Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 Source: Moultrie Observer, The (GA) Copyright: 2006 The Moultrie Observer Contact: http://www.moultrieobserver.com/extras/letters.shtml Website: http://www.moultrieobserver.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1728 RED RIBBON WEEK TO KICK OFF ON SQUARE MOULTRIE -- Communities in Schools and Colquitt County's 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs will sponsor their first "Red Ribbon Week Kickoff Festival" on Monday, Oct. 23, at the Colquitt County Courthouse Square. Communities in Schools is a non-profit organization that focuses on enriching the lives of all the youth in Colquitt County by connecting them with all the resources of the mainstream community. The Red Ribbon Week Kickoff Festival will highlight the national campaign of "Say No to Drugs." This year's festival showcases an author, Rex Torres, from Tallahassee, Fla. A reading booth will be available for children to participate in the second Reading Is FUN-damental (RIF) Distribution in which each child, accompanied by a parent, will choose a free book to take home with them. In addition to the author, local afterschool programs will exhibit their works; middle and high school students will solicit support for a drug-free community at their "Kissing Booth" (Kidz Involved in Saving the Streets); there will be a variety of activities for all youth to enjoy, including face painting, fingernail painting, duck pond, and drink toss, just to name a few. There will also be a jelly bean count contest where all ages, parents and students, can participate by guessing the number of jelly beans in the jar. The winner at this booth receives a DVD Player compliments of CIS and 21st CCLC. Free hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drink will also be available to all participants of the Festival. Various desserts may be purchased at the "Sweet Shoppe," which will consist of cakes, pies and cookies baked by the parents of the afterschool students. Some activities will require a ticket. Tickets for the festival are 25 cents each. No activity will cost more than one ticket. This event begins promptly at 5 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m. Academic success is one of the primary protective factors in reducing substance abuse in youth, according to a CIS press release. CIS's 21st Century Learning Centers afterschool programs focus on promoting academic success and providing substance abuse and violence prevention activities. The Southwest Georgia Mental Health, Development Disorders and Addictive Disorders Prevention division provides funding for these activities in the afterschool program and to sponsor community events that are drug-free and aimed at promoting drug prevention. For more information on the festival, contact Olivia Ponder-Wallace at (229) 985-9577. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine