Here's hoping more than a few moms and dads, everywhere around Central NY, took note of this week's story about the underage drinking party in the Bradford Hills neighborhood of Syracuse one week ago tonight.  Police estimate as many as 50 kids were there at the height of the bash.  Most of them scattered in horror after the party suddenly ended early the next morning.  One of the youngsters was severely injured when a dog bit her in the face.  This girl needed extensive surgery just to begin to repair the damage to her face.  She's a senior at Christian Brothers Academy.  Graduation Day is this Sunday.
 
Two other members of the CBA Class of 2008 were charged with providing the alcohol for the party.  CBA's principal says "many" of those who attended the house party are students at his school.  Word gets around fast when there's a house available for a party.  Available because the parents are out of town for the night.
 
I wonder how many parents whose children attended the fateful party...a) knew about their son or daughter's plans to be at that home that night, and, b) if they WERE aware of the party's location, how many moms or dads made a call or sent an e-mail to the OWNERS of the party house ahead of time...to make sure that adults would be present?
 
Having pondered those questions, let's whisper a prayer for the young lady who paid an awful price for being at that house, that night...for her friends who witnessed something that they, too, will never forget (and who did what they could to help her until paramedics arrived)...and for all families with middle-and-high-schoolers: that open, respectful communication combined with good decision-making...can help prevent the next house party.