Council to hold Internet safety presentation

SAN LEANDRO -- A seminar on Internet safety will be held tonightin the San Leandro High School library.

Presented by City Council member Joyce Starosciak, the programwill focus on the potential dangers posed to children who usepopular networking Web sites such as MySpace.

"We as parents talk to our children about the dangers ofstrangers and drugs, yet kids have access to all of those dangersonline," Starosciak said. "Just because it's a computer doesn't meanit's safe. Really, it's like an open door to their house."

Starosciak, who owns a computer support-services company, hasmade presentations to organizations on common computer safety tips,such as dealing with viruses and spyware.

Only after a parent attending one of her programs askedStarosciak if she held similar seminars for MySpace did she decideto hold tonight's presentation.

"Parents need to be aware and be in tune with what their kids aredoing," Starosciak said. "Kids are going to test things out,especially the Internet. But as parents, we're suppose to make it assafe as possible for them and teach them to make the rightdecision."

The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. For more information, callSan Leandro High School at (510) 667-3540. The school is located at2200 Bancroft Ave.

Kristofer Noceda covers education in Hayward, Castro Valley, SanLeandro and San Lorenzo. He can be reached at (510) 293-2479 orknoceda@dailyreviewonline.com.