ROBERT LEBZELTER/Star
Beacon
KIDS AND volunteers join in a "community circle" during
Right Track at the Conneaut Human Resources Center.
By MANDY WHITE
CONNEAUT - Area teens have found a prime after school hangout spot. Free
food, games, tables to do homework on, beach balls to toss back and forth,
and did we mention free food?
It's all at the Conneaut Human Resource Center. And it's all for a good
cause. Right Track, an after school program of fun 'n homework for kids
in grades 1-8, also gets high-school teens in on the action as both volunteers
and playmates.
"Right Track is a prevention program," explains Gail Castrilla,
licensed social worker at the CHRC. "Giving kids extra attention now,
as the theory goes, prevents a lot of problems later."
"And my gut tells me that it's really working," she adds.
Since its inception in the '94-'95 school year, Right Track has been supervised
by staff from the resource center. However the program's lifeblood is its
volunteers. And Castrilla claims that she has some of the best around.
Lisa Bucci, a Conneaut High School senior, has been spending her afternoons
at Right Track for four years. Bucci, who admittedly has a busy schedule,
says she always manages to make time for the kids.
"I really like the kids. And I really like being able to be a kid again,
too."
The way Right Track is set up certainly encourages the inner child to escape.
A typical 1 1/2 hour at Right Track? Volunteers and kids play games in the
game room, then mosey over to an empty room that lends itself to games of
kickball and catch. After enough exercise to work up an appetite, it's snack
time - a popular favorite with both kids and volunteers. Don't forget `community
circle,' where the kids get a chance to express themselves by answering
the question of the day. And then it's off to do homework, or play a few
more games.
Sarah Altman, also a CHS student, found out about Right Track from her mother,
who is an assistant director at CHRC. Altman hopes to have a career working
with children, so she says being a volunteer in this sort of environment
is a great experience. She points out that Right Track satisfies a vital
need in Conneaut: A place to hang around.
"It gives them a place where they can go to have fun. When I was their
age, no one had this for us."
Volunteers also receive the same benefit, Altman concedes. "Most volunteers
come here and they stay. The only time it isn't fun is if the kids don't
listen to you, and usually you just have to explain that to them."
CHS student Joe Erikson has been showing up Tuesdays and Thursdays at Right
Track for the past three months. Again, it isn't so much altruism as good
times that motivate him.
"I like the kids and playing with them. It's just fun."
Castrilla hopes that for all of Right Track's teen volunteers like Erikson,
Altman and Bucci
who've put such hard work (fun?) into the program, there will be a reward.
The JC Penney Golden Rule Award, that is. Castrilla has submitted the teen
volunteers as examples of outstanding volunteers. The results aren't in
yet, but no matter what the outcome, don't worry: it seems teens will still
be glad to be at the CHRC.
As long as the food holds out anyway.
Teens, would you like to volunteer for Right Track? If you are available
between 3:30 and 5 p.m. weekdays give Castrilla a call at the Conneaut Human
Resource Center.
BILL WEST / Star
BeaconALLISON HUTCHINSON, sophomore at Ashtabula Harbor, explains some of the finer points on English grammar to April Rodriguez, a 15-year-old eigth-grader at Columbus Junior High School. The tutor and student spend some of their free time studying at the Ashtabula Metropolitan Housing Authority Community Resource Center during kids' activity time.
By MANDY WHITE
ASHTABULA - Warming to a subject, Harbor High School sophomore Allison Hutchison
exclaims, "You see, you must get to the root of the problem to really
solve it."
No, Hutchison isn't talking about world conditions, or the sad state of
the federal budget. The subject at hand is homework.
Hutchison is volunteering as a tutor for the AMHA Resource Center's homework
clinic at Golfview Towers.
Hutchison and other Harbor and Ashtabula High students tutor kids from elementary
school up to their own grade levels in math, English, computers, spelling
and just about anything else you might want to learn. Tutors are chosen
depending on their academic record, reference and versatility.
Anyone doubting the value of this service has obviously never priced a private
tutor, which can be not only expensive but difficult to find. But Hutchison
says that having a tutor from the homework clinic is not just valuable because
of the versatility of the tutors. It also allows students to ask questions.
"A lot of students are afraid to ask questions in class because they
are intimidated by the other students or the teacher. I know I feel like
that sometimes. Other students will even try to get you to ask questions
for them."
Being unable to fully grasp a point can spell disaster since often one point
builds on the previous one. Hutchison describes it as "a struggle every
day for students who can only guess at what they're doing."
Which makes it all the more satisfactory for the tutors when they're able
to help a student see the light.
"When I struggle with something, I feel really satisfied when I finally
understand," Hutchison says. "So my whole goal is for them to
comprehend the whole picture."
Volunteers use games, flash cards, worksheets, computers and a draw/erase
board to get the picture across. If students want to bring in their own
learning materials, that's fine too. Some students have even brought in
their science experiments. Students have either about an hour bloc of time
or maybe two if it's a tough problem. And for the same subject, more than
one student can work with a tutor at the same time since some students do
work better in small groups. Hutchison has found that this method can bring
a lot of success.
"I had the chance to tutor two girls who were friends who were having
trouble with some of the basics. They really just needed to get the hang
of it and to have some clues to go on. Soon they had really brought (their
grades) up."
Parents really appreciate this arrangement too, Hutchison says.
"I think they realize that students listen to us because, well, we're
not their parents. It doesn't seem like we're telling them anything as much
as we're helping them."
Are you interested in being a tutor or tutored at the 'homework clinic?'
If so, contact Margee Hood at 992-6434.
By LAURA DOWLER
This is the month where Hollywood rolls out the red carpet.
The Academy Award, also known as the Oscar, is a coveted statuette among
Hollywood's elite. Let's look at some notable winners of the past in preparation
for Monday's ceremony.
"Silence of the Lambs" - 1992's Best Picture also won awards for
best actor (Anthony Hopkins), best actress (Jodie Foster), best director
(Jonathan Demme) and best screenplay.
Foster plays FBI trainee Clarice Starling who must prove herself by catching
a serial killer nicknamed Buffalo Bill. Her only link to the killer is an
imprisoned psychiatrist named Hannibal "the Cannibal" Lecter,
played by Anthony Hopkins.
Hannibal uses his cunning mind games to help her find the killer. Every
method that can possibly be used to scare the audience is used. Fear of
the dark, fear of small places and fear of the crazy psycho-serial killer
are all used to manipulate the audience. This isn't a film to watch while
home alone.
"The Graduate" - "Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce
me?" These are the words of college graduate Benjamin Braddock, played
by Dustin Hoffman. He enters into a relationship with his much older and
married next door neighbor, Mrs. Robinson. His confused emotions don't get
any better when he realizes he is falling in love with her daughter. Ben
must work through his conflicting emotions and realize what he wants. It
is a movie about life and about growing up. In a way it epitomizes the generation
it represents. The film was Dustin Hoffman"s first major work and it
propelled him to stardom. The director, Mike Nichols, won an Oscar in 1967
for his work on the film."
"One Flew over the Cuckoo"s Nest" - Jack Nicholson plays
prisoner R.P. McMurphy, who thinks that by going to a mental hospital, he'll
have it easier. He learns that prison is a breeze compared to hospitalization.
He sees people who are hidden behind calming medications and who don't get
enough attention. When McMurphy tries to help the patients break out of
their shell by rebelling against the authority, he is met with opposition.
His biggest opposition is Nurse Rachel, played by Louise Fletcher. She feels
that the patients don"t need the leadership, they just need more little
pills. Finally it comes down to McMurphy vs. Fletcher. This is a well told
tale of rebelling against authority and the consequences of it. It is a
well made film about rebelling against authority and the consequences.
It won oscars in 1972 for best picture, best actor (Nicholson) best actress,
(Fletcher) , direction (Milos Forman) and writing based on previously produced
material.
"Gandhi" - Impress your history teacher by watching this epic
film about Mahatma Gandhi, the famous Indian civil rights leader, played
by Ben Kingsley. Using civil disobedience and hunger strikes, Gandhi stood
up to the British who had taken control of India. He felt that he and his
fellow citizens were being treated as lower class citizens in their own
country.
The film spans his life from the rise to one of the greatest civil rights
leaders of all time to his tragic assassination. The epic film is long,
but worth watching. It has the most extras ever cast in a movie. There are
more than 300,000 of them. It won eight academy awards in 1983.
Among them were best actor (Kingsley) best picture, best director (Richard
Attenbourough) and best original screenplay.
Dowler will watch the Oscars with anyone who asks, but that person must
supply popcorn.
By MAGGIE DEVORE
What's really loud, chugs Faygo, has green hair and makes
boxes of canned food?
SHAM R.O.C.K. - That's what. Generous concert goers put together a nice
package for the Council of Hope food pantry from the March 7 concert.
R.O.C.K.'s welcome hand went out to guest band "Sift" of Youngstown.
This five-piece group took us for an arresting ride with powerful, in-your-face
music.
Jason Smith's vocals generated energy and charged the fans up with fast,
fun raging tunes. Plan to see more of these performers as a "cultural
exchange" between Y'town and our North Coast groups starts to happen.
"Pariah's" obvious chemistry shines through in this band's tight
technical sound of lightning fast riffs and pile driving sticks. These guys
love to play their hybrid rock/heavy metal stuff. The fans love it too,
if pit swarms unleashed screams are any proof. John Ketchum just can't stay
out of the impact zone. Original music and years of background experience
have promoted these guys to Cove headlining and a bright future.
Way tall Mike sent a poetic "Shiver" through the crowd that was
punctuated with a guitar played by a big boned `babe' in hot pink satin
and black lace. Jason Urso was carted in through the excited cheers in an
orange ATV. (Fail the maneuverability, Ted?) Leaping out of the way, fans
were soon leaping with joy to unique unfriendly to radio jams. Savvy stuff.
"Vindictive's" split set blasted the concert open, then slammed
it shut at the end of this super kicking show. The outrageous tune machine
never seems to lose energy as they churn out one solid piece after another.
Trippy, showy and always a sure crowd pleaser - that's what these musicians
do best.
Local young talent putting on a show for young local people twice a month.
What could be better? We've proved for almost three years that we can have
fun, express ourselves and behave, plus give back to the community through
donations while doing it. R.O.C.K.'s third birthday is next month - come
for cake and a good party time on both April 4 and 25. Thanks, Sons of Italy,
for believing in us! Our faithful staff Phil, Tim, Scott, Dee and Margie
always help make these concerts successful.
Next concert is SOCK R.O.C.K. on March 28, at the SOI. Bring kids' socks
for the Catholic Service League clothing project. Let's sock it to 'em!
Want a $500 Alvarez guitar (signed and donated by Pariah) for $3? Buy a
raffle ticket - it could happen. Drawing will be held April 25, at Shingding
in Spring III.
Keep R.O.C.K.'n Remember, no drugs or alcohol permitted at concerts. Chug
a Faygo with us March 28.
Maggie challenges anyone to chug that faygo, then not burp afterward.
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