cheshirecitizen.com
Volume 14, Number 5
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Legal pot poses DUI challenge By Ben Baker Record-Journal staff
Kindergartener Luke Choi, 5, places his portrait in the Tigger quadrant on The Mood Meter, indicating his happy mood, at Highland Elementary School on Jan. 26. Dave Zajac, Record-Journal
Innovative mental health programs at area schools By Jessica Simms Record-Journal staff
administrators from the Meriden, Southington and Cheshire school districts about how their schools have been supporting students and staff members.
Mental health continues to be a priority in area school districts as administrators implement programs and support services to help stu- In Cheshire, Assistant Superintendent Marlene dents and teachers. The Silano said they have put Record-Journal talked with
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
With 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 staff
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
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