Letters to the Editor
radKIDS makes a difference
Dear Independent,No parent likes to think of any harm coming to their child, whether it comes in the form of an accident, a bully or a stranger who lures the child to danger. In today's world, however, parents not only have to think about it, they need to be proactive in protecting their children through care and education with programs such as radKIDS.
My daughter recently graduated from the radKIDS program, which is offered free to York residents. What an amazing experience! I watched her transform, over the five weeks the program ran, from being timid and reluctant about speaking up to a far more confident six-year-old who had no problem saying - actually yelling - "Stay back!. You're not my dad!"
She learned that it is not her fault if someone hurts her and that she can tell a trusted adult. She learned how important her voice and her legs are in protecting herself - it's okay to yell and run! While it may be difficult thinking about exposing our children to topics such as kidnapping and inappropriate touch, radKIDS does this in a sensitive way that does not scare children, but empowers them and gives them more confidence to protect themselves in dangerous situations, including the class bully.
In January, the next radKIDS session will begin. I encourage anyone with children to enroll them in this free, wonderful program that could possibly save their life someday. Hopefully, our children will be safe from the dangers of the world and never have to use the skills they learn at radKIDS; however, they will be far more confident and a lot safer from taking the program and every parent likes to think about that!
Lisa Hugo
York
Hospice raffle a success
Dear Independent,Hospice of York is pleased to announce the results of their annual raffle. The winners are Norma Clark and Eileen Hannafin of York; Cathy Stapledon of Nashua, N.H., and F.S. Cote and Jon O'Neil of Massachusetts. Our sincere congratulations to all of them!
Also, we want to thank those who showed their support for us by buying tickets and the merchants who donated all the wonderful prizes. The proceeds of this raffle will go a long way to ensure the continuous service of our all-volunteer hospice. For more than 25 years now we have supported (without charge) the terminally ill and the bereaved in the towns of Wells, Ogunquit, York, Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick, Berwick, North Berwick and Lebanon, and we promise to be there for all of you who need us in the future.
Dee Bickmore
Hospice of York
Thanks from Hospice
Dear Independent,To those who made Hospice of York's Second Annual Memorial Service so very memorable… thanks! Especially Gina Connolly, Richard Leigh, Todd Richard and Rich Knight of First Parish Church for their exquisite music (vocal, piano & guitar!); Lynette Olsen of Tiny Hands Talking for beautifully translating their song into sign language; Cheri Beaudry, Hospice of York administrator, for taking the cover photo and printing the programs (that we will not run out of next year!); Karen Lynge, Hospice of York treasurer, for her lovely calligraphy of the poem insert - each hand-done; Ray deMars of Flowers by Ray & Julie, for two lovely floral arrangements; First Parish Flower Committee for the altar harvest arrangement, which was the perfect backdrop for the service; Jayne Lilly and Lee Pelkey of Pelkey Funeral Home for providing, preparing and serving all the refreshments after the service; Sarah Casto of Pelham, N.H., granddaughter of York's Ruth Casto, who kindly trusted us with her oil painting of a monarch - done when she was eight years old; First Parish Church who, once again, welcomed us into its beautiful sanctuary and parish hall for this most special "Time to Remember" those we've loved and let go.
"Thanks" is sometimes just too small a word.
Hannah Rothermel
President
Hospice of York
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