Officers from the 106th precinct in Ozone Park joined the Our Lady of Grace (OLG), Howard Beach Youth Group’s Oct. 20 weekly meeting to talk and offer support for bullying related issues.

Officer Ed Celona, a former youth minister and fifth and sixth grade Catholic School teacher, joined other fellow officers and easily engaged the 70 kids in attendance with questions about the different types of bullying. They also offered ways to deal with bullying if it happens to them.  Many hands raised quickly with answers like talking to a trusted adult.  Officer Ed also offered suggestions on how the kids can keep out of trouble on Halloween.

The night wrapped up with fun and games – from potato sack and three-legged races, used as a way of showing the youth that by working together, kids can help each other to combat bullying in their schools and neighborhoods. In attendance were also the cub scouts from nearby St. Barnabas Lutheran Church and the OLG Girl Scout troop.

The youth group meets Friday nights and is open to all students from sixth grade through high school.