MULTIPLE EVENTS SLATED FOR RED RIBBON WEEK

San Joaquin County celebrates Red Ribbon Week this week with a multitude of
activities at schools locally and in the county.

"What we're trying to do is just have positive things for kids to do. One
of the biggest things we hear from kids in schools: 'There's nothing to
do,' " said Helen Ellis, Red Ribbon Week coordinator. "We're trying to
provide as much activity as we can for as many kids as are interested in
going."

This week's events include:

* Today -- Pledge Day. Make a pledge to be drug free. This event is a
countywide pledge drive. Pledges obtained will be turned in to Linden
Democratic Assemblyman Mike Machado's office by Nov. 8. All schools are
invited to participate in the drive, and the school with the most pledges
will send 10 students to accompany Machado to personally hand-deliver the
pledges to Gov. Gray Davis' office.

* Tuesday -- School Spirit Awards judging.

* Wednesday -- Drug Free T-shirt/Rally Day. Students will decorate school
campuses.

* Thursday -- UOP Women's Volleyball vs. UC Irvine at 7 p.m. Free admission
for kids.

* Friday -- Red Ribbon Family Day at Golfland. All golfers wearing a
costume between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. will receive a free round of golf.

* Friday -- Recognition Day. Holiday Cinema presents Red Ribbon Family
Evening. At 7:30 p.m., all children wearing their Red Ribbon or Red
Wristband will receive free admission to a special movie presentation.

* Saturday -- Halloween Party at Hammer Skate. Admission between 7 and 11
p.m. is $6 with skates included. There will be a costume contest in two age
groups for boys and girls. First place $25, second place $10, third place
is three free skate passes. All skaters in costume will receive free
admission to a future skate session.

Red Ribbon Week is intended to increase public awareness concerning
problems related to tobacco, alcohol and drug abuse and to organize
community prevention coalitions and support the decision to live a healthy,
productive, drug-free lifestyle, according to Ellis.

Thousands of people turned out this weekend at Sherwood Mall for San
Joaquin County's Red Ribbon Week kick-off celebrations.

Special guests included Shar Jackson from the UPN sitcom "Moesha" and John
Huertas from the WB sitcom "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch." Both signed
autographs for young fans.

"There were over 18,000 people during the day," Ellis said. "The turn-out
was phenomenal. I've never seen the mall that crowded."

Information: 468-6841.