The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Workshop to explore substance abuse and suicidal behavior
MIDDLETOWN — Another busy week is upon us in Middlesex County as the holiday season grows closer and closer.
Tuesday morning at the chamber office features the latest installment of the KeyBank workshop series, which covers a variety of important topics for our members. “The Two Faces of Time Management,” presented by Jim Jackson of the Connecticut Small Business Development Center, will cover practical techniques that individuals can use to immediately gain control over their day and more effectively manage interruptions and distractions.
I thank Jim for leading this important conversation, and offer a sincere thank you to KeyBank for its sponsorship of the workshop series. Additional information is available on middlesexchamber.com.
Later in the day Tuesday, I look forward to meeting with my fellow executives from Connecticut’s eight metro chambers of commerce at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford. The metro chambers collectively represent thousands of businesses in our state, and these meetings always feature productive discussions about collaboration and joint advocacy for the business community.
Back in Middletown, another important chamber workshop, this one, an initiative of the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council, will take place Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Community Health Center. At this workshop, “Accidentally on Purpose: When Drug Abuse Turns Suicidal,” attendees will hear from a group of panelists with expertise on this critically important topic.
Panelists include: Alexis May, Ph.D., Wesleyan University; Janice Keeman, LCSW, Middlesex Hospital; Daniel J. Bryant, LPC, CCTP, Community Health Center; Karl Scheibe, Ph.D., Wesleyan University; Melissa Monroe, LPC, Rushford; Siobhan Feliciano, LPC, LADC, Integrated Counseling Solutions LLC, and a person who has lived through the experience.
Families of substance abusers sometimes wonder whether their loved ones have a “death wish.” Why else would they be taking such risks? New research shows that there is significant overlap between substance abuse and suicidal behavior. The findings may offer new avenues for hope and treatment. This is a difficult topic, but it is a very important one for the business community, and for the community at large.
I want to thank our partners in this effort, Middlesex Hospital, Wesleyan University, the Community Health Center and Rushford for all of their great work and support.
On the chamber division front, we look forward to two important division meetings this week in Middlefield and Cromwell. Our Durham and Middlefield Division will meet Wednesday at the Connecticut Forest & Park Association in Rockfall, and the Cromwell Division will meet Thursday at The Mattabasssett District. Both of these meetings will feature town reports and other updates from these chamber member towns.
Also Wednesday, the Business & Education Partnership Advisory Council will meet Middletown High School, where the group will be treated to a special presentation from the students of the Agricultural Science and Technology Program of MHS’s Mattabeset FFA. We continue to value the strength of the chamber’s divisions and councils, and continue to appreciate the support of our chairs, co-chairs and members who make it a point to attend.
On the business development front, I look forward to joining Mayor Dan Drew and other city dignitaries at the grand opening celebration for the Law Offices of McHugh & Associates, LLC Thursday at 5 p.m. Sean and Lori McHugh recently opened this new firm at 27 Pleasant St., Middletown, and I wish them nothing but the best as they embark on this new business venture.
The work week wraps up Friday with meetings of our Legislative Committee and Affordable Housing Committee. The Legislative Committee works hard as the chamber’s voice on important public policy issues in the state of Connecticut. The committee is responsible for creating the chamber’s public policy agenda on a yearly basis, and hosts a legislative breakfast and legislative leadership series every year. The Affordable Housing Committee was created in 2007 to provide a voice for the business community in the important housing based conversations underway in Middlesex County. We look forward to two more productive chamber meetings.
It is hard to believe, but the 33rd Annual Holiday on Main Street, presented by Pratt & Whitney, wraps up Saturday. This final day of events and activities, MARC Community Resources Day, includes the fun train, which will offer free rides on the sidewalk around downtown, free horse and wagon rides, and a meet and greet with Santa. A petting farm, courtesy of JD’s Pony Express of Killingworth, will feature sheep, goats, a rabbit, alpacas and a miniature donkey named Wilbur.
At the chamber, nonperishable donations and pet food to benefit the Middletown Animal Control will be accepted. Join the Grinch for a holiday story time at Wesleyan R.J. Julia Bookstore, where Santa Claus will lead a story reading session from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Ornament decorating workshops will take place at The Buttonwood Tree from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
While you are in downtown Middletown, be sure to check out the city of Middletown’s ice skating rink at Harbor Park, open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Parking for Holiday on Main Street is free in city parking lots.
Holiday on Main Street would not be possible without the outstanding support of our sponsors. I thank the city of Middletown, Pratt & Whitney, and all of our other sponsors, supporters and volunteers for their terrific support. We appreciate it very much. For all of the details on events and activities, visit holidayonmain.com.
December in Middlesex County is synonymous with the chamber’s member breakfast with the governor of the state of Connecticut. This year’s event, featuring Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, is Dec. 19 at the Red Lion Hotel in Cromwell.
Gov. Malloy has appeared at our December member breakfast meeting every year of his administration, as have all of our sitting governors, going back to the administration of Gov. William A. O’Neill in the 1980s. We look forward to welcoming a large crowd of businesspeople, public officials and other chamber supporters for the 2018 version of our annual governor’s breakfast.
This event, sponsored once again by Eversource, will begin with networking at 7 a.m., breakfast buffet at 7:30 a.m., and meeting program from 8 to 9 a.m.
Immediately following, Eversource will also sponsor an important workshop focusing on emergency preparedness and economic resilience. Our working title for this event is “Is Your Business and Community Resilient to Serious Incidents or Disasters?” Speakers will stress the importance of developing an emergency preparedness and business continuity plan, and will provide some important information on the local preparedness infrastructure in Middlesex County.
Economic resilience in Middlesex County is very important, as it protects local jobs and the tax base, and gives a business a better chance for survival after a disruption. We hope to have a good crowd for this very important workshop.
It’s the holiday season in Middlesex County, and the chamber team continues to be on the move.