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TEENFEST 2002: A DAY-LONG EVENT OF "THINK. LAUGH. LIVE." Thank you to all who made TeenFest 2002 a huge success! Nearly 200 teens and 50 adults participated in the second annual "TeenFest," a celebration organized by the Franklin Grand Isle Youth Advisory Council (YAC) at the Collins-Perley Sports Center on April 13. The event brought together young people ages 12-18 in for a day of events ranging from all kinds of skills workshops to sports, entertainment, and a dance. Planning for the event began in October of 2001. This year's "survival" theme was embodied in the motto chosen for the event, "Think. Laugh. Live." The motto, from the Chris Farley Foundation, was used with the foundation's permission. Chris Farley was a young comedian and a cast member of Saturday Night LIVE who made a fatal choice and died of a drug overdose. His surviving family established a foundation in his name to prevent other young people from taking similar risks with tragic consequences. YAC gratefully acknowledges the contribution of time, talent, space, material goods, and funding from the following groups and organizations: Abuse and Rape Crisis, The Abbey Group, Vermont Department of Heath Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Programs (ADAP), AHS Youth Initiative/Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities, Americorps/Phoenix House Substance Abuse Prevention Corps, The Barlow Street Teen Center, Bellows Free Academy, Berkshire Elementary, Burton Snowboards, 99.9 the BUZZ, The County Courier, Collins-Perley Sports Center, Department of Employment & Training, Enosburg Falls Middle/High School, Franklin County Caring Communities Drug-Free Communities Support Program, the Franklin Grand Isle Community Partnership, Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board (WIB), Grand Avenue Enterprises, Green Mountain Roasters, Highgate Cares, the Lund Family Center, Missisquoi Valley Union's Vermont Leadership in Safety Program (VTLSP), Montgomery Elementary School and School Community Team/Lounge, Northwestern Medical Center, Our Voices Xposed (BFA chapter), People's Trust Company, Pepsi-Cola Bottling, Inc., Project Phoenix, Richford Jr./Sr. High School, Rotary Club International, The St. Albans Messenger, St. Albans Police Department and SAPD Explorers, St. Albans Skating Association, St. Albans Town Educational Center Student Council, St. Albans Recreation Department, Sheldon Elementary School, Swanton Teen Center, Vermont Department of Employment & Training, Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Social and Rehabilitative Services, Vermont Farm Youth Corps (VFYC), the Vermont Expos, Vermont National Guard, and the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps. Thanks also to the Chris Farley Foundation.We're very grateful to our presenters, who included: Chip from the Buzz; Kamikaze Comedy; Kimberly Quinn Smith; Yvonne Laseter of Snake Star; Steve Dessinger of VLC, Josh Ryan of VYCC, Sarah Frechette of PuppetKabob; BFA student Mike Crane; Chris Karambelas and Railtown Martial Arts; Stuart Paton of Burlington Taiko; Desireah Ladieu; Mary Brust, Lonnie Edwards, and youth members of the Global Village Project; John Murphy; TopHat Entertainment; Melissa Walton; Americorps/Phoenix House Substance Abuse Prevention Corps members Mark LeGrand and Katherine Factor; and John Whitney of VFYC. Special thanks are due our adult advisers, chaperons, and other volunteers: Joyce Ashton; Beth Burgess; Carolyn Whitney; Christine Sheldon of DET; Erin St. Onge; Margaret Wilson of Vermont Department of Health, Linda Laramee of BFA, Joanna Jerose of EFMHS; Marion Paul; Marilyn Savoy of WIB; Linda Werner of St. Albans Town Education Center; Americorps/Phoenix House Substance Abuse Prevention Corps Members Heather Bean (FCCCP), Alisha Dunn (FCCCP), Colleen Kelly (Barlow Street Teen Center), Cindy Cook (Swanton Teen Center), Kristy Ladue (Lund), and Amanda Wilson (FCCCP); Melissa Lewis of Franklin Central and Northwest Supervisory Unions; Jacob Bourdeau; Susan Lloyd of MVU; and Jamie McGurn of the FGI Tobacco Prevention Coalition. YAC members met over a period of six months to plan and organize TeenFest. Kudos to the youth members for their spirit, independent thinking, dedication, and hard work. Youth planners/workers include: Amberly Brown, Cody Kane, and Jamie King of BFA St. Albans; Jacqui Corbett and Amelia Fotheringham of Richford High School; Lindsay Snider, Cindy Frey, David McGinley, and Vicky Williams of Montgomery Elementary School, Nate Chates, Nicole Cook, and Dillon Walton, of MVU; Grady Stoddard of EFMHS; David Aliquo, Max Bennett, Matthew Burke, Bill Chilton, Owen Manahan, Chris Sheldon, and Kyle Sheldon of St. Albans Town Educational Center, and Forrest Kittell-Mitchell of Sheldon Elementary. YAC is a joint council of the Franklin Grand Isle Community Partnership and the Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board, operating under the leadership of the Franklin County Caring Communities Project. Caring Communities co-coordinators Beth Crane and Lucy Cunningham provide staff support. For more information about becoming a member of YAC, call 527-5049. |