Telethon scheduled to promote cancer research

Check out the following article highlighting the upcoming joint telethon between ABC, CBS and NBC to benefit cancer research:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/arts/television/28canc.html

Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams, the evening news anchors from the three networks will be involved and each one of them has lost a family member to cancer. With some Hollywood "Red Carpet Regulars" appearing and a huge national viewing audience, wouldn't it be nice to have a mention made of the importance of tobacco use prevention in the fight against cancer?

A warm welcome to....

Our Newest One-Year Grant Recipients:

Bristol Youth Services
Chilhowie Elementary School
Community Youth Program at St. John’s, Inc.
Grayson County Public Schools
Henry County Public Schools
Mountain View Youth and Family Services
Pittsylvania County Community Action Inc.
Planning District One Behavioral Health Services
Presbyterian Community Center
Pulaski County Public Schools
Radford City Public Schools
Roanoke County Public Schools
Rooftop of Virginia CAP
St. John Neumann Academy
Support to Eliminate Poverty (STEP), Inc.
Virginia Wilderness Institute

Some of you are what I like to call "repeat offenders" :) and others are brand new.

Either way, I'm thrilled to be your VTSF point person and will be delighted to start another

exciting year of tobacco use prevention programs in Southwest.

See you in Blacksburg on Tuesday!

Heard of Salvia???

Salvia is a hallucinogenic member of the sage family also known as "Magic Mint" or "Sally-D" that can be smoked or chewed. This article form Newsweek delves into the sale of salvia and its growing popularity among youth.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/136317
Some states are now considering banning the substance or criminalizing its sale or possession. Luckily the Virginia General Assembly acted on this information during this year's session and Salvia is now a controlled substance, listed as a Schedule I hallucinogenic drug.

Is this a well-known substance among youth in your community?

A new wrinkle in smoking enforcement....

Funny article from Yahoo news on an age-verification process being considered with tobacco vending machines in Japan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080512/od_nm/smoking_dc;_ylt=AjMsSxVz.Ftrb_EXYx.g0cztiBIF

Roanoke County LST Banner

The LST program participants at Oak Grove Elementary School in Roanoke County made this cool, tie-dyed banner for their peers at Hidden Valley High School, encouraging them to stay tobacco and drug free. It was on display during Red Ribbon Week in October. Thanks to Fran Kiker in the Guidance Department for the photo!

Carroll County Students

Here are a few fine Carroll County students getting involved in a Kick Butts Day activity and getting an up close and personal look at the tar caused by smoking. The 6th and 7th grade students wrapped up their Life Skills Training program with a year-end pizza party!

Thanks to Jeanette Phillips with Mountain View Youth and Family Services for submitting the photos.

Calling all shutterbugs...

Please, please, please send me some of your digital program pictures.


If you have shots of your programs in action, groups of smiling program participants or pictures of your year-end celebration events etc. PLEASE send them my way.


I'd like to post them here and more importantly also forward them to our Richmond office so they can be included in our grantee clips video at our conference in September.


Let's see those smiling SOUTHWEST faces!

Save the date!

Mark your calendars for the VTSF Annual Grantee Conference

on September 24-25

at the Marriott Newport News at City Center.

We're gearing up with a jam-packed schedule of riveting speakers, information-loaded sessions and resources galore! More registration information will be forthcoming from our Program Specialists Charlie McLaughlin and Terri-ann Brown but as a reminder, be sure to flip forward to your Fall calendar and set aside those dates now.