Marconi Proclaims Today, Sept. 24 as 'Family Day'

First Selectman Rudi Marconi has sent out an official message proclaiming today, September 24, 2012, as “Family Day—A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children” The proclamation urges parents to spend time with their children in order to lessen the possibility of drug use.

Transcript follows.

“Whereas, the use of illegal and prescription drugs and the abuse of alcohol and nicotine constitute the greatest threats to the well-being of America’s children; and

Whereas, 17 years of surveys conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University have consistently found that the more often children and teenagers eat dinner with their families the less likely they are to smoke, drink, and use illegal drugs; and

Whereas, the correlation between frequent family dinners and reduced risk for teen substance abuse is well documented; and

Whereas, parents who are engaged in their children’s lives—through such activities as frequent family dinners—are less likely to have children who abuse substances; and

Whereas, family dinners have long constituted a substantial pillar of family life in America; and

Now, Therefore, I, Rudy Marconi, First Selectman of the Town of Ridgefield, on behalf of the Ridgefield Board of Selectmen and the citizens of Ridgefield, herby recognize that eating dinner as a family is an important step toward raising drug-free children, and herby proclaims Monday, September 24, 2012, as ‘Family Day—A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children’ and urge all citizens to recognize and participate in its observance."