LEGISLATIVE EVENT HELD
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO DISCUSS UNDERAGE DRINKING
On Tuesday evening, April 29th, over 160 individuals came together at Crossroads Theater in downtown New Brunswick to discuss the issue of underage drinking. Parents, educators, government and law enforcement officials, healthcare professionals and others were there to listen to speakers share information about this problem and discuss possible solutions.This year’s event was titled “Underage Drinking in Our Communities - A Focus on Solutions” and was put together through the combined efforts of the Somerset Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency as well as NCADD of Middlesex County, Inc. The event was sponsored by centraljerseymoms.com in partnership with The Home News Tribune and the Courier News newspapers and Rutgers’ Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy.
“We were looking to put underage drinking on the community’s radar screen and identify solutions and strategies,” said Steve Liga, NCADD CEO & Executive Director, “and the most effective tool we have to fight substance abuse is through education at the community level. The Legislative Event provided the perfect platform to generate awareness and educate the public.”
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Middlesex County Freeholder Director David Crabiel who noted, “It is my role as father, grandfather and great-grandfather that takes priority during this evening’s discussion. I’m sure you will agree that when it comes to our children and grandchildren, there is no rest until we know they are safe. That is why this dialogue tonight and the work the NCADD of Middlesex County performs throughout the year is so very critical.”Additional remarks were provided by Brenda Pateman, Somerset County Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Coordinator and State Senator Joseph F. Vitale.
A panel of experts provided relevant information about this important and timely topic and discussed solutions already being implemented or could be implemented by the community.
The panel featured: Barry Roberson, East Brunswick Director of Public Safety who spoke about the township’s implementation of an Underage Drinking on Private Property Ordinance; Detective Karen Hoelzel from the Hillsborough Police Department who spoke about the enforcement of Underage Drinking on Private Property Ordinances; Brenda Esler, Assistant Director at the Somerset Council on Alcoholism and Drug dependence who spoke about other community approaches to prevention; and, Steven Banden - a Rutgers University Student who presented a novel approach to reducing underage drinking from a student’s perspective.
Three-time Emmy Award winner Anchor/Reporter Walt Kane from News 12 New Jersey served as Master of Ceremonies.
Images from event. (Note: some images provided by the Home News and Tribune. Andrea Kane/Special to the Home News Tribune.)
New Brunswick- Montgomery Director of Police Michael BeBeltranena , freeholder David Crabiel and freeholder Ronald Rios chat before the start of the Underaged Drinking seminar at Crossroads Theater.
NCADD staff (from left) Mara Carlin, Joseph Neland and Jackie Randazzo assist a registrant at this year’s Legislative Event
Members of the Somerset Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Brenda Pateman, Sharon Lutz,Becky Csabai , Karen Hoelzel of the Hillsborough Police Dept. and Brenda Esler attend the Underaged Drinking Legislative Event at Crossroads Theater.
State Senator Joseph Vitale speaks at an Underage Drinking Legislative Event held at the Crossroads Theater.
