> GSS students edge “Fight Riley Fight” closer to $150,000 goal / Pg. 8 >Santa photos will support BBBS Pg. 5 > Police offer gun amnesty Pg. 19 >Come out and Skate for Nate this Sunday Pg. 11 Thursday, November 27, 2014 Vol. 3 Issue 30
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Up Front Trivia challenge at St. Alban’s St. Alban’s Anglican Church, Fun Night of Trivia is Friday, Nov 28. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. & games begins promptly at 7 p.m. Tables of 4, 6, or 8. Cost: $6 per person. Light refreshments included. Door prizes & truefalse games. Come on out & join the fun. Tickets available at the door. For further info call Caron 905-5634753, 4341 Ontario Street, Beamsville. (Across the street from Shopper’s Drug Mart). Wheelchair accessible.
Share the Light, and some cookies Trinity United Church in Beamsville invited everyone to Share the Light, annual Christmas Tree Lighting, Sunday, Nov. 30 from 3-5 p.m. We are lighting our Christmas tree and we want everyone to come join in the fun; hot apple cider, cookies and crafts, make an ornament. Everyone welcome, 4287 William Street, Beamsville.
Ready and willing
Grimsby firefighters are ready to pick up any food donations brought to next week’s Grimsby Santa Claus Parade. Volunteers have spent hours preparing special food drive bags which will come to Grimsby homes via NewsNow in
next week’s, Dec. 4, edition. Fill the bags and firefighters will pick up the bags along the route Dec. 6 beginning at 5:15 p.m. (L to R) Jeff Dancer, Bill Crossman, Paul Stone and Jim Bergshoeff get some bags ready. Williscraft - Photo
FORT: 7,000 kids and counting
By Katherine Grant NewsNow FORT, the local Foundation of Resources for Teens, is all grown up. Although founded back in 2001 as a service to help troubled youth, it has evolved. Its aim is now to prevent the issues it first served. Many of the youth now utilizing the centre – in excess of 7,000 – were not yet born when the first support centre opened in Grimsby. “It’s not about kids who are in trouble, it is about preventing issues such as drug use and homelessness,” said Beth
Shaw, executive director. It isn’t that FORT doesn’t serve teens who are struggling, it does, but its programs have expanded and the results are clear. By teaching youth coping strategies, life skills and providing activities that engage them, they feel they belong, said Shaw. The approach, intended to complement their family life, helps them grow into confident, contributing adults. At FORT, the day begins at 3 p.m. as the youngest of its kids – Grade 6-8 – arrive straight from school.
The first order of business is food. Healthy snacks, fruit, yogurt and granola bars are offered. Next up is homework. “They can’t focus on their homework if they are hungry; they are grumpy and tired,” said Shaw. Although the idea of doing homework right after school might now sound like something the kids are going to want to do, having a high school tutoring program in place has made all the difference. “We have high school kids helping the younger kids,” said Shaw. “The high
school kids learn mentoring and leadership skills and the younger kids get help, and they do want help. This is a program that has just exploded on us.” A whole row of computers line one wall in the basement space of the Carnegie Commons where the Grimsby FORT is located. There are also game tables, comfy couches and armchairs and gaming systems. There is also an arts and crafts table. “We work to create programming that excites See FORT, Page 3