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Block Parent program starting to take holdBy EDD PRITCHARDStaff WriterAfter two years of planning and re-planning, the Sandusky Area Block Parent Program is ready to launch into full-scale operations.Sponsored by the Crime Reduction Committee of the Sandusky Area Chamber of Commerce, the program is designed to provide a temporary “island of safety’’ for area school children.“We’ve been battling through a trial and error period, but it’s starting to take hold now,’’ said Mark V’Soske, executive vice president of ihe Chamber of Commerce.“We’re off to a positive start,’’ said Jerry Kasper, chairman of the Crime Prevention Committee. “We now have something we can do and we’re ready to sink our teeth in.”Committee members said the Block Parent program was designed to provide school children with a place of refuge should a child be threatened while playing or while going to and from school.Committee members area asking parents of Sandusky school children to volunteer as Block Parents and open their homes to help children who may need help.Parents who get involved in the program will be required to display a “Block Parent” sign in the window of their homes and follow the Block Parent rules designed by the committee.If a child needs help, the Block Parents are told to take appropriate action. When necessary, Block Parents are required to notify the proper authorities, and if possible notify the child’s parents.The committee does not expect Block Parents to break up fights, or open their homes for use as a restroom or telephone station. Block Parents are not expected to give a child medical assistance unless they are properly trained.Committee members say volunteers will be the key to the program.The parents of Sandusky elementary school children have already been asked to volunteer as Block Parents and the committee also wants to ask narents of high schoolThe committee hopes to have about 500 parents involved in the program. Ideally, however, the committee would like to have 1,200 parents involved.Volunteers for the program are notified when they apply that they will be screened by the police department before they are accepted as Block Parents.The screening is done by Capt. Floyd Churchwell of the Sandusky Police Department. Churchwell is working with the committee as a representative of the department.Kasper said the screening is being done for the safety of the children.“We want to make sure that children going to block homes are going some place where they will not be harmed,” said Kasper.To organize the program, the committee has divided the city into five areas, with one director for each area. The areas are subdivided and one or two captains are assigned to each subdivision.Committee members said there is also a need for more directors and captains, as well as block parents. “We still need to make a push for help in a number of sections,” said Kasper.The right choice is Seiko.AutomaticallyAn automatic 17-jewel watch from Seiko has it all. The hold rugged good looks. The precision that makes it one of the world's stand-out performers. With convenient features like attractive day/date calendars, smart sweep-second hands and luminous hands and markers. And handsome water-resistant stainless steel cases that provide an extra measure of tough dependability. In gilt dial with brown leather strap. Orblnrk dial with stninlp^ ;tppl hrarplpt lt;\pikr»
Newspaper Details
Sandusky Sunday Register
Sandusky, Ohio, US
Sun, Dec 02, 1979
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Sandusky P.
OH, USA 23 Feb 2022
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