PRESS ABOUT STAR HOUSE

December 12, 2011 – Sally Plone Named Director of Star House, Beverly, Dedicated to Healing Abused and Neglected Children and Their Families through Expressive Arts Beverly, MA

According to the Star House organization, Sally Plone is a licensed mental health counselor, coming to Star House with a rich and multifaceted professional background. She graduated with a Masters in Expressive Therapy from Lesley University in 1983. At Lesley, she studied Dance Therapy with Norma Canner the distinguished and inspired pioneer in Dance Movement Therapy as well as other practitioners of Expressive Gestalt Therapy. As a clinician, Sally has over twenty-five years experience working in diverse settings with children, adolescents and families. As a manager, she has developed and managed all types of programs from residential treatment to children’s day programs to international spiritual retreats. She is also a filmmaker and has special interest in biographical documentaries. She has a passion for building and participating in healing communities. Sally very much looks forward to creating outstanding and vibrant programming at Star House.

October 17, 2007 – Ipswich Country Club Fundraiser

 More than three hundred women gathered at the Ipswich Country Club on Wednesday night October 17^th for the club’s annual fundraiser this year to benefit Star House of Beverly. The event, Ladies Night Out, included a fashion show, silent auction, raffle, ad book and a special diamond raffle donated by Long’s Jewelers. The fashions represented John Farley, Millwalk, Carlisle Collections, Coco Collections, Night and Day, and Long’s Jewelers. They were modeled by club members. The Ipswich Country Club was proud to present Star House with a check for $40,000.00. Star House will also receive an additional challenge grant award from the John Alden Trust.

September 2007 – Volunteers Shine in Star House Makeover

”The smell of homemade tomato sauce filled the room as people in paint spattered clothes put another coat on the walls at Star House. While most of the kids were at the movies about 30 friends, neighbors, a church group, and members of the Ward 3 Civic Association gave the house a good cleaning and a bit of a makeover.”  – Salem Evening News

August 30, 2006 – Angels on Earth, A Guideposts Publication’s Weekly Feature

“Star House, I thought my angel had built it just for me.” (Read the entire story online.)

August 26, 2004 Catching a Star: Creating a House to Help Troubled Children

“Carden knew all about the epidemic of depression and more serious mental conditions that are evident in too many of our young people. Most health care experts agree that kids are dealing with more serious mental and emotional issues at younger and younger ages.” – Georgina Keefe Feldman, Former Executive Director of North Shore United Way.

January 5, 2004 – Bruins wives raise money for Star House

As the wife of a professional hockey player, Allison O’Donnell has discovered she has the connections to pull off a good deed. ”It’s a happy part of this life in the National Hockey League”, said O’Donnell, who is married to Boston Bruins defenseman Sean O’Donnell. Luckily for the children at Star House in Beverly, Allison O’Donnell and the rest of the Bruins wives recently decided to focus their goodwill on them. Star House, a home for children with psychiatric problems that opened last year has been selected as the major beneficiary of this year’s Bruin’s Wives Carnival, reported on Salem Evening News.

November 3, 2003 – Mayor Thomas M. Crean of Beverly proclaims this day “Star House Day” in the City of Beverly

Star House was chosen as the Grand Marshall of the Beverly Christmas Parade and given the keys to the city.

May 2002 – Interfaith Blessing at Home for Troubled Kids

“Star House is still a few months away from its official opening. But on Saturday, approximately 100 friends and supporters gathered for an interfaith blessing of the proposed home.” – Neighborhood Watch, Salem Evening News

Spring 2002 – Lesley Magazine, Lesley University, “Expressing Anger”

Carden is one of five Lesley alumni interviewed for this article who work regularly with angry or troubled kids. While all five have very different jobs and use various approaches there are some commonalities. They are able to help children to express their guarded feelings. More importantly, they provide assurance to that child that he or she has been heard. Creative expression is not just a diversion. Drama and art help unleash the demons in their lives. They create a story which metaphorically relates to their life.

2001 – Group Buys Home to Help Children

“The two story house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, a large yard with a garden and a garage that will be converted into office space. The house is set far enough back on the hill that it cannot be seen from busy Elliott Street which is Route 62.” – Salem Evening News

April 8, 2001 – Therapist’s dreams of haven for children, Boston Sunday Globe

The crisis in mental health services for children and adolescents-particularly inpatient psychiatric beds has received much media attention. John Widdison, a spokesman for the Department of Mental Health, described emergency screening and inpatient beds as “the front door of the system” and discharge into a residential setting as “the back door”. And he said, “We need both ends to flow.” Star House will be for children ages 5 through 12 in need of residential care. The plan is for the house to have 10 beds and the average length of stay one year.

Contact Us

For Information on Press and Media, please contact:

 
For information on volunteering, donations, or to enroll in one of our programs, contact: