The Tyrone Area High School Youth Action Network Club (YAN) met recently to discuss upcoming events for the 2014-2015 school year.

“YAN [Youth Action Network] is a student organization designed to heighten the awareness of national and humanitarian international issues,” advisor Mr. Cummins McNitt informed,“We are working on building the members, freshman especially.”

The first major event of the school year will be a community Halloween celebration. YAN is inviting youngsters to walk through the halls on October 28, 2014 from 5pm-7pm for a community trick-or-treat.

“This event will provide a safe environment for young children to trick-or-treat without the hassle of walking through town at night at a younger age,” said YAN president Mark Lewis, “it’s going to be a blast.”

The members of various high school clubs will assist the children with handy crafts and quick games, along with a treat at the end.

“There are around 15 groups participating and this seems to be a huge success so far, the night should be a lot of fun,” said McNitt.

“We spent many hours after school preparing crafts and thinking of activities to do for the kids,” said YAN member Haley Butina.

“This event has been successful in other communities, particularly in Hollidaysburg, so we’re hoping it will catch on here,” said co-YAN adviser Tracy Redinger, “We  hope that this will become an annual event.”

Other events that YAN is planning for the 2014-2015 school year include a visit from Peter Frantz of the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo.  Frantz will be a speaker in all social study classes. They also plan to do the annual penny war for Panzie in the spring to help raise money and awareness for this cause.