Educating And Empowering The Community

By CURT CLARK

Published: Nov 18, 2005 12:00 am

To the Editor:

As this fallâs Newtown Parent Connection programs have come to an end, we feel compelled to thank those who have helped us fulfill our mission to educate and empower the community in the prevention of substance abuse and to embrace families in crisis. We have been able to offer three outstanding forums through the hard work and sponsorship of our board of directors and some very special key people in Newtown who consistently make it possible for us to spread this mission to the entire community. As we have mentioned at our forums, six lives have been tragically affected by the use and abuse of drugs or alcohol over the last six months. This is six too many.

We who comprise the Newtown Parent Connection are committed to continuing to offer educational forums and to reach out to those who need our services. The three programs offered thus far have given us practical tips for dealing with the stresses of daily parenting; helped us be better disciplinarians; and educated us regarding the substances with which our children will be in contact. Thank you to those in the community who have taken the time to become aware and educated. It will make a difference for your children.

We would especially like to thank those of you who work diligently âbehind the scenesâ to enable the Newtown Parent Connection to reach out to our local neighborhoods and those surrounding our town. Special acknowledgements go to Cathy Dahlmeyer and the Newtown Drug Center for helping with the education and outreach, Chief Mike Kehoe and the Newtown Police Department, and Newtown Savings Bank for sponsoring our last two forums; Patty McQuail who offers ongoing financial support; Barbara Bloom and her team of phone callers; Kathy Gallagher for her work as our school liaison, Father Bob Weiss and St Rose Parish for their regular endorsement; Terry Laslo, Dave King, and the entire staff at Charter Communications; the staff of Newtown High Schoolâs NTV; and especially our board of directors â Wendy Davenson, Ray Gallagher, Roseanne Loring, Joan Ponsky, and Dolores White â for being the foundation of the organization to date.

You may have seen the four roosters on display around town thus far. They are part of the âRooster Reviewâ fundraiser that the Newtown Parent Connection is undertaking. Please take a look at the roosters decorated by some of our most talented artists. Residents can view the roosters and will soon be able to bid on them via a silent auction and/or an upcoming event in the spring. Additional roosters will make their appearances throughout the town, so be on the lookout for more to come!

Thank you sincerely to those who have either sponsored a rooster or have donated exceptional talent to adorn one! Visit Gallery Van Os, Church Hill Physical Therapy, Flagpole Realty, Newtown Savings Bank, or the Inn at Newtown to see the incredible work of our local artists. Anyone who wants more information on how to sponsor a rooster or join the host of artists can contact Roseanne Loring at Newtown Youth Services, 270-4335.

We are planning some focus group workshops scheduled for after the holidays based on the input we have received from you via our forums. Stay posted on The Bee and our website: www.newtownparentconnection.org for more information. If you have ideas for speakers or topics, please contact any of our board members to discuss your ideas.

Warmest regards,

Dorrie Carolan

Donna DeLuca

Newtown Parent Connection

PO Box 187, NewtownÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â November 15, 2005

Rosemarie Caraluzzi

BOE Listens To Health Insurance Presentation

NMS Career Day Gives Students A Glimpse Into Potential Careers

Fire Reports | December 10-17, 2025

NIC Finalizes Gathering Plans, Speaks With Parent Connection

My darling, You were the best GRANDmother a child could ask for. You created so many great memories & traditions that I have passed down to your Great grandchildren. You brought joy into every room you stepped into. Your laughter, singing, whistling and the signature Rockettes high kicks, is something I will always hold in my heart. There was something about walking into your home and being greeted by your beautiful face. *kiss on each check* followed by HELLOOOOOO Darling! The classical music playing softly in the background and your love and comfort made your home, a safe space. Somewhere, where love knew no boundaries. It was so much more than a home. I aim for the same in my home, and play the classic music 24/7, but it will never be the same. I pray I can be 1/4 of GRAND, you put in GRANDmother. You were so resilient. You found the positive in every situation. I look up to you so much. I remember begging Mom and Dad for years to change my name to “Carmen”. They didn’t officially change my name, but eventually started calling me “Carmenita” as I am a little you. THE HONOR. You were there for me, no matter the day or hour. You were always the one who would talk me through whatever hard situation I was going through. When my baby passed away, I refused to talk to anyone for 3 weeks. Except for you. You said to me “Better days are coming, babes. There’s always a rainbow after the storm”. Of course, you were right, because you are GRAND. I picture you in heaven dancing and laughing with him. Uncle Jay playing the money game with him. To know you are with your children again & with mine does bring me some joy. Twas the night before Christmas & New Year’s Eve, will never be the same. Another tradition you created. A memory that will last forever. Not just with me, but for generations to come. It may not be the same, but we won’t let it die. It will live on, in your name. To be your first GRANDchild was a blessing. I could write an entire book about you & all the amazing things about you. Even though we were robbed of time together & it makes me angry, I know I will see you again. This isn’t a goodbye, but a “see you later”. Just like we ended every phone call. Ciao, darling. I love you. MWAH MWAH! Love your GRANDchild, Kimberly aka Carmenita

Carmen Accashian

Unfortunately, I think this is likely to get worse, not better... Based on both public comments and private conversations, I’m increasingly concerned that our newly elected First Selectman intends not just to install these cameras, but to expand their use for full-blown enforcement and fines. Try getting a straight answer out of him about the long-term plan and you quickly realize how vague the responses become. Tyler is absolutely right to raise the privacy issue. These systems don’t just “catch speeders” — they quietly build a database of where we drive, when we drive, and who is in our vehicles. Once that infrastructure is in place, it becomes very easy to justify expanding its scope: more cameras, more locations, more uses, and eventually more automated enforcement. If Newtown is going down this road, residents deserve clear, written answers to some basic questions before anything is expanded: What limits will be placed on how and where cameras are used? Will footage and plate data be used only for speed enforcement, or for other investigations too? How long will data be stored, and who can access it? What safeguards will prevent vendors and individuals from abusing this information? Without firm, enforceable rules in place, “just a few cameras to slow traffic” can turn into something very different over time. I support safe roads — but not at the cost of unchecked surveillance and vague promises from our leaders. You try getting straight answers out of our First Selectman, myself and others have not been able to...

Discusses Traffic Cameras

I had to hold back a laugh at the idea that 7:30 pm is apparently such a late-night hardship that we’re already talking about moving meetings earlier. For a lot of residents, 7:30 is the earliest they can realistically get to Town Hall after work, family obligations, and the rest of real life. Shifting BOS meetings to 7:00 might make the calendar look tidier for those in the building, but it makes participation harder for the people who pay for the building. If the new First Selectman’s week is already booked solid and evening meetings feel like a strain, that’s not a reason to move the goalposts on public access—it's a reminder that the job is supposed to be demanding. Public service means accommodating the public, even when it’s inconvenient.

Walczak Adjusts To New Role, First Board Meeting

Real people were just in a frightening car accident. To immediately frame their misfortune as rhetorical ammunition against new housing — affordable housing included — feels less like concern for “health and safety” and more like opportunistically using a scary moment to support a pre-existing position. If we’re going to debate this proposal, we should do it honestly: with data on traffic volume, accident history, engineering recommendations, and the town’s housing needs, not by seizing on a single crash as proof that 300 apartments are inherently unsafe. Newtown deserves a thoughtful, fact-based conversation about growth, safety, and affordability — one that doesn’t turn other people’s bad day into a political talking point.

How Many Accidents Will It Take?

To add context that did not occur at the meeting would not be an accurate representation of the meeting and would, in fact, be editorializing to shape public opinion. The editorial staff here do not consider ourselves to be final arbiters of what the truth is (and if we did, it would make us partisan and biased), and we would need to provide a source for any dissenting information (sourcing all information in an article is literally Journalism 101). There were no such sources present at the meeting in question, and so it would not be appropriate to include such information in an article about the meeting. Dissenting voices appear in meeting stories when there were active participants with dissenting opinions, such as during public participation or the words of a council member who disagreed. It should be noted that the Interfaith Council, like many local boards and commissions, conduct meetings that are open to the public. This was not an article on the actions of the Greater Danbury Area Unites for Immigrants, or on immigrants, or on ICE's actions in the community, where including other voices or perspectives would be appropriate. We appreciate your opinion, but we stand by our meeting coverage and consider this discussion closed.

NIC Speaks With Danbury Unites For Immigrants, Discusses 12/14 Service

<< Dec 2025 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
30	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	31	1	2	3

Log In

Educating And Empowering The Community

Leave a Reply Cancel reply