Holiday events will let teens party safely
Published on -10/27/2009, 2:20 PM
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By KALEY CONNER
kconner@dailynews.net
As a grassroots group continues efforts to launch a Hays teen center, holiday festivities are planned to give high school students a safe way to celebrate.
A Halloween costume dance will be from 8 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the Fanchon Ballroom, located on east Old U.S. Highway 40. The admission fee will be $5, and prizes will be distributed for the best costumes.
"Since dancing is pretty popular at high school dances, I thought that could be one of the main attractions," said Josh Allen, a sophomore at Hays High School. "I'm actually looking forward to it a lot. I think it'll be great."
Another dance is planned for New Year's Eve at Fox Pavilion, 1202 Main, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. The admission fee for that event is $6.
Allen is one of several students and community members on a teen center planning committee and has been working to raise student support for the past few months.
He has about 200 signatures on a petition in support of a teen center, and he hopes to obtain many more, Allen said.
The events also will be a good way to gauge student interests as efforts continue to obtain a building and establish a permanent hang-out spot, said Debra Purviance, who has been leading the efforts.
"Mostly, we're just trying to get a place where they can hang, socialize with each other," Purviance said, noting the group has been soliciting input from local teens.
A survey was distributed, with 86 percent of 215 Hays High and Thomas More Prep-Marian students indicating they want a teen center, Purviance said.
A group of interested volunteers has been meeting to further the endeavor. A main focus for now is identifying a building that could house such a facility, she said.
The idea was brought before the Hays City Commission in September. Commissioners suggested the group formulate a business plan, and those efforts are continuing, Purviance said.
More volunteers are needed for the upcoming events, and precautions will be taken to keep the evening drug and alcohol free, said Dr. Jeffrey Lowe, who also is helping with the efforts.
It's hoped the initial events will garner additional community support.
"We just hope these two events create awareness and recognition of the need," Lowe said. "That there is support from citizens."
For more information, or to volunteer, e-mail Debra Purviance at purviance@eaglecom.net.
I spent countless hours about 8 years ago when two of my kids were in jr high to hold organized teen activites at HRC. I had numerous kids ready and willing to do whatever needed to have a night of fun, sponsors with pocket books open, but the problems...PARENTS not so anxious to help out. Seemed like the majority were always too busy with their own lives to be an active part of their own kids' well being. Bottlom line, these events need to be sponsored by responsible and sober adults or it will not work!
(Posted by: flustered mom)
Sober Dads at the party: 10/28/2009
Concerned,no matter where you go,it's always been that way,a few teenagers, with a belly full of beer...trouble! There's always some jerk,and some miss Princess...also a jerk, that wants her honor stood up for by some meat head boy friend!
(Posted by: XXXX)
Curious: 10/28/2009
I wonder who is supervising this dance. They have so many problems at the Hays Dances that the students don't feel safe.
(Posted by: Concerned Parent)
: 10/28/2009
Well, when they used to let kids drag Main in Hays (and I've reiterated this point a million times), you had all these kids in one place going 5 mph. Then in the mid-90s when the cops started running everyone off, all the kids started country cruisin' and having house parties. Keystone Light, smooth even when Hays is not.
(Posted by: )
Next year: 10/28/2009
Don't know what I was thinking in my 10/27 post, that was supposed to be "what's" another parade....not whay's? A Halloween parade, sure, have witches tossing candy to the kids, a big kettle with dry ice in it, it would be fun for the young and adults alike, just keep the sicky gore out of it!!!! Wonder if thy can turn off the street lights on just main?
(Posted by: deleted)
agreed!: 10/28/2009
A Halloween parade would be great!!
(Posted by: another mom)
Teen Center: 10/28/2009
A teen center would be a great idea. There was one for a while in the early '80's. It was down on ninth street and it was a fun place to go. When I was in high school all there was to do on the weekends was drag main and drink. A teen center with organized activities would have been better.
(Posted by: Scott)
: 10/27/2009
Excellent idea!
(Posted by: mom)
Think about it: 10/27/2009
I still think there should be a Halloween parade, people could really let their imaginations go wild...night parade of course..Booooo! Whay's one more parade for Hays?
(Posted by: deleted)
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