Letters

Gratitude for a Successful QPR Training Collaboration

Published: Oct 23, 2025 3:40 pm

To The Editor:

On behalf of Newtown Parent Connection, I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the Newtown Rotary Club and the Newtown Suicide Prevention Initiative for collaborating with us to present QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) training at our facility on Thursday, October 16.

QPR training is an evidence-based suicide prevention program that teaches individuals how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and take three simple yet life-saving steps: Question, Persuade, and Refer. Often called “gatekeeper training,” it empowers everyone — not just mental health professionals — to take action and help save a life.

A special thank you to Jennifer and Neil Chaudhary for their outstanding presentation, and to Maureen Crick Owen and Anna Weidemann for providing participants with informative QPR materials and for the important work they do in our community.

We deeply appreciate your ongoing partnership and commitment to promoting education, awareness, and hope in Newtown.

Kevin Carolan

Executive Director

Dorrie Carolan

Founder & Outreach Coordinator

Encourages Weimann Vote Over Incumbent

Says Zoning Board Facing ‘Big Challenges’

Open Letter to Newtown’s Voting Majority

Arnie Berman For A Better Newtown

I’m With Bruce And Paul

If Bruce Walczak wasn’t considered qualified enough to serve on the Board of Education the last time he ran, how does that suddenly make him fit to lead the entire town as First Selectman? Newtown deserves proven competence, not political recycling. We should expect more from our leaders than recycled campaigns and empty slogans about “listening.” The First Selectman’s job demands results, judgment, and the respect of those he hopes to lead — not another round of excuses. Do we really elect failure as a qualification now?

Reasons To Support Walczak

We don’t need more listeners — we need action. We need someone who will stand up for the town, not engage in a politically divisive, doublespeak campaign. We need honor in the position, not politics. Leadership isn’t about echoing what’s convenient or popular — it’s about facing hard questions and making tough decisions for the good of the whole community. Newtown deserves a leader who answers with conviction, not calculation. Our town needs accountability, not applause.

Walczak, A Leader Who Listens And Follows Through

Mr. Walczak’s reply is unfortunately emblematic of the political double-speak that frustrates so many residents. Rather than engaging on the substantive issues raised — namely, the balance between quality education and fiscal responsibility — he chose to deflect and assign partisan blame. It’s easy to grandstand about “supporting education.” It’s harder to make responsible decisions that keep Newtown affordable for everyone — families, seniors, and small businesses alike. That’s the work real public servants are doing, even when it’s not politically convenient.

Responds To Walczak

*Regardless, you should know that the Board of Education has the greatest influence on the education budgets that ultimately come before Board of Finance and LC.

Mr. Walczak, I read it multiple times before submitting my letter and again afterward. Nowhere in your letter do you mention Legislative Council. Regardless, you should know that the Board of Education has the greatest influence on budgets that ultimately come before Board of Finance and LC. In addition, I noted that you didn't respond to the more substantive issue highlighted in my letter -- school funding and impact on our residents. Your initial letter seemed to indicate that "Republicans" were misguided in challenging budget requests. Regardless of whether you were talking about LC or BOE, is it your position that 64.8% of every tax dollar is not enough to adequately fund our schools? Are you advocating to spend more money? It feels like your Letter to the Editor is at odds with your campaign pitch of affordability.

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Gratitude for a Successful QPR Training Collaboration

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