Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Mike Fowlin returns to Watertown to put on his show that touches on bullying, drinking, sexual orientation and more.
Watertown will welcome back Dr. Mike Fowlin on April 22 when he will perform two of his one-man shows that tackle tough issues facing teens. He will be at Watertown Middle School to perform "You Don't Know Me 'Til You Know Me," in which he plays a variety of characters facing the types of problems that middle and high school school students encounter, including peer pressure, drinking, sexual orientation and bullying. Watertown High School junior Kelly Horan saw Fowlin a couple years ago and said he puts on quite a show. "It is really funny and also really touching," Horan said at the recent Watertown Youth Coalition's annual meeting. "A lot of students were laughing and students were crying - the same ones that were laughing earlier." …
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
The Watertown Youth Coalition released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
Drinking by teens in Watertown is down, but the amount of heroin use and the incidents of attempted suicides have risen, said members of the Watertown Youth Coalition at their annual meeting. Each year the Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) gauges the amount of risky behavior entered into by teens in town, from drinking and drug use to depression and poor body image. The results of the 2012 Youth Risk Behavior Study, which surveyed as many middle and high school students as possible, was released last week at the Watertown Free Public Library. Some progress has been made, said Stephanie Sunderland-Ramsey, program coordinator with WYC “One of the goals of the Watertown Youth Coalition is to lower the rate of underage drinking in the town of …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sara Berkowitz shares the experiences of students from the week long event at WHS.
- SCHOOLS
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Thursday, March 21
“Welcome to SPEAK Week!” exclaimed Watertown Youth Coalition Peer Leaders on Monday morning, March 11th. For the second year in a row, the Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC) Peer Leaders have teamed up with WHS Armenian Club, International Club and Gay-Straight Alliance to allow the school community to Share Personal Experiences and Knowledge (SPEAK). Peer Leader Zac highlighted the importance of SPEAK week by saying that “it shows how diverse our school is in a really great way.” International club members Amira, Farah and Amir said they like SPEAK week because “it is good for the school to learn about other cultures and languages.” Their advisor and teacher Nyssa Patten elaborated with, “SPEAK week provides an opportunity for many groups …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Students in the Peer Leadership Club took a more positive approach to get their point across to their classmates.
After years of saying "don't," "stop," and "no," the Peer Leadership Club at Watertown High School took a more positive approach to encourage WHS students to avoid alcohol and drugs. In past years, the anti-drinking and drugs message was spread using statistics abouts about how many Watertown students used alcohol and illicit drugs. Last week, member of the club group - which works with the Watertown Youth Coalition - unveiled their "I am ..." campaign by putting posters up around school and letting students create one of their own. "We are not really focusing on 'don't do this.' It is more about the fact that there are alternative activities (to drinking and drugs)," said WHS junior Elisa Portz, a peer leader. "We created what we …
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Youth Risk Survey found that the number of middle and high school students who attempted suicide is on the rise.
The number of students in Watertown who considered and even attempted suicide alarmed School Committee members. A survey of students at Watertown High School found that one-in-10 tried to commit suicide and one-in-20 Watertown Middle School students had a suicide attempt, members of the Watertown Youth Coalition told the School Committee Monday night. School Committee members were surprised by the numbers. "I was taken aback by how many students either planned or attempted suicide," said School Committee member David Leon. "The numbers of students who attempted suicide is troubling," added School Committee Vice Chairman John Portz. The numbers were collected by the Watertown Youth Coalition in its Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which also …
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Watertown officials urge parents to keep an eye on their teens over the holidays to make sure they do not drink alcohol.
- OPINION
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Wednesday, December 12, 2012
With the holiday season upon us once again, as we prepare for joyful celebrations with family and friends, the Watertown Youth Coalition (WYC), Wayside Multi-Center, and the Watertown Police and Public Schools, would like to remind all adults in the community to help prevent teens from drinking alcohol. Teen alcohol use can lead to unsafe behaviors that put their health and safety at-risk. Underage drinking affects everyone in the community and if we work together we can continue to ensure the healthy and safe development of our youth. After all, every year a teen does not use alcohol, the odds of lifelong dependence decreases by 15 percent. In April 2012, the Watertown Youth Coalition administered the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to …
Friday, October 26, 2012
Voters will be asked to vote on Question 3, to decide whether to eliminate criminal and civil penalties related to marijuana for people with certain medical conditions.
- OPINION
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Friday, October 26, 2012
To Editor: On November 6th, voters will be asked to vote on Question 3. A YES VOTE would enact the proposed law eliminating state criminal and civil penalties related to the medical use of marijuana, allowing patients meeting certain conditions to obtain marijuana produced and distributed by new state-regulated centers or, in specific hardship cases, to grow marijuana for their own use. [Editor's Note: Information from the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Ballot Question Description] As a community Coalition that focuses on promoting healthy youth decision-making, we encourage voters to be informed of both sides of this important issue in order to make an informed decision on election day. Below we have included some of the MANY links to…
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Bring your expired and unwanted prescription medicine to the Watertown Police Station to safely dispose of them and keep them out of the hands of teens.
- POLICE & FIRE
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Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The following information was provided by the Watertown Youth Coalition: On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. the Watertown Police Department (WPD) is participating in a large scale national drug take-back event organized by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The WPD will have extra safe and secure drop off containers available for people to safely drop off unwanted, unused and expired prescription drugs. Acceptable items for drop off include: The drop-off location: Watertown Police Department, Main Lobby, 552 Main St., Watertown, MA 02472 The goal is to combat the abuse of prescription drugs and keep medications out of the wrong hands, particularly teens. The rates of teens misusing or abusing prescription drugs have …
42.37216
-71.19986
Watertown Police Department
552 Main St, Watertown, MA
/articles/watertown-police-holding-prescription-drug-take-back-event-saturday
1422338
/locations/7902892
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Group working on issues facing teens and others in Watertown handed out their Community Spirit Awards this week.
Three members of the Police Department, three educators and the editor of your very own Watertown Patch were among those honored by the Watertown Youth Coalition for their commitment to helping youth and families of Watertown. A dozen Community Spirit Awards were handed out during a ceremony held Tuesday at the gazebo in Arsenal Park. Honorees also received a proclamation from State Rep. Jonathan Hecht. Among the award winners: Watertown Patch Local Editor Charlie Breitrose, who was nominated by WYC Community Organizer Melanie St. Pierre. She noted his responsiveness to getting word out about WYC's events during the year as well as Patch's coverage of Watertown's diverse community. When WYC sought nominations, they asked for people who fit…
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Watertown Youth Coalition seeks community members who are committed to the health and well-being of Watertown's youth and families.
The Watertown Youth Coalition seeks nominations for the 2012 Community Spirit Award, which honors people committed to the health and well-being of the town's youth and families. Nominations are due Friday, June 8. For questions or to nominate someone please call Melanie at 617-926-3600 x307 or email melanie_stpierre@waysideyouth.orgPeople can be nominated for having done any of the following: The Certificate of Award will be given at the Watertown Youth Coalition's end of year celebration on Tuesday, June 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Arsenal Park under the gazebo.
42.363263
-71.16119
Arsenal Park
485 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA
/articles/nominations-wanted-for-the-community-spirit-award
1428091
/locations/7147532
