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Litchfield Prevention Council: Internet Safety Concepts: Empowering Smart Online Choices for Our Kids

Internet Safety Concepts: Empowering Smart Online Choices for Our Kids

Upcoming Event: Tuesday, October 6 | 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM (In-Person & Zoom)

While digital technology, platforms, apps, and social media streams offer seemingly endless opportunities for learning, creativity, and fun, all of that also presents new challenges and potential pitfalls for children and teens.

To help families navigate these digital waters, the Litchfield Prevention Council is proud to team up once again with the Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) to present Internet Safety Concepts: Empowering Smart Online Choices, featuring former law enforcement officer and computer crimes investigator Scott Driscoll.

A Comprehensive, District-Wide Community Partnership

Scott Driscoll
Scott Driscoll

This evening presentation is part of a broader initiative by the Litchfield Prevention Council and Oliver Wolcott Library to create full community partnerships designed to deliver critical educational and developmental resources to our youth, families, and schools.

On Monday, October 5, and Tuesday, October 6, Scott Driscoll will be conducting direct, age-appropriate student safety presentations inside every school in the Region 20 school district, serving students in Litchfield, Warren, Morris, and Goshen.

By pairing during-the-school-day presentations for students with our evening program for parents and caregivers at library, the Prevention Council and OWL are ensuring that children, educators, and parents are all equipped with the same vital tools, vocabulary, and safety strategies.

This marks the second time the Prevention Council and OWL have launched such a full-scale community partnership—building on the blueprint created during our successful district-wide anti-bullying initiative with world-champion athlete and youth speaker Chris Poulos.

Continuing a Shared Commitment to Our Community

This initiative is the latest in an ongoing partnership between the Litchfield Prevention Council and OWL to bring timely educational programs to our community. Our family and youth initiatives over the past several years have included:

  • Navigating the “Screen Age”: Co-sponsoring community film screenings of Screenagers, hosting a Screen Age Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers panel discussion with local medical and mental health experts, and presenting guided book discussions like The Amazing Generation.
  • Youth Health & Wellness: Co-hosting community education forums such as Protecting Youth From The Harms Of Vaping.
  • Safety & Awareness: Partnering with regional organizations to host film screenings and interactive discussions on relationship safety and mental well-being.

By continuing this collaboration, the Prevention Council and OWL endeavor to provide parents and caregivers with practical tools and evidence-based strategies to foster safe, healthy environments for our youth both online and off.

What You’ll Learn at the Oct. 6 Parent Workshop

Most apps can be used in positive ways, but not every platform or feature is appropriate for all ages. During this interactive 90-minute evening session, Scott Driscoll will guide parents through the positives and potential dangers of today’s most popular digital spaces.

Key topics covered will include:

  • Social Networking & Popular Apps: Understanding what kids are using and how.
  • Cyberbullying & Digital Conduct: Recognizing warning signs and promoting positive online behavior.
  • Texting & Picture Sharing: Addressing privacy risks and permanence.
  • Privacy Settings & Parental Controls: Actionable tools you can implement right away to help keep your children safe.

About the Speaker

Scott Driscoll brings over three decades of front-line experience to this discussion. Having spent 33 years in law enforcement as a youth officer in Connecticut, Scott built strong ties with local youth in schools and community programs. While serving on a federal task force combating crimes against children, he conducted undercover investigations into technology- and internet-facilitated crimes. His mission today is to empower parents and young people with the awareness they need to stay safe in an increasingly connected world.

Evening Event Details & How to Attend

  • Date: Tuesday, October 6
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
  • Format: Hybrid (In-Person at Oliver Wolcott Library & Online via Zoom)

Registration Info:

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council’s upcoming programs, grant opportunities, or community outreach, visit litchfieldprevention.org or reach out to Chair Gary Waugh at info@litchfieldprevention.org.

Lakeview Debate Club

Litchfield Prevention Council Supports the Lakeview High Debate Club

In a time when public debate often feels increasingly polarized, a group of Lakeview High School students is working to bring thoughtful, respectful dialogue back to the table. The Lakeview Debate Club—originally sparked by an idea in a sophomore English class—has grown into a thriving 19-member organization preparing for its first official competitive season this fall.

To help the club establish its footing and expand its reach, the Litchfield Prevention Council is proud to support these young leaders with a $1,000 startup grant. Additionally, the club secured a $500 grant from Litchfield Health & Wellness Resources.

Tackling Real-World Issues Through Healthy Debate

Rather than leaning into heated political divides, the club focuses on building critical thinking and problem-solving skills by tackling nuanced, real-world topics.

As part of the grant initiative with the Prevention Council, the club hosted a debate near the end of the last school year centered on youth gambling prevention. Students examined the topic from multiple angles, discussing which high school courses best equip students to recognize and avoid gambling risks, and debating how Lakeview High School can proactively address the issue.

“I believe that the AP Psychology class offered by Lakeview High School is the best way to prevent students from gambling or any sort of addiction,” one team member said in opening the debate. “Students are exposed to learning about mental and behavioral processes, which can reveal what traits make people successful and unsuccessful.”

Another club member responded by pointing to broader access: “Even though AP Psychology exposes students to those mental processes, classes like Health A and Wellness B are required in a high school student’s curriculum. This means everybody is able to access resources, learn about addiction, share opinions, understand the dangers, and see the negative effects.”

One of the defining features of debate is that participants don’t always choose their stance; they must prepare to argue both sides of an issue. This practice encourages students to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of their own viewpoints while learning to respect alternative perspectives.

“In our nation, civil discourse has gotten to a dangerous point,” club member AJ Ugurlu said in a phone conversation about the Lakeview Debate Club. “A lot of people are relying on fallacies and exaggerations. Debate offers a unique perspective… there shouldn’t be an argument that’s inherently treated as more valid without sound reasoning.”

Looking Ahead to the Fall Season

Under the guidance of AP Language teacher Karen Robillard and supported by local mentor figures like Debbie Dove from Litchfield Health & Wellness Resources, the club operates with a collaborative structure rather than traditional officer roles.

Thanks to the combined community funding, the team is now officially joining the Connecticut Debate Association. Their schedule for the upcoming school year includes:

  • September: First learning debate and workshop sessions.
  • October: The official launch of their competitive tournament season.

With current sophomores already preparing to recruit incoming freshmen, the Lakeview Debate Club is built for long-term sustainability. The Litchfield Prevention Council looks forward to maintaining an active partnership with the team as they report on their progress and continue setting an example for civil, constructive discourse in our schools.

About Lakeview High School & Region 20

Lakeview High School serves as the regional high school for Regional School District 20, a unified district established by the merger of Litchfield Public Schools and Regional School District 6 (serving Goshen, Morris, and Warren). Serving students across all four member towns, Lakeview High School offers expanded academic, athletic, and extracurricular opportunities designed to empower students and foster strong community ties across the region.

About the Litchfield Prevention Council

The Litchfield Prevention Council is a community-driven organization dedicated to promoting healthy choices, substance abuse awareness, and positive youth development across our local schools and towns. Through grant funding, educational programming, and active partnerships with local leaders and student groups, the Council works to equip young people with the tools, support, and resources they need to make informed, constructive decisions.

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at info@litchfieldprevention.org

The Last Drop film screening by Litchfield Prevention Council April 7, 2026, at Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield, CT

“The Last Drop” Film Viewing & Panel Discussion at OWL

Susan B. Anthony Project outreach and prevention educators are presenting a free screening of the film The Last Drop at Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) in Litchfield on Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m.

Being presented in partnership with the Litchfield Prevention Council and OWL, the screening will be followed by a panel discussion – and pizza will be provided!

The Last Drop tells the story of a young woman who links her mind with her boyfriend’s using a device that allows couples to relive shared memories. When she begins to notice troubling signs of abuse she had previously overlooked, she must find a way to escape before he manipulates those memories to his advantage.

The Last Drop is part of an international campaign designed to reveal the early signs of relationship abuse by taking viewers on a journey through the memories of real survivors.

The film and the discussion that follows offer an opportunity to explore the dynamics of abusive relationships and to better understand the warning signs. Emotional abuse and coercive control can be far more difficult to recognize than physical abuse and can leave lasting effects that are challenging to heal from.

While the event is free and open to the public, registration is required and may be done online here. 

OWL is located at 160 South St. See the website to learn more about the library.

See the Susan B. Anthony Project website to learn more about its mission to promote safety, healing, and growth for all survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and advocacy for the autonomy of women and the end of interpersonal violence.

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at info@litchfieldprevention.org.

Screen Age book discussion of The Amazing Generation March 31 at Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield, CT

Screen Age Book Discussion of ‘The Amazing Generation’ at Oliver Wolcott Library

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The Litchfield Prevention Council, Litchfield PTO, and Oliver Wolcott Library are co-sponsoring a Family Book Club event March 31 at 6 p.m. that’s open to the public and will continue the discussion about young people navigating the challenges of the “Screen Age.”

“As part of our ongoing work to empower our kids and our community to thrive during the ‘Screen Age,’ we will be doing a guided book discussion on The Amazing Generation by Jonathan Haidt (author of The Anxious Generation) and Catherine Price,” the library’s event listing explains. “This new book for kids and tweens is a comprehensive guide for living a happy and exciting life that isn’t hijacked by a smartphone.”

The Amazing Generation is graphic-novel-style guide for 9–12 year-olds on navigating screen time and social media, according to Common Sense Media, which says, “It empowers kids to treat tech as a tool rather than a master, aiming to foster real-life adventures, friendships, and freedom over addictive, ‘greedy wizard’-designed platforms.”

Registration is required for those who plan to attend and may be done online via the event listing here.

Books are available to pick up at OWL, located at 160 South St., and pizza will be provided for all participants.

As part of the “Screen Age” initiative, the Prevention Council, PTO, and OWL partnered for a Screen Age Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers panel discussion last May, and last April they co-sponsored a viewing of the elementary school age edition of the film “Screenagers,” followed by a discussion.

To learn more about the Litchfield Prevention Council and its work, reach out to Chair Gary Waugh by email at info@litchfieldprevention.org.

The Litchfield Prevention Council participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Litchfield County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, held Oct. 25 at The White Memorial Conservation Center.

Prevention Council Participated in Oct. 25 Suicide Prevention Walk

The Litchfield Prevention Council participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Litchfield County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, held Oct. 25 at The White Memorial Conservation Center.

“A huge thank you to you and the Litchfield Prevention Council for both [having a table] at the 3rd Annual AFSP OOTD walk … and for the most generous donation. You have supported us for the past three years and we really appreciate it,” Janet Dember, Team Captain for the local walk, wrote in an email to Prevention Council Chair Gary Waugh.

Janet said there were more than 150 registered walkers and participants raised just shy of $45,000. 

The Litchfield County walk is among many taking place around the country, with hundreds of thousands of people walking in the Out of the Darkness Community Walks to prevent suicide and support AFSP’s mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

Learn more about the AFSP walks: afsp.org/walks

The Litchfield Prevention Council participated in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Litchfield County Out of the Darkness Community Walk, held Oct. 25 at The White Memorial Conservation Center.

Dr. Bob & Gizmo are Litchfield Prevention Council scarecrows in the 2025 Litchfield Historical Society's Scarecrows in the Meadow display.

Meet Dr. Bob & Gizmo, They’re Scarecrows on a Mission

The Litchfield Historical Society‘s 6th Annual Scarecrows in the Meadow display opened for the season Oct. 18 and Dr. Bob and Gizmo were among the nearly 60 handcrafted scarecrows that were there to greet guests.
Dr. Bob, a child and adolescent psychologist, and Gizmo, a mental health therapy dog, are the scarecrow ambassadors of the Litchfield Prevention Council.
“Together they are encouraging us to take care of our mental health, which impacts how we feel, think and act,” the placard in the Tapping Reeve Meadow describing Dr. Bob and Gizmo explains. “Sometimes we all feel sad, mad, or worried and this affects how we behave. We might have less energy, find it hard to sleep, and want to be alone a lot.”
The description continues:
Dr. Bob & Gizmo are Litchfield Prevention Council scarecrows in the 2025 Litchfield Historical Society's Scarecrows in the Meadow display.
Gizmo’s House, above, and Prevention Council Chair Gary Waugh with Dr. Bob and Gizmo, top photo.
The Good News is there are many things we can do to take care of our mental health, such as participating in activities with people we love and trust. See the many suggestions listed on the top of Gizmo’s house.
Doctor Bob and Gizmo want each of us to plan to actively care for our mental health. TAKE ONE of Gizmo’s worksheets from the envelope on the side of his house and begin to plan how to best live your own healthy and happy life.
Doctor Bob and Gizmo work with their friends on the Lichfield Prevention Council to bring pro-active mental health programs to our schools and the wider communities. Expect to see Gizmo in our schools this coming year. Please check out our website https://litchfieldprevention.org and our Facebook page to see our upcoming events or scan the QR code shown below. Please join us in our efforts.
Dr. Bob is a relative of last year’s Prevention Council scarecrow, Chef Bob, who shared with visitors his mission of developing recipes for a healthy lifestyle and said, “I’m interested in knowing about how you take care of your mental and physical health; what ingredients go into a healthy and happy life for you?”
The scarecrows in the Tapping Reeve Meadow will remain on view every day, from dawn to dusk, through Nov. 2, and visitors can vote for their favorites. Awards are given at the end of the season.
The Tapping Reeve Meadow is located at 82 South Street behind the Tapping Reeve House and Litchfield Law School museums. To learn more about the historical society, its museums, and its many programs, see the website. www.litchfieldhistoricalsociety.org
The 2025 Litchfield Historical Society's Scarecrows in the Meadow display.
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Middle School Cell Phone & Social Media Safety Presentations

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Plumb Hill Middle School in the Region 20 school district (Litchfield, Warren, Morris & Goshen) was pleased to host Officer Rich Marsh in mid-October for a series of educational presentations on cell phone and social media safety, made possible through the generous support of the Litchfield Prevention Council.

Officer Marsh provided an evening presentation for parents and guardians, focusing on proactive approaches to digital safety. Topics included:

  • How to implement and monitor cell phone safety protections and privacy settings;
  • Guidance for navigating popular apps safely;
  • Recognizing potential dangers of social media use; and
  • Strategies for open communication between parents and children to encourage responsible technology habits.

In addition to the parent session, Officer Marsh met individually with each grade level of students during the school day. These student-focused sessions emphasized:

  • Safe and appropriate use of phones and digital platforms;
  • Understanding the permanence of online actions;
  • Recognizing risks such as oversharing, cyberbullying, and online exploitation; and
  • Steps to take if a student encounters unsafe or inappropriate content online.

Through these presentations, students and families gained valuable tools for maintaining safety, balance, and awareness in today’s digital world. Plumb Hill Middle School extends its appreciation to the Litchfield Prevention Council for sponsoring this meaningful and impactful learning opportunity for our school community.

To learn more about the work of the Litchfield Prevention Council, join us at one of our meetings, held on the second Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Bantam Annex, or reach out through the website contact form.

 

Vaping program in Litchfield, Connecticut Oct. 16 at Oliver Wolcott Library

Protecting Youth From The Harms Of Vaping

The Litchfield Prevention Council and Oliver Wolcott Library are co-sponsoring an event at the library Oct. 16 entitled Protecting Youth From The Harms Of Vaping.

Guests may attend in person or on Zoom, and registration is required in part because pizza will be served for those attending in-person and organizers need to now how much to order.

Register here for the 6 p.m. program. For those who plan to attend on Zoom, click here at 6 p.m. on Oct. 16

In the program, the Western CT Coalition’s Kathy Hanley and Chelsea Kapitancek will be sharing their prevention expertise to inform community members about the background, current climate, concerns, and hopeful future outcomes of underage nicotine and cannabis use prevention.

At this talk participants will:

•  Gain an understanding of the effects of nicotine, cannabis, and vaping on the body and developing brain.

•  Review local and statewide data around underage nicotine and cannabis use.

•  Analyze tactics used by the tobacco and cannabis industries.

•  Learn about evidence-based prevention strategies and how to facilitate them within their community.

•  Understand how to practice productive conversations with youth about nicotine and cannabis use.

Flippenout Trampoline Show

Join Us Aug. 14 for a Fun Wrap-Up to Summer

Bring the family and join us this Thursday, Aug. 14, for a fun wrap-up to summer presented by Litchfield CT Park & Recreation and sponsored by the Litchfield Prevention Council and others.

The Flippenout Trampoline Show will feature world class athletes performing an extreme trampoline show filled with stunts, backed by a great soundtrack, and kicked up a notch with charismatic jokes and commentary.

The free one-hour show takes place from 6 to 7 p.m. at Litchfield Community Field. There will be food trucks on hand, and an ice cream truck.

The event page is here: http://bit.ly/3JtsOQL

The Screenage Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers panel discussion on May 27 at Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) featured a lively discussion between the panel and the audience of approximately 25 in-person attendees and others on Zoom.

Panel Discussion: A Screenage Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers

The Screenage Survival Kit for Parents/Caregivers panel discussion on May 27 at Oliver Wolcott Library (OWL) featured a lively discussion between the panel and the audience of approximately 25 in-person attendees and others on Zoom.

Caroline Wilcox Urgulu, the Early Literacy and Library Curation Specialist at OWL
Caroline Wilcox Urgulu, the Early Literacy and Library Curation Specialist at OWL

The Litchfield Prevention Council, Litchfield PTO, and OWL co-sponsored the event. Discussion was facilitated by Caroline Wilcox Urgulu, the Early Literacy and Library Curation Specialist at OWL.

The discussion focused on gaining the tools and support to navigate the turbulent waters of screen use and addiction, and the panelists for the evening were pediatricians Kate Litwin and Lucia Benzoni and social worker Sarah Bolton.

“The parents came away with practical advice about managing their children’s exposure to social media,” Prevention Council chair Gary Waugh said. “There was a consensus that the entire community needed to take responsibility for keeping our children safe on the internet.”

 

More on the panelists:

Kate Litwin has practiced as a general pediatrician at Rocky Hill Pediatrics for more than 18 years. At work, she routinely counsels parents and patients regarding digital media use. At home, she is the mother of two teenagers and has, like most parents, struggled to set and enforce boundaries at the various stages of child and adolescent development. She has a particular interest in teen mental health and cares for many patients with anxiety, depression, ADHD and eating disorders.

Dr. Lucia Benzoni works in Bristol as a Pediatrician and has 34 years of experience. She lives in Litchfield and is married with five children. A lover of the outdoors, Dr. Benzoni finds joy in engaging in activities like gardening, hiking, and biking. “The struggle is real …. I went from having children that are older that did not have constant access to screens to my youngest child who had constant access.”

Sarah Bolton was born and raised in Woodbury. After graduating from Villanova University, she served a year in the Americorps program in Washington D.C., working for a non-profit agency that encourages adults experiencing homelessness to identify and achieve next steps in their lives. She then lived in New York City and New Haven, continuing her career in public service working for the City of New York and then the State of CT. She eventually made her way back to Litchfield County, settling in Litchfield ten years ago. She obtained her master’s degree in social work from UConn in 2012 and has been working as a school social worker since 2013. Sarah, her husband Jay, and their two children enjoy being involved in the community.

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The Litchfield Prevention Council provides information, training, and resources that encourage our community members to adopt healthy lifestyles, positive choices, and personal responsibility.

Our Partners in Prevention

Western Connecticut Coalition
Connecticut Clearinghouse