Parent Connection To Host Family Fun Night For Newtown Residents

The Newtown Parent Connection, funded by Newtown Prevention Council, will host a Family Fun Night at Newtown High School on Friday, September 15. The event will run from 6 to 9:30 pm.

Admission is $5 per family. Children under 12 are invited free of charge. Tickets are limited and are being sold in advance at The Gym in Newtown (23 Commerce Road), Dr Henry Gellert’s office (23 Church Hill Road), or Newtown Youth Services (10 Glen Road).

Family Fun Night promises to be an entertaining evening for the entire family. Dinner will include ziti and meatballs, salad, beverages, and ice cream sundaes for dessert. There will also be cotton candy and popcorn for the young (and young at heart).

For entertainment, there will be a DJ, magician, Baro the K-9 police dog, and face painting.

In addition to the food and entertainment, prizes will be given away throughout the entire evening and a silent auction will feature one special item: a complete Xbox 360 game system.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal will be present and will speak briefly to attendees.

The aim of Family Fun Night is to encourage families to act on the realization that family time and relationships are important for leading healthy lives.

Dorrie Carolan and Donna DeLuca remind parents that many times, occupations and busy schedules interfere with anyone’s best intentions to spend quality time with loved ones.

“The aim of Family Fun Night is to encourage families to act on the realization that family time and relationships are important for leading healthy lives,” said the women, who are the co-founders of Newtown Parent Connection. “We encourage all Newtown residents to join in more opportunities for bonding, by setting one day a week aside without scheduled activities and homework in order to increase family communication and interaction.

“We hope that families will decide that this is a valuable undertaking, and make a concerted effort to set aside quality family time on a regular basis, with no goal other than the enjoyment they get from being together,” the continued. “By committing to a ritual of regular family gatherings or events, we believe much will be gained; allowing families to strengthen as a unit and grow in a spirit of mutual love, support, and the cohesiveness that leads to healthy, loving families and a great community.”

Newtown Parent Connection is a grassroots organization established by concerned parents and other informed citizens of Newtown to address the problem of substance use and abuse among young people. The mission of Newtown Parent Connection is to educate and empower the community in the prevention of substance abuse and to embrace families in crisis. For more information on the Newtown Parent Connection, visit NewtownParentConnection.org.

Businesses interested in supporting Family Fun Night are invited to donate prize giveaways, refreshments, or services.

For further information about Family Night (including sponsorship opportunities), call Dorrie Carolan at 426-6424 or Donna DeLuca, 426-9280.