The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 17

Mann -i Eenimg Journal 31onday January 30r 1967 Second Newsfront rage IT -v-. WlL1ilCTON" DELAWARE a Dream Start Project 6 By Carl G. Smith 'J rrtHBS MONDAY'S geographical pop quiz is i a' single question -with a long windup and Ja: fast, break. Wilmington's memorial for its Civil War dead id the monument at Delaware Ave. and Broom 'J its memorial for the dead of World War I is the Washitngon Street Bridge over the i I I a i i i 'w -w I who will go into first grade next year, and who will not have had the kindergarten experience, are being i taught basics" in small groups by one of the teachers.

in World- War II and Korea is at the Delaware Memorial Bridge plaza. 1 tH sN I' Si ''1 r-h i i 1n-jin- 't'i-iii--iiMT I-- 1 i (Myfrwmm 1 BIKE TIME Lydia Jesus gets Jier turn on the tri- cycle with 16-year-old Irlene Thompson, Brandywine High School volunteer, as a passenger. Mary Ann Perez (left) will be next. WHAT'S THIS? Mrs. Luskin, director of the program, takes time out often to work individually with the children.

Modeling from Head Start's own homemade play dough formula is a favorite activity. 2 Span Deaths Raise Traffic In addition to the regular staff, there's a corps of daily volunteers who help in many areas. Mrs. Chadwick Toman coordinates the activities of this group which gives its time on a regular schedule. Mrs.

Luskin herself counts working with disadvantaged, children her first "WHEN I taught in the public schools, I always asked to be put in a neighborhood where I could work -with children who really needed help," she explains, The Catholic diocesan Head Start program is one of six now in operation in- New Castle County, involving altogether 515 youngsters and for which more than $500,000 has been allocated by the federal government. Community Action of Greater Wilmington, through which all applications locally are filed, says Wilmington public schools operate 11 such centers with over 200 children attending in schools and churches. THE one at the Unitarian Church under the Catholic Dio cese is only one where a dual language situation is being worked out. St. Paul's Catholic Church is in a neighborhood which has a large portion of Wilmington's Cuban and Puerto Rican population.

Other projects in the county are in the De La Warr School District at the Dunleith School; in New Castle Special School District at the Booker T. Wash- ington School; at the Marshall-ton District's Anna' P. Mote School, and in Middletown where a program is being carried out for that town and the Odessa-Townsend area. UNDER federal stipulations, up to 10 per cent of Head Start youngsters need not fall into the poverty bracket. Federal ards set a $2,500 maximum an, nual income for a husband, wife and one child in the poverty class, and with each additional child resulting in an additional $500 allowance.

The Community Action office said it is currently applying for funds to use in summer programs, but next fall's opera-" tions will depend upon this year's congressional action. As the interview ended, a commotion could be heard in, the class. "Paul can't stand the large' group for a long time. Every-once in a while, something has-to give," Mrs. Luskin Paul lay screaming on thes floor in the big room with the bunny.

7. 1 Mrs. Luskin acted as if to pull her hair. 'Sometimes you wonder if you can take it but then, just tell myself 'This is why you are here to help kids By EILEEN C. SPRAKER Not the cold statistics of fed-.

eral dollars but the warmth of community help and of children's relationships with -1 teen-agers and adults tells the story of Delaware's only dual-language Operation. Head Start program. Directed and given its mo-r mentum Mrs. Michael Lus-, kin, the program involves 53 pre-schoolers at the First Unitarian Church in Sharpley. But the children do not live in affluent suburbia but in Wil- mington, and not the Unitarians but the Catholic Diocese of Wil- mington is the initiator of this Head Start program.

Mrs, Luskin does not worry about such a paradox. To her the facilities are wonderful, "a dream." ORIGLNALLY, St. Pauls Catholic School was to lend a 1 basement room "which it really needed itself" for the head start program. But Pauline Luskin, herself a Unitarian, knew her church was anxious to have its facilities used weekdays for a community project. "Anyway, religious teaching isn't part of the program.

This costs us about $40 a month for heat and light that's all." What's more, with her special enthusiasm and knack for getting others involved, she has made an area-wide community project out of the venture. Not only parents, but a host of both Brandywine High School students and adult volunteers, health and social agencies, as well as industrial firms and businesses, have lent a hand to Head Start under her cajoling. AS she was being interviewed last week, a little wide-eyed 4-year-old tugged at her dress. "Come here, come see," he said. "This is Paul" (not his real name), she explained.

"Four months ago, he wouldn't talk to anyone. He didn't even speak, just made grunts and sounds." "Paul was insistent and tugged her into 'an adjoining room where a big -white bunny sat in a cage munching on a carrot. "Yes, Paul, that's a rabbit. Can you say rabbit?" she coaxed. HE mumbled something which sounded a little like rabbit without the Patiently she repeated It until Paul had the whole word sounded out correctly.

"His brother- is a failure in second grade at age 7," said Mrs. Luskin. "Imagine being a failure in second grade. Paul's coming around so nicely, but he still has problems. You'll see." Paul was off to bring some of the other teachers and pupils in one-by-one to see the rabbit.

When the volunteer who. had' brought the pet in for the day let him out of the cage, Paul drew away and motioned for. the bunny to be put back, although the other youngsters were eager to pet him. "CONE JO" said one dark-haired girl who came in to see. She was one of the nearly 40 children enrolled in the program who are of Puerto Rican or Cuban parentage and who hear Spanish at home and know very little English, i "In English, we say rabbit," SPRAKER But where, is Delaware's memorial to its dead of the Spanish-American War? Youlay you didn't know we nad any such im memorial? Neither do a lot of people who drive past it every, day, V-? The Spanish War memorial Is a combination' drinking fountain, and horse watering trough at 16th and Washington under the shadow t.t of the stone portals of Washington Street Bridge.

the inscription on the stone fountain pays tribute, to Lt. Clarke Churchman as Dela-: ware's only casualty of the Spanish "War. It he was graduated from, West Point in April, and killed in Cuba in' June' of the same year. Out of Context A local church was sending out some lay- men to visit other members in their homes ('and talk about the church's problems. The pastor suggested some Bible verses that the visitors might read for inspiration.

The first suggested passage was Luke 15. It ends with this assurance: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist." V. One layman was so inspired that he read a rt little farther. The next verse said, and some of you they will put to death." He's a little nervous now, but he'll be all right as long as nobody mentions the word, lions." r-' Last and First Overlap Amid all the reports of the first crocus blossom, first bluebottle fly, first daffodil sprouts and first bees of the season, there is a report that last year's pansies haven't stopped blooming yet. Mrs.

Elizabeth Price, who lives on Delaware 7 about a mile below Stanton, had some pansy plants that were still blooming when the Christmas Eve snowstorm covered ijhcjn up. All the snow from the porch steps was dumped on top of that, and the pile didn't melt completely until last week. When did "melt, there were the pansy blossoms, perfectly preserved. During last week's warm -spoil, one plant continued to bloom, 1966 buds. Mrs.

Vernon Burxis of 311 Birmingham 'Woodcrest, has some plants of summer stock bloomed until the snowstorm and began budding again last week. She also reports that her mountain pinks turned to their spring color last week and produced several blooms. Dangerous Dolls A few weeks ago, there was a lot of publicity about 'imported rag dolls that could easily burst into flame. A number of families got rid of them. Last week, three of the dolls were seen from the side of a garbage truck on Darley Road.

The man who saw them is 'afraid the garbage collectors fished the dolls out of trash cans with the idea of letting jtherr own daughters play with them, not knowing about the danger. So here is the warning again: Beware of -any rag dolls that have been thrown away although they look new. Their owners probably identified them as the fire-hazard type. Today's Horror Setty Bart of Newark is worried about those jrabbits who, we said last week, were hare today and gaunt tomorrow. She says the poor Bunny, reduced to skin and bones, is hare today and gone to marrow.

12 Fatalities to prompted Mrs. Luskin. "Sixty per cent of the children are dual-language children, and need to learn English before they'll be able to cope with school." Although there's a big sign "Speak English" above Mrs. Luskin's desk in her little of-, fice and supply room, there's a Spanish-speaking teacher as well as an -English aide with each of the youngster groups. In ition, Spanish students from Brandywine High School have volunteered to come in each day to help the children on a one-to-one basis with language.

"THERE were 80 students who volunteered when the announcement was made," said Mrs. Luskin. 'We use about six of them each day. They come during a free period." Some of them go after school in groups of two or three to help parents, too, who want to learn English but don't have the courage yet lo enroll in the public school adult education programs because of their language problem. "They get along on a one-to-one basis until they learn some of the basics and they then can cope with the class situation," said Mrs.

Luskin. But this project, too, snowballs. "I took one of the students down one afternoon to help a mother. The woman had invited in two of her friends which was O.K., except that they brought children, too. So I entertained about' 15 children while the English lessons were going on for the three mothers." This particular head start program reflects of "the making of America." Mrs.

Luskin has visited in the homes of most of the pupils and knows their backgrounds. The parents are eager for their, children to have the opportunity and came to see the Unitarian Delaware's highway death toll is twice what it was this time a year ago following two fatalities in separate bridge accidents yesterday. A Philadelphia man involved in one of the accidents was listed in critical condition this morning. Joseph Gott, 21, of 932 Young New Castle, died in Wilmington General Division at 5:40 a.m. yesterday of injuries suffered when his car collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer on the Delaware Memorial Bridge at 2:20.

GOTTS death was the first auto fatality on the bridge since June 29, 1964 and the 8th since the span opened in 1951, Mrs. Anna N. Park, 53, of 405 Robinson prjve, Dunleith, was killed when her car crashed through the guard rail of the Walnut Street Bridge at 12:45 a. m. yesterday.

She was" pronounced dead on arrival at 1:05 at Delaware Division. Ruby Williams, 52, of 3431 N. facilities before their children came to the school. "We didn't have bus transportation in our grant, so a local citizen offered to finance that," said Mrs. Luskin.

"I feel the bus experience has been a big advantage for these youngsters. I don't agree with those who think you have' to keep these youngsters in their own neighborhoods. Getting them out gives them a whole new perspective." THE parents came before Christmas to make stuffed toys for their youngsters as Christmas gifts. The Dii Pont Co. donated huge plastic bags of Dacron stuffing and Joseph Bancroft Sons Co.

gave remnants of materials. "We had the mothers make blankets and pillows for the children, too," Mrs. Luskin said, holding up one of the finished work quilt-like cover with Dacron filling. "We had asked the children to bring blankets from home but this posed a problem: they had to take them home with them each day because there weren't any extras and they needed them at night to keep warm." "Everyone has been so good' about filling in gaps and needs to the program," said the director. She told about the problem of filling a huge 10-foot-square, 10-inch-deep sandbox built by volunteers.

"BIG, because I wanted every child to be able to play in the sand whenever he wanted and then I found it was going to take three tons of sand to fill it!" Butv a local building materials firm gave the sand and the bus driver found a friend with a pickup truck who hauled it to the For; outdoor play the children use the church lot and go regularly to the playground of the adjacent Du Pont Elementary School to use the climb-, ing and other equipment at off hours, The children all are clothed in starched and neat clothing, some of it gifts from community donors. "We keep box here all the time and give out whatever seems to be needed." In addition to the regular, teaching staff, there are two cooks who prepare a noonday meal and a custodian who also doubles as a "father image" for many of the children. Luskin feels that boys need a masculine influence, so Fred Mathias, who has nine children of his own, works on projects occasionally with the boys. He and the boys have sawed, hammerd and nailed orange crates into little three-decker wheeled carts for the teachers to use for getting supplies around from room to room. plumbing supplier donated some plumbing tools and Mathias and the boys work, with them in play, figuring how to j.

join together the Ts' and Several of the older Felton Works To Rebuild 19th Philadelphia, was admitted to Delaware Division in critical condition with head and internal injuries. He was a passenger in Mrs. Park's car, MRS. Park and Williams were thrown from the car when it crashed through a 35-foot section of guard rail in the north bound lane, according to Wilmington police. Patrolman William Ruggiero said the victims and the car landed on dry land about 50 feet from the bridge.

Ruggiero said Mrs. Park's car was traveling in the southboun4 lane when it bounced off the guard rail in that lane and crossed over the median The car spun around, knocked down a gate box and then crashed through the guard GOTT car was approaching the crest of the bridge, headed toward the Delaware side, when it collided with a tractor-trailer driven by Edward Lee, 55, of Burlington, N.C., according to bridge police. Richard Pullan, 20, of 802 Clayton New Castle, was treated for face cuts in Wilmington General. He was released from the hospital. Police said Pullan's brother, Joseph, same address, had a nose injury but refused treatment.

Both were passengers in Gott's car. The two deaths increased the total of fatalities' on Delaware roadways to 12 compared to six for the same period last year. This year's count includes four deaths in Wilmington and eight deaths outside the city, 2 Win Med Scholarships Two medical students from the Wilmington area have received $400 scholarships from the Gracelon and Merritt Fund administered by Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine. Robert S. Mitchell, son of Mr.

and Mrs. Charles J. B. Mitchell, 15 Peirce Road, Deerhurst, and Edward A. McAbee son of and Mrs.

Edward A. McAbee, 5 Granite Road, Alapocas, both 1966 graduates of Bowdoin, were among 21 medical students receiving the awards. Mitchell is a first-year medical student at Northwestern University Medical School, and McAbee is in his first year at University of Pensylvania Medical School. From the Dover Bureau 1 VI! 1 v-'j mm. FELTON People here are trying to restore order to this community which felt the sudden and terrifying impact of a tornado Friday.

-J. Arid they are doing the job themselves. The Felton School is open as usual for classes today according to Principal Melvin C. Luff. On.

Friday, the twister narrowly missed the school and its 1200 students. The Delaware Chapter of the American Red Cross, which set up a disaster headquarters in school, reported yesterday it had received 'no requests for help from those whose homes -were damaged in the Friday afternoon twister, FOUR homes and an automobile service 'station' were demolished by the tornado. Nine other houses and two other service stations were damaged. Those whose homes were less severely dam-' aged moved back into them Saturday. Those I whose homes were destroyed found shelter with friends or relatives, the Red Cross said.

While victims of the tornado seemed to take "their losses in stride and prepared to rebuilt, I the disaster scene at Felton Crossroads on U.S. drew hundreds of curious spectators, i All day Saturday and yesterday cars drove slowly through the most heavily damaged area Sanford Street in Felton Manor while t-state police kept a guard on the victims' possessions. 1 I BY. noon yesterday, however the area was declared from5 possible looters, arid the troopers if k' f-A ah. Staff Photos by FranR Fahty LOOK The intricate wonders of moss on a tree from under the magnifying glass fascinate Head Starters Charles Kin? (left) and Art Diaz.

Mrs. Wallet Call, a volunteer, finds it intriguing, too. WORD IDENTIFICATION Diane Hynson, Spanish class, student from Brandywine School, helps a Head Starter name the doll's clothes word by word in English i'.