DARE PROGRAM STILL POPULAR

Herkimer, N.Y. - While the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program
has been discontinued in a neighboring county, the program is going
strong in the village of Herkimer and Herkimer County according to
two people who have their fingers on the pulse of the program.

According to Herkimer D.A.R.E. Officer and Mentor Tony Brindisi,
Herkimer has a unique situation when it comes to the anti-drug program.

"(D.A.R.E.) starts with the three-legged stool. The theory involves
community, parents and the school," said Brindisi.

He said the community includes the village board, village
administration, police department and businesses that support the
program. The parents play a role by re-enforcing what the program has
taught and the school works in conjunction with the police department
said Brindisi.

"They all work together to keep this program going," said Brindisi.

Herkimer County Sheriff Christopher Farber said the program remains
popular in local schools. The department is responsible for providing
the program to West Canada Valley, Reese Road and West Frankfort
Elementary Schools. He said other schools have been involved in the past.

"D.A.R.E. seems to be a good fit for this county and for the
schools," said Farber. "We do whatever we can do."

Recently funding for the program on the state level was dropped and
the program was discontinued in Oneida County.

Farber said his department operates the program as efficiently as
possible and the Herkimer County Legislature has continued to show
support for the program.

"As long as there is support on the local level, we will continue the
program and do more with less," said Farber.

Brindisi held the annual D.A.R.E. Run a few weeks ago, which is an
annual fund-raiser for Herkimer's program. He also spends time
throughout the year seeking donations from local clubs, organizations
and businesses.

He said whenever he asks for help, the community gives him whatever
it can, from money to tools and supplies for the run.

"Everybody helps, that is what keeps (the program) going," said Brindisi.

Brindisi said when the program is lost, students lose a tool.

He is also sure the program works, although he said there are no
numbers that reinforce his thought.

"If D.A.R.E. is depending on a police officer in the classroom to say
D.A.R.E. works, then it doesn't work, but it needs all the entities
for every leg of the stool to work," said Brindisi.

"Any time there is a positive interaction between law enforcement and
the youth it is a good thing. D.A.R.E. isn't just about staying away
from drugs, but it is also about character, making positive decisions
and not negative decisions," said Farber.

"(The community) loves the program here (in Herkimer). The outpour
of support here is stronger now than it ever has been. It works well
here, and always will," added Brindisi.