Oneida County Announces Details of 2017 Teen Traffic Safety Week and STOP DWI Baseball Classic

Education events take place over the next week; Games this weekend

County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., along with Oneida County STOP DWI Program and the Oneida County Youth Bureau, participating school districts, partners and sponsors announced today the details of the 2017 Teen Traffic Safety Week and STOP DWI High School Baseball Classic.

The week-long array of events is part of the county’s Teen Traffic Safety Education Program which is presented to Oneida County high school students annually just prior to prom season, and is aimed at making youth aware that their actions could have dangerous consequences.

Educational topics will include the effects of tobacco and marijuana use; opiate addiction; bullying, work zone driving safety, teen dating/sexual violence assaults, and the dangers of texting and driving and drinking and driving.

“Teen Traffic Safety Week is a top priority for myself and Oneida County Government,” Picente said. “The Teen Traffic Safety Education Program is an extremely effective way to reach our community teenagers and educate them on the dangers of making destructive decisions, especially at such a critical time of the year.”

This year’s Teen Traffic Safety Week events will take place at the following school districts, with special guest speaker Gisele Kress delivering a presentation called “Anatomy of a Tragedy” about her 22-year-old son being killed in car crash in 2009 in the Town of Webb:

• Vernon-Verona-Sherrill on Tuesday April 25, Gisele Kress speaks at t 1 p.m.
• Holland Patent on Wednesday April 26, Gisele Kress speaks at 1 p.m.
• New York Mills on Thursday April 27, Gisele Kress speaks at noon and a text and drive/DWI mock crash demo takes place behind the high school at 1 p.m.
• Clinton on Tuesday May 2, Gisele Kress speaks 1:30 p.m.
• Sauquoit on Wednesday May 3, Gisele Kress speaks at 8:45 a.m. and a text and drive/DWI mock crash demo takes place at Paris Town Park at 1 p.m.

The Amy Stock Memorial DWI exhibit, which contains the car Stock was driving when she was killed by a drunk driver in Albany two years ago, will also be on display at all locations.

As part of Teen Traffic Safety Week, the 6^th Annual STOP DWI High School Baseball Classic will also take place on the following days and times at Delutis Field in Rome:

Friday April 28:

• Remsen vs. New York Mills at 4:40 p.m.
• Proctor vs. RFA at 7 p.m.

Saturday April 29:

• Sauquoit vs. Adirondack at 11 a.m.
• Whitesboro vs. Holland Patent at 2 p.m.
• VVS vs. Camden at 5 p.m.

Traffic safety education sessions will take place prior to each game as well.

“The annual Baseball Classic is the centerpiece to Teen Traffic Safety Week and something I look forward to each year,” Picente said. “In addition to seeing some great competition between area high school rivals, this two-day event allows our partners to present critical educational information to the community. I thank all our partners, our Youth Bureau and STOP DWI offices for all their hard work and dedication to this worthy event.”

The Baseball Classic is sponsored by community partners A. Vitullo Inc., Preferred Mutual, Don’s Ford Superstore, Hemstrought’s Bakery, Adjuster International Basloe Levin and Cuccaro, Coca Cola, Cooperstown Town Bat Co., Electricians IBEW Local 43, First Source Credit Union, Foot Doctors, MVCC, Northern Safety & Industrial, Clifford Fuel Co. Inc, Adirondack Bank, Pavia Real Estate, Mauro’s Glass, the Save the Day Foundation and Oriskany Manufacturing Technologies.

Teen Traffic Safety Week’s educational partners are the Oneida County Health Department, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Department of Transportation, New York State Police, the Center for Family Life and Recovery, YWCA and Insight House.