PROGRAM PRAISED FOR HELPING FIGHT TEEN CRIME.

Byline: Karen Thacker Community Columnist

With just more than a year of experience, Project Teen Reach is already winning awards for its program to help teen-age offenders find the skills to make positive choices.

Teen Reach, a program unique to Los Angeles County and operating here in the Antelope Valley, is a brainstorm of the L.A. County Probation Department and the Volunteer Center Assistance League of Southern California.

The program's main operators, Director Susan Zaks and Probation Officer Michael Daniels, were awarded Crimebuster of the Month in August from the city of Lancaster.

In October, Teen Reach received a 1998 Enhanced Commission plaque from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in the county's Productivity and Quality Awards competition.

Last week, Teen Reach won two first-place honors for innovation and program in L.A. County Probation Employee Enhancement Recognition awards. It was the only program nominated in two categories, and taking first in both was a real honor, Zaks said.

``It's due to the success of the program and the difference we're making,'' she said.

Teen Reach is a nine-week educational and community service program for children ages 12-18 who have been ordered by a judge to perform community service.

The children meet twice a week for two hours each session to discuss values, decision-making, goal setting and responsibility. They also have community service projects, and there's a Victim Offender Reconciliation Program for some participants to ``make things right'' with the community.

The youths paint buildings on Saturday mornings at Desert Pathways School, next to Quartz Hill High School. Next they are scheduled for work projects at Teresita Pines Lions Wilderness Camp for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired in the Angeles National Forest.

More than 20 youths have gone though the program. Zaks said 90 percent have gotten off probation and gone on to do better at home and at school.

``I think that, in itself, is an indication of the effectiveness of Project Teen Reach,'' Zaks said.

LANCASTER - Mark Christensen, a 17-year-old senior at Quartz Hill High School, has received the Eagle Scout award, the highest honor in Scouting.

A Court of Honor for Christensen was held Oct. 30 at the Lancaster Stake Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Christensen earned 22 merit badges, as well as the Arrow of Light, Duty to God, On My Honor and Order of the Arrow honors.

For the community service project required for Eagle, Christensen organized and put together 100 personal hygiene kits and donated them to the Valley Oasis Domestic Violence Shelter.

The Daily News donated papers for coupons, through which hygiene items were gathered free at local stores. Items included toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, shampoo and conditioner.

The counseling organization UCAN also provided assistance, as did individuals.

``Everything we got, we got for free,'' Christensen said.

After noticing a newspaper clipping in which the domestic violence shelter requested assistance, Christensen called to see what was needed and thus the hygiene kits were created.

Christensen is a member of Troop 408 with Scoutmaster Cory Duersch. He is also a member of the Quartz Hill High School wrestling team.

As part of the Court of Honor ceremony he received letters of commendation from President Clinton; Secretary of State Madeleine Albright; Sens. Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer; Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita; state Sen. W.J. ``Pete'' Knight, R-Palmdale; Assemblyman George Runner, R-Lancaster; as well as numerous NFL and NBA teams, and leaders from all branches of the military. McKeon also sent a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol.

Christensen is the son of Michael and Susan Christensen of Lancaster.