Around Town

Seventh Annual ‘Addiction Awareness Vigil’ Set for Aug. 30

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Carriage Barn Arts Center. Every summer for the past six years, New Canaan closes the former “Pop Up Park” area downtown to hold a candlelight vigil in memory and support of loved ones who have struggled with addiction. The Addiction Awareness Vigil is organized by the New Canaan Parent Support Group, led by its founder, town resident Paul Reinhardt. Year after year, it has been a place where those battling addiction have a safe environment to come forward, as well a place for those who have lost a loved one to pay their respects and support each other. According to Reinhardt, visitors to this year’s vigil—scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug.

Around Town

Podcast: 6th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil

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This week, on 0684-Radi0, our free podcast (subscribe here in the iTunes Store), we talk to Paul Reinhardt, a town resident and founder of the New Canaan Parent Support Group. The organization’s 6th Annual Addiction Awareness Vigil will be held on Thursday, Sept. 1 in the “Pop Up Park” area at Elm Street and South Avenue. Here are recent episodes of 0684-Radi0:

Paul Reinhardt

5th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil

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UPDATE:

Due to Wednesday’s forecast, the 5th Annual Community Addiction Awareness Vigil has been postponed to Thursday, September 2, 7pm, rain or shine. “With a Flash Flood Watch in effect starting Wednesday afternoon, we have no choice but to shift the date to Thursday,” said Paul Reinhardt, Founder, New Canaan Parent Support Group. The event will take place rain or shine, as the support group and event Co-Host New Canaan Community Foundation have secured an indoor location right near the outdoor venue. All three testimonial speakers have re-confirmed, including Daryl McGraw, a Stamford native who is featured in a recently-released documentary Uprooting Addiction. 

If you have any questions regarding the Vigil, please go to ncparentsupportgroup.org or email Paul Reinhardt at preinhar99@gmail.com. ***

We unite as a community for an evening of live music, speakers in recovery who will share their lived experiences, and a candlelight vigil lead by local faith leaders.

Around Town

5th Annual Addiction Awareness Vigil Set for Sept. 1

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One year after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event online, an annual vigil that has drawn hundreds to downtown New Canaan to honor those who have died due to addiction and those in recovery is set to return in-person. The 5th Annual Addiction Awareness Vigil is to be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 1 in the former “Pop Up Park” area at South Avenue and Elm Street. “We are excited that unlike last year where we had to do it virtually that we are back in person for it,” town resident Paul Reinhardt, founder of the New Canaan Parent Support Group, told members of the Police Commission during their regular meeting, held July 26 via videoconference. Reinhardt created the support group after losing his own son, Evan Reinhardt, on July 15, 2015, at age 24.

Paul Reinhardt

Weed, Inc with Ben Cort

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Join us for a conversation about the facts behind today’s marijuana with Ben Cort, author, TEDx Talk speaker, and treatment & recovery advocate. Teens are welcome, and there will be plenty of time for Q&A. To register, go to ncparentsupportgroup.org.