STEPS Never Sleeps: Prepared for Launch of 2013-14 Year

Growing Great Kids is the fundamental essence of the mission of STEPS which is about growing healthy kids who are educated to be the best that they can be, in an environment of trust and respect for others, self-respect, responsibility as good citizens with regard for property and the well-being of the community. . 

STEPS is an acronym for Southington's Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success. The Town-wide aspect of the STEPS movement is critically important to the success of STEPS.  

STEPS relies heavily on a commitment of a coalition that includes students, parents, grandparents, the Board of Education, Southington Youth Services, Health, Police and Fire Departments, Faith Communities, commercial and professional enterprises, community service, fraternal and civic organizations, the military, media and every citizen who cares about those who will shape the future of society.

Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Leppard,
works with a town-wide coalition and
collaborating agencies to maintain
a positive and effective pace for STEPS.

A preview of the STEPS agenda for 2013-2014 year:

- Funding - STEPS is chiefly funded by a five-year federal grant from Drug-Free Communities Support Program Office of National Drug Control Policy through application with SAMHSA, (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration).  - STEPS will apply for the next 5-year grant cycle in February 2014. If approved in August 2014, STEPS will continue its work through 2019, with annual renewals. 

- New Board members will be announced this month. 

- This year, Asset Building Classrooms, (ABC’s), will continue with individual school and district-wide classroom activities directed by the designated STEPS Assets Champion for each school. 

- Third biennial round of surveys of 7th, 9th and 11th graders will be administered in March 2014 enabling STEPS and the B.O.E. to evaluate progress in reducing specific negative behavioral areas such as alcohol, marijuana and tobacco abuse. 

- Findings will be shared with the community to further engage the coalition.  (Four major tenets of SAMHSA are:  Behavioral Health is Essential to Health; Prevention Works; People Recover and Treatment is Effective.)  

Kelly Leppard and Evelyn Ciaburri
develop projects, ideas and keep
positive communications and action
going strong within the coalition.

- STEPS will continue to promote awareness of the Social Hosting state law, (which makes adults legally responsible for teen age drinking in their homes), Social Norming, Police Department's Medical Drop Box Workshop in September and continue building partnership with SPD in merchant education and compliance checks, (enforcement operations.)

- SPD will work with STEPS Drive-In Committee for Halloween Festival and other community projects. 

- Lt. Michael Baribault of the S.P.D. will join Town Council Chairman, John Dobbins and STEPS Youth Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Leppard, as presenters at the Connecticut Youth Safety Conference to be held on September 27, 2013 at Goodwin College.  

- This summer STEPS has stepped-up its efforts to partner with the media with the set up of a STEPS blog on Southington Patch, supplementing its website at www.southingtonsteps.org.  

- Fall efforts also include the use of popular family conversation cards, work on a town ordinance to effectively deal with substance abuse, Southington Safe Schools Tipline, awareness of Southington Serves and the Social Host campaign: Do not purchase alcohol for minors.

Vacation Bible School Message: "The Kingdom of God is Me"

"The Kingdom of God is Me".  That's what 4 to 10 year old Campers at the 2013 Vacation Bible School heard throughout their week of summer camp at the Church of Saint Dominic of Southington, CT.  That theme expressed with simplicity the joyful meaning of an exciting adventure:  God is Love. God's Kingdom is each and everyone of you.

"I thought I had stepped into the Land of Oz"

Invited to be a story teller to help start the fourth day of this year's VBS program, imagine my first steps into the entrance foyer of the church at 8:40 am last Thursday. I had the sense of virtually walking into the Land of Oz.

The place brimmed with the activity of 141 Vacation Bible School Campers from pre-K through fifth grade, eager to start their day of enchanted romping through an aptly themed “The Kingdom of God”.

With 91 junior volunteers, 6th to 11th grade, and 24 adult leaders moving briskly to their appointed posts, campers safely moved with amazing alacrity to their age-appropriate starting places.

Campers checking in before 9 am.

In a fun, joy and somewhat fantastic setting, the children rotated through designated play, pray, work and learning experiences in a lively upbeat tempo. Delicious snacks and social time offered kids a break that allowed them to kind of absorb the totality of the journey through the exciting sets and stages of the Kingdom of God, where momentary surrealism met divine reality.

Through the fairy land décor and the imagination, (wink-wink), of campers, the kids were witness and partners in the Social Justice component of service ... their collection of food for Southington Social Services. They knew that they were helping to feed the hungry by stocking the Southington Food Pantry during a slow time of summer.

“This is the 17th year of VBS at St. Dominic.”, said Religious Education Director, Theresa Kamradt. “Our theme was ‘The Kingdom of God is Me!’ We learned that God is King and that we, who serve God and one another, are in reality that Kingdom.”

St. Dominic Pastor, Fr. Ronald P. May was one of the morning storytellers who told the children a story each day about Queen Esther, King Josiah and King David.  I was at first somewhat non-plussed by the story I was to tell to kids aged 4 to 10: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. How could I, a person who is a lifetime senior to these young children, tell them this glorious story that is the crown jewel of our faith?  It would have to be simple, clear and include sound, tone and word images that were at once beautiful and appealing to the young creative imagination.  An Internet Search took me to Amazon's children stories of faith where I was able to order and instantly delivered to my Kindle a story of Easter for only $2.99.  Pushing my creative instincts I managed to tell the story of the Resurrection, omitting the Easter eggs, chocolate bunnies and marshmallow chicks; after all it's August not Easter. With a few exaggerated vocal sound effects representing the rain, wind and lightning after the crucifixion and the rolling back of the great stone of the tomb, I was able to avoid my concern of frightening the children who seemed, instead, to be attentively entranced.  Whew!

Religious Ed Director Terry Kamradt
welcomes Chadder and Iggy the Dragon.

Getting back to other Kingdom activities, our Camp mascot, Chadder the Chipmunk, learned the lesson that spending time with people is more fun than spending time with his electronics.  Scatter was joined by Iggy the Dragon and a special appearance by Boomer the Panda after an absence from camp of 2 years.

Kamradt said, “The kids had a great time but the junior helpers are the key to success.” The mostly teens youth are valued role models, forming relationships with campers, rising to the great responsibility they are given while developing leadership training. "It’s a total win adventure for all, including those who attended the Sunday 10:00 am liturgy when the Campers offered a musical presentation of what they  had learned.

In writing the story of this spiritual junket I decided to do a bit of research about Vacation Bible Schools in America adding to what I have discovered about their being common in the northeast.

Turns out, the Barna Research Group, a noted private, non-partisan, for-profit research organization in Ventura, CA., indicates that two-thirds, (68%), of churches in America offered VBS last summer, a level that has been quite stable in recent decades with a notable high of 81% participation of churches in 1997. The Barna Group has been conducting and analyzing primary research for nearly 30 years to understand cultural trends related to values, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors.

Not the least of many reasons for the popularity and parental interest in Vacation Bible Schools in America is the all-consuming, fun learning nature of the experience for children. Meanwhile, the trend in participation points, hopefully, to a conclusion that there is an enduring commitment in the United States to the faith and spiritual development of children that correlates to the aspired purpose of their becoming spiritually developed adults, ready to take a meaningful place in their parishes and congregations in service to God and one another.

With roots going back to the antebellum period of the 1870s, summer bible schools continue to do their part in sustaining a valued culture for Americans of diverse faith traditions.

Frankly, I feel privileged to have taken part, albeit a very small part, in this year's VBS at my church. Moreover, the research and writing of this story has been equally pleasurable.

More photos after the jump.

STEPS Youth Dedicate 2nd Annual Tree to Southington Community

Trevor Rogers and STEPSYouth Group
Dedicate Autumn Flowering Cherry Tree
at Mary Our Queen Church, June 17, 2013 

Stepping up to community service once again was The STEPS Youth Committee as they dedicated a tree planted on the Mary Our Queen Church grounds on Monday, June 17, 2013. 

The tree, an Autumn Flowering Cherry Tree, (Prunus Autumnalis), was donated by Winterberry Gardens of Southington, thanks to the efforts of STEPS Parent Committee and Advisory Board member, Heather Bartley. 

Attending dedication: State rEP David Zoni,
Youth Prevention Coordinator, Kelly Leppard
Trevor Rogers, Town Council Chair, John
Dobbins, Austin Sullivan and Councl member
Chris Palmieri

Winterberry  Gardens spokesperson, Ashley Vescera said, “We are pleased to assist the STEPS Youth Committee with this year’s tree. The gift is our way of saying thanks for their community service and allows us to be a part of such a wonderful project.”

The tree planting idea has its roots in the first planting of a STEPS tree at Recreation Park in June 2012 by the STEPS Youth Committee. Their purpose to contribute something lasting to the community from the STEPS Youth.  It now appears to have  become a tradition of planting a tree in the community  annually. 

This year's project was spearheaded by STEPS Youth Council and Advisory Board member, Trevor M. Rogers, a Southington High School student. Trevor turned to his church where a group of garden lovers are in the process of developing a Meditation Garden. One of  the garden group, Dr. Carol Grant, said: “We plan is to design the garden with flowers, various plantings, benches and a few chairs along with pavers and bricks for people to come and enjoy as a quiet place of beauty, reflection and introspection on the joys of life and the love of God.” Grant said the STEPS tree will have a special place.

STEPS Youth, Advisory Board Members
and Dignitaries Celebrating the Tree Planting,

Fr. A. Waine Kargul, pastor of MOQ, was impressed with the symbolism of the tree to the mission of the STEPS movement: Growing Great Kids. Kargul drew the connections between the youth and trees. Kargul said, "It's great to see young people who realize that, like them, the tree has roots;  the tree grows and matures, getting stronger, spreading its branches and ultimately seeding other trees.” Kargul also noted the symbolic affirmation of the STEPS mission as it calls on the community to coalesce in nurturing our youth, teaching them to build their future, build assets that promote their education, moral values, character and good citizenship, while directing them away from the dangers of risky behavior in a culture that presents many challenges.  

Celebration of Pride and Honor for 10 Military Bound High School Graduates

It was a first in Southington. Ten members of the SHS Class of 2013 going directly into the U.S. Military Service after graduation were recognized at a special luncheon in their honor at the Southington Municipal Center on Friday, June 14th. The Southington Schools had invited families of the graduates and a diverse guest list representing the community to join in a wonderful send off to those who will be soon serving our country.

In recognizing the ten, School Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr. acknowledged the genuine thanks to them for their commitment to America. The military-bound graduates and their chosen branches of service are Grant Ford, U.S.Navy; Elijah Grenier, U.S. Air Force; Grace Jiminez, U.S. Army National Guard; Austin King, U.S. Navy; Eddie Klein, U.S. Army National Guard; Shawn Laucks, U.S. Marines; Matthew Maranda, U.S Navy; Ryan Perez, ROTC Navy at University of Washington; Matthew Sirois, U.S. Army;and Heidi Woodbury, U.S. Army National Guard.

The emotionally charged occasion accented the growth in the past several years of a close partnership between veterans in our community, the American Legion Kiltonic Post 72, the American Legion Auxiliary, the Marine Corps League and our Southington schools.

The presence and contributions of the veterans to the education of our children has surely provided a new spotlight in our educational system for our men and women in the armed forces and a closer view and tangible sense of history to our students.

Keynote speaker, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Garry Brumback, now Town Manager of Southington, served in the U.S. Army before his second professional career of 15 years in municipal management before arriving in Southington. Visibly moved by the moment, Brumback expressed his personal pride and respect for the graduates and his thanks to the people of Southington who have demonstrably brought the level of gratitude for military service to a new level in our town. Brumback noted that these brave young men and women have effectively signed a blank check, payable to the United States of America, up to and including the supreme sacrifice. Past Commander of American Legion Post 72,Steve Pintarich announced in his remarks that as each of these ten graduates will receive an overhauled lap top as a gift upon completion of their basic training.

Personally, I am privileged to salute these young men and women and join the community in saying thank you to them and God Speed.

In recognizing the ten, School Superintendent, Dr. Joseph Erardi Jr. acknowledged the genuine thanks to them for their commitment to America. The military-bound graduates and their chosen service branches are

Grant Ford, U.S. Navy; Elijah Grenier, U.S. Air Force; Grace Jiminez, U.S. Army National Guard; Austin King, U.S. Navy; Eddie Klein,U.S. Army National Guard; Shawn Laucks, U.S. Marines; Matthew Maranda, U.S Navy; Ryan Perez, ROTC Navy at University of Washington; Matthew Sirois, U.S. Army;and Heidi Woodbury, U.S. Army National Guard.

American Legion presents special
award of recognition to Grace Jimenez

The presence and contributions of the veterans to the education of our children has surely provided a new spotlight in our educational system for our men and women in the armed forces and a closer view and tangible sense of history to our students.

Keynote speaker, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Garry Brumback, now Town Manager of Southington, served in the U.S. Army before his second professional career of 15 years in municipal management before arriving in Southington. Visibly moved by the moment, Brumback expressed his personal pride and respect for the graduates and his thanks to the people of Southington who have demonstrably brought the level of gratitude for military service to a new level in our town. Brumback noted that these brave young men and women have effectively signed a blank check, payable to the United States of America, up to and including the supreme sacrifice. Past Commander of American Legion Post 72, Steve Pintarich announced in his remarks that as each of these ten graduates will receive an overhauled lap top as a gift upon completion of their basic training.

Personally, I am privileged to salute these young men and women and join the community in saying thank you to them and God Speed.

"Journey to Anatevka" comes to Southington, CT

What was life like for Tevye and his family when they arrived in turn-of-the-century New York, America? Come and find out!

“Journey to Anatevka”

Picnic and Movie Matinee

Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 at

First Congregational Church , Main Street, Southington, CT.

Bring Soup, Salad, and/or Sandwiches to the  Picnic Potluck at 12:00PM followed by“Hester Street” Film at 1:30 with guided discussion by Rabbi Shelley Kovar Becker.

Hester Street is a 1975 film based on Abraham Cahan's 1896 novella Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto and was adapted and directed by Joan Micklin Silver. The film stars Carol Kane, Steven Keats and Paul Freedman. In 2011, Hester Street was added to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

Hester Street, New York City, c. 1900

Hester Street tells the story of Jewish immigrants who come to the Lower East side of New York City in 1896 from Europe and who live on Hester Street in Manhattan. When Yankl first comes to the U.S., he quickly assimilates into American culture and becomes Jake. He also begins to have an affair with Mamie, a dancer. His wife, Gitl, who arrives later with their son, Yossele, has difficulty assimilating. Tension arises in their marriage as Jake continually upbraids and abuses Gitl, despite her efforts to assimilate.

Norfolk at Hester Street, NYC c. 1898

The film is noteworthy for its detailed reconstruction of Jewish immigrant life in New York at the turn of the century—much of the dialogue is   delivered in Yiddish with English subtitles—and was part of the wave of films released in the late 1960s and through the 1970s which began explicitly to deal with the complexities of American Jewish identity. In addition, Carol Kane's lead character posed a still-provocative synthesis as she discovers her own self-assertion on behalf of her right to maintain a traditional identity in an aggressively modern setting.

Now or Later: Drug Task Force Challenges Parents and Students to Look to the Future

Based on a Press Release from the Southington Drug Task Force.
 
The program will be presented on Monday, June 10, 2013 at the Joaeph A. DePaolo Middle School on Pleasant Street in Southington, CT. by the Southington Drug Task Force.

The 3-Screen film will encourage and challenge parents and students to proactively change their future. The program is open to the pubic. Admission is Free.

Members of several area community groups will be present to speak one-on-one with parents starting at 6:30 p.m. with a special movie from 7:15 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The program, made possible by a grant from the Substance Abuse Action Council, offers compelling information and stories, some tragic, on the hazards to which our young people are regularly exposed in today's culture.

Guest speakers, one-on-one meetings with parents and the film will address the cultural hazards that can negatively influence the future, ways to avoid and overcome Abuse of Prescription Drugs, Alcohol Poisoning, Cyber Bullying, Overcoming Obstacles and Bullying.
The goal of the Now or Later program is three-fold, according to task force member and program advocate, Trish Kenefick.

Encourage communication between parents and children.  Get children ready for school in the fall.  To keep kids safe! 

Popular Stories will include:

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"In a culture that is always promising and often delivering new and better ways of doing things, there are some things that cannot change, and others that should not change," Kenefick said in a press release. "Many rules are really only about timing: 'Is this a good thing for now or is this something that will be better later'?"

Should negative influences be the task of government and private agencies alone.  Or is it not time to provide our kids and parents the strongest case we can make for deterrence of endangerment of their future?

Noah's Incredibly Special Moment of Joy

Noah’s Incredibly Special Moment of Joy

Originally posted in The Parish Pad of the Church of Saint Dominic, Southington, CT.

Editor's Foreword

From the moment I read this remarkable personal account of Jennifer Philips, I recognized it as a deeply moving story of faith, spirituality and love.  I also knew it had to be shared with others and Jennifer enthusiastically agreed. Today is is posted in "The Parish Pad" newsletter of Saint Dominic Church of Southington, CT.   Visit the church website at www.saintdominic.church.com 

Jennifer's story is followed by an "Afterword" by her mother, Susan Piqueira, who has been a gifted occasional contributor to the The Parish Pad during its years as a printed publication from 1997-2009. Susan is also one of the first to have a story on the electronic version of the newsletter.

There's a poignant connection between a recent researched and  history of "Immaculata", the Statue of Mary in St. Dominic Church,  written by Susan Piqueira.  At the conclusion of this story scroll back an issue or two of The Parish Pad to the story of "Immaculata" -- E. Richard Fortunato

--------------------------------------------

“I just felt like praying in front of the Statue of Mary”

By Jennifer Philips

Statue of Mary
St. Dominic Church

It was about three in the afternoon on April 3, 2013, the Wednesday after Easter. I took my five-month old son, Noah, to church that day. I just felt like praying in front of the statue of Mary. There have been so many miracles surrounding this statue.

With Noah in his car seat, we were right in the front pew. No one else was there and the lights were off but there was still plenty of sunlight filtering in,

Of course, within five minutes, Noah started fussing so I took him out of his car seat and walked around with him. Standing in front of the statue, I had Noah touch Mary’s gown and her feet. Then, he looked up at Mary.

Noah Alexander Philips

Nothing could make him take his eyes off of her face. I was just watching his expression. Now, the bigger than life-size statue is high up. In order to see her face, Noah had to arch his neck way back. I figured that would become uncomfortable for him at some point. But instead, his eyes and mouth turned into a huge smile. He then acted shy and buried his head in my neck. But, right after that, he arched his head back and looked up at her face again. I never looked once looked up at Mary. I just watched him. Same thing. Huge smile and then he would bury his face in my neck. This went on as Noah repeated it about seven times.

Then, I took him to look at other parts of the church. When we came to the altar, his eyes immediately went to the crucifix. I then showed him the plants and flowers but, by that time, he was getting hungry so he was really fussing. I brought him back to Mary, and he immediately stopped fussing, looked up at her face, and another smile spread over his little face. Incredible. It really gave me goose bumps because you would think that this statue would just be an "object" to Noah, not a person. I never looked at Mary while he was smiling, but I do wonder what caused him to smile every time. And huge smiles. The kind he gives to us when he is waking from a nap and sees our faces. Just really beautiful. I just have not been able to stop thinking about that afternoon.

Afterword 

By Susan Piqueira

It’s important for you to know from me, Noah’s grandmother, that he’s going through a stage where he'll only smile for his mother and father. For the rest of the world, he “observes" and ponders whether he'll allow them to come close to him or not. It's like pulling teeth for anyone other than his parents to get even a tiny half smile from him. So, there is no way he'd let his whole face light up from ear to ear by just looking at an inanimate object - and then doing it over and over again … seven times!! I t would have been unheard of for our little Noah at the time to do that. My husband Phil and I believe that Noah was gazing into the face of Mary, in person! As our daughter says, “He's only five months new from heaven so he would definitely know her!“ It’s significant that Jenny never looked up to see exactly what Noah was seeing. Instead she was focused on his face in amazement. Although Jenny was part of this miracle, Mary was appearing for just Noah and didn't enable Jenny to see what he was seeing. This could all be just coincidence and if I didn't know Noah, I might think so as well - that we are making too big of a deal of this. However, for this little baby to crane his neck at a very uncomfortable angle while showing total joy in his face and to have repeated it seven times over is, well, surreal. We feel strongly that Noah experienced the presence of Mary in person - and wanted to share his miracle with all of you!

Editor’s Note : To understand the significance of this story to the fascinating origins of the statue, please scroll down to the recent story in the Parish Pad by Susan Piqueira, entitled “Immaculata”. There’s greater irony and mystery in the fact that Susan wrote her original story years before Noah was born!