In This Issue:  

Fall 2005 NEW SEASON OF POOL

Spring- 2005 POOL LEAGUE WRAP UP

Who said it?  Celeb's Speak "..."           Teasing Hurts, Suicide Is Real

  CHANGES FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

** Auto - Maintenance Tips                                                                Courtesy of: Checkered Flag Auto Parts  (for answers to specific automotive questions please contact our  Staff Professional.

Economy Auto Parts:  Are they worth it?

** Non-Toxic Club Action!!

PAST ARTICLES FROM NON-TOXIC

* Alice Cooper said what?  Continuing quotes  from the "shock rock" icon.        Fresh & New Quotes are coming!

Lund Enjoys The Grand Tournament

     Amidst the backdrop of beautiful lights and the 12 feet high Christmas tree The Edgerton Teen Center hosted its annual grand championship pool tournament Saturday night. The competition was fierce and the champion is worthy to be called the best. The first Saturday of each month of the year the teen center hosts a pool tournament and the top three place finishers qualify for the grand daddy of all tournaments which is held in December. Because the competition is strong only a handful of players have the endurance to stay focused during the double elimination contests. The winning players are seeded according to their records in the year long battle. The final tournament gives each shooter one last attempt to prove his dominance or upset the competition.

     Keith Lund, playing in his final teen tournament dominated the year and easily earned top seed honors. However, Lund beat David Flood in the championship match in a very close game. Flood’s 8-ball shot landed one inch short of the pocket and Lund cleaned up. Jeremy Brown played well through the consolation rounds to defeat Flood who had defeated Brown earlier in the evening. In the double elimination contest players who are defeated early can play through the consolation rounds and place in the top three. Sam McCumber lost two close games and was rewarded with the annual Sportsmanship Award.

     As in all the Grand Championship tournaments, the winner takes home the game 8-ball.

Lund

Brown

Flood

McCumber

The Top Three Place finishers (R - L) and Sportsmanship recipient.

     While nervous players watched and played in their respective qualifying rounds many teens conversed around the new fireplace while eating pizza and drinking soda. Two separate areas allow for comfortable café dining where teens can hang out watch the nightly activities or engage in talk about the week’s activities without worry of interruption. There is something for just about anyone.

     The tournament year starts anew the first Saturday in January 2006. Players must be aged 13-19 and cannot turn 20 in the calendar year. The contests start at 7:15 sharp and cost $2.00. The Edgerton Teen Center opens at 6:30PM every Friday and Saturday night and is open for free on Wednesday from 7:00 – 8:30PM. An adult pool league began on Thursday evenings in the Spring of 2005 and runs for 17 weeks. The new season starts in February, 2006. Please contact the teen center staff for more information on this exciting addition. We can be contacted through our web site at: www.nontoxicteencenter.com or by e-mail at: info@nontoxicteencenter.com. Or simply stop by any weekend between 6:30 – 11:00PM.

IT'S A BRAND NEW SEASON

The Non-Toxic adult pool league began August 14, and with eight teams the competition is great.  Non-Toxic has four pool tables so the evening winds up fairly quickly.  The grill is on as always and the treats are enjoyed by all.

Many shooters are off to good scores and like last season it looks as if there will be a shootout for top honors.  The teams are more evenly matched this season.  Tom took the top eight shooters from last season and made them captains.  Now that the top players are divided up the team scores are very close.  Of course the season has barely begun but judging by the individual scores and teams scores it looks to be a tight but exciting season.  Pictures will be following.  Thanks for staying up to date with the pool league and other Non-Toxic Events.

POOL LEAGUE

The Adult Pool League sponsored by Non-Toxic Youth Alternatives held its year end banquet Thursday evening, June 23.  It was the first but certainly not the last league to be run through Non-Toxic.  there were 24 individuals and 6 teams vying for the top prizes.

Adults came from all over the County to compete and in turn raise funds for the Teen Center.  First Place went to the Billy Judge team.  Second Place honors were enjoyed by the Tyson Trunkhill team and Third Place was brought up by the Team of Brian Ruby.

FIRST PLACE TEAM  L. to R.  Rick, Matt, Billy, Lance,Tom

SECOND PLACE TEAM  L to R  John, Ashley, Tyson, Pat, Tom

THIRD PLACE TEAM  L. to R. Matt, Mark, Kara, Bryan, Tom

TOP SHOOTER for the 17 week league was Brian Ruby who   bested Rick Matthews the final night of play.  Ruby won by 2 points. 

Bryan.  Top Point Winner.  

Awards were presented by Non-Toxic's director, Tom McShane.  Tom began the league in February of 2005 as a fundraiser and it truly became a  source of needed revenue for the ongoing expenses of the ministry.

As important as the additional funds brought in through the league, just as crucial was the exposure Non-Toxic received from adults in the County.  More and more people are seeing what this outreach has to offer youth and the contagious atmosphere to create  more clubs like Non-Toxic are growing in the minds of community adults.  

The next league begins the third week of August and will run straight for 17 weeks.  Adults play every Thursday evening with food, ice cream, treats and more waiting those who come.  Will you join us?

John and Tyson both were among the first teens to frequent Non-Toxic back in 1993 when it opened.  For more pics please visit our Events Page.

WHO SAID IT?  POD, Angelina Jolie, Monica, Kobe Bryant...Quotes from celebrities..."..."

"It was shocking to me that it was such a rarity. Me and my friends took the same vow together, so that was my life. I was naïve to say what I said in an interview, but I don't regret saying it, because I think that it impacted a lot of girls."

- Singer/actress Jessica Simpson speaking about her widely publicized 'no sex before marriage' pledge, CosmoGirl, September 2003, p. 139.

"The truth leaves a repairable cut, but a lie leaves a jagged wound. It doesn't easily heal."

                - Will Smith quoted in the September 2003 issue of CosmoGirl, p. 135.

"Unfortunately, today [drugs] are so accessible. I was watching this documentary on TV and-I couldn't believe it-they were telling you how to make crystal meth. I was thinking, 'You just killed a billion more people.'"

                - Macy Gray (born Natalie McIntyre), Entertainment Weekly, July 25, 2003 , p. 34.

"Yes, I saw some crazy stuff-drugs, guns-at a very young age, but that was my regular thing. It was what I knew."

                - Rapper Eve (Eve Jihan Jeffers), Teen Vogue, Aug/Sep 2003, p. 159.

"I think it's probably the best antidrug song I ever heard."

- Johnny Cash talking about his cover of the Nine Inch Nails song, Hurt, which has earned him six MTV Music Video Awards nominations, Time, August 4, 2003, p. 75.

"Sometimes you think because the kids are older that divorce don't effect 'em, but that really did."

- Ruben Studdard's mom (American Idol winner) speaking about the impact of her divorce while Ruben was a freshman at Alabama A&M University, Rolling Stone, August 21, 2003, p. 48.

"I don't encourage people to go get surgery. I think they often do it for the wrong reasons, thinking if they have breast implants or a nose job, it will make them feel better about themselves. They change their bodies but haven't dealt with their self-esteem"

                - Actress/rapper Queen Latifah, USA Today, July 31, 2003 , 2D.

"Marijuana smells better than anything in the world, but as soon as I get a whiff, I gotta get away."

                - Born again Christian Sonny Sandoval lead singer of P.O.D., Blender, August 2003, p. 48.

"When I started to smoke, I started to notice I was much more reflective and conscious. Alcohol makes you stupid and after a while you get depressed."

                - Dancehall rapper Sean Paul, The Source, July 2003, p. 101.

"I like to smoke weed sometimes. In college, I used to smoke every day. Freshman year I got to college and it was, like, a weed bonanza."

                - Singer/songwriter Pete Yorn, Blender, June/July 2003, p. 172.  

"I get a lot of letters from kids that just hurt. Some kids are so depressed at home and with how people treat them in school that they cut themselves. This happens all over the world -- kids who don't want to kill themselves, but nobody understands how much they hurt, so they cut themselves with razor blades. And a lot of these letters, the kids said they've stopped when they started listening to our records. And I know there are kids out there every night who need to come to the show and scream along because of whatever chaos is in their life."

                - Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington, USA Weekend, July 13, 2003 .

"This was very, very, very, very personal. It was a good soul-searching thing for me to do. I think the songs are more introspective in many ways."

                - Dave Matthews quoted by Reuters about the content of his upcoming solo album release, "Some Devil".

 "It's taking everything you've learned from your parents and school and finding out what works for you and what you have to offer. The important question is, what feels right for you?"

- Actor Brad Pitt answering a question about what defines the teenage years, Teen People, August 2003, p. 112.

"Finding faith and believing in who you are because you tested it, and not because you've been raised a certain way or you were told a certain thing your whole life."

- Singer/actress Mandy Moore answering a question about her upcoming movie "Saved" from an interview on TeenHollywood.com

"No, that was never really an option for me. But growing up with my sister (older sister Tanya is gay), I learned that whether it be her being with women or men being with other men, there's never a wrong or a right thing about it. Society has never played a part in my beliefs."

- Actress Kristanna Loken ("T3" movie) answering whether she liked girls, Rolling Stone, July 24, 2003, p. 46.

I didn't force her to do anything against her will. I'm innocent. I sit here in front of you guys furious at myself, disgusted at myself for making a mistake of adultery."

                - NBA player Kobe Bryant responding to allegations of sexual assault with a 19 year-old woman.

"It is wrong to download but the answer cannot be jail."

                - Michael Jackson speaking out against proposed Internet file-sharing law, Reuters, July 22, 2003 .

"I (say) that $1 million is really only $320,000. Your ... agent has to get his cut. Then there's the girlfriend, wife or baby's mama. You'll hook up your family and homeboys. There's jewelry, clothes and those sweet tire rims. And, of course, Uncle Sam comes first."

                - Tampa Bay Buc's Keyshawn Johnson , USA Today, July 9, 2003 , C1.

"I'm a mother now, which is a lot wilder and more dangerous than anything I was doing as a teenager."

                - Angelina Jolie, Entertainment Weekly, July 18, 2003 , p. 34.

"It's that middle stage when you might not know what life means that is the dangerous time. But I don't have that anymore. I used to when I was younger."

- Actress Angelina Jolie speaking about her struggles through her late teens and early twenties, USA Today, July 17, 2003 , 1D.

"I've got tattoos all over my body. My sister's husband got me into it-he's tattooed up all the way. Now I've got some tribal symbols, a few skulls, there's a dragon on one of my arms-you might say I've got issues. It's incredibly addictive and I plan on getting more. The designs I've picked have been drawn specifically for me, though, because once you get one, you're stuck with it for life-so you'd better pick something good."

                - New York Yankees baseball player Jason Giambi, Spin, August 2003, p. 54.

"It doesn't hurt much more than getting the tattoo in the first place. It just hurts in a totally different sort of way."

                - Angelina Jolie talking about tattoo removal, Entertainment Weekly, July 18, 2003 , p. 28

"They all say the exact same thing, which is `be nice and nicer things will happen for you,' and by God if it ain't true."

- Actress Roseanne Barr talking about the advice she receives from Buddhists and Christians, as reported by the Associated Press on July 16, 2003 .

 "There is no way to not be changed by the suicide of a loved one. I never used to appreciate the little things in life, and I do now."

                - R&B singer Monica talking about her boyfriend's suicide, Teen People, August 2003, p. 107.

Back to Top

NEW PLANS FOR OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

     Non-Toxic is run by a staff of volunteers and one thing we do is plan!  Funds are tight but that does not slow down the flow creativity.  With three boys riding dirt bikes (motorcycles) across wild Wisconsin trails, Dave thought about opening up this activity to teens.  The current plans are to find used dirt bikes and get them running if they don't run and have them become a part of Non-Toxic's exciting Outdoor Adventure Series.

     Please consider giving to this new ministry being formed at the Center.  Non-Toxic needs committed adults working with it for the benefit of our youth.  Please let us know if there is a dirt bike you know about that the owner may be willing to donate for the use of teens.

     Non-Toxic continues to provide positive alternatives for teens.  Thank you for your continued help and support.  Please remember, Non-Toxic is a donor supported outreach that has been successful since 1993.  Become a part of our team as together, we reach out to our youth.  Back to top.   

I Was Just Teasing

Weight Teasing and Teen Suicide

Researchers, reporting in the August 2003 edition of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, found that teens who are teased because of their weight are more likely to contemplate and attempt suicide, from a survey of 4,746 7^th-12^th grade Minneapolis/St. Paul students. Some key findings:

• 30.0% of girls and 24.7% of boys were teased about their weight by their peers
• 28.7% of girls and 16.1% of boys were teased about their weight by family members
• 14.6% of girls and 9.6% of boys were teased about their weight by peers and family
• As reported by Reuters, 26% of teens who were teased about their weight by peers and family considered suicide, while 9% attempted suicide.

Back to Top

YOUTH OF A NATION

The State of Our Nation 's Youth survey conducted by the Horatio Alger Association on 1,055, 13-19 year old teens in April-May, 2003, yields some interesting results. Some of the key findings:

ü       42% of teens said a family member was their top role model (38% mother, 27% father, 16% sibling, 7% grandparent), followed by friend/family friend (16%), entertainer (12%), teacher (8%), sports figure (7%), and religious leader (5%).

ü       Teens said 85% of mothers and 60% of fathers live with them

ü       The "major problems" of teens were the pressure to get good grades (35%), followed by family problems/getting along with parents (17%), financial pressure (17%), pressure to look a certain way (13%), pressure to do drugs or drink (12%), pressure to engage in sexual activity (9%), loneliness or feeling left out (8%).

                http://www.horatioalger.org/

                http://www.horatioalger.org/pubmat/submit02.cfm  (63 page pdf file, registration required)

Back to Top

^{The Non-Toxic Teen News Magazine}

* Back To Main Page * Teen Club * Concerts * Extreme Adventures * Games * Up-Coming Events * PRO-Teen * Contact Us * History *

   Return To Top Of  Page