Family Fun Night Sells Out, Planners Already Seeking Larger Venue For Next Year

By John Voket

The Newtown Parent Connection (NPC) typically focuses on the serious business of protecting local young people from Internet predators, drug and alcohol exposure, and other negative influences. But the only serious matter organizers of last weekend’s Family Fun Night faced was where to put all the families hoping to attend the inaugural event to kick off the school year, held at Newtown High School.

“We had parents getting angry with us and kids crying because their friends got in but they couldn’t,” NPC co-chair Dorrie Carolan told The Bee following the standing-room-only activity. “But any indoor event has a capacity and we were requesting reservations months ago, so we just sold out.”

Based on the numbers just before doors opened last Friday, the high school cafeteria was going to be at capacity, and volunteers were scrambling to ensure they would have enough pasta and ice cream to accommodate more than 300 attendees after the group originally expected about 150 attendees.

“We did everything we could to accommodate families that wanted to come,” Ms Carolan said. “We stretched the food and dessert but the fire marshal has strict rules about the capacity of the room, so we maxed it out at around 329.”

The good news is, the capacity crowd helped advance word of mouth promotion of this grassroots advocacy and outreach group, which is a subsidiary of the Newtown Prevention Council.

“It looks like we’ll have to get a bigger place next year,” Ms Carolan said.

Besides the light supper and make your own ice cream sundaes provided by Newtown Deli & Catering and My Place Restaurant, Family Fun Night featured cotton candy, fresh popped popcorn, live music and disc jockey dancing courtesy of 99 Dollar DJ & Entertainment Service. Marty “Magic” Steinberg spent the evening performing magic tricks at the tables, Ansonia Police dog Thor and his handlers, Officers Steve Martins and Jennifer Pella, held a short demonstration, face painting was provided by Bek Meyers and Ashley Duncan, numerous door prizes were distributed, and an auction was held for a popular Xbox 360 game system.

Former New York radio personality and NPC volunteer Kevin Suckow handled most of the emcee duties and the auction. School Superintendent Evan Pitkoff, Beth Barton, John and Cher Shannon of Family Counseling, Judy Blanchard, as well as Donna Culbert and Suzette LeBlanc from Newtown Health District all assisted as guest waiters and waitresses.

Newtown First Selectman Herb Rosenthal and Police Chief Michael Kehoe were also on hand to greet the crowd and speak about NPC and its mission.

While much of Family Fun Night focused on gathering and socializing, it was also an opportunity for NPC to advertise the group’s upcoming events including an October 5 talk with Dr Joyce Saltman, “Who Said Parenting Wasn’t Funny?,” a humorous discussion on parenting. Then, on Wednesday, November 8, John Boiano will be speaking about bullying.

Both events are being held at Reed School from 7 to 9 pm.

Ms Carolan said normally NPC events are taped for broadcast on the community public access cable channels, but Ms Saltman, who is highly sought-after on a national basis, is not allowing her talk to be taped or rebroadcast, so in-person attendance is a must for any residents who want to see this presentation.

For more information, or to learn about NPC volunteer or sponsorship opportunities, go to the organization’s website, NewtownParentConnection.org.