Innovative mental health programs at area schools
By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staffMental health continues to be a priority in area school districts as administrators implement programs and support services to help students and teachers. The Record-Journal talked with
Legal pot poses DUI challenge
By Ben Baker Record-Journal staffWith the recreational sale of marijuana now legalized, police find themselves adjusting to a reshaped drug enforcement landscape. Officers who by and large opposed permitting cannabis sales have spent the past several years gearing up for a marijuana-legal Connecticut and have adopted policies and training to suit the state’s new marijuana laws.
“We’ve had notice that this was it ... the legalization was coming, so we’ve done additional training for our officers on what’s legal, what’s not legal,” Southington police Chief John Daly said.
Enforcing what is or is not legal particularly in regard to DUI arrests may prove challenging for officers, however. There is little technology to determine if an individual is in
See DUI, A8
‘Dry January’ experience
By Cris Villalonga-Vivoni Record-Journal staffadministrators from the Meriden, Southington and Cheshire school districts about how their schools have been supporting students and staff members.
In Cheshire, Assistant Superintendent Marlene Silano said they have put
into place a variety of programs including mindfulness practice and therapy dog visits, and incorporated activities at the high school where kids can decompress while learning how to tackle exams.
See Health, A6
From birthdays to funerals, alcohol has a heavy presence in society that is nearly impossible to avoid especially when celebrating the new year.
A survey of 1,000 people by the American Addiction Centers found that New Year’s Eve has the second highest rate of al-
cohol consumption amongst national holidays, with an average of 4.4 drinks per person, just trailing Mardi Gras with 4.5 drinks per person.
After the holiday festivities have concluded, many take a break from alcohol during the first month of the new year as part of Dry January.
See Alcohol, A11
Care
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Custody disputes: Combating false allegations by others
By Lisa J. CappalliIn family law cases, the law prioritizes protecting children and furthering their best interests over the interests of their parents. One parent might try to take advantage of that by making false allegations against the other to gain an edge in a custody dispute. Successfully defending oneself against those allegations is a difficult challenge.
Controlling emotions, especially in the face of really serious allegations like physical or sexual abuse, is difficult. But angry emotional or threatening responses are rarely effective or productive. Patience is required because often resolutions are not quick. The wrongly accused parent will get the best result by working with legal counsel calmly, deliberately and strategically. While the accuser may interpret that as weakness, it is in fact, the opposite.
The innocent parent has many tools to use. A Guardian Ad Litem may discover inconsistencies in the accusations that undermine credibility. The truth may
Ballpark jobs
The Hartford Yard Goats Baseball Club, the Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, will hold its annual job fair at Dunkin’ Donuts Park, 1214 Main St., Hartford, Saturday, Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Yard Goats are seeking applicants to fill a wide range of game day positions and are looking for upbeat, fan-friendly individuals to help make the upcoming season a success.
Where the motivation is anger or revenge or a desire to remain engaged with the other parent, even if negatively, limiting the parents’ interactions can be effective.
The defense is not “do it yourself.” Being innocent isn’t enough. A successful defense may be time consuming, slow, expensive and emotionally draining. Working closely with your legal counsel will increase the likelihood of a successful outcome and the most efficient use of available tools and your financial resources.
come out from the child in therapy or support group sessions. Technology used in the family setting may establish a record that negates the charges. Judges are very good at discerning the truth when presented with evidence and not simply accusations, so trial may be the best way to prove the accuser’s claims are false.
Figuring out the motivation for the charges can suggest an approach. If the charges are rooted in mistake, fear or reliance on bad advice, negotiation or mediation could work.
In Brief
Health talk
What are parasites? How do we know if we have them? Can we get rid of them?
People with any kind of chronic health issue are invited to attend a lecture by board-certified holistic health practitioner Dr. Anna Marshall Saturday, Feb. 4, 10:30 a.m., at Haller Post 111, 112 Grove St., New Britain. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at eventbrite.com
Lisa J. Cappalli is Of Counsel at Cappalli & Hill, LLC and Freed Marcroft LLC. She can be reached at lcappalli@cappallihill.com or 203-271-3888.
This column should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion by Attorney Cappalli, Cappalli & Hill, LLC or Freed Marcroft LLC. The content is intended for general information only and you are urged to consult an attorney to advise you personally concerning your own situation and any specific legal questions you may have.
Ski club taking members
The North Haven Ski Club encourages people interested in winter sports (skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing, tubing, snowshoeing) to join and take advantage of the great discounts offered to members.
For more information, contact Annette Murphy at 203927-3071 or dapdmurph@ aol.com.
In order to continue delivery to your home or business, we need to have each resident or business let us know that, by filling out our on-line requester form at myrecordjournal. com/cheshire-requester
Or, you can call us at 203-634-3933 and we can mail you a postage paid postcard to fill out and return. Without the necessary requester information, delivery of your Cheshire Citizen to your home or business, will end.
EDITORIAL: Local book clubs are thriving
Wallingford has five. Meriden has two, as does Southington. Cheshire has three.
We’re talking about the wide range of book clubs offered at local public libraries. In a world chock full of easy distractions, it’s a pleasant surprise to learn that librarians are hearing that people want more book clubs with more variety to suit their interests. Librarians are responding by increasing those options.
Public libraries certainly have evolved from a quiet repository of books, with rooms for research and study carrels. While those services still exist, other roles, including serving as a community hub, a technology resource and even as a shelter of sorts at times, have become significant aspects of how a library is used. With all those demands on a modern library, it’s good to see that encouraging and supporting the
community in developing reading interests remains an active part of the mission.
It’s noteworthy that library patrons are driving some of the development of these new book clubs, some with a specific focus.
A recent Record-Journal story by reporter Jessica Simms looked into the many ways area libraries are keeping up with readers’ needs. In response to readers’ interest in tackling a longer, more complex work, Wallingford’s readers’ advisory librarian, Cindy Haiken, is offering a new program, the Hibernation Book Club.
People in the Classics Book Club wanted “something really big and complicated and (to) break it down into sections,” Haiken said in an interview with Simms.
Based on a survey of the classics club members, the 900-page “Middlemarch,” by George Eliot, is first up on
the club’s reading list for the new Hibernation spin-off. Readers can be intimidated by a weighty book, Haiken said, and breaking it down with the group can help make for a better experience and open new possibilities.
Wallingford’s library offers three other book clubs: the Mystery Book Club; the Thursday Night Book Club; and the Truth Be Told nonfiction book club.
The Meriden Public Library launched two book clubs recently, What’s Next and the BookTok Book Club.
The latter gives a social media twist to the activity. The club discusses books that have trended on social media, including TikTok and Instagram. Open to all, the club is geared toward younger people with its innovative merging of platforms.
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Rates as of: January 11, 2023
For all current
At the Southington Public Library, the Historical Fiction Book Club is an option as is the Reading with Pride book club. This club discusses LGBTQIA+ books and gives members a chance to connect with others.
Building community through book clubs may be a less obvious objective of these activities, but it certainly does offer an opportunity to meet others with similar interests.
The Cheshire Public Library offers Books Over Coffee, Books Over Cocoa and Murder by the Book Mystery Book Club. As always, whodunits remain a popular read.
Cheshire’s selection during January, for the two nonmystery clubs, was a nod to the travails of the season:
“Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times,” by Katherine May.
Books Over Cocoa was conceived specifically as an evening group, giving working people a chance to participate in a reading adventure, too.
Books open up new worlds and adventures. These libraries are working to make sure those opportunities will serve many different needs and interests.
Previously published in the Record-Journal.
A
reserved.
CHESPROCOTT HEALTH DISTRICT
Winter freeze can prove dangerous for many
Press Release
Chesprocott Health District recognizes the importance of keeping your elderly family members warm during the harsh winter temperatures. As a caregiver, or the loved one of older adults, you may be concerned about their health and want to make sure they are comfortable and able to live the best life possible.
Older adults have a greater tendency to feel cold. This can be attributed to thinning skin, slower metabolic rates, low blood pressure, and other factors.
Be aware of these signs of cold sensitivity: Shivering even when the room temperatures are not too low. Skin turns pale. Breathing rate becomes slow. Memory loss. Drowsiness. Hands begin to fumble. Confusion sets in. The senior becomes exhausted. Speech becomes slurred. Undue fatigue. Loss of coordination.
Besides arranging for them to visit their doctor, one of the best ways to
help your loved one is to ensure they have the right items to stay warm.
Here are six ways to help the elderly stay warm while we wait for the arrival of spring.
Wear warm clothing: Wearing multiple warm layers of clothing is an excellent way for older adults to stay warm in winter. A thick wool layer such as an Aran sweater is excellent for staying warm and looking stylish.
Fleece blankets: It’s essential to provide adequate bedding for your elderly loved one to stay warm at night. You may consider a fleece blanket, which is softer than alternate fabrics and can achieve a similar effect, mainly when used in combination with other bedding layers such as down comforters.
Hot beverages: For seniors, having access to warm beverages provides a great way to warm up during the winter months. You can provide your elderly loved one with healthy drinks like decaffeinated herbal teas,
which are delicious and have other health benefits.
Space heaters: If your elderly loved one spends time in their bedroom or living room during the day while enjoying activities like reading, knitting or crossword puzzles, they may feel cold, especially if these rooms are drafty. A great way to address this is to provide a small space heater, which can be plugged in to heat a room efficiently. Space heaters are inexpensive, require no installation, provide instant heat, and can be moved from room to room. However, these heaters must be monitored and turned off at regular intervals for safety.
Humidifiers: Since humid air tends to feel warmer than dry air, consider adding a humidifier to your loved one’s home to improve their comfort. In addition to warmth, humidifiers have other health benefits, including alleviating dry skin, preventing the spread of airborne viruses, helping with sinus and allergy symptoms and preventing snoring.
Although they may cost more, some humidifier models also have a warm temperature setting.
Get active: One of the least costly and most accessible ways for the elderly to stay warm during winter is to keep active. Even simple things like playing a board game, taking care of small housework tasks, or doing simple exercises while seated in a chair are all great ways to stay active and maintain body temperature. These simple exercises can be done throughout the day at regular intervals to achieve maximum effect. Although all of these remedies are great for keeping your loved one – or yourself – warm during the cold winter months, make sure to communicate with your family physician if you have any questions about a physical condition.
Lastly, be careful when walking outside. And have a healthy winter. For more information visit kglendon@chesprocott.org.
Alert system
Residents can register to receive emergency notifications from the town. Examples include evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices and missing child reports. Visit cheshirect.org to register.
Land trust
The Cheshire Land Trust is an all-volunteer, private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization committed to conservation. The land trust is not affiliated with the Town of Cheshire and does not receive taxpayer money. The organization is wholly funded by members. For more information, email CheshireLandTrust@gmail.com.
Historical society
The Cheshire Historical Society keeps “Cheshire’s unique and continuing history alive by creating connections that engage the community through new and existing collections, exhibitions, and programs.” Consider supporting these efforts. Visit cheshirehistory.org to learn more.
Health district
The Chesprocott Health District provides essential public health services and information to the communities of Cheshire, Prospect and Wolcott. Visit chesprocott.org.
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Silano said that the district taught teachers how to practice mindfulness, which means being in the present moment. They then bring this technique to the classroom, teaching their students how to do it as well.
“They know when to engage that, when to implement it in the classroom, depending on the grade level and the time of day,” Silano said. “But our students at the high school, in particular, are more familiar with this because it was implemented a number of years ago Students found it was helpful to them both before taking a test and also to fall asleep at night.”
Cheshire Public Schools received a grant from the Elim Park retirement community which allowed the district to work with an organization called Pet Partners to bring into schools therapy dogs and a bunny.
“Those therapy dogs come
into the schools and they are a big hit with the kids,” Silano said.
Silano said another “big hit” at the high school is a program called “Cocoa and Cram” where upperclassmen meet with underclassmen to talk about strategies for taking the midterms.
“Helping them understand how best to prepare for exams and to help them reduce tension and anxiety around midterm exams,” Silano said.
DaveBoth Cheshire Public Schools and Southington Public Schools utilize RULER, which stands for recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing and regulating emotions.
“It’s about having kids at all age levels being able to recognize their emotions, to understand what that emotion means, to label it,” Silano said.
RULER is a program developed by the Yale Child Study Center.
“It really examines teacher well-being, school climate, classroom climate and student social-emotional wellbeing,” said Rebecca Cavallaro, director of pupil services for Southington Public Schools.
RULER has been implemented in all grade levels in Southington.
“Staff has been trained in the RULER approach and it is utilized in classrooms throughout the district,” Cavallaro said.
Cavallaro said that the district has added more social workers, school psychologists and board-certified behavior analysts, which also supports student needs.
“And to help support teachers so that they are able to really address the needs of the students,” Cavallaro said. The Community Health Center (CHC) provides behavioral health services in all of the schools in the Meriden district, said Patricia Sullivan-Kowalski, assistant superintendent of student support.
“To assist families in getting connected with CHC for outside therapy services,” Sullivan-Kowalski said.
Along with that, SullivanKowalski said that the district uses a climate survey and a “Getting to Know You” survey. Students take the “Getting to Know You” survey at the end of the year for use in the following school year. “Teachers are able to identify if there are students that might need to be connected to a person or an activity or if there is somebody that may like something, but they’re not connected to that yet,” Sullivan-Kowalski said. Students can also use an online tool called Speak Up, which gives them the opportunity to connect with support services.
What the students choose to write will be immediately shared with the school psychologists, the school principal and Alvin Larson, research and evaluation specialist for Meriden Public Schools.
See Health, A12
Eversource: Be on the lookout for scammers
While many people make resolutions in the new year, scammers are resolute too –developing new schemes to steal money and personal information or other sensitive data by posing as Eversource representatives.
Recently there’s been a rise in calls targeting utility customers, and the energy company is reminding residents and businesses to be on the lookout for the signs of a scam whether it’s in person, over the phone, or online.
While these scams can take many forms, one common scare tactic that’s used is the overpayment scam. Scammers will call claiming that the person overpaid their utility bill and request their personal bank account or credit card information to give a refund. In many cases, the scammer can manipulate the caller ID to display “Eversource,” creating a greater sense of confusion.
“Phishing” or “Smishing” scams are also increasingly common. That’s when a person receives a text message requesting personal information from scammers pretending to be from a reputable company.
“These scammers often prey on customers’ fears –threatening to shut off their power or use other deceitful tactics to scare people into giving up their money or personal information,” said Penni Conner, Eversource Executive Vice President, Customer Experience and Energy Strategy. “We never demand instant payment over the phone or ask for personal information in an unsolicited call, text message, or email. If someone shows up at your home or calls you and demands immediate payment, don’t
panic, and don’t pay, instead call us immediately at 800-286-2000.”
Eversource also offers these additional tips to help avoid becoming a victim:
Eversource representatives do not require the use of prepaid debit cards, such as Green Dot MoneyPak, Vanilla or Reloadit prepaid cards. They will also never ask customers to pay using a Bitcoin ATM.
Eversource representatives never request customers meet at a payment center, such as a department or grocery store, to make a payment.
Customers should never provide personal, financial, or account information to any unsolicited person on
the phone, at the door, or online, even if they seem legitimate.
Eversource does not solicit door-to-door or on the phone on behalf of thirdparty energy suppliers.
All Eversource employees carry photo identification; field workers wear clothing with the company logo and drive company vehicles.
Customers who are scheduled for disconnection due to nonpayment receive written notice that includes information on how to maintain their service.
Customers who doubt a call, in-person interaction, text, or email is legitimate should call Eversource directly to confirm the authenticity of the contact.
Senior Health
Caregiver series
A Dementia Caregiver Series will take place Tuesdays, Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28 and March 7 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to attend all five sessions.
Topics include: Session 1: Overview of Dementia; Session 2: Basics of Good Communication and Understanding Behaviors; Session 3: Safety in the Environment and How to Structure a Day with Activities; Session 4: Taking Care of the Caregiver and Care Options and Session; 5: Overview of Community Resources that May Be Helpful.
Presented by a Certified Dementia Specialist from Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging. Registration is required. Call 1-855-442-4373 or go to HartfordHealthCare.org/VirtualClasses.
DUI
fact high, and state law does not currently place a limit on the volume of THC a motorist may have in their bloodstream while driving. As a result, Cheshire police Chief Neil Dryfe said officers will need to rely on testing methods such as urine samples to make arrests.
Dryfe said a potential outcome of leaning on these procedures as police have done for decades could be unwarranted DUI charges, as current test measures can detect marijuana in the bloodstream days after it is consumed.
“Marijuana stays in people’s bloodstream for a lot longer than alcohol does,” Dryfe said. “The fact that somebody’s urine sample tests positive does not necessarily
mean that the person was smoking marijuana or using marijuana in the immediate lead up.”
Data out of states such as Colorado indicate measur-
ease of access to cannabis could lead to a spike in DUI arrests and automobile accidents involving an impaired motorist.
Daly is not concerned by the prospect of adults choosing to use marijuana, but is troubled by statistics out of peer states indicating a growth in high driving on the horizon.
“We worry about accidents associated with people driving impaired,” Daly said. “I’m not going to judge people whether they choose to [consume marijuana]. I just hope they do it responsibly, and don’t drive after.”
In the interest of reducing the odds of false DUI charges, the state legislature mandated police departments increase the number of drug recognition experts on hand as part of the passage of Public Act 21-1 in 2021.
Drug recognition experts, or DREs, Daly said, are officers who receive specified training in determining whether or not an individual is under the influence of narcotics.
Though having these experts on hand is essential to pressing DUI charges, becoming a DRE is lengthy and expensive process which Dryfe said entails extensive training sessions and a crosscountry trip to Arizona.
Wallingford Police Sgt. Stephen Jaques said Public Act 21-1, though a valuable measure for both police accountability and DUI enforcement, may place financial strain on smaller departments.
“It’s going to require law enforcement agencies across the state send more people to this training,” Jaques said. It’s a pretty rigorous pro-
gram from what I hear, and it’s also expensive. So, that’s something that law enforcement and all agencies across the state have had to deal with.
Yet, the predicted jump in impaired driving and the number of certified DREs likely will not be accompanied by an expanded police presence on Connecticut highways and backroads.
Daly, Dryfe and Jaques each indicated their departments will not increase the number of officers on the road in their respective cities, with Jaques attributing a plateau in highway patrols to persistent short staffing observed statewide.
“Just because marijuana is legal doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be able to increase patrols,” Jaques said.
“We’re still dealing with understaffing issues across the state,” Jaques added.
Though Daly, Dryfe and Jaques remain skeptical of touted benefits of marijuana legalization, they each said they accept new state laws and are now focused on preventing motorists from inhaling or ingesting THC before operating a vehicle.
Jaques drew parallels between cannabis and alcohol consumption and urged marijuana users to select designated drivers before consuming THC.
“I just stress that obviously with marijuana being legal, it’s important for citizens to know that just like alcohol, it’s incumbent upon them to make sure they use it in a safe manner,” he said.
kramunni@record-journal.com
Submitted
The Cheshire Trail Trekkers’ first walk of 2023 was cancelled due to poor weather, but more walks are planned right through April. Register via the Cheshire Parks and Recreation Department website. For more information, call 203-272-2743 or 203-592-6660.
Saturday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m.
Linear Trail in Hamden. Meet at the Sherman Avenue parking lot. This is a right turn off Whitney Avenue in Hamden (south on Route 10). We will walk going south to a very interesting house with painted benches and unusual, artistic displays. Afterwards we plan to travel to a nearby restaurant.
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 3 p.m.
Butterfly Loop Trail, 135 Cheshire Road. From Cheshire, take Route 10 to Cook Hill Road; a left turn after Cheshire Nursery. Go up to Half
Cheshire Trail Trekkers
Moon Road, which is a left turn. Go to the end of this road and take a right onto Boulder Road. Keep going straight onto Cheshire Road for 1.5 miles. Pass the first billboard on the right (Fresh Meadows Open Space) and then see the same billboard on the left. Turn left there. We will meet in the parking lot.
The beautiful Butterfly Loop Trail starts there. We will then walk the trail across the street, which is also paved.
Saturday, March 4, 11 a.m.
Panthorn Park, 485 Burritt St. in Plantsville (Southington). Burritt Street is a left hand turn off Canal Street (which continues straight from Peck Road in Cheshire).
We will meet near the tennis courts. It is our honor to have wildlife biologist Peter Picone from CT DEEP lead us. He authored the official text of this walk for the town.
The charming trails have numerous wooden plank walkways and beautiful scenery.
Scientist Eric Nelson is expected to attend. Afterwards, we plan to have pizza.
Wednesday, March 15, 2 p.m.
Meriden Linear Trail at the Red Bridge. Travel on Route 68 East from Cheshire Route 10. Go past Diamond Hill Road on the right and go around a bend to the left. See the Red Bridge to the left. Take that left turn. Park across the street in the large lot at Hanover Pond. That’s where we will meet.
This walk will be led by Environmental Commissioner Karen Schnitzer.
Saturday, April 1, 11 a.m.
DeDominicus Preserve Loop Trail. This is located on Old Lane Road and is .8 of a mile from the left turn from Route 10 in Cheshire, past the Cheshire Nursery. The turn from Route 10 is at the Cheshire/Hamden line.
We are planning to go to a local restaurant nearby following our walk.
Wednesday, April 19, 3 p.m.
Quinnipiac Trails,1325 Cheshire St., located at the Quinnipiac Park Recreation Area.
Cheshire scientist Eric Nelson will lead us along with our other noteworthy leader, retired geology professor Charles Dimmick from CSCU.
The yearly tradition to not drink acts as an opportunity to reevaluate individual relationships with alcohol, but people don’t need to wait until January to begin rethinking it, said Courtney Russell, director of behavioral health services at Wheeler Clinic’s Family Health and Wellness Center in Bristol.
“Dry January allows for that reset, I don’t necessarily think you have to wait until January to reset, but I think we’re taking a real hard look at where you’re at in life and what you’re utilizing alcohol for, and then making sustainable changes and challenging yourself to maybe get uncomfortable,” she said. In modern-day, alcohol is seen as a stress-relieving drink with many applications, said Dr. Craig Allen, medical director at Rushford, the chief of psychiatry at MidState Medical Center and the vice president of addiction services at Hartford Healthcare.
“You toast in the New Year with a glass of alcohol, you celebrate the birth of a child, you toast someone’s death at a wake, victory in a sporting event,” he said. “You’d have a drink when things don’t go well in the stock market, drinking to relieve stress, drinking to improve mood, drinking to help sleep. We use it for all of those things.”
Allen added that overt marketing often romanticizes drinking culture. For example, he remembered seeing an ad where a man was drinking his beer while in the shower, which he noted was a sign of alcohol use disorder. Another showed two roommates sitting down for breakfast and cracking open two beers.
A survey of 54,671 adults found that each participant saw 576 ads for alcohol in 2019, according to the Society for the Study of Addiction.
Knowledge regarding the dangers of alcohol has existed in some form throughout history, Allen said. He explained that society understands the problems alcohol may cause; however, managing the consumption was difficult.
The peer support counselor at Wheeler Clinic, Stephanie Almada, said that the first step to rethinking a relationship with alcohol is to look at your alcohol-related behavior. By finding the patterns, habits and triggers, you can create a record and timeline of your alcohol usage.
According to the Mount Sinai Health System, responsible alcohol usage is defined as no more than four drinks a day or 14 drinks a week for men and no more than three drinks a day or seven drinks a week for women. Drinking can quickly become unsafe if a person drinks many times a week or has more than five drinks on a single occasion frequently.
In 2020, 19% of Connecticut
adults over 18 binge drink at least once a month, reported the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics.The median number of drinks per binge for casual drinkers was 5.2 and binging 1.6 times a month. Meanwhile, 25% of most active drinkers consumed 6.5 drinks and binged about 3.5 times per month.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, binge drinking is associated with various health problems such as unintentional injuries, violence, chronic diseases and cancers. Heavy drinking could also lead to financial problems due to the cost of alcohol and potential DUIs.
Russell recommends starting with simple questions about personal alcohol usage to identify patterns. For example, “when do I drink? Is it in a social setting or by yourself? How often do you drink?” opens a conversation with yourself about the presence of alcohol in your life. This also allows a person to identify negative pat-
terns that may be early indications of alcohol use disorder.
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, one in 10 Americans over 12 have an alcohol use disorder and over 140,000 die from excessive alcohol use. Internationally, alcohol use disorder kills three million people yearly, making up 6% of all global deaths. An average of 1,426 annual deaths in Connecticut are linked to excessive alcohol use.
To manage a relationship with alcohol, Allen said to start by finding healthier activities to do instead of drinking.
For example, going to the gym or to a book club can replace the enjoyment and dopamine releases that alcohol gives without the physical or emotional consequences. Finding a nondrinking buddy or a drinking buddy looking to cut down on alcohol use can also help keep a person accountable.
“To red flag that there is an issue and that also is helpful because if somebody is feeling a certain way and they are not comfortable telling somebody, they can type it and send it,” Sullivan-Kowalski said.
Making sure students feel a part of their school community is a priority, SullivanKowalski said. So, the district promotes extracurricular involvement and offers various activities in which students can participate. “Just trying to encourage kids to participate in as many different extracurricular activities because we know that the research shows that when kids are connected to school, they do better,” SullivanKowalski said.
Teacher support
Sullivan-Kowalski emphasized that if the adults are in a good place, the students can be too.
“When teachers feel good about their work and in themselves, then it trickles down to the children and they feel better about their work and themselves,” Sullivan-Kowalski said.
In Meriden, Sullivan-Kowalski said the staff members work on “creating classrooms that are community spaces ”
“Where a teacher and the students really feel that they are a community,” SullivanKowalski said.
Both Meriden and Cheshire districts use Cigna as their insurance carrier, which offers staff members opportunities to participate in wellness activities.
In Cheshire, Silano said the Cheshire Public Schools’ human resources department created various challenges, including a walking challenge in the fall where teachers could win prizes. “Currently, we are involved in a sleep challenge where individual teachers are setting goals and recording that,” Silano said.
“We’re listening to webinars from a doctor who is an expert on sleep and so he’s been giving us a lot of information to help us with our sleep.”
Sullivan-Kowalski said Cigna has offered yoga and pilates coaching for teachers and classes.
The Record-Journal, in a previous article, reported that Lauren Mancini-Averitt, president of the Meriden Federation of Teachers, and other union leaders created notecards where staff members can write to one another.
In Southington, Cavallaro said it is important to look at teacher needs, including through professional development days. “Through prosocial activities, things of that nature and just trying to keep things as positive as possible and support those who are reaching out,” Cavallaro said.
Government action
State Rep. Liz Linehan, whose district covers Cheshire, Wallingford and Southington, is the House
chair of the Committee on Children.
Linehan was one of the main authors of House Bill 5001, An Act Concerning Children’s Mental Health. The bill has 73 sections that have to do with programs and their funding, including the implementation of a grant program funding boards of education’s hiring of mental health specialists.
“Some legislation that we will be doing this year will be tying up some loose ends on that, so you’ll see a couple of bills come in that will underscore and take programs a little further,” Linehan said.
Some of the bills going forward may not include mental health in the title, but Linehan said it will be included in “the safety net” of those bills.
For example, the committee is working on a bill in conjunction with the Office of the Child’s Advocate to create a Title IX toolkit after seeing a rise in adult sexual misconduct stories coming
out of schools in Connecticut.
Linehan heard from these districts that the federal legislation for Title IX is confusing, so they may not have known what the next steps should be.
“When we talk about adult sexual misconduct and Title IX and those investigations, those actually have a lot to do with students’ mental health because if a student was a victim of adult sexual misconduct in a school setting, there’s trauma there,” Linehan said. “We’re really trying to work around getting to the root of the problem and figuring it out before a child is really victimized.”
jsimms@record-journal.com
203-317-2279
SAVANNA BAUMAN
SHEEHAN TRACK
When it comes to girls pole vaulting in the SCC, Sheehan is in the midst of a dynasty. Stephanie Phoenix, Kyra Connolly and Erin Brennan succeeded one another as conference champ. Savanna Bauman could be next. The senior captain is halfway there after finishing first at Saturday’s SCC East Sectional. Bauman cleared 9 feet, 6 inches to win by half a foot.
ALIAH BIRO
WILCOX TECH BASKETBALL
With a showdown game with O’Brien Tech on the line last Thursday, Aliah Biro delivered in the clutch for Wilcox Tech. The junior popped a jumper with 48 seconds left in regulation to snap a 34-34 tie. Biro finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds in a 38-34 victory that improved the Wildcats to 10-3. A 6-foot forward, Biro entered this week averaging 9.0 points a game.
GINNY CURELLO
CHESHIRE HOCKEY
No matter what the team, Cheshire hockey is home to one of the winter season’s most undaunted athletes, and that’s junior goaltender Ginny Curello. After spending her first two high school years goaltending for the Connecticut Blades girls hockey co-op, Curello joined the Cheshire boys team this year. On Saturday night, she shut the door on Sheehan in a 3-2 victory for CHS.
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Winners will be posted here as well as your next group of nominees.
CHANCE DECRESCENZO LYMAN HALL TRACK
Go ahead and say it: Opponents didn’t have a chance in pole vault at the SCC East Sectional. Lyman Hall, with reigning Class M state champ Chance DeCrescenzo, did. The senior landed LH first-place points Saturday when he matched his program record of 12 feet, 6 inches. It wasn’t close. DeCrescenzo won by 1½ feet, putting the contest to rest with his first vault at 11-6.
MEHDI MOUMEN PLATT
The Meriden Co-op is off the blocks at 5-1 and Mehdi Mouman is the man leading the way. The senior captain has won races in six different individual events so far, specializing in the 200 IM but also showing his stuff in the freestyle sprints (a 51.86 in the 100) and distance (5:12.66 Friday at Sheehan). Moumen also has wins in the breaststroke, backstroke and butterfly.
RASHARD WILLIAMS
SOUTHINGTON TRACK
Saturday featured conference track championships in both the CCC and SCC East. The top area performer in the CCC? Southington’s Rashard Williams. The junior won the long jump by nearly a foot at 21 feet, 9½ inches. He also placed third in the 55-meter dash in 6.63 seconds. Williams is coming off a football season in which he led SHS in receiving with 37 catches for 471 yards.
WEEK’S AOTW WINNERS AS VOTED BY YOU!
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