THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502020144
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Amber Perry is ready to get a jump on her education.
The 5-year-old is one of 18 pre-schoolers who will be enrolled in the new Headstart center at Twin Canal Village, a subsidized housing development.
After six years of planning and waiting, the green wood-sided center officially opened on Tuesday. Amber and about 50 others attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
``There were sacrifices made by all those involved in this,'' said Sylvia Lamb, community service director and master of ceremonies at the opening. ``And of course cutting through the usual amount of red tape.''
The one-room Headstart Center looks like a school classroom with desks, chairs, blackboards and educational toys and games. It is a joint effort of F&W Management, the Richmond-based company which manages the apartments, and the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project, known as STOP, a government agency begun in 1965 as part of President Lyndon Johnson's ``War on Poverty.'' The organization is funded by federal, state, local and private resources.
Amber and her brand-new classmates sat and listened to Mayor Meyera Oberndorf, Lamb and others speak about the importance of the center to the Twin Canal Village families.
Karen Parker, mother of six children and the president of the tenants association, said: ``It took a long time to get it here and we're extremely grateful it's here.''
The center will be staffed by four Headstart workers, three teachers and a school nurse. The goal is to give the children a boost academically as well as give them other skills to ensure them a competitive beginning with children from more advantageous backgrounds. Sessions will be from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays.
Parent volunteers will be working with the children, too, said Renja Murray, area coordinator of Virginia Beach Headstart.
At the opening ceremony, Oberndorf stressed ``self-reliance,'' calling it the key that helps people to help themselves.
``The community partnership works best when we work together, and helping children when they're young allows them to make a difference later in life,'' she added.
In his dedication, the Rev. David Slayton of nearby Green Run Baptist Church, spoke of the need for positive adult role models in the lives of the Headstart children. He said the opening of the center would promote that.
The new building replaces a Headstart van that visited Twin Canal Village in the past, Lamb said.
``This means a great deal to our community,'' she said. ``It will provide a start for each child's education. It is a beginning and we could use another one like it. We have a waiting list of children wanting to get in. However, it's a real solid beginning.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Children who will use the new Twin Canal Village Headstart center
attended the dedication.
Amber Perry, left, and Christopher Stokes help Mayor Meyera
Oberndorf cut the ribbon at the new Headstart center.
by CNB