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D.A.R.E. program going strong in Lewiston

by Larry Austin
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, January 28, 2006

Though budget cutbacks have crippled the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program in other municipalities, Lewiston’s program is going strong in its 20th year.

The program celebrated the most recent D.A.R.E graduation at Lewiston-Porter Intermediate Center Thursday afternoon. D.A.R.E. graduates received certificates and T-shirts and enjoyed a post-graduation pizza party.

“Some communities have given up the D.A.R.E. program because they can’t afford it,” said Lewiston Police Commissioner Robert Sdao. “I don’t see any better investment than working with our youth.”

Begun in 1986, the Lewiston D.A.R.E. program teaches children social skills that will help them avoid drugs, gangs, and violence. Locally, D.A.R.E. exists thanks to several sponsors and contributors, including Robert Burns at Tim Horton’s, Modern Disposal, the Lower Niagara Moose Lodge, the Lewiston Kiwanis Club, Villa Coffee Shop, Northstate Supply, Stuart Sports, and Favorite’s Pizza.

  
D.A.R.E. graduates at Lewiston-Porter Intermediate Center receive certificates, T-shirts and congratulatons from Lewiston Police Chief Ron Winkley on Thursday. The students also enjoyed a post-graduation pizza party. (photo by Larry Austin)

According to Lewiston Police Chief Ron Winkley, Modern has donated approximately $20,000 to date during its long association with Lewiston’s D.A.R.E. program.

Winkley has taught in the D.A.R.E. program for 17 years, longer than anyone else in New York state, he said.

The Lewiston Police will also hold graduations at St. Peter’s in Lewiston and Stella Niagara. Their next ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 3 at Tuscarora Elementary School.


Lewiston-Porter fifth-graders receive awards for their winning entries in the Drug Abuse Resistance Education essay contest for Niagara County. Front, left to right: Intermediate school Principal Tamara Larson, Marissa Coulter, Hannah Mcevoy, Juliet Filosofos, and David Smith. Back row, left to right: Lewiston Police Commissioner Robert Sdao, Lewiston Police Department officers and D.A.R.E. instructors Scott Stafford and John Penzotti and Lewiston Police Chief Ron Winkley. D.A.R.E. is a police officer-led series of classroom lessons that teaches children from kindergarten through 12th grade how to resist peer pressure and live productive drug and violence-free lives. (photo by Larry Austin)