[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 147 (Monday, December 4, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE PERIWINKLE NATIONAL THEATRE TAKES THE WAR ON DRUGS TO THE STAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 4, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to call to the attention of our 
colleagues the outstanding work of the Periwinkle National Theatre.
  Next week, the U.S. Department of Education is honoring the efforts 
of Ms. Sunna Rasch, director of the Periwinkle National Theatre, with 
the John Stanford Education Heros Award. This award, which has been in 
place for the last 3 years, highlights the achievements of outstanding 
individuals who have serviced the children in their community by using 
unique and effective methods to deliver an important educational 
message.
  The Periwinkle National Theatre is dedicated to educating our youth 
about the harmful effects of drug and alcohol. In order to convey their 
very important message, the theater company performs plays for 
students, using characters and plots that these students are able to 
relate to. The characters presented in the plays act out the issues 
that are often connected to drug use, such as a lack of self-respect, 
conflict with parents, and peer pressure.
  On February 17, 1999, the Middletown, NY, Times Herald Record 
published an article detailing one of the plays performed by the 
Periwinkle National Theatre. Directors Sunna Rasch and Judy Lorkowski 
contacted the Maple Hill Elementary school in Middletown, NY, because 
they had heard that a fifth-grader who attended the school was arrested 
2 weeks earlier for selling marijuana and fake crack to his classmates.
  The play, entitled ``Halfway There,'' is a drug prevention fable that 
depicts young characters who are battling with problems of drug and 
alcohol addiction. Throughout the play a mysterious mime enters and 
leaves the stage as he represents drugs, peer pressure, and drug 
dealers. In the end, all of the characters destroy the mime, 
symbolizing their own defeat of their addictions. At the conclusion of 
the play, the actors held a discussion period with the students.
  ``What we are really trying to do is a community effort to attack the 
problem that's reared its ugly head, but is always latent,'' Lorkowski 
said.
  I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Sunna 
Rasch, current director of the Periwinkle program, for receiving the 
third annual U.S. Department of Education's John Stanford Education 
Heroes Award. Her service to the children and schools in our community, 
as well as other communities throughout New York and New Jersey, is 
commendable.
  The work of the Periwinkle National Theatre and other organizations 
like it throughout the country is an important part of the necessary 
drug education of our children. We must continue to do whatever we can 
to prevent our youth from taking part in such harmful activities. Sunna 
Rasch is meritoriously fulfilling that goal.

                          ____________________