A Night of Proclamation

Kennesaw Mayor Mark Mathews officially declared the month of April 2011 as Alcohol Awareness Month in Kennesaw during Monday night's city council meeting.

Mathews said that alcohol is abused by youth under the age of 18 over 10 times as much as all other drugs combined. He also said alcohol abuse rates among youth run higher in Cobb County than in other neighboring counties.

"(I) urge community leaders and adult citizens to participate in Cobb Alcohol Task Force's efforts to reduce underage and youth binge drinking rates in our community," said Mathews.

Mathews also presented a certificate to Pat Giuliani, head of the outreach program for the Cobb Alcohol Taskforce.

"We're getting ready to embark on three wonderful months for our youth. They're getting ready to do spring break, they're going to have their school proms, and then that ever popular graduation," said Giuliani.

She said alcohol is often introduced to young students during these occasions and that she hopes parents will be more aware of what their children are doing.

"These memorable events need to be happy ones, not tragic ones," said Giuliani.

Mathews next proclaimed the week of April 12-16 as the annual Week of the Young Child, as celebrated by the National Association of the Education of Young Children. During his proclamation, the mayor encouraged more parent investment in early childhood education.

The Week of the Young Child in Kennesaw is a cooperative effort between the and the National Association of the Education of Young Children. 

The week's stated purpose is to draw attention to the educational needs of very young children (from birth through age 8). This year's celebration will mark the City of Kennesaw's second year of participation.

"The Southern Museum is working to provide early learning opportunities including early literacy programs," said Mathews. "Public programs that support early learning for all young children are crucial to young children's futures."