jane Ankney, Hitchcock I.S.D. Student Support Services; Gail Bixler LaFavers, SAMHSA Coalition Project Coordinator/Mark Kilroy Foundation; Amy Burlingame-An, STAR Program Director-Family Service Center; Lisa Burnam, Our Lady of Lourdes Principal; Phyliss Coleman, SFISD Assistant Superintendant; Barry Cook, Santa Fe Chief of Police; Theresa Etzel, SAMHSA Coalition Project Coord. Assistant; John Gerami, SFISD Chief of Police; Teri Goodman, District Director, Tx. State Rep. District 24; Dana Huoni, Treasurer SF Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse; Joe Dickson, Santa Fe City Manager; Helen Kilroy, Vice President Mark Kilroy Foundation; Jim Kilroy, President, Mark Kilroy Foundation; Andrea LaSoya, SAMHSA Coalition Outreach Coordinator; Carol Owens, Galveston Medical; Tamara Peoples, Galveston County Child Welfare Board; Kim Rich, CTE Coordinator Santa Fe I.S.D.; Beth Scully, SADD Students Against Drunk Driving; Christine Sykes, MKF Boardmember; Lynn Watson; Vicki Westover, President H.I.S. Ministry; Margaret Williams, SFISD Homebound/Mark Kilroy Foundation Secretary; Ruth Winter, SFISD After School Director.

Chamber of Commerce and Safe Coalition member, Dana Huoni, volunteered his time to print out pictures for our sock hop while Roy Weiland and Dawn let kids pose on their motorcycles outside...thanks you guys! The kids will always remember this day.

a few winners of the art car contest

and we got to feed and hold a real alligator! yikes...

Charlotte's Camp, feeding horses

We're having an animal party today. None of the kids wanted to leave (including the goat)...

Well, it's July, and the S.A.F.E. Summer Program was once again a great success. We had over 200 1-5th graders participating in nature games, art sessions, bug hunts, kite-flying contests, water baseball, juggling presentations, roller skating, plays, face-painting, rainforest education, swimming lessons, and scavenger hunts, just to name a few of the events included in our program for this age group. We had weekly fieldtrips, many guest speakers, and good food (some of which was donated by Santa Fe Independent School District cafeterias).

As they have in the past, the Mark Kilroy Foundation provided free golf and tennis lessons for 6-12th graders. Swimming lessons were also added this summer for all ages, through College of the Mainland. There is much interest in expanding these activities to include archery, and more fresh and salt-water fishing lessons in the future.

S.A.F.E. Summer Program teens (more than 350 of them) participated in golf, tennis, swimming lessons, boat rides, putt putt golf, theater, CiCi's Pizza, and Schlitterbahn Water Park. We have amazing young people here, many of whom have no idea how amazing they are.

A big thanks to everyone that volunteered all of their time and energy to help make our S.A.F.E. Summer Program educational, safe, and entertaining for all!

Without the people of this community, this program would not be possible. You all deserve a great big THANK YOU for making it such a great program.

A special thanks goes out to the Santa Fe Independent School District, Mark Kilroy Foundation, and the City of Santa Fe, all of whom are part of our Safe Coalition.

I will post a few photos of our summer program in the next day or two. Be watching for them!

Click on the image below to view details of our 2007 Summer Program! This is not an enrollment form. If your child has not received an enrollment form, you will find them at all Santa Fe schools or at the Mark Kilroy Foundation office, 12026 16th Street, Santa Fe, Texas. Thanks!

S.A.F.E. SUMMER PROGRAM 2007

One of the programs our Safe Coalition supports is the S.A.F.E. Summer program, and it's almost here! First session will begin on May 28, Memorial Day, at Runge Park in Santa Fe. We will have four fun weeks packed with fieldtrips, guest speakers, games, art, and all sorts of excitement. Since we are basically a free program, we are limiting each week to 60 students, grades 1-5 (must have completed 1st grade). Your child may attend only one of the weeks in order to get more children involved.

Youth 6th-12th grades will have the opportunity to go on fieldtrips every friday night in June. They will also have free golf and tennis lessons with the pros.

It is a first come, first serve program, so fill out your applications immediately and return them (with $5.00 committment fee attached) to the Mark Kilroy Foundation drop box as per instructions. I'll refrain from going in detail here...just watch for the applications at your child's (SFISD) school. They should be bringing them home by the 3rd week in May!

We would like to add a big thank you to our sponsors and members of the Safe Communities Coalition, The Mark Kilroy Foundation, the City of Santa Fe, and our Santa Fe Independent School District.

H.I.S. Ministries, one of our Safe Communities Coalition members, deserves much recognition. Every year they serve thousands and thousands of needy families in Galveston County, working through holidays and providing for those who really need them.

H.I.S. Ministries (West Galveston County Interfaith Caring Ministries) has been instrumental in keeping our S.A.F.E. Program alive. They do so many great things for this community. Thank you, Nita, Vicki, Jack, volunteers, and everyone at H.I.S. Ministries. You are wonderful people.

To contact H.I.S. and to leave them a donation, call 409-925-4697. They can always use items for their clients such as deodorant, bar soap, diapers for all ages, canned food, peanut butter, and toiletries.

Go ahead...it feels GOOD to give.

Andrea LaSoya and Gail Bixler-Thomas
Safe Communities Coalition

Andrea and I had the opportunity to join other coalitions from across the country in Washington, D.C. this past week. The rally on Capitol Hill we attended (on a freezing cold snowy day) was to ask congress to keep prevention on the agenda as a top priority so that we can continue to work in the fields of drug and violence prevention in our community. We had the chance to talk with Major General Arthur Dean, Chairman and CEO of CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) and many wonderful people that have common missions. It was a very positive and worthwhile experience...even though our toes almost snapped off that day!

We have a great thing going in this community called the Safe Communities Coalition. It is comprised of many wonderful people in the Santa Fe and Hitchcock areas. We are making a difference. Please join our coalition and help us to continue! To see the article of our National Leadership Forum in D.C., please visit CADCA.org.