Update: Four Youth spoke at Community School West

I have not been keeping up with this blog. We haven't had a Coffee House Nation Meeting since the B-Hive Coffee Shop got a liquor license. We need a new place to meet. Still, youth get together to speak all the time. The latest was yesterday at Community School West. Follow this link for details.





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due to mostly no one coming in today- cancelled

We'll try again in two weeks since we could not generate enough interest today- so we don't have to wait till next month.


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Back on schedule for 3-6-10- 2:00 to 4:00 PM B-hive!

Note: Please buy a beverage at the B-Hive. If you don't have money see Lloyd and he will make it happen. There is a one-beverage minimum rule at the B-Hive. Also, do not bring in outside beverages! Hope to see a good turnout for Coffee House Nation first saturday of the month get to gether!

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Thanks to Sidney Crosby, the Pens, and Tickets for Kids!

On 2-12-10 we were the lucky recipients of ten Sidney Crosby luxery box tickets at Mellon Arena. Needless to say the evening was enjoyed immensely by all.

We all felt like celebrities for one night. You can’t put a price tag on that. It’s not possible to exactly evaluate how such an experience could change any of these youth; however, as they have all done much to earn this special privilege I think the timing was perfect. There was magic in the air to be sure.



What can you say about being in Sidney Crosby’s personal box? This was an incredible evening for each of the seven juveniles in attendance and also for the three chaperones.

The Coffee House Nation is a group of young people in recovery from addiction and on Probation. Our purpose is to provide sober fun activities and a chance to informally socialize with each other. This event was easily the highlight of the year for us.

We were given lots of snacks (chips, dips, and even cookies) and a refrigerator full of soda. We ordered Nachos and Cheese off the menu and while we paid for those ourselves- it never ran out all night long. The view from the front five seats was stunning and really the view from any seat was fantastic. These Teens were treated to an intense night of sober fun. We now have the memories to enjoy for the rest of our lives.

The Pens lost in over-time but even that could not damper our spirits; it was such a close game and we felt so very special for being allowed to sit in Crosby’s luxury box. It really is an experience just to view all the photos and decorations on the walls.

Liberty Station Halfway House joined us as they often do at Coffee House Nation events. They transported three deserving youth and also sent one staff along. I and one other Probation Officer attended with four youth from our caseloads. This kind of camaraderie helps build strong relationships that can fuel these young people’s drive to recovery from the disease of addiction.

We all felt like celebrities for one night. You can’t put a price tag on that. It’s not possible to exactly evaluate how such an experience could change any of these youth; however, as they have all done much to earn this special privilege I think the timing was perfect. There was magic in the air to be sure.

As one teen put it, “I just can’t imagine that I would ever sit in Crosby’s box and watch a game. It’s so unlikely that I would say it was impossible. It makes me think that if this could happen what other good things could happen in my life if I just don’t take the first one. You know, I’m starting to think just about anything is possible.”

The Coffee House Nation welcomes PO Ransom and two of her Probationees.

Thank you Tickets for Kids for creating a memorable and powerful experience for us all and especially to reward these young men’s hard work at changing their lives.

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New meeting schedule for 2010 (starting 1-2-10)

First Saturday Afternnoon of each month from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at the B-Hive Coffee Shop on Pittsburgh Southside. Note: There is a one drink minimum at the B-Hive. If you need help buying a drink-no problem- see Lloyd. Please do not bring in outside drinks to the B-hive. They make their money primarily selling beverages. Thanks.

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Meeting: December 5th 2:00 to PM at Bee Hive

Sorry for the short notice but this appears like it will be well-attended anyway.

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Go Steelers! Third Year running that CHN takes in Steeler Game! Thanks Steelers.

Special thanks to PSST parents Mary, Beth and Erv for making this game and the tail-gating possible. This is our third year with a 20-ticket package. A few of our people could not make it for the pre-game fun. Erv and Beth got there early and secured us a parking spot and he and Beth supplied the eats.

The seats were awesome! Upper-level but not nose-bleed. There is really not a bad seat at Heinz Stadium anyway but our seats were directly accross from the big screen. When they were in our end-zone we could see em sweating! OK, that's a small exageration but they were great seats!

This was the first steeler game for many of our teenagers. We also are lucky enough to have a few guys in thier twenties coming back to supply inspiration and leadership for our younger guys. Lots of opportunity for people to share phone numbers, hope and inspiration.

The seven-year old with the Steeler face is my grandson. It was his first game too!

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Steeler Time again for Coffee House Nation!- August 29th 7:30 PM

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Thanks Tickets For Kids for Penguins Hockey on 3-15-09!

Once again Tickets For Kids comes through for us by generously awarding us 8 tickets. What a game! Pittsburgh comes on strong in the third period to win big against the number one team, The Boston Bruins. While some of us were camera shy and we only had a phone camera- we managed to snap a couple shots.


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Coffee House Nation meets again! Update.

Five mostly new group members met at B-Hive 14th and Carson St. on 2-21-09. All are serious about chasing recovery and are busy turning lives around. Several volunteering to speak at Fatal Awareness Conference at Robert Morris College on 4-17-09. This will be our third year providing speakers and it looks mostly a new group of speakers this year.

Our next meeting will be in one month on March 21st. We are trying to meet every two weeks but March 7th is the NA Convention in Cleveland and two of our people are attending.



Two or three are also volunteering to speak at the PSST group (9:00 AM!) on 3-21-09, the morning before our next get together at the B-hive at 1:00 PM.

We also have volunteers to be in or help with the production of two videos that Juvenile Court is planning to make soon. Keep posted for more information. Finally, we are hoping to get some Penquins Tickets from Tickets For Kids. I will be working my Juvenile Court Rep this week. Last year, we had opportunities to go to five or six games but so far this year, we have only attended one game.

We also met two weeks ago but only had to members show; however, we are ready to pump this group up now and really get things going. New cast of young members are hungry for some speaking opportunites and fun activities. I told the group yesterday that I am going to make sure the blog is kept up featuring all of our activities and plans. Call me at 412-861-6757 if you want to get involved with Coffee House Nation.

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Tickets for Kids provides 13 Luxury Pirate Game seats!

These seats rocked! We had 13 out of the 15 seats of a donated Luxury Box at the Pirate Game on April 10th. None of us had ever been to a Luxury Box and some of us had never been to a Pirate Game at all. Thanks again to Tickets for Kids for helping provide our club with a spectacular activity.


We not only had this great room behind our seats with a sofa and chair and 42 inch flat screen monitor, but we had access to the upper deck. The upper deck has pool tables and table hockey at no extra charge. While playing hockey we could walk out onto the upper deck and watch the game for a while. The Pirates lost but it didn't affect the great time we had at all!

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Thanks AGAIN to Tickets for Kids!

Anther Penguins night out for CHN- thanks to Tickets for Kids. It was a Tickets for Kids night at the ice rink and a nifty Penguins cap came with each ticket. This game was one of the most exciting games ever and each one of our 8 member crew was yelling, screeming and on the edge of our seats. For several of our group it was the first time that they attended a Penguins Game or had even paid attention to Hockey. Thanks also to Milano Pizza for giving us a great deal!


Of course we miss Sidney Crosby and hope for a healthy return but we have plenty of great players left on the team. We meet first for Pizzza at Milano Pizza on Fifth Ave. They give us the "college special" if we show up before 5:00 PM. It's a tremendous deal on a large pizza and a refillable picture of pop comes with each one. Thanks Milano Pizza for helping us out again.

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Penguin Night for CHN thanks to Tickets For Kids!

We landed 8 tickets via Tickets For Kids. Thanks you Tickets For Kids. We couldn't do it without you. This the most impressive Penguin's Team that we have seen yet this year- these guys are winners. Speaking of winners, this was the most positive group of young people we have ever taken anyplace.

We would also like to thank Pizza Milano at 1304 Fifth Ave for the generous discount. Everyone agreed that is was excellent Pizza. Click 'read more' for more pictures.

Each of the seven youth are high achievers; each has accomplished a great deal in their his or her life already.

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We're going to the movies!

Thank you for the $100.00 contribution from PSST!

It seems to be that EVERYONE asked so far wants to see "I AM LEGEND." So, I took down the "GOLDEN COMPASS" add.

December 26th from 1:30 to 2:00 pm meet at Caribu Coffee Shoppe attached to Joseph Beth Books near the Hot Metal St. Bridge and Carson St. We will be walking two blocks from there to South Side Works Movie Theatre to see "I AM LEGEND." It starts at 2:25 and you must make before the movie starts or you will have to buy your own ticket. You can call Kelly Tuma (412-247-6372) or Lloyd Woodward (412-861-6757) to let us know that you will be coming.

After the movie we are probably going to get something to eat.

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Next Meeting

Due to icy weather on Sunday December 16, coffee was cancelled. We have rescheduled an activity for December 26, 2007 in the afternoon. It is a Wednesday, but no one will be in school for holiday vacation. We have been given a donation by a parent from the Parent Survival Skills Training and are able to attend a matinee movie. There are two options: The Golden Compass or I Am Legend. Call Kelly at 412-247-6372 by Friday December 21 with your preference. This will determine which movie and the meeting time. We will see the movie in the South Side Works.

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Thank You TICKETS FOR KIDS!

TICKETS FOR KIDS, you created another magical night for our club. We used the 12 tickets you gave us on October 25th, and while the Penguins disapointed, our club had a chance to see a Crosby goal, some excellent Hockey, and to get to know each other a bit. Many of us had never or hardly ever been to a hockey game! The seats were great too! I had two parents help with transporting and chaperoning the nine youth that attended.

This was the view from our seats without zoom feature! Click picture to appreciate what great seats we had. Unfortunately, Montreal was just to tough for us this time but we'll be back on November 7th for a Penguins challenge against Philly. The biggest win was for our club to share another sober-fun event of this quailty and to make some stronger relationships with each other. Call Lloyd Woodward if you are in our club and want a Penguins seat for November 11th. Click read more for more pictures.


I will try to put some other pictures down here later in the click more section. Bear with me, I'm just learning how to do this.

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Help! CHN to speak at the AIU West School on October 30th

Recently I was out at AIU West School for a brief chat with students, many of whom make no secret that they view recreational drug use as harmless. This is a tough bunch to reach. Kids always listen to other kids much more than they listen to adults. Any help at all is appreciated.

When: October 30th at 10:30 AM
Where: 19 May Avenue, McKeesport, PA 15136
Who can go: Any club member with significant clean time, and ok from thier sponsor, and/ or a strong desire to speak about what they have been though is welcome
What do I do if I want to come and speak: Call Lloyd Woodward at 412-861-6757.

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Penguin night rocks! Thank you Tickets For Kids!

Here are some pictures from out Tickets for Kids 10-17-07 game. Ok, we lost- but this was one of the most exciting games ever!

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