FIGHTING DRUGS NOT SO PUZZLING

Drug free fair to be held on Saturday, May 19.

Life is a puzzle. Drugs don't fit.

This slogan, created by Cranbury School sixth-grader Victoria Carroll,
will be the theme of this year's Drug Free Fair, an annual community
event that brings students and parents together to support drug free,
healthy living.

In its 17th year, the fair, held rain or shine Saturday, May 19, from
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Cranbury School, promises to be bigger than ever,
said Cranbury School nurse and health teacher Beverly Gerberich, who
coordinated the event.

"We have so many great participants this year and I think students
will have a really fun day," she said. "They'll learn a lot. It's a
wonderful way to spend time together with your friends or your family.
And we really hope they get the message that life is really great
without drugs and alcohol."

The event is run entirely by volunteers from the community and will
feature a drug-sniffing dog demonstration, games, contests, a fitness
walk, fatal vision goggles for students to try, displays about healthy
living and drug resistance, dancers, a martial arts demonstration,
music provided by the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury's Youth
Band and more, Ms. Gerberich said.

"We just hope that people come out and support the fair," she said,
adding that the event costs approximately $6,000 to put together. "The
fair is run entirely on donations and volunteers. Without the support
of the community, we could never have the fair. So, it's a wonderful
tribute to Cranbury that we have so many generous volunteers and
people who help support the activities at the fair."

Among the activities specifically for students in kindergarten through
fifth grade will be a giant, inflatable obstacle course, crafts
provided by Home Depot and a basketball hoop shootout provided by
United Postal Service, she said.

Students in grades six and up can kick back in the Teen Tent, where
they can play Dance Dance Revolution, The Wheel of Misfortune, a hula
hoop contest and more. There also will be displays about alcohol
abuse, binge drinking, inhalants and prescription drug abuse to help
Cranbury teens make safe decisions, Ms. Gerberich said.

"It's going to look different than last year because we're offering
some comfy seating in case the kids want to come and hang out," she
said. "And sixth-graders through college age students can go in there.
Little kids aren't allowed."

The week before the fair, students gear up for it by wearing T-shirts
from the previous years' Drug Free Fairs.

Students from every grade level participated in the annual Drug Free
Fair T-shirt Design Contest. While Victoria's slogan was the winner
this year, seventh-grader Angela Cao won out of the sixth through
eighth grade submissions, fourth-grader Anna Mucciarone took first in
grades three through five, and second-grader Kayla Volante won for
kindergarten through second grade. The contest is judged by Cranbury
School teachers, Ms. Gerberich said.

"We had so many good entries this year," she said. "The whole point of
the shirt is to emphasize the healthy aspects of drug free living
rather than the negative part of drugs. I'm glad I wasn't a judge
because I really would have had a hard time picking."

Cranbury's Municipal Alliance bought 850 T-shirts this year with
Victoria's slogan on them to be handed out at the fair, Ms. Gerberich
said.

"During the fair, the students have to do six activities and get six
punches on their program," she said. "And once they do that, they earn
a free T-shirt."

Ms. Gerberich said the event is always well received by the community.
Last year, more than 1,000 people showed up and she's expecting an
even larger response this year. "Everything at the fair is free except
for the food in the food court," she said. "So, it's a free day for
everyone."

The Hot Wok Cafe and Cranbury Pizza will have tables available where
people can buy food, the PTO will be selling hoagies and the Cranbury
Education Association will be selling baked goods. The Princeton High
School Booster Club will sell juice and water.

Ms. Gerberich said she thinks people who have attended the fair in
prior years will be pleasantly surprised this time around.

"We tried to add new things as the opportunities came up and we hope
they find it refreshing and fun and that we can also get the message
across," she said. "I just want to see them out there."