PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release:

October 8, 2004

Contact: William J. Smith (718) 556-7150
District Attorney’s Office

Laura Macho (718) 447-4242
Dignity Memorial

District Attorney Donovan Encourages Parents, Children to Watch Program to Prevent Child Abduction

STATEN ISLAND, NY – District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr., along with Dignity Memorial Funeral Homes of Staten Island, Casey, Casey McCallum-Rice and Virginia Funeral Homes and the South Shore Rotary Club, encourage Staten Island parents and children to watch an upcoming program on Staten Island Community Television (CTV) that discusses techniques to educate children on how to avoid abduction.

The program, hosted by District Attorney Donovan and Dean Balsamini, Sr. of the South Shore Rotary Club, encourages discussion on the film “Escape School: Abduction.” Dignity Memorial Escape School is a nationally recognized program that teaches children and parents how to recognize deceptive practices of a would-be-kidnapper while demonstrating escape tactics children can use in case of abduction. The presentation of the film is followed by a candid discussion of child abduction featuring the District Attorney, Mr. Balsamini and Michael Carullo, a leading Escape School instructor.

“While not all of the techniques discussed in the film are appropriate for all situations, I believe this film can start a necessary dialog between parents and their children,” stated the District Attorney. “It is especially timely in light of the spate of near abductions on the Island last spring.”

“I can't thank District Attorney Dan Donovan enough for the support of the Escape School program and in assisting us in bringing Escape School into the school system on Staten Island,” noted Laura Macho, the Director of Public Relations for Dignity Memorial, “we could not have done it without him.”

“I cannot say enough good things about Laura Macho, Vincent Scamardella and Tim Rice of Dignity Memorial, as well as Joe Longobardi and Dean Balsamini of the South Shore Rotary, and Tibor Spiegel of Community Television,” stated Donovan. “It was really a team effort to put this together and I hope the people of Staten Island will take advantage of the opportunity.”

The thirty minute program will air on Time Warner Cable at the following times and channels:

SUNDAY	OCTOBER10th	7:30 PM	CHANNEL 34
TUESDAY	OCTOBER 12th	7:00 PM	CHANNEL 35
THURSDAY	OCTOBER 14th	7:00 PM	CHANNEL 34
SATURDAY	OCTOBER 16th	6:00 PM	CHANNEL 34
TUESDAY	OCTOBER 19th	7:00 PM	CHANNEL 35
SATURDAY	OCTOBER 23rd	6:00 PM	CHANNEL 35

To learn more about the Escape School program, please go online to www.escapeschool.com. If you are a civic or school group and would like to schedule a training session, please contact Laura Macho at Casey Funeral Home at 718-447-4242.