Opinion

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August 15 - September 4, 2015

39

Community Commentary

Keep prescription medication away from children Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Almost all prescription drugs can be The Chandler Police Department disposed of in the containers. Exceptions and ICAN’s Chandler Coalition on include inhalers, liquids, aerosol cans, Youth Substance Abuse (CCYSA) are hydrogen peroxide, ramping up their thermometers and efforts to eliminate the sharp needles (unless misuse and abuse of they are unused or prescription medication. sealed). Narcotics, also Every parent referred to as opioids needs to be or pain relievers, can be educated about the harmful to adults and risks of prescription children because they drug misuse. It is are highly addictive. In critical to recognize a few weeks, CCYSA is the signs of abuse launching a campaign and communicate to reach out to schools, regularly with businesses, health care children. One way professionals and law to keep medications enforcement agencies away from children about the dangers of is to store them in narcotics in the homes. lockbox devices The public is invited Councilman Terry Roe. Submitted photo that fit in medicine to attend a Town Hall cabinets. As a former at the Chandler City police officer, I have Council Chambers, 88 personally seen the positive impact E. Chicago Street, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. of crime prevention initiatives and Monday, Aug. 31, to learn more about this encourage parents and educators to get initiative on drug prevention. involved. The Chandler Police Department Our community must continue reminds everyone that it is extremely to pull together to remain informed important to properly dispose of unused and safe. Contact the Chandler Police or expired medication. In the past, the department partnered with organizations Department at (480) 782-4000 or www. chandlerpd.com for more information. to schedule prescription drug collection Hopefully, you can attend the Town Hall events on specific dates. Now, it is on Monday, Aug. 31, to learn more about possible to dispose of medication the upcoming initiatives and volunteer anonymously, all-year-around. Medopportunities. We all have an interest in Return drop-boxes are available in the having a drug-free community. lobby of each Chandler Police station. The Main Station, located downtown, is Terry Roe is a city councilman whose open every day, 24 hours a day, including term expires in January 2019. He can be holidays. The drop-boxes at the Desert reached at terry.roe@chandleraz.gov. Breeze Substation, in West Chandler, and Chandler Heights Substation, in Southeast Chandler, are accessible Monday through

BY COUNCILMAN TERRY ROE

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Help us change this picture BY JENNIFER CREWS, DESERT SOUNDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Every year, students join their school’s band and orchestra. These students have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, be a part of a “team,” enjoy performing and begin a lifelong journey filled with the gift of music and its intrinsic and educational values. Unfortunately, many children are not able to benefit from this opportunity. Why? Their parents cannot afford to rent an instrument and their school does not have access to the number of instruments needed to meet the demand. Some children are told they must share an instrument. Still other children are told they cannot be in band or orchestra because there is no instrument for them to use. The Jeremy Project was inspired by the actions of a teenager who worked and helped a friend continue his music education. “When one of my friends wanted to be in band but could not, I just had to help him out. His family couldn’t afford to rent a trumpet and our school didn’t have one for him to use. Very quietly working with the band director, we came up with a solution but also another problem—he would have to change his instrument to one that required reeds which he and his family could not afford. To solve the problem, I decided to use the money I earned working in the school cafeteria and buy the reeds myself.” Jeremy’s unselfish act gave birth to Desert Sounds, a nonprofit organization that helps children access music education.

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The Jeremy Project lends instruments and provides ancillary supplies to children in fourth through 12th grades who otherwise would not be able to participate in their school’s band or orchestra program. During the 2014/2015 school year, Desert Sounds through the Jeremy Project lent 465 instruments for low-income students from eight school districts and 72 schools. For the upcoming school year, band and orchestra directors have already requested a record number of instruments exceeding our current inventory. Like Jeremy...will you help us change this picture? Desert Sounds is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit supported through the generosity of individuals, business/corporate contributors, in-kind services and donations of gently used instruments and grants from private and public foundations. More information is available at www.desertsounds.org or on facebook. Jennifer Crews can be reached at (480) 304-4762.

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