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Parental Concern, Dedication MadeRehab Center a Working RealityBY KIP ZEGERSThe sign on the door at 253 Prospect Avenue reads C.A.D.R.E. Community Corporation. Behind that door and up a long flight of stairs is a gigantic space. It is obvious that this was once an industrial space, although its transformation into an elegant meeting room/ball room is almost complete. There is a new hardwood floor; walls and ceiling are freshly painted; a kitchen, bar, and foyer are all nearing completion. The room is full of the echoes of hard work. A small group of people are sitting on metal chairs and waiting to begin their monthly meeting.1 am introduced to Thurmon and Dorothea Ruth, Lou and Mary Muscatello, to Steve Kozar, Kity Fitzpatrick and Lou Perullo. We stand and talk as a few others trickle in. The meeting that follows is all nuts and bolts business, the business of the gigantic space called Marano Hall: a ceiling for the foyer, plumbing problems. But we also touch on its use as a center for programs for youth and the elderly, its use to raise money for community projects.C.A.D.R.E., means Community Associations for Drug-Free Rehabilitation and Education, And one asks what C.A.D.R.E. is and why it has taken on the burden and work of MaranoHall?This involves a bit of history. In 1970 some Park Slope residents who were the parents of children with drug-abuse problems were taking their children to an Addiction Services Administration (A.S.A.) program in Sunset Park. Theseparents knew that the drug situation was also bad in Park Slope and so they demanded, fought for and won a program for their community. And in 1971 the Park Slope Youth Center, Project Direction, was opened at 271 9th Street.This A.S.A. center was mandated to offer programs for youth who either used, might use, or were concerned about drugs. Another part of the program was a parent%u2019s group, titled R.A.R.E. R.A.R.E. was part of a drug-free, total rehabilitation plan which rejected the concept of rehabilitation in isolation.Rehabilitation had to include the family and the larger community. The ex-addict was to become an agent for change in the community, this was a program of expanded community responsibility that involved community development, education and parents (R.A.R.E.). Parents could not just leave their children with the program, they had to participate in it themselves. Among the parents were some who wanted to go further.Their first act was to form C.A.D.R.E. C.A.D.R.E. parents were that %u201c rare%u201d type of person whose involvement went beyond helping themselves and their kids. They rented a double storefront on 5th Avenue at 11th Street. They became very active in the community, especially around working to educate the comunity about drugs.At its initial peak, C.A.D.R.E. had a core of about 25 dedicated parents. Up to 60 people would attend its meetings and another 300 or so supported its fund raisingevents. C.A.D.R.E. developed a sophisticated proposal for a massive drug program in Park Slope. It lobbied and fought for, but never managed to obtain, funding for the program. It also organized a city-wide organization, United Citizens Who Care, that fought against negative narcotics legislation.And perhaps most important, C.A.D.R.E. had great influenceover the Park Slope Youth Center itself. The center became one of the few in the city that was actually parent controlled. Then, about a year ago, the space now known as Marano Hall became available and C.A.D.R.E. took the leap. And puts its name on the door at 253 Prospect Avenue.Members and friends went to work hauling out tons of machinery, cleaning, scraping, begging, borrowing,...Until now Marano Hall is on the verge of reality. The hallk will be open to the public on June 29 for a cocktail party fund-raiser. Tickets are $6 and entitle the bearer to two free drinks and all the fine Italian food they can eat. And Marano Hall will be moving towards a self-supporting future as aresource and source of funds for community projects.C.A.D.R.E. will continue its concern with drugs and the community. But, due to widespread apathy, it is a difficult time to be about such business. As Lou Perullo described the problem: %u201c It%u2019s still there. You still see it in the streets; particularly in the summer when they all come out. But it%u2019s harder than years ago. People feel like their children aren%u2019t doing anything, that they can take care of it, but they can%u2019t, they can%u2019t take care of it.\Community Associations for DrugFree Rehabilitation and Education. We need %u201c united citizens who care.%u201dSlope Senior Center OpensAfter Two Year EffortAfter two years of effort, the official ribbon-cutting ceremony opened the long awaited Park Slope Senior Citizens Center in All Saints Episcopal Church at Seventh Ave. and Seventh St. The Center%u2019s Director, Angela Beni, estimates that the facility, which will be open to all senior citizens in the community could serve close to 10,000 people.The Park Slope Senior Citizens Center is equipped to provide one hot meal a day for 150 persons as well as provide the elderly with information on medicare, medicaid, housing, food stamps and transportation privileges. The Center will also feature an extensive arts andcrafts program for seniors on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. This program will offer pottery, needlepoint, jewelrymaking, carpentry and sketching taught by a staff social worker, arts and crafts counselor and four volunteers. Elderly residents will also be able to use the facility to meet with friends and to watch television.The opening of the Center, which was attended by City Councilman Tom Cuite and Gladys Harrington of the Human Resources Administration, is the culmination of extensive efforts of community residents Mrs. Rhonda Smith, Rev. William Lester and Ms. Angela Beni.This summer Cezanne, Soutine,and Gauguin will join Homer, Sargent, andde Kooning at The Brooklyn Museum.The Pearlman Collection, which includes seventy famous works of art, will be with us for the summer.So when you study art at The Brooklyn Museum Art School, you%u2019ll have some of the finest paintings the world has ever known only seconds away. For instance, if you%u2019re studying watercolor this summer, you%u2019ll have one of the largest collections of Cezanne watercolors in the world to learn from.We have over one hundred exciting classes to choose from. If you%u2019re an accomplished artist, or if you can't draw a straight line with a ruler, we have a class at your level.We have classes like welding, etching, weaving, woodworking, printmaking, sculpture, batik, andmany painting and drawing classes.You can take most classes during July, or August, or both. We offer a full complement of evening and daytime classes, full or part time. If you're a New York City teacher you can now earn salary increment credits with us.Register now. Classes begin the week of July 8. For information and our new summer catalogue, please call (212) 638 4486 or 638 5086. Or stop by the Art School and we'll help you select the class that%u2019s right for you.When you stop by, don%u2019t let the guys on the walls intimidate you. After all, they didn%u2019t have the advantage of studying in a museum.one 20, 1974, PHOENIX, Page 7

