NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letter. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here.
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Paul Reinhardt at the 10th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil, Sept. 2, 2026. Credit: Michael Dinan
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the New Canaan Parent Support Group and our co-host New Canaan Community Foundation, I’d like to thank all those who made our 10th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil a success.
We had 500 people in attendance in downtown New Canaan, despite us postponing our event to our September 2 rain date. Our goal was to show, through heartfelt testimonials, that recovery from addiction is possible, and we succeeded with our amazing line-up of Mike, Maggie and Andrew, welcomed by Kera Townshend McRedmond, speaker at our very first vigil in 2017.
Our tagline this year was Community·Addiction·Recovery because of our theme of community empowering recovery.
I want to thank our Emcee John Hamilton (back for his 10th year); our local clergy participants led by Pastor Martha Epstein and Minister Maryanne Baker; Adam Christoferson and his Musical Intervention band; Recovery Songwriters Ned Thunem and Dave Hart; and NCHS Ram Council’s Jack Busby and Viv Zuwiyya for leading us in the event-ending Community Pledge.
Kudos go to our Team Orange planning committee, including Colleen Prostor, Jacqueline Calayag, John Hamilton, Karlie Reitano, Liz Moore, Liza Pohle, Meg Soffen, Melissa Harold, Melissa Smith, Philippa Doyle, Robert Plunkett, Tiffany Aldana and Tracy Cramer. You are the best!
We could not have successfully pulled off our New Canaan Vigil without the following partners: the Town Highway Department’s Lou Boice, Town Rec Department’s Butch Landon, Fire Captain (Ret.) Mike Socci, Team Liberation and the Wellness Van, NCHS Ram Council, NCHS SLOBs, NCHS NCL mothers & daughters, NCHS film students Cannon Nardini and Sophia Sibilia, Cain Management dba Dunkin’, and Karp Associates.
Our generous Sponsors made our event financially possible, namely: Ascendant NY, Center for Motivation & Change, Elevate Health & Wellness, High Watch Recovery, Hopewell Health Solutions, Mountainside, New Canaan CARES, Paramount Wellness Retreat, Release Recovery, Sabino Recovery, Silver Hill Hospital, The Lighthouse CT, NC Human Services, Turnbridge, Walter Stewart’s Market and several anonymous donors with big hearts.
There is absolutely nothing more powerful than witnessing courage and vulnerability when stories are shared. We never know which story plants the seed that saves someone’s life. And THAT is the goal of our event.
Please mark your calendars for our 11th Annual New Canaan Vigil: Wednesday, September 1, 2027.
With appreciation to all,
Paul Reinhardt
Founder, New Canaan Parent Support Group