SOBRIETY THE STAR OF PARADE ORGANIZERS SHINE LIGHT ON DARK SIDE OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS.Byline: RICK COCA Valley News Writer Organizers of a recent Valley parade and festival promoting sober living say people should know that if they drink alcohol, they'll never look as sexy as people in beer commercials. And the negative effects of alcohol abuse are a far cry from the life-is-merry scenarios beer commercials promote. ``Because it's a legal drug people don't realize that it's a drug,'' said Rachel Cosmic, lead organizer for the third annual Panorama City-Van Nuys Spring Parade and Festival. ``The bottom line is it deteriorates all the organs in your body and shortens lifetimes,'' Cosmic said. ``When you drink alcohol, you don't look good, you look bad.'' Cosmic is the founder of New Era Relief-Sober Link Educational Programs, a nonprofit organization Nonprofit Organization An association that is given tax-free status. Donations to a non-profit organization are often tax deductible as well. Notes: Examples of non-profit organizations are charities, hospitals and schools. that develops and produces educational programs for prevention of substance abuse and violence, including producing about 240 half-hour educational videos. She started the Sober Day L.A. and Walk-A-Thon in Pacoima in 1993 as a tool to bring more community awareness to drug, violence and alcohol abuse. The event grew and the parade was added two years ago. Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky Zev Yaroslavsky (born December 21, 1948) is a Los Angeles County politician. He served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1975 until 1994, when he was elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. He was preceded in both offices by Edmund D. Edelman. served as grand marshal Grand Marshal is a ceremonial, military, or political office of very high rank. The term has its origins with the word "Marshal" with the first usage of the term "Grand Marshal" as a ceremonial title for certain religious orders. for this year's parade, which included more than 70 entries including the Birmingham High School Birmingham High School is a public coeducational high school in the neighborhood/district of Lake Balboa in the San Fernando Valley section of the city of Los Angeles, California. The school is a part of District One of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Marching Band Noun 1. marching band - a band that marches (as in a parade) and plays music at the same time band - instrumentalists not including string players , an equestrian group called Charros Unidos and a host of others. Along with food, refreshments and arts and crafts arts and crafts, term for that general field of applied design in which hand fabrication is dominant. The term was coined in England in the late 19th cent. as a label for the then-current movement directed toward the revivifying of the decorative arts. , the event offered health and safety demonstrations and booths sponsored by a number of agencies including the Los Angeles Police Department "LAPD" and "L.A.P.D." redirect here. For other uses, see LAPD (disambiguation).  This article or section is written like an . and
several drug rehabilitation This article is about the process of rehabilitation for substance dependency. For other uses, see Rehab (disambiguation). For other kinds of rehabilitation, see Rehabilitation. For the American rap-rock group, see Rehab (band). facilities, such as Oasis Women's
Recovering Community in Sylmar.
Ponella Booker is a senior staff member for Oasis. She served on the organizing committee for the sober day event and said it provides a great service to Valley residents. ``I think the benefit is more awareness of the epidemic of alcohol and drug abuse,'' Booker said. ``Most of all, getting the children out there so they can get some information for preventive measures. Just to go to an event without alcohol is a good thing.'' Event founder Rachel Cosmic's passion for anti-drug and alcohol advocacy comes from first-hand experience. ``I became addicted to a substance,'' Cosmic said. ``And with a master's degree master's degree n. An academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the bachelor's degree. Noun 1. in communication arts and an office in Beverly Hills Beverly Hills, city (1990 pop. 31,971), Los Angeles co., S Calif., completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles; inc. 1914. The largely residential city is home to many motion-picture and television personalities. , I became homeless and (began) living in MacArthur Park.'' With the love and support of her family, Cosmic's time on the streets lasted just a couple of months. A journalist, Cosmic got into recovery and dedicated her life to helping others conquer drug and alcohol addiction. ``We're telling youngsters, you can have fun without (alcohol and drugs),'' Cosmic said. ``You don't have to smoke marijuana to get high. You can get high differently (by setting) up your goals. And when you reach your goals, you get high.'' For information on New Era Relief-Sober Link Educational programs, call (818) 377-4450. CAPTION(S): 4 photos Photo: (1 -- color) These ballet folklorico dancers entertained those in attendance at the 2006 Sober Day L.A. event. (2 -- color) Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (above) served as grand marshal for this year's Sober Day L.A.'s Panorama City-Van Nuys Spring Parade. (3 -- color) Marchers (left) present the state and national flags at the 2006 Panorama City-Van Nuys Spring Parade. (4 -- color) Young participants in the 2006 Sober Day L.A. event spread the word about the Health Prevention Fair. |
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