People are talking. The buzz about town hovers over the topics brought out during the discussions generated from the participants at the Risky Business program sponsored by the Garden City Community Council on Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention and the Garden City School District April 12.

We are most grateful for the assistance you provided in getting the word out to parents in Garden City, encouraging them to attend this most informative evening. Thank you to the over 400 parents who participated in the program. The evening's success is due in large part to the capable job our faculty and staff provided in facilitating the small group video viewing and discussions. YES Counseling Services of Massapequa, co-founders Jamie Bogenshutz and Mark Wenzel, made staff training possible.

The response from the over 287 questionnaires returned indicates that parents hunger for additional information concerning the issues our children face today. Parents, educators and the community at large can work together to better serve the needs of our children and to equip parents to more effectively parent their children. Each generation faces their own set of challenges with the youth and the culture of the day in which they are immersed. As parents, it all seems a lot scarier from this vantage point.

Plans are under way for the follow-up program, Risky Business II, which will be held in the fall. We welcome questions and comments regarding this program and/or the mission of the GCCCSAVP. We thank the school district and building administrators for embracing this worthwhile endeavor. Volunteers are always welcome to assist the Council in its ongoing activities.

Executive board, Garden City Community Council on Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention