A Word From The Publisher

A little over a week ago, a fourteen year old boy in Suffolk County died apparently due a combination of alcohol poisoning and hypothermia. The boy and a friend had gone to a wooded area to "celebrate" the coming of the new year with a liter of vodka, allegedly supplied to them by adults. In this tragic case, the two boys consumed the vodka and then passed out in the cold. Only one of them awoke and made it home to safety.

Although this is a Suffolk County story, it should be of concern to all parents of teens. Underage drinking is a problem not only in Garden City, but everywhere. Tragedies like this one know no county boundaries or social boundaries. Garden City is full of dark, secluded places where teens who want to drink can do so without detection. There are golf courses and parks (not to mention basements of parents who are willing to look the other way). This was true decades ago and is still true today. While the Garden City Police do a fine job, they simply cannot be everywhere.

As parents we cannot simply ground our children until they're thirty to keep them safe (much as we might like to). Instead, our mission is to teach our children to keep themselves safe, and teach them how to act responsibly in a world full of temptations and dangers.

The Garden City Community Council on Substance Abuse will be holding a series of five workshops starting on January 13 which will focus on helping parents reduce risky behaviors. (See page 1A for complete details.)

We hope that parents who read the story of the Suffolk County boy and felt moved by it make a point to attend the meetings. Use the sadness you felt to motivate yourself to help your own children.

Meg Morgan Norris

Publisher