From the MRJs Jason Vallee:
Cheshire police last night made 23 arrests during a response to a house party on Deer Run Circle. Lt. Jay Markella said that if area minors continue to drink, officers will continue to identify and address the problem.
Tim White
The Human Services Committee is embarking on their annual Alcohol Awareness Week. They updated their website, Cheshire Cares. And here's some of the literature they'll be distributing this week in an effort to curb underage drinking:
Tim White
Excerpted from the Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking newletter:
A reminder that our next Coaltion Community meeting is March 19th at 7pm. Chris Brown Coordinator, Special Education Support Services - Hamden Public Schools School Psychologist and Licensed Professional Counselor, will present on The Teen Brain: Alcohol and other Risky Behaviors.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month in Cheshire. CCSUD is co sponsoring the week of April 20 - 25th at Cheshire's Alcohol Awareness Week with the Cheshire Human Services Committee. Be sure to look for our billboard, lawn signs and free giveaways at local business establishments. For more information, visit Cheshire Cares.
Town Wide PTA will be hosting a workshop on Bullying and internet use on March 11, 2009 from 7 - 8:30 at Dodd Middle School. Scott Driscoll, a former police officer and FBI detective will be presenting. All are encouraged to attend this interesting presentation. For more information contact Diana Mueller at 535-7051.
Tim White
An update from Town Hall staff on the happenings of the CCSUD:
Last Thursday night we held the Drinking Age 21 or 18? panel at the library. We had a nice turn out and there were a number of interesting exchanges. Thanks to Dr. Barnard from St. Joseph's College, Officer Mark Ecke, Jennifer De Witt and our two local students for participating.
Our next Coalition Community Meeting will be on March 19, 2009 at 7pm - location TBA. Chris Brown, Cheshire Resident will be presenting the Teen Brain, Alcohol and other Risky Behaviors.
The Town wide PTA will be sponsoring a workshop on Bullying and Cyber Bullying on March 11, 2009 from 7 - 8:30pm at Dodd Middle School. Scott Driscoll will be the presenter. Please mark this important presentation on your calendar as well.
Speaking of schools, anyone happen to go to tonight's open house on CEFs Science Center?
Tim White
The Human Services Committee met tonight. They discussed outreach efforts for increasing donations to Cheshire's food and fuel banks. The also discussed:
The town staff to the HSC, Michelle Piccirello, tentatively agreed to speak at the upcoming energy forum. Her topic will be low-income heating assistance - Operation Fuel.
Tim White
From the MRJs Jesse Buchanan:
A youth and parent survey, released in October, gathered views and behavior concerning alcohol. Michelle Piccerillo, youth services director, said she hasn't had much reaction from parents since the survey came out.
Tim White
Here's the CCSUD newsletter from Sarah Bourdon, dated November 25:
A group of seven parents completed the Courageous Parenting 101 workshop series earlier this month. It was well received and I am planning on offering it again in January - stay tuned for the dates. This free workshop series focuses on communicating with your children about substance use as well as becoming as familiar with the current trends. Dinner is provided.
Look for our new Social Marketing Campaign " Don't Provide, Don't Excuse, Don't Ignore" posters up around town soon - we are very excited about this new way of getting information out to parents in the Cheshire Community.
Copies of the Parent and Student Surveys are still available - please email me if you would like a copy. There is lots of info in these reports that parents should be aware of!
Did You Know?
26% of our 11th and 12th graders surveyed said that they had ridden in a car with a drunk driver in the past year? BUT 88% of parents surveyed whose child was in 11th or 12th grade said that never happened in the last year........
Mark your calendar - the second community meeting of the CCSUD will be on January 15, 2009 at 7pm in Town Hall. There will be a panel presentation on the state drinking age - should it remain at 21 or should it be dropped back to 18???? Panel presenters will be announced soon.
Tim White
Here are some important upcoming dates if you're interested in the efforts of the Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking:
Tim White
The MRJs Stacy Graham Hunt is reporting that "Police arrested four juveniles yesterday for alcohol possession charges at Cheshire High School."
Tim White
The data from a town wide student survey about drug and alcohol use at Cheshire High School is valid, said Sarah Bogdanski-Bourdon, the project coordinator of the Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking, on Friday. (MRJ, by Stacy Graham Hunt)
Tim White
With the Human Services Committee's Alcohol Awareness week happening, they're planning an event:
April 24, 2008 7pm
Dodd Middle School, Cheshire CT
Ginger Katz: Courage To Speak (This is a community presentation focusing on the issue of substance abuse and what as parents and community members we can do about it.)
Tim White
Here is the MRJs take on the criticism being directed at the high school's drug & alcohol survey (by Stacy Graham Hunt) by Gerry Brittingham and Mary Underwood.
Tim White
The NHRs Luther Turmelle is reporting on the Town's recent survey on the use of drugs & alcohol by CHS and Dodd students. In particular, the article focuses on BOE member Gerry Brittingham and his frustration with the handling of the survey:
Problems associated with administering a survey of high school and middle school students about their attitudes toward alcohol, drug abuse and smoking made for some tense moments at a Board of Education meeting... “I can’t begin to quantify my level of frustration at how this happened,” Brittingham said at Thursday’s meeting, claiming that officials at the high school “bungled” the survey process.Tim White
Cheshire Cares, a service of the Human Services Committee, has been updated for:
Alcohol Awareness Week
April 21-25, 2008
Tim White
Several state legislators, including "Sen. Sam Caligiuri announced today a new proposal aimed at mandating personal accountability and zero tolerance of dangerous driving by 16- and 17-year-olds." (Stamford Advocate)
Caligiuri offered “I am delighted to be working with Representative Mazurek and other legislators in a bipartisan manner as our efforts to address these serious teen driving issues should not be political. Too often, we pick up our newspapers or turn on the news to learn of yet another horrendous accident involving teen drivers. And, sadly, these accidents are too often the result of recklessness and dangerous behavior. We have a responsibility to pass the best laws we can to try to prevent more of these tragedies.”
Tim White
The effort to stop drunk driving arose at last week's Council meeting. I then mentioned a new product... an ankle bracelet... that monitors alcohol consumption 24/7. But I didn't have any details, so I looked it up. It's called SCRAM (Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor). Here's an image
Tim White
In case you missed it, we had a Council meeting tonight. Sorry I didn't post the agenda ahead of time. I know I've been getting into the habit of posting it before meetings, but... between the full weekend wedding and me coming down with a cold on Sunday... I've been behind and simply forgot. Anyway...
First up was Kathy Nankin of the Human Services Committee, discussing their Alcohol Awareness forum (scheduled for this Thursday evening in Town Hall). She gave an update on current happenings outside the forum and gave all Council members this pin (see inset image) that's intended to symbolize the campaign to stop underage drinking. For more info, visit the Cheshire Cares website.
Second came Nina Vianese, representing the Kids in Motion group. They made a request for the town to provide funding for their project. Their budget calls for $350,000. And they've raised $208,000, including the $100,000 from the state that was recently announced by Sen. Gaffey.
Third was Rich Kaplan, representing CYB. Basically, he just gave us an update on the legal status of the proposed ballfield complex being considered by CYB and the Town.
And lastly came the Library and some info on their "One Book, One Town" program. This year the chosen book is When the Emperor Was Divine.
Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
The Human Services Committee recently announced the winners of their "Alcohol Awareness Week Logo and Slogan Contest." (To see the winners, look for the "Cheshire Cares" link to the left.)
And unrelated to Human Services, but something that may be of interest to those who are interested in underage drinking... the following is an email excerpt from a California Juvenile Court Judge who happened to stop by the blog recently. Her comments are about what California is doing to reduce underage drinking:
One effective tactic is making surrender of the juvenile's drivers license a condition of informal probation. This can be done if charges are filed, or informally on a local law enforcement diversion program. In California , our Vehicle code permits parents to withdraw permission for a minor to drive, effectively cancelling the minor's license. It's not a suspension or criminal action. The parent commits as part of an informal diversion agreement not to allow jr to have his license back for the agreed-upon period (usually 6 months to a year). The dept of Motor Vehicles is informed on a form given to the parent by the police, and filed by the police (parents can file it also, but having the police do it ensures timely filing.) If Jr. is caught driving without a license, he's not covered by his parent's insurance policy and out here it's a misdemeanor with a $606 fine. Breathalyzers are used out here frequently for minors, but usually with police or probation department involvement.
I found that interesting.
Tim White
Town Council, Human Services Committee liaison
"For middle and high school students in about 1,000 districts across the country, including about two dozen in New Jersey, random drug tests have become routine, like pop quizzes for a student’s body. The increase in screening began after the United States Supreme Court ruled in 2002 that schools could test students participating in extracurricular activities. Students are screened for marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines and an assortment of other narcotics, and a growing number of districts are now looking to use urine tests to determine whether students have drunk alcohol, including outside school. If they have, parents are notified and students are barred from school activities until they receive counseling. Test results are confidential and are not included on disciplinary records." (NY Times, by Dave Kocieniewski)
Does Cheshire do this? I haven't heard of any such testing. As well, I'm curious to know how you could test for illicit alcohol consumption. I think schools would be hardpressed to disprove a student had taken a cold medication with alcohol.
Tim White
Town Council, 4th District
Here's a great example of some kids who are turning the tables on adults...This spring, a group of civic-minded teens at Haddam-Killingworth High School is turning the tables on the adults.The Youth In Action group is creating a 30-second television ad that urges parents to stop allowing children to hold drinking parties in their homes. The "Where do you draw the line?" ad will run on the local cable-access channel this spring. (Courant, by Penelope Overton)
For more Cheshire related info on the topic of underage drinking, please visit CheshireCares.org.
Tim White
Town Council, Human Services Committee liaison
