by: Shelia McCarthy; section - Local; page - C5

JAMESTOWN - Singer Natalie Merchant returned to her hometown for a special appearance Friday, meeting with about 300 children at the Jamestown Boys and Girls Club.

The former lead singer with the 10,000 Maniacs, now scoring a big success as a solo artist, contributed $30,000 to the "Way to Go" program at the club, and another $15,000 each to the YMCA and the YWCA. The funds will go to programs designed to help prevent teen pregnancies. [note from MBML head librarian: yes you are correct, that adds to $60,000 not the $45,000 in the headline!]

"These are great community organizations trying to help kids, especially with after-school programs because there are a lot of working mothers, and now that I've succeeded in life and have the ability to help, it was a pleasure to do it," she said.

Merchant said she decided to do something after hearing about the HIV crisis in Jamestown last fall, when about 14 cases were attributed to one man, Nushawn Williams.

The former Jamestown man is in custody in the Bronx awaiting sentencing on a burglary charge, and Chautauqua County intends to prosecute him in the HIV cases.

"I felt like there must have been an extreme amount of despair and feelings of inadequacy and confusion about identity in the community," she said. "I know I was feeling that way myself, and I was in New York, and I felt that it was a tragedy that happened to everybody.

"But there is hope for these kids, and I hope this will send a message to the kids that people do care about you and we want you to be well developed citizens and to contribute. We need you," she added.

Merchant said she belonged to all three organizations while growing up in Jamestown.

Her second solo album, Ophelia, is expected out next month.

Judy Moore, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club, said the money will allow creation of a second component of the Way to Go program, to serve another 30 girls and boys of 10 to 12 years old.

"It is an exciting project. Besides human sexuality curricula, there are other components to it including tutoring, lifetime sports, counseling, performing arts, and all things that will make kids grow into productive citizens," Ms. Moore added.