Central Middle Schoolers rock out red ribbon week to support museum

By Darragh Doiron

The News staff writer

NEDERLAND — Carly Dammon and Hannah Schlag supported their Central Middle School classmates in pledging to stay drug free and fund Museum of the Gulf Coast.

“Being Drug Free Rocks” was the Nederland’s theme for Red Ribbon Week and Catherine Hillsten, 7th and 8th grade counselor, said the guitar-rockin’ theme put them in mind of the local music legends whose stories they’d heard at the museum.

Dammon and Schlag said they both loved seeing the painted replica of Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche. They said they’ve decided to learn a lesson from the Port Arthur-born rocker’s lethal decisions to use drugs.

“You can be famous and not do drugs. If you do use them, there’s a bad outcome. She was at the top of her game,” Schlag said. “When you’re off drugs, you can accomplish more.”

Hillsten said the students’ Money for Music program raised $300 in “pennies, nickels, dimes and lunch money.”

Shannon L. Harris, museum director, accepted the funds.

“We were so excited to receive this donation from Central Middle School,” she said. “The Museum of the Gulf Coast depends on donations, both large and small, to continue to serve the community in the manner that it does. It is terrific to see that the spirit of giving back to the community is being instilled in a new generation.”

She’s got plans for the Central donation.

“The donated funds will sponsor, in part, a family fun day planned for Feb. 27 at the Museum. The event will be inspired by the temporary exhibition Boot Scootin’ Legends, highlighting classic country music,” Harris said.

ddoiron@panews.com