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Letter: ‘Thank You’ for Making 5th Annual Community Addition Awareness Vigil a Success

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Dear Editor:

On behalf of the New Canaan Parent Support Group, I’d like to thank all those involved with making our 5th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil a success. Our goal was to unite the community around the vision of “helping each other heal.” First, I would like to specifically call out thank our fiscal and community partner, the New Canaan Community Foundation, which was Co-Host of our event. Secondly, I want to thank our hard-working Event Committee, which was quick to adjust when we shifted the Vigil to our rain date. I especially want to thank Amanda (Sacred Heart U.), Bob, Charlene, Chris, Cyra, Elizabeth (NCHS), Jack (NCHS), Jacqueline, Jenny, and Lance for their tireless efforts. 

I’d also like to specifically thank my family for support and the memory of my son Evan for inspiration. 

Finally, in addition to our Community Sponsors listed below, I want to thank our MC John Hamilton of Liberation Programs; Speakers Jack Neuhaus, Devan Markiewicz, and Daryl McGraw; the Pivot Ministries Choir; Erika Long of Community Mindfulness Project, Pastor Derrick Fallon, NCHS Ram Council member Sydney Haydu, and several individual donors who helped make this event possible.

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Letter: ‘Thank You’ for Making Community Addiction Awareness Vigil a Success

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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 involved with making our virtual 4th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil a success.  

Our goal was to increase awareness in our community about addiction and mental health, while “helping each other heal”. 

First, I’ll start with thanks to our hard-working Event Committee, Team Orange, including Christine Brown, Ingrid Gillespie, Leo Karl, Trey Laird, Susannah Lewis, Lance Minor, Kim O’Rielly, Chris Otis, Lauren Patterson, Thea Ross, Cini Shaw, and Joyce Sixsmith. Other key players we want to thank include our event role players: John Hamilton, Emcee; Michael Askew, Henry Conlon, Mariann Conlon and Elisabeth Connelly, Speakers; Vanessa Landegger, Jenny Urbahn, NARCAN video; Rev. Richard Williams & Pivot Choir, “Amazing Grace”; Sydney Haydu (NCHS ’22), Community Pledge. In addition, we are grateful for Rev. Derrick Fallon and all the members of the clergy who participated in the faith candlelight vigil, including: Carol Bauer, Cheryl Bundy, Rev. Justin Crisp, Rev. Eric Dupee, Rabbi Jason Greenberg, Kim Hall, Fr. Rob Kinnally, Stuart Knechtle, Rev. Caroline Smith, Rev. Peter Walsh, and Rev. Shannon White.

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Letter: ‘Thank You’ from Awareness Vigil Organizer

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Dear Editor:

On behalf of the New Canaan Parent Support Group and New Canaan Community Foundation, I’d like to thank all those involved with making our 3rd Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil a success.  

This event had three goals: 1) to honor those who died too soon, as well as those who have struggled and are now in recovery; and 2) to openly discuss addiction and pathways to recovery; and 3) learn how we all can stand united to help others to heal. First, I would like to specifically thank the New Canaan Community Foundation, which has targeted behavioral health including substance misuse as an important community issue. Secondly, I want to thank Team Orange, our hard-working Event Committee, our MC John Hamilton and Speakers Jess Michelotti, Mike Holland, Heather Sinclair, Erika Long, and Clergy leaders Eric Fjeldal and Derrick Fallon. In addition, a special thank you to the Community Sponsors—Caron Treatment Centers, Communities4Action, Community Mindfulness Project, Exchange Club of New Canaan, Karl Chevrolet, Kids in Crisis, Laurel House, Liberation Programs, Lighthouse Recovery 365, Mountainside Treatment Center, New Canaan CARES, New Canaan Coalition, New Canaan YMCA, Newport Academy, Ram Council, Rotary Club of New Canaan, Silver Hill Hospital, St.

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Letter: ‘Thank You’ from Overdose Awareness Vigil Organizers

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Dear Editor:

On behalf of the New Canaan Parent Support Group and New Canaan Community Foundation, I thank the people of our town for uniting together during our 2nd Annual Community Overdose Awareness Vigil on August 30 in downtown New Canaan.  

This event had three goals: 1) to honor and remember those who died too soon; and 2) to come together as a community to openly discuss addiction and pathways to recovery; and 3) learn how we can all help others to heal. First, I would like to thank my family especially my wife Marge for supporting me through the last four months of planning, and my son Evan for his memory and energy providing inspiration. 

Secondly, I would like to thank New Canaan Community Foundation, our hard-working Event Committee (Team Orange), our Speakers, and the many members of our Faith Community—led by Rob Kinnally of St. Aloysius and Stuart Knechtle of Grace Community Church. In addition, a special thanks is owed to the Town of New Canaan, including: Kevin Moynihan, Tom Stadler; Leon Krolikowski (NCPD), Tiger Mann, Mose Saccary, and Steve Benko.  Also, many thanks to: Tucker Murphy and Laura Budd of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce; Arnold Karp of Karp Associates; Megan Ferrell and Rob Schwartz of St.

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Letter to the Editor: Thank You To Those Who Made Vigil Possible

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Dear Editor:

On behalf of the New Canaan Parent Support Group, I thank the people of our town for uniting together during the first-ever Overdose Awareness Day & Vigil on Aug. 31 in downtown New Canaan. It was great to have over double the expected turnout at around 600. We ran out of candles! This event had three goals: 1) to honor and remember those who died too soon; and 2) to come together as a community to openly discuss addiction and mental health; and 3) learn how we can all help others to heal.