Billboard Aims to Reach Parents in Westbrook, Connecticut

WESTBROOK - Those driving down Route 1 in Westbrook past the Old Saybrook border have seen something that caught their eye on a NextMedia billboard.

During a three week period in November, a large color photograph of sixteen young Westbrook residents greeted motorists and passersby with a message stating "Our Town, Westbrook. Our Future...Our Youth. Let's Join Together to Make Right Decisions to Promote a Drug and Alcohol Free Community For Our Youth. Sponsored By The Westbrook Prevention Council."

Westbrook Recreation Director Rich Annino said the photo featured middle and high school students who attended Westbrook's Youth Awareness Day this past May.

Annino said the billboard advertisement aims to encourage parents to talk to their kids and to encourage residents to join the council which aims to help youth make the right decisions.

The billboard was successful in being noticed, Annino said, adding that he received many calls from people desiring to join the council.

Those interested in joining can call 860-399-3095.

The billboard was paid for through a small $2,285 grant which was received by the Westbrook Prevention Council to help kids make the right choices about alcohol and drugs.

Westbrook Prevention Council is a member of the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council, MCSAAC.

The council's mission statement states that MCSAAC is "a public-private partnership committed to improving the quality of life in our towns. We bring together diverse populations of the community to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug or substance abuse."

Thirteen high schools located in the county's fifteen towns have student clubs sponsored by MCSAAC which include youth action councils, chapters of Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD), and peer advocate groups.

Middlesex County stretches from Clinton to Cromwell and East Hampton to Old Saybrook.

More information about MCSAAC is available at www.mcsaac.org.